René Allen ~ Author

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Puerto Rico ~ [Hurricane Maria Aftermath]

Puerto Rico

[Hurricane Maria Aftermath]

BLOG SESSION

October 7th, 2017

Welcome back to our wonderful Blog everyone! We are going to be discussing a serious issue today ~ the aftermath of Hurricane Maria as it relates to Puerto Rico. If you have been following the News reports, then you already know that Puerto Rico took a heavy blow. The number of deaths was at 39 at last count. However, that count could increase. Here's why . . .

As of September 28th, 2017, Leovigildo Cotté died after not receiving the oxygen he needed at the only shelter that exists in the town of Lajas on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, which has been without electricity since Hurricane Maria careened through Puerto Rico. Not even his connections to the government could save him.

What's worse, “The generator never arrived,” said Lajas Mayor Marcos Turín Irizarry, who said he looked for oxygen for Cotté — father of the former mayor of that same town — “turning every stone” but could not find it.

Cotté is one of the unaccounted victims of Maria, the potent hurricane that devastated all of Puerto Rico with sustained winds and gusts of up to 200 miles per hour.

The Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI, for its initials in Spanish) has confirmed that there are dozens of hurricane-related deaths and the number could rise to the hundreds.

Hurricane Maria

Puerto Rico Aftermath

[Photo courtesy of Global NEWS]

The storm-related fatalities are mounting with each passing day, and official numbers are not counting patients who are not receiving dialysis, oxygen and other essential services.

Among those at risk are people such as Pedro Fontánez (79) who is bedridden at the Pavía Hospital in Santurce in San Juan and was due to be released even though he lacks electricity at home to support the oxygen and gastric tube-feeding he needs to keep him alive. His daughter, Nilka Fontánez, went to the government’s Emergency Operations Center desperately seeking help, but was told they were not accepting patients. “There’s no information,” said a frustrated Fontánez. [News Sources courtesy of the Miami Herald and Courtesy of CPI]

Puerto Rico - Hurricane Maria Aftermath

The story is sad, and the lives are real. The dead are at the hospital morgues, which are at capacity and in remote places where the government has yet to go. In many cases, families are unaware of the deaths. The government’s Demographic Registry is responsible for certifying deaths so bodies can be removed by funeral homes, many of which are not operating because of lack of resources. The agency began to certify some of the dead, Health Secretary Rafael Rodríguez-Mercado confirmed in an interview.

The continuing lack of communication has kept many people from knowing the whereabouts of their families. Since the storm’s immediate aftermath, many people have gone daily to radio stations so the on-air personalities can announce the names of family members with whom they have been unable to communicate.

Puerto Rico - Hurricane Maria

The Aftermath

A week after Maria, the government of Puerto Rico was struggling to supply basic services, such as fuel, road access, and electricity.

This story is being shared with you today, because we discussed effective Leadership, (or the lack thereof) in a previous Blog Session here. You may find all of our past Blog Sessions in our "Blog Archive" over in the far right column.

The commander in charge in the case of this disaster which affected Puerto Rico is the President of the United States. What did he do when he arrived in Puerto Rico and held a News Conference?

President Donald Trump

...throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents

affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits

Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Ricoon Oct. 3, 2017.

[Jonathan Ernst / Reuters]

I don't know about you, but if I had been one of the residents of Puerto Rico there in the room, I don't know if I would have any respect for a person who is in an Office as a World Leader who comes to throw paper towel ~ Really? Puerto Ricans were missing, dying, without proper resources, without communication, some close to death because they could not get their medicine and/or medical supplies ~ and in his hand was paper towel. And not only that, he threw it at hurricane victims.

And if that were not enough of an insult, the president also piled on more criticism of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, who has been a vocal critic of his administration’s response. Trump said Cruz “really did not do a very good job in fact did a very poor job.”

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz

Hugging a Hurricane Victim

The San Juan mayor made an impassioned call for increased federal aid late last month and criticized Trump’s response to the hurricane.

She had also taken issue with him throwing paper towels and provisions at Puerto Ricans.

“The terrible and abominable view of him throwing paper towels and throwing provisions at people, it does not embody the spirit of the American nation,” Cruz said in an MSNBC interview with Rachel Maddow last Tuesday, the day Trump visited Puerto Rico.

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz

Let us all pray for the citizens of Puerto Rico, strength for San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, and the citizens of Puerto Rico. And let us pray deeply for timely aid and Godly Leadership in times of crisis.

Until Our Next Blog Session ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Friday, October 6, 2017

"What does it mean to have P E A C E on Earth?"

"What does it mean to have P E A C E on Earth?"

BLOG SESSION

October 6th, 2017

Good Morning Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~

It's a new day, and a great day to have a fresh beginning for something innovative. It is time for new ideas, creative thinking, original inventions, new songs, new movies, new dances, new programs, and writings that are thought-provoking. Are you ready to make your mark in the world?

You were born to bring about something that no one else in this world can do. Do you have a Vision inside of you that you have yet to bring forth? If you can SEE it, you can BE it!

INNOVATION

As we begin our Blog Session for today, let's get our Journals out, and sincerely get ready for an enlightening Session that will propel you into something exciting!

First off, if you've been following along with us on the Blog, then you already know that we normally bring our Journals along so that we can take notes about our discussions here on the Blog. We also write in our Diaries on a daily basis in addition to taking Journal notes.

If you are NEW here to our Blog Sessions, we welcome you! Be sure to take a moment now to Bookmark your new Blogspot, and sign up to "Follow by Email" so that you'll receive each Blog Session in a timely fashion right in your email box. You'll find the spot where you sign up to follow by email over in the right-hand column. Simply insert your email address and click the "Submit" button.

If you don't have a Journal or Diary yet, please make it a point to pick both up because you'll find both to be great writing tools for advancement in terms of having clarity of mind. For now, if you don't have your Journal, just use your Notebook, a Notepad, or your smartphone Note-taking App to take today's notes . . .

Journal Notes

Our question for today:

"What does it mean to have P E A C E on Earth?"

One important note for today will consist of you taking a moment to write out your feelings about what having peace on earth means to you?

Here's my thoughts ~ You cannot possibly have peace on earth if you do not have peace within. You have to have peace in your mind, in your being, in your soul, in your spirit, in your body, in your home, in your internal world, in your family, in your neighborhood, in your community, in your county, in your state, in your province, in your territory, in your country, on your continent, and in your own little part of the world.

While everything in our lives changes from day to day, moment to moment, and is not static -- or at least, it shouldn't be, we should not have continual moments of internal disturbance that makes for an uncomfortable state of mind.

PEACE is freedom from disturbance, and consists of quiet and tranquility. Peace also includes freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.

Do you have peace of mind? If you feel like you do have peace of mind, please write down why you feel this way in your Journal. If you don't feel like you have a peace of mind, please write down why you feel like you do not have peace of mind.

When you start with yourself (from within), you can then expand outward until you have reached the place of considering the entire world as part of your internal existence -- meaning the reach of your thoughts.

Consider that your thoughts create your world. Consider that the people in your life right now, including your family, friends, co-workers, employees, neighbors, and the people that you interact with are all purposeful. You've created the need for everyone in your life with your thoughts.

Consider that everything that you do online involves millions of other people, no sorry, billions of other people. You have a wider audience than what you think you have.

Here's a few statistics for your Journal Notes:

This statistic shows the number of Facebook followers of the retail company Sainsbury's between August 2011 and August 2015. The company's number of followers on Facebook increased from approximately 121.7 thousand in August 2011 to approximately 1.2 million followers in August 2015. As of the second quarter of 2017, Facebook had 2 billion monthly active users.

As of the most recently reported period, Google's e-mail service had 1 billion active users worldwide. The number of truly active users on Google+ is significantly less than 1% of the total 2.2 billion Google users, according to a study published on April 14, 2015 by Eric Enge at Stone Temple Consulting, a digital marketing firm with offices in Boston and California.

__________________________________________

Right now, take a moment to write down something that you have seen online that has made an impact on your life. It could be something that you have read, or something that you have watched. Also include any online Radio Shows that you have listened to or watched (visual and/or audio).

Then answer the following questions...

Who was the author? Who was the film-maker? Who was the Speaker? Did you pay attention to the other individuals involved such as the Producer, Director, Camera men/women, Hosts, and who made the Website, Program, Show or Film possible? Who were the Sponsors?

The point is, everything that we do in life involves other people. From the places we buy food from, to the places where we dine, to the places where we receive any service whatsoever. We each play an integral part.

Please understand that we all have "feelings" and "emotions". A little appreciation goes a long way. If you were here for our last Blog Session, we discussed love and kindness. You can find our last Blog Session by simply scrolling down, or by clicking here.

I'm bringing up appreciation, love, and kindness, because each goes a long way, and can make a huge difference in someone else's life. Our kindness can help another person not to feel discouraged, or give up on a dream.

Which face makes you feel good? . . .

The Morning Face

The Evening Face

Which face looks more like a person who feels like they have peace on earth?

Being pleasant, kind and friendly makes for a peaceful atmosphere. Try it.

Until Our Next Blog Session ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Thursday, October 5, 2017

"It's about Love & Kindness"

BLOG SESSION

October 5th, 2017

"It's about Love & Kindness"

Welcome Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~ We're back for a Blog Session for your evening reading pleasure.

Today's Blog session is about love & kindness. Is it hard for you to be kind to others? Do you find it difficult to truly love people, especially the people closest to you? Do you even know what love is? Do you find it to be a problem for you to be kind to strangers by just saying "hello" or "Good Morning"? Do you know what it means to be kind?

If you've answered yes to the above questions, then the next question for you is: Have you been deeply hurt before?

Here's another serious question for you: Are you anti-social?
If so, why?

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. Everyone has a different meaning associated with what "Love" is to them. When it comes to romantic relationships, I'm sure you've heard someone say at one point in your life or another, "I loved him or her, but I was not 'in love' with him or her". What exactly does that mean? Does that mean you love the person like a 'friend', a 'brother/sister', an 'associate', a 'family member'? Just what does that statement really mean? Only the person making the statement really knows. It's like two people who get married, and they are immediately seen in the eyes of others as being "in love" with one another, and everyone assumes that they "love" one another. But did they really love one another if they get a divorce? Were they really 'in love" with each other if they seek to divorce one another? Or was the marriage simply a fake love story?

People's feelings are all different. We may say, "I love you", but what does that really mean? Does that mean that you care about the person's well being? Does that mean that you love the person's personality? Does that mean that you love the person's mind? Does that mean that you find the person to be entertaining? Does that mean that you love the person's bank account?

Here's the deal . . . Who do you love?

To be "kind" to others is in line with the attribute of "kindness". Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

It does not take a lot to be kind. Are you kind to others?

And, just for the record, "Hurting people tend to hurt other people." Maybe not intentionally, but they do so because of the pain that they carry from their hurts in life.

People who are mean to others, and/or bully others are usually people who have had others in their life who were mean to them and/or bullied them.

People who do not feel good about themselves have their own personal reasons why. People who are insecure and/or lack confidence usually do not step out in life like they should.

Journal Notes

For this evening, please pull out your Journal and jot down notes from our Blog Session. Then, take a moment to pull out your Diary and write in your own words about our topic for today. From your heart, answer the questions from our Blog Session, and be honest about your feelings and emotions.

See what you uncover about yourself this evening . . .

Remember moments in your life when someone showed "kindness" toward you. Write about it in your Diary.

Have a blessed evening, and until our next Blog Session ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

"Be Positive"

"Be Positive."

BLOG SESSION

October 4th, 2017

Good Afternoon Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~ Welcome back to the Blog!

We're here to be positive, think positive, act positive, and live on the positive side of life!

No more sad and long faces. No more unkind words. No more negative thinking. No more worry carrying. No more nagging interactions with others. No more thinking the worst. No more judging others. No more bad-mouthing other people. No more gossiping. No more loud toxic talk. No more vulgar words. No more listening to loud music that makes your head hurt. No more cursing. No more vulgar media. No more violence. No more abuse. No more anger. No more hate.

Here is the bottom line for today and the rest of your life . . .

P E A C E

Until our next Blog Session ~

NAMASTE

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Time for Inspiration!

BLOG SESSION

October 3rd, 2017

"Time for Inspiration!"

Welcome back Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~

We are here for a short inspiring Blog Session to lift you up this week!

There has been a lot going on in the world, and there may have been a lot that has happened in your life in the past week. If you have been under any kind of stress, you are invited to take a hold of the above Quote . . .

"Give your stress wings and let it fly away!"

~ Terri Guillemets

You don't really have the luxury of being stressed. If you need to, write down what you are stressed about, then ball the paper up and throw it away.

For your journal/Diary this week, take a moment to really think about your Goals and your Purpose and write everything down in your Journal . . .

Journal & Diary Notes

Take a moment to think about your short term and long term goals and write your list of goals down in your Journal or Diary.

After you have done that, think about your Purpose in life, and write down what your purpose is in life. How does your Purpose line up with your short term and long term Goals?

Let your list sit, and come back to it next week. If you have anything to add to it, be sure to add to your list next week.

Be encouraged . . .

Until our next Blog Session ~ Keep your spirits lifted up!

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Monday, October 2, 2017

ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

BLOG SESSION

October 2nd, 2017

Good Afternoon Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~ We are back here this morning to discuss a topic that we have covered once before here on the Blog when we were discussing Mental Health during the Month of May 2017. The reason why this is an important issue is because there seems to be quite a bit of abnormal behavior going on lately.

If you were here for our last Blog Session, we discussed taking notes in your Journal, and writing in your Diary on a daily basis. There is plenty to write about as we start off this new month . . .

Journal Notes ~ Daily Diary Entries

As you begin to write your Journal Notes for today's Blog Session, please keep in mind that you'll also need to write your Diary entry for today's events. Whatever happens in your life today, use your Diary to make a note of it. You are recording your history, as well as the overall history of where you live and beyond. World events are also very much a part of your history.

What will make your Diary both intriguing and informative, is when you make sure that you are honest when you begin to write. Speak truthfully about how you feel, and what you feel. Writing in your Diary means including your heart-felt internal communication, as well as inclusion of your thoughts, emotions, feelings, and reflections about what is happening in your life at this time...

Daily Diary Entries

and

Daily Calendar Notations

The other important writing tool for the Journalist, Diary Writer, Documentarian, Author, and those who enjoy keeping track of their life ~ is your Daily Diary as well as your Calendar.

There are wonderful Calendars that can also serve as somewhat of a daily diary. Some Calendar Books give you more space to write in than others. Shop around if you think that a Daily Calendar would be a good writing tool for you to use to record what is going in on your life. You can use your Daily Calendar along with your Daily Diary, and also your Journal if you'd like to have more than one source to write your daily activities and life happenings in. It is all up to you. Of course, some of us have a lot more going on in our lives than other people, which means that we may or may not find the time to write in our Diary, Journal and/or Calendar like we should. Just know that it is a good idea to record your life.

Let's just take a tid-bit from the first two days of this month ~ We have just stepped into the month of October 2017, and already we are starting off this month with some contentious issues going on in Spain. The Catalan Referendum is at issue, and Spain region 'not seeking traumatic split' was the headline in the BBC News for October 2nd, 2017. Catalan President Charles Puigdemont has said that he is not planning a "traumatic" split with Spain, after a disputed independence referendum on Sunday, October 1st, 2017. We'll just see . . .

~ Catalan Referendum ~

Hundreds Injured as police attack protesters

Just as an overview, this is what has happened in Spain in reference to The Catalan Referendum: Catalan President Charles Puigdemont said he wanted a new understanding with the central government in Madrid. Catalan officials say voters overwhelmingly backed secession. Madrid has warned it could suspend autonomy of the wealthy north-eastern region. Spain's top court banned the vote and almost 900 people were hurt as Spanish police tried to stop it from going ahead. Officers from the national police and paramilitary Civil Guard seized ballot papers and boxes at a number of polling stations. Thirty-three police officers were injured on Sunday, Catalan medical officials said.

While that incident was going on, over in the United States in the State of Nevada, the largest massacre in the history of the United States was taking place in the city of Las Vegas at a Country Music Festival. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 1st in the evening.

People trying to escape the gunshots at the Country Music Festival

Las Vegas, Nevada

[Worst Mass Shooting in United States History]

As of today, October 2nd, 2017, the Las Vegas shooting suspect, Stephen Paddock killed 59 people, and injured 527 people. The death toll from the incident could possibly go up, said Clark Country Coroner John Fudenberg in a Press Conference on Monday afternoon.

While writing about massacres is not one of our favorite things to do, it is an unfortunate sign of the times. We have to deal with the question of gun ownership and the mentally ill.

This Massacre that happened in Las Vegas is a very ugly part of history, and it is also a call to Prayer.

Until we meet again here on the Blog Friends ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Dear Diary

It's OCTOBER 2017

BLOG SESSION

October 1st, 2017

Welcome back Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~

It is another wonderful day that brings us to the door of the month of October!

If you are new here to our Blog, please be sure to Bookmark the Blog now, so that you will be able to snap back here at will. Also, you are welcome to sign up to receive each Blog post as it is published. Each exciting Blog Session will be sent to your email box, as soon as you sign up ~ All you have to do is look over in the far right-hand column where it says, "Follow by Email" ~ There you will see a space for you to insert your complete email address, then click the "Submit" button...that's it!

During this month, we'll be turning our attention to our daily diary writing entries. We had discussions here on the Blog about the benefits of writing in your Diary on a daily basis. You can find all of our past Blog Sessions in our "Blog Archive". You'll find interesting links to our past Sessions over in the far right-hand column of this Blog. Be sure to check out some of our older Blog Sessions ~ you'll find our discussions to be interesting.

As we are all aware, there is a lot going on in the world. There may also be a lot going on in your life. As we start this beautiful month of October off, let's take a moment to grab our Journal or Diary to take a few notes for today . . .

Personal Journal or Diary

(Today's Notes & Insights)

If you have not yet purchased a Diary, please make it a point to pick a wonderful Diary out that speaks to you upon sight. You'll find yourself yearning to write in your Diary if you are attracted to the look and style of it.

You'll also need to have a Journal to take notes when you come here to our Blog Sessions. If you don't have a Journal handy when you stop by, you can also take notes in your Composition Book, Notebook, or Notepad. For the Blog Readers here who use their Smartphones to take notes, you may choose to do that ~ there are plenty of Note-Taking Apps available to download onto your smartphone or tablet. While you may think that you can remember everything in your head, chances are you will forget a great deal of what you read and/or hear. That's why Diaries and Journals are so beneficial ~ they record the precious jewels of your life, and act like a back-up assistant to your brain.

For the Writers here on the Blog today, you may be interested in a Journal/Diary that serves a two-fold purpose ~ it acts as both a Journal and a Diary . . .

Various sized Journals/Diaries

If you take a look at the Journals/Diaries above, you will notice that they all have plain covers, and are in various sizes. You can have some fun and decorate them if you are an Artist, or if you are creative, and come up with a very unique design for both your Journal and your Diary.

If you'd like to be inspired, you are encouraged to take a look at amazing and interesting artworks, photography and other innovative creations by very talented and gifted Artists and Innovators in our connected Community. Many of the Blog Followers here are also members of Artistic Minds® Community on Google (please click the link to visit. You are invited to JOIN our Community if you are a Google User).

As we get ready to close out our Blog Session for today, you are encouraged to begin to write in your Diary if you have not already started to do so. During the month of October, you can take the time to focus on your inner feelings, emotions, thoughts, hurts, dreams, wishes, goals, and life events in your personal Diary. You'll find the process of writing in your Diary this month to be very therapeutic.

Of course, as always, your thoughts, comments, suggestions, recommendations, and input is always welcomed here. You may post any comments, questions, and/or feedback in our "Comments Section" at the bottom of this Blog.

Until our next Blog Session . . .

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen