Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
I will never forget how excited this young lady was to get her first dress. Just look at that expression!
This young lady's dream was to have a dress so she could look like the lady she is trying so hard to be.
Her sincere excitement helped make my Christmas.
These children have dreams, goals, and desires. Hers was to dress like a lady. Wow, now you know why I dress up like Santa Claus every year to visit these children in the hospitals, their homes, and of course, the Passion Parties. We are there every year to support Passion 4 Kids Charity.
Reach out to someone you love this year, but also reach out to those who need someone to show them they matter.
This year, not only have we invited our critical care families; we have also invited 50 military families whose parent(s) are deployed.
When we can bring a smile to someone and help someone move their focus away from their challenges, we can help them focus on their solutions. If for only a moment, if we can let them see there is light ahead, we have done our job.
Be a light to someone this holiday season.
I wrote a song about the Hand Of Love back in 1992. I thought it was just a simple song I recorded; Boy, was I wrong.
I now realize that WE are an extension of the Hand of Love.
Every time I visit one of these children, I make it a point to hold their hand or touch their forehead. I talk to them even if they are too young to understand the language. I encourage them with statements like; Grandpa's here with you, and there's nothing the two of us cannot resolve.' What is exciting is when they know love is in the room. I often see the monitors improve, and soon, the baby improves.
Knowing that you are loved and appreciated means so much to people of all ages. You will have difficulty knowing you are loved without touch.
Holding a baby's hand or cuddling a baby can have profound results.
Do you know when you share your hand of love with a child, the brain releases oxytocin.
A physical loving touch can
Love for that child or adult fighting for their life may give them hope and strength.
Watch their monitors as you are with them, and as you share that touch, encourage them, and help them build their emotional strength. Now look at the monitors and watch those monitors display the improvement.
Anytime we can encourage someone, anytime we can show someone kindness and appreciation, anytime we can help someone achieve their purpose, self-confidence, and self-esteem; anytime we can take the hand of a critical care person and let them know they are loved, I ask, Who is helping Who?
When I leave their bedside or hospital room, I feel uplifted.
While working the room of critical care children and adolescents, I came to one who told me rather abruptly, "What are you talking to me for? I'm nobody!
"Oh yes," I said. You are somebody. Did you know I came here especially to see you? Notice her smile.
As a baby, she was abandoned in an empty warehouse in Nashville.
I saw her at a Christmas Party with a youth charity. I was in my Santa Suit handing out gifts when she came to see me. I asked her what grade she was in. "I'm a Senior," she said. "I said WoW, we must be around the same age; I'm a senior too." I got that big smile again!
Call it intuition, call it God, you can debate it; I don't have time for the debate. Yet, I find it amazing that I can find my way in a crowd to that person who needs encouragement and that esteem boost and so can you.
Children experiencing low mood or low self-esteem and yes, anger are not bad, just discouraged. In their mind, their parents didn't want them, and society doesn't want them. Often, they feel like they are a nobody.
I disagree! They are somebody. We may not realize it, but these young people have hopes and dreams just as we do. They may not display it, and more likely, they don't know how to express anything positive; they hurt.
When you come across one of these children, they need to know you care. You may think you are only bringing holiday cheer. In reality, you can bring them encouragement, life, and purpose. These are critical care children and displaced children. All they need is LOVE, direction and hope. Something you and I can bring to them.
They need much more than a piece of candy. They need hope. Yes, I'm sure they appreciate the gift, but it doesn't replace those feelings of loneliness, the feeling that no one cares. Encourage these people, regardless of their age. Love, friendship, and encouragement know no bounds.
Give them your gift, but also give them the gift of encouragement.
Please be sincere when you are speaking to someone who is down. Relax, be yourself. Be real. Most often, the person you are talking to can read through a facade. Be simple, kind, and understanding.
Be relaxed and LISTEN to them if they want to talk. Sincere, positive encouragement can help a person find their true identity.
Ask them about their dreams, but don't be surprised if they have their dream are on a blank sheet of paper. Talk to them about their dream. You may be the stairway to recovery or self-esteem, or self-confidence. You may be the the first adult to help them find their stairway to their dreams, hopes and aspirations.
Listen to their dream, they may have one; if not help them find one. Show them the possibility of their success , but show them a map to get from here, today to become the successful person who lives within them..
If you need a map to give them, drop me an email and I will send you a link.
Regardless their facade or outer shell, they are hurting to be like the other kids.
FAMOUS PEOPLE who came up from the downs to become.
Now, you can let them know of the famous people who were at one time experiencing a situation similar to theirs but found their path. Doing so gives them a pathway to follow and a light to their path.
Do you know how many people have gone from not having a chance to making it to the top? Let me help you with a few;
to name a few.
The first time I met Steve Jobs, I thought he was a homeless transient because of his speech and how he was dressed.
He was wearing a dirty Stanford T-shirt with acid holes burned into it, long shoulder-length oily hair, clutching a brown paper bag with both arms to his stomach. He was mumbling words I could hardly hear or understand.
I couldn't understand what he was trying to say. I asked Sherry, my administrative assistant if she could find what he needed. She was able to get him to speak louder and clarify his thoughts. He did and set up the first Apple Computer on my desk.
I called Jerry, our sales manager, into my office to see Steve's dream. We have all seen the great company and leadership Steve Jobs created which is known as Apple Computer.
Fast forward to 2011, I was in an office supply store and saw a CD set on 'How to Speak like Steve Jobs. I purchased it. Over the years, he became a terrific public speaker and communicator.
For those interested, we supplied Steve and Waz with several hundred thousand dollars in electronic components, which helped them launch and maintain their business, Apple Computer.
Steve later became the brains behind Pixar and iProducts.
Although Steve is no longer with us, he dreamed al the way to his death bed, while making our lives more simple and organized.
As I noted in last month's newsletter, the words of a song written and composed by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston for the Walt Disney film Cinderella featured the lyrics, "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes."
Every man, woman, and child has a dream. When the chips are down, it's hard to see the future. It's hard to see the path when the path is clowdy. Don't be one who sees the clouds and loses site of the path. It is too easy to feel helpless and hopeless.
It doesn't take a lot of time to encourage someone. It doesn't take a lot of time to be an encourager. It just takes you.
Try this quick, simple formula:
Ask what interests them. then LISTEN. Give them time to tell you. When you know their interests, let them know how bright they are, and encourage them in their interests. Compliment them.
You will be amazed how far your few words of positive wisdom will go to help them find their path.
The dividends you receive will last you forever.
I ask, Who's helping who?
NOTE:
I hope you enjoy the pictures above. They are of some of the events me and the team get to participate in.
Starting with the Christmas Party. In the picture above, Michelle Patterson, Chairwoman of the California Woman's Association and I dressed up like Mr and Mrs Santa and enjoyed our time speaking to the children, interacting with the children, distributing gifts and enjoying a time of fellowship with the children and their families.
The next group of pictures were when I toured the British Isles doing 2 public and private schools each day singing, dancing and encouraging several thousand students in song and message during our 3 months stay which we did every year.
Next is our Dude Ranch for KIDS. We started a charity ranch for children and military personnel. They can come and enjoy riding the horses, talking to the horses, and enjoying the park.
I hope you will take your time touring the the IBBI.Life site. See what we are doing and why we are doing it.
Check out the Changed Lives section, the science behind technology, the documentaries we are working on, the shows we are creating, the studies we have done and so much more here in the site.
Enjoy!
Dennis Maness
Copyright © 2022 d j Maness / IBBI - All Rights Reserved.