Hopes, Dreams & Magic Secrets E-zine Excerpts

HOPES, DREAMS & MAGIC SECRETS CLUB E-ZINE EXCERPTS LAST UPDATED 7/1/99

The following excerpts from the Hopes, Dreams & Magic Secrets E-Zine consists of the Primary Feature, Reader's Corner and Parting Thoughts from each issue. Other regular features of the E-Zine include: What's New At My Web Site, Forum Topics, Personal Updates, Fun Things, Cool Stuff, Helpful Information & Special Promotions. .. A new feature is the Reader's Corner. What I would really like, is to include original, inspiring and motivating pieces from E-zine readers. Right now you can win a free "To Achieve Your Dreams Remember Your ABCs" poster for articles or poems chosen for the Zine. If you would like to enter, please check out the contest page. In this most recent issue, I included an uplifiting piece by an unkonown author which was sent in by a reader. .. If you would like to subscribe to receive future issues sent about every 6 weeks, you can do so by clicking here.

This page and all it's contents are copyrighted 1999 by Wanda Hope Carter. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No Downloading, duplicating or copies of materials in part or in whole without express written permission.

INDEX OF PRIMARY FEATURE TITLES: .. The Most Recent Issue .... Dated June21, 1999: Happy Summer, We've Got The Power .. Past Issues: .. Dated 5/ 1/99: Hopes & Dreams, Remembering Littleton Dated 3/21/99: Thoughts For Spring, The Story Of The Phoenix Dated 2/14/99: Happy Valentines Day, Loving Yourself .. RETURN TO THE HOPES, DREAMS & MAGIC SECRETS SITE INDEX

THE MOST RECENT ISSUE

.. *HAPPY SUMMER ... WE'VE GOT THE POWER* FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE! It's also the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) - and there is so much FRUIT coming to bear and energy abounding! .. It’s worth noting, even if only for future comparisons, what’s happening in one’s life on this particular day in relationships, health, career and spiritual growth. I have found a trend is usually established from where one was at in the spring and is developing or beginning to manifest. Many people have quite profound experiences which make major differences in their lives on this very date and others by taking note and thinking back, can see where their efforts are taking them. .. I find the seasons to be a great place to mark ones progress on the time line of our lives and by studying the changes in nature and applying them to our selves, we can better understand the continuous cycles as well as the maturing process of any thing we are given or have chosen to deal with. .. I am working on ideas which I hope to be able to utilize for the encouragement of our youth. As a part of those efforts, I would like to share the following song I just completed (today) and hope you might feel inspired and motivated by it’s message..... it is so meaningful to me, that I don’t feel compelled to include anything further in this portion of the zine...... if it inspires you in any way, please let me know, I’d love to be able to know of the FRUIT of my labors. I hope it will be found as a song of empowerment to each and every person who reads it. The song is titled: WE’VE GOT THE POWER .. © June 22, 1999 by Wanda Hope Carter, All rights reserved. PLEASE HELP ME PRESERVE MY COPYRIGHTS UNTIL I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO RECORD THEM No duplication, downloading, e-mail forwarding, web site posting or any other use without express written permission. .. WE'VE GOT THE POWER .. We’ve got the power We’ve got the choice We’ve got the message We’ve got the voice .. We’ve got the ways We’ve got the means We are the KINGS We are the QUEENS .. We’ve got the courage To take the stand We want a better world This is our demand .. It’s up to you It’s up to me To break the mold Of mediocrity .. This is a new day We’ll make a new way There’s nothing we can’t do That we put our minds to .. There is no problem That we can’t fix Face to face and heart to heart No lies, no tricks .. We must hold up each other Lest one should slip and fall To lift a sister or a brother Elevates us all .. The future is in our hands The fate of all mankind If we spread our love across the lands Peace we will find .. We’ve got the power We’ve got the choice We’ve got the message We’ve got the voice .. We’ve got the ways We’ve got the means We are the KINGS We are the QUEENS .. © June 22, 1999 by Wanda Hope Carter, All rights reserved. PLEASE HELP ME PRESERVE MY COPYRIGHTS UNTIL I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO RECORD THEM No duplication, downloading, e-mail forwarding, web site posting or any other use without express written permission. .. *READER'S CORNER, WORDS OF WISDOM* .. This was sent to me by the person who has been my good friend longer than any other friend in my life... Thanks Marc! Author Unknown. .. WORDS OF WISDOM .. EVERYBODY KNOWS You can't be all things to all people. You can't do all things at once. You can't do all things equally well. You can't do all things better than everyone else. Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's. SO You have to find out who you are, and be that. You have to decide what comes first, and do that. You have to discover your strengths, and use them. You have to learn not to compete with others, Because no one else is in the contest of "being you." THEN You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness. You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions. You will have learned to live with your limitations. You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due, And you'll be a most vital mortal. DARE TO BELIEVE That you are a wonderful, unique person. That you are a once-in-all-history event. That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are. That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish. And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down. *PARTING THOUGHTS, OFF COURSE? - OR - OF COURSE!* No matter how diligently we plan or how hard we work, at some time or the other we will most likely find ourselves in a place in life that we never planned, never desired and never would have believed we would be in. We tend to get discouraged if we take this a sign that we have failed or at least that we must surely have gotten off course. .. Right now, my feet hurt, my mind is fried, I have no time for anything or anybody I want to spend time on and my dreams (which I am still hanging on to for dear life) seem to be put on hold while I struggle away at an endeavor forced on me by extenuating circumstances. I feel like I am so far off course that I can barely imagine getting back to where I want to and feel I should be. So what’s going on, I ask myself? .. I can only look at what I am learning and accomplishing for answers...... until the answers bring me to things I might need to get back on course and stay there with more stability than ever before.... like, patience, humility and perseverance and the practical things like honing my ability to “make the truth believable” with my salesmanship. I am happily surprised at my tolerance level and inspired by remembering how hard it is for so many people to just make it in this world. .. The answers continue to pour in until finally I can say OF COURSE!!! because I can see that somehow this is a part of a greater plan for me and believe there are tremendously beneficial lessons to be learned and inspirations to be found before I continue down the path of my choosing. A mark of proof is that after writing the refrain of the song I shared “We’ve got the power,” at home, I found myself spending down time at my new job, writing the rest of the verses. I really believe in whole, it contains a great message and that it will eventually make a the difference in the world. And I ask myself, could I have written it any where else in any other way????? So next time you are feeling off course, ask yourself some questions until you can say with real excitement and understanding OF COURSE!! and you will see you are still on your way. Until next time, I leave you with wishes for Peace, Love and Happiness.......and As Always - ALOHA!!! ..

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PAST ISSUES

*HOPES & DREAMS, REMEMBERING LITTLETON* As we are inundated with the sad news of these human tragedies, I feel it is appropriate to remember those who’s lives have been lost or changed forever by this event. Even those of us who are not directly affected feel some pain and fear from the implications connected with what this occurrence says about the state of humanity and societies existing in this time. .. HOPES: .. The main questions about Littleton have remained the same since the beginning, WHY and WHO IS TO BLAME? As they continue to go unanswered, I can only think of a well known African proverb .... “It takes a whole village to raise one child.” This has made me realize that in whatever community I live in, I too have a responsibility to every child there. As an adult, it is up to me to reach out however I can and find the needs I have the time and talent to address. According to this proverb, even the children in the village have a responsibility to each. .. There are a million what ifs that might have made a difference in these young lives. It’s too late for them, but we owe it to every other child and those to come, not to fail them as parents, friends and neighbors. Children with problems often don’t reach out for help and sometimes believe they don’t want or need it. It is up to us to take the interest and look for the signs. I just HOPE I might encourage you to join me in taking some responsibility for OUR children, for it would be the only thing GOOD that could out of this sad situation. .. I won't go over all the things which one might do, I am sure you can come up with your own list that’s right for you and your circumstances. (I am opening suggestions for these things as a topic of discussion in the forum, please click here if you would like to visit the forum and share some ideas about things you do to make a difference.) From my past experiences of working with troubled teens, I found that children who see themselves as an outcast and who carry anger to cover their pain, often respond very well to someone just taking the time to listen. For those who have little ability or desire to talk about their problems, there are other creative ways they may express themselves. Writing, art, music, acting & poetry are wonderful outlets. .. I will never forget the most troubled and troublesome boy in a class I once taught. Exasperated at his antics and unresponsiveness to discipline, I finally decided to take some extra time with him. I discovered he had a budding talent for art and began requesting drawings. Every week he would appear with something new. At first the drawings were of disturbing visions, but I didn’t criticize him and instead talked to him about how interesting they were and how well done. Many of his problems came to light in this manner. I couldn’t solve them, but I could listen with concern and offer a little advice from time to time. .. Once he trusted that I actually did care and wasn’t going to criticize him, I began asking him to draw specific subjects for me, (more positive ideas) and his abilities became guided in these directions. After a while, he was drawing positive images on his own. As his attitude changed, I gave him more responsibilities in the class, his self esteem grew and he eventually became a respected leader. After this experience, I ran into him some years later and was greeted with gratitude as he had found a positive way to continue to use his talents in life. His recognition of my help and knowing he was a happier person because of it was such a tremendous reward to me for something that really took so little of my time. .. I think, what it boils down to is this JUST TAKE THE TIME TO CARE and to LOVE EVEN THOSE WHO AREN’T QUITE SO LOVABLE. My friend, Johnny Orr, in Hawaii wrote a song called “LOVE HEALS IF YOU LET IT,” it’s so true and we all need to start healing from this great loss. .. DREAMS: .. There has been much information about the existence and effects of the collective unconscious, that is: the sum total of thoughts past and present about our present and future reality. We all know there are many negative thinkers, those who believe things are bad and only going to get worse. In response to this occurrence, I feel compelled to spend some time each day, visualizing and believing in faith that more peace, prosperity, compassion, love and good will are the trends of the future. I don’t spend much time thinking in specifics, like how, when or what etc ..... (those things have a way of manifesting as a result of belief) but instead, I find the feeling of those conditions existence and project it out into the world. .. Some might call this prayer, others perhaps meditation, what ever you would call it, I ask you to join me for just a few minutes a day with this DREAM for a better future and help turn the tide of collective unconsciousness in these directions. Also, try to take note of your negative thoughts throughout the day and when you realize you’ve had one, think one opposite positive thought to cancel it out and another to out weigh it. This also works for self-improvement in the area of attitude adjustment and after all, you have nothing to loose and the possibility of a better world to gain. .. LET’S DREAM BIG AND WORK HARD TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR US ALL, lest this tragedy stand without reason. .. *PARTING THOUGHTS* .. MOTHER’S DAY ... ISN’T JUST FOR MOTHERS. In fact, some of the best mother’s I’ve known aren’t even women! If there is anyone special in your life who has shown you nurturing, kindness and care, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THEM, with a little extra love and show of appreciation this May 15th. Until next time, I leave you with wishes for Peace, Love and Happiness....... and As Always ALOHA!!!

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*THOUGHTS FOR SPRING, THE STORY OF THE PHOENIX* PHOENIX I’m burning off the past Until it’s all gone Rising up in true forgiveness Of self and others Reaching out of the darkness And into the light Destroyed and renewed I lift up my wings And fly freely to heaven And the ashes will scatter In the wind of their beating By Wanda Hope Carter, ©1996 .. When I wrote this three years ago at about the same time of the year, I was as usual reflecting on the theme of renewal. It is connected with Spring and it’s celebration is found in cultures and religions worldwide. Who could be against it... RENEWAL!!!!! YAY!!!!! .. What comes to your mind when you think of the word? To me it inspires hope ... for the future, for positive change, for forgiveness and the freedom it brings. I have faith in this point on the wheel of the wonderful cycle of life. .. I always loved the ancient mythological story of the Phoenix and have learned so much from it’s deeper study. The beautiful bird, burning it’s nest and rising anew from the ashes time after time. To me, it is the story of how people who live through hardships survive and continue triumphantly. .. Everyone faces hardships. The challenge is to rise up in spite of them, bigger and more beautiful than ever. Renewal begins with destruction and we must completely destroy the old with all it’s negativity once and for all. Old thought patterns such as doubts, low self-esteem, grudges, jealousies, resentments & hate hold us to the past. Once negatives are destroyed, the next step of renewal is introspection and rejuvenation. .. Think of a seed lying covered under a dark blanket of earth seemingly dormant and resting but in reality discovering the shape of the new form it will take while feeding on the nutrients it needs. (In our case the nutrients are Positive Thoughts) It’s transformation and then .... RENEWAL .... naturally and automatically occur. Growth can only come AFTER renewal. .. Using this analogy to think in terms of what is going on in my own life, I can see that I am definitely under the blanket of earth right now. At least I know what I have to do; feed myself some positive thoughts and become clear about what new form I want to take during my transformation. Then as is promised to us all, I will be renewed according to how well nourished I am and how clear I am about my destiny. .. When I wish you a Happy Spring .... I am wishing you a happy and positive renewal of your physical, mental and spiritual self! .. *PARTING THOUGHTS * .. The best thing about this e-zine is making new friends around the country. It occurred to me that this could be a great place to get to know each other even better. I am inviting YOU to send your Original Short Uplifting Poems or Prose. If your entry is published here, you may select what credits you would like to be shown as well. Please send them to me at wanda@lava.net under the subject Readers Corner. I hope to hear from YOU!

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*LOVE YOURSELF FIRST AND MOST!* .. This article contains excerpts from a book I am working on Copyright 1998/99 by Wanda Hope Carter. Excerpts are found in ““. You might want to have some paper handy and get ready to make some lists..... Usually Valentines Day is a time we reflect on and share our loving feelings for others.... but this Valentines Day, I challenge you to LOVE YOURSELF! .. "To Love Oneself is the Beginning of A Lifelong Love Affair" Oscar Wilde .. “What is that beautiful mystery of the ages we call love? However hard we try to understand it, we can only join in the history of mankind’s search for it’s meaning. The more we ponder, the more we come to realize that we shouldn’t even expect to completely comprehend something so big, beautiful and powerful that it is the basis of our religions, makes and holds families together, motivates every good and kind act and inspires our poets, writers, artists and musicians to live for the opportunity to express even the slightest vision of it’s grandeur. We experience it as warm, tender, caring feelings expressed with appropriate actions. We believe it exists in many forms and in various degrees. We know that without it life has little meaning yet, to wholly and truly identify it escapes us. Still, we must try, for if we are to love ourselves, we must know what it entails.” .. Have you ever made a list of what love is??? Maybe Valentines day would be a good time. .. Now ask yourself and make two more lists: What do I love about me? What have I done to show love to myself lately? .. "This Above All, To Thine Own Self Be True" William Shakespeare .. “Most of us have mixed feelings about ourselves, after all we are complex beings made up of many different experiences, attributes and behaviors. It is possible to love some things and even hate others, especially if we have made harmful mistakes or are victims of abuse. This comes from and perpetuates general distrust and lack of complete respect for ourselves and is usually passed on to how we relate to others as well. Whatever things we don’t love about ourselves, to overcome them will in every case involve forgiveness, either of ourselves or others or both. To begin the healing process we must identify what we don’t love and trace it back to why it exists in order to find whom we need to forgive.” .. Explore what you don’t love about yourself and whom it is you blame for the condition with another list. .. "The Weak Can Never Forgive, Forgiveness is the Attribute of the Strong" Mahatma Gandhi “When you have identified what you don’t love about yourself, the next step is one of the most powerful and liberating accomplishments that you can achieve, a paramount act of self love - FORGIVENESS. The pressure and pain of not forgiving is one of the heaviest burdens we can bear. It weighs us down with such baggage as hate, revenge and condemnation. It controls our emotions and our minds and prevents us from being or growing into the best person we could be. .. There are three kinds of forgiveness to consider. Forgiveness for the things we don’t love about ourselves, forgiveness of others who’s influence on us has caused us not to love something about ourselves and forgiveness of others who have wronged us in other ways. Forgiveness is not always easy and there’s more to it than just saying the words. Besides will and commitment, there are some steps we must go through in order for our forgiveness to be complete. .. To forgive ourselves, we must: 1. Identify that an action was actually wrongful or “bad.” 2. Feel and express regrets and sorrow to ourselves and any others we have caused harm to by the behavior. Ask for their forgiveness if possible and compensate them in any way we can. We should compensate ourselves as well, for example, replacing unhealthy habits with healthy ones. 3. Turn away from repeating the action (A MUST) and vow never to do it again. 4. Let it go to become a part of the past with no place in the present or future. .. To forgive others: (Don’t wait for them to ask for or deserve it) 1. Identify the wrongdoing. 2. Realize that the burden of non forgiveness rides on our shoulders, not the offender’s and in fact keeps the pain of the perceived injustice in our lives. 3. Accept that life has a far fairer way of dealing out true justice than we could ever even imagine. 4. Allow agony to become victory by focusing on all that we have to gain from forgiving, such as: self-esteem and respect, peace of mind, control of our emotions and not having to waste time or energy on revengeful, hateful or condemning thoughts or deeds. 5. Letting it go into the past with no place in our present or future. .. For some people the act of forgiving themselves is more difficult than that of forgiving others and for some it is the opposite. In my own life, I have found that forgiveness was sometimes owed to both myself and others. Even when I considered someone else to be the prime offender, I realized I often had a part to play in the wrongdoing, even if it was simply that I made a bad choice of companions to start with. .. I suggest that you begin with forgiving yourself because as you analyze the reasons for your faults you will better be able to accept that no one is perfect and that whatever your wrong or uninformed motivation may have been, others are just as capable of being misled in similar ways that resulted in their harmful actions to you. In this case it pays to “Understand yourself in order to better understand others.” .. "People Are Never Perfect, But Love Can Be" Tom Roberts .. So go ahead and forgive yourself (and others) and give yourself a very special gift this Valentines Day: INNER PEACE ...... SELF LOVE ..... & ...... TRUE HAPPINESS! YOU DESERVE IT!!! .. *PARTING THOUGHTS* .. DON’T FORGET TO LOVE YOURSELF FIRST AND MOST .. and give yourself a big hug from ME, just for being so special!

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