Oversensitivity or disrespect?

Sometimes I wonder if we have become too overly sensitive and PC about life in general?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11567212&ref=NZH_FBpage

This young Kiwi dancer in the New Zealand Herald article link above has made the big time and good on her for it, in my view.

Parris Goebel is now backup dancer and leading choreographer for the likes of Justin Beiber and Jennifer Lopez.

Her decision to use another international cultural dance style seems to have brought some controversy.

I'm sure Parris is aware of cultural sensitivity and its importance to the various communities from which it belongs.

Let's applaud and encourage her progress on the international stage and screen because it was probably not easy to have made it as she has.

Well done Parris and Beating the Odds wishes you well with your own incredible talent and on your continued journey in supporting these incredibly talented singers.

What do you think about dancers and singers using cultural dances and songs from other cultures?

Petition for raising the age for children to leave foster care in New Zealand

The letter below encouraging people to participate in a petition is on the Fostercare Share ActionStation site and I thought it was an important enough issue to publish on the BTO blog:

LETTER STARTS:

 

"Did you know that in New Zealand young people are exited from foster care on their 17th birthday?

 

While most 17 year olds are worrying about things like exams, these young people are worrying about where they’ll live and how to support themselves.

 

With no support networks and no place to call home, many young people struggle to cope.

 

Leaving state care at 17 means teenagers can end up on to the streets for years.

 

It doesn’t have to be this way. There’s a simple change we can make – raising the age of leaving foster care from 17 to 21.

 

I just signed a petition calling for exactly that, will you join me?

www.actionstation.org.nz/wedontstopcaring

 

Our government is currently reviewing Child Youth and Family’s role. This is the perfect opportunity that Kiwis from all walks of life to show that we don’t stop caring when our young people in state care turn 17.

 

By signing this petition, we can help ensure young people won’t be left out in the cold when they turn 17."

 

Please add your name now: www.actionstation.org.nz/wedontstopcaring

 

LETTER ENDS

 

BTO says:

 

The vulnerability of youngsters who are dependent on the state and the need for them to continue to have the safety nets of kind people who are willing to take them in, is important in today's society.

 

It is not acceptable to have a situation where they have nowhere to go and slip through the cracks of legislation because of their age, in this great country of ours.

 

I would hope that like me, you would get behind this petition for our young displaced people and help ensure they have loving, caring, warm homes to go to until they can fend for themselves.

 

Beating the Odds

 

BTO

A place to take a quiet moment

When Ren Haskell's friend told her about a colleague who had taken her own life during work hours the tragedy became a catalyst to the women creating a quiet space in the middle of a busy city for people to reflect and relax.

During a work break the colleague stepped out for a short time but when she failed to return, staff members later learned what had happened.

"My friend was of course devastated about what had happened so we looked for a way to help people when the tough things happen to them and around them," Ren says.

Ren had been working for the Hari Krishna movement at its café in Water Street, Whangarei in Northland, New Zealand.

The HK movement ran a programme to help the homeless and children from low decile schools by providing meals - particularly breakfasts based around the well-known motto: 'feed the body and feed the mind'.

"I went to Buddi - the movement's leader and apparently they had considerable difficulty growing vegetables in the small garden next to the movement's café. So he told me the land was ours to do with it what we wanted and said they entrusted us with it," she says.

So the healing garden was created in the former vegetable patch and has been going for a year now.





Community at heart: Ren Haskell and friends have created a sanctuary where people can relax and reflect when the difficult times come.  

Ren says she realises people can 'chill out' or take time to think anywhere, such as the beach but it takes the cost of fuel to get there and it's not the same as a purpose-created space where it's needed.

"The idea of a healing garden being in such a central place is that people may be stressed by work or by life's events, they may have just received that dreaded phone call with bad news, or even hearing a certain song that brings back memories out of the blue. They can take time out at a place that is close to where they are at that moment," she says.

The garden is surrounded by a wall where people can sit and enjoy it.

She says although the small 4 metre by 10m space is in a busy area of the city, the way it is set out gives people that feeling of solace and fresh air, with something beautiful to look at.

Ren is starting to organise monthly gatherings at the garden, where people can bring something to exchange with others; such as a plant, or ornament and they can share their experiences if they want to.

"When I've been working in the garden, often people will come and talk to me about what they've been through, so that's how I know about many traumatic things that have happened to and around people," Ren says.

Hearing these stories has shown the garden is therapeutic as well as a place to enjoy, she says.

Do you know of any ideas that have been created in your community to beat the stresses of life?

Tell us about them as they may help others facing difficulties.

Beating the Odds

BTO.

Inspiring Kiwis lead the way

This guy in the link below published in the Northern Advocate is an inspiration to all.

Being recognised, for his selfless work in helping youth, months following his death at only 30 years old.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11542760

People like this are great losses to not only their families and friends but to their communities.

This guy had pushed the boat out for local youth, even in the face of being ripped off at his café.

But he still saw the need and filled it.

In talking about selfless people, I often consider how lucky we are to be in New Zealand when I see the violence and oppression in other countries.

I have been proud of Kiwis small and great, generally.

The All Blacks - with the actions of Sonny Bill Williams giving his medal to the young boy in England last week and now the team taking their strongly-fought Rugby World (Webb Ellis) Cup to a hospice to share with people who are going through their last moments in life.

The above examples, I like to think, are what being Kiwi is all about.

However, I've been really disappointed in some attitudes that are not in agreement with SB Williams gesture and I agree that although they have been accused of wrong, the inmates at the detention centre at Christmas Island need their country to stand up for them in at least ensuring basic human rights are adhered to.

In the two cases, referred to in the immediate latter, lets put the Kiwi back in our approach to these situations and lead the way on the international scale.

Just an opinion. Would love to hear what you think.

To your health!

Beating the Odds - BTO

Former foster child's heartening story from displacement to family love

In the wake of the recent negative report on the performance of New Zealand child welfare organisation Child, Youth and Family (CYF), this heartening American former foster child's story below, is inspiring.

Steve Pemberton: An inspiration to foster children all over the world. Photo - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cdnnIt0s4Q

I think we need to remember CYF here in NZ is an organisation run by governmental legislation which is created by various people and organisations based on professional knowledge and experience.

Perhaps we need to ask: Is society being a bit too harsh on organisations like CYF? CYF is people who are charged with the unenviable responsibility of sorting out social issues at grass roots level, particularly in regard to displaced children in dysfunctional family situations. The responsibility entails doing what is best for the child and it would seem that it doesn't always come out right. When it doesn't, it sometimes sadly, has devastating effects on children who are totally reliant on the state to ensure their ongoing care, wellbeing and overall safety.

It is easy to pick up on the negativity though, especially when it comes to vulnerable children but it would be good to hear about the CYF success stories too.

One can only imagine how exacting the job of keeping children safe must be and how there would be little room for error, as one child slipping through the cracks is one too many.

American former foster child Steve Pemberton found a place in this world after having been rejected as a child and it would appear, had difficult foster experiences during his young life.

But he survived all that to find his feet and later, also found the love of his life in wife Tonya and the couple have three children.

There are various talks and presentations by Steve Pemberton on YouTube, I'm sure you will find interesting.

Would love to hear from you!

Have you been a foster child?

Tell us at Beating the Odds about your experiences. You can use an assumed name or remain anonymous in the comments if you wish. Your story might help someone else.

To your continued health and wellbeing!

BTO

Encouraging thoughts

This group has some great thoughts to share so I thought I would post this URL on my blog for others to enjoy.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/108449557877765188939/posts



 

 

It's so important to keep the positive things going in this sometimes difficult world we live in.

 

There are a lot of people hurting, struggling, ill, down on their luck, displaced, among other things that challenge the human spirit in so many ways.

 

I think it's great for us to encourage each other as much as we can.

 

I've been inspired by several people over the past few months having spent a short time back doing journalism work.

 

Meeting people who seem to find their way to accepting their lot without grumbling, is incredibly inspiring.

 

I hope you are encouraged by this group's sayings and thoughts as I have been.

 

To your health, joy and general peace of mind!

 

Beating the Odds - BTO

 

Find us on the pages below. We'd love to hear from you!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beating-the-Odds/832374606804901?fref=ts

http://beatingtheoddsblog.blogspot.co.nz/

 



 

A much loved music icon gone too soon

Fame journey: Enduring entertainer who is now at rest but will never be forgotten by people all over the world who loved her records and her great sense of fun and stage presence. Photo - Lisez Ceci.

 



The passing of another music icon has come as a great shock to the world.

Cilla Black was probably a regular on most radio waves and television screens in the 1960s and 70s.

She had that vocal depth that would have fitted the American music market well but unfortunately, was another one who never seemed to be accepted there.

Once dubbed one of the richest women in Britain, the late veteran singer and television presenter charmed audiences around the world during those years.

I remember my father saying, as we watched her television variety show in the 70s, "she has a wonderful stage presence, that girl," he'd say.

Described by friends as funny and a lovely person, Cilla Black will be missed all over the world.

Hits like Anyone Who Had A Heart and Alfie, of course not forgetting her signature song which opened her tv show, Step Inside Love will never be forgotten.

We wish her family our deepest condolences and we will have to enjoy reruns of all those great songs.

Cilla seemed to have gone into retirement over the past few decades and appeared to be enjoying life in places like Barbados and Spain.

Well, she earned it and it is hoped that the latter years of her life were happy ones.

We thank her for all the happy memories she gave the world.

Beating the Odds

BTO

 

Dealing with a debilitating phobia



Appropriate: Thought this quote fitted the item below well. It takes strength to find our way out of some of life's most difficult challenges.

This story about a woman who suffers from selective mutism - a condition I had never heard of.

Take a look at her story: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33507287

There are so many of these debilitating phobias that people suffer from and just reading about this poor woman really makes you thankful for your situation.

I admire how she is studying her degree in psychology with a view to helping other people in the same boat.

There are many phobias of various things and situations and it's hard to know what triggers many of them.

I only know how difficult they make life for sufferers.

What are some causes of phobias?

The following website has some information about phobias; types and possible causes:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249347.php

Do you suffer from a phobia?

Tell us what life is like every day for you if you are living with a phobia. People's experiences often help others with what they face daily.

Wishing you well!

Beating the Odds

BTO.

A routine health check reveals a scary condition

Journey to wellness: British woman Kelly Luff has beaten the rare condition of melanoma of the eye. A reminder to keep up with health checks. - Photo Daily Mail - United Kingdom.

This young British woman's Beating the Odds story is inspiring but scary and highlights the need for us all to keep up with our health checks.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3159780/The-deadly-skin-cancer-EYE-one-virulent-cancers-malignant-melanomas-DON-T-just-develop-sunburnt-skin.html

Just in the process of taking her son to the optician, Kelly Luff decided to get her own eyes checked and that process showed she had cancer of the eye.

As this story points out, there are many other health issues that can be identified by eye tests, including other eye illnesses and even diabetes.

But Kelly managed to beat the disease and keep her eye.

As she said, eye cancer isn't very prevalent and not something you hear about much at all.

So this diagnosis was the last thing she would have been expecting.

Although melanoma is often associated with the skin being exposed to too much sun, it's amazing how many people seem to get it who are not sun bunnies at all.

We wish Kelly well with her continued recovery. Hopefully, she is one of the lucky ones!

Let us know if you've had a brush with melanoma, or any kind of cancer. It might help someone else facing the same thing.

Beating the Odds

BTO.

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.

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:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beating-the-Odds/832374606804901?fref=ts

 

Stay safe!

 

BTO.

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.

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.

Some people overcome incredible odds

This video in the link below will really gladden your heart. I personally found little excuse for not getting on with life after watching. Enjoy!

Apologies if you've seen this before, by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc4HGQHgeFE

Some people are handed the most incredible challenges to overcome. This guy Nic would definitely fall into that category.

But it's amazing how he almost doesn't recognise it as a challenge or he just gets on with it!

I found his sense of humour fantastic and endearing.

Do you have a big personal challenge you live with every day?

Tell us about it in the comments.

Cheers,

BTO.

Misunderstandings with language learning

Misunderstood: The above cartoon discussion between the two men is a classic example of how the English language can be misunderstood depending on how it is delivered! Photo - CARTOONSTOCK.COM



I enjoyed reading this post in the link below on the website Babbel about how much trouble people can get into while trying to learn a new language. It's quite funny:

http://www.babbel.com/magazine/embarrassing-language-mistakes?slc=engmag-a27-vid-bv5-embarrassinglanguagemistakes-ob&utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=cd_engall_gen_cx1_embarrassinglanguagemistakes

I know even being versed in English as a journalist how misunderstandings can occur. They shouldn't in our line of work, but they do.

One person can be talking apples and the other thinking oranges!

I find that if I'm interviewing someone about a complicated subject like medicine or the behaviour of earthquakes and the hallmarks of seismology, I tend to get the answers to my questions repeated by mirroring what the interviewee has said, such as: 'Are you saying in this case that ...?' or 'what does that mean in this particular case?' (and repeat what they've said but in a different way, so not to appear stupid!). This practice also ensures accuracy in what you've heard especially when you've got to relay the answers, in stories about subjects you may be hearing for the first time, on a public media platform.

A superior of mine quite a few years ago, told me that he didn't have to worry about the accuracy of my copy after he had listened to an interview I had done while we were working in the same room.

When I asked him why he wasn't worried about my accuracy, he said: "Because you mirror everything the other person tells you, that you may not understand. That's a great skill."

I appreciated that he was prepared to recognise and mention my skill in this way.

But I have to say, I've never been to a non-English-speaking country and I've often wondered how much of a lonely experience it must be not being able to communicate in the local language, if you are travelling alone. There might be some light-hearted moments when you get the pronunciation wrong and you end up saying something quite different to what you intended! But I guess it must be a bit daunting most of the time?

Have you been in a situation where you have struggled to make yourself understood, even when you are speaking English to another English-speaking person, or even if you've mastered a foreign language and you have still not been understood?

Perhaps you may have a health issue, like a stroke that's affected your speech and makes being understood difficult?

Beating the Odds would love to hear about your experiences in the comments box.

Have a great weekend!

BTO.

More inspiration

 

quotesfans.com

 

 

 

quotesnsmiles.com

 

 

I thought we could do with some more inspiring words.

 

I am exploring values such as gratefulness, blessings, meaningfulness, positivity and the list goes on ...

 

For me, it's about being grateful and finding meaning in the many blessings, no matter how great or small.

 

We, or I anyway, tend to measure myself against others in the world and I get thinking, " if they can do that, get that, have that, why can't I?"

 

Don't get me wrong, it's good to be motivated to looking to improving our lot but there's a difference between looking at being motivated by others and being envious of what others have achieved or have accumulated (and I don't just mean in economic or material terms).

 

I've learned lately, that sometimes we move along life's track at a pace that is not of our choosing. Sometimes, we have to be happy with what we have and the place we're at for now.

 

It's when we are not making the progress we would like because we may have to wait on decisions that are not our own, for instance. In these situations it's how we play the waiting game.

 

It's what we do with our waiting time that determines how we get through the slower moving times.

 

So as it says above, to 'smile often and dream big' because we will all get to our desired destination if we keep doing a little bit towards that result every day.

 

I hope your dreams come true for you!

 

Keep up the good work.

 

Beating the Odds.

 

BTO.

 





Getting inspired

Quote - fwds.in

 

This is a great quote (above) especially if you are feeling run down and need a break. People who don't feel they are going to work everyday but doing something they enjoy, are lucky.

 

I consider myself one of those people. As a journalist I get to talk to so many people from wide ranging backgrounds and occupations. I feel that I've spent the last 20 years learning from others.

 

Everyone has a story. Yet most people don't think they have. Every life has something valuable to share. 



 

Quote - braiquot.es.blogspot

In a world that struggles with tolerance and compassion in some areas, this quote (above) I believe is so true.

 

Having a patient heart isn't always easy. I admire people who seem to have loads of patience. They are truly people I can learn from.

 

I hope these quotes are encouraging to you.

 

Enjoy!

 

Beating the Odds

BTO.

 

 

 

 



 





Disability doesn't keep some people down

This man called Paul Smith in the link below is an inspiration to many able-bodied of us. Watch this:

http://www.thecoast.net.nz/videos/we-could-not-believe-what-we-saw-when-we-zoomed-in-on-this-drawing/

Paul's abilities as an artist are astounding, even in a usual sense. There would be many able-bodied people who would struggle to create anything like what he has in these amazing drawings.

And don't you love the caring, inclusive attitude of the care home workers towards Paul.

What makes some people stay buoyant, despite some of the most life-impeding challenges thrown at them?

Acceptance goes a long way to helping people to live as full, contributing lives as they can, when disability either is there from birth, or strikes some time during a lifetime.

A Queensland MP, Warren Pitt, talks about the need for people with disabilities to not be facing negative attitudes from communities:

This is what he says in a speech called See Beyond Disability, part of the link below:

"Disability touches the lives of many Queenslanders in some way — whether it be directly or through experiences with friends, family, colleagues and members of the community.

"We’ve come a long way as a community over recent decades, however we still have some way to go.

Negative attitudes and stereotypes can be more disabling than impairments themselves and can prevent some people with a disability from fully participating in work and community life. Overcoming the barrier of misconception and prejudice is something we can all aspire to."

https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/.../disability/...involvement/docume..

Here is some valuable information for people who may be struck by a disability in some way:

http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/coping-disability-illness.php

Do you have a disability you live with every day?

Tell us about it in the comments. It may help someone else facing the same thing.

Best wishes.

BTO.

Police dogs valued like their human handlers







Happy reunion: Police dog Thames reunited with his handler Constable Mike Wakefield of Wairarapa Police. Photo - stuff.co.nz

The heartening story of Thames the New Zealand police dog being found after having been lost in the Tararua Ranges has been a great story of survival this week:

http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/missing-police-dog-found-safe-and-well-2015051014#axzz3aAGrmCgc

I worked for the police as an unsworn support staff member back in the 1970s and early 1980s and I know how these animals are held in such high esteem by all police members.

I used to cringe when a handler would bring his dog past my desk and they would always say, 'don't be scared, he/she won't hurt you'. But when you see them in action and in full flight grabbing hold of absconding criminals on television reality police patrol documentaries and grabbing an acting crim (usually another police member) at demonstration events, you can't help feeling a bit vulnerable around them.

However, their training seems to teach them when to be scary and when not to be!

They are classed as equal to their uniformed human counterparts and their valuable contribution to fighting crime and keeping communities safe can't be underestimated.

Although they have a special purpose, as police officers, they also live with families of their handlers and despite having to sometimes become scary in order to catch criminals, they are extremely gentle with small children and other people close to handlers.

You could see how distraught Thames' handler was at the thought of his four-legged police partner being lost in the bush.

It was evident also, how relieved not only the handler was but also his work colleagues and the wider community when Thames was found.

Here is a bit of the history, in the link below, of the police dog section in New Zealand and a memorial of those injured and killed in the line of duty since the early 1970s:

http://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/teams-units/dog-section/history

Here is some general information, in the link below, about the police dog section of the New Zealand Police and what the dog's main role is:

Patrol dogs are mainly used to track and search for people.  Many of them are also trained for:

• search and rescue work
• victim recovery 
• deployment with the Armed Offender Squad 
• narcotic detection work 

http://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/teams-units/dog-section

Any dogs that are not suitable for service go to good homes.

Have you given a former police dog a home, or are you a dog handler?

Beating the Odds would love to talk to you about your dogs, and handlers, we would love to talk to you about the valuable work you do with your canine police partners.

Let us know in the comments box.

BTO.

Overcoming hatred



No matter where anyone stands on the South African issue this quote by the late Nelson Mandela shows how possible it is to forgive in the face of what you feel is great injustice.

It takes a big person to not feel hatred and bitterness after such an experience of imprisonment and a lengthy one.

I'm sure we are meant to learn from not only the experiences of other people but also the way they handle them and go on after the fact.

I believe it would be hard to forgive such an injustice.

But, Mandela found a way through the negativity of hatred, to realise that holding onto such emotions, would just keep him imprisoned even though he was free from being behind bars.

Have you suffered an injustice?

Tell us in the comments below, how it made you feel and what you learned from it, or what if anything came from it.

Thanks,

Beating the Odds
BTO

 

Kiwi limelight dweller survives harrowing challenges









Catch it: Kiwi rugby player Zinzan Brooke in full flight, above centre. Formerly a member of the New Zealand All Blacks. Generic photo - getreading.co.uk



Rugby statesman: Zinzan Brooke has moved on to good things following a harrowing financial struggle. Generic photo - standard.co.uk

I like the attitude of New Zealand former All Black Number 8 Zinzan Brooke and his wife Alison, to their personal financial struggle a few years ago now, and highlighted at the time, in the New Zealand Woman's Weekly article in the link below:

http://www.nzwomansweekly.co.nz/front-page-top-stories/zinzan-and-alison-brooke-we-will-get-our-life-back/?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Zinzan and Alison Brooke: We will get our life back?

Some people really have that survival mechanism within and are able to look ahead and visualise better times to come after a difficult experience.

That's what the Brookes' seemed to do, probably with lashings of good old Kiwi 'can do' attitude thrown in!

Why do some people have that amazing ability to see through the hard times to good things in the future?

In this link below, it talks about surviving in an environmental sense but it points out the ability of someone under stress being able to control it or not:

http://www.aircav.com/survival/asch02/asch02.html

In the case of financial stress, which the Brookes' clearly suffered, in my opinion it is admirable how the couple and their six children managed to see their way clear of destructive stress over their situation and were not too proud to take an option path that many people would have done anything to avoid; the path of bankruptcy.

But they said it was their only option and it would seem that although being famous and living in another country, yet not allowing how things 'looked' to have an impact on their strong family unit, they opted to take the line of least resistance.

I'm sure it would have taken a lot of guts to have taken that path.

Have you had a difficult experience in life that has changed you, or the way you look at things now?

We would love it if you would share your experiences with us or let us know what you think in the comments.

Thanks.

Beating the Odds. BTO.

How a mind battling autism works







Overcomer: Temple Grandin shares the positive sides of having autism. Photo - warrenpl.com

Temple Grandin talks about the possibilities autism has given her and paints a positive view of it:

https://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds

In this link below, she talks about how she learned various behaviours in childhood:

http://www.templegrandin.com/



Then there is Australian-born Donna Williams, who spells out her life of huge challenges, including autism:

http://www.donnawilliams.net/about.0.html

It is inspiring to see how people deal with some of life's biggest challenges and go on to become beacons of light to others facing the same problems.

Both these women make it clear that they are never free of their challenges but they at least have found ways to deal with them and carve out existences for themselves despite them.

I found myself feeling thankful that I don't face these kinds of difficulties.

Do you have a life challenge that you would like to share in our comments?

Your story could help someone else.

Seen any pink elephants lately?



Pink elephant: Gag caught on video. Illustration - clipartpanda.com

The people in the video link below are obviously being had but it's entertaining. Have a look:

https://www.facebook.com/kyleandjackieoshow/videos/908057089229200/?fref=nf

I can't help thinking how disconcerting it would be to be getting a ticket for a driving misdemeanor or something else and start seeing 'pink' elephants walking past! LOL.

You wouldn't blame the police officer pulling you up, to wonder just how much you HAVE been drinking, or even putting you through the hoops to prove you may or may not be fully with it.

Trying to explain it away would be a challenge.

You can see by the reaction of the people seeing the elephant and then trying to tell the officer what they've seen and not being believed.

It's a light-hearted look at human behaviour and the actions of people seeing something they don't understand.

Quite a gorgeous video.

Enjoy!

BTO.



New Zealand entrepreneur's big thinking leads him to open in New York

 

 

 





Success: Michael Hill opens a store in the US big smoke of New York. Photo retailnews.co.nz

Thinking about success this week brings me to the subject of New Zealand jewellery store owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Hill opening a jewellery outlet in New York.

http://www.michaelhill.com/queens+center+store+openning.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwpYeqBRDOwq2DrLCB-UcSJAASIYLjsbFzdfuJCApiRf9ozhFfvwMoGjYMIJDL9cFA73NrfxoC5dPw_wcB

As one tv announcer said, like the words of the popular song, New York, New York: 'If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere, it's up to you, New York, New York.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hill_(entrepreneur)

Mr Hill started from humble beginnings and also had some set backs over the years but he has certainly gone ahead and not let anything get in his way.

Are you inspired by someone who has done well in life?

Tell us about it in the comments!

BTO

Quotes to keep us in success mode

These quotes are obviously thought up by people who don't let much get in their way!

I am always encouraged by these kinds of thoughts and I wanted to reshare them on my blog.

What thoughts and ideas have encouraged you the most?

Share them in the comments box!

BTO

Positive affirmations may determine how we progress





Belief: This affirmation above you can try to beat the loneliness blues. Photo - prolificliving.com 

This website called Prolific Living has an amazing view and some great ideas about how we need to constantly build our mood and our belief in ourselves through positive affirmations. Have a look:

http://www.prolificliving.com/100-positive-affirmations/

I first came across positive affirmations when I began working freelance as a distributor with a health and nutrition company back in the late 1980s, early 1990s.

I was quite young, and when I first heard about positive affirmations at a sales conference and how they worked, I felt a whole new world had opened up to me.

I had a thirst to drink in this stuff and still do. I still believe that what is fed into our minds is what becomes reality. Because as it has been said; 'where the mind goes, the feet will follow.'

A bit like when my dad was giving me driving tips in my youth - telling me not to concentrate my gaze to the centre line, or the car would follow (or rather the driver of the car). Great tip!

It's like the saying; 'if you think you can't, you won't' but 'if you think you can, you will.'

What Prolific Living points out is, we can have all the love in the world for and from the people around us; our parents, extended family, friends, work colleagues and extended network.

But if our parents for instance, find/found it hard to believe in themselves even though they do their best to fill their child/children with confidence they, themselves don't have, in my experience, we have to find that confidence ourselves and start a 'self-talk' process.

My mother was an accomplished artist (drawer, painter, sketcher) and musician and my father was also a good musician, farmer and had many great things to impart.

But despite their accomplishments, I don't believe either of them believed in themselves. My mum would always play down her abilities and my poor dad struggled with his self-confidence all his life. So it's no wonder I do the same - even now in my latter middle age!

I just want to mention, that they were always encouraging to me and their love was totally unconditional. An only child (and not spoilt)! Not all children can say that, sadly.

Now, getting back to self-talk: I don't mean we go around babbling to ourselves, sounding like the men in white coats need to be called to haul us away to a padded cell!

But it's about what we say to ourselves. The language we use to ourselves, about ourselves.

Things like: 'I'm not good enough to try that.' 'They won't want me, I'm too old,' or 'what makes me think I could do that?'

All of these are negative self-talk statements that are so destructive to self-confidence, mood and even how we progress in life.

Here in the link below is more information about positive affirmations and how they affect the mind and eventually how we act: http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_00000a.htm

Do you struggle with positive thinking? Tell us about it in the comments. Thanks.

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Getting rid of the stinking thinking to realise your dreams



Pushing barriers: Motivator Paula Gosney believes we must push past how we feel to complete what we set out to do in life. Photo - LinkedIn and Paula Gosney.

I, like anyone, can be inhibited from going forward with a good idea, by invisible barriers mentioned in this excellent advice from motivation expert Paula Gosney:

http://www.beliefschool.com/the-sneakiness-of-comfort-by-paula-gosney-belief-school/#comment-38

I have found the fear of failure in going forward, can be really negative.

It is so easy to get bogged down with the worry about failing and forget about how practicing your craft, eventually gets you to your desired destination in life.

Here's an example of letting the thinking negatise you: During the weekend, Facebook sent me a list of people who had not responded to my connection requests - people I know well in real life, outside Facebook, some of which really surprised me. And hey, that's quite ok.

There could be a number of reasons for their non-response, some of which I believe is more about a problem with Facebook than any problem with my personal and business connections!

Anyway, at the time, what do I immediately think? The stinking thinking starts to kick in doesn't it: You know the kind of thoughts called NUTs - Negative Unhelpful Thoughts, like: 'Nobody likes me', 'what the hell am I trying to do this for?', 'why do I think anybody wants to support me in this'.

The kind of stupid negative thoughts that plague all of us at times!

Then I turn to my blog page, which has just toppled over 1000 views and my Google+ page, which is now up to well over 40,000 views, not to mention the 'reach' numbers some of my posts on Facebook actually get!

Although there are pages with more views, my numbers are pretty good for online places of huge competition to get noticed.

And as a friend nicely reminded me: 'Well, you're not a pop star, you know'! Thanks. Really needed to be reminded of that. LOL.

Seriously, as funny a thought my being a pop star is, I actually appreciated being brought down to earth!

So, I need to just persevere with what I'm good at and stop the negativity and don't worry about some of the not so good things that happen. These happenings keep us grounded.

Do you doubt yourself sometimes?

Let us know, in the comments, what makes you feel doubtful about yourself. Is it people's comments, or your own confidence levels?

War time pieces as essential survival items



 

Returned time piece: Watch worn by L/Corpral Harold Flower of Maungaturoto, who served in WW1 with the 7th Reinforcements, 4th Batallion H Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, killed in action at Belgium on 7th June, 1917 - Generic photo - courtesy Mathew Ward @History Needs You and The Kauri Museum, Matakohe, Northland, New Zealand. www.nzmuseums.co.nz



 



I've been trying to find heartening and uplifting stories for this year's ANZAC commemorations, which marks the 100-year anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in WW1 and the ANZACs that were involved there.

http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/2visiting/tgallipoli.html

But one general war story, which has been etched in my mind, is about a New Zealand gunner - a relative of mine by marriage, and his treasured time piece (not the soldier in the above photo).

His watch as I understand it, was a treasured item and had, of course, travelled with him to the battle fields with both surviving various combative events for a while before the soldier, sadly, eventually didn't survive but the watch did and was recovered some time later ... still ticking perfect time and given to family members ... still ticking perfect time, it had been hanging on display, on a nephew's dining-room wall for years ... still ticking perfect time and I understand it still keeps perfect time today.

We often talk about not trusting mechanical things but you can't help thinking this watch must have been created out of really sturdy stuff!

The website below has some interesting information about time pieces that survived wars, including  the watch worn by Maungaturoto soldier, L/Corpral Harold Flower, in the photo above:

http://www.timeforremembrance.com/

Do you have any heartening war stories about any soldiers' possessions that managed to be returned to family?

 

We would love you to tell us about them in the comments section!

Why do some people mistreat animals such as dogs?



Loving dogs: Television dog whisperer Cesar Milan with one of his equally well-known canine charges, pit bull, Daddy. Milan believes dogs behaving well and being well-treated comes down to who owns them, not the type of breed they are.

This story in the link below will break your heart:

http://hendrickboards.com/save-emily-jc?tracking=55237049df14b&utm_source=hb&utm_medium=hb-emily-jc&utm_campaign=emily-jc

I'm not an animal owner at the moment but do love animals and I get disgusted by stories like this. We are supposed to be creatures of reason and that means allowing the good side of our natures to rule our lives. There is no excuse; be it economics (using this hideous method of making a living), power or sport for treating animals like this. This is not what they are for.

Even these breeds, who are called 'fighting dogs', have a probable purpose for hunting but that doesn't mean they should be put in a ring with other like breeds and made to fight it out to the death.

People who have no compunction but to do this to an animal, it makes you cringe to think what they may do to other people and if they are parents, what kind of life do their children have?

In our country, I understand bad, dog owners only have to wait for about five years before their slate is clean and they can start again, owning animals!

I think, once you've been deemed a bad, dog owner then you should be considered to always be a bad owner until you jump through some pretty big hoops to prove yourself to be otherwise, to be perfectly honest!

The animal rights website below gives some very interesting and educational information about breeds used for fighting and why they are used:

http://www.animal-rights-action.com/dog-fighting.html

The website says Pit Bull and Staffordshire Bull terriers are often considered to be 'nanny dogs' because of their good and gentleness with children.

Well known international dog whisperer Cesar Milan says, the dog fighting issue has, 'nothing to do with the size [of the dog] or the breed, it has to do with who is behind the dog'.

Dog fighting isn't the only mistreatment of animals.

It comes down to people being serious before getting an animal as a pet - that they think about whether that animal will become an important part of the family and be cared for and loved, just like all humans in the group, because getting bored with an animal and giving up caring for it, is not acceptable, as any vet, RSPCA and animal advocacy groups will tell you.

What do you think about dog fighting and mistreatment of animals?