Tag Archives: Change and Personal Empowerment

Only Requests and Promises Produce Action

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(Part 1 of article)

I had some choices; I could waste time regretting losing the opportunity for that last meeting I’d canceled.  I could feel remorse for even thinking about changing the meeting again.  But, in honoring Vaughn, I made a promise in the future to keep my commitments.  I wanted to say, “Try,” but Vaughn didn’t like the word, “Try.”  He said that we spend most of our lives making declarations and assertions.  He believed that neither of these produced action.  Only action produces change.  He taught that it is only through requests and promises that we change, produce, or make a difference.

Acknowledge Yourself and Others

Vaughn challenged us to acknowledge those people in our lives that matter everyday, to spend a couple of minutes looking into their eyes and letting them know how much they mean to us.  He even encouraged us to acknowledge our own selves while we were looking into another person’s eyes.  “Eyes are the windows to the soul,” Right?  Vaughn promised that we would make remarkable changes in our lives if we would also look into the other person’s eyes and let them be our mirror.  While looking in another person’s eyes, we are to acknowledge our own selves, saying what was affirming, real, and loving.  My friend Vaughn, was so organized and productive that he had his life planned out for the next 20 years.  He wanted to live to be 140.  I don’t think he made it to age sixty.  But his influence can live for 140 years.

Like Vaughn,  your influence can also last 140 years if you learn to look for the good in the next person you meet and tell them the beauty you see in them.  And, if you want to really transform the world, make it a habit.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

Don’t Put It Off!

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My mouth dropped open.  I was speechless.  I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing over the phone.  I was thinking about rescheduling my lunch appointment for the second time, but now I was the one being canceled.   I’d rescheduled our lunch from the previous week to the following week thinking it would be better, but it wasn’t.  After all, it was only one week.  The decision was perplexing me so I decided to just call my friend, explain the situation, and we would make the decision together.   But, now it is too late.  The woman on the phone was telling me that my lunch companion had died suddenly the day after our canceled lunch.  This happened over a year ago but I remember it as if it were yesterday.  I would never see my friend again and that opportunity would now be loss forever.  I couldn’t help but think about how precious time was, and that the only time we really have is now.  It is only in the current moment that we can count on and live.  This incident brings new meaning to the saying, “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today.”

What’s the Lesson?

I had to ask myself, “What is the lesson I am to learn from this?”  In every situation it is important to learn the lesson, otherwise our tests are repeated.  Upon reflection I realized the importance of not taking anything or anyone for granted.  I learned that what we do in the moment creates our past and helps us to realize the futures we dream of.  The past is gone and tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  I needed to focus on that statement, “Tomorrow is not promised.”  All we really have is here and now.

So, what are putting off right now, that really should be done today?  Better still, if you knew you wouldn’t have tomorrow, “What would you be doing differently today?”  What would happen if you really lived like there would be no tomorrow.  What would change?

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

Women’s Rights: Declaration of Sentiments

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Opening Lines of the Declaration:

“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course. “

A few sentiments:

  • He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.
  • He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice.
  • He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men – both natives and foreigners.
  • Having deprived her of this first right as a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.
  • He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.
  • He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.
  • He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life.

The closing lines of the Declaration:

“ Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation—in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States.

In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to effect our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures, and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf. We hope this Convention will be followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of the country.

Click to read the entire Declaration of Sentiments at Wikipedia.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

This Is Your Sign to GO!

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go after your dreamsOn the crowded highway of life, you’ll get run over if you just stand still on the freeway. Sure you can move off onto the shoulder where the disabled cars are, but you can’t stay there forever and expect to reach your desired destination. If you stay on the shoulder too long, you’ll get ticketed, towed, or vandalized.

And, so it is in life. You’ve got to keep moving to keep growing, for to stop growing is to die.   I’m not saying to not take time to pray, meditate, plan, and be guided. That’s should be a habit.  I’ve pulled off on the shoulder of the highway of life many times to regroup and get my reference points clear, but then you’ve got to get back in the driver’s seat and get moving.  Don’t worry about how far off your destination is.  Don’t spend time worrying about how you will get there or what detours or roadblocks you might encounter.  Just have faith and get moving.   Do not despise your humble beginnings or small steps.  Remember, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” or in our analogy, one mile.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

You Are Here But Where Is That?

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You are here!  Most people are familiar with the maps in most malls  that show you where you are now or the GPS maps that have the red star showing you where you are going.  You must find where you are now and then locate your destination before you can figure out in which direction you need to go.

What Are Your Reference Points?

Reference points are critical to getting to any destination in life and you need at least three: 1) A Destination, 2) A Starting Point, and 3) A Plan.  You are here and you are on your way somewhere!  But where; do you know?  One of my favorite songs of all time is Diana Ross’s ‘Mahogany’ from ‘Lady Sings the Blues.’  The lyrics that always motivate me to be aware and proactive are:  “Do you know where you’re going to?  Do you like the things that life is showing you?  Do you know? Now looking back at all the past, we let so many dreams just slip through our hands.”  The words make me realize that time is precious and  that if we idle too long in indecision, fear,  and doubt that we can lose out.  What dreams are slipping through your hands right now?  Do you know?  Click to continue reading about ‘Where Are You Going?’

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.