This young woman is amazing. The story is heart wrenching, incredible and well written.  Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote the forward to the book and it here is his opening line:

"I've read thousands of books over the past 50 or so years.  The book you hold in your hands is by far the most moving and poignantly significant of the vast library that comprises my life-time of personal reading."

I won't delve into the book - for it is a must read book.  It will change you and the way you think and the way you look at your own faith forever.  Please take the time to read it.  Then come back here and post your comments.  

It is truly an amazing story. 

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This woman is a dear friend of ours.  Her name is Melissa and she worked with my wife Cindy for years in the same dental office.  We have been close friends for about 14 years.  Earlier this year, Melissa was the victim of a heart attack.  A near 100% blockage occured in one of the arteries to her heart.  A stent was inserted to open the artery and her long recovery process began.

Recovery was a bit slow at first as Melissa was still reeling from the shock.  How could this happen?  Why me?  All the questions that any of us would be asking if we had been so victimized.  Here she was - healthy, young and fit (or so she thought).  Melissa had trimmed down, had been working out religiously for some time and was in very good physical health.  I don't know, but my guess is that her fitness level actually contributed to minimizing the overall effect the blockage had on her.

Ultimately, cardio rehab had to start and Melissa worked her way back into a "normal" life - only now she is on cholesteral medication and closely scrutinizes her diet to ensure she is consuming heart healthy food.

Her life did a turn around.  Lots of things became confusing.  She had fallen deeply in love with a good man and her life was looking up.  Then BAM - out of the blue arrived this curve ball.  It hit her hard too - but slowly and steadily - she recovered.  

Life is funny that way.  But it is worth living and I am proud to say that Melissa is looking forward and living more vigorously and with more vitality and energy than ever before.  She is running and exercising and looks great!  Sometimes she falters a bit - but she recovers with style.  I am proud of my friend Melissa and she is an inspiration to all of us who think we have problems that we will never overcome.

Is Melissa living on easy street?  I don't think so, but she is living, and she is getting active to help and encourage others who have fallen victim to heart disease.  Her life has new direction and I believe she will do great things.

I recently did a photo shoot of her and here are some of the results.  We had a lot of fun and my assistant (Cindy) helped me as we staged her for different shots at a local park.  

The message here is simple.  When life throws you a curve, you can elect to fall down and die, or you turn into the wind and charge forward head on with your chin up.  Take each breath with gratitude and share your remarkable life with as many people as you can.  

Live to be an example to someone!

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I knew about Nick already because of an email received from a friend some time ago.  Nick is an amazing person.  He was born in 1982 with no arms or legs.  That's the same year my beautiful daughter was born and we had a son just two years after that.  Nick makes me think.  Nick makes a lot of people think.  If he can be successful despite his incredible disability, why can't I?

Well - life isn't about disabilities.  It's about living.  When I was outside this morning, listening to the birds chirping, I thought to myself....  I don't think animals gossip, they don't hurt each other emotionally, they don't worry about where the next nut or flower, or leaf, or worm is going to come from.  They just go out and do what they do everyday.  They don't doubt that there will be food for them.  And low and behold - they find it.  Look around - the animal kingdom is amazing. We are at the top of the food chain and we still don't get it!   Anyway - I digress.  I really wanted to talk about Nick.

Nick Vujicic (pronounced - Voy-a-chich) is truly an inspiration to us all.  No matter how down on your luck you are or what you are going through, we all have our trials and tribulations.  But one of the main messages he gives is "Attitude is Altitude."   Nick has cultivated an attitude of gratitude and he lives it each and every day.  

Can you imagine living alone, getting up out of bed, cleaning yourself up, dressing yourself, brushing your teeth, blowing your nose, washing your hair - all with no arms or legs?  To say nothing about fixing yourself something to eat, or even feeding yourself!   This is everyday in Nick's life and he does not take life for granted.  He has the option of looking at each day as a struggle, or as a blessing.  You already know how he looks at his days.

So the next time you stub your toe, or don't get exactly what you want, or crash your car, or have a bad hair day, think about how fortunate you are to have those problems.  Think about the significance of your life and how you live it and what you give and who you are thankful for and live each day with an "attitude of gratitude".   Learn to embrace the infinite power of the universe and live each day fully like Nick.  

I encourage you to look at his website and learn more about him and read his book.  You can find out more about Nick at his website - http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/

Have a fantastic day!

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See the full gallery on Posterous

Visit Eric's site at:  http://www.americanprideandpassion.com

I guarantee you will be amazed.

My images have been assembled from 5-10 shots at exposures of anywhere between 4-10 seconds using a low ISO and a stopped down aperture to ensure maximum depth of field and detail.  The camera must stay very still during this process and is mounted on a very stable tripod and activated by a remote shutter release.

Each shot is carefully composed.  This can be done using virtually any camera as long as you can control the shutter speed.  They are fun to setup and create and offer an opportunity to hone your photoshop skills and photography skills while it is very cold and uncomfortable outside.

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Today - I thought it would be fun to share some of the good self improvement books that I have read over the years.  These books have impacted me and changed my life over the last 35 years.   Funny thing is that I didn't get involved in reading these types of books until I became an Amway distributor in the late 70's.   That's when I was introduced to Zig Ziglar and stinkin thinkin!  That's when I learned about the round tuit coin.  It's when I really started reading positive, meaningful, books that changed my life.  I would not have had the Navy career I had without an understanding of these books.   I so enjoyed them that I filled a small notebook with quotes and excerpts from these books so I could take it on the submarine with me during deployments.  That way I could refer to them when I needed a boost.  I divided this little book into sections so I could find a quote, or excerpt that worked for me for any particular situation.  It really helped me during tough times.

Well here is the listing of books and their authors - probably not a complete list - but this will get you started

The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peale

Think and Grow Rich - Napolean Hill

See You at the Top - Zig Ziglar

The Magic of Thinking Big - David J. Schwartz

The Greatest Secret in the World - Og Mandino

The Greatest Salesman in the World - Og Mandino

The Greatest Miracle in the World - Og Mandino

The Spirit of Apollo - Dr. Sydney Newton Bremer (Out of print - but I still have a copy - a wonderful 25 year study of successful people)

As a Man Thinketh - James Allen

Top Performance - Zig Ziglar

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey

The New Dynamics of Winning - Dennis Waitley

The Master Key to Riches - Napolean Hill

Acres of Diamonds - Russell Conwell (Everyone should read this - great story / parable)

The Magic of Self Direction - David J. Schwartz

Success!  The Glenn Bland Method

Psycho-Cybernetics - Maxwell Maltz

The Confident Decision Maker - Roger Dawson

The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren

Change your Thoughts, Change Your Life - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Excuses Be Gone - Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Power of Intention - Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Go-Giver - Bob Burg and John David Mann

Go-Givers Sell More - Bob Burg and John David Mann 

Beach Money - Jordan Adler

Promptings - Kody Bateman

Stay the Course - Adam Packard

Appreciation Marketing - Curtis Lewsey and Tommy Wyatt

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Want to change your life and your business dramatically?  I know the secret and it is easy to implement and simple to sustain.  But consistency is the key.  You must practice this each and every day and you must commit to thinking about it daily.

Many have long embraced the concept of being a Go-Getter.  There was even great little book written on the subject and it was well received by many since its first printing in 1921.  There is nothing wrong with the values, principles and character traits of the story's main character and the story is indeed a motivating one.  As a business person, I truly hope that anyone I hire has these values.  But this is a story of personal motivation and not of building relationships.

The principle I am discussing is based on building quality relationships with people no matter who they are.  I learned this principle and the 5 laws that go along with this principle from another small, easily readable parable called "The Go-Giver."  This book was written by Bob Burg and John David Mann and is supplemented by their follow-on book "Go-Givers Sell More."   

So you want to change your life dramatically?  Become a Go-Giver!  This doesn't mean that you have to give away all your money, your time, or join the Peace Corps.  What it does mean is that you begin to put into practice the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success as outlined in the book, The Go-Giver.  Want to know more about the 5 Laws then be sure to read Go-Givers Sell More.

The books are also available as audio books and I highly recommend you read them or listen to them.  You will be glad you did. And if you know any people in your life who are already Go-Givers - Bob and John's website also has a Go-Giver Certificate you can download, fill out and print to give to those people.

Bob and John are genuine people who live these principles - and they work.  You want to get more - give more!  If you are in sales then you may have heard of a famous guy named Zig Ziglar.  He once said "You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."  (Bob and John selected Zig as the first recipient of the lifetime achievement Go-Giver Award!)

It works - it has always worked and it will always work!  Become a Go-Giver today!

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You know - it seems that everyone has advice on marketing your business.  But how many of us are so overloaded with advice that we don't know where to turn?  When it gets like this, do a little meditating.  Contemplate the relationships you have with the people (and yes - customers are people) you do business with.  Then dig deep down and think about all the things you truly enjoy about all them.  How grateful are you for their business?  Have you expressed your gratitude?  What physical act have you performed to ensure they know of your thankfulness?

It is amazing to me that when I ask people how they correspond with their customers, most say "We send an email newsletter."  So how many of you enjoy sifting through tons of junk email newsletters from businesses?  Does this make you extremely happy?  Does it make you feel important?  So why do you stop there?   Yes - email marketing is an essential tool - but how do you go about making sure your friend,the customer feels important?  That is the key.  Everyone has a sign around their neck that says - "Make me feel important".  Even you wear this sign and you must admit that you truly enjoy when someone goes out of their way to make you feel important.

There are no pat answers to making people feel important.  Just treat them the way you would want to be treated.  Go the extra mile.  Do more than you are paid to do - and don't expect anything in return.  When you give - you receive.  Give more - receive more.   

Have you ever thought of sending your customers birthday cards?  If not - why not?  Don't you like getting them in the mail?  Or do you think your Facebook birthday wishes are more sincere?  Or an eCard from JibJab?  Although they are funny - you are probably not competing with comedians.  Sending birthday cards used to be complex - but today is as easy as composing an email - or working on a document.  It can even be accomplished using a phone, or iPad.

Send Holiday cards, Thank You cards, Anniversary Cards and even include some gourmet brownies!  They will definitely get a kick out of those.   Building relationships with your customers using greeting cards will help your grow your referral based business exponentially.  It can and has been done by many of the most successful sales people in history.  Now you can do it easily.

Want to know more?  Visit this link:  http://www.remembergreetingcards.com/randyallen

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When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if  anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite! 

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits." 

 Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides – a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!" 

 Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others' faults - and choosing to celebrate each others' differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. 

 And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God.  Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! 

 We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! 

 "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." 

 So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.  And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life. 

 Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. 

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point." 

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