Negativity!

Do Not Surrender to Negativity!

Negativity is an unseen force, and as such we hardly give it enough 'credit' for causing damage to our lives. And yet, negativity affects us at every turn, every day of our life. Not just our own negativity, but also that of others. And while life is hard, negativity only serves to make it harder.

I Believe...

  The Things I Believe...

We all have things we believe in, and not just in a religious or spiritual way, but also, when it comes to life lessons we've learned along our decades of life. The things we want our children and grandchildren to believe in as well, because these are the beliefs that may make this world a better place for them to live in, and if we can impart just a bit of what we've learned, the better the chances of them living up to it.  So take 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 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.

I Believe...

The Mural that Won 200,000 Dollars!

The Mural that Won 200,000 Dollars!

After more than 47,000 voters cast 412,560 votes, the ArtPrize 2012 winner was finally announced last Friday. Taking home the grand prize of $200,000 was Adonna Khare, an elementary school art teacher turned stay-at-home mom who created a massive mural of a menagerie of animals all by pencil. A week before the September 19th opening of ArtPrize, Khare brought in her 8-feet tall by 35-feet wide drawing "Elephants" and put it up on the wall of the museum.

During the event, she continued to add to her piece, even spilling over on the museum's walls. She purposely set up her drawing as a triptych, "to engage the viewers in the transformation of the work." At the end, after more than three weeks, the stunning drawing grew to be 13-feet tall by 40-feet wide.

According to the Los Angeles Times, "Elephants" is a highly personal piece of art work. "It's kind of a biography of my life transplanted into animals," she told them. "Sad things like loss and sickness, and happy things like the birth of my daughter." An orangutan hooked up to medical equipment stands for her young nephew who was diagnosed with diabetes, representing "the sickness of a child, and what it means to inflict pain in order for somebody to survive.

If you couldn't make it to ArtPrize, you can still see "Elephants" at the Grand Rapids Art Museum for a little while. There isn't an official date end date yet. The museum is beginning to install its next exhibition, “Real/Surreal,” which opens October 19th, with art work from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. While most ArtPrize 2012 exhibitions will be removed to prepare for it, “Elephants” is not in the galleries that will feature "Real/Surreal," and so, is not currently scheduled for de-installation.

The Health Benefits of Brisk Walking

The Health Benefits of Brisk Walking

Submitted by: Josh Cohen