Sometimes life gives us some harsh things to deal with but we should always look at these times in our lives as an opportunity to grow. Maybe it might be difficult to see at the time of the traumatic event that seems to rip our world apart, that it is in fact a time for growth.

I can give a personal example of this and I can also say that it took me years to see this devastating event as a time for me to grow but it was. As I began to let go of the hurt, anger, and guilt that had been weighing me down for years; I see now that by writing the lens below I had taken a tragic event and grown from the experience.

He Chose Suicide

This lens is about the suicide of my husband back in 1995. It is an important topic that we should all be aware of and talk about. Especially now in these trying economic times when some might feel the best way out is the permanent way out. Watch for the signs and try to prevent that decision of a loved one.

I'm beginning to study about the Sacred Paths that my journey here on earth is taking. Something that intrigued me today as I began this study was this comment that I will paraprase:

"We hold ourselves back when we carry our negative feelings and thoughts around in a basket."

I plan to start working on emptying that basket. It has been too heavy for too long.

Something I wrote as I work on my sacred paths about Elk- Animal Spirit Medicine

Every once in a while we run across something that is really special. I was introduced to a project being done by an organization called Soldier's Angels.

They are making ties or scarves out of cotton fabric with crystals in them. When wetted down the crystals form a cooling gel and help the soldiers keep cooled down in the extreme heat of Iraq.

To find out more about this awesome project read this lens by my friend Sylvia. Soldier's Angels Help Troops Beat the Heat.

The world is sadden by the loss of a Rock Icon, Michael Jackson. I'm old enough to remember Michael as a little boy singing in the Jackson 5. What an incredible talent at such an early age!

There are many who became disenchanted with Michael in the recent past. He seemed to get just a tad over the bar when it came to eccentricities. Personally, I feel that much of his unusual behavior stems from not really getting to have even somewhat of a normal childhood. Think about it, he was working as hard or harder as a young boy than many of us work now as adults. That had to have had a serious effect on him as he grew up.

Whether you liked him as a grown man or not, you have to give him this: Michael Jackson changed music with his talent. He took performance on the stage to a new level back in the 1980s. His dance routines changed the music video forever and created an industry that thrives today. Music videos were in the infancy stage when Michael wowed us with his "Thriller" performances and videos.

Whether you agreed with his personal life or not, we do owe Michael great respect for the songs and entertainment he gave us over the years. As with Elvis and the Beatles before him, he made a mark in the music industry that very few ever achieve.



Goodbye, dear Michael...may you rest in peace.

I am a member of the Squidoo Community and this morning I found an incredible lens that gives tips about using html coding for color backgrounds and borders. Written by Squidoo lensmaster Sojourn, this lens is colorful and informative.

You don't have to be a Squidoo member to use these techniques...the coding can be used by anyone creating content for the internet.

HTML Borders Backgrounds