Living Treasures

Reading the paper while sipping coffee at Bean Affair Coffee and More I came across two obituaries that reminded me of one of my dreams. Several years ago I had read about the Living Treasures program in Santa Fe, New Mexico: honor the elders who have generously served the community with kind hearts and good deeds.

The first obituary was for Robert “Reg” Wilson, a native of the Sonoma Valley. He passed away days after being inducted into the Sonoma Valley High School’s athletic hall of fame. The event was one of the highlights of his life.

The second was for Virginia Sweet. As a child she was inspired by a story she read about Amelia Earhart’s transatlantic flight. During World War II she became of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots. The WASP’s were civilians that ferried planes from factories to air bases around the world. She flew 52 different types of military aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress bombers and the p-51 Mustang.

After the war these ladies were basically forgotten. That is until July 1, 2009, when President Obama, signed a law that offered recognition and Congressional Gold Medals, the highest award Congress can give to a civilian, to the WASP fliers. Virginia Sweet had suffered a stroke earlier in the year and the family feels that she may not have understood what they had told her about the hard-won honor. She has since passed away and a niece will accept her Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony later this year.

One was recognized and honored by his community, the other passed away not knowing of the recognition. That is why the living Treasures program intrigues me.
We need to honor the elders in our communities while they are living and are able to participate. Before leaving Oregon I had the pleasure of organizing one ceremony at the church I was attending. Reading these two obituaries makes me want to start the program here in Healdsburg.

Cup of Coffee Networking in Healdsburg

Cup of Coffee Networking

After two years of involvement with the Sandy (Oregon) Area Chamber of Commerce’s Good Morning and Good Evening networking meetings I moved. My new community has very few networking opportunities. So, I realized I had the opportunity to start a Cup of Coffee Networking group. A private investigator from Oklahoma, Joe Sting, the networking movement based on coffee, networking and free. The only cost is the cost of the coffee at the host coffee shop,

On Tuesday, July 21st, I will host the first meeting of the Healdsburg Cub of Coffee Networkers meeting at Bean Affair, 1270 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, We’ll start at 9am. This is one of the great places.

Have been promoting through the limited network I have already created here in Healdsburg. It will be fun to watch the group go. Joe has two websites: http://www.cupofcoffeenetworkers.com/ and http://www.cupofcoffeenetworkersonline.com/. There is also a facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=45338304730


Happy networking

50 Life Lessons from Regina Brett

Last week a friend sent me an email on 50 life lessons. It ended stating that only 7% of the people would forward it. The email I got identified the author as a 90 year old columist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

A google search revealed a bio and email adress. I sent Ms Brett an email and got the following response. The power of the internet is amazing.

She said I could forward the lessons. I hope that includes this posting on my blog. The picture is from her website.

Tom


Thank you for reading my life lessons. Feel free to forward them on to others to share.

Yes, I am the author.
No, I am not 90 years old. I actually turned 53 this year.

The Plain Dealer ran my 45 lessons when I turned 45. I added
5 more and the paper ran all 50 when I turned 50.

The 50 life lessons column is the most popular column I’ve ever written in my 15 years as a columnist. Below is the original version. Please feel free to forward it to all you know, but please keep my name and contact information with it.

You can read more about the "lessons" in April of 2010 when Grand Central Publishing releases my book, "God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours." You’ll be able to learn more about that at http://www.reginabrett.com/ in the coming months.

Thanks again for sharing the lessons. Feel free to share yours with me.

All the best,


Regina Brett

Metro Columnist
The Plain Dealer
http://www.reginabrett.com/
www.cleveland.com/brett
216-999-6328


Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett

Sunday May 28, 2006

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
rbrett@plaind.com or 216-999-6328
To read more of her work:
http://www.reginabrett.com/
www.cleveland.com/brett