With the fascination of all that is necessary to get connected to satellite, my *time* seems to have disappeared this last couple of weeks. So, this month, along with just a short personal insert, I am delighted to borrow the talents of two authors for this issue.

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Happy Autumn!

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If Every Day Were Saturday By Dusty Reed

What is it about a weekend that makes it so special for those of us who work away from home the other five days? For some, it is just a change from one busy activity to another. For others, it is a time to rest the body and mind to refuel for the upcoming week on the job again.

I sometimes wish that all day every day could be a Saturday morning. It is a time when I can choose to sleep in for a couple of extra hours, even though I seldom do this. I enjoy the quiet of early morning with no rush necessary

It is also a time for watching and feeling the morning sunshine streaming through the window. It is a time to feel the calm serenity pour over my being.

This is also a time when my hubby and I frequently sit at the table with our cups of coffee and step into reminiscing. This often leads to a detailed discussion of philosophy - a time for us to better understand one another and ourselves, even after twenty-six years of marriage.

By participating in a desirable activity throughout the weekend, whether it is a highly physical one or whether we choose to be passive, we can enjoy every moment. This, then, carries through to our work world. We can carry an attitude of joy in every moment, no matter where we are. It may take practice to continue consciously turning toward the Goodness. It is always there, waiting. All we have to do is acknowledge our natural joy. It will surface and give us an attitude of joy bubbles in every moment, whether we are experiencing the joy of a free weekend or the joy of working at our job.

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Aleta Pippin is our first guest author. I have corresponded with her since "Day 1" on the internet. She's a very talented lady and has much to offer.

You Are the Focal Point
by Aleta Pippin

We hear and read much about the importance of being focused toward a goal. This implies that you should be singularly focused toward achieving a specific goal. In fact, I've frequently discussed this concept in many of my newsletters, even quoting Peter Drucker, "In this world nothing gets accomplished except by a monomaniac with a mission."

So...what happens to all of us (yes, I'm including myself here) who like a variety of different things and don't want to confine our efforts to just one? What's to become of us in a world that promotes focused determination?

Recently, I shared with a dear friend, Rev. Drew Vogt, how I truly believe in the importance of focused attention toward a goal. When you have that sort of focused attention, new concepts come to you. You're willing to move through different stages of accomplishing your goal and in some cases, you're able to stick with your creation pushing it beyond what has been created to date, as suggested by Mr. Drucker. Frequently, I make the argument for focused attention to one goal because I'm trying to convince myself. Rev. Drew reminded me of the key ingredient I've missed in this argument - I am focused, just as you are. I'm focused on accomplishing a variety of goals. As I continued to ponder the meaning of focus, the answer came to me, as it does when we ask the question and listen, expecting the answer to follow. The answer I received is - "To be focused means becoming the focal point through which Source Energy (God) flows." Rephrasing - being focused means being fully present in the moment. It doesn't have to mean attention to accomplishing just one goal.

Much has been written about being present in the moment. When that occurs, you have become the focal point of your existence. As the focal point, any time you give your complete attention to something/ anything, you summon life force. That means that you have the power to choose what or where you wish to give your attention. For instance, if I'm choosing to paint rather than write or coach, as long as I give my complete attention to the task at hand, I'm focused and connecting with Source Energy. If I'm doing dishes and giving my complete and joyful attention to it, I'm summoning the same life force as I do when I paint.

The problem, then, isn't that you enjoy variety; it's whether you're able to accept this characteristic. If you've been hard on yourself about being "scattered," now is the time to make peace with yourself. Here are some keys:

1. Have you labeled yourself as "scattered?" If you're jumping from one project to the next without completing anything, you may be scattered and will want to exercise self-discipline to complete some of those projects. Or you may want to ask yourself why you started the project in the first place and remember, guilt isn't a good motivator.

Being scattered isn't the same as intentionally having several projects going at the same time. There are people who are multi-faceted and enjoy working in this manner.

2. Do you feel guilty because you're working on one project and at the same time, telling yourself you should be focused elsewhere? That feeling of guilt robs you of becoming the focal point and present in the moment. Your mind is running rampant while you're mentally beating yourself up.

In that case, you may feel better if you list the projects you plan to do that day, delegate the time, and tell yourself you will become thoroughly focused on the task at hand. By focusing on the task at hand, you will feel utter satisfaction, knowing that you have delegated time to give your complete attention to the next project.

3. Are you fearful that not being singularly focused will prevent you from achieving success? If that's the case, then you may want to review exactly what success means to you. Is success only about material wealth or does personal satisfaction enter into it? Remember the old cliche - "success is in the journey." And to enjoy the journey, you have to be present in the moment not focused on some future outcome.

These are just a few of the steps you can take now to begin to transform you into the focal point of your experience. By accomplishing that transformation, you will be more fully present to the many precious moments you have but don't see because you've been so focused on achieving the goal, you forgot to enjoy the moment.

Copyright '01 by Aleta Pippin, founder Authentic Entrepreneuring and Inner Sources for FREE "how-to" assistance in achieving the success you desire. We also have manuals, books, coaching and more. Be sure to sign up for a free newsletter and/or Weekly Focus.

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Our second guest author is a talented writer and often shares delightful poems.

Michael Levy. Professional Optimist, E-mail: Michael
Service With A Smile. Point of Life
"Perfect Joy, Perfect Peace, Perfect Mind.... All live in a perfect place" - Michael Levy
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Somebody's Divine Lifetime
by Michael Levy

Tranquil inspirations of creation
award a serene dawn,
in order that mortal reservations can
rent, unstoppable time and earth bounded space.

Each splendorous year is akin
to one divine sentence,
from the blessed first page,
in the sacred transient book of existence.

One astonishing life equals one miraculous page,
as each incredible leaf turns,
one fantastic light dims,
another spectacular light rekindles in fresh garb.

Life; ‘tis but a brief spark of excellence,
an exquisite luminosity,
filled with exciting adventures,
mysterious myths,
‘n delicious creativity.

Surrounded by velvet darkness,
enveloped in incredible curiosity,
not a flicker must blow in provocative annoyance,
or preposterous bedevilment of insane dogma,

Grace's phenomenal coloring,
joy's pleasurable gloss,
love's heavenly fragrance,
all, fuel the radiance of someone's gratifying existence.

One page that signifies somebody's divine lifetime,
beautifully embossed and engraved,
in awesome, wondrous bliss,
This is your page of
life.

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Some sites I recommend:

The Wild Rose

Bruce Evans' Good Life, Now

Spirit of Now

What Will Be Your Last Thought

Crystal Vision

Namaste Retreat Center

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And, for anyone who enjoys playing at ebay, I continue to have a few items (which change daily) available for sale - Dusty's Ebay

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You are welcome to forward this newsletter to friends who might be interested! If they would like to subscribe (at no cost), they can write to me at cascade@mahaska.org. Thanx muchly!

Working toward consideration and to better humanity, we want to encourage free enterprise, free speech. We are Life Now, a spiritual happening on and off the Internet.

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PATHWAY
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LIFE NOW
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