Friday 26 June 2015

The power of the question and the impending answers






Questions: Author Jane Hirshfield examines the power of the question in the essay in the link below, from the Oprah Winfrey site. Photo - Jane Hirshfield Facebook page.



http://www.oprah.com/inspiration/Important-Questions-to-Ask-Yourself

The Oprah Winfrey site has some amazing and encouraging information and I thought this essay by author Jane Hirshfield about question-asking is a winner.

It is lengthy but gets the message across about the liberating effects of asking questions and getting answers that inspire.

As a journalist, I'm asking questions all the time and the kind of questions that engender more than single-word answers.

Hirshfield is right in her essay of how questions can be windows to many things and a way to move forward even.

I believe answers to questions increase our knowledge.

I feel I increase my knowledge a little, bit by bit every day with the number of people I talk to about so many different subjects.

It is definitely a rewarding job, being in the business of asking questions.

I hope this is inspiring for you too!

Enjoy!

BTO.

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Tragedy affects close family unit forever







Happy times: The Baker family in happier times. Photo and article - dailymail.co.uk

This is such a sad story in the link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3135264/Guilty-grieving-Nightmare-ordeal-father-faced-jail-crime-speaking-family-drug-driver-killed-daughter.html?ito=social-facebook

These poor UK parents who have lost their daughter in such tragic circumstances as a result of the drug affected and inattentive driving of someone else.

Yet the father ended up facing possible charges for appearing to have an over-interest in the purpetrator's family, following the sentencing and receiving jail time.

As this father says, 'people grieve in different ways'. He says he was only guilty of grieving and nothing else.

Sometimes you can't help feeling sorry for the family of wrong-doers as well, because they are not responsible for the actions for their family member.

But it often works out that they receive as much heat as the wrong-doer.

Seeing the happy family photos of the victim and her family, it appears they were a very close unit and their loss is very tragic.

The television advertising in New Zealand around drug and drunk driving has been very stark, in an attempt to get the message across about not driving under the influence.

The current drug and drunk driving 'acted out' ads of people appearing to be under the influence of drugs, particularly prescription drugs, are telling: The ads show shopkeepers noticing customers who seem to be preoccupied, believed to be under the influence and slow in their behaviours.

Earlier ads showed people ending up being given rides in vehicles driven by people who are under the influence of drugs and the rider didn't know the driver was affected until the vehicle was in motion. Even some properly prescribed medications can affect people in various ways.

Perhaps if the medication instructions indicate on the container that it can cause drowsiness etc., then people shouldn't get behind the wheel. Pretty simple really.

A moment's inattention because of an influence like drugs or alcohol can change people's lives completely.

Let's take better care of ourselves so that we can take care of each other.

Let us know what you think.

Has your family been affected by a drugged or drunk driver or in some other way to do with drugs or drink?

Let us know on Beating the Odds.

Either in the comments box here, or message Robyn on Facebook below:


 
Stay safe!
 
BTO.




Friday 19 June 2015

Success may be a state of mind











Just love these quotes!

They really help to realign my thinking about how to move on from difficulty and into winning mode.

The mind is a powerful thing and has the ability to keep us from success.

As someone said once: "If you think you can't you're right but if you think you can, you're right again."

It seems to be all in how we see it and having the mental nouse to believe in ourselves.

I need to remember this.

Hope this is encouraging.

Here's to your success!

BTO.

A changed life through realisations








Changed: Michael Roberts talks about a life-changing experience for him, a divine one, which set him on the right path in life. Photo Cheryl Weber of cherylwebermedia.com


This man Michael Bull Roberts has had a life changing experience which has taken him from the dark side to a life of happiness. Watch and see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGhR0wM2xY

It's inspiring to see what his life consisted of and you can't help thinking he must have thought he was living in hell itself!

But he does change dramatically and I guess for him, it was a divine experience that did it.

It may be the saving grace of something else, or realisation of some sort to turn people around from the dark side of life sometimes.

However, he appears to have become a different man and good on him for it.

I was inspired by this guy for whatever reason he made the changes to his life, he turned his back on life's evil side and started to walk the good path.

Have you had a life-changing experience that has brought you onto a good path from a dark one?

We would love to hear about it.

I'm sure it would inspire many people who may feel life's difficulties are sometimes too much.

Thanks,

BTO.



Tuesday 2 June 2015

Frida Lyngstad-Reuss & Jon Lord - The Sun Will Shine Again.



A lovely number from Frida Lyngstad.

Her music releases since ABBA have been few.

This song I thought was a gem.

Enjoy!

BTO

Abba - Waterloo



A little nostalgia!

Their first hit at Eurovision. Yes, I'm revisiting my youthful years.

I remember how taken I was with this super group's sound, their look and just how different they were from all other bands at the time.

I obviously wasn't the only one, ABBA took the world by storm back in the 1970s and early 1980s.

They certainly created great memories for many people.

Enjoy!

BTO.

AGNETHA FALTSKOG THE COMPLETE ALBUM - A - 2013



I understand Agnetha may have wanted to retreat from the limelight of ABBA's incredible fame journey of the 1970s and early 1980s.

She has certainly kept her amazing vocals and this 2013 album, I believe, showcases her voice in its glory.

BTO.