Jenny Evans Dunham

Several years ago, I wrote an article called, “Is Your Firework Burning Down Someone Else’s Home?” It shared an experience that my family and I had number of years ago when we lived in an apartment complex. On the evening of July 4, people were shooting off fireworks and, unfortunately, one landed in the roof of the apartment building directly behind ours. You can imagine the fear we experienced as we stood outside watching the fire department put out a fire that damaged several people’s homes. All of us who were watching were afraid that our building might be next. Needless to say, it took the fun out of fireworks for us that year.


The same thing happens in our everyday lives. When we allow ourselves to experience negative thoughts and feelings, we affect other people whether we realize it or not. If I’m having a bad day, I may react negatively toward you. Now you’re having a bad day because of me. I’ve allowed my “firework” to burn down your “home.”


I’m reading another great book which relates to this idea. How Full is Your Bucket? talks about how the words we say affect people–either positively or negatively. I haven’t finished reading it yet but I can already tell it’s a book I can highly recommend. By choosing to use some of the techniques mentioned in the book, you can have a positive effect on the lives of everyone around you.


So, as you watch fireworks displays this weekend and enjoy time with your family and friends, remember that everything you do also affects other people. Make the decision to affect people positively and not negatively. When you do that, everyone benefits.

Well, I promised to let you know what I thought of Focus on the Good Stuff by Mike Robbins. It’s a wonderful book that teaches the importance of appreciating what we have in life.

In the first part of the book, he talks about how much negativity there is in our world today. He goes on to describe how this negativity affects us in our daily lives. In the second half of the book, he outlines some steps telling you what to do change your life, to start appreciating what you have.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking to rise above the negatives in your life. Mike writes clearly in a very easy-to-read manner.

Mike also has a regular ezine that he publishes on a monthly basis. You can sign up at www.mike-robbins.com

I found this wonderful quote while reading Focus on the Good Stuff by Mike Robbins:

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. — Mother Teresa

This quote is so true. I know how kind words have affected me personally. Take the time to share some kind words of your own with some of the people in your life.

Earlier this month my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Since they spent most of their working lives overseas, we had to use some creative thinking to allow all of their international friends and acquaintances to participate.

We set up a special blog where everyone could post their own individual greetings. Some people sent videos and pictures as well.

When we presented my parents with this special blog, they were quite overwhelmed. It was a total surprise to them and, amazingly, everyone around the world had kept the secret! Watching my parents tear up as they heard words from friends in faraway places was a very special moment. It reminded me of the importance of friendships in our lives.

With our busy schedules and lifestyles, it’s easy to forget about other people and forming relationships with them. However, in the end, when you retire and your schedule calms down, the friendships will be what you think about–not the money you made or the activities your pursued.

It’s never too late to find a new friend and if you already have some special friends, don’t allow your friendships to go by the wayside.

This weekend my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. My siblings and I have been busily planning a party in their honor. As in every family, some of my family members don’t want to take part and are making it difficult for the rest of us to get everything together.

After repeatedly hearing about some of these frustrations, my husband, an outside observer, suggested that we just proceed with our plans and not let the negative people control how we feel about the day. Of course, he is right.

As I wrote to one of my siblings, “I think we should focus on the positive time those of us who come are going to have and stop letting (negative family member’s) actions or inactions have so much control over everything.” My parents will love the special things we have planned no matter who shows up and I’d hate for there to be a negative feeling overshadowing their special day.

In every aspect of life–family, friends, work, etc–you will come across negative people who try to keep you down with their negative attitudes and actions. Realize that you have a choice in how you respond. They can’t keep you down unless you let them. Choose to reject their negative influence. Be the positive person that you want to be.

Most of us are familiar with the expression,”I guess I’ll have to put that on the back burner,” referring to the fact that you will set something aside for now and think about it later. As you move through your life, how many dreams and goals have you put on the back burner? Have you checked it lately to see if it’s overloaded?

I think that sometimes we are so busy doing the “right” thing or the “necessary” thing that we forget that some of those things on the back burner are really important to us. How can you reach your full potential as a human being if you never give yourself the opportunity to reach for that lifelong dream? Yes, everyone has reasons to put something on the back burner–good reasons. But you also have good reasons to keep track of what’s there and bring it to the front when the time is right.

Take some time today to check your own personal back burner. Is there something you would like to bring to the front and work on right now? If you knew that you only had six months to live, is there something you would want to try that you’ve not allowed yourself to do yet? Life is precious and each of us is born with special gifts and desires. Don’t deprive yourself or the world of experiencing what only you can give.

I was watching the news last night and heard a truly heartrending story. During the recent earthquake in China, many parents lost their children - their only children. For a number of years, China has had a “one child only” policy in place. Therefore, when these parents lost their children, they truly lost their entire future. Watching the news story, I could see how utterly devastated these parents were. One set of parents who were interviewed said they did not plan to have another child because it would be too painful to risk also losing that child.

I have two daughters and three grandchildren whom I love dearly. Losing any of them would break my heart into little pieces. Just another reminder to enjoy each day that you live because you don’t know what tomorrow will be like.

In line with this same topic, I recently borrowed a book from the library called Focus on the Good Stuff by Mike Robbins. I’m just starting to read it but so far it’s great. I know from experience that when I focus on positive things my whole outlook improves. I’ll post more on what I learn from this book as I go along.

Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone–and that’s what I’m going to do on this blog. Instead of trying to create some marvelous marketing wonder, I’m just going to be myself and share my thoughts and experiences with you.

I truly have no specialty in life or in Internet marketing. My interests are many and very diverse. My life has been filled with multiple different types of job and life experiences. I love reading, writing, and researching. I have been a Work at Home Mom. Then I graduated to a Work at Home Nana. Now I am a Work at Home Empty Nester. (Is that even a title?) I am a lifelong musician and was a piano teacher for many years. I am a health-conscious individual who thinks that alternative medicine is often better than traditional options. I am a network marketer who loves sharing my favorite candles with people.

Now that my children are living their own adult lives, it’s time for me to work on myself. I am realizing that this time of life is a great time to work on personal development so as to enhance my entire being. I invite you to come along with me on this journey. Maybe you’re doing the same thing in your life right now.

I hope you’ll visit my blog regularly and see what I’m up to. In addition to my own experiences, I will probably be posting some book reviews and recommendations. When I write new articles or create new websites, I’ll let you know. If I hear about something that really strikes a chord with me, I’ll post about it here.

To a new beginning…