The Cats Meow

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Disclaimer: All articles and images in this newsletter are believed to of be public domain and, therefore, reprintable. Where a source is available, it has been stated. If you believe a mistake has been made or know the source of an unattributed article or image, please write to: JC@online-thecatsmeow.com ! A correction will be made.

     Spring is coming soon! Astrologically, a "new year" will begin when the sun enters sign of Aries on March 20. Easter (or Eostar, in some religions), which celebrates 'our' rebirth, is just around the corner, too! It's a great time for starting new projects...especially a "new", more positive YOU! To help you get motivated, we offer this week's "Internet potpourri".

     Should any of these gleanings inspire you, be sure to visit our website for further information and helpful resources!

21 Things to Remember

  1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.
  2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be.
  3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
  4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
  5. Success stops when you do.
  6. When your ship comes in.... make sure you are willing to unload it.
  7. You will never "have it all together."
  8. Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip!
  9. The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be happy."
  10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
  11. I've learned that ultimately, 'takers' lose and 'givers' win.
  12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.
  13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.
  14. We often fear the thing we want the most.
  15. He or she who laughs......lasts.
  16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
  17. Look for opportunities...not guarantees.
  18. Life is what's coming....not what was.
  19. Success is getting up one more time.
  20. Now is the most interesting time of all.
  21. When things go wrong.....don't go with the flow.

Reprinted from Smile Awhile

"There is freedom in stepping out and taking risks when you know at any given moment, you can always begin again." --Eva

"It is our perception of events that causes stress; not the events themselves." -- Eva

"Whenever you're afraid to take the leap, remember to trust your wings." --Eva

Reprinted from Daily Pearls of Wisdom

"The Miracle"

Tess was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and our house.

Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money.

She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."

Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.

Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.

Nothing.

She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster.

No good.

Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.

"I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick... and I want to buy a miracle."

"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.

"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you, "the pharmacist said, softening a little.

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"

"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.

"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.

"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents--the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery, "her Mom whispered. "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents ...... plus the faith of a little child.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law....

"WHAT ANGELS LOOK LIKE"

Like the little old lady who returned your wallet yesterday.
Like the taxi driver who told you your eyes light up the world when you smile.
Like the small child who showed you the wonder in simple things.
Like the poor man who offered to share his lunch with you.
Like the rich man who showed you that it really is all possible, if only you believe.
Like the stranger who just happened to come along, when you had lost your way.
Like the friend who touched your heart, when you didn't think you had one to touch.
Angels come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and skin types.
Some with freckles, some with dimples, some with wrinkles, some without.
They come disguised as friends, enemies, teachers, students, lovers and fools.
They don't take life too seriously; they travel light.
They leave no forwarding address; they ask nothing in return.
They wear sneakers with gossamer wings.
They are hard to find when your eyes are closed.
But they are everywhere when you look, when you choose to see.

Reprinted from Inspire Today

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."
~Confucius

HOW BIG ARE YOUR WINGS?

"The one without dreams is the one without wings"
 Muhammad Ali

No matter what great thing it is that you want to accomplish in life, you are going to need some wings to get there. And the bigger the thing it is that you want to accomplish, the bigger your wings need to be! So what are the wings that will lift you to this great success in your life? Imagination!

Every accomplishment begins as an action or repeated actions. Every action is driven by a thought. Our thoughts are reflections of what it is that we imagine. So, imagine big and you will think big. Think big and you will take big actions. Take big actions and your accomplishments will be big!

Action Point: Take some time today to imagine the great successes you want to see in your life in the next few months. Spend some time dreaming! This will start a chain reaction that will lead to the actual accomplishment!

Chris Widener's Success Quotes

You may find that reframing FEAR to Fabulous Experiences Appearing Randomly will shift your focus in a new dynamic.

Submitted by Encourager Patrick Michaels http://www.magicalandmystical.com

Reprinted from e-Encourager

You see your reality
Through your own eyes.

     GOD

Reprinted from Messages From God

Going Within To Find Your Angels

As I look around my world I see and hear what I call psycho-babble about reaching the inner self. The only truth being that unless we are in touch with our inner self intuitively there is no other way to reach the truth.As I visit my friends and associates their book shelves are jammed with books on how to meditate, how to recognise your intuitive self, all kinds of self help books.

I am not critizing this as I have been there and done that despartley seeking something better. Call this better higher self, God, Goddess but I could not sit still and listen. I was worshipping at the wrong altar. I was feeding my mind all puffed up with what I knew about angels instead of experiencing my angels.The internet, talk radio, tv, book stores are filled to overflowing with ways to reach your higher power. Self appointed gurus. Most tell you that you cannot trust yourself you must turn your will and life over to something or someone else as you understand them. Since you wouldn't be seeking if you understood your higher power this only makes one more confused.

It's said that there's nothing new under the sun, and the same is true with this. The pendulum of history swings regarding how we are to be guided in life, from following the outside structure to following the inner voice. Where there's a swinging pendulum, there's a 'paradoxical tension', where the different approaches correct each other. On one hand, you find yourself through the inner voice - that is, through exploring yourself. On the other hand, you find yourself through order, place, work, authority - in short, through other people. In other words by living and being in touch with what you are experiencing, feeling, and learning.

It is very hard to find the inner voice living in this noisey world that we live in today. It as if we fear quiet. Most people I know either are chattering to fill the quiet, watching tv, listening to music. It is hard to find our angels if we are so busy filling the quiet and fearing being still that we cannot hear them or notice the.

It's a worthwhile goal, to hear this inner voice or to get in touch with our angels. It is where our Higher Power resides in the silence. When we can just be in the silence without judging either ourselves or the silence then the angels come. They do not come unbidden they never interfer in peoples lives unless they are invited. It is much easier to hear them when you are intune and at peace with yourself, The angels live in this place of peace and love. So being peaceful and loving of ourselves makes it easier for them to talk to us. "Sweet nothings".

This is the place within ourselves where our prayers ramble without stumbling over words, where ideas begin, images dance and imagination flies, where emotions find root and spiritual longings spring forth.

So take the time to be still. There is nothing frieghtening in the silence only peace, love and guidance.

==================================

About the Author
Judi Singleton is the webmistress of Jassmine.com and gotojassminesitenow.com She publishes six ezines visit her site and subscribe to one now http://www.jassmine.com/ezines.shtml

Reprinted from Insprational Angels

DAILY ACCEPTANCE PRAYER

I accept myself completely.
I accept my strengths and my weaknesses, my gifts and my shortcomings,
my good points and my faults.
I accept myself completely as a human being.
I accept that I am here to learn and grow, and
I accept that I am learning and growing.
I accept the personality I've developed, and
I accept my power to heal and change.
I accept myself without condition or reservation.
I accept that the core of my being is goodness and that my essence is
love, and
I accept that I sometimes forget that.
I accept myself completely, and in this acceptance
I find an ever-deepening inner strength.
From this place of strength, I accept my life fully and
I open to the lessons it offers me today.
I accept that within my mind are both fear and love, and
I accept my power to choose which
I will experience as real.
I recognize that I experience only the results of my own choices.
I accept the times that I choose fear as part of my learning and healing
process, and
I accept that I have the potential and power in any moment to choose
love instead.
I accept mistakes as part of my growth, so I am always willing to
forgive myself and give myself another chance.
I accept that my life is the _expression of my thought, and
I commit myself to aligning my thoughts more and more each day with the
thought of love.
I accept that I am an expression of this love.

Reprinted from Mr Mom (out of print)

Okay - first I have to say that I am not one to forward emails unless I think they are vitally important ... and I have to say that what I am doing here is actually starting what I hope will become a chain email ... so on it goes. Please forward as you feel appropriate.

A friend of mine recently provided me with some information regarding the current world situation from a woman by the name of Barbara Wolf who maintains a web-site called www.globalmeditations.com. He actually printed for me what I am including in this email - I have retyped it and am including it here. However, I visited the site today and it does have interesting perspectives on various things - my general observation is that it is largely New Age. However, New Age is large enough to encompass New Thought and vice versa - there is no separation - we are all vibrantly alive in the one life, the one mind, the one presence.

What I really like about the piece I am including in this email is that it articulates so beautifully what I have been trying to explain to my friends who are so staunchly and adamantly anti-war ... who are passionately demonstrating and promoting activism around it ..... and what is so well-stated in what follows is that by doing so, by choosing sides, we are creating a situation that has sides ... and thus fueling the divisions and the separations ... I know there is a divine right outcome to the current world situation ... and to get there, we do not need to be anti-American, anti-Iraq, or ANTI-anything ... which has been the thrust of many of the demonstations ... and I find that hurtful as I am very proud of the freedom of the individual as a divine right that this nation stands for and that is eloquently espoused in documents like our Delaration of Independence and Constitution. And regardless of the missteps we may have made in the past, we still can be a powerful thought force for good and freedom and we are. I also find it interesting that so many are now holding up the governments of France and Russia as paragons of virtue in this current situation when there is also a dark side to the fact that France has billions of dollars in contracts to develop the Iraqi oil fields for Saddam Hussein once (and if) current sanctions are lifted and that Russia has billions of dollars of loans that have been extended to Saddam Hussein's government --- these business arrangements are in jeopardy if Saddam is no longer the head of Iraq and these governments have vested interests in his remaining in that position --- so you see, I just cannot take a side here except to affirm that there is peace, there is divine order, there is a right outcome ...

Read on: from Barbara Wolf

Use you thoughts wisely. Understand their power. Thoughts have a tendency to become their physical equivalent. This is one of the fundamental laws of the universe. Another one is the law of attraction, which states that "like attracts like". Because it is consciousness that creates reality, the kind of consciousness you hold -- your vibration - actually creates the kind of life you're living. It's impossible to create peace and harmony if you're pushing up against war. It's impossible to create peace and harmony if you're condemning George Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, etc. You don't have to agree with them, but realize that you'll be contributing to the energy that creates war if you assume an "embattled" mentality concerning them. The split in our nation right now about the war is actually creating more of the energy of war. It's not possible to "fight" for peace without creating war.

To create peace, you have to be peaceful. The only way to stop war is to start from within yourself. You must do personal disarmament. The only way to get and stay peaceful is to concentrate on what brings you peace and resist the downward spiral of negative emotions that blames others for your lack of peace. Remember, that to which you give your attention expands. Although there is no denying that we're in a perilous and frightening position right now, that doesn't mean we are powerless to change it. But the only way to do so is by changing your thoughts and emotions from those of anger, hatred, and fear to those associated with compassion and peace.

Spend 30 seconds several times a day creating a "virtual" reality of what peace would look and feel like. Imagine that it's a year from now and the economy is flourishing. George Bush is radiantly healthy; the governments of the free world are all cooperating to ensure global harmony and peace. And Saddam and Bin Laden and their influence have disappeared from the planet. Imagine all our soldiers back home and reunited with their families.

Imagine a global village in which all of us can travel freely and joyously and with understanding and acceptance of each other's cultures. When thinking about Iraq or North Korea, imagine the women and children. Send your energy and compassion to them. Don't try to change the men of these countries. In fact, don't even give them any thought lest you energize them. Withdraw your energy from them so that you will no longer be feeding them.

Dozens of studies have documented the fact that our thoughts can and do affect others in profound and measurable ways. When a critical mass of individuals (1 percent of the population) was brought together to practice Transcendental Meditation in various areas of the world, there was a measurable decrease in the number of violent crimes, suicides, terrorist attacks, and even international conflicts worldwide. (Orme-Johnson, et al. (1988). International Peace Project in the Middle East:The effect of the Maharishi technology on the unified field. Journal of Conflict Resolution, vol. 32(4), pp. 776-812).

There are also over 180 studies that have documented the positive effect of prayer on everything from other humans to yeast cells.

Imagine all the angels and non-physical beings who are working on the other side to protect and uplift all of us. Know that they can only do their work in an atmosphere of compassion, not condemnation. The energy of condemnation will prevent them from connecting with the hearts of those who most need their inspiration and love.

Avoid watching the news and reading the newspapers. Headlines are designed to keep you afraid and dis-empowered so that you will buy more papers or watch more TV. Then you get "hooked" on the news because you're waiting for some official "guidance" that will keep you safe and secure. This simply can't happen, because it's not the way the media is set up. The media is designed to keep you riled up so that you remain tuned in to the "chain of pain". The only lasting safety and security come from the peace that you create within yourself. What's safe for one person will be dangerous for another. Remember all the hundreds of stories from September 11, about the people who were "supposed" to be at the World Trade Center but, for hundreds of different reasons, simply weren't there that day. Tune in to how you are feeling when you've severed the influence of the mass media. This will give you the guidance you're seeking.

Finally, know that when you are tuned into your heart, your Inner Wisdom, and God, then your energy lightens up and your vibration literally changes. You become a beacon of light and peace. You become an uplifter and a peacemaker. There's an old saying, "The rising tide lifts all boats. But it won't raise a stone." Stop looking at and thinking about the stones. Join me in raising the tide. And remember the words of M. K. Gandhi, "When in despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won; there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall."

And finally, for a beautiful blessing ... click on this link
www.globalmeditations.com/blessing.htm

It is truly wonderful.

Love IS the power ...

From – jrozan

Mr. Jay Driskell: Editor/Moderator

Am an avid reader of your e-zine, I feel your large number of subscribers would be of great value to our movement. Would you please consider using this post:
Thank you... Dell in Atlanta..

With our country getting closer to war we find thousands of servicemen all over the world ready to do their duty. Whatever we believe, we need to let those servicemen know WE CARE. You can do that by going to the following link and placing the "message that you care" link is:
http://www.sayhitoagi.com/

Thank you Jay...delphoto@bellsouth.net

This post has already been placed on several e-zines, but none have the membership yours has...

Comment – While I do not condone war, those who must be involved need to know we are concerned about their safety and their welfare. That includes me. Sometimes war is unavoidable – sometimes not. Most of those who are involved on both sides of the conflict do NOT want to be there. The forces of society make it mandatory, and there is no choice for the “little man” who does the actual dying.

No, I do not like war, and my prayer is always for that “little man” and his well being. GOD will give comfort and that is good to know even in times such as this.
Rondout.

9 PM Prayer

In W.W.II, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate, every evening at 9:00 pm Eastern Time (2:00 am Universal Time), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, its citizens, and for peace in the world. Set an alarm if you need help remembering!

Together, we "CAN" make a difference!! Prayer changes hearts!

THEDUKEIS

Comment – This is not only good for America, but for the world. The entire world NEEDS the power of prayer. The entire world NEEDS GOD! Not my GOD, not your GOD, just GOD!

Rondout

Reprinted from More From Rondout

It's said that History repeats itself. Fifty years ago, President Eisenhower delivered a speech shockingly relevant to our current times.

Link reprinted from CAUS

To either subscribe or unsubscribe please send an e-mail to majordomo@caus.org and in the BODY of the e-mail type either: subscribe caus-list or unsubscribe caus-list.

This quote is from a book written by Marianne Williamson called “A Return to Love”. It was made famous by Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa when he spoke these words in his inaugural address in 1994.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God
that is within us.

It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates
others.

SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE

Watch for signs of Peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to it and it seems likely that we could find our society experiencing it in epidemic proportions. Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
  1. Tendency to think and act spontaneously, rather than from fear.
  2. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
  3. Loss of interest in judging other people.
  4. Loss of interest in judging self.
  5. Loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
  6. Loss of interest in conflict.
  7. Loss of ability to worry (a very serious symptom).
  8. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
  9. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and with nature.
  10. Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes and from the heart.
  11. Increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
  12. Increasing susceptibility to Love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

If you have all or even most of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition may be too far advanced to turn back. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting several of these symptoms, remain exposed at your own risk. This condition of Inner Peace is likely well into its infectious stage.

Reprinted from www.holycards.com

It seems that some folks are always "in the right place at the right time"! Wonder how they do it? It's easy -- and YOU can do it, too! Read "Paradigm Shift" -- it's free -- and find out how to get "nice surprises" in YOUR life, too!

Adswap

     For those of you who have sent rice to the White House, or engaged in other mail-based protests, THE CAT'S MEOW offers this cautionary note:

Update on last issue's proposed mailing of rice to the White House. This was sent by a capitol-area postal worker:
"In the aftermath of the anthrax episodes, the mail distributions centers around Washington are holding pens that screen and re-screen all mail addressed to and destined for the White House. All sealed envelopes, any mail pieces with obvious enclosures, not to mention little grains of white rice which may leave little barely-visible-but-detectable-by-machine grain powders, will never make it near the White House. Send postcards. They get through."

Reprinted with permission from Suzanne Falter-Barns' free ezine, The Joy Letter (Copyright, 2003, Suzanne Falter-Barns.) To subscribe, go to http://www.howmuchjoy.com/joyletter.html

     If protest is necessary to get our leaders to recognize 'the Will of the People' -- as it appears to be, since they seem to be following their own agenda (as always), rather than listening to their constituents -- let us strive to protest in ways that are effective and highly visible -- but unlikely to be misconstrued! (Don't send anything that powders if crushed by mail to a government official, for example. And, need anyone be reminded that the use of any violent method while advocating Peace -- including how one disciplines the children while in public, and one's treatment of those who do not agree with the position being taken -- is contradicting the message? A Hypocrite is not a 'good example'!) Just a reminder.... :) -ed., TCM

Feline Edition of the Holy Bible
And God said, . . . let them have dominion . . . over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth . . . except, of course, for cats. (Genesis 1:26)

Reprinted from Happy and Healthy Pets Newsletter

THE CAT'S MEOW would love to hear from you! We welcome all purrs, hisses, articles you've written or enjoyed (Please include the source!), and suggestions for new features on the website or in the newsletter!!! Send them to the editor!