I know this not because I’m waiting in anticipation for it but rather because I went to a store on January 4th and it was decorated for Valentine’s. I was shocked of how commercialized our society has become.

I realized how we are bombarded with the idea of spending, instead of reflecting on ways we can truly encourage others and ourselves.

I find that the only way I combat the urge to succumb to the buying mentality, is to reflect on my life and ask “Do I need society to remind me to be kind and generous, before I am?”

I encourage you to reflect on your life and on the lives of people that matter to you; and decide on one virtue that you’ll embrace.

It could be selflessness, kindness, being peaceful, the list of virtue goes on; whatever you decide, choose one for the year and be it.

If you choose Kindness: This would mean kindness to others AND kindness to yourself.

When I chose my virtue I needed a visual representation, and so I chose a ring. When I wear or see this beautiful and simple ring, I am reminded of what is important to me.

Reflect on what matters to you and you’ll see how a small realization can cause positive and radical changes.

Here’s to not being told what to celebrate.

Ciao,

Talyn

One of the biggest lessons I learned from 2008 is that our actions help our dreams become reality. President Barack Obama and Yelena Isinbayeva (pole vaulter with 24 world records) prove this to be true. It’s amazing how our dreams can push through when we have done all that is necessary.

For me, I’ll never forget watching Yelena Isinbayeva, a few seconds before she set her Olympic record. I took the journey with her as she charged towards her goal and achieved it. It was surreal to think that seconds before Yelena set a new world record, her dream was but a thought. Then in Beijing, her dream became reality.

It is my hope that regardless of your athletic ability or your political affiliation, these individuals remind us that we can carve space for our dreams too. Not everyone is going to see how we can succeed, but if you can and do all that is required; you might find yourself at the other end of your goal, marveling at yourself.

Happy New Year from Let It Shine.

Ciao,

Talyn McArthur

www.letitshine.ca

Although she loved to run and used her speed and strength to protect herself in fights against cruel classmates, she credits the Special Olympics with helping her realize that her tremendous athletic talent could be used to do good.

Claiborne was first introduced to Special Olympics by social worker Janet McFarland (played by Emmy Award-winner Camryn Manheim in the movie). She credits McFarland as well as her family, community, educators, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her own strong spirituality with giving her the confidence necessary to become a world-class runner.

“If it weren’t for sports, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I was very angry before and sports was the arena that turned that around for me,” Claiborne says. “I got support from family, community and God — he is the strength of all and can make anything possible.” The Loretta Claiborne Story not only outlines Claiborne’s personal and spiritual journey, but it shows her joyful, sometimes mischievous personality.

“In the simplest terms, it’s about possibility,” says executive producer Suzanne de Passe. “Loretta Claiborne’s life is uplifting and full of a sense of renewal. But it’s not humorless. It doesn’t hit you like a freight train with a somber, one-note refrain. This is also about a very engaging, funny personality.”

Running is not the only part of Claiborne’s life. She holds a black belt in karate, communicates in four languages, including sign language, and holds honorary doctorate degrees from Quinnipiac College and Villanova University, making her the first person with mental retardation known to receive such honors, according to the Special Olympics organization.

However, Claiborne says the most rewarding part of her life has been her involvement with the Special Olympics, and she wants to continue helping people with mental retardation and physical disabilities succeed. She advises them, “Find an opportunity and seize it. Be the best you can be, and never let anyone doubt you.”

Claiborne runs every day — often about 5 miles, even when she plans to go only three or four. Just for the joy of it, the joy of the moment. It’s how she lives her life. “I don’t really look toward the future because you don’t know what tomorrow will be bring,” she says. “You have to live your life for today.”

http://www.lorettaclaiborne.com/

With love,
Talyn at Let It Shine

THE JOY OF BEING A WOMAN OR KNOWING ONE I believe that our true beings come alive when we spend time with ourselves, without expectations. These times help us, if we stay in them, because they reveal our true thoughts, our needs, our dreams and how to make such dreams come true.Life, especially for women, is filled with memories and chaos, but there is often that lingering feeling of emptiness or dissatisfaction; because our souls crave something more, which is to live with passion.

To live passionately is to find solace in one’s world and with one’s thoughts. However, too often, we are scurrying to catch up to what is expected of us. Society dictates what the ideal woman is like and attempts to tell us what our looks, weight and thoughts should be and many of us unconsciously become prisoners of such expectations. But what if we did it differently? What if we chose our lives and lived true to what we really think we need? The goal of this not for profit site, www.letitshine.ca, is to spread hope and passion. On this site, you will find the stories of “Featured Women”. These women are not perfect but they do try to live life aware of the steadiness and rollercoaster of it all.It is my hope that your life is enriched by reading this site. I would like to know firstly, your specific thoughts of the topics covered or what you’d like to see covered; and secondly, please spread the word to other women in your life and lastly, I would like you to nominate women for the Featured women page. Nominate a woman or women who live life with flare, or women have overcome dramatic obstacles or are enduring the challenges life has to offer, impressively. This woman could be a friend, a neighbour, a colleague, or you.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

This little light of mine.
I’m going to let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m going let it shine.
Let it shine, shine, shine, let it shine, oh yeah.

For further information, please contact Talyn at talyn@letitshine.ca

It all seems to agree with her. Her doll-blue eyes seem to grow even rounder, her famously fluffy hair even fluffier, her trademark drawl even more pronounced, when I tell her that pimento cheese, a much-loved Southern staple of grated Cheddar cheese, diced pickled sweet peppers and mayonnaise, is still virtually unknown in New York City. “Now I know y’all are crazy,” she snorts, then bursts out laughing.

At 60, Ms. Deen is as perky as the head cheerleader she was back in Albany, Ga., in 1965. “Honey, if I could have made a living cheerleading, I’d still be doing it,” she said. “But I hit a bump in the road that lasted 20 years.”

Married at 18, pregnant at 19, and orphaned at 23, she became depressed and then severely agoraphobic for the next two decades.

Shame and bewilderment prevented her from seeking help, she said, and no one except her husband knew the depth of her illness. “Some days I could get to the supermarket, but I could never go too far inside,” Ms. Deen said. “I learned to cook with the ingredients they kept close to the door.”

Through sheer repetition, she mastered the Southern classics her grandmother Irene Paul had taught her.

In 1989, after she and her husband were divorced, Ms. Deen happened to watch an episode of “The Phil Donahue Show” that provided a name for her illness. Forced to make a living, Ms. Deen ventured back into the world, divorced, armed with $200 and a brown paper bag in the glove compartment to breathe into in case of panic attacks.

In 1996,she got her on an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” devoted to women who’d started successful businesses in their homes. When the QVC shopping network picked up her first cookbook in 1998 and sold 70,000 copies in one day, her success was sealed.

Now she says, “I’m done fightin’ and I’m done hidin’ ”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/dining/28deen.html?_r=1&ref=dining

In November of 2005 the Games of La Francophone were held in Niamey, Niger. The Francophone Games are a celebration of sport and culture held every four years for all the French speaking countries in the world. Dan Galbraith was an official photographer for the Canadian Team for five weeks.

Robin Mednick was the Manger of Special Events for the Canadian Team. Upon returning from Niger, Dan shared his devastation with the poverty he witnessed. He couldn’t function upon his return because he could not get the images of the children out of his mind. One of the impoverished issue he discovered was that 30 children in one class were sharing one pencil!

Robin was so moved by Dan’s pain, that she instinctively responded, “Dan, let’s not talk about it, let’s do something.” He said, “What?” and I said, “I don’t know. I will call you back.”

Robin called the Canadian Embassy in Niger conveying that there were a few of her associates in Toronto who wanted to help a school in Niger. They emailed the name of a man to called Amadou Madougou., and when Robin spoke to his Michigan-educated son, Mamoud, she asked for a wish list. Amadou Madougou was the Mayor of Liboré, a region with 27 schools!! He was a very trusted member of his community and was formerly the Minister of Education. He held the respect of many – a man of integrity!

Robin received the wish list which listed the need for pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, erasers, schoolbags etc….everything. And they have NO BOOKS. The shelves, where there are shelves, sat empty.

Robin called Molly Killingbeck, a two- time Olympian and asked for her help. Then, it was off to the local Office Depot and Staples to speak to the managers. Both mangers were tremendous in their support and donation.

Then came the issue of how to send the items, Robin called DHL and discovered the cost was approximately $600.00for ONE BOX!!! Robin tried getting a donation but was turned down. So she went right to the top and faxed a letter to the President of DHL Canada. Two weeks later, no reply. Then one day Robin got a call about her fax because they got the cover fax sheet, but not the letter!!! Before resending her fax, Robin retold the story to Betty, a DHL employee. She said she’d get back to Robin soon. 30 minutes later Betty called to say the President, Ken would be happy to send the box for free and when Robin spoke with him on the phone he agreed to send more boxes!!!

Test box went out and arrived intact within four days – a miracle. Part 1 was done. When Michael Williams came through with more supplies from Office Depot, Betty and Ken at DHL assisted in their delivery for free!!

Somewhere along the way “Pencils for Kids” http://www.pencilsforkids.com/who.html was born. In June 2007, they applied for charitable status. They are now officially Pencils for Kids or in French, Des Crayons Pour Les Enfants and received charitable status May 30th, 2008.

For Robin, this has definitely been a leap into the unknown. She didn’t speak the language. She didn’t know the culture and had never done anything like this before. But she has the most incredible volunteer team (there are NOT paid staff) and Robin finds that together anything is possible. Robin is truly the embodiment of her personal motto, “Do it afraid”!

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?

The people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” (Charles Schultz)