I am starting off 2009 with Wellness on my Mind. It will be the overarching theme and the foundation of all I undertake this year. I had two medical appointments today (my preventive maintenance plan) and am reminded daily of how fortunate I am to be able to afford medical care for myself and family. I know others are not so lucky and need support in this arena and I am committed to devoting efforts toward this end.
I see the future as bright and I am choosing to voice my opinion on areas that I believe need more attention going forward. We will soon have a new President and a new Administration and they will have many issues to consider. Why not help them to focus on issues that are important to you? Consider voting today for the ideas you would like to support going into 2009.
My focus is on health and education. Your areas of interest may differ. Below, you will see a listing that details how I voted. You can also see where each issue stood in terms of popularity earlier today.
Voting will continue throughout the day. If you have not already voted in this round, you can do so now. Today is the last day to vote on this Change.Org forum. The Top Ten Ideas will be presented to the Obama Administration tomorrow at the National Press Club. The Change.org team will then connect the winning ideas with leading non-profit organizations and launch a series of national advocacy campaigns designed to turn each idea into public policy.
To read more about each issue, I chose to support, you can click the link below. You can choose to vote for these issues or find other issues that are important to you and vote for them. The point is to take action and to be heard and counted. It is easy to do!
I have voted for the following 10 ideas:
Free Single Payer Health Care (3rd Place)
Pass the DREAM Act - Support Higher Education for All Students (7th Place)
Bridging the Empathy Gap - Yes We Can! (12th Place)
Healthful school lunch options (13th Place)
Fully Fund Medicaid Waivers for the Developmentally Disabled (18th Place)
Mobilize Mentors, Tutors, and Citizen Teachers to Help Kids Succeed (28th Place)
End Childhood Hunger in America (38th Place)
"The Autism Reform Act of 2009" (40th Place)
Take Care of Disabled Veterans (44th Place)
Give Homeless Children a Chance (49th Place)
You can help support ideas for change by forwarding this information to friends or posting links to your favorite ideas on sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or any blog you might write. The Ideas for Change in America initiative was begun with the hope that they could translate the energy behind the Obama election into a citizen-led movement for change around the major issues we face. Over 500,000 votes have been cast thus far. With each vote that is cast, you help to deliver a clear message to the Obama administration that the American people want to participate in their own government again.
Have a Great Day and Divine 2009!
Showing posts with label voice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voice. Show all posts
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009, Somewhere, There's a Place for Us!
As 2009 begins, I believe that we have reason to celebrate. We have been to hell and back and have survived. My mother was always fond of saying, "What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger." I have seen the wisdom of her words and indeed do feel stronger today. The last year was full of emotions, a roller coaster ride I am not eager to jump on again. Nonetheless, the fact that we are still standing, makes me confident that we are survivors and we have reason to hope!
As we enter 2009, with all of its challenges, I am more determined than ever to help others in voicing their dreams, realizing their worth, and in taking action. I have been energized and stimulated by the masses of people who celebrated the change we are embracing. We seem to have regained optimism and renewed our sense of hope in America.
As the new year emerges, we can look back and see that on November 4, 2008, over 57 million Americans made their voices heard. Americans lined up, said that they were ready for change, and elected Barrack Obama as President. Overnight, we regained the respect of the world and stood as a united force. Together, we can face the challenge and transition into a more inclusive and caring society.
Despite our concerns and worries, we can now look forward to a brighter new year. If 57 million Americans were willing to stand in long lines to vote and to make their voices heard, I am convinced that many million more stayed at home with dreams and hopes unheard. I am anxious to hear these unspoken dreams and hopes in 2009. I am going to make a concerted effort to encourage those who are often overlooked and ignored to voice their dreams and hopes. I will encourage them to acknowledge their strengths, to connect with others and to walk toward peace and understanding.
I was recently reminded of a song that is very significant for me. I heard it sung during the the Kennedy Center Honors televised program in tribute to Barbara Streisand and was nearly moved to tears. I know you have heard it. It was sung by a classmate the year I graduated from high school and has always held a special place in my heart.
Barbara Streisand made it popular and it was written by Michael Spriggs, Andy Byrd and Lindsay Ellis. The song is Somewhere. The words resonate with me more now than even then.... Here they are:
"Someday, somewhere, we'll find a new way of living, we'll find a new way of forgiving. Somewhere. There's a place for us, someday, a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air. Wait for us, somewhere. There's a time for us. Someday, there'll be a time for us. Time together with time to spare. A time to learn, a time to care. Someday, somewhere, we'll find a new way of living, we'll find a new way of forgiving. Somewhere. Somewhere. Somewhere. There's a place for us. A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Just take my hand and I'll take you there. Somehow, Someday, Somewhere."
Will you take my hand? Will you walk with me into 2009 and work with me toward a new way of living? Will we find a new way of forgiving? Is there time for sharing and a time for caring? I hope so!
Together, we can fill the potholes found along the road of life with Hope and make the future brighter for us all. Together, hand in hand, we are halfway there. What are you waiting for?
As we enter 2009, with all of its challenges, I am more determined than ever to help others in voicing their dreams, realizing their worth, and in taking action. I have been energized and stimulated by the masses of people who celebrated the change we are embracing. We seem to have regained optimism and renewed our sense of hope in America.
As the new year emerges, we can look back and see that on November 4, 2008, over 57 million Americans made their voices heard. Americans lined up, said that they were ready for change, and elected Barrack Obama as President. Overnight, we regained the respect of the world and stood as a united force. Together, we can face the challenge and transition into a more inclusive and caring society.
Despite our concerns and worries, we can now look forward to a brighter new year. If 57 million Americans were willing to stand in long lines to vote and to make their voices heard, I am convinced that many million more stayed at home with dreams and hopes unheard. I am anxious to hear these unspoken dreams and hopes in 2009. I am going to make a concerted effort to encourage those who are often overlooked and ignored to voice their dreams and hopes. I will encourage them to acknowledge their strengths, to connect with others and to walk toward peace and understanding.
I was recently reminded of a song that is very significant for me. I heard it sung during the the Kennedy Center Honors televised program in tribute to Barbara Streisand and was nearly moved to tears. I know you have heard it. It was sung by a classmate the year I graduated from high school and has always held a special place in my heart.
Barbara Streisand made it popular and it was written by Michael Spriggs, Andy Byrd and Lindsay Ellis. The song is Somewhere. The words resonate with me more now than even then.... Here they are:
"Someday, somewhere, we'll find a new way of living, we'll find a new way of forgiving. Somewhere. There's a place for us, someday, a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air. Wait for us, somewhere. There's a time for us. Someday, there'll be a time for us. Time together with time to spare. A time to learn, a time to care. Someday, somewhere, we'll find a new way of living, we'll find a new way of forgiving. Somewhere. Somewhere. Somewhere. There's a place for us. A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Just take my hand and I'll take you there. Somehow, Someday, Somewhere."
Will you take my hand? Will you walk with me into 2009 and work with me toward a new way of living? Will we find a new way of forgiving? Is there time for sharing and a time for caring? I hope so!
Together, we can fill the potholes found along the road of life with Hope and make the future brighter for us all. Together, hand in hand, we are halfway there. What are you waiting for?
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