Affirmative Prayer

Lynne Cockrum-Murphy lost two sisters and her dad because of a furnace explosion when she was not quite 3 years old. Neglect by her alcoholic mother opened the door to the rape and abuse that followed. Lynne decided she was meant to live a better life. Is it possible for you, too, to step out of being a victim and take a stand for a better, more rewarding life? Lynne believes it is. She has some suggestions about how you can leave your suffering behind. Go to lynnecockrum-murphy.com for workshops, free material, and information about her book, Living Hope: Steps to Leaving Suffering Behind.

Organizer McPatti Langston likens clutter to having a clogged artery-everything builds up and creates a blockage that won't be able to sustain new growth. Is your clutter holding you back from the future you desire? McPatti has some simple steps for us to follow. The first step is to choose the room that is the most public. It's a good way to feel comfortable about letting new people and activities into your life. Find her on Facebook at McOrganize!

Pam Longobardi does an excellent job of describing the ocean, which is vomiting plastic onto its shores, no matter how remote the location. We humans have created a stew of plastic that is inhabiting our waters and the stomachs of our sea creatures and the birds that swoop down for their meals. The author of Drifters: Plastics, Pollution, and Personhood gives us great examples of how we can make a difference to our planet and future generations.

One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action in human history to end violence against women. Lisa Parsons gives us an overview of what is happening through OBR throughout the world, culminating with the fourth annual event on Valentine's Day, February 14. There may be OBR events in your country or community-go to the national website to find out. Beverly interviewed activists who have joined together with OBR, and four of those interviews can be heard on this show.

Roberta Grimes talks about her new book Liberating Jesus. How much of our belief system is based on ancient practices and ways of looking at life that were formulated around the time of Jesus' death? How do modern interpretations of who Jesus was vary from what we were brought up to believe? What lessons can we learn?

Robert Clancy has lots of stories about chance (maybe not!) meetings with people who will change your life forever. In his book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Soul, he shares plenty of reasons for giving of ourselves through volunteering or simply through a kind smile to a stranger. We have no idea the impact that we'll have on each other ... and on generations to come. He says, "Love has not limits, thus it has no end."

Tianna Terry (New York City/Brooklyn) and Caitlin Ahern (Guatamala/threadcaravan.com), both just beyond their quarter-century birthdays, engender the millennial mindset: diversity (in a broader sense than we could have imagined), value of community, family, and creativity, study of social science and applied fields, and investments in human capital, to name a few descriptors. Find out their stories and how they are making a difference. They also give advice to those considering a road less traveled. The future is in good hands!

Holley Kelley, author of Sunrises and Sunsets, has a goal-to change our attitudes about the 'sunset' of our lives so we can have our 'Final Affairs Forged with Flair, Finess, and FUNctionality.' Her workbook is packed with ways to easily create and keep track of those vital items like advance directives, your obituary (complete with questionnaire), your legal will, and any additional information you want the right people to know. To sign up for workshops or get her book, go to sunrisesandsunsetsbook.com.

Dr. Love (Dr. Jamie Turndorf) has been talking about all aspects of love and rekindling relationships through Hay House Radio and her many books. This time she is talking about how we can stay in energetic communication with those loved ones who have left their bodies. Are you missing a spouse or a child? Do you have unresolved issues with someone who is gone? There are ways to have a dialogue with the departed that can help you live life more fully in the here and now. Find out more in her book, Love Never Dies: How to Reconnect and Make Peace With the Deceased. Also, find out how you can get a free gift at askdrlove.com.

You don't want to miss hearing Cecilia St. King talk about her life as a peace troubadour. She has been spreading her message through music during the past 15 years, since safely exiting the World Trade Center on 9/11. Her work has been endorsed by the United Nations, the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, National Peace Academy, and more. Her philosophy? "Where there is music, there can be no harm." Peace in the world starts with our own inner peace. Listen and you will understand what that means.

In his book Secular Meditation: 32 Practices for Cultivating Inner Peace, Compassion, and Joy, Rick Heller offers some practical, down-to-earth ways all of us can incorporate meditation into our busy lives. Meditation doesn't have to be a religious experience-we can do it regardless of our beliefs or nonbeliefs on spirituality and God. Rick brings a great perspective to Activating the Power of Yes in his chapter, "Yes, We Have No Bananas."

Steve Loring's documentary is taking the world by storm. The Age of Love is about seniors aged 70 to 90 trying something new to find companionship and even LOVE, through speed dating. Fifteen men and 15 women participate, and the results are interesting and revealing. In less than a year Steve's documentary has been screened in more than 200 United States cities and Brazil, Italy, Russia, and places in between. To have a documentary screening or set up a speed dating event, go to theageoflovemovie.com.

Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of the wildly successful book Love, Medicine, and Miracles, is wowing our hearts, minds, and souls with his newest book, Love, Animals, and Miracles. Bernie shows us how our interaction with creatures big and small can make a positive difference in our lives. This book is packed with inspiring true stories celebrating the healing bond ... a great gift for kids and grown-ups.

Don't you wish you could hear your grandmother's homespun philosophies one more time? Or watch Grandpa setting up the trains for Christmas? Nowadays it's easier than ever to record those memories on video so family stories can be listened to today or passed on for generations to come. Dave Savage, Memory Keepers Video, shares some ways to get your family involved so the precious time you share during the upcoming holidays won't be lost forever. Whether you are gathering for a holiday event, a wedding, reunion, or birthday party, Dave tells how to get things organized, prepare questions, set up the room, and make everyone feel comfortable. Video recording also works magnificently for celebrations of life, memorial services, or times of remembrance. To learn more about creating your own video or see examples, go to heartfeltmemorialservices.com.

Most of us have been at battle with our compulsions. Whether it's overeating, overdrinking, overexercising, or overspending, it seems that the more we fight our compulsion the more it fights us. Who wants that kind of battle where nobody wins? Mary O'Malley, author of The Gift of Compulsion, shares how we can respect our compulsion-the thing that is calling attention to itself-and learn to be curious about it. When we take away that fight or flight reaction, what is left? Compassion, patience, and finally, being enough.