Another Awesome Thing to Note

I opened my email when we got back from Walmart this afternoon and guess what? I got and email from Stephanie McWilliams! I am now part of her mailing list, meaning I get her Feng Shui tips directly from her and Evolving Arts, the company she founded. Today's "My Cup of Chi" email topic focused on "How 9 Quotes from the King that Can Transform Our Lives Today" (MLK) and #6 really struck home with me.

6. "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Especially in this country, we tend to see ourselves as individuals, separate from the whole. We get concerned with our own needs, our own injustices, our own struggles, and our own desires. But if you look around, we are all so utterly interdependent, that it's almost mind-blowing. Every bite of food, piece of clothing, brick that built your home, or piece of metal that makes up your car has likely been touched (literally) by hundreds of other people. Unless we're living off the grid, every move we make is linked to lots of other folks.

The same interconnection is found on an interpersonal level. Every time you meet another, you're making an impact -- either positive or negative. Every smile, grimace, compliment or hug ripples out into your home, your community...and eventually, the planet. Only until we begin to see each other as united, as cells of a larger being... as our very own selves... will we experience peace throughout the planet. So let it begin with you!

This has been my personal mantra since I was a little kid forced to grow up. I quickly realized that if I want people to get to the real me, I shouldn't be afraid to show the best me and focus on leaving a positive impact rather than negative because I want the best people to grace my life here on earth.

Then on her email, she invited all to join her in her Facebook Network of Friends, so I did. I thanked her again for visiting my blog and for sending out great practical tips on using one's chi for good. She responded just a little bit ago:

Subject: You're SO welcome!
"You're adorable... thanks for joining my mailing list too!!!!

Have an awesome week...

Love,

Stephanie"

She is great! Her personality in her show is not any different than how she shares herself in her email and responses. She is very aware of what her chi can do to impact other peoples' lives, including mine right now. She is helping build my confidence in myself to teach people about Feng Shui to help them better understand themselves through their immediate spaces and circles. I love that!

Simpleton, Technophobia...

It would seem that I'm a bit (ok... a lot!) behind than most women about what books they've read and movies they've watched. In the scrapbooking department, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't even created a real working layout design yet for my wedding album. Cookbooks, forget it! Crafts, months ago! And now this... (Am I a gadget simpleton or a closet technophobe?) I feel like such a cave woman... :( You see...

Charlie has his cellphone with Google and text, I-Pod, PDA, Wii and new DVD & MP3 players (thanks to his dad who used to work for Philips), tools galore and his biggest babies- our computer with not one, but two monitors for dual pane or panoramic surfing purposes (very cool).

Lisa has her cell with texting, MP3, a TI-83 Plus, Guitar Hero (and soon Rock Band 2), hair straightener, contact lenses, braces, the complete series (all read within acquisition) of hardback Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Alex Ryder and Twilight, Converse classics in 4-5 different colors and shirts that everyone seem to want (Hooray for CLEAR-ANCE!!!) and an almost finished fiction teen novel.

Jasmine has her recorder and very own alarm clock; eyes on a dinnerware set with horses on it, is currently planning which plants to have in the patio and has now graduated to reading Margaret Peter Haddix line of fiction, just about to start reading the 7th HP installment and has finished various Agatha Christie online games.

Ian even has his system worked out as to how he's going to manage his 100+ HW toycars and Lego blocks that are now hitting critical mass of storage failure. He also managed to get us to vote on getting the Wii My Sims Kingdom game. He has read through all the Dr. Seuss we have in our library (same for the other series); has successfully devoured Ichabod Crane: 100 words to remember and is now finishing Tale of Despereaux!

Then... there's me; I don't own a cell, no MP3, and the extent of my texting ability is through my blogs (which I barely learned to customize) and emails.

I feel so backwards against my own family; being back in school the last two years, I admittedly have my share of "gadgets" (though most of which belong in the kitchen). All four cool members of this household have their own vices that they are carefully holding onto and are not afraid to seek seasonal "upgrades on", often driving me nuts. But then and again I remember, all these organized approach to their well-deserved or much needed gadgetry and literary collectibles, I helped be possible using the proven low-tech system of "not now" or "when it goes on sale" budgeting tactics... (To the tune of "Mickey Mouse"; C-LE-ARA-NCE, CLEARANCE! and repeat.)

Simpleton? I don't think so; I still head the council. Technophobe, no way! I can finagle my way into learning the current computer lingo and software.

What is it then? This council head... is just plain too busy to care...