SACRED SPIRIT - LAND OF PROMISE

In One Moment

Anything can be given
or anything can be taken

Everything can change,
for better or for worse

Count your blessings
be thankful for all
that fills your life.

What you thought was
the worse. Might just
be the very best.

- Kaoru

The Old Couple

I recently posted an ad online to give away some things. A woman responded to one of the items I was giving away and came over to pick it up. I could tell by the expression on her face that she was moved by what I had given her. It felt good knowing it was going to a good home. Before she left I shared my blog with her and told her to check it out. This is a portion of the email that she sent to me after she read it.

Dear Kaoru,

In Japan, I had a friend who I called “Obasan,” which translated into English means “Aunty.” I met her at a church in Japan 15 years ago. She was about the same age as my mom. Her husband and she are two of the nicest people I had ever met in my life.

They were not rich, materially, by conventional way of thinking. They lived on their retirement from the government. She was a licenced cooking instructor of organic foods. Their house is a small wooden structure located not far from the railroad in the small town of Kasamatsu in the Gifu Prefecture.

Their daily philosophy in life is to open their house to whoever is sick, unhappy, lonely or hungry. Anyone who came to their house will always be welcome into it. She will feed them with one of her delicious organic homemade Japanese dishes.

She does not ask for donations, money or gifts in return. Her only wishes were for people to leave her house with a brighter spirit than when he or she entered it. Be happy and healthy and if you wanted to pay her back, do so by doing “good deeds” to other people who need help.

I met this couple when I was very sick at the local Japanese church. They helped me recover without the use of man-made medicine which I really didn’t like. I became healthy with natural food from organic ingredients, a lot of sunshine, meditation, flowers, smiles, prayers and best of all, their love for me.

I cannot describe them in a few short words. But if I could, it would be this. That if there are truly angels, the spirits will be like this old couple . . .

And I just would like to let you know that your messages and the kind thoughts and intentions behind them remind me of this inspiring old couple whom I love dearly.

Peace and happiness to you too . . .

J

Sacred Spirit

Music from the Cd "Sacred Spirit."

Thoughts On Life

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

- Helen Keller

New Beginning

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.

- Louis L'Amour

Sakamoto Ryuichi - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Philosphy of Life

When we surrender ourselves to material desires – a new car, a new home, for instance – we increase the intensity and number of the desires. Our wishes increase and we become less and less satisfied, and more and more incapable of satisfying them.

- Dalai Lama

Kelsang Metok - Falling Love with Jiuzhaigou Valley

Cliff Curtis

Yesterday, I had the chance of meeting actor Cliff Curtis at the “All Roads Film Festival.” He has been seen in such films as “Once We Were Warriors” and “Whale Rider.” He was attendence for the film “Hawaikii,” which he also served as Executive Producer.

I thought it was cool that he was giving back to the community that gave him his start in the business. Not only is he giving people the opportunity to showcase their talents. He is also keeping the tradition of his culture and people alive. That's a beautiful thing.

It's always a pleasure to meet a decent human being and recognize them for that and not the celebrity. So I just wanted to share this experience and let you know, he made a difference in my day.

One Golden Ray of Sunshine

One golden ray of sunshine
is all it takes.
To make your day bright and feel so right.
No matter what happens,
rain or shine,
light or dark,
There will always be...
One golden ray of sunshine.
If you look for it,
the sunshine will never be far away.
All you need to do is look for that...
One golden ray of sunshine.

- Kaoru

A Beautiful Inspiring Story

Immortality

The way you touch the world will be your immortality. It will be the one thing that will live long after you have gone and continue to make a difference in the lives you have touched, and the lives they have touched.

- Kaoru

Inspire People

When you make people angry, they act in accordance with their baser instincts, often violently and irrationally. When you inspire people, they act in accordance with their higher instincts, sensibly and rationally. Also, anger is transient, whereas inspiration sometimes has a life-long effect.

- Peace Pilgrim

Thoughts Worth Sharing

Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt
you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them and less to do
with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.'

- Anonymous

A dear friend from Guam sent this to me. I thought it was so cool I wanted to share it with you. She has always made a diffence in my life and she continues to do so with her kindness.

I Will Not be Judged

I will not be judged today by my yesterday… today I begin again, focused on the success I will create today.

- Mike Jones

Stepping into Sunshine

On this particular day I went to the bank to cash a check written to me. I stood in line and waited for the next available Teller. Before I knew it I was at the head of the line and I heard that word “Next.” I looked to the Teller, whom I had never seen before looking in my direction.

I told her I wanted to cash the check. Since, I didn’t have an account with the bank she asked to see my drivers license and another form of I.d. I gave them to her and she went to work. She seemed like she was preoccupied with something, like a bad morning or something going on with her personal life.

I waited patiently as she processed my transaction. During that time, I asked her how her day was going and some other things. Finally, her face broke into a smile and she warmed. I told her she looked best when she smiled. I can't tell you how bright her smile got. She glowed with sunshine.

From that point on I was known to her as Sunshine, a person with a positive attitude, high on life and a powerful energy.

The name of my blog came from that Bank Teller. Although I haven’t seen her in years, I wanted her to know she made as much of impression on me as I made on her. I hope she’s always Stepping into Sunshine.

Friends

Many people will walk in and out of you life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

- Anonymous

The Beckoning of Lovely

People making a difference in the world.

Life

To know the value of life, one must live it first.

- Kaoru

The Road Home - 我的父亲母亲

Time

The greatest gift someone can give you is their time. It is one of life’s priceless treasures that can never be lived again or duplicated. Cherish these gifts as they come into your life. See the beauty of life in each moment.

- Kaoru

Sukiyaki 上を向いて歩こう Kyu Sakamoto 坂本九

All is a Miracle

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is a rebirth of hope, a reorganization of thought, and a reconstruction of dreams. Once forgiving begins, dreams can be rebuilt. When forgiving is complete, meaning has been extracted from the worst of experiences and used to create a new set of moral rules and a new interpretation of life's events."

- Beverly Flanigan

Judging

"The world is long on judgment and short on understanding. Judging is easy and self-satisfying. Understanding requires perspective, experience, and empathy."

- Unknown

Friends

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow;
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead;
Walk beside me, and just be my friend.

- Albert Camus

Dreams Come True - Winter Song

Lost and Confused

Sometimes we get lost and confused in life. We don’t have any idea what we’re going to do. Don’t let it get you down and think it’s the end of the world. Remember the last time you were at this place and you didn’t think you could move on. Well, you got through it and had some good times along the way. Now you’re here and it seems bad, but don’t let your thoughts go there. Think of this as a transition in your life, moving forward to a better place. This is the time to hold onto the on thing that got you here, your faith, with it you can overcome the hardships you face. Be strong and keep on moving forward, even if it means taking one step at a time. Make each step count for you.

- Kaoru

Get Positive Results from Anger

Anger is a behavior we all live with in life. It’s what you do with this anger that will make a difference in your life. Use the energy you invest in your anger toward a goal. If you can do this, you’ll be using your energy in a positive way with positive results. Choose your path wisely.

- Kaoru

Kiss - Because I'm A Girl

Kiss was a Korean pop female trio. Their first single, "여자 이니까" ("Because I'm A Girl") was a huge hit in 2002, which can be attributed to its melodramatic video of the sacrifice one can make for love.

Free Hugs Campaign. (music by Sick Puppies.net album out)

Thought this was a pretty cool video. It's based on a true story. Are hugs that hard to give away?

Dare Mighty Things

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Law of Attraction

Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.

- Northrup Christiane

A Smile is All it Takes

This morning I stood in line like many of us do at my local Starbucks. By the time, I made it to the cashier to place my drink order I noticed she was frazzled. She was like a robot going through the motion, when I decided to ask “how are you doing today?” She looked up at me, like she was caught off guard. I greeted her with a warm smile. I repeated my question “how are you doing today?” A smile came over her face as she said “I’m doing good. Thanks for asking.”

Sometimes all it takes to turn around someone’s day is a simple act of unconditional kindness. A smile is all it takes to make a difference in someone’s day.

- Kaoru

Wonder

People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.

- St. Augustine, 354 430

A Dream is a Wish

A dream is a wish, your heart makes
when you're fast asleep.

Don't be afraid
to open up your
eyes so you
can see tomorrow.

You don't stop laughing because
you grow old,
you grow old
because you stop laughing.....

The world is like mirror,
if you face it smiling,
it smiles right back.

- Anonymous

Christian the Lion

Love knows no limits.

Courage and Risk Taking

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

- Ambrose Redmoon

A Film That Touches Your Soul

You Are Very Special

The only way you can successfully communicate and relate to other people, is to like yourself.

The more you like yourself, the more others will like and accept you.

People sometimes have experiences in their past that leave them filled with regret.

That is all over. It is in the past. The reality is that you're an expressive, sensitive, beautiful person if only you'll accept your uniqueness.

It doesn't matter what someone has said about you. It doesn't matter what limitations you have previously experienced. That is all history.

What matters is what you do from this day forward. You can choose your future. Realize that you are worthwhile and valuable with an enormous contribution to make.

Find the best within yourself and feel good about the person you are.

There is no one else just like you to be found anywhere. God thinks you are very special, and I think so too!

- Anonymous

Meter Maid has a Heart

This is one of my favorite stories to tell that people find it hard to believe. I was with a friend and we were using two cars to move some stuff for someone at a hotel. Unfortunately, there was no parking on the street, so we parked in the red zone in front of the hotel. I left my friend outside with the cars and to deal with the Meter Maid, if one showed up.

Well, I waited and waited in the lobby for my contact person. It felt like it was taking forever.

Just when my contact person showed up I noticed my friend had gotten out of their car and was met by a Meter Maid. I told my contact person I needed to step out for a moment, then ran outside.

I pleaded my case to Meter Mail with no avail. He pointed to the sign that read “No Parking Anytime,” and preceded to write me a citation. I asked him “How his day was going?” He just glared at me and handed me the citation. I wished him a good day and told him “thanks, I was wrong and I deserved the citation. I hope he had a good day.” He just stared at me. I said it again “I hope you have a good day and I do mean it.”

He walked back to his vehicle and waited for us to drive away. As I pulled forward the Meter Maid stuck out his hand out motioning for me to stop. I did and rolled down my window. He said “give me back the citation.” I don’t know what I said or what I did, but whatever it was it made enough of a difference that he chose to give me a break. No one knows how unconditional kindness can make a difference.

The Race - An Inspirational Story of Struggling Against Failure

Encouragement

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away.""

- Abraham Lincoln

The Don't Quit Poem

Success is failured turned inside out.

Blessed

Throughout our suffering there is always someone who has had experiences worse than ourselves. That does not necessarily mean that we suffer any less nor face less frustrations accompanying the trials placed before us. So be thankful for whatever your suffering might be it could always be worse. Just look around you and you'll see how blessed you really are in life.

Faith

When the heart weeps for what is lost, the spirit laughs for what it has found.

- Sufi Aphorism

Thinking Big vs. Thinking Small

Most of us have heard the expression that it takes just as much energy to think big as it does to think small. What exactly does this mean? We thought it would be fun to inspire your imagination in this area. Here is a helpful exercise that works best when done with a pen and paper.

1. Pick an area or a task in your life where you feel challenged.

2. Write about this challenge in detail. What are the various components? Who is involved? What makes this area of your life seem challenging? Invest some time getting in touch with your thoughts and feelings, and describe them in detail. Can you identify your beliefs that make your situation seem so challenging?

3. Form an intention to connect with your mind and your mental reasoning. This is the part of you that is logical, likes to analyze, and is rational. Spend some time writing the various solutions and possibilities that come to mind. Notice the amount of mental energy you are using. Notice if your solutions attempt to control your environment, the people, or the circumstances in your life.

4. Put down your notebook and move your body, as you are able. Listen to some music and dance. You could even do a short exercise workout. The idea here is to clear your head and get energy moving through your body for at least ten to fifteen minutes. This will help you let go of the energetic nature of "effort."

5. After you invigorate your body, sit back down with your pen and paper. Invest some time imagining what it would be like if you had incredible amounts of support in your life. Allow your imagination room to fantasize. The support can can come from willing family, friends, angels, guides--even helpful strangers. Imagine ways you could interact with those who help you. Imagine yourself thinking big and sharing your ideas and possible solutions with whoever wants to be a helpful facilitator. Write out as many possible uncensored scenarios as your heart and imagination can dream up. Most importantly, have as much fun imagining as you can.

6. After you complete the dreaming stage of this exercise, place your writings in a place that is sacred to you. You might want to put them under your pillow or put them in a special "dream box." After you find a sacred place for them, allow yourself to let go of trying to figure everything out. Feel yourself aligning with your heart and with trust. Perhaps in the days to come a flash of intuition will enter your mind and present you with a new solution. Maybe "helpers" will mysteriously appear in your life to give you a hand. The possibilities for how you can create support for your challenges are infinite!

http://www.askalana.com/stories/think-big.html

- Kirk VandenBerghe

Forgiveness

Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.

- Reinhold Niebuhr

New Beginning

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress,
and working together is success."

- Henry Ford

Christmas in July

I had put an ad to sell an artificial Christmas tree online. It was there for months before I got a desperate call from some guy wanting the tree. “If I still had the tree he would be by to pick it up in an hour,” he said. I’ve heard this before “I want it and I’ll be right over.” So I didn’t hold my breath for this guy.

About an hour later he calls and tells me he’s on his way. He should be at my place in an hour or so. He asked if “I had any more Christmas decorations to sell?” I told him no. He said “he’s on a mission to recreate Christmas.”

So, I waited for him in the alley. A few moments later, this big black roared toward me and parked. This guy pops out of the driver’s side and heads over to me. He barks “You the guy selling the tree?” I nodded and gave him the box.

He took it and said “I told you I was going to recreate Christmas?” I responded “Yeah.” So he goes on to tell me this story. He met this girl a year ago and they became friends. Up to that point he was doing the bar scene and dating a lot of different girls. But this girl came along and made a difference in his life.

Then one day it came to an end when she told him she was leaving for Europe to work. He knew he would miss her, but as the days passed he realized he had deep feelings for her. They continued to stay in touch by phone and racked up some heavy bills.

It had been six month since she left for Europe. She was coming back to see him for the weekend. They had never made love, their love had grown from the friendship between them and now they knew it was true. When this guy first met this girl, it was during Christmas, which is why he wanted the Christmas tree. He wanted to recreate Christmas in his living room, so when she stepped into his house she would be taken back to that day and there, he would ask for her hand in marriage.

Sharing

There is nothing we like to see so much as the gleam of pleasure in a person's eye when he feels that we have sympathized with him, understood him. At these moments something fine and spiritual passes between two friends. These are the moments worth living.

- Don Marquis

Morning Thoughts

Keep these concepts in mind: You've failed many times, although you don't remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. .... Don't worry about failure. My suggestion to each of you: Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

- Sherman Finesilver.
-(American Judge)

The Wrecking Crew

You have no idea these guy’s were playing on your favorite albums back in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. They were the best of the best, but nobody knew who they were... until now!

The Spirit of the Marathon

A true triumph of the human spirit!. Six people from different walks of life take on the challenge of running in the Chicago Marathon. Which lives will be changed forever?

Compassion

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.

- George Washington Carver

Taare Zameen Par

Taare Zameen Par tells the story of eight year old Ishaan who suffers greatly until a teacher identifies him as dyslexic. What an amazing story! Enjoy this clip.

This is "the first time an international studio has bought the video rights of an Indian film."

Encouragement

When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.

- Edward Teller

Spin

This is a very cool short film. I've seen it a dozen times and I still enjoy watching it. When I see this film it reminds me through right action we can make a difference in life.

A Touching Story

I saw an ad to help prepare and serve a dinner at a homeless shelter. Since, I had never been to a homeless shelter I thought this might be a good experience.

The place I was going to was in a run-downed section of Hollywood. The houses were unkept with bars over the windows. Definitely, not a safe place to be day or night.

When I got to the shelter I checked in with guard and he opened the gate to the underground parking for me. I was glad I didn’t have to park out on the street.

In the kitchen I found three people; two were other volunteers and one was the person who I needed to see, Sally. I was told we were preparing a dinner to feed 65 people and most of the meal was being prepared from scratch.

So I helped placing chicken breasts on a tray, made ice tea and lemonade. Then, Sally asked me to go to the dining room and set the tables for dinner.

I stepped into the living quarters and saw so many bunk beds. There were people sleeping, reading, listening to music or talking with friends. I saw young and old, people from all races, so healthy and some crippled.

This was a 90-day transitional shelter. This was a place for people down on their luck, who were trying to get back on their feet to have a home. When I looked around, I couldn’t believe that some of the people looked like me. I wondered how this could be and what their story was.

I asked Sally how she got involved doing this. She told me it was one of the few shelters that didn’t have an organization come in and provide a dinner. So she started to do it once a month and has been doing it for three years now. If that isn’t impressive enough, she pays for all of this out of her pocket, everything from the food to the paper plates. Wow! What a touching story.

Sally isn’t rich nor is she poor, she is just a single woman trying to get by in life, but she is doing it by making a difference. I must say I’ve never met anyone like her, which is why I want to tell this story. People like her in this world are a rare breed.

By the way, she doesn’t just feed all these people. She brings each meal to them at the table. Her idea is to give them respect and dignity and not feel like they’re getting a handout.

When it was all over and done with, Sally, along with all the volunteers got a big “thank you” from the Diners. I can't tell you how gratifying that moment was to me.

Everyone has a purpose in life... a unique gift or special talent to give to others.

Yodok Story Trailer

This was another phenomenal film I saw at “Doc Week.” It got a lot of press and I’m sure it will be picked up at some point. A true story of the human will to survive! This story will give you a new appreciation for life.

Tokyo Square: That is Love

My friend, Jolie, from Viet Nam sent this video to me. Thought I'd share it with you. It has a nice melody.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father trailer

I caught this documentary at the International Documentary Association's "Doc Week," last week here in Los Angeles. The buzz word was “you have to see this film.” So I checked it out and sat on the edge of my seat as this heart wrenching story unfolded before my very eyes. I saw two people find the courage to go on and live another day, through love and compassion.

Happiness

There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else.

- Peyton Conway March

Signs

A friend, Susie, from Jakarta, Indonesia, relayed a story to me the other day. I think we can all relate to traffic and being stuck in traffic. Well, in Jakarta traffic is a driver’s nightmare. I’ve been there and I can tell you it’s quite a sight to see. You can’t imagine how aggressive these drivers are as they fight for their piece of the road, like it was a matter of life and death.

Susie, who was stuck in this traffic on her way home, found herself behind one of these guys’ that just drove you crazy. She started blasting her horn and screaming at the top of her lungs. Suddenly, a thought hit her like a ton of bricks as her eyes focused in on the license plate in front of her.

A few blocks from her home she decided to stop off and get something cool to drink. As she was paying for it, the numbers of the license plate flashed in her mind. She saw a lottery ticket and decided to use the numbers.

The next day she decided to see how her luck held up and checked the winning numbers. Low and behold, to her amazement her numbers came up winners. She didn’t win big money but she did walk away a winner in another.

Susie opened her eyes and removed the blinders covering them and recognized the sign before her. Good things await all of us, we only have to see them.

The Heartbeat is a Drum

Each drum has its own unique voice and vibration
The first stroke on the drum births all beings into existence
It is the sound of our mother

The Drummer 《戰‧鼓》 theatrical trailer 正版電影預告片 房祖名 李心潔 梁家輝

Lessons of Wisdom

Mistakes are lessons of wisdom.

When you make a mistake, you don't look back at it for long.

Take the lesson and move forward.

Although the past cannot be changed.

How to shape the future is still in your hands.

- praysworld.com

Grand Prize Sweepstake's Winner

My first story is that of a woman I ran into yesterday. I knew this woman from a place where I use to work. She was an ordinary woman who struggled like most of us working two jobs to pay for a place of her own.

I hadn’t seen her for a couple of months, so some time had passed between us. In fact, I wanted to see her because I needed to give her something I had of hers. It was one of those moments I consider to be pure, because it happened for a reason.

She said she would walk back with me to the car. On our way, she told me she had began her day by saying "There will be a miracle coming into my life and I will accept it." I thought this was a great way to start the day. Little did I know what she was going to tell me next.

I knew she was working hard to pay her bills and she made so many sacrifices just to survive. So, when she told me she was the grand prize sweepstake’s winner from a local grocery store I couldn’t believe it, but was so happy for her. When I found out, she won a brand-new car, I was ecstatic. In all my life I had never heard of someone winning something of this magnitude.

She looked at me and said "I didn’t know by saying this each morning it would work so fast." I wanted to share this story because she is one of us – someone out there working to survive and have a better life. Her story is one that should be heard to give people hope to believe, where hope has fallen to despair.

Believe that anything can happen to you and be thankful for all that you have. No matter where you are in life it could always be worse.