Miracles in my life

By Whispering Seas

Like for many families, my grown children have been dispersed by job and romance across state lines. I don't often get to see my grandchildren, but reminiscing helps me build a mental volume of stories to share with them when they will visit. I am not an authority on folklore and history, but I do believe in the educational value of a story told at grandma's lap.

One story I recently mentally wrote was inspired by an unintentional challenge proposed by a friend. He suggested that miracles happened only in fairy tales and were a fool's excuse for religion. I am sure you would guess that I have many more issues with my friend, but miracles as fairy tales got my goad.

I can tell you truly that my life will not end in the arms of prince charming; nor was the route to my stately years an easy one. But one thing that certainly keeps me smiling is thinking of all the wonderful things that I have experienced, which I believe to have been miracles.

No parent I have met would ever argue that the greatest of these miracles is the love that overwhelmed them on conceiving a child. Science may have logically interpreted many-a-wonder that had otherwise been perceived a miracle; but one thing science can never measure is a parent's love for his or her children. That this love grows so unconditionally has been my fulfilling life achievement, as much as my most treasured reward…………It is a miracle to feel the love that binds me so eternally to my children.

Family, even with its many modern interpretations, is a gift we must constantly work to preserve. It is for this reason that Determined2.com provides for many goals and internet links that help all our members deal with personal and familial challenges.

Choices and goals in later life

By Whispering Seas

I was recently surprised with a friend's response to a determined2.com survey, in which she equated a static life with a sense of personal satisfaction. Goals, she added, were set when much younger; but now her family had grown and she had only to enjoy them.

When I look back on over 50 years of my life I often find plenty of memories, many that fill my face with smiles and others that mist my eyes with sorrow. In judging the turning points that led to these cherished moments, I now understand that committing to a choice determined the course my emotions would follow. It has since become obvious that the choices I made shared one thing in common; they were grounded by goals I set my life course.

I realize now that the best steps forward are those taken toward where you want to go. Furthermore, a goal is essentially your desired end point, happiness. Reminiscing about all the joys and pains I have experienced makes one lesson evident, that a goal is more likely to be achieved when intelligently evaluated and passionately pursued. This is the focus of determined2.com, to facilitate intelligent goal making and impassion its pursuit through sharing of the adventure (value social networking).

Not often do I second guess the wrong choices I made in my past, but one thing still motivates me in these later years: I hope not to replay a sad tune, "One day I will make changes, and one day I will find happiness." Like Grandma Moses rested her embroidery to color her world at the age of 70, today I will pursuit my happiness. By giving direction and purpose to all the choices I have yet to make, I will continue to believe in my goals as long as I am alive.

Gris'l: Gossip, rumors, and innuendo in Social Media

Determined2.com adds VALUE to Social Networking:

Gris’l: gossip, rumors, and innuendos in social media

Social networks structure the interaction between interrelated individuals. These social webs are generally defined for the purpose of personal gain or shared activity.

By their popularity, Facebook and Twitter have become premier internet social networks, with the participating members’ primary gain being the maintenance and strengthening of established relationships. New social connections are attempted through a referral system of known contacts.

Whether in business circles or social webs, “to stand above the crowd” is a motto to which many members adhere. From its inherent directive, to stand out often results in gossip, rumors and innuendos (Gris’l). In the milieu of internet communication, “gris'l” frequently becomes intertwined with fact.

As “spam” hampers the management of emails, so does “gris’l” makes communication within a social network cumbersome and awkward.

Interactivity within Determined2.com’s social network is enhanced by the commonality of purpose: members participate to attain self growth. Thereby, the temptation to incorporate “gris’l” to stand out is tempered by the reality “you only hurt yourself.”