I can't remember where I found this, but I thought it was REALLY cool.....hope you enjoy as much as I did!!!

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about. Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the home of her husband's employer. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.. The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. Her husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely. As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant one evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer.. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? "Look at it," he said. "Read what it says." She read the words, " United States of America ." "No, not that. Read further." "One cent?" "No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?. .. ." "And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin, I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him. Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray. I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!" When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. "Yes, God, I get the message!" It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient.

Criticism SUCKS

Geez.....how can people walk around criticizing others so much?! I have been a victim of harsh criticism ALL my life and I have to say, I AM BLOODY WELL SICK OF IT!!!!!! I grew up in a very critical family......2 beautiful sisters who I looked up to who thought I should be just like them......therefore, they criticized when I wasn't.....not enough make-up, too much make-up, not fashionable enough clothes, gee, you look fat in that, don't do it THIS way, do it MY way, you can't do that, you're not talented enough, don't major in that, you aren't smart enough, you don't have what it takes to do whatever it is you want to do......and that was just my family growing up. I am glad I woke up to the fact that being me isn't all that bad, but sadly, it was too late to not have a complex....a BIG one. I have suffered from extraordinarily low self esteem my whole life.....and I THINK (keep in mind, I'm no psychologist ), that it has contributed to the fact that in most cases I am afraid to finish things. I am SO stinkin' scared that someone, somewhere is going to tell me it is substandard, or crappy, or looks bad, or whatever negative things they could possibly say. I am TIRED of being crushed all the time....tired of people thinking I can't do things before I even start them. I tell myself day in and day out that I CAN if I want to but dammit, I think don't do it, finish it, then you won't have anyone to tell you you did a bad job. Have I got issues or what?????? LOL Funnily enough, on stage is where I feel most comfortable.....maybe because I am stepping outside myself and being someone else....I've never been afraid of public speaking auditioning, singing in front of others, dancing in front of others, whatever....but once I am off the stage I freak out......I don't like criticism.....why? Because most people don't know how to do it right. You CAN criticize without crushing someone's spirit......without totally bursting their bubble.....it has happened to me before, so I KNOW it can be done. It can be done in a way that you don't even know you're being criticized....because there is love behind it, there is respect behind it, the person has your best interest at heart, etc. As I am going on this quest to find me, I am going to make it my goal not to criticize anymore.....unless there is love and kindness and that person's best interest at heart. I don't want to EVER make someone feel like they are nothing.....I don't know if I will ever feel like I am someone, but I can make sure my friends and kids and hubby don't feel like they are nothing to me. I want to be the friend/mama/wife that will affirm, not crush. Not that I have ever been a big criticizer, but I am making it a point to not do that.....EVER. I have always tried to encourage people in their endeavors without gushing over them. I don't know if you have read the Love Languages book, but guess, what???? I am a words of affirmation person......gifts are nice, physical touch is great, acts of service are cool, quality time is good too, but I need to know you love me, are proud of me, that I did a good job, etc. Take the bloody time, people, to find out what really makes the people you love feel the best and DO IT! And to all the criticizers out there.......STUFF OFF, and keep your harshness away from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!