Recycling Bottles for Money - I remember when...

Today I was at the grocery store when I looked at a man who was carefully putting his bottles into a machine so he could get some money for them.

As I was watching him, it reminded me of THOSE days. The days when I would take cans and recycle them for money. It seems so long ago.

I knew what poverty was all about. I knew about living from day to day with what you had. I knew how it felt to wonder where the next meal would and how I would feed my children.

I remember those days when I gathered enough cans to fill my car up with gas. I was so pleased with myself.

Yes - I remember those very tough days.

The man looked into my eyes as if to say “I have to do this.” I wanted to say to him that I knew what it felt like but I didn’t.

At that moment I became soooooooooooo GRATEFUL for my present life. I have a roof over my head. I don’t have to worry about whether or not I can afford the basics because I can. I don’t have to worry if the car I’m driving will last more than a week. I don’t have to worry about where the money is coming because it is.

I am so lucky! Life has been magical I’m GRATEFUL beyond words.

I don’t know how all this happened but I do believe in Magic.

I believe that I had to experience poverty in order to fully understand what others go through on a daily basis.

I am very GRATEFUL that the Universe had carried me through those awful and very tough years.

I made it! I now only made it I'm beyond that. A thriving business of my own, a husband who loves me, three beautiful children and five wonderful grandchildren.

So - what about you?

Have you experienced poverty?

What kept you going?

Did you ever feel like giving up?

What kept you going?

What Magic have you experienced?

Write me and tell me your story.

Good night my friend,

Karin Janin,

author of "Magic of Intention," Creative Life Coach

Founder of The Orphan Connection a non-profit organization http://www.karinjanin.com

A lesson on being UNSTUCK!

Today started off very frustrating. I had my day planned and, of course, nothing (and I mean nothing) was going the way I planned it.

I was running late for everything. By the time I got back home I was more than angry. On top of that - it's been snowing more than usual in upstate New York and I'm a Texas gal that just isn't used to this much snow.

So I drove down my long driveway thinking about how I'll walk my dog, take a bath, call a few people on my list and everything will be fine.

WRONG!

My driveway is very, very long. It's beautiful in the summertime but not during winter. Snow is piled all around so it's tricky driving my SUV and turning it around with all that snow.

So, in my very hurried attitude I naturally got stuck and stuck and more stuck in the snow.

I got out - slammed the door and ranted.

Then I stopped and looked at my situation and started laughing. This is so symbolic of my life- A FEELING OF BEING STUCK!

I've been spending this month as a month to re-evaluate my life - where am I going? what am I doing? what will work? what should I let go of? etc.

And then THIS!
I was unbelievably stuck in the snow. Don't get me wrong - the snow is absolutely beautiful but it's not fun when you get an SUV stuck in it.

So I grabbed the shovel and started banging on the hard areas of the snow. All around the tires and the surrounding area.

I banged and banged and banged. I was breaking the ice. All the while thinking to myself - OK - Universe - "I know I'm stuck - help me get unstuck!" I kept talking to God, Universe, All Knowing and thinking to myself "I want to get unstuck in all areas of my life that are symbolically stuck"!

Nothing was happening. My car just stayed stuck and I kept ranting and raving about wanting to be unstuck.

I'd walk away and give up and then I'd look at the tires of my car and think -" I can do this. I KNOW I CAN GET THIS CAR GOING AGAIN AND GET IT UNSTUCK. " I knew I had to get another perspective on the situation.

My husband called and I naturally went on and on about being stuck. His solution was to call a tow truck. I kept saying to him "this is symbolic of my life and I have to take care of it." He, on the other hand, thought I was nuts.

But I knew in my heart there was reason for this. I was able to get the car out of the driveway earlier - so why couldn't I do it again?

I thought to myself: I'M NOT GIVING UP!

I broke the big pieces of snow around the tires - moving the snow out of the way.

On my final attempt to get the car going I thought to myself "as I'm getting in, I need to be calm and breathe in gently."

What I really needed to do was approach the situation differently.

So I did - I gently stepped on the accelerator to move the car forward, little by little - inch by inch. I treated the car with respect and not anger. I'd go forward a little, turn the wheel and then put it in reverse. I kept doing that and guess what? Within minutes I was UNSTUCK!

It felt so good because I DID IT!

My husband called later and I told him that I was no longer stuck - that I handled it. That it was a lesson for me to learn about how to deal with being stuck in different areas of my life.

The Universe will bring you lessons at a level you can handle to help you move forward.

I am truly grateful for this lesson and for being able to handle it on my own.

In fact, I'm very proud of myself!

So don't beat yourself up with life's "stuck moments."

Look at how you have handled it in the past and try something different!

If I can do this - so can you!

---

Here's an exercise:
Write down:

I am stuck in____________________________________________________________
(take one stuck "thing" at a time)

My reaction has always been ____________________________________________________________

My new approach is ____________________________________________________________

Send me a note on how you did with this short exercise!

Before I close I want to share my new piece of jewelry with you... It's called: Sedona Speaks - Read the story of how this came about... I am only now sharing this with the world.

---

Have a great month!
Cheers to you and everyone else.
Karin Janin
Author of "Magic of Intention"
Creative Life Coach
Etc.

Remembering when I lost a contest...

The other day one of my husband's daughter stopped by for a brief visit. Before she and her boyfriend left to go back to their home which is out of state, I grabbed as much as I could from the refrigerator so they would have some food when they arrived at their place. The night before I made a huge pot of soup and even gave them the slow cooker which contained the soup.

My husband jokingly said to me "You're dangerous when you like someone." I didn't think about his comment until today.

It triggered something that happened to me as a child. You see, I've always been that way.

I remember a swimming contest I was in while living with my new adopted American family in Caracas, Venezuela. The purpose was to win the contest. But, even at that young age, that was not my purpose. I don't think I understood what "winning a contest" meant. Although, I did want to please my parents.

Someone said START and I did with all my friends. I was doing well - way ahead of everyone. My parents were cheering me on. And then, I made one fatal mistake. I turned and saw my good friend struggling to catch up. I went to help her and, as a result, I lost the contest.

My mother was very upset and scolded me for doing that. My father, on the other hand, was very proud of me. Now that I'm "all grown up" I can see that I won more than a silly prize.

I believe we are here to help others in any way we can. Not to enable them but when there is a need, then step up to the plate.

So, my friends, how many times have you stepped up to the plate? Have you been rewarded or scolded?

The New Year is fast coming. How about making a resolution to help those who need help - big or small. No fanfare necessary, just be yourself and you'll feel good about it.

Remember Karma...

May you have a BLESSED NEW YEAR.

Stay warm and stay tuned. I'm starting a new online Radio Show that will be called Sedona Speaks. You'll hear more soon.

Take care, be well, be happy, find something to laugh at
Karin Janin, Author of Magic of Intention: Know Your Intention, Design Your Future

P.S. It's not to late to grab some unique gifts. Go to "my store" and you'll be surprised!

Nourishing Your Friendships

Hello my friends,
This was my most recent Intention To Share with the World.
Even better than that - I have some wonderful news! A product that WILL change your life!
You can find out about that below!
Hold on - your world is about to change!

Ahhh the friendships...

I have found that you never know when you will make a new friend, see an old friend, or say goodbye to one.

As we change through our lives, so do our friendships. But some change with you and become mirror images of who you are.

I've been thinking a lot about friendships ever since I moved to the state of New York. When I left Texas, I left a wonderful circle of friends. y attachment to those friends was greater than I thought they were — once I had time to miss them.

The good news is that I have made many new friends and I've learned that there are certain degrees of friendships. These degrees of friendships are based upon one's individual perception of what that relationship is.

As we become closer to our friendships, we sometimes need to nourish them as much as we need to nourish our personal friendship with ourselves.

Sometimes we need to be honest, up-front and personal, supportive, and sometimes we just need to ... BE.

Have you had close friends whom you have had to say "goodbye" to?

What did that feel like?

What made that friendship so special?

or

What changed in that friendship when you had to say "goodbye?"

What part of that friendship was a reflection of you?

What part of your friendship with yourself do you like?

What do you do to nourish your friendships?

What do you do to nourish your friendship with yourself? Be honest.

Be the Friend YOU Want Others to Be

**********************************
GOOD NEWS! JUST CAN'T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT ANY MORE!
Guess what the Emmy nominees received in their bag of gifts?
An amazingly easy weight loss product! And I found IT!
Want to know more?
Learn the Secret of Successful Weight Loss - no gimmicks, all natural and the only one I endorse!
Tap onto the image!


Listen to the Testimonials

Sharing A Note To My Friend...

I sent the following note to a good friend of mine, RoxAnne Franklin, who is going through a rough time. She has a lump in her breast which will be removed next week. The outcomes is unknown. She is the BEST photographer I have ever met!

I wrote the following to her and would like to share it with you. I feel that it has something to say to each and everyone of us.

___________________

Hi Roxanne,

Let me tell you about this really cool thing that happened to me today. As you know I'm going to own a new baby Gypsy Vanner horse early next year.

So - I'm visiting various horse farms and especially ones that women are running. Today I visited a woman who lives in Rhinebeck. She's a retired teacher.

She got into the horse business (she doesn't really have a business - just loves her 2 horses) and had everything very quickly built. She invited me to see what all she had done. I was blown away - typically female and practical. Nothing elaborate - but just right for the needs of the horses and for what she could handle on her own.

She actually has more overall acreage than I do with a beautiful house and swimming. She was very nice and helpful.

One of horse is 32 yrs. old and the other is in it's teens. Both female and some unusual breed. They were lovely!

So, I left feeling great about her simple ideas.

On the way home, I realized that I needed to fill up my car so I stopped at the Sunoco right after the bridge on 9W. I was really minding my own business - filling up the car.

Suddenly I heard this wonderful song being sung by someone. I looked around and it was a young man getting ready to fill his car up. He was oblivious to anyone else around him as he was totally emersed in the song and sang with emotion. It was "Amazing Grace."

Oddly enough when my baby horse is born, I have already chosen the name be Saving Grace (I'm hoping for a girl). How cool is that - Amazing Grace & Saving Grace! This was clearly a confirmation for me.

Sometimes the oddest confirmations come at the strangest times and/or places. Confirmations about life, about questions one is having, about anything. It's being open to Synchronicity.

Can you believe that? I was blown away. I told him that his voice was great and that he should do something with it to share it with the world.

So, on my way home I sang that song - certainly not as beautiful as his interpretation - but sang with feeling and joy.

So -what song would you sing today that will make your heart go pitter patter ????

Love ya, Karin

_________

The question to you is what song will make your heart soar? What song has revealed a confirmation you needed in your life? What song brought your awareness that something synchronistic is about to happen? Life is precious - start singing the joyous songs of life.

Until we meet again...

Imagine Magic Happening Now!

Karin Janin

P.S. Put RoxAnne up on your prayer list, circle, and send her positive thoughts! Believe that the healing has already started! I've added her to my Magical Healing Circle

From Feeling Blue to Appreciation

Today I was feeling a bit blue. I went to my massage therapist, Margaret Donner and an Angel reader, who helped me work through some issues. Of course, the tears started running down my cheeks. She suggested I go to the Vanderbilt estate · Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt estate - and just sit by the water.

I took her suggestion - not calling anyone to let them know where I would be - and drove to it. If you have never been there - it is beautiful. Huge estate open to the public. There is a lovely picnic area, walking area and so much more.

Anyway, I parked my car and noticed an empty bench. So I went to the bench, sat in the middle so no one could get into my space, and just looked out at the Hudson River for a while. It is such a stunning site to see.

After a while I decided to go back to my car. As I was opening my door I noticed a man sitting down. I also noticed that he had dark glasses as if he had just had his eyes dilated and his left arm shook which meant he must have Parkinson's disease.

I decided to say something about the view and naturally we began to talk. He used to be a runner and can no longer run. But he walks those grounds as often as he can and he's an avid golfer.

He was very nice to talk to. Asked me about myself and I told him the Germany story and what all I do.

We must have talked for an hour. Just as I was getting ready to leave I saw two fellows walking in front of us. One was taking a picture of the River and the other was taking a picture of his friend who was taking a picture. Hope I'm making sense. I heard them say "ya ya" in a very German way. I asked if they were from Germany and they said yes. We spoke briefly about Germany and then I said my goodbye's.

As I was driving off, I felt the "weight of the world" lifted from my shoulder. I know that these were people I was suppose to meet to help me with the issue I was "struggling with." I really am not clear what it was, but I knew I was sad and wanted to cry.

The sad mood stopped and I became so appreciative of the people I just met. There are reasons why people come into our lives - sometimes we just don't know why but they do. We don't really need to know.

But somehow these three people lifted my spirits. I hope I did the same for them.

When I got home I noticed a book laying around. It's called "Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer" by Gregg Braden. I randomly opened it up and this is what I read...

"Don't be surprised if you find yourself welling up with tears and sobbing huge sobs. (that was me today) This is the way that the blessing frees our hurt and enables it to move through us. When the blessing feels complete, the world feels diffrent. Although the reason for our hurt still exists, what has happened is that we've changed the way we feel about our hurt. This is the power of the Blessing." (page 118)

The Power of the Blessing? I didn't know what he was talking about so it looked it up in this little, but powerful book.

"Blessing may be defined as a quality of thought/feeling/emotion that allows us to redefine our feelings about something that's hurting us now or has hurt us in the past. Stated another way, blessing something is the "lubricant" that frees our hurtful emotions, opening us up to greater healing, rather than keeping our emotions stuck and unresolved within the body." (page100)

Fascinating! I do feel Blessed and the sorrow has swept away. The tears were a blessing of releasing what I perceived as hurt. The opportunity was opened to me thanks to Margaret.

Meeting those three people was also a Blessing.

I walked my dog Meadow whom I mentioned in the previous blog. She's doing better and I'm doing better.

I'm no longer Blue - I'm in total Appreciation of the Blessing that happened today.

Have you had your daily dose of Blessings?

Karin
Author of "Magic of Intention"
Creative Life Coach

The following is a portion of my August newsletter. Read on...


Yesterday (Aug. 1, 2007), I was going to write about something else when life threw one of those unexpected curves. This time it was about my wonderful rescue dog, Meadow.

Ever since she's been in my life, she has consistently, on a moment by moment basis, provided me with unconditional love. The wagging of the tail when she sees me, the gleeful look in her eyes letting me know she's in a playful mood, the closeness that we have. She loves to be loved and she gives out so much more love than I can ever give her. I am truly thankful that she is in my life.

Yesterday I looked at her and saw that she was not as happy but was really trying to put on a good show. Then I looked closer and saw blood. I was immediately alarmed and called the Vet. They told me to bring her in right away. I did. She had surgery and is now home.

This time it was MY turn to give her unconditional love and I gladly did so. I literally stayed up with her all night as she was uncomfortable from the surgery. She wanted me to rub her back and tummy almost all night long. Meadow did not go back to sleep until 5:30 this morning. The only way she slept was by snuggling next to me. We both finally slept on the pallet in my living - content and happy and worn out.

Once again she's helped me be more aware of the Power of Love for she embodies it completely. I know she will be fine, I will be fine. We will forget this happened and life will go on. But I am grateful for her unselfish reminder that all we need is Love and there is Power in those four simple letters.

For those who would like to hear a ImagMedi© that goes with the online exercises go to http://www.karinjanin.com/news/ and enjoy. Soon I will be developing professional ImagMedi's with the help of a very well known music writer. Someone who has been nominated twice for an academy award for his music. Stay tuned to the surprise! I'm excited about it and am grateful that I have an opportunity to work with this person.

In the meantime, enjoy and love what is most cherished and go from there.

Take care my friends. Let me know how you enjoyed the audio.

Namasté, Karin

Magical Intention: Crying IS good for your health!

It's been two months since I last sent out a blog! Just when I thought I would do this in a timely manner, time just "flew!" I apologize to all my readers. So here's one on crying. No, it's not going to be sad.... I'm just being me and sharing my thoughts. We all learn from each other.

Now - on to the subject at hand - Crying IS good for your health.

Do you ever get tired of all the motivational speakers being so UP! Always positive? Always seeming to have the perfect life?

Well, I am a motivational person and I will gladly admit my life is not always smooth nor easy. As a Life Coach and Speaker and Director of a large women's organization, I feel that I always have to be positive. I do love to be positive but even I have moments of solid sadness. So I'm sharing this with you.

I just choose to be real about everything.

In my mid-month newsletter (no promos included in that one) I talked about crying. Yes, crying.

I have a lot to be thankful for - and I am - but I too get sad and depressed. I'm human and I like being normal. I don't mind admitting that sometimes I'm really, really sad.

There are things that have happened in my life that make me think it could have gone one way or the other.

When I review it sometimes and I am amazed at what all has happened. Having been born after a War II and raised for four years in an orphanage - I'm so blessed the way it turned out.

But then something will remind me of the losses I've had and "gains" I've had. I think we are simply programmed to re-evaluate our lives from time through life's little (or big) triggers.

The day I was writing my mid-month intention newsletter was a sad day for me. I wrote about crying and how it can be very healthy for me, you and anyone (as long as it's not an ongoing thing).

I started thinking about the loss of my first adopted father after only knowing him for a very short time. He was my knight in shining armor. He loved and accepted me even though I didn't speak his language, even though I was almost impossible to handle, even though I was curious about my new life.... he accepted me. And he gave me the greatest gift ever - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Then fate intervened and he died suddenly. There was no closure and no opportunity to say "I love you."

So the tears were about my loss but also my gains - I learned to accept and give love because of him. I could have wound up in the streets of Germany, which was being rebuilt - instead the Universe had other plans.

So the tears are sadness for my loss of a great father and joy or the opportunity to simply know who he was.

The past is over, as I speak about it in my book - Magic of Intention. Intellectually I know this but sometimes - who wants to be so darned intellectual?

My life is very good now because I've always felt that there must have been a reason for my very existence. And it's that thought that has given me the strength and courage to move forward.

By the way, I also cry at happy endings! Yep - I'm one of those people who sit and sob in a theater if the ending is happy or the book turns out great!

What crying does is help release whatever needs to be released. Another chance to let go of something that is a block. Since I don't cry often, I seldom need to indulge myself in a good ole fashioned crying session.

But when I do - heaven knows the flood gates are opened wide.

When it's over, I feel so much better.

How about you? Do you allow yourself to be that emotional? Do you allow yourself the time and space to cry?

Remember - crying is good for your health!

Take care and hopefully it won't take so long for me to write.

Have a great day, month, year!

Cheers, Karin
http://www.karinjanin.com
http://www.orphanconnect.com

Magical Intention: Amazing

Yesterday, February 8th, I watched Oprah Winfrey's show about the new DVD - The Secret. It was amazing! She spoke about how she had been applying what the DVD was teaching, most of her adult life. That it was simply a way of life for her. She cried when she first saw the DVD as it was an affirmation that she's been on the right track for years!

Isn't that AMAZING?

Do we notice the AMAZING things in our lives? Are we so busy going through our daily routine, handling crisis, dealing with doubt, blaming, arguing, going to work that we don't see the AMAZING things that are happening right now! Right in front of us?

Sit down and write 10 AMAZING things that happened to you today. (people you meet, an unexpected smile from someone, etc.). Try to do this for two weeks and see how your list gets longer and LONGER! Make it fun!

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Don't forget about Valentine's Day just around the corner. What AMAZING thing will you do for Valentine's Day for YOURSELF? Yes, you deserve to do something JUST FOR YOU. Try it - you'll like it!

Want an unusual gift for someone special? Check this out.

Magic of Intention Power Statement: I INTEND THAT I AM INSTALLING LOVE INTO MY LIFE NOW!

Valentines is just around the corner so I thought I'd share this amazing article with you. This was forwarded to me by a good friend. I do not know who the author is, but he/she has done an outstanding job of expressing what I feel. I am sure you will be able to relate to this as well.

How to Install Love

Tech Support: Yes, ... how may I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process?

Tech Support: Yes, I can help you! Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-esteem with a module of its own called High Self-esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components." What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In nontechnical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God!!!

___________________
So, where do you stand in the Love Factor? It's important to love yourself and then others. Love and acceptance of self allows you to know what true love is all about. Are you ready to install love now? It's easy, painless and lasting!

Want an original Valentines Day Gift? Check this out!



Namasté, Karin Janin, Author of "Magic of Intention"