Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

By Lynn Torre, a Contributing Writer to Colleen's Blog 

 Last week I took my first spinning class.  Determined to lose weight and get back into shape for summer biking, I joined the YMCA.

It took extra effort to get up very early for the second class but I sure felt good afterwards.  The instructor kept motivating us to give thatextra push up the invisible hill to the finish line.

Right on the YMCA membership form was a box I checked to contribute an extra amount (of my choice) each month with my payment.  This money will supplement those who need a little extra help.

When I walked out of there I really felt good.  I had helped myself get healthier and stronger and will help someone else be able to afford to do the same.  In fact, it took far less effort to help them than to help me.

Achieving financial freedom also takes extra effort.  The best effort you can give is to pay attention to how you think about money and what you do with your money.  I never use the word budget because, just as most people don’t want to go on a diet, they also don’t want be on a budget.  Choosing to use different words can make all the difference in the world.  People don’t go on diets any more, they make a “lifestyle change”.  I encourage you to create a Saving, Spending and Sharing plan for yourself.  After all, this is what we do with our money!

Make that extra effort to pay attention to where your money goes.  If you need some help with this, call me.  I have created a wonderful worksheet that makes it easy for you.

We all share everyday, whether we realize it or not.  A bad mood can be heard over the phone but so can a smile.  A word of encouragement can make a difference in someone’s future.  Laughter costs nothing to share and it’s likely you will receive back the same amount or more.

Sharing comes in many forms. Time, Talent and Treasure are three different ways we can share.  Two out of the three cost no money at all.  Volunteering, in-kind donations and cash giving all have their purpose.  These days, there are people in need everywhere you look.  Take a moment and think about how you can share with someone today.  It only takes a littleextra time (or money) to make a difference in someone’s life.  You might even decide to make it a daily habit.

“The difference between ordinary and

extraordinary is that little extra“

~Jimmy Johnson

Like laughter, money is energy too.  The more you give, the more will return to you. Giving and receiving are integral parts of money in circulation.  I would like to share part of my poem “Laughter”, that is in my book “Dance of the Leaf”.

Laughter is just energy

That positively flows

Then shifts all of my feelings

To highs and out of lows

It changes the vibration

In each and every cell

Can flip a switch in my health

From sickness into well

It’s something that can spread out

If you decide to share

It can be so contagious

When laughter’s in the air

From Dance of the Leaf

©2011 Lynn Torre

-Cheers, Lynn

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net