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There are many mysterious aspects of the life of Subhas Chandra Bose, the most prominent being his death. While the mystery continues, this book puts his life in the right perspective and looks into different aspects of his life in due detail without making the details cumbersome.
How dedicated are you to having a successful and prosperous new year? How determined are you to start a new and or different course this year? More importantly, have you decided to make the changes you need to make?
These are questions to ask yourself today. If you are not dedicated and determined, your year will not be effective. Any decision you make will peter out. This new year is a great time to focus or refocus. Let’s break down why it is important to be decided, dedicated, and determined.
DECISION
Nothing is ever done or accomplished without first making a decision. Why is this so hard for some of us to do? Most likely it is because we will need to make some sort of a change that we don’t want to make. Because we know that if we make a decision, we are supposed to stick with it. Take me for instance, I want to lose some weight and tone up. But have I done it? Nope! I haven’t made a decision to. Oh yeah, I have attempted to eat less and exercise, but there is no real true and lasting commitment, no actual follow through, no consistency.
A decision must be more settled. There must be some sort of accountability. You can’t halfway make a decision. You will know that you have truly decided to do something only when you take steps and make plans to see your decision through. If I want to lose weight, I will have to do more than just eat less and exercise sporadically, I will have to make a “life change.” That’s really what a decision is-a life change. You say to yourself, “Ok. I have had enough of this or that!”
DEDICATION
Once a decision is made, this is where dedication comes in. It’s one thing to decide, but it is another to stick with a decision once it is made. Why is that? We are lazy, that’s why! Deep down, we want things to be easy, and we don’t want to work that hard.
Think of something you have decided to do. Have you actually taken the steps and made plans for its completion? If you haven’t, then you are not dedicated. To be dedicated means that you are wholly committed to the task at hand. Dedication means devoted to a purpose. This is when you really know that your mind is made up. You don’t waver. You say to yourself, “It’s NOW or NEVER!”
DETERMINATION
A never give up mentality is what you have when you are determined. Your thinking is that no one or nothing is going to get in your way and stop you from making progress. No matter what decision you have made for this new year or are making, see it to its end. Say to yourself, “I will finish strong!”
I wrote a book about being determined. Being Grateful: How to Open the Door to a More Fulfilled & Abundant Life in 13 Easy Steps (The BEING GRATEFUL Series) (Volume 1)
In Chapter 2 of my book, Engage Yourself, I talk about the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. In this classical children’s story, the tortoise (turtle), although slower, manages to beat the hare (rabbit) in a race. The turtle wins because he stays focused and determined; whereas, the rabbit gets distracted and sidetracked.
Remember, as you head into 2018, whatever course you take, keep your focus! If you need to make changes, make them! There is no better time than the present. Make your plans and take your steps.
Happy 2018!
Until February,
Janice
Instead of leaving everything up to fate, why not enjoy a meal to increase your good fortune? There are a variety of foods that are believed to be lucky and improve the odds that the next year will be a great one. Traditions vary from culture to culture, but there are striking similarities in what’s on the table. I grew up eating:
Collard Greens -Their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune.
Pork -The custom of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress.
Black-Eyed Peas – Peas are also symbolic of money. Their small, seed like appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked, they are consumed with financial rewards in mind.
Round Pan of Corn Bread – Round is the shape you want for the new year.
Recipes:
Southern-Style Collard Greens
12 hickory-smoked bacon slices, finely chopped
2 medium-size sweet onions, finely chopped
3/4 pound smoked ham, chopped
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 (32-oz.) containers chicken broth
3 (1-lb.) packages fresh collard greens, washed and trimmed
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
Preparation
Cook bacon in a 10-qt. stockpot over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until almost crisp. Add onion, and sauté 8 minutes; add ham and garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth and remaining ingredients. Cook 2 hours or to desired degree of tenderness.
Fresh Black-Eyed Peas With Bacon
1 1/2 pounds fresh black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained
8 to 12 ounces bacon, diced
Leftover diced ham and/or a ham bone or ham hocks, if ya got it
2 bay leaves
Additional water or chicken broth or stock, if needed
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped red and green bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation
In a tall stockpot cook the bacon until done but not crisp; add the onion, bell pepper, to the rendered bacon fat and cook just until tender. Add the garlic and cook another minute or so. If you have some leftover ham, add it here also and cook it until browned. Toss the peas in the pot and sort of stir fry them with the veggies for a bit. Then slowly begin adding the hot water, stirring in as you do, and bring it up to a full boil.
If you’re lucky enough to have a ham bone, stick it in there after you add the water but before you add the peas, reduce heat to medium and allow the ham bone to cook by itself for about an hour to deepen the stock. Once that cooks (or if you don’t happen to have a ham bone) go ahead and just add the dried peas, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Then bring it all to a boil.
Reduce to a medium simmer and partially cover, cooking for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until peas are tender and creamy. Add additional chicken stock or water only if necessary to slightly thin out.
Moist Southern Cornbread
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cornmeal, sifted before measuring
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups whole milk, divided
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Put the butter in a 9-inch round cast iron skillet and heat in the oven or on the stovetop until the pan is hot and the butter is melted but not browned.
Meanwhile, sift the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl. Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and and 1 cup of the whole milk. Stir into the dry ingredients until well blended.
Pour the batter into the hot pan. Carefully pour the remaining 1 cup whole milk evenly over the top of the batter; do not stir. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 45 to 50 minutes, or until cornbread is set and baked through.
Enjoy “To Dance with Ugly People,” and my recipes anytime of the year.
Lorene Stunson Hill, Author of: “To Dance with Ugly People.”
Even as a girl, four years old, the pain was worth something; it taught me how to dance, emotionally. The adults in the house did acquiesce in my situation, failing to be observant or even interested, as we joined together every Sunday for a family gathering.
It was just over four years ago I began a personal project and successfully brought it to fruition. With every word typed I pondered over what it might mean to others. I questioned how they would connect, or how they might view the project. But I forged forward, and when the last word was written, I knew the real work was about to take place…editing.
It’s one thing to write the words while feeling the emotions, the experience, the moments…it’s another thing to read them over and over again. However, editing is part of any writer’s life, so the process continued.
Somewhere along the line, nervously I might add, I decided to get an outside opinion. With shaky fingers, I searched for a critique group and found Critique Circle on the Internet.
I thought about this option for many days, wondering how others would receive a snippet of my story. It is, after all, what the website is about – helping writer’s hone their craft. Joining the website and exposing my heart to strangers is never an easy decision.
BOOK STEP OUT STEP UP BY MARK GREEN
Step Out, Step Up
My Why?
My company My Silver Boots was created to affect social change through social media, books, and podcasts to help veterans and others become more resilient as they deal with transition, transformation and change.
My story of growing up as a Missouri country boy who experienced extreme adversity and later joined the military is shared to infuse hope into this nation’s veteran population. These life stories are meant to show others how to overcome challenging times and make transitions easier and positive experiences.
Sometimes we get stuck in life, but that doesn’t mean we have to remain there. If I can use simple steps to get where I want to be, so can you. My WHY for wanting to do this is simple: I want to inspire others to stay in the fight and become resilient.
The Meaning of the Fall and the Return to Paradise
Two Essays in Post-Traditionalism: Are We Gods? A Room with a View
Post-Traditionalism and Religion without religion: A Brief Introduction
Post-Traditionalism: Science and Government
Post-Traditionalism: The Legacy of Religion and The Sense of the Sacred
Sacred Knowledge and the Illusion of religion: Definitions and Dismissals of religion
You Are Here: Four More Essays in Post-Traditionalism
Foundations of Post-Traditionalism and The Mystery and Its Philosophy of Life: 2 Books in 1
Mending Our Vision Book 1: The Harmony of Religion Without religion
