Photo Friday: Monk Falls

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Happy Friday!

Why do dogs leave the earth first? a child answers

Found this awesome article online and wanted to share it with you.  

Why Do Dogs Leave Earth First?   a child answers

"Being a veterinarian, I have been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named, Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found that he was dying of cancer. 

I told the family that we couldn't do anything more for Belker and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog, in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me that they thought it would be good for six-year-old, Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. 

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. The young boy, Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. 

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a long while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animals lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, " I know why." 

Startled, we all turned to him. what came out of his mouth stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. it has changed the way I try to live. He said, " People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life-- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, " Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long." 

Deepak Chopra: A State of Bliss

If you want to reach a state of bliss - make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge.

-Deepak Chopra 

The Power of Thank You

Have you ever wanted to say thank you to someone, but for some reason, held back?
I definitely have.
Part of it is not wanting to be embarrassed, part of it is not wanting to out myself out there.
Regardless of the reason, when I think about it now, it's pretty ridiculous.

In her 3-minute talk, Dr. Laura Trice suggests we say thank you, and she suggests that we asks for the things we need.

Today, why don't you thank someone sincerely?

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I wanted to take this chance to thank YOU for being the best blog audience ever!

What started out as a blog that I wasn't sure anyone would ever see, to hitting 20,000 page views today!
Thank you, sincerely, for checking out Inspiration Cupcake again and again and for your insightful comments and support.

Motivation Monday: Quit Waiting for Everything to Be Perfect

You have everything you need right now.

21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity

This article of these amazing photos was published yesterday on Buzzfeed by Jack Shepherd.


Regardless about how you stand on certain political and social elements that some of these pictures touch upon, you have to admit that it's hard not to be moved by them.


1. This picture of Chicago Christians who showed up at a gay pride parade to apologize for homophobia in the Church.

... and the reaction from the parade.

(Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media

2. This story about Japanese senior citizens who volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis at Fukushima power station so that young people wouldn't have to subject themselves to radiation.

Source: bbc.co.uk

3. This picture of two Norwegian guys rescuing a sheep from the ocean.


4. This sign at an awesome bookshop.

Source: helsinki-syndrome
5. This poll about what Snooki should name her child.

6. The moment in which this Ohio athlete stopped to help an injured competitor across the finish line during a track meet.

Image by The Daily Call, Mike Ullery / AP

17-year-old Meghan Vogel was in last place in the 3,200-meter run when she caught up to competitor Arden McMath, whose body was giving out. Instead of running past her to avoid the last-place finish, Vogel put McMath's arm around her shoulders, carried her 30 meters, and then pushed her over the finish line before crossing it.

7. This exchange between a 3-year-old girl and a shopping center.



8. This note that was handed to a waiter along with a $20 bill by an elderly lady in his restaurant.


9. This sign at an awesome Subway restaurant.


10. This picture of a villager carrying stranded kittens to dry land during floods in Cuttack City, India.

Image by Biswaranjan Rout / AP

Image by Biswaranjan Rout / AP

11. This sign at an awesome drycleaner's.
Plaza Cleaners in Portland, OR, helped over 2,000 unemployed workers who couldn't afford dry cleaning. The store's owner estimated that it cost his company $32,000 dollars.

12. This photograph of a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro.

13. This picture of a firefighter administering oxygen to a cat rescued from a house fire.
(TOM BAUER/Missoulian)
14. And this one.

Image by Chris Butler / AP

15. This interaction between a Guatemalan girl and a tourist she just met.


16. This gesture from a neighbor.


17. These photos of two children collaborating to rescue a dog who had fallen into a ravine.


18. This note on a young family's check.


19. This exchange between a protester and a soldier during a protest in Brazil.
(Imagens/ TVBA)
20. These pictures of a man jumping into rough waters to rescue a stranger's Shih Tzu in Melbourne.


Via: news.com.au

Sue Drummond was walking her beloved Shih Tzu, Bibi, on a pier in Melbourne, when a fierce gust of wind picked him up and hurled him into the rough waters of the bay. A passerby, Raden Soemawinata, who happened to be on the pier that day to scatter his grandmother's ashes, wasted no time in stripping down and diving into the bay to rescue the animal.

(Photos: Chris Scott)

21. And this photograph of two best friends on a swing.

Source: volobuev.me

Don't just talk about it

BE about it!

Wise Men vs. Fools

"Wise men talk because they have something to say;

Fools, because they have to say something."

-Plato

TED Talk Tuesday: Why you will fail to have a great career.

In his funny and straight-forward talk, economist Larry Smith believes we will fail to have a great career.
Check out the video - let me know what you think.

Motivation Monday: Keys to Success

Today's Motivation Monday is a great video of positive affirmations and powerful images, set to one of my favorite songs.

Enjoy!

Photo Friday: Sharks!

This image blew me away!

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Happy Friday!

When things aren't adding up in your life, start subtracting.

What you allow, is what will continue.

TED Talk Tuesday: Neil Pasricha's 3 A's of Awesome

I love this TED Talk!

Neil Pasricha transformed personally challenging situations to a website called "1000 Awesome Things" as a way to remember the simple universal pleasures.

Pasricha talks about the 3 A's of awesome:

1.  Attitude

2.  Awareness

3.  Authenticity

Here's Pasricha's blog.
Which turned into this #1 international bestseller for 23 months.

And it's even now an app.

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What awesome thing have you experienced today?

Commencement Speech: "You are nothing special."

"You are nothing special."

This is, perhaps, the last thing you would expect to hear in a commencement speech (and on this blog for that matter).  However, that is exactly what David McCollough said to the graduating class of 2012 at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts.  

And you know what?  I totally loved it.  Instead of praising them for the accomplishment of graduating high school, he kept it real and reminded them that selflessness is an important virtue and that “the sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special, because everyone is.”  Here's an excerpt from his speech:

"You are not special. You are not exceptional.

Contrary to what your u9 soccer trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade report card, despite every assurance of a certain corpulent purple dinosaur, that nice Mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, no matter how often your maternal caped crusader has swooped in to save you … you’re nothing special.” 

Yes, you’ve been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped.  Yes, capable adults with other things to do have held you, kissed you, fed you, wiped your mouth, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, tutored you, coached you, listened to you, counseled you, encouraged you, consoled you and encouraged you again.  You’ve been nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored.  You’ve been feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie.  Yes, you have.  And, certainly, we’ve been to your games, your plays, your recitals, your science fairs.  Absolutely, smiles ignite when you walk into a room, and hundreds gasp with delight at your every tweet.  Why, maybe you’ve even had your picture in the Townsman!  And now you’ve conquered high school… and, indisputably, here we all have gathered for you, the pride and joy of this fine community, the first to emerge from that magnificent new building… 

But do not get the idea you’re anything special.  Because you’re not."  

Not to worry though, McCollough ended on a positive note.  He encouraged the students to break free from the complacency that being coddled and having an overinflated sense of self can bring.

“As you commence...  I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance.  Don't bother with work you don't believe in any more than you would a spouse you're not crazy about...  Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction. Be worthy of your advantages,” he said, adding, “The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life, is an achievement, not something that will fall into your lap because you’re a nice person or mommy ordered it from the caterer.”

Here's a transcript of his entire speech.

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What do you think about his speech?  Love it?  Hate it?

Photo Friday: The End of the World

This is the infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore.

I so want to swim here.

Photo courtesy of National Geographic

Happy Friday!

How to Build a Lasting Relationship

If you're tired of starting over, stop giving up.

TED Talk Tuesday: Dancing with Light

This is beyond cool.

Motivation Monday: The Battle

"You're in the midst of a war, a battle between the limits of a crowd seeking the surrender of your dreams, and power of your true vision to create and contribute.  It is a fight between those who will tell you what you cannot do, and that part of you that knows, and has always known, that we are more than our environment, and that a dream, backed by an unrelenting will to attain it, is truly a reality with imminent arrival."          

-Tony Robbins 

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Which side of the fight will you allow to win?

Photo Friday: Hawaii Lantern Floating Ceremony

This past Memorial Day, Hawaii held its 14th annual lantern floating ceremony.  Over 40,000 people came together at Magic Island to light lanterns with special messages to loved ones who have passed away and float them off to sea.