tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59872061921798853302024-02-21T06:08:16.269-05:00Kaleidoscope DiscoveriesRandom thoughts and musings on what is going on in my corner of the world mixed with some of my creative work.Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-16758919433443473812012-09-14T16:02:00.001-04:002012-09-14T16:02:43.035-04:00You Found Me<h4 style="color: #351c75;">
So, after not speaking to you for over a year, we are somehow inexplicably linked out there in the ether. I have no idea how that happened and to be honest, when I found out- I was utterly stunned into immobility. I wanted to press that disconnect button that would sever our virtual tie, but curiosity got the better of me. So it remains there like the gossamer tendrils of the spider web that connected us so long ago.</h4>
<h4 style="color: #351c75;">
</h4>
<h4 style="color: #351c75;">
I'm wondering who will have the courage to pull the lever.....</h4>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwp-ptwhdAe_HDWFwXEdkQ3xcBIWwp6Mz3qs4k7p7PRjfWmNiv6DpgI8qb5VSObmg_AdnDFK0rJS_K5tsHqCqi1r07aDXJY1zPhP0UEnA-5Y3OnXZZqaQKfWwZFmxBIa2kk1PwZP8lvLT/s1600/466989_4144689061337_1407080285_3657574_583470334_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwp-ptwhdAe_HDWFwXEdkQ3xcBIWwp6Mz3qs4k7p7PRjfWmNiv6DpgI8qb5VSObmg_AdnDFK0rJS_K5tsHqCqi1r07aDXJY1zPhP0UEnA-5Y3OnXZZqaQKfWwZFmxBIa2kk1PwZP8lvLT/s320/466989_4144689061337_1407080285_3657574_583470334_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-80262937782011890582012-05-11T09:19:00.001-04:002012-05-11T09:19:13.938-04:00Cycle of Life<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNHOoKCI95a3T-lOajYkabQPUuU-kSKqsWQz8MlEAU8qHnIZv1iN05vNIOGXXYk7ySC3Sgn0yJVp8ACEfX2bVjhpQKZp7e3XbW4MmMRVxklKPwagoO3geH0wkMMlJKBLElAzV7c9PcThW/s1600/aunt+gertie+at+20+in+1948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNHOoKCI95a3T-lOajYkabQPUuU-kSKqsWQz8MlEAU8qHnIZv1iN05vNIOGXXYk7ySC3Sgn0yJVp8ACEfX2bVjhpQKZp7e3XbW4MmMRVxklKPwagoO3geH0wkMMlJKBLElAzV7c9PcThW/s320/aunt+gertie+at+20+in+1948.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="hasCaption">Life is a never ending cycle: birth and death
transform our world continuously. I say good bye today to my mom's only
remaining sibling (of 8), Gertie Fontenot Jolivette Wilson and welcome
the newest member, 36 hour old Peyton Elizabeth. We are given a short time
on earth, our maxim should be to make a difference....</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-9475826832847343722012-04-13T09:48:00.000-04:002012-04-13T09:48:28.928-04:00Cincinnati Social Media Marketing Series for Creatives & Others<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i0Ru6IUH2LvzopFv46RsWLDAfUmAkBHekQu1ijonqHwFcOOIbuWnuwfJ5OLtU4ggUktfNoJ01PykjtX_OgU9CinI7VyyKB5mAdKpKwyZuGv2MpCspC3mXOYuz_OMcz4vz4H08ywybEmM/s1600/Series+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i0Ru6IUH2LvzopFv46RsWLDAfUmAkBHekQu1ijonqHwFcOOIbuWnuwfJ5OLtU4ggUktfNoJ01PykjtX_OgU9CinI7VyyKB5mAdKpKwyZuGv2MpCspC3mXOYuz_OMcz4vz4H08ywybEmM/s400/Series+post.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Excited about a new partnership with the <a href="http://www.masonarts.org/" target="_blank"> Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance</a> in Cincinnati. We have teamed to bring together social media educational programming for Creatives: artists, writers, directors of arts organizations, marketing managers for arts organizations and businesses, musicians and anyone who wants to learn more about digital marketing. Here's the full info:<br />
<br />
<span class="vevent"><span class="description"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Please join <a href="http://www.creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/" target="_blank">C3: Creating Connections Consulting, LLC</a> and the <a href="http://www.masonarts.org/" target="_blank">Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance</a><span id="goog_273093968"></span><span id="goog_273093969"></span> for four (4) unique Social Media Marketing seminars that can enhance your marketing efforts; build awareness around your work or organization; and help you to connect with your target audience online. It is our goal to help artists, creatives and leaders of arts organizations to get the digital marketing education that they need to utilize key social media tools to their fullest potential. We're here to assist you in showcasing your work, your organization and your business in the best possible digital light. Each seminar can be taken independently of the others, but as a series, are designed from an introductory level to the final advanced class. <strong>Not in the arts field?</strong> Don't feel left out. Social Media Marketing is key for all organizations, non-profits, small business, and solo-preneurs. <strong>All are welcome to attend</strong>. Space is limited, so register early! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seminars and workshops will be taught by Michelle Beckham-Corbin, President & Social Media Strategist at C3. Creating Connections Consulting. Michelle is a long time trainer and presenter in the social media education field and is a Procter & Gamble Marketing and Customer Business Development alum having spent 15 years with some of the biggest brands in the consumer packaged goods industry. Read more about Michelle<a href="http://creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/about/" target="_blank" title="About Michelle Beckham"> here</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 115%;">Introduction to Social Media Marketing (includes Pinterest)</span></u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></u></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="height: 98px; left: 0px; margin-left: 116px; margin-top: 856px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 632px; z-index: -1;"></span><span style="height: 133px; left: 0px; margin-left: 732px; margin-top: 31px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 53px; z-index: 1;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Date: Thursday, 4/19</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (2 hours)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cost: $59.00</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This seminar provides an overview of key social media platforms that arts organizations should consider integrating into their marketing efforts in order to reach their target market, build awareness, and establish relationships that lead to an increased call to action response. We will examine: Facebook Pages, Twitter, Blogs, YouTube and the rapidly exploding Pinterest. Examples from the Arts Industry will be show-cased and live sites will be examined. Strategic planning and reputation management sy</span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">stems will be discussed. <strong>Participants from all fields and industries are welcome!</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Learning outcomes:</span></strong></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Greater understanding of key social media marketing tools</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Importance of setting a social media marketing strategy</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Why goals and measures are important </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">How to create a social media plan</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Reputation Management & monitoring tools</span></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<h2 style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2mFUe7198MOtXdQzMVS8H-CO0SOlmC2MlMVPJPghROiYF5iDZgiEQJXZQkUzKDW9rNyb5YfUluB1m02f7Zl9RXWwd4NTrUzigWWB29q4n7av3ZEKWw39Y0703XFhmIC0m2u9b8ZK8QJY/s1600/MDAA+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2mFUe7198MOtXdQzMVS8H-CO0SOlmC2MlMVPJPghROiYF5iDZgiEQJXZQkUzKDW9rNyb5YfUluB1m02f7Zl9RXWwd4NTrUzigWWB29q4n7av3ZEKWw39Y0703XFhmIC0m2u9b8ZK8QJY/s320/MDAA+logo.jpg" width="227" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Additional courses include:</span></span></span></span></h2><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Facebook Page Timeline & Settings Optimization Seminar</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Info <a href="http://c3faceook4arts.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Exploding Your Organizations' Reach with Pinterest</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Info <a href="http://c3pinterest.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Facebook Page Marketing Strategies Seminar</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="vevent"><span class="description"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Info <a href="http://advfacebookmarketing.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-68344503162354341832011-11-16T08:24:00.000-05:002011-11-16T08:24:25.345-05:00This I Believe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzXVJYw35E2_X6a0XyGbZ7AjHuLG9dsxKtDj4XLvz6ZX8tuEBrPYE6hNirHKT6-pPQOTGLx_jBMtCJgE8pxwCP4wU_NQTNwWQqEx6Qmj74HjFUFYrrlCjVIq3khyphenhyphen8fv7kQTlOiC4SBEh3/s1600/328517_2545503802705_1407080285_2971958_1619529332_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzXVJYw35E2_X6a0XyGbZ7AjHuLG9dsxKtDj4XLvz6ZX8tuEBrPYE6hNirHKT6-pPQOTGLx_jBMtCJgE8pxwCP4wU_NQTNwWQqEx6Qmj74HjFUFYrrlCjVIq3khyphenhyphen8fv7kQTlOiC4SBEh3/s320/328517_2545503802705_1407080285_2971958_1619529332_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Recently read the book of essays entiled, <i>This I Believe,</i> <span><i> The Personal Philosophies Of Remarkable Men And Women</i> edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman and have been thinking about what I believe in. Here is an unedited post-morning coffee stream of consciousness regarding what I believe in. Would love to have you share your beliefs with me as well.</span><br />
<span><br />
</span><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe in Integrity and Truthfulness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">Standing up for what is right and just, not what is popular sentiment</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">Action and taking a stand vs. camping out on Wall Street and protesting</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">That any two committed individuals have the right to be together regardless of their sexual orientation</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I am opposed to death of any kind: abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, mercy killing, WAR</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe in self-sufficiency and the community (neighborhood, church, support group, whatever) taking care of its own and the government NOT giving out handouts </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe in the power of education, both formal and informal and its ability to transform a life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe that there is a heaven of sorts, not necessarily a place, but a state of mind</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe that evil does exist and it walks the land in the guise of human nature</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I have strong faith and love my Catholic religion while recognizing that other faith communities exist alongside- whether they are Christian or not.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe any individual who has led a good and faith-filled life will enter that state of mind called Heaven regardless of whether they are Catholic or Christian, Muslim or Hindu.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe in holding on to dreams and using them as guideposts for living.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe in the power to transform lives through actions and mighty endeavors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe that you can have many loves in your life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe that the power of friendship is more valuable than all the oil in the world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Leelawadee","sans-serif";">I believe in believing in YOU.</span></div><br />
<br />
What do you believe in?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtOQs-lW0hkPs1hn219vkSN4Kbdbkxm8GUObOhoiCbUEjr6wEE_1jwQHDM0wXjrT7xUNg77LPz5pJxDjYSjOzlN2_93fAX8WgvqaHD6vasxL2xo36AbcOehK5I7We5zyf8TwKDsIxuy6_/s1600/sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtOQs-lW0hkPs1hn219vkSN4Kbdbkxm8GUObOhoiCbUEjr6wEE_1jwQHDM0wXjrT7xUNg77LPz5pJxDjYSjOzlN2_93fAX8WgvqaHD6vasxL2xo36AbcOehK5I7We5zyf8TwKDsIxuy6_/s1600/sunflower.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright <a href="http://creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/about/" target="_blank">Michelle Beckham-Corbin</a> 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-67016635949020975932011-11-07T10:13:00.001-05:002011-11-07T10:13:48.428-05:00Apocalypse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4aMIyPECPGiYqAI9fYJ7uoWRVtcg6GX5PTO94baHR52lajpGCXRoCnSlfTa0RrR3SNavkOfbrZ14l6NMRyiGGgy0YQqJj9r5y8-SHkssBA9ga8LLypxTz9SwpKEnCJju7gjB7wympVKT/s1600/the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4aMIyPECPGiYqAI9fYJ7uoWRVtcg6GX5PTO94baHR52lajpGCXRoCnSlfTa0RrR3SNavkOfbrZ14l6NMRyiGGgy0YQqJj9r5y8-SHkssBA9ga8LLypxTz9SwpKEnCJju7gjB7wympVKT/s320/the+road.jpg" width="191" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;">Frozen landscape</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dark, desolate</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sun absent in the sky </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;">Falling ash, ashen snow......</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What would you do if there was an apocalypse and you were one of the few remaining on earth? How would your faith be tested? In the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road" target="_blank"><i>The Road</i></a> based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same title by Cormac McCarthy, a man and his son find themselves in this scenario. The man’s wife has taken her own life unable to go on under the extreme conditions that they have been living under and hoping to create more of a chance of survival for the remaining two. The movie follows the pair on the road to reach the southern coast to find warmth and possible life. Along the way their values are tested profoundly and the boy must make a herculean choice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What struck me the most was looking at the breakdown of society and the construction of a new order in which people were no longer valued for their humanity. To witness the savagery that people turned to in their desperation in order to survive was shocking. It became a crowd mentality, where people acquiesced in order not to be on the outside: the ones attacked and ultimately eaten. There was a renegade leadership running rampant that followed the mantra of survival of the fittest and if you were outside of one of these groups, you literally were running for your life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One image that continues to haunt me is the scene involving a loaded gun: their only means of protection. In this scene the father shows his little boy how to put the pistol in his mouth and aim upwards toward his brain for a quick and painless death. The loaded gun that the father and son kept ultimately contained only one bullet and would be the saving grace to prevent the boy from a horrific end at the hands of the cannibalistic survivors. The father knew at this point that he was dying and would not be there to protect his son in the future. Such a tragic, tragic image. But within that image, there exists unconditional love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another theme that ran throughout the film and touched my core was that of trust. The boy asks a stranger at one point, “Are you one of the good guys?”. In a lawless and desperate society the role of good guy can flip on a dime. We can only trust our instincts and make a decision based on the information that we have at hand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I suppose the answer to how you would handle being in a similar situation would depend upon your faith and your views of life, death and after-life. I hope we never see an apocalypse in a million lifetimes from now, but if we did, I know what I would do. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you? </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Copyright <a href="http://creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/about/" target="_blank">Michelle Beckham-Corbin</a> 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-53162329917115600582011-10-17T10:25:00.001-04:002011-10-17T17:53:20.970-04:00Nirvana & Naming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mSojV8CuuCQotWi3uxnQuc61iXiUM3x9EH_o5mbzqwxDdUeLsaM0XniTSdPunfUxjwXMV69t-qgmPs-BCjFhpn_mQk1vmKATpQUgspaVkCanrEShmPqw9Tv3XQbaXUxxZ7Y8iVcOPgBP/s1600/PhotobucketDSCN2062-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mSojV8CuuCQotWi3uxnQuc61iXiUM3x9EH_o5mbzqwxDdUeLsaM0XniTSdPunfUxjwXMV69t-qgmPs-BCjFhpn_mQk1vmKATpQUgspaVkCanrEShmPqw9Tv3XQbaXUxxZ7Y8iVcOPgBP/s320/PhotobucketDSCN2062-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just found an errant page that belongs to my unpublished novel. As I read the lines that were written five years ago, I was struck by the power of the words. The voice is that of Gabrielle writing of her soul mate, Jon, in the pages of her personal journal. They are young adults who met as teens through an online game. Here is a small excerpt from a larger piece:</span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"We have shared so much</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It is truly an incredible experience to be completely known</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Every raw nerve, every idiosyncrasy exposed</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And through this naked unveiling, we remain close</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Not frightened away by our own realities....</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sometimes we react in a series of classical conditioning scenarios</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>that we are unable to prevent from playing out</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>But no matter, we always find our way back to each other</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Back to that feeling of being totally and utterly connected</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To each other in body and soul</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You take me to the highest heights</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You make my heart soar</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Over and over again</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I am with you every time</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Every single time</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Calling out your name</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Before I take that final leap off the mountain</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You answer, "Gabrielle, I'm coming"</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And you are right behind me; along side of me</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Landing in a heap of blissful exhaustion at the bottom of that mighty mountain</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Two blind people assisted by heightened other senses</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Making sense of the world they have created</i></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Living to love; loving to live........"</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Afterwards I picked up my copy of <i>This I Believe, The Personal Philosophies Of Remarkable Men And Women</i> edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman and read an entry by writer and activist Eve Ensler entitled "The Power and Mystery of Naming Things". This quote really struck me:</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Naming things, breaking through taboos and denial is the most dangerous, terrifying, and crucial work. This has to happen in spite of political climates or coercions, in spite of careers being won or lost, in spite of the fear of being criticized, outcast, or disliked. I believe freedom begins with naming things. Humanity is preserved by it.</i>"</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not sure why both of these pieces struck me enough to place them together here in Kaleidoscope, but I'm going with the suggestion of my muse and perhaps later I will find a connection......</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-18331674973737393502011-10-09T21:50:00.000-04:002011-10-09T21:50:01.926-04:00Life Is What You Make Of It<div style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dreamer, Believer, Passionate, Extrovert, Unconventional, Eclectic, Empathetic, Analytical, Gifted, Intelligent </span></b></div><div style="background-color: white;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdOcY5YPp5xdk4Vrw3seDkDUUk7RVwK9t7XLryAf8BvT-FW0RRlzYMHPWOHvQ4kfYC_wewuX4OQRIzOrXR4V5_GlVYn6OdeDuf-7RaQ2nhovcrxKXx-cynsH6ZFlz9aO99dEQJwRT9TOT/s1600/260097_2224842906383_1407080285_2602345_4240492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdOcY5YPp5xdk4Vrw3seDkDUUk7RVwK9t7XLryAf8BvT-FW0RRlzYMHPWOHvQ4kfYC_wewuX4OQRIzOrXR4V5_GlVYn6OdeDuf-7RaQ2nhovcrxKXx-cynsH6ZFlz9aO99dEQJwRT9TOT/s320/260097_2224842906383_1407080285_2602345_4240492_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When I think about who I am deep inside, these are the words that come to mind. They are words that many people have used to describe me. I love people- I love knowing their stories and I love connecting with their souls. If I can touch just one person in my day, then I label it a success. My greatest joy is to see someone achieve and to help them reach their goals.<br />
<br />
I feel that I have led a highly successful life: wonderful career with Procter & Gamble, many community leadership positions, international travel, published work including a book on social media and the launching of my own company, <a href="http://creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/">C3: Creating Connections Consulting, LLC</a>. Despite all of the professional accomplishments, my greatest achievement is raising two wonderful children who are both amazingly intelligent and gifted and who will go on to change the world. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow marks my 24th wedding anniversary, and in today's world, that is probably a huge accomplishment as well. To me it seems like yesterday. A friend on Facebook commented to my status update about the anniversary with a question:<br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">"<i>You and Glenn are both wonderful people. We've been blessed to have met you both. You are a great couple. I'm sure you have some words of wisdom in how to make it last for 24 years. Any you care to share? Or is it like hiring employees - try to pick the right one the first time?</i></span><i>"</i> <br />
<br />
I took some time to reflect on this question. I think the biggest piece of advice would be to really know who you are marrying; in other words, spend some time deeply getting to know what their core values are and if they align with yours. The person should truly be your best friend and communication should flow freely and often between you. I think you need to be partners and equals in the relationship sharing everything from duties to dollars, while still maintaining your own identity. There will be tough times and changes along the way, but it is how you handle these circumstances that make all of the difference.<br />
<br />
So 24 years have flown by and it truly feels like just yesterday that we were dancing at our wedding. And if I close my eyes and press the knob on my jewelry box, I can hear our song play and see us beautifully executing the dance steps we learned at Arthur Murray. Two Procter managers with MBAs and a dream.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vF8QykqGRq4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-8609071211564708562011-07-20T23:35:00.002-04:002011-07-20T23:37:49.947-04:00East of Eden, South of Despair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij65ehtEns6GB98oE2AR-1HegecjrpJ4Af4YvhV2mniptBVbIKWOjwA-C4KvvHrykIbpqQResCAiEVo18puCeN2fQ8ClTw2nWzYpnq97zqMJUFuIdqvJO46YOf6F6_HEMZhyVhQWiitlyY/s1600/Desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij65ehtEns6GB98oE2AR-1HegecjrpJ4Af4YvhV2mniptBVbIKWOjwA-C4KvvHrykIbpqQResCAiEVo18puCeN2fQ8ClTw2nWzYpnq97zqMJUFuIdqvJO46YOf6F6_HEMZhyVhQWiitlyY/s400/Desert.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have been reading your blog lately</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You claim to speak from the universal voice,</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">but it seems to me that you are battling personal demons</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">in your words </span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All this talk of rain and burning embers and</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Death</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sounds like you are dealing with loss</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loss of love</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loss of the guidance that never was</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loss of the dream</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So drummer boy, keep writing</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keep waiting, but</span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">never stop dreaming</span></div><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">because the truth shall set you free....</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rYEDA3JcQqw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-71012599608088143722011-07-06T11:15:00.000-04:002011-07-06T11:15:19.465-04:00Snow Globes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style> <![endif]--> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NBBGt8BuNJYagMK2Gf9AqA6OJr8kXa8lIWsQH8qo6z_PH_IlFTGXqqxdrYkMbMz9V1sb3WCaMHuFLoe5LxPZYxhYgnDdn-d2mFeJo3O3e_zsDaGN6SwEUbk20euwmJlvM9M6Cfaih1dW/s1600/7-6-2011+11-09-09+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NBBGt8BuNJYagMK2Gf9AqA6OJr8kXa8lIWsQH8qo6z_PH_IlFTGXqqxdrYkMbMz9V1sb3WCaMHuFLoe5LxPZYxhYgnDdn-d2mFeJo3O3e_zsDaGN6SwEUbk20euwmJlvM9M6Cfaih1dW/s400/7-6-2011+11-09-09+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snow globes, like life, capture moments</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Caught within the windows of time</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our minds remember the reels of yesterday,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But in the absence of fresher moments</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We extend our understanding to be commensurate </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the present</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, reality plays a cruel hand </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And often what we experience in the present has</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No resemblance to what was held in the past.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You had so much promise</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Truly a mover and a shaker off to live a larger life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Than the rest of us</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something happened along the way</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That I am not privy to</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something flawed and tragic and life-changing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because you are no longer the same person</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, there are shadows of your former self, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slivers actually, that poke through this “new” persona</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they slide across your countenance in a pattern</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That leaves me confused and wondering if you are in </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Full command of your faculties</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you truly know who you are?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-26837280923113859602011-06-20T14:41:00.000-04:002011-06-20T14:41:43.756-04:00Unveiling the Secret Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4V3FzucYqZ_i-ba1RlGIZc22kNOi_ebTZMWfzOofBIhaDQX1Gnlgeq0Nu6xiOMKhxgXlbO9JmkUU309Zy5B1rky89fJrIyUuzg1MEupBEFm2JinJozo6esAzwoAUZeaWGmOToy_Q7HCO/s1600/Picture+501_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4V3FzucYqZ_i-ba1RlGIZc22kNOi_ebTZMWfzOofBIhaDQX1Gnlgeq0Nu6xiOMKhxgXlbO9JmkUU309Zy5B1rky89fJrIyUuzg1MEupBEFm2JinJozo6esAzwoAUZeaWGmOToy_Q7HCO/s320/Picture+501_crop.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Today is the day that I embark on a personal journey. I feel a sense of trepidation as I picture the window of my anonymity being rolled down further than the child safety seat of my comfort zone normally allows. At this stage in the journey, why hold back? More than 1/2 my life has already been written.....</span></span></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Join me on my journey to the Secret Life of an American Female Entrepreneur:</span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/L-kbhazisBg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-69240201670562567862011-06-15T15:24:00.000-04:002011-06-15T15:24:34.005-04:00Journey With Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1QMRzu3cgcbWuihHqWsJijTKK6Wx442qxWHLn8ESqjCT6wTUkje6mJwH1554TfyVIWKPzkEgfclT3_wJ8oopMeeZBT0N6CvXVwYN4eJOWMKeaGCYXbwMGjwTuRQNpMeaskezNEQPFrCb/s1600/6-15-2011+3-17-56+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1QMRzu3cgcbWuihHqWsJijTKK6Wx442qxWHLn8ESqjCT6wTUkje6mJwH1554TfyVIWKPzkEgfclT3_wJ8oopMeeZBT0N6CvXVwYN4eJOWMKeaGCYXbwMGjwTuRQNpMeaskezNEQPFrCb/s320/6-15-2011+3-17-56+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftXhaRz4BSmw0efcB2B45yBd0UFJwN35qe_oKnrV6EwvQWOYeWg_zYs9U0PFk1tKDhUwxPqz9V139FHfXKdX-DeKkyvqlcJbwjwQ60hMHlDktZT-AEKxAJbHYlyIaPQ3nmndoM1k5ICrN/s1600/shoes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting ready to embark upon a journey with mixed emotions. An inner voice is telling me that the time is right to share some wisdom (perhaps due to my impending birthday??) and the vehicle to do this is via Vlog (video blog) on Vimeo or YouTube. Being the uber brand evangelist that I am, I will create a new channel for this softer, personal side of me; a separate slice from my <a href="http://www.creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/">C3</a> life.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I still compartmentalize and that is the irony that runs through my life: Social Media Professional who operates at the nth level of privacy. I suppose the bigger issue will be whether anyone even "tunes in".....</span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-73845228431712150052011-06-10T16:43:00.001-04:002011-06-10T16:44:39.337-04:00My Heart & Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TgydDfUgx4XSLTG-HeVom6ej_vaSBjv5QkkO3z0hMbNCEzjfYJG-G-xxy0u9E5OYNnMuqL0yzbDTTzCfQlSfNx63udnKyYX-hxPW8UhcWjE_L2QjeU9Mw7a5X4o42BWsAER6szG5uDtu/s1600/241272_2111317468318_1407080285_2498575_2855971_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TgydDfUgx4XSLTG-HeVom6ej_vaSBjv5QkkO3z0hMbNCEzjfYJG-G-xxy0u9E5OYNnMuqL0yzbDTTzCfQlSfNx63udnKyYX-hxPW8UhcWjE_L2QjeU9Mw7a5X4o42BWsAER6szG5uDtu/s320/241272_2111317468318_1407080285_2498575_2855971_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We could have had it all</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You had my heart and soul……"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rYEDA3JcQqw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love these heart-felt lyrics by Adele.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Makes me wonder what the story is behind her words. When I reflect upon them it makes me think back to my life, especially as I enter the second half of the journey. I have written many, many times about my belief in destiny and the idea that things/events/people happen for a reason. Yes, I believe in free will extending a hand and altering the plan that has been pre-designed, but the path has been carved out long ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that I exist today as a sum of my experiences, my joys, my disappointments and the many loves and friendships that have touched my life. Would I ever say to the one who would have been, “We could have had it all...” Nope. Because that path would have led to a person who is other than me today. If there is one thing that I do perhaps suffer from, it is too much self esteem. I love who I am, how I’ve lived and the choices that I have made. There is nothing that was within my control that I would have changed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now about that situation that was out of my hands……</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“But you played it, <br />
You played it, <br />
You played it, <br />
You played it to the beat…”.</span></div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-53980011849058596382011-06-08T00:58:00.002-04:002011-06-08T10:12:11.387-04:00Two Roads Diverged.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g25TUHyyZa6qVOO9wgggOedvGiNe-OKreYVkGTKTOkjx4o58Je9L8GehI9UzR2L2aFVvxewNtyqAlNb6OAOkYjiXiZo8ndCezg8XKS74gdv325Kj2VQg9-wEFR5r-pDtqnTmsA-xjKMd/s1600/MichToddcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g25TUHyyZa6qVOO9wgggOedvGiNe-OKreYVkGTKTOkjx4o58Je9L8GehI9UzR2L2aFVvxewNtyqAlNb6OAOkYjiXiZo8ndCezg8XKS74gdv325Kj2VQg9-wEFR5r-pDtqnTmsA-xjKMd/s320/MichToddcollage.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You "get" me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Very few people do</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Complex thought processes coupled with a</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dichotomous outlook</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Result in a conundrum that few understand</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Glad our friendship has endured decades </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And come full circle</span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-46974482789482969802011-06-06T00:11:00.000-04:002011-06-06T00:11:16.742-04:00Sunset in Key West<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iG7D8WtKdA13iBjBgv0qyqAQ6nMnPRDtn0FIAGoQpQFjLKbIzDsJ3UzZBhyphenhyphen_t3PHG-phiH_noBdH_0I4NcRmT5FL-gEmLQnjIlPivNG9t6v4hQEgT2FUgJX2ZifU-P8-IxgosLxUr25g/s1600/GLASS+11+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iG7D8WtKdA13iBjBgv0qyqAQ6nMnPRDtn0FIAGoQpQFjLKbIzDsJ3UzZBhyphenhyphen_t3PHG-phiH_noBdH_0I4NcRmT5FL-gEmLQnjIlPivNG9t6v4hQEgT2FUgJX2ZifU-P8-IxgosLxUr25g/s320/GLASS+11+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so the dance begins</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You quench my thirst and I enlighten your lost possibilities</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A bit of antique art glass and a pair of Steve Maddens</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Purple haze of Karma reconfirms our destiny</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You purely slay me with your humor</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and touch my core with your concern</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not going to lose you again....</span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-91581166048232931732011-06-02T11:01:00.000-04:002011-06-02T11:01:02.069-04:00Solstice Encounter<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXBKArbfy2CoLibdKhgQczypQ9E_DS8RzUzPZJz5VtnRToQEMVqIUohhrxVy3r4dtTgkYRTGScY_AA85jLkdZwy5IRvaxds3fzdS-W2rmzAWoqi2H_S3uR6xGjBp5UYGiLD17PHuDYLJ7/s1600/Todd+%2526+Michelle+IMG_20110602_103446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXBKArbfy2CoLibdKhgQczypQ9E_DS8RzUzPZJz5VtnRToQEMVqIUohhrxVy3r4dtTgkYRTGScY_AA85jLkdZwy5IRvaxds3fzdS-W2rmzAWoqi2H_S3uR6xGjBp5UYGiLD17PHuDYLJ7/s320/Todd+%2526+Michelle+IMG_20110602_103446.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Came upon a piece of me that has been buried</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That’s why it feels like a story, like a slice of someone else’s life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know the pain is there because I can only read so much </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of the long ago journal before having to close the well-worn cover</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s a story that is buried so deep </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That it feels like I’m reading a novel or a bio of another’s life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*****************************************</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Young, intense, competitive love</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Forming each of us into adulthood</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soul click</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heart break- </span><span style="font-size: small;"> no…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> heart-shredding</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Living a façade for the masses</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Led to an end to us as you left for self-discovery</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Escaping the conservative confines of our city</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Searching for a progressive place that would allow you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To explore the stirrings in your own soul</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A chance to answer the question that had been pulling at you </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like demons in the night</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buried pain, picking up the shattered pieces</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wondering if I could go on without you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Intelligent, Motivated, Driven,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Intensely Competitive, Sophisticated, Narcissistic-</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You were my male twin and even our hearts beat in sync</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Later, as with all deep heart-wrenching pain,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I went on with my life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Using yours as the yard stick </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">by which all future relationships were measured</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Years rolled by and became decades</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I found you once again within the pages of </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A college photo album</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pictures curling as the adhesive aged</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hand-in-hand together at Coney’s Moonlight Gardens,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nominated for Homecoming King & Queen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An irony like no other….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Searched for you online only to be met with resounding silence</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You were nowhere to be found</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I feared that you no longer walked the earth</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How unbelievable when the universe shifted recently and a </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tear in the cosmos allowed me to find you again</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So many years have passed, yet it feels like yesterday</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Only different…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“<i>What an unexpected gift and blessing from the universe….remember, after all these years, we have plenty of time! Love ya, Michelle.”</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> ~Todd</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And yes, Todd. Time is the one thing we do have……</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span id="goog_315676568"></span><span id="goog_315676569"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-79450715896594613712011-02-11T18:48:00.005-05:002011-02-11T19:12:28.464-05:00So This Is My Life- No Regrets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxhlg8vnfK5ewYpWE7KFmiFljM6GXl0k0uItQq5DyUkbEwkBNQ1dl39IYmbI4_egk_nJuqA2qDJnzD93qdw0cE1tPhBHud_e1WSKDD5eMiKdrR0EZOzhLYRlOWCCsZBHDuiRWie7Vg55F/s1600/2-11-2011+6-46-17+PM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxhlg8vnfK5ewYpWE7KFmiFljM6GXl0k0uItQq5DyUkbEwkBNQ1dl39IYmbI4_egk_nJuqA2qDJnzD93qdw0cE1tPhBHud_e1WSKDD5eMiKdrR0EZOzhLYRlOWCCsZBHDuiRWie7Vg55F/s400/2-11-2011+6-46-17+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572586172081518306" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Erin Schreyer, President of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SagestonePartners">Sagestone Partners</a> asked me to write a bio highlighting my career, current position and volunteer work for a panel I will be participating in soon. Thought I would house it here in case there are Friends that don't know my story. For the record, I consider my greatest achievements to be the care, nurturing and education of my two children. I walked away from an incredible career building world-class household brands with <a href="http://www.pgalums.com/">Procter & Gamble</a> in order to focus on my own home-grown brands, and I'm happy to say I don't regret a single minute of my decision. The kids are doing well and my path led me to C3- which I absolutely am passionate about! </span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"> </p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So here you go:</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"> </p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Career History for Strengths & Sisterhood Panel</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">2/10/11</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Michelle Beckham-Corbin, Owner & Principal of <a href="http://creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/">C3: Creating Connections Consulting, LLC,</a> a social media marketing strategy firm.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"> </p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Michelle began her career as a Sales Representative in the Health & Personal Care Division of Procter & Gamble after graduating from <a href="http://www.xavier.edu/">Xavier University</a> and rose through various Customer Business Development & Marketing management positions during her 15 year career with P&G. Along the way, she acquired an MBA in Management. Michelle later left P&G to devote more time to her two young children and to offer her organizational & training talents to family- based non-profit, Beech Acres Parenting Center, as a Contract Facilitator & Trainer for several long-running programs.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"> </p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After several years, she returned to the business world working for a local marketing firm and became fascinated by the early world of Social Media. As she built up her knowledge base of digital media, she was sought after by many companies for her expertise. Her husband encouraged her to hang her own shingle and C3 was officially born in early 2009. Today she works with corporate clients, non-profits and start-ups consulting, coaching, training and speaking on all things social media.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"> </p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Outside of running her company, and keeping tabs on her two high school children’s activities, Michelle is an active volunteer in the community. She is a former Girl Scout Leader, PTO Board Secretary, Parish Council Member and Lector for her Church. Michelle is a Board Trustee for the non-profit group Authentic Leadership Cincinnati and is on the Board of the IHM Job Search Ministry Group where she shares her knowledge of Web 2.0 job search strategies and social media promotion with those in transition. She is a member of the Steering Committee for the digital networking group, New Media Cincinnati and is the host of AC-TV talk show, Trustee Talk, on Warner Cable. Michelle is a frequent speaker, lecturer and trainer. Additionally, she is a published writer, co-author of Social Media book, Age of Conversation 3 (Channel V Books, New York, 2010), frequent commenter and Blogger.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><em> </em></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">She brings great energy and passion as well as a keen ability to deeply connect with people in order to create business building social media opportunities for her clients<em>.</em></span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">~So there you have it. Not the Bio that my clients usually see. This is the back story......</span></span><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-44572503420982674052011-01-12T20:35:00.005-05:002011-01-12T21:02:23.602-05:00Driving My Passion With Virtual Grenades<span style="font-style: italic;">I'd catch a grenade for love</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Throw my hand on a blade for love</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'd jump in front of a train for love</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You know I'd do anything for love</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I would go through all this pain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Take a bullet straight through my brain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I would die for you....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.brunomars.com/">Bruno Mars</a> sings these heartfelt lyrics in his fast rhythm song, Grenade. I love the beat; it has a pulsing tempo that just begs to pull your body into movement. However, if you listen closely, the lyrics will break your heart. When I take in his words, they makes me wonder about the things in my life that I would ascribe these same intense sentiments. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What are the passions that drive me to succeed and for which I would lay down everything. For me the number one answer would be relationships. I value the connections that I have with people. I am a deep, analytical soul and when I meet someone, I want to know everything about them. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Secondly I am passionate about self-actualization. I aspire to be the best possible version of me that can exist at this time and in this space. I love to make a difference in people's lives that will help them achieve their goals.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lastly, I am passionate about leaving a legacy. I want to leave this earth having created pieces of myself that are left to lodge and grow and influence future generations. I don't want to disappear into the ether, but to have some tangible proof that I walked this earth and left it in a better state of being somehow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So what do my ramblings have to do with unrequited love as it is described in Bruno's song. Well not much, but words and lyrics inspire me and cause me to reach deeper into my own psyche for parallel meanings.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >What things in your life would you take a virtual grenade for?</span><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SR6iYWJxHqs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SR6iYWJxHqs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-49763356039711596942010-12-10T17:52:00.001-05:002010-12-10T17:55:37.693-05:00Breathe Change Into the World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUlKFM-4DNCCowYW0Oi1Wb2NMjsFmAjGU3fx27BshbJ1sUtfu1CD_9EEarOb3D0Icda6zadc4qkO2iNwJlH7bEqo3Hh8iPmsqFRuamXqczUu-l6F0sz1MhkuK8Qsci1fnC1wt5A02cY9j/s1600/5-2-2010+10-20-56+PM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUlKFM-4DNCCowYW0Oi1Wb2NMjsFmAjGU3fx27BshbJ1sUtfu1CD_9EEarOb3D0Icda6zadc4qkO2iNwJlH7bEqo3Hh8iPmsqFRuamXqczUu-l6F0sz1MhkuK8Qsci1fnC1wt5A02cY9j/s400/5-2-2010+10-20-56+PM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549190888584446802" border="0" /></a><br /><h6 style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: normal;" class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="messageBody"></span></span></h6><h6 style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: normal;" class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="messageBody">Take a moment to breathe in the cold air around you and as you hold it inside your lungs, remember that you were placed right here, in this spot to make a difference. Whether that difference is within your own family or out in the world, know that you possess the ability to faciliatate change. It only takes one committed person to move a mountain. I'll see you on the other side.</span></span></h6><br /><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-61917880778015583582010-12-08T22:31:00.003-05:002010-12-08T22:42:10.506-05:00Escaping the Image of Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w69rRUCCIBcPjN94OSMOoLEQwchnK5UOGRG3tn04oIats7wqMPeI24pEXr3N3ZucpVFP_VX4M7ntH3jzxxkb-aT6F4EGjg7yadR7JrYH91pTsE0XIr1tqPApJ9_NYFnS0a_7N9Bq8NSv/s1600/Picture+34.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w69rRUCCIBcPjN94OSMOoLEQwchnK5UOGRG3tn04oIats7wqMPeI24pEXr3N3ZucpVFP_VX4M7ntH3jzxxkb-aT6F4EGjg7yadR7JrYH91pTsE0XIr1tqPApJ9_NYFnS0a_7N9Bq8NSv/s400/Picture+34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548520490962360850" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><u><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;" >Escaping the Image of Me</span></u></b></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" >For years people have told you:</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style=""> </span>“You look just like her”</i></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And while I don’t see the complete physical resemblance</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Beyond similar hair and eye color,</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I think what they were trying to do was to paint the feeling </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">That they had into words- the observation that our inner core, our essence is similar</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Extroverted over-achievers with a flair for the dramatic and a love</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Of being front and center</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We have strong, independent personalities and value integrity and truthfulness</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We are unflinchingly loyal, </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Unless of course one has proven themselves to be lacking in the virtues we hold dear</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >Leaders<br /><br />Thought provokers<br /><br />Keeper of the peace<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Symbol;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">Risk takers </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >(ok- we diverge here)<br /><br />Brave hearts that seek to do what is right and not what is popular<br /><br />Voracious readers of good content<br /><br />Talented Writers<br /><br />Gifted intellect<br /><br /><br />Lately you voice concerns about our similarities</span> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And I ask, “<i style="">Is there a reason why you don’t have positive feelings about being like me</i>?</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And you answer, “<i style="">Because I feel like I am re-playing a movie role about your life</i>”</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hazards of sharing journal entries of my life at your exact age….</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And yes there are many, many similarities.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">BUT there are differences that make you your own unique person</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">You are you and I am me</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">How lucky we are to have each other.</span></p> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-8502277561208282612010-11-29T09:18:00.004-05:002010-11-29T09:26:32.759-05:00Walking Rainbows<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S3v2pWmX1LK92nipDY3HJpTfF2kDUbRvboBCo7UFZCXQ5TcULoyBlJWek2MhQBF9iqwmx98woS6dMl-ivLca3Itcl6Q34OPvDoZlPQsuThBsWautLp33E2fklMeHJpim2DC0L2_uGVEl/s1600/kaleidocsope.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S3v2pWmX1LK92nipDY3HJpTfF2kDUbRvboBCo7UFZCXQ5TcULoyBlJWek2MhQBF9iqwmx98woS6dMl-ivLca3Itcl6Q34OPvDoZlPQsuThBsWautLp33E2fklMeHJpim2DC0L2_uGVEl/s400/kaleidocsope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544977729021223170" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->Be my walking rainbow <p class="MsoNormal">Kaleidoscope of colors, exuding energy</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At each point of the spectrum</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We walk this earth radiating points of our personality</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Each sliver, each edge of brilliance has </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The opportunity to touch someone’s life</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes we are unaware of the net effect</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our color chart of traits has on others;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not knowing that the interaction,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No matter how brief, caused an intermingling of color</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Into another’s life</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The energy passes, is received</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And recycled into the aura surrounding them</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Continuing to make a mark on the next in line</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Be cognizant of your rainbow and</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The good you can achieve by sharing your energy with others</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">You have the ability to change the world with your rainbow…..</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-46743545207822961062010-11-09T13:49:00.002-05:002010-11-09T13:52:50.616-05:00The Kindness of Strangers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMd099aTwwv7AvvA-mlzkd6tD9QrpIxSIhZbQ5K1KBRwkigZ8DfqdBsvR3kvcJQRPozgrjIgiRoLIkK_xg6FlwIPFfHaK5bf2IefFiM97HGKCfsP-pql07O0tFiRxURX4wiji192_KhNz/s1600/27101_1421595345696_1407080285_1141807_3802245_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMd099aTwwv7AvvA-mlzkd6tD9QrpIxSIhZbQ5K1KBRwkigZ8DfqdBsvR3kvcJQRPozgrjIgiRoLIkK_xg6FlwIPFfHaK5bf2IefFiM97HGKCfsP-pql07O0tFiRxURX4wiji192_KhNz/s400/27101_1421595345696_1407080285_1141807_3802245_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537624517954519634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" ><br /><br />Coincidence, Karma, Fate, Pre-determinism....</span><br /></span><br />All thoughts that swirl through my coffee-fueled mind...<br /><br />I believe that we have a destiny that has already been carved and within that destiny we have the ability to use free will/ choice to close our ears and eyes to the signs that are around us or to embrace them. It takes awareness and a conscious decision to slow down our lives to be aware of what is around us.<br /><br />This point hit home for me with a video that was making the rounds on Facebook and has probably hit the numbers needed to brand it viral by now. Would love to share it with you, but it's not a YouTube embed, so I can't get a URL. Best I can do is give you a link to my C3 Facebook Page and have you <a href="http://www.facebook.com/C3.CreatingConnectionsConsulting">view it there.</a> The premise is that we tend to take people at face value without looking for the back story. Imagine what the world would be like if we extended more kindness and compassion and didn't react immediately to our first impression.<br /><br />The second part of this observation is the idea that when we do extend kindness, no matter how small, no matter how random, we have the ability for that to build. People are struck by the generosity and compassion of others and the warmth that emanates inside them finds its way in some type of expression of gratitude that affects yet another person, and so on. Remember the Pay It Forward movement from several years ago? That's what I'm getting at.<br /><br />I experienced several acts of kindness today, to the point where I began to wonder if there was a sign on my back that said "Show her a little love!". Weird how that happens. Here are my little miracles for the day:<br /><br />1. During a surgery consult at Children's Hospital, the nurse was able to squeeze us in over the Christmas holidays so that no school would be missed for the operation<br /><br />2. Stopped at a shoe repair shop to inquire whether my favorite Borns were fixable. The owner stopped what he was doing and repaired them that minute and threw in a polish and shine.<br /><br />3. Popped into a local bakery to grab a muffin to eat while I waited for the shoes. Wanted to remove any traces of hospital germs off my hands, but the bakery did not have a public restroom. The clerk invited me to come behind the counter to use the bakery sink.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">None of these things will change the world, but you know what. They changed my day. They made me smile.... Perhaps you will too!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-59288415303708352262010-11-04T17:02:00.005-04:002010-11-04T17:14:22.015-04:00The Sweet Spot: Where Passion & Career Collide<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;">Imagine the infinite possibilities that await you when you follow your passion.....</span><br /><br /></span><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0tJxLjWzH5k?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0tJxLjWzH5k?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Full text of the post referred to in the video can be found<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span><a href="http://michellebeckham.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/passion-and-career/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">here.</span> </span></a><br /> <br />Want to join the conversation? Need help in navigating your passion? Contact me <a href="http://creatingconnectionsconsulting.com/contact-us/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">here</span></a> and let's talk!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Also:</span><br /><br /> <p style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">I am looking to establish a mentor/mentee program for women. If you have any interest on either side of the equation, please send me your name & contact information.<span style=""> </span>You can reach me:<span style=""> </span><a href="mailto:Michelle@CreatingConnectionsConsulting.com">Michelle@CreatingConnectionsConsulting.com</a></p> <br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-2387427505280178592010-10-27T07:21:00.002-04:002010-10-27T07:25:51.612-04:00The Bell Tolls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGXu7-sYsB8raQObFHmjZQXZGp7A9Rm1wBVOmYcP8Qvjy69jKWFvhX6ZOJqJWaUh09yGAGuxI-XZuatRFBXi7vHq7Msc1ZybkBZFUtgQlKoC7-FttMXRDM0Ji2n4weF8c1D4sQ235Dedg/s1600/autumndrift.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGXu7-sYsB8raQObFHmjZQXZGp7A9Rm1wBVOmYcP8Qvjy69jKWFvhX6ZOJqJWaUh09yGAGuxI-XZuatRFBXi7vHq7Msc1ZybkBZFUtgQlKoC7-FttMXRDM0Ji2n4weF8c1D4sQ235Dedg/s400/autumndrift.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532685323143109394" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Circle of Life</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Light of Hope</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Belief in tomorrow</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">That you will be there</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In your place as always</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Life throws us curve balls</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">The path twists</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">And we dodge the arrow</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Or unknowingly get caught in the cross hairs</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Of our destiny</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">The pain of losing an ancient one </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Is a million times milder than losing a child</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Both sad, but the elder has led a long life</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Affected change through many seasons</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">A child is just beginning to make a mark on the world</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">The possibilities are endlessly open</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">The pain cuts like a knife for those who were not there</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">They did not get the chance to say good-bye………</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-34761800016260287252010-10-26T15:05:00.004-04:002010-10-26T15:43:10.009-04:00Vashkrieg: Journey to the Epicenter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxwziwC3TJqji0836SMcPSu9Lscwq4TfTeTBT-geDykuart_qWH-BxnTi9knHZ9U3picH7u0PYX7BSky5DxctwKbw9PO5parscYc4LjlYWn01IGpfh6cOmGiRPDRPs65cebZH63EyKNj7/s1600/Picture+pic+456_crop.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxwziwC3TJqji0836SMcPSu9Lscwq4TfTeTBT-geDykuart_qWH-BxnTi9knHZ9U3picH7u0PYX7BSky5DxctwKbw9PO5parscYc4LjlYWn01IGpfh6cOmGiRPDRPs65cebZH63EyKNj7/s400/Picture+pic+456_crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532441617037374242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">"You and I were friends from outer space</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Afraid to let go, the only two who understood this place</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">And as far as we know, we were way before our time….."</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">~This Ain't Goodbye by Train</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">You will forever be a piece of me</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A sliver of warmth wedged deeply into my heart and my psyche</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You taught me to love deeply and risk greatly</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Believing in the truth and not the norm</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Allowing me to be the ‘me’ that was hidden away</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unpeeling the layers like the leaves of the artichoke</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Until my essence was exposed</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So glad that we have reached that pinnacle</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That defines success for each of us today</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Music and literature will forever tie the pages </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of our lives together</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So glad that you won’t be traveling that road alone</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So raise a glass to “the only two who understood this place”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I'll see you on the other side.<br /></p><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JHdgN8t_EYw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JHdgN8t_EYw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5987206192179885330.post-8340528081239056382010-10-06T09:00:00.001-04:002010-10-06T09:04:28.564-04:00Rocking My World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbbuPAqpla_a_2uCE8reF1rQAp4vYP2COBGTkzyyJIRdUyoz1iO9AUysEli8Wx3pfXDlvooXDE0eTF8XAvIL5JX2H5wBsRRfDN7zlIzE-K_e-lz7FZvm4oX6uhzC53kL4Fjg74PINS2d2/s1600/HPIM1259.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbbuPAqpla_a_2uCE8reF1rQAp4vYP2COBGTkzyyJIRdUyoz1iO9AUysEli8Wx3pfXDlvooXDE0eTF8XAvIL5JX2H5wBsRRfDN7zlIzE-K_e-lz7FZvm4oX6uhzC53kL4Fjg74PINS2d2/s400/HPIM1259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524918029295295106" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">One day you will stumble upon this page</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And you will be carried back in time</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Slowly you will breathe in my words</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And one by one, the cylinders of your brain will kick in</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As the memories fire up the engine of yesterday</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once upon a time and long, long ago</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You touched my life</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You changed me in a metamorphic way</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Your presence challenged me to change my view on the world</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As you turned my universe upside down</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We knew each other as much as any two humans can deeply decipher</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yet, a key element was missing that made our attachment </p> <p class="MsoNormal">All the more remarkable</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Years went by and memories faded to the dark recesses of our minds</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But the words remained</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Along with the power to tell the story from long ago</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So take your time and choose carefully</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of what you will find is about your life and our time together</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest is left unwritten……</p><br /><br /><br />Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010Michelle Beckham-Corbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615093640572045506noreply@blogger.com0