Can You Spare A Moment in Time?

I think we’ve all received that email at one time or another where a young boy who has been teased and tormented at school finally clears out his locker and plans to go home and kill himself, but on the way he drops his books and someone stops to help him pick them up, someone who becomes a friend, and in that moment changes his plans and his life. (If you haven't read it yet, here's one link, and then another, kindly supplied by the hosts of Zen Moments, who stumbled across this post--Thank You!) There are others, such as the story of a cab driver who picked up an elderly woman on her way to a hospice and ended up driving her around town for hours without charging her so that she could relive her favorite memories one last time. Then there are the Christmas stories about single mothers with no money to buy presents for their children, and yet many presents arrive.

Last but not least is the story of Teddy Stoddard, which has inspired many, but according to Snopes, is a fictional story of a young boy who taught his teacher a life lesson she will never forget.

The themes that all these stories have running through them are kindness and compassion, something we could all use a little more of in our lives. Whether they are true or not, they are meant to make us stop for a moment and think about the things we say and do—or don’t say and do--and realize the possible impact we can have on the people around us, from our closest family members to the clerks and cashiers we meet in passing in the drive-throughs, checkout lines, and toll booths of our lives.

I’ve had several moments in my life that either gave me hope, courage, or the willpower and determination to continue. One that stands out in my mind is rather gross, but unforgettable. I was pregnant with my only child, a high risk pregnancy, and I had started bleeding, and was terrified I would lose the baby. I called a friend about something else and in the course of the conversation, broke down with my fear. Quite nonchalantly, she said to me, “Oh, you’d be surprised at how much you can bleed and still keep the baby.” She then went on to tell me of her experience, which had been much worse than mine was.

Still, I held onto her words like a lifeline until I delivered a healthy baby boy.

I’ve since gone back and thanked the woman for getting me through that terrifying time, and she doesn’t even remember our conversation. It was just an off the cuff remark she made to reassure me and she didn’t give it a second thought.

Which just goes to show that you never know how your words or actions will affect the lives of others.

I’ve had people come back to me, and tell me things that I said to them that gave them new hope and determination for a situation they were facing. Things I don’t remember saying, but made all the difference in the world to them…and for that I am glad.

Any moment can be one that you or someone you’ve encountered remembers for a lifetime, a little jewel in the sandstorm of life, for you to take out and remember and appreciate when the going gets tough. Most of those moments are rooted in random acts of kindness. I’m not saying you need to join the World Kindness Movement, or any other kindness organization, but simply encouraging you to take time in your day to smile at someone who might not receive a smile otherwise, open doors for men and women alike, especially the elderly and mothers with young children, say please and thank you to clerks and other attendants, or stop and listen, really listen, to a child.

We all want to matter to someone, we all want to count. We all want to be seen and heard in ways large and small. All it takes to acknowledge that special person in your life, a friend, acquaintance, or even a complete stranger, is a moment of your time.

There is no greater gift on this day we celebrate love and romance, or any day, than You.

As a special Valentine’s Treat, leave a comment with a life-changing moment for you here for a chance to win an autographed copy of Thin Ice and an even bigger prize--a 5-ARC (advanced reading copy) package from the Classic Romance Revival authors who are participating in today’s Moment in Time Blog Carnival. The winner will be drawn from visitors commenting on the most blogs.

To qualify for the grand prize, you need to register for the contest. Please visit the Classic Romance Revival blog to find details of all the participating blogs and to register.

Chocolate that Gives Love

I'm getting chocolates for Valentine's Day. Valentine Raspberry Hearts. Usually I get Godiva, but this year I'm trying something new. Chocolate that really does improve focus and well being. I've been a fan of chocolate for years, ever since puberty probably, but never knew why. I've never been big on sweets, but chocolate....there's just something different about it.

I can go for weeks without thinking about chocolate, and then, suddenly, it's all I can think about. I figure my body knows what it needs, even if I don't, so I always keep plenty of chocolate handy, for when the cravings come. I thought I might be craving magnesium. Turns out it's something in the cocoa. I didn't know until today that chocolate was considered the Food of the Gods. I mean, I've always considered it that...see my biscotti experience on the cruise (previous post) and what that did for my well-being. (And now that I think about it, my sudden craving for chocolate on the ship was right on time with my hormonal cycle, too.)

But I didn't know so many others considered chocolate so highly. So imagine my delight when I found this site about chocolate that gives love.

Intentional Chocolate is embedded with good intentions from Tibetan Buddhist Monks. It has been tested against non-enhanced chocolate, to show that it increases well-being. If you eat it yourself, you will feel better. If you give it to someone else, they will feel better. If you just buy it (not even eat it) you donate money to good causes and spread love in the world. They donate 50% of net profits and 10% of proceeds to non-profit organizations.

I lifted the following off the Intentional Chocolate Site for more information:

Chocolate and Intention Research

Positive intention is a thought, a prayer, or a blessing. Positive intention is also an offering to the world at large or to a friend in need and can come from the pure desire to help another. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that intention invokes measurable power and energy that can manifest across space and time. Researchers all around the world, such as those at Princeton, Harvard and the Max Planck Institute, are studying the power of intention.

The blessing of food with an intention has long been practiced within spiritual traditions and sacred ceremonies. These practices place certain energy into the food that is then offered back to benefit individuals and the community. At Intentional Chocolate™ we not only provide a product that can be gifted as a positive intention to another person, but we strive to lead intentional and purposeful lives. By paying attention to the effect we have on the whole through our decisions and actions we attempt to “do no harm and benefit others.” As we move throughout our day, we hold in our minds the desire to be in service to the “we.” We know that holding this desire is not easy. In our chaotic world filled with so many distractions and stress, people are yearning to return to simple values and meaningful relationships based on love and respect. The busier our lives become, the harder it can be to focus on positive intentions and to stick to them.

Holy Cocoa

Some have asked us, “Why chocolate?” For thousands of years humanity has intuitively appreciated chocolate’s power, turning to it for sustenance, to express emotions and to draw others near. Known by the ancient Aztec as a gift from Quetzalcoatl the god of air, light, and life, the cacao tree has long been revered for its mystical and healing energies. The botanical name for chocolate – the obramba cacao – literally means “food of the Gods”.

Not surprisingly, modern research is now confirming cacao’s many healing effects – its role in increasing antioxidants, decreasing the likelihood of cancer and heart disease, enhancing the immune system, lowering blood pressure and its ability to boost moods! It seemed a natural match to infuse the good intentions of optimal health and well-being into a food that already has positive energetic and even mystical properties.

With our secret ingredient (intention), Intentional Chocolate™ allows you to deliver the actual clear and simple intention of “Thank you,” “I love you” or “Be Well” through something that everyone enjoys. When you purchase Intentional Chocolate™ to send to a friend or loved one, not only do you get the intention for well-being embedded by experienced meditators, but you also can send your own intention. You may be surprised at the powerful impact this gift can have on those to whom it is given.

Intentional Chocolate™ and its research partner, the HESA Institute (http://www.hesainstitute.org/) are leaders in the revolutionary new field of intentional nutrition proving that intention embedded into food can positively affect those who consume it. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that was published in the scientific peer-reviewed journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing (October 2007), it was found that one ounce of Intentional Chocolate™ per day for three days increased subjects’ well-being, vigor and energy by an average of 67 percent and, in some cases, up to 1,000 percent, when compared to a control group.

The study showed [that benefits included]

Decreased stress
Increased energy
Less fatigue
Greater calmness
Enhanced focus
Improved general well-being

So here's your chance to make everyone your Valentine.

Enjoy :)