SUBJECT: If I Had My Life to Live Over
If I had my life to live over I would cancel cable t.v. and use this save money to spay and neuter stray dogs and cats and I'd find room in my yard and my home and my heart for a few more than I already have.
SUBJECT: On the Wisdom of Experience
SUBJECT: On the Death of a Princess
The untimely death of Princess Diana struck a deep chord in most of the women who subscribe to our list. Reprinted here are some of our thoughts and our tribute to her. (Memorial Image a gift from Mel and W.I.T.E.)
I am deeply saddened by the death of Princess Diana and my heart goes out to her children. To me if I could choose a symbol of my femininity it would be her. She was graceful but strong and just finding her way in life on her own. Choosing her own path and sticking to her convictions despite the horrendous way she was treated by the less than royal family. I hope she was happy in her new life and finally found the love that she was searching for so desperately.
Diana's death put for me at least, a lot of things in perspective. Here was a woman who had just about everything - money, fame, wealth, adoration of millions, two beautiful children, and a new love. She worked tirelessly for so many worthwhile causes: children, AIDS patients, the poor. And yet, look how it all ended. We just never now what will happen and so we need to enjoy life, live it, fulfill its potential and ours each and every step of the way.
Diana made her life count for something. She took action on the ideas that were important to her. She was a warm, caring person. Who else could the Royal Family have sent to Argentina to smooth things over after the Falklands war? If she had not lived her life as well as she did, *that* would have been a tragedy. As it is, she left behind a legacy of caring. She had truly become, as Libby would say, an "aware person". So while her death was a tragedy, let's remember that her life certainly was not. And I for one think that a tragic life is cause for far more sorrow than a tragic death.
Thank you ladies for expressing so eloquently
the thoughts and feelings most of us share about the passing of Princess Diana. We all watched her grow from a young girl into a elegant and compassionate woman. Her love for her sons and the nurturing and protection that she showed them is reflected in their actions. I again have hope for the future English Monarchy. I am an expatriate Australian living in Hawaii for the last 24 years. I was raised to respect the institution of the Monarchy, but until Princess Diana, I had no heartfelt connection to the family. Through all of her public ordeals and triumphs, she brought sense of humanity to a family that was at best remote. I am happy she is at peace and will miss the woman she had become.
Let us remember how precious we are, and how fragile. May we all find ourselves a little bit stronger because of the strength Diana empowered to us during her life. May she rest in peace.
The BizWomen also invite you to visit Rachel and Link-America's loving tribute to England's Rose, Diana, Princess of Wales.
SUBJECT: Sharing
Just thought I would share something that I do that keeps me going at times. I have 3 granddaughters and receive pictures of them all the time (which I appreciate). I keep the more recent ones in frames on my desk and in my bedroom. The extras and older ones I intersperse in my files, notebooks, cookbooks, etc. Everytime I come across a picture (forgetting I put it there) makes me smile and remember what is important and what I'm doing all this for - those girls who will know they can achieve anything they want - and being able to use the example of their grandmother to do it! Try it! Instead of putting them in a box sprinkle them throughout your life.
SUBJECT: More Sharing
Many years ago I started putting postcards I would receive from friends all over the world into books I was reading. Years later, I would open a book and discover a postcard from a friend so long ago. Remembering her/him would bring a big smile across my face and I would read the loving message on the card again and it would just make my day. Just thought I would share that.
SUBJECT: Being Nice is Good Business
During my morning jog, I was thinking about one of our list member's generous hand-made gifts to the new non smokers in these groups. I realized just how much respect she has gained in my eyes for doing this; and I realized just how important this type of respect is for Internet commerce.
Personally, I hesitate to buy some things through the Internet because I really don't know what type of person (business) I am dealing with. When I go into a store, I can instantly assess the quality of the goods, the service, and the business ethics at that store. On the Internet, I am assessing someone's ability to display a web page attractively. So how do I know that the person or business behind that display isn't a con-artist?
I can tell you that, as skeptical as I am, I wouldn't hesitate to buy goods from this businesswoman and several other women in these groups if and when I needed them. There are also women in these groups that I have decided are very intelligent and business-savvy, but I would want to meet them before I actually did business with them.
Just a little food for thought for those of us who are trying to build an Internet presence.
SUBJECT: Putting Forward a Professional Sales Image
After I placed my post on three lists, I was contacted privately by 7 individuals (as requested) and publicly (NOT how I requested) by 2 individuals. I made it clear in my post that these items would be going to executives in very large banking institutions. Out of those 7 (I trashed the 2 public ones - since they didn't even follow my initial request to email me PRIVATELY, my confidence in their ability to help me went out the window), the following results were obtained:
SUBJECT: Integrity & Credibility
It seems that everyday some one in the mass media does a story about someone being "taken" on an Internet scam. There are stories of all kinds. I find myself wondering how the normal person can ever trust in the integrity of an Internet business.
During the course of conversations with many of you the credibility issue has often come to the foreground. There are several people who have had contracts or agreements with others on our own list that have been "left holding the bag" for services. This from our own members! This is not a good practice; if we can not trust each other to "do what we say, and say what we do!" then how can we expect those of the outside to trust and use our services?
This sort of thing bothers me a great deal. When I talk to other members and I am told they are holding "bad checks" that have never been cleared, or that services were provided and then never paid for, I just can't figure out what happened to old fashioned Integrity.
We must keep our businesses above reproach, keep strictly to our word, and deliver exactly what we say we will deliver, if we are to gain the trust of John Q. Public. This is the only way we will be able to gain credibility for ourselves and our businesses. When you enter into a contract, fulfill that contract to the very best of your ability. Remember if you do a good job for someone they will tell one person ... if you do a bad job, they will tell ten people. To be taken seriously in our business practices we must be ethical, have credibility, and show integrity in all we do. Others are watching to see how we handle ourselves."
SUBJECT: Attitudes and Life
"The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, education, money, circumstances, failures, successes; more important than what other people think, do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skills. It can make or break a company......a church.....a home.....YOUR LIFE.
The MOST remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me (action) and 90% how I respond to it (reaction)."