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This month’s thoughts WHEN PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND AND CAUSE FIGHTS
Scrolling thru Facebook, people love to read something su-
about things... perficially and decide to twist the words and get offended as
they share it. Those who opposed the school walk outs after
“I want to look back on my life and be giddy with last month’s shootings want us to take it to mean that school
joy that I was the one who got to live it.” shootings are the fault of classmates not being nicer. THAT'S
... from page 7 .. NOT WHAT IT MEANS AT ALL.
"Often school shooters are the outcasts, the ones excluded,
neglected and bullied. STUDENTS, YOU CAN CHANGE THIS. You
can befriend someone you see others leave out and make fun
WHAT TO DO WHEN IT ALL FEELS HOPELESS of. You can have a smile and an "ignore that, hang in there" for
Helping others, volunteering may bring you out of a funk but a them. You can start giving a nod as you pass, "I see you, we're
more passive way to help is to let those around you know they in this world together." YOU CHANGE THE CLIMATE OF YOUR
are seen. Acknowledge them, give a glance and a smile, nod as SCHOOL by being brave in that silent way, so matter how awk-
you pass familiar faces in the store. Have a kind word where ward it feels. You can take someone out of a dark place with a
one is needed. Help friends stay uplifted and motivated and few light words. YOU CAN SAVE LIVES by making eye contact,
focused on what good is right in front of them that they may giving a nod, shining a smile. Giving someone hope is a holy
be missing. We all need reminders. Remind them that yes sacred act."
there is misery but there is so much good and beauty, focus
on that. If you cannot help the misery, take your focus off
it.

DON’T TWIST WORDS, HELP PEOPLE FEEL SAFE
That doesn't say it's the classmates' fault for not being nicer.
Stop twisting the words. IT MEANS WHAT IT SAYS. You can
help someone feel included who feels excluded, neglected and
bullied. You can help take someone out of a dark place with a
few light words. You can save a life by letting them know that
you notice them, that they exist, that they are not alone. Stop
twisting the words. Stop trying to cause trouble where there
need be none.

WANT TO LEARN SOME REAL MAGIC?
Despite anything going on anywhere in the world, you have
the ability to attract what you need. If you are to pull your-
self out of a bad situation, you must begin to spend less time
thinking and talking about what's wrong. You are only stuck in
that place because of your choice of focus. As hopeless as any
MAKE A CHOICE TO BE HAPPY ANYWAY situation feels, it‘s really only your thoughts and focus that
Stop expecting life to be fair. Stop expecting people to be you’re dealing with. And you have the power to change those.
nice, or to meet your expectations. Learn to be happy despite A more helpful thought might be: "My life is getting better.
everything. It's not only possible, it's imperative for your sur- Good things are on the way. Miracles happen all the time.”
vival. Then look for evidence of it, everywhere and watch the magic
unfold.
YOU CAN THRIVE NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THE WORLD WHAT YOU CAN BECOME DEPENDS UPON WHAT
It does not matter what is going on in the rest of the world, YOU CAN OVERCOME.
we can chose to focus our thoughts in a way that attracts to us And you can overcome a lot. Stephen Hawking was an excel-
exactly what we want in our lives. We can change our thoughts lent example. We live in our mind, we're not trapped in these
and discipline our behaviors so much that we can have an ex- bodies. As hopeless as any situation feels, it's really only our
cellent and prosperous life no matter who is in office, no mat- thoughts that we're dealing with, and we have the power to
ter what the official state of the economy, no matter what the change those. He changed his world and ours, and it's in you to
scientists or environmentalists say is happening around us. do the same. Enjoy our offering this month.
Hari Om. Andrea

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