NBA Cares

I love to see celebrities giving back to their community. These people make a ton of money doing what they love and they are huge role models in a lot of peoples lives but what more do they do to give to society than to show people what they will never obtain? Here we see this is not what is going on. These people are trying to better the society around them. One example of a charity that I have given to is the efforts of Patty Mills to help out Australia:

Both me and my boo bought this shirt to help Patty Mills of the Portland Trail Blazers to rebuild after the floods in Australia. Find out what you can do to help these guys in their efforts! enjoy.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/03/blazers_patty_mills_keeps_push.html

From Porn to Purity

Chastity

So I came across this site when I was looking for the Dawson McAllister information to post. Its encouraging to see that there are religious associations that create sites like this. I recognize that this issue is not seen as a problem to a lot of people, especially those who are not religious at all, but it has to affect you in some way. I mean, when we all were younger in grade school, we recognized what was wrong by our teachers punishing us for saying or doing inappropriate things. Other times we might get away with it but still feel that we did something wrong. So what is influenced from the outside and what from the inside? Sometimes your conscious goes away if you have done things like this for so long. To me, it doesn't have to be a religious thing (though that strongly comes in to play) so much as it can be a logical thing. One of the arguments on the porn to purity site is that if you have some dark secret you are hiding, it can lower your self esteem or ability to communicate well with others. Especially if you keep it from your spouse right? How does it make them feel if you go somewhere else for pleasure? Another thing to me is, if you give in to your lusts so easily, you are de-evolving yourself. All the animals in the animal kingdom have to reproduce too, but you have the mind and conscious to stop yourself. Why would you do that? Such a waste of a brain. Self mastery says it can be accomplished. If you are like me and you like kung fu movies, you see the monks do it ALL THE TIME and they are wicked amazing at martial arts and a calm mind because they have focused their mind on other things. Sex is a distraction in our world. I mean really, besides our nature to have those feelings anyways, why do we need other media and things provoking it? I guess my thought of the day is master yourself and you will feel better about yourself.


If you want the religious perspective, I have provided those links, and there are more links on those pages. The LDS perspective is linked under the word "chastity" on the top of the page. And here is a quick video below as well. Enjoy :)

Playing for Peace

I dont know if you have ever played on a sports team, but it really helps you to work with other people towards a common goal as well as have a lot of fun. Basketball is probably one of the best sports ever created. Why not use it to bring peace as well? A professor here at my university, Chad Ford, works in Israel to help bring together Arabs and Jews. If you don't know about that crazy conflict, thats a whole other story. The efforts are to try and bring peace after so many years of ongoing contention and war. It was inspired by Nelson Mandela  and how he used rugby to unite his country. Why is this important? Well, if conflicts in the middle east can be resolved without using war, we could stop spending money on the war right? We could also start to tone down the racism towards people from those countries and stop being so paranoid about peoples intentions of terrorism. A world of peace is a world at ease. It isn't fair that children are born into war and that is all they know their entire lives. At least take some appreciation for what you DO have from seeing what they don't. Enjoy :)

Free Hugs Campaign

I don't get or give a lot of hugs, but I know that a hug really makes my day. What if everyone was comfortable enough to give a free hug to a stranger? Now that would really be sharing the love eh? Enjoy :)

Celebrity Imperfections

Because of the way the media works, I don't think people realize how unrealistic what you see on TV is. People are aspiring to digitally enhanced or masked (by makeup) people, not real people. Remember, under all the glam is a person just like everyone else. I don't mean to point out faults or say that these people are ugly but to say that anyone has the potential to look like they do on TV if only to have professionals work on their appearance every time. Makeup, camera tricks, digital effects. See how distorted the media makes the world. Enjoy :)

http://seehere.blogspot.com/2006/08/celebrities-without-makeup.html
http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=878&page=1
http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2010/05/06/stars-makeup/#slide=1
http://www.popeater.com/2009/10/07/celebrities-without-makeup/
http://www.celebritieswithoutmakeup.net/
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/galleries/stars_without_makeup/stars_without_makeup.html
http://estilo.aollatino.com/2009/09/07/stars-without-make-up/

haha you get the idea.

Dayton's Legs

This is an inspiring story that shows how service and friendship can change lives. You don't have to be afraid of people who are different, they can actually enrich your experience on this earth. Who knows how they could change you for the better. Enjoy :)

The Worth of Souls: Johnny Lingo

"Remember the ^aworth of ^bsouls is great in the sight of God"

                          -D&C 18:10

The worth of souls is an old LDS video that has short films about why everyone is important and of worth. Johnny Lingo is my favorite of course- ISLAND STYLE. This is the old version. There is a new version that is a full length film, but a bit of a different story. So here is the link to watch it. enjoy :)






buy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Worth-Mailbox-Pioneers-Petticoats-Johnny/dp/B000AQ798A

Big Brothers Big Sisters

The thing about mentors is that you know they are devoting time to help you. Its what they want to do. Having a sibling is much more than a mentor. They are a friend who is bound to you by blood. Its easier to trust someone who you love who is part of your family. Though these people are not blood relatives, their goal is to be like the big brother or sister to a child who is struggling in whatever area of their lives. Give them a friend and a role model. Positive advice and support. Enjoy.

http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962335/k.BE16/Home.htm

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

So the boys and girls clubs are places that kids can go when they arent at home or at school to continue to develop their learning. They are especially helpful for families who are working hard to support themselves and dont have a lot of time to spend on developing their childrens positive attitudes and abilities. I have done a few sports and things through the boys and girls clubs and they were a lot of fun. They were positive activities and they can help keep kids out of trouble while also teaching them valuable lessons on life. A lot of celebrities donate to this charity so it is able to have a lot of locations around the nation. They have a lot of programs and goals so check em out. enjoy :)




http://www.bgca.org/Pages/index.aspx

The Hope Line with Dawson McAllister

I started listening to this at night cause I always had the radio on 97.1 ZHT in Utah while I did my homework in highschool. It was interesting to hear people call in to talk about their problems. Maybe I learned how to talk to myself about things and to other people too. So the Radio Show is with Dawson McAllister (picture below). There is something called the hope line and people can get "life coaches" if they seem like they need extra help. Also, once I was depressed and I went online to talk to a hopeline volunteer. It was not what I expected it to be though. Because it is also run by a church. I'm not sure which one, but my "counseling sesh" turned in to a bible lesson. I found that talking to myself was always better. Still, if you need someone to vent to, or try it out, life advice, or just to see if you can use someone elses advice, tune in, call in, or go to their website. Enjoy :)

http://www.thehopeline.com/CSDefault.aspx

The Secret

So I watched this in high school cause my grandparents gifted it to my family. You can watch it below, and there is also a book that I have heard many classes assign and businesses require their employees to read. It is an interesting idea, but the only thing that I think is worth buying into is positive thinking. Its great to have goals, aspirations, and wishes, but when I signed up for the "secret scrolls"- their email newsletter, there was one quote that was the opposite of inspirational. It basically said that if you are trying to do things, you are telling the universe that you don't have it and so that "thought wave" is a signal to the universe that you don't have it... so it will continue. So essentially if you want something, you should sit there and do absolutely nothing more than imagining you already having it. I heard an RSA lecture about how the secret was a device to boost morale and have an excuse to fire people... telling them that they were too negative and it was their own fault bad things were happening to them. Truth is, bad things just happen. You don't always attract them to you. Still, this is on my page because like I said before, if imagery helps you to be more positive and set goals, then it is a good thing. Enjoy.



http://www.thesecret.tv/index.html

Post Secret

This is something I have found that I love a lot. I first read a post secret book at Barnes and Noble and then I found it on the internet. I love it because you can see human sides of people that you can't see on the surface. People you don't even know. And you can relate to them. I think everyone has secrets, things they are not willing to share because they are shy or ashamed. I am really happy that these efforts have made people feel like they are not alone to the point where it has saved people from suicide. At the same time, some secrets are very depressing. And its not just the secrets that so many people are pained to keep, but secrets that are hurting other people. Secrets like that you don't love someone anymore and you are cheating. I appreciate Post Secret a lot, but I hope that people don't use this as a support to continue doing evil secretive things using other peoples similarities as justification. Below I have a playlist of different post secret videos from YouTube and also a link to where you can buy the post secret books online. There is also a link to their facebook page, and to the online community. The Post Secret link to sunday secrets is where you can read new secrets every sunday on their Blogger page. Enjoy. :)

Dove Movement for Self Esteem

I remember seeing this commercial on TV and thinking how great it was, and that this is a good campaign to help people see themselves better. It will help people enjoy their lives, and be able to communicate and empathize with others as well. I made a youtube playlist below with some of their commercials and other specials, and there is also a link to their website. Enjoy :)

http://www.dovemovement.com/

We Stop Hate

This is a great channel where they get different youtubers to give some positive advice mostly directed to teens. I know this would have helped me in my teenage years! Support is always great to have. Enjoy.




http://westophate.org/