“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.

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“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

“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

    “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.