Pure Soapbox http://puresoapbox.com ...a cleansing jolt of perspective, motivation and humor Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:16:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 en http://www.puresoapbox.comhttp://www.puresoapbox.com/images/soapboxlogo2.jpgPure Soapbox Logo1682113http://www.feedburner.com SOAPBOX of the week: the wonder of …what if http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/16/soapbox-of-the-week-the-wonder-of-what-if/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/16/soapbox-of-the-week-the-wonder-of-what-if/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:16:32 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/16/soapbox-of-the-week-the-wonder-of-what-if/ “Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers: powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.”  - Orison Swett Marden, Founder Success magazine

Now, if you’re stuck thinking your power cord’s tangled up… or unplugged entirely… here’s some inspiration.  Think of how different our world would be if the Kennedy’s never pursued politics?  If Rosa Parks never got on that bus?  If Elvis never left gospel music?  These crusaders had and still have an impact our daily lives.  Look around: there’s an entrepreneur selling his invention out of a garage; a kid starting a rock band; a single mom juggling to get her PhD.  Choose to follow suit… and you ignite a magnetic field for greatness.  Expand your view of life and your place in it.  Astonish yourself by tapping your powers and generate you own magical current.  Who knows how far your influence might ripple!

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/16/soapbox-of-the-week-the-wonder-of-what-if/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: plug into your own power http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/10/soapbox-of-the-week-plug-into-your-own-power/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/10/soapbox-of-the-week-plug-into-your-own-power/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:50:54 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/10/soapbox-of-the-week-plug-into-your-own-power/ “There is a power under your control that is greater than poverty, greater than the lack of education, greater than all your fears and superstitions combined.  It is the power to take possession of your own mind and direct it to whatever ends you may desire.”     - Andrew Carnegie, businessman

Ok, show me your grocery list of excuses for not being as successful as you want to be.  Never enough time.  Not the right time.  Never enough money.  Don’t have the know-how.   Don’t know the right people.  It’s your boss’ fault.  Your parents’ fault.  What if you screw up?  Ugh!  Truth be told: you’re stuck in the comfortable groove of being uncomfortable…and your fearful thoughts and actions justify a perpetual life of lack.  But it’s never too late to revise!  And to do so, you must choose success.  Rise up out of that rut with a specific vision of all that success embodies. Channel your ideas and actions into a positive new groove.  The power you then radiate will attract abundance and joy…that’s all yours for the taking.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/10/soapbox-of-the-week-plug-into-your-own-power/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: freedom in forgiveness http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/03/soapbox-of-the-week-freedom-in-forgiveness/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/03/soapbox-of-the-week-freedom-in-forgiveness/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:16:45 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/03/soapbox-of-the-week-freedom-in-forgiveness/ “To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by a bee.”    - Anon.

So the story goes: somebody did you wrong and you’re ticked and keeping score.  To err may be human, you think, but this one’s inexcusable.  Revenge is in order…or at least the silent treatment!  And in one fell swoop, spite invades your body and distracts your mind with anger, resentment and ego and an unyielding agenda for self-preservation.  Your choice to neither forgive nor forget fills your spirit with funk and erases years from your very lifeline.  When you aim to crucify another for wrongdoing, ironically, the bigger wrong is done by you.  Folks, drop the grudge and wipe the scoreboard, ‘cause it’s only time until the show is on the other foot.  Lessons learned in absolution now will save both face and friendship.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/11/03/soapbox-of-the-week-freedom-in-forgiveness/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: the beauty of painted bewilderment http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/27/soapbox-of-the-week-the-beauty-of-painted-bewilderment/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/27/soapbox-of-the-week-the-beauty-of-painted-bewilderment/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:44:11 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/27/soapbox-of-the-week-the-beauty-of-painted-bewilderment/

“The world doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do.”      - Pablo Picasso

Left brain vs. right.  The creatives vs. the techies.  Realists vs. dreamers.  Subjectivity allows for ambiguity and confuses both sides when it comes to art.  And isn’t it funny how we magnify our opinions of painting and performance –spouting judgment, dismissing importance and demanding explanation.  As if we expect mathematical equation to give us a “why”.  Yet, without rhyme or reason we accept reality TV, love at first sight, dogs wearing clothing, people driving the speed limit, and Hostess Twinkies as “normal” and without question.  Point being, art reflects life, folks.  So embrace the confusion…each of us helps create it!

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/27/soapbox-of-the-week-the-beauty-of-painted-bewilderment/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: treasured ties of fellowship http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/20/soapbox-of-the-weektreasured-ties-of-fellowship/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/20/soapbox-of-the-weektreasured-ties-of-fellowship/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:28:50 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/20/soapbox-of-the-weektreasured-ties-of-fellowship/ “A friend is somebody you want to be around
when you feel like being by yourself.”     - Barbara Burrow, author

We all have those days.  You don’t want to cry, but a shoulder wouldn’t hurt.  You can figure it out on your own, but could use some advice and are open to hearing the truth.  You don’t feel like talking, but wouldn’t mind listening.  You’re fine being by alone, but don’t want to get lonely.  And there THEY are.  They’re not family.  Not sweethearts.  But when you’re apart, life just ain’t nearly as fabulous!  And that defines true friendship.  Whatever you call them…if you’ve found your anamchara, soul friend, or BFF.  Love them.  Cherish them.  Nurture them.  For the love and loyalty you devote to your friends creates a lifeline to getting the most out of your life and really experiencing all it has to offer… especially when you feel not leaving the house!

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/20/soapbox-of-the-weektreasured-ties-of-fellowship/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: the sounding grace of almighty truth http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/12/soapbox-of-the-week-the-sounding-grace-of-almighty-truth/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/12/soapbox-of-the-week-the-sounding-grace-of-almighty-truth/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:10:17 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/12/soapbox-of-the-week-the-sounding-grace-of-almighty-truth/     “Truth is not a soundbite.  You have to stick around for the whole conversation.”     - Mary Anne Williamson, Author

Truth is innately simple. Almost naively so.  It presents itself without airs, fanfare, or candy-coated shell.  It is what it is and yearns to be hung out there as bare as possible.  When it becomes the center of attention in this divine, pure state, lives are changed immensely and tremendous things happen.  But when manipulated by the hands of society, the reduced, remixed version never reveals the whole story.  Beware but be open to researching the context and the real face-value of the words truth has been buried in…or omitted from entirely.  Stop, look and listen and the truth will come in loud and clear.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.  Fabulous news updates at Pure Soapbox Newsroom.   A portion of the proceeds from all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/12/soapbox-of-the-week-the-sounding-grace-of-almighty-truth/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: The future of our past-tense http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/06/soapbox-of-the-week-the-future-of-our-past-tense/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/06/soapbox-of-the-week-the-future-of-our-past-tense/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:51:20 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/06/soapbox-of-the-week-the-future-of-our-past-tense/ “History gets thicker as it approaches recent times.”     - A. J. P. Taylor, historian and journalist

Alas, history invariably repeats itself, proving the scholars and cynics right, time and time again.  Pun intended.  It’s as if the mirroring years were plucked from the past and layered right over the present; a heavy cloak, bringing with it economic struggles, familial strife, environmental trauma, global conflict, and basic issues of human evolution.  Indeed, it doesn’t take a genius to acknowledge the pattern.  But…purposefully paying mind to this replication might just prompt you to see its place in your own independent life.  Meaning, your own history repeating itself.  Meaning, witnessing the funk you’ve caused, experienced, or dodged…show up again!  Are there some lessons you would-could-should learned by now?  Conversely, have you forgotten all the glorious things that also happened along the way…and how you woulda-coulda-should helped them reproduce?  Perhaps, those fearsome forecasters wouldn’t lay on the guilt that we’re unavoidably doomed for burnt toast if we just worked smarter at getting the recipe right the first time around.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/10/06/soapbox-of-the-week-the-future-of-our-past-tense/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: Tapping the little trooper within http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/29/soapbox-of-the-week-tapping-the-little-trooper-within/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/29/soapbox-of-the-week-tapping-the-little-trooper-within/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:21:04 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/29/soapbox-of-the-week-tapping-the-little-trooper-within/ “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight -it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”     - Dwight D. Eisenhower, president & general

I love a good underdog story, yes, pun intended.  Who doesn’t?  Where the ill-equipped, underdeveloped candidate steals the show with a surprising victory over the giant.  Be it in sports, politics, education or the corporate world, we tune in to hear the details with our emotions on our sleeves and pom-poms in hand.  Media and moviemakers have a field day delivering these tear-jerkers tales…for down deep we invariably identify with both conflict and hopeful contender.  There’s a “scrapper” in all of us, willing to throw down and champion a cause.  But regardless of the magnitude of the challenge, always trust that you’re armed with more than enough endurance, ammunition and chutzpah to match wits… and your triumphant stories will shield you beyond the ring.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/29/soapbox-of-the-week-tapping-the-little-trooper-within/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: Present-tense positivity http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/22/soapbox-of-the-week-present-tense-positivity/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/22/soapbox-of-the-week-present-tense-positivity/#comments Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:21:19 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/22/soapbox-of-the-week-present-tense-positivity/ “Don’t worry about anything. Worrying never solved anything.  All it does is distort your mind.”     - Milton Garland, oldest working businessman

We’ve all been there: someone says, “Relax.  Don’t worry about it” and you cringe.  Easier said than done, right?  But take an honest look at the plethora of times you’ve made mountains out of molehills, only to kick yourself for the energy you wasted, the opportunities you missed out on, the people you upset.  Worrying creates a false future with a worse case scenario as the premiere outcome …and you as the lead victim.  How does that serve you?  It doesn’t.  So don’t go there!  Period.  Instead, stay here!  Empower yourself by remaining in the present and trusting the proverbial “Law of Attraction”.  Positive thoughts in your current reality will attract positive outcomes and squelch that warped image in your noggin.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.  FABULOUS UPDATES: Pure Soapbox Newsroom

]]> http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/22/soapbox-of-the-week-present-tense-positivity/feed/ SOAPBOX of the week: Go green or be gone http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/15/soapbox-of-the-week-go-green-or-be-gone/ http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/15/soapbox-of-the-week-go-green-or-be-gone/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:58:25 +0000 admin http://puresoapbox.com/2008/09/15/soapbox-of-the-week-go-green-or-be-gone/     “To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.”     - Wendell Berry, philosopher, novelist and social activist

It’s about time we stopped snickering at Al Gore, the forewarning NPR folks and tree-hugging, hybrid hippies…because they might be onto something!  It’s about time we stopped being so selfish and purposefully merged as Humankind for the simple Darwinian hopes of perpetuating our existence by strengthening our collective homebase – we call Earth!  For, not seeing is believing.  When a species of animal disappears, we must rescue braver.  When a strain of plant disappears, we must think greener.  When snowcaps are melting, swallowing up islands and life, we must conserve stricter. Amidst the chatter of economics, religion and war, don’t miss the underconversation of environment, culture and interdependent community.  My fellow EARTH-lings, we must research cleaner, protect fiercer, commit firmer, explore broader, spend wiser, educate brighter.  May we all look back after long, fulfilling lives to proclaim that we are survivors and all did our part.  It’s our time to think globally…and act globally.  

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

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