Pray to Heal

Today, I would like to pay tribute to a Squidoo lensmaster who is on the verge of completing quite a challenge. Over on the Crabbysbeach blogging community, Kate Loving Shenk, known as mukunda22 on Squidoo, pledged to write a daily prayer for healing for 365 days straight.

Many of us who write on Squidoo write blogs which point to our Squidoo articles. With Kate, the blog takes center stage, and she has created a Squidoo page to give you a sampling of the prayers from her year of blogging. She writes,

"As I reach the end of my blogging challenge, I feel different somehow, more alive, loving and forgiving."

The definition of prayer that resonates most with me is "paying attention to the one who loves you best." Whatever your view of a higher power, this definition applies even if the one who loves you best is a human being or a dog! Paying attention is key, and Kate has done this with her dedication to the 365 day challenge. We can all learn something from that.

All this week, Kate has been reflecting on how these daily prayers have changed her, actually rewired her brain, yet I would say by the responses from her readers, that they have been changed too. I know that I have been strongly affected by what Kate has written and by the comments she receives. Here are two of the many messages from Kate that I took to heart.

The choice to find happiness or judgment is mine every moment of every day. The two are not the same, yielding two different states of mind, diametrically opposed.
Which will you choose, today?

Goals based on fear conflict with the love and peace of God/ess.
1) I (or you) deserve to suffer.
2) I want to be right.
3) I never want to age and die.
4) I want to always please you.
5) I want my pain to be your fault.
Releasing the insanity of these fear based goals is like opening the prison gates.

I invite you to visit Kate's page, 365 Prayer Blog Challenge, to read what she has to say and see what she has accomplished. Maybe it will inspire you to do something similar. Kate plans to continue her prayers, at least five days a week.

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Image Credit: The Healing Tree by victoriaray

The Flaming Pumpkin Makes Great Entertainment

I love the fall. I love the weather. I love the autumn colored leaves and the delightful crunch they make when they are stepped on. I love the food: pumpkin, squash, beets… All these beautiful colored foods make my mouth water, but most of all, I love the creativity it brings out in people.

Something about this time of year, maybe because of all the beautiful colors and the lovely weather, makes people light up with ideas. Take the Flaming Blackened Pumpkins by Nenkai, as an example. It is a story about a carved pumpkin blackened by fire. On any day this event could have easily been told and forgotten, but Nenkai creatively writes the events of the day in such a fun tone that it sounds a lot like a children’s story written for adults.

The story is even accompanied by fantastic close up pictures, like a picture book, of a quirky carved pumpkin. We see pictures of the pumpkin before the fire, the pumpkin on fire, the pumpkin on fire and smoke… and of course at the very end, the blackened pumpkin.

To select a favorite picture is difficult because every picture on this Squidoo page is wonderful and well placed. I love the picture of the pumpkin when it is first lit up. The rest of the picture is in black and white, but the fire is in color. I love the last picture on the page of the pumpkin covered in drops of water. They look like beads of sweat and the pumpkin looks shocked.

The placement of the matches and then the fire extinguisher products between the story and the pictures are a fun addition to the page too. It’s like tempting you to do something bad, but then keeping you safe in case it gets out of hand. I can’t definitely understand why this lens/page earned a purple star.

Personally I would love to see the use of a spookier font for the text and the list of blackened foods near the bottom seems a little out of place. So, I would remove it and replace it with an Amazon spotlight module of a recipe book of blackened food or maybe pumpkin foods. That’s it. No more detail or changes needed.

 

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Image Credit: Decaying Pumpkin by Ecolicious
View other Halloween Cards 

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Visit: Flaming Blackened Pumpkins

Learning About The Beautiful Lurcher

I don't want to sound like an ignoramus, but in my fifty plus years of life I'd never heard of a Lurcher. Maybe that is because I live in the U.S. and the writer is in England where the Lurchers live.

After reading the article, "Lurchers - 40MPH Couch Potato Dogs", which was lovingly put together by the owner of three of these dogs, I have fallen in love with them too. The writer, CDT, is not only writing to proudly show off her pets and tell her story, but to bring awareness to the fact that there are many of these dogs looking for good homes in the United Kingdom.

As she mentions, a Lurcher is not a breed, but a mix of various breeds that originated in Ireland and the United Kingdom. They were bred specifically for poaching and hunting small animals, which is one of the reasons you may not want a Lurcher.
The article extols the virtues of these dogs including their kind dispositions, unique and varied appearance and of course their love of running. She also mentions that even thought they can run 40mph, it doesn't mean that it's all they like to do. They enjoy their down time and her dogs sometimes like to spend time sprawled on the couch.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this article is that CDT gives us a true picture of what life with Lurchers is all about and she uses lots of her own wonderful photographs to do so. She speaks from the heart and although she clearly adores her dogs, she also explains that the Lurcher isn't the perfect pet for everyone, mainly because of their love of hunting small critters.

This is an honest, in depth look at a dog I knew nothing about. Anyone in the UK who is considering adopting a dog and wondering about having a Lurcher, should read the page which has links to rescue centers. I must warn you that once you see those big puppy eyes on that sweet face, you will be smitten.

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Image Credit: Lurcher Christmas Card by madaboutgreys

Yes It's Made From Candy Wrappers

*puff *pant...Did I make it? I'm sure I'd lose my head if it wasn't screwed on!

Anyway, back to the task at hand...

You may or may not have noticed that I'm not your typical girlie girl. I don't spend thousands or even go weak at the knees over shoes, fashions etc...But, I do have a love for handbags.

Usually, the bags that catch my eye must be quirky, unusual and very unique. Nothing else will do. They must also be practical and stand up to the job that is asked of them. How many bags have you bought for over £20 that have fallen apart within hours of you buying them? I've lost count, seriously.

This is why Candy Wrapper Handbags by nyfamily5 caught my eye. It's a bag lover's haven and I only wish I'd come across this particular lens many years ago. No doubt I could have saved a fortune! I must have spent hundreds of pounds on bags that I never used, or that simply fell apart or that didn't even match my special criteria for the perfect bag. Believe me, I'm extremely fussy and very lazy. I don't like carrying the things using my hands or shoulders. So a long strap is a vital component (amongst many others...)

But, the bags featured on this squidoo lens are absolutely perfect for likes of me who is an expert on handbags and they fulfil my need for the quirky, unusual and unique. Whether they stand the test of time is another matter but I'm dying to try them out. Is there such a job as a handbag tester?

There is also one very special feature of these bags....they are environmentally friendly. They are made out of candy wrappers and are durable, strong and waterproof. They also look absolutely gorgeous!

I've just got to have one or maybe even two ;) I mean, think of all those yummy sweets that were needed to make just one of these bags? So, here's a quick check list:

Satisfy sugar cravings...check!
Look sensational...check!
Durable...check!
Unique...double check!

Perfect!

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Image Credit: Halloween Skeleton Treats by Peerdrops

Strange Truths

There is an old adage that "truth is stranger than fiction" and I think that most of us have had odd experiences in our lives or we know someone who has. You know the ones I'm talking about, events that almost seem too bizarre to be real; yet they happened. Sometimes when we relate these stories to others they think we have a more than normal imagination. Events that most likely spurred the creation of "Ripley's Believe It - Or Not" happen to everyday folks like you and me.

While searching for an article to review this week, I came across someone who not only has one such strange story to tell but several. In Weird Truth - Believe It Or Not we read stories from 4U2C. She tells true stories of events that have happened to her, her family, and friends that really do seem stranger than most fiction we read. Accounts of answered prayers and one sort of spooky one are difficult to stop reading. I found myself smiling while reading most of them as her deep faith rings through in most of the events she shares with us.

At this time of year, some might read the stories from 4U2C and think there was some paranormal stuff going on and the one with the Rose certainly makes one wonder what was happening there. All of the stories reflect activity from a Being more powerful than we mortal humans; who watches over us, answers our prayers, and blesses our lives. No matter the name we give this unseen Being (God, Creator, Great Spirit) many of us have experienced events that we know He had a hand in. We know the "weird" truth in the stranger than fiction tales we can tell are hard for some to believe but we also know they actually happened. Maybe the difference is in the ability to be thankful for the blessing and not being able to see the miracle for what it is. Personally, I found a remarkable beauty in these stories coming from a woman who clearly has a soul filled with deep faith.

Image Credit: Faceless Ghosts

The Great American Pastime

One of my favorite teachers in high school was my English teacher. I had just moved to the area and started at this school in October of my senior year (This was my 5th high school in 4 years).

She taught the first class of the day for me: "Themes & Research Papers". I walked in, she introduced me to the class, I said "Hi y'all" in my lingering Kentuckian accent and we got down to work. I liked her style and class so much that I added 3 more of her classes to my schedule for the rest of my senior year. Together we traversed "Death in Literature", "Poetry" and "Creative Writing". I already had a love for reading and a penchant for writing, but Mrs. Gray nurtured my interest into a passion.

I liked her style. She was everything that 17 year old girl aspired to be -- witty, knowledgeable, authoritative in her field, fair and fun. The most important lesson I took away from her classes was passion. "Life is about passion. Don't just like something -- anything -- be passionate about it. Live it, read it, write it but do it with passion."

That description from Lauretta Gray is perfect for Wednesday_Elf aka Pat. Her passion? The Great American Pastime - Baseball.

It is evident in her writing she is passionate about the subject. In her lens Crazy about Baseball her love of the game is shining through. Although I am not caught up in the game the way she is, as a reader, her writing style engaged me and I read every word. She tells personal stories, is knowledgeable about her subject and sprinkles it with a few chuckles.

The lens design is as entertaining as the subject -- fun borders, black boxes with quotes and family pictures. She masterfully inserts sales modules that add content richness rather than being distracting. She includes custom text with the items expanding her personal touch. She calls Squidoo and making lenses her hobby but her soul is that of a writer.

If you haven't run across this lens yet, pop over and have a read. I'm sure you will be impressed with her style and passion! And to my Fairy Godmother and friend, Pat, thank you for everything.

Image Credit:
Off Season's Greetings by nextfstop

Apple of My Eye

We've heard these expressions our whole lives.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"As American as apple pie."

"You are the apple of my eye."

But where do these expressions come from? Most of us never ask these questions. Most of us aren't nDee.

In her beautifully designed article, Apple Sayings: Where the Heck Did They Come From?, nDee delves into the history of these well-known sayings with insight and humor. Did apple pie really originate with Americans? Of course not. Those apple seeds and pie-making skills came over with the Pilgrims. You will also learn the backgrounds for the terms "upper crust," "apple polisher," and "Adam's apple." Did you ever wonder why New York is called "The Big Apple?"

What I like about this page is that it is succinct, pretty to look at, and I learned something new. When building lenses we need to take into account the time and focus factors. Will people actually read them? As wonderful and informative as a lens may be, if the length and detail overwhelm the viewer, it won't be read. I read every word of nDee's page because it gave me exactly what the title said it would, in just the right number of words. And the visual layout was also inviting.

One thing I'm still wondering, though. Why does "the apple not fall far from the tree?" And, as one commenter suggested, "How do you like them apples?"

Throughout the article, there is an inherent respect for this most humble of fruits. Apples are so very good for us, and it is no wonder that so many sayings have arisen from them. That reminds me. It's time to eat my apple for today.

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Image Credit: youre the apple of my eye by trickyruby
Design greeting cards

Artistic Designs For Dessert

Although the article "Quirky Art: Dessert" is about coffee and desserts, it goes a step beyond the normal and adds a special flavor by featuring some very unusual, and very temporary, artwork.

I think we have all seen the photos of coffee art with hearts and smileys, but have you ever seen the coffee art being done? I never really gave it much thought and did not realize how advanced coffee art has become. I sat enthralled while watching the latte artists quickly whip up a cute little design to decorate an already delicious looking drink. I don't think I will ever be happy drinking my bland little cup of Folgers again.

Further down the page, writer resabi, gives us a look at some amazing cake art. After all, don't we need some cake art to go with our coffee art? A quickly drawn bunny face in a cup of coffee is really no great loss, but I can't even imagine the time spent on creating a flower garden cake, and who wants to be the first one to cut into that?

The Quirky Art: Dessert article was whipped up by Squidoo lensmaster resabi, whose profile says in part that she is a "follower of paths frivolous and not", and I am glad she brought us this somewhat frivolous lens to enjoy.

All of this type of art will not last and that, in part, is what makes it so enjoyable. All that time and effort put in by the artist will be drunk down, gobbled up and ruined and then another creation will begin.

She leaves us with a fun poll entitled, "Could You Eat This Cake?" and after viewing the cake, I think you will find that the answer may not be as easy as you think!

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Image Credit: Coffee by Morice

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Columbine Remembered

When you're in the grip of the events in your own life and you have your head full of your current problems, sorrows etc., it's always difficult to accept that there are people out there considerably worse off than you.

In fact, it's just not feasible to be spending too much time thinking of some other poor sod who may be having a really bad day. I mean, let's face it, it doesn't help you to solve the current matter in hand of where the money's going to come from to pay the next hefty bill. But, does that make us a selfish race? Not at all.

It makes us human. It makes us who we are. An intelligent life-form who can learn from mistakes and tragedies that can affect us. However, sometimes, it does help us to think about and remember the victims and survivors of past disasters and tragedies. It helps to recognise that there are others out there who are facing difficult situations in their own lives right now. That must surely help to put our own problems into perspective?

Columbine Survivors 10 years later by Boshemia does just that and more. It's a stark reminder of what the human race can endure and, ultimately, survive.

Events such as these can bring allies (countries) and friends together much closer than ever before. But, it can also do so much more to each and every one of us on a personal level. This is what we should never forget. In some way or another you, too, will be touched by a tragedy such as this through people you know, relatives or even your own immediate family; something that will affect you deeply.

Yes, life can be hard at times; even more than what seems fair to one person. But, these difficulties and hardships that we face can make us feel so very alive and surely that is what counts? To help us appreciate what we have and not what we have lost?

I have to admit that I am guilty of dwelling on my own personal hardships far too much which, I can now see, doesn't even come close to what these survivors have had to live through in terms of pain and emotional, psychological anguish. It's easy to get lost deep within your own suffering with no thought of anyone else.

Columbine Survivors 10 years later will surely help us recognise and cherish what we have that much more.

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Image Credit: Tragedies of 9/11, Columbine, Virgina Tech O... by carlene2007

Two New Lens Reviewers

A great big WELCOME to Rich and Pam!

Rich will be writing a lens review on Mondays under the lensmaster name of Waxing-Lyrical (he's also known around the web as Squid_Rich). Visit Rich's lenses, and you'll find someone who's passionate about music and who conveys that passion well. ...Welcome Rich!

Writing reviews on Thursdays will be Pam, under the lensmaster name of dustytoes. Pam loves seashells, and gardening, and is a self-professed "nature nut." ...Welcome, Pam!

Edit: We also have just now acquired a new Contributor! Mandee will be writing at least twice a month under the lensmaster name, DecoratingforEvents. Mandee has been in the event industry since 1986. She enjoys both writing and reading personal essays and memoirs. ...Welcome, Mandee!

All of these new authors are sure to find and write about some great lenses, so stay tuned!

A word for our two past authors, WordCustard and LeanneChesser: These two writers never let us down here, they just had to move on. Life ebbs; it flows. We will miss them and wish them all of the success in the world. Thank you, Nicki and Leanne, for your great work here supporting the Squidoo community.

Squidoo Monsters That Did Not Make The Cut

Around the first of September, or somewhere close to that, Squidoo introduced Squidoo+. In the game-like format, Monster Trophies can be earned by completing good deeds around the community such as encouraging others, interacting, and building new content. Lensmasters can go on quests to find special monster trophies after having completed specific tasks much like playing a video game. Response has been mixed about this new format with some folks loving it, others hating it, and a myriad of undecideds.

As with any new format the naysayers have been pretty vocal in their disdain of coping with any sort of change. Folks have blamed the cute little Monsters for messing up lens rank, dropping traffic, and all sorts of unsportsmanlike conduct. One of my favorite community members Greekgeek decided to have a little fun with the controversy. In her article Unofficial Squidoo Monsters she suggests some Monster Trophies that HQ neglected to make a part of the team line-up. Her Monster wannabes and the trophies they represent are hysterically funny! One of my favorites of the Unofficial Squidoo Monsters is Thad who has a theory of conspiracy that he works with. He believes the Angels ding him, the dashboard cheats him, and Seth is out to get him. One Monster that I hope she adds to her menagerie is "Nippy The Nitpicker" which can be voted on towards the end of the article.

Greekgeek is someone that I have a great deal of respect for. She has been so very helpful to the community with her helpful articles of Squidoo Tips. Her writing is superb and she is a real asset to the Squidoo Community. I love how she used humor in this article to remind us all that we "earn" our trophies in life. If one pays attention to the light-hearted jesting in each of her unofficial trophies, one can pick up on some valuable tips for success at Squidoo and life in general. Success in any format is really achieved from hard work whether that is earning a Squidoo Monster Trophy or the Nobel Peace Prize. Awards that are handed out with little effort don't hold much weight.

For a good chuckle, go on over and read about the Squidoo Monsters that didn't make the cut. I promise you will be glad you did.

Image Credit: Squid Monster

Vivaldi's Four Seasons

While I am not a connoisseur of classical music, I can probably identify some of the more well known pieces. Some of my knowledge in this area comes from my kids, who took music lessons in piano and violin and had to play many of those well known pieces. I would bet that Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" is one piece that many would recognize.

This week I came across a writer on Squidoo who is doing some fabulous writing! She goes by the name 'greenspirit' and I had a hard time picking which lens I wanted to review. While she writes mostly about gardening, I finally settled on this article, Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, because it is just so well written, beautifully designed, and interesting too.

Did you know that, while Vivaldi was quite popular for awhile during his life in the 1700's, his music then went out of favor and lay in an attic for more than two hundred years? It wasn't until the 1960's that new recordings of his work started gaining in popularity. This is one of the interesting tidbits you will find on this page about his most famous work. She then goes on to outline each of the four concertos which make up this piece, including sample videos and accompanying sonnets. While she states that the Winter concerto is probably the most recognizable, for me it was Spring and Autumn. Vivaldi was from Italy and his interpretation of the seasons was based on what he experienced in Venice.

It is obvious that greenspirit knows something about music and this piece in particular because she delves into the nuances of different interpretations of the concertos and provides video as evidence. Of course, recommended books and recordings to learn more are also included.

This is exactly the type of page that represents what Squidoo is best at - experts writing about what they know and love.

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Image Credit: Heart Vivaldi by thinkers

Searching For A Fairy

How long has it been since you went searching for a fairy? For most of us the answer would probably be, "A very long time ago." Fairies have been a part of legend and lore in just about every culture around the globe since before we had the written word. Tales of tiny little creatures helping humans with problems or giving us little gifts of nature like dewdrops on morning flowers have enchanted many a young little girl. Walt Disney Productions has brought some fictional miniature beings to life in recent films starring the impish little fairy Tinkerbell. We have been able to visit Pixie Hollow and meet Tink's friends and see what tasks fairies are assigned. As adults we usually let go of the magical worlds of fairies and stop believing they exist. We push away the connection with our inner child and are no longer charmed by these magical little creatures.

Not all of us stop believing and not all of us stop searching for a fairy. Susanna Duffy shares her Sundays with her Granddaughter and they, on occasion, do some searching. Do You Know How To Find A Fairy? gives clues on how to find fairies or at least notice where they have just been. Susanna tells us good places to look and things to watch out for when searching for a fairy. There are some most delightful pictures of places that she and her granddaughter have tried to encounter a fairy.

What I found the most delightful of all in Susanna's story was the love of a Grandmother shining through. She is giving her granddaughter memories that will last a lifetime along with encouraging her to discover the world around her. Planting the seeds of wisdom that just because we can't see something doesn't mean it does not exist.

After reading this wonderful article, I suggest you take a child in your life out and create a little enchantment for them by searching for a fairy. Who knows, you just might get lucky and find one!

Image Credit: Fairy by LulusLand

Ah Meng, the Amazing Orangutan

I am one who believes that animals are much more intelligent than they are given credit for. Recently, I heard a story about a couple, both scientists, who raised a chimp in their home for research purposes. The chimp lived with them for more than ten years, so it became much more than a research project. The chimp became a part of their family and even took on many human qualities, like drinking tea and playing games with them.

So, when I read dancerence's article, Do You Remember Ah Meng, the Orangutan from the Singapore Zoo, it reminded me of the chimp story.

Ah Meng came to the Singapore zoo in 1971 and died at a ripe old age in 2008, with a family of children and grandchildren. What happened in between is lovingly told by dancerence and moved me to tears. Apparently, Ah Meng had quite a sense of humor, which came out in funny skits with her trainer. She had many famous fans too, including Prince Philip and Michael Jackson. Hundreds would come every year to celebrate Ah Meng's birthday, and more than 4,000 came for her memorial. Oh, that we could all have such an impact in our lives.

Orangutan is a Malaysian word meaning "person of the forest." Closely related genetically to humans, these animals are known for being intelligent and gentle. While they live mostly in trees, the young can stay with their mothers for up to six years. Once prevalent throughout Asia, they are now found only in Sumatra and Borneo. Due to loss of habitat, these amazing animals are considered critically endangered and may be the first of the chimp species to become extinct.

Besides the beautiful story of Ah Meng, dancerence provides ways to learn more about orangutans and how you can help these amazing animals through the Orangutan Conservancy and Chimp Haven.

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Image Credit: Young Orangutan by Orangutan

Write Your Childhood Memories Down for Future Generations to Enjoy

As writing memoirs is very much in the minds of the members of EWN at this time, I thought that my chosen lens this week could prove to be quite helpful for those who may find this area particularly tricky (me included!)

Of course, there is always a number of reasons why someone may find writing memoirs difficult to do which could also include the inability to remember anything good about their childhood or to remember anything at all!

So, with regards to some difficulties, the kind of help that they may require may not be so easily found. However, a lot can be gained from knowing that there is someone out there willing to listen and to help in whatever way they can to help all you budding writers exorcise feelings of vulnerability or wariness. Also, written support in the form of comments or feedback count for a lot, too.

Vallain's lens, Writing Triggers for Family Memories covers some of the most important events that most children will have to experience in their childhood. The memories that these prompts provoke could make up the first few chapters of my autobiography very easily. I'm sure they could do the same for you, too!

It's a pity that I cannot mention a second squidoo lens in this post which is all about problems caused by writing on-line as it would go very nicely together with vallain's creation. As it is, Writing Triggers for Family Memories stands up very well on its own and it's a great reference point for anyone interested in writing their own memoirs.

If I do ever get around to writing my autobiography I will be sure to:

a) re-visit this lens for ideas,
b) credit this lens in my book for helping me eventually put pen to paper.

So, have you been able to write down your memoirs successfully? If so, would you ever consider publishing them as part of your autobiography?

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Image Credit: Trigger Treats - poster or print by Perspicuity

The Golden Era of Radio

Some days I can't wait to begin typing. And some days I don't have a lot to say. I'd rather sit and simply listen.

It's tough to blog on those days.

Instead, I would rather point you in the direction of someone who has a great deal to share.

I don't know if you have met TheWhistler yet? But even if you have missed the mention MiMi gave her work here some time ago, her avatar will be familiar to many. The dog and the gramophone... the tale of "his master's voice" that was the origin of the name of a major music retailer here in the UK and in Canada. It is an apt choice for a writer who shares with us her passion for old time radio.

The recordings shared by TheWhistler (converted to a handy MP3 format) are from a golden era, when radiowaves ruled and family entertainment involved gathering around the wireless and listening to some of the greatest voice talents acting or narrating some of the best writing to be found.

Of all the electronic media that have made their indelible mark on the world, radio came with few precedents. Radio personalized events, made them more intimate, more real. Radio engaged us emotionally and brought us closer together as a nation. Radio marked the first instant medium shared collectively by millions.

In this impressive collection which has been so lovingly curated and shared with a new audience, you can find everything from great classics of literature to comedy, and sensationalist crime drama to genuine political broadcasts from events such as D-Day.

It is a difficult task indeed to choose here a single topic from the 60+ that TheWhistler offers for our entertainment. However, since Halloween is approaching, let me suggest an Old Time Radio Flier to match: Halloween OTR. From The Jack Benny Show and Lucille Ball to Orson Welles, you will discover here a host of radio stars with Halloween tales to chill the blood... or maybe just tickle your funny bones.

For a delightfully different Halloween experience, why not select a few that appeal to you. Then, as TheWhistler suggests, turn out the lights, take a seat and listen to these voices of the past.

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Image Credit: Brox Sisters: 1920s by Photoblog

Create Your Life

Everything I read says that we are entering a new era in employment and what it means to have a fulfilling life. The younger generation is entering the workforce in a time of economic uncertainty, where manufacturing is suffering, and the age of internet marketing is growing. They are questioning what it means to have financial security and meaningful work. Do they want a job that requires them to put in a certain number of hours a day so that they can take a two week vacation each year? Or do they want more control over their lives and how they spend their time?

With my kids all at or near the point of entering the workforce, I wonder what choices they will make. As my husband considers early retirement from the 9 to 5 world, I wonder how he can re-create his life to do work around his passions. And following my heart is certainly a direction I've been heading for the last couple of years.

It is a time of exciting possibilities, where one can create the life they want by following their passions. Many books and writers are speaking about this very topic. I was particularly intrigued by Daniel Pink's "A Whole New Mind," about how the gifts of right-brainers will be in demand in the future. And a new book by Chris Guillebeau, "The Art of Non-Conformity," shows how creating a different kind of life is not as hard as it sounds. If you can get by the nay-sayers, of course.

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

I have always enjoyed reading the work of Alan R. Wallace (BFuniv.com) on Squidoo because he is a visionary and makes me think. In this article, Best Jobs for the Future, he talks about "the emergence of self as the largest employment category for the future."

Alan discusses how the purpose of a college education has changed from personal growth to self-marketing. Real education, however, is based on passion. He talks about perceived boundaries that prevent us from following our dreams and how to knock them down. And he challenges us to rediscover self-directed learning, re-evaluate our consumer lifestyle, and re-imagine our ideal job.

The times are changing, whether we like it or not. Will we be able to adapt?

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Image Credit: Create - art, What You Love by Yogaheather