Before you think of saying an unkind word

Think of someone who can’t speak

Before you complain about the taste of your food

Think of someone who has nothing to eat

Before you complain about your husband or wife

Think of someone who’s crying out to God for a companion

Today before you complain about life

Think of someone who went too early to heaven

Before you complain about your children

Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren

Before you argue about your dirty house; someone didn’t clean or sweep

Think of the people who are living in the streets

Before whining about the distance you drive

Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet

And when you are tired and complain about your job

Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another

Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down

Put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around

If you have your cell phone turned on in meetings, restaurants, theaters etc set it to vibrate. If you have to attend to a call, excuse yourself and answer your phone in a private corner.

Never shout. If the background noise is disturbing, go to a quieter place. If the problem is a bad connection, talking louder will not help so just end the call and try again from a place where the reception is better.

Be considerate of people standing or sitting near you. When choosing a spot to take or make a call, make sure you are far enough away from other people & that they are not forced to listen to your conversation.

Never talk while driving a vehicle. It is not only risky but also unlawful to talk while driving. If you have to attend to a call, just pull over on the side. Make sure it is a parking zone.

• Safety - Pay attention to the road.

The cell savvy user never uses a mobile phone while driving unless it is “hands free.” Not only are both hands free to shift and steer, there seems to be a very significant difference in the degree of attention deficit when using an ear phone. The ear phone makes it much easier to focus on driving.

The cell savvy user is also careful to limit conversations in cars to traffic areas and conditions requiring low amounts of decision-making. In high volume, tricky driving situations, the cell savvy user either turns the phone off or lets it ring.

The cell savvy user pulls over to the side to speak if the conversation is important.

• Volume- Speak softly.

The cell savvy user is careful to speak in hushed tones, knowing that a mobile phone has a sensitive microphone capable of picking up a soft voice.

The cell savvy user also sets the ring tone at a low level with a tune that is soft, gentle and not annoying.

The more crowded the situation, the quieter and softer the volume of voice and ring.

The cell savvy user moves to vibrate in any situation like a church, a workshop or a meeting where a ringing sound would prove disturbing to other people.

The cell savvy user tries to gain as little phone attention as possible. The goal is to communicate effectively without anybody else noticing or caring.

Some people seem incapable of speaking on their cell phone in a normal tone of voice. Perhaps they are subconsciously worried that the party on the other end cannot hear them very well, so they double and triple their volume. Sometimes it seems as if they are shouting.

• Proximity - Keep your distance.

Each person is surrounded by a personal space. This space provides feelings of safety and calm, especially in crowded places.

The smart cell phone user respects the personal space of other people and tries to speak in places 10-20 feet or more away from the closest person.

If there is no private, separate space available, the smart cell phone user waits to speak on the phone until a good space is available.

Sensitivity to other peoples’ needs and comforts is a sign of good character.

Crowded rooms, lines and tight hallways are not good places to carry on phone conversations.

Next time you find yourself in a crowded space, watch the reactions of non mobile phone users to those who speak loudly into their phones while standing next to them.

• Content- Keep business private.

Many personal and business conversations contain information that should remain confidential or private. Before using a mobile phone in a public location to discuss private business or issues, the cell savvy user makes sure that there will be enough distance to keep the content private. Some stories, some issues and some conflicts should be saved for times and locations that will allow for confidentiality.

• Tone - Keep a civil and pleasant tone.

The cell savvy user knows that others might overhear a conversation, so they are careful to maintain a public voice that will not disturb others. At the same time, the cell savvy user knows that certain types of conversations may require or inspire some tough talk or emotional tones. They reserve these conversations for more private settings. They do not fire employees, chastise employees, argue with a boss or fight with a spouse or teenager on their mobile phones in public settings.

• Location - Pick your spot.

Some locations are better for conversations than others. They offer more privacy and less noise. By keeping the mobile phone turned off much of the time, the smart cell phone user is able to handle incoming calls under good conditions rather than struggling against interference of various kinds such as flight announcements in the hallways of an airport.

The cell savvy user learns which spots will offer the best signal and the best conditions. Rather than hold an important business discussion or negotiation under poor conditions, the cell savvy user waits for good conditions in order to make the best impression and provide a professional communication experience.

• Timing - No cell phone before it’s time.

The cell savvy user thinks about when to turn the phone on or off. There are many situations where it would be rude if a phone rang, interrupting the transaction at hand.

Stepping up to a service counter, entering a restaurant or joining a meeting, the cell savvy user turn off the phone and relies upon voice mail to take incoming calls.

There may be sometimes when a particular incoming call or message requires an exception, but the vast majority of callers do not require immediate access.

• Multi-Tasking - One thing at a time.

Some folks are better at juggling many tasks at the same time than others, but there are some things in life that deserve your full attention. The busy person multi-tasking at a desk can be a wonderful model of efficiency, handling, phone, keyboard, coffee cup and remote control all at the same time, but at other times, multi-tasking can be hazardous, rude and inefficient.

The cell savvy user reserves multi-tasking for situations and times when it is safe, convenient and appropriate. Approaching a counter to work through a problem with an airline ticket, the cell savvy user turns off the phone or its ringer to protect the coming transaction from interruption. One thing at a time. Focus. Efficiency. Manners.

The cell savvy user often stops other activities such as typing when a call comes through in order to give the caller, full attention. Free of distraction, the cell savvy user makes the most of the call.

1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, He’ll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won’t ask what your highest salary was, He’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5. God won’t ask what your job title was, He’ll ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.

6. God won’t ask how many friends you had, He’ll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7. God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, He’ll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8. God won’t ask about the color of your skin, He’ll ask about the content of your character.

9. God won’t ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, He’ll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

10. God won’t have to ask how many people you forwarded this to, He already knows whether or not you are ashamed to share this information with your friends.

IT ISN’T THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE TRAVELED THAT COUNTS.
IT IS THE DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU ARE TRAVELING!!!!

I am a wise steward of my wealth.

I am a cheerful giver.

I use every opportunity to enrich my life and lives of others.

My prosperity increases as I share my blessings with people around me.

I see myself as an open channel for the universal flow of abundance.

A son and his father were walking in the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain:
“AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
Curious, he yells: “Who are you?”
He receives the answer: “Who are you?”
Angered at the response, he screams: “Coward!”
He receives the answer: “Coward!”
He looks to his father and asks: “What’s going on?”
The father smiles and says: “My son, pay attention.”
And then he screams to the mountain: “I admire you!”
The voice answers: “I admire you!”
Again the man screams: “You are a champion!”
The voice answers: “You are a champion!”
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: “People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.”

It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it.”

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE.

IT’S A REFLECTION OF YOU!

In Your Home - Conserve Energy

1. Clean or replace air filters on your air conditioning unit at least once a month.

2. If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms.

3. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120.

4. Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket.

5. Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.

6. Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.

7. Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 .

8. When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.

9. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy.

10. Unplug seldom used appliances.

11. Use a microwave when- ever you can instead of a conventional oven or stove.

12. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.

13. Reverse your indoor ceiling fans for summer and winter operations as recommended.

14. Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.

15. Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label; old refrigerators, for example, use up to 50 more electricity than newer models.

16. Only use electric appliances when you need them.

17. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.

18. Keep your thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer.

19. Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away

20. Insulate your home as best as you can.

21. Install weather stripping around all doors and windows.

22. Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.

23. Plant trees to shade your home.

24. Shade outside air conditioning units by trees or other means.

25. Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.

26. Use cold water instead of warm or hot water when possible.

27. Connect your outdoor lights to a timer.

28. Buy green electricity - electricity produced by low - or even zero-pollution facilities (NC Green power for North Carolina - www.ncgreenpower.org). In your home-reduce toxicity.

In Your Home - Reduce Toxicity

29. Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off facility when necessary (e.g. Old thermometers).

30. Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.

31. Buy the right amount of paint for the job.

32. Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow grease.

33. When no good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result.

34. If you have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead. If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other material instead of sanding it or burning it off.

35. Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.

36. Have your home tested for radon.

37. Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.

In Your Yard

38. Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment.

39. Use an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.

40. Leave grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients to the soil.

41. Use recycled wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture and prevent erosion.

42. Use only the required amount of fertilizer.

43. Minimize pesticide use.

44. Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.

45. Water grass early in the morning.

46. Rent or borrow items like ladders, chain saws, party decorations and others that are seldom used.

47. Take actions that use non hazardous components (e.g., to ward off pests, plant marigolds in a garden instead of using pesticide).

48. Put leaves in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away. Yard debris too large for your compost bin should be taken to a yard-debris re-cycler.

In Your Office

49. Copy and print on both sides of paper.

50. Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.

51. Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.

52. Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.

53. Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.

54. Use recycled paper.

55. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.

56. Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are less toxic.

57. Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

Ways To Protect Our Air

58. Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.

59. Recycle printer cartridges.

60. Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.

61. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.

62. Don’t use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.

63. Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution.

64. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.

65. Use solar power for home and water heating.

66. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.

67. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.

68. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.

69. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid.

70. If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.

71. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.

72. Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Ways to Use Less Water

73. Check and fix any water leaks.

74. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.

75. Don’t wash dishes with the water running continuously.

76. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.

77. Follow your community’s water use restrictions or guidelines.

78. Install a low-flow shower head.

79. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.

80. Turn off washing machine’s water supply to prevent leaks.

Ways to Protect Our Water

81. Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.

82. Never dump anything down a storm drain.

83. Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.

84. Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.

85. Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.

86. Learn about your watershed.

Create Less Trash

87. Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.

88. Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.

89. Buy products that you can reuse.

90. Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.

91. Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.

92. Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.

93. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.

94. Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.

95. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.

96. Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.

97. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.

98. Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make great packaging material.

99. Compost your vegetable scraps.

100. Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.