Today, as you go through your day-to-day tasks, look inwardly and ask yourself, is the example you are leading with bringing more positive energy and results to the world and people around you?  If not, what can you do to change?

As Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something change it.  If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

I’m going to work to change my attitude and find more positives in a world flooded with negatives.  Care to join me?

It is easy, no doubt about that.  But, is it satisfying?  This year, as 2007 gets underway, I would challenge anyone and everyone to find one thing that is outside their normal scope and pursue making a difference.  There are so many worthy causes we can become a part of.  Whether you have a few hours a week that you can read to an elderly resident in a nursing home or someone confined to their own home; or perhaps, you have a few dollars left at the end of your week that you can donate to a charitable organization — it doesn’t matter.  What does matter is that you do something. 

Our world is a great place to be.  We have the power to make it even greater.  One person at a time, working together to make a difference.  Now that’s a New Year’s Resolution, we can be proud of.

Looking at the video of the snow monster being constructed returns me to a place of innocence and wonder.  A place where anything is possible — it is only a matter of imagination that is needed to make it so.  As the new year begins, I challenge each of you to find that sense of inquisitiveness to seek new challenges and find new ways to express yourself.  Conquer those things you fear and drink in the wonders of the world around us.  You are an incredible person.  You deserve positive things in your life.  Take this coming year and find them.  Make yourself happy and the rest of the world will fall into place.

I read this week of a 100 year old man, Marvin L. “Hub” Northen, that also received his diploma from Baylor University.  The man had left the university during the Great Depression  because he needed to work to help care for his family.  When he left, he was one chemistry credit shy of graduation and somehow never made it back to finish the degree.  The school decided that the diploma was in order. 

The Associated Press reported that, “According to Glenn Hilburn, the retired chair of Baylor’s religion department, Northen has been participating in a class that can be substituted for the Chemistry 101 class he never took.

‘He’s passed this substitute class with a grade of A-plus without even knowing it,’ Hilburn said. ‘It’s Life 101. He’s mastered that course and mastered it well.’”

Congratulations Mr. Northen on a job well done!  Without even realizing it, you have also proven that it is never too late.

That was three years ago.  Each year this program has continued to grow as other children (and adults) have taken their shot at the freethrow lines.  The project has become a national movement and this year Austin hoped to do something much bigger — in that he wanted to help build a school so that the children would have a chance to improve their lives.  As of last week, Austin and his organization, www.hoopsofhope.org, raised $100,000.  Working again in conjunction with World Vision, Austin was more than happy to announce that a schedule has been approved to build a new school in Zambia this spring.   

It only goes to prove that no one is too young to make a difference.  

Let’s face it folks we are making progress.  Not all think such progress is here to last however:  

“The free hug phenomenon can be translated as symbolic resistance against a society that is turning bleak and lonely,” Seoul National University sociology Prof. Jung Keun-sik told Stripes. “But I don’t think it will last long.”

I respectfully choose to disagree.  I think the hugging phenomenon is about more than just symbolic resistance to being lonely.  Squeezing another human being requires effort and energy.  No, hugging is about being supportive and showing compassion in a world that needs more than hugs to survive.  However, hugs are an excellent starting point and I’m more than willing to do my part.  Hugs, get your hugs!  If you want a hug, the line forms on the right. 

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Expedition Hope was founded by Joe Lawson, a survivor of suicide.

It is great to see more awareness of mental health being promoted by someone with a great idea and the ability to carry it out.