Warped sense of values

Do you dream of a good night's sleep, but just don't seem to get it? You have your reasons.  We each have our own idiosyncrasies. Some people's choices of mattress wouldn't be your choices. You may even go so far as to think other people have a warped sense of priorities or values because they don't behave like you would behave or, they don't share your particular sense of humor.

Consider a couple I know who decided to buy a brand new car while at the same time, were adamant about saving money so they bought a second hand mattress. This may not seem logical to you. They exerted considerable effort sorting through the want ads, and fiddling with a map to find the home of the mattress owner. On the way, they decided they wouldn't buy the mattress if it was found to be owned by an obese person, because this would imply there would be damaged springs. After haggling the price down from $140 to $110, they triumphantly tied the Sealy mattress to the roof of their temporary rental car for a shaky trip across a new city.

The plot thickens. Once back in their new apartment, the couple discovered that in their haste, they hadn't noticed the underside of the mattress emitted a rather pungent odor. Apparently, they forgot to ask whether the previous owner had pets? Figuring the odor and discoloration would dissipate after a good airing, they put the mattress out on the balcony for a few days and hoped for a good breeze.

Amidst all the delirium of their move, would you imagine they overlooked the superintendant's flyer in their mailbox about a planned rooftop cleaning? Three days later, they returned from work to a surprise. The mattress on their balcony was coverd in brown sludge that had been dripping from far above. Even so, rather than throw it out, they decided to take a wet sponge and clean it off. They had had enough of their air mattress, but decided to stick it out just a bit longer. ..

"Self-pity in its early stages is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable." ~Maya Angelou

"A penny saved is not a penny earned if at the end of the day you still owe a quarter." ~Mary Landrieu

Visually- impaired computer programming-a dream come true

Blind and visually- impaired people dream of creating lives which are valuable. Like many people, the visually-impaired seek employment and opportunities to develop themselves.  A good friend of mine participated in an IT and website development conference and shared some startling new developments about this that I thought many other people would like to hear about.

A team of engineers at the University of Canberra, Australia, have set up an audio programming assistant (APA).  This team won the Imagine Cup at the Remix 2007 conference in Melbourne.  For the second consecutive year, the judges recognized this University of Canberra team.  These winners will represent Australia to compete in a forthcoming international competition.

This system they put together applies voice recognition technology with prompts for voice instructions.  It offers blind people the opportunity to obtain practical, technical qualifications and also equips people with job skills when they were previously unemployed or unemployable.

In Australia, Access Economics 2004 statistics reveal ~50,000 blind people and 480,000 who are considered as 'visually-impaired.' Vision Australia published 2007 unemployment statistics which show 69% of the blind and visually-impaired unemployed. This is how things are and how they will be unless society reacts decisively. The APA engineers are forward-thinking and hopeful. They have taken bold steps to create what is needed to empower other people.

The APA system has three main sub-systems: APA Studio.net, APA Web Browser and the APA website. This involves a programming tool that allows blind users to write, compile and run C# programs. APA uses a customized web browser that accesses web pages and reads out links to marked web pages.  The APA website gives blind people access to programming lessons and help forums to help learners and to support and programmer who desire it.

APA helps develop equal access in information technology. It will not only benefit visually-impaired and blind persons, but also employers, governments and academic institutions. Its a wave of the future. Think-out-of-the-box. Applaud progress. Helping others is also helping yourself. Promoting empowerment betters our world.  People feel good because they make a contribution and feel a useful part of society.

Humbling

When was the last time you had an experience that was humbling? You know, this is the type of thing that puts you back in your place when, up to that point, you felt like nothing could stand in the way of what you were doing. 

“ Experience is the best teacher, but a fool will learn from no other. ” 

-Benjamin Franklin

Break your pact with defeat

As you realize you have lived and learned, how do you convince yourself that what used to motivate you hasn't lost its meaning? If these personal milestones are vital to your life, then they will not lose their meaning, so long as you continue to honestly focus on sources of motivation. 

Some people come to a point where they feel past challenges they met were not big enough or below expectations.  This may trigger a sense of regret or defeat for what wasn't done.  Its possible to continue appreciating what you have done after that chapter is over.  Its may be desirable to choose not to win when victory is possible.  You might ask what incentives exist for choosing defeat? What price would you pay for not being true to yourself?  Are you a prisoner of your own guilt?

What about distraction from things you don't choose to face? It might seem a cowardly move, but perhaps abandoning your dreams appeared agreeable somehow.  People have been known to deny or destroy what they love without logic or explanation.  Have you or anyone you know ever been that severe?  To sacrifice what you think you want most is only done for something you desire more. 

As of right now, if you believe in what you do and how you feel, then you will forgive yourself for anything that is past.  The most effective way to break you pact with defeat is to promise you will no longer reprimand yourself or choose to destroy your connection to sources of inspiration.  Rise above such self-betrayal. 

Embracing the truth will free you from the problems you have created for yourself.  Open your soul and listen to what it tells you about your dreams.  Tapping into your own courage will assist you to triumph over defeat.  Do those things that make life worth the effort.  Give yourself credit where credit is due.  Remind yourself you set the healing process in motion.

Participate and prosper your way

Surrender to the things that direct your path.  In order to participate to the fullest in your life, you need to be willing to give up everything you thought you knew and thought you had. At which points in your life have you been touched by people and circumstances that made particular days seem very different than the others? How do you reach out to people? Who approaches you? How does it all fit together?

Nothing about your life is a pointless exercise. Are you the sort of person who would refuse to believe or adopt anything that doesn't fit with who you are now? Some people live in fear of their destiny and are reluctant to take steps to change or to influence how it unfolds. Although you have the ability to zero in on suffering all around you, its also within your power to focus on healing.

To be open to learning means you're also prepared to build courage and take stands in life. Its often easier to accept an insult or ignore it than to confront others and fight for your rights. You have the strength inside to create cheer and joy. Learn why participating in life is to recognize you have a hand in the evolution of things. They don't happen without you. There is no disconnect. You can actively and enthusiastically shape your life or permit attitude to define a less desirable path.

As you realize what you learn can influence how you think, and you're ready to revise thoughts, the choices you make will prepare you for what's next. How you felt in the past may not longer fit the person you are now. Live, learn and prosper your way.