Comments

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  Lauren Cross September 9, 2009 at 12:46pm

  Ooh, I think I'm the 500th member, do I get a prize?? (Hey, it's the power of positive thinking, right? lol)
  
  Pleased to be here, thanks for the invitation, Penny!
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  Andy Boyns September 9, 2009 at 9:47am

  Can I join again so I become number 500?
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  Diane Merritt September 7, 2009 at 8:47pm

  OH GREAT! How did I get ANTS? Luckily, I have my trusty security blanket "Positive Thinkers Unite". Ahhhh - I feel better now. Thanks Penny!
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  rob actis September 7, 2009 at 3:19pm

  Hi Penny, Thanks for sharing that great message. I think I may have to print that out so I can keep looking at it. I think that most of us truly believe everything on the list, however I think that the day to day grind sometimes blurrs our focus on positive thoughts like these. Reading them brought a smile to my face.
  God Bless.
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  David Brower September 7, 2009 at 11:57am

  thanks for sharing Penny...words to inspire and bring a smile to your face and a calm to your heart. Even on my worse day it's still a blessed day and that's quite a gift.
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  Penny Abshire September 7, 2009 at 11:53am

  Food 4 Thought
  
  Hope you enjoy these sage words of wisdom. They certainly spoke to me! Also hope you are having a great Labor Day Weekend!
  
  Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
  
  "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It
  is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
  
  1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
  2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
  3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
  parents will. Stay in touch.
  5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
  6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
  8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
  9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
  10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
  11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
  12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
  13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
  is all about.
  14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
  15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never
  blinks.
  16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
  17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
  18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
  19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
  to you and no one else.
  20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
  answer.
  21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
  save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
  22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
  23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
  24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
  25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
  26.. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
  this matter?'
  27. Always choose life.
  28. Forgive everyone for everything.
  29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
  30. Time heals almost everything. Give time - time.
  31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  33. Believe in miracles.
  34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
  didn't do.
  35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
  36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
  37. Your children get only one childhood.
  38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
  39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
  40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
  grab ours back.
  41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  42. The best is yet to come.
  43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  44. Yield.
  45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
• 

  Bill Brewer September 7, 2009 at 11:40am

  Hi Penny, This positive forum recharges my batteries. I also find that makeing new friends with social media is exciting. If we don't reach out to new folks and become friends we are, in my opinion, missing a great opportunity to widen our horizons. I so look forward to meeting you at VOICE 2010.
  Warm regards,
  Bill
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  Penny Abshire September 7, 2009 at 11:13am

  Excellent comments, Tom, and I stand corrected about transposing "friends" for "followers." I guess it's just the way my mind works - I consider everyone a friend unless they prove differently. I also agree that (to some) having a great number of followers at any given time may be nothing more than a way to stroke their egos. And you are absolutely right that "following" someone certainly doesn't make them your friend - good point.
  
  I am so happy that you feel Positive Thinkers UNITE is a great place to be. In over a year now, there have never been any unkind remarks or snide comments in this group - only encouragement, compassion and love. and that is remarkable. Everyone here seems to really "get" it. If you frequent other discussion boards, you know that isn't always the case. Some can get really nasty. I wanted a place where people could tell us their story, give help and support to others and feel that each time they visit here they would be uplifted in some way. Positive Thinkers UNITE is not about me - I am only the catalyst. The real magic here has come from all of you - and you are the best!
  
  Hugs,
  
  Penny
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  Pearl Hewitt September 7, 2009 at 1:52am

  Tom,
  Here here!!!
  I guess you could say that because the members of this group have a similar outlook on life and work, we would probably become 'friends' in the traditional sense of the word if we were to meet and socialize on a regular basis.
  We all live and work in many different corners of the world but we've come together in this special place. I hope we stay here for a long while yet and maybe many of us will meet some day in the future. We'll already feel like we have a connection with each other. This type of socializing is still so new to all of us but I don't think it will go away in a hurry. We can make the most of it and keep it special. Good things will come from it :)
  Cyber hugs to you all!
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  Tom Dolan September 6, 2009 at 11:16pm

  Looking at the comments referring to my post of 9/3, I specifically said "Does gettin to 500 or 1000 followers mean you're a success?" I never used the term "friends" but chose instead the word "followers" while the later posts used the word "friends."
  
  I didn't use "friends" because I feel it's an inappropriate use of the word. I feel "friends" has been co-opted by social networking sites to serve up a distant, impersonal relationship as being more meaningful than it is. I mean, if I couldn't pick out a "friend" in an elevator containing two people, me being one, what kind of "friend"-ship is that?
  
  Semantics? I don't think so. Words have meanings, traditional, common usage meanings.
  
  So maybe, the application of the word "friends" is taking on a new meaning , reflecting the evolving internet society that's affecting all our connected lives. Frankly, "you follow me and I'll follow you" does not constitute a friendship in my view. Fellow traveler, co-professional, spiritual companion? Interesting but too alien and cumbersome to use and certainly not as warm and fuzzy as "friend."
  
  That said, I believe that this VU group comes closest to the intention of the word "friend" of any internet group I've seen. The members contribute with a high degree of compassion, concern and support... and that's special.