Interlacing twitter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The excitement started in the early spring when Liz Strauss and Terry St. Marie invited Steve and me to attend SOBCon 2012 as their guests. We were so excited. We talked and tweeted before the event with the other attendees. I likened it to waiting for Christmas. It was in fact better than Christmas. It was so exciting I wrote SOBCon Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 to share some of the excitement. Everything about SOBCon was great. The people were superlative.

Friendships blossomed on Twitter, FaceBook, and Google +. Steve and I got to attend and present our story at the State of Now #140 conference in New York created by Jeff Pulver. It was a wonderful experience listening to people from all walks of life tell their story. Another Part 2, Part 3 series of blog posts were created to talk about the many wonderful people we met. The best part is that we are still chatting with both groups of people on Twitter.

When I met Revolution MacInnes, he said I AM AMAZING. He told me a little of his story and then said YOU ARE AMAZING. Just realizing how AMAZING life really is, has changed my life. AMAZING things have happened on Twitter as people look to see what is AMAZING. People want to talk about it. It is a great feeling.

A couple of weeks ago, our son Chris gave me a book Today We Are Rich by Tim Sanders who happened to be one of the speakers at SOBCon. He talked about his

billye (Photo credit: jason tinder)

grandmother Billye and shared her stories with love and devotion. I was thrilled to get the book and hear more. Little did I know that book was given to me for a big reason.

Steve and I were asked to talk with a couple we know who were having a bit of a dispute with another couple. On that very morning I had read from Today We Are Rich - a book I highly recommend.

One of Billye’s favorite sayings is, “You can’t be hateful when you are grateful.” She’s right. You can’t be negative when in you’re in giving-thanks mode. You can’t be jealous when you are filled with a sense of abundance. Gratitude will improve your attitude and lift the altitude at which you fly in life.”

I used Billye’s words and Tim Sanders words and the parties spitting out hate just couldn’t do so when they were being grateful. Life is AMAZING.

The good keeps on coming. A couple of days ago I was talking with my friend Cate Colgan. She is so special and she is always giving. She asked if I had seen the book by Kamal Ravikant: Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It. I had not heard about the book, but I down loaded it from Kindle. It is brilliant and makes sense on so many levels. I recommend it for everyone.

Life is good.

Mom Pop Pow – Where You Can Do It If You Try

Share this:

The Scenic Railway at Luna Park, Melbourne, is the world’s oldest continually-operating rollercoaster, built in 1912. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We were on the patio of The Morning Buzz restaurant with Chris talking about the World Domination Tour presented by Chris Gillibeau. The sun was filtered through the trees and table umbrella. The temperature was perfect. The mood was light and happy. It was a save the world type of feeling. An anything was possible type of feeling. I told Chris about the AMAZING post I had written and the positive effects that one post continues to give to me and to others. My heart was and is full of love, gratitude, and hope. We talked about how people like Chris Brogan make the internet AMAZING when he shares stories like Kuhao. Being part of the on line community that helped make this miracle happen fill my soul with joy.

When we arrived home about an hour later, I was having trouble breathing. I was experiencing chest pain. The pain traveled down my left arm. Each breath caused excruciating pain in my heart and arm. I drank water. That is my answer to all my internal problems. Steve asked if he could take me to the hospital. I refused. I have Mitral Value Prolapse Syndrome. It can be serious. It can be a nuisance. The owner has to determine the difference.

I calm myself with slow breathing. I take my blood pressure and pulse readings every half hour – both arms. The blood pressure readings are all over the place, but my pulse readings are in the steady range. The pain and anxiety make me tired. I retired to bed with lorazepam for a nap. I pray that it doesn’t get any worse and I don’t have to go to the dreaded hospital.

A trip to the hospital emergency room usually means a series of questions. They may already have the answers in the computer, but the patient has to answer them verbally to ensure that their cognitive ability is intact. Then there is the blood pressure and pulse check. An EKG follows that. By that point in time, I am usually anxious enough that I am given some lorazepam. The pain continues in ebbs and flows. If nothing serious happens after seven to twelve hours, I am released to go home. I get the standard note that says if anything worsens, please return to the hospital.

The event usually lasts for three days. Thankfully the pain is not intense the whole time, but I am tired, weak and aware that I need to let my body heal for a while. There are no known causes of when or why the attacks will happen.

When I say life is good, I truly mean it. Sometimes it is a prayer thanking God that I am still here and ready to live another day. Sometimes it is a joyous exclamation of my happiness. Sometimes I wonder if I am so happy about life because I have had what feels like so many near death experiences.

My roller coaster of life is a bit unusual because it has many more ups than downs. I ride with so many wonderful people. It’s in the briar patch right now, but I’ll be back on top again soon. In the meantime. Keep on living and loving. Look for what is Amazing in your world.

Mom Pop Pow – Where You Can Do It if You Try

Share this:

Steve and I were having breakfast. We heard knocking. We sat and looked at each other in disbelief. Then we went to investigate. We soon located the source. It was at the window that is level with the back lawn. That is where we fed the wildlife during the winter. Now the wild turkeys were banging on the window with their beaks saying “Where’s The Food?”

It was an interesting experience. I was happy that Steve was here with me. It is kind of an unbelievable story. As you can see, I did get a picture, but Mr. Turkey would not pose in the window.

Life is good and nature is beautiful.

Mom Pop Pow – Where You Can Do It If You Try

Share this:

Mark Horvath (Photo credit: jdlasica)

Steve and I are blessed to have two sons, Chris and Thom. Brogan men have a great love of Super Heroes. Steve’s Dad shared his Super Hero drawings with the boys and of course there were lots of comic books. Chris is still a big fan of Super Heroes. Some are not in comic books. Some are real, like Mark Horvath. He is a Super Hero to the homeless.
Steve and I recently had breakfast with Mark at the #140 conference in New York. Steve and I share Mark’s concern for the homeless. Mark asked if we had read the book “OPEN OUR EYES – Seeing the Invisible People of Homelessness.” The book was published in 2010. I heard about it, but for some reason, we did not have a copy of it.

The following week, a copy of the book arrived at our house from Mark. It is a remarkable book. It has personal stories of real people. They are sad for the most part, but also inspiring.

What excites me about “OPEN OUR EYES’ is the additional information listed below.

• Five Things You Must Absolutely Know About Homelessness
• Misconception #1: The Smelly, Dirty Homeless
• Misconception #2: It’s Their Own Fault
• Social Media for Social Change
• Compassion Bridges Divides
• We’re All In This Together
• Misconception #3: Lazy
• Palliative Care for Those Living in Poverty?
• Reflections on Homelessness
• Misconception #4: Get A Job
• Conversations and a Cup of Coffee
• A New Era of Problem Solving
• It Takes A Village
• Misconception #5: Panhandling for Substance Abuse
• Hero by Example
• Ending Homelessness Requires Social Investors
• Social Media Matters
• Misconception #6: Band Aids
• The Ecological Crisis Impacts Homelessness
• Misconception #7: Let the Pros Do It
• Invisible People: Hardly Heard… Hardly Seen… Hardly Normal
• When is Enough Enough?
• God Loves Invisible People
• 5 Practical Ways You Can Help the Homeless

Homeless is not something to be proud of, I have somehow failed my neighbor. What can I do? I am only one person. Buy the book which supports invisiblepeople.tv and learn how you can help.

Mark Horvath is a Super Hero, but he doesn’t mind sharing the spot light.

Mom Pop Pow – Where You Can Do It If You Try

Share this: