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The Same News Happens Every Night

The Same News Every Day/inspirational quote/positive quote/befat.net/Stephanie DelTorchio/10.27.2016

Spending time watching the evening news, it’s easy to become disillusioned about the state of our world.

I created my own “nightly news template” that kinda sorta pisses off my husband. Right after the intro theme music I beat the anchorperson to the stories of the day. I contend we hear the SAME NEWS with a minor twist to location or gender or weather.

Depending on your network choice, the biggest story of the day is the only segment that wavers, in my opinion.

The-Same-News-Happens-Every-Night broadcast goes like this:

Political “fall-out”. Some candidate or elected official is always caught doing something illegal, immoral, or otherwise Anthony Weiner-ish. No discrimination here between well-known politicians, small town officials or foreign diplomats. Weasels are global. And sometimes colorful. R.I.P. Rob Ford.

“Overseas” turmoil — Unrest, war, explosions in deserts and small villages where the true tragedy is the innocent displaced civilians. Hoards of people walking to where? carrying everything they own. And we complain about carrying bags of groceries from our car into our house in the rain, a mere ten feet.

“Homegrown” and “Overseas” terrorists. Rogue morons or a wack job with an axe to grind who take out their personal aggression on innocent children, subway riders, tourists, movie and concert goers, etc. Mayhem video and audio of 911 calls. Where are we safe?

“Cause unknown” in crash fatality. The cause of the car crash, bus crash, tractor trailer crash, train crash, small plane crash, hot air balloon crash is still under investigation. Warning that the video may be disturbing to some viewers. Smoke, smoldering fire and wreckage as disoriented passengers find safety. Rescue workers on the scene. Officials searching for black box, recorder or cell phone.

Banking or financing. Well-dressed men and women exiting buildings followed by throngs of reporters. They’ve been screwing the books, taking big bonuses, living the good life while our bank accounts make a platry .5% interest. Another reason to think about buying a new mattress.

“Airline Investigation”. Mysterious “smells/illnesses” or “mechanical failures” or “out of control passenger” on an airplane. Lots of cellphone footage of disgruntled passengers standing in long lines or camping out in the terminal asking “Can I get to Cleveland from here?”

Too close to home people tragedies and fatalities. Teenagers dead in car accident. Nursing home neglect. Missing or exploited children. Animal abuse. Collapses. Fires…Heartbreaking news.

“Loss of innocence” story. A “long-time” teacher/coach/scout leader/priest/volunteer has done something indecent or “questionable” pending a “full investigation”.

Mechanical or Infrastructure Failures. Building explosions. Chemical or water leaks. Air bag fatalities. Product recalls.

Robbery. Police are looking for a man/woman “wearing dark clothing and a baseball hat” who broke into a convenience store/bank/jewelry store/Apple store and ran off with an “estimated X dollars of merchandise”.

House or Business crash. Under investigation on why a motorist plowed into a home or business.

Weather. A nasty category 4 hurricane/F2 tornado/historical snow fall/record breaking water tables — Extreme Weatherman Jim Cantore hanging on to his microphone and telephone pole for dear life.

California specific weather. This state is in the news most often for disasters — probably because it’s a big state. They sure get their share of wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes and Kardashians.

Follow-up to recent weather. Not featuring Jim Cantore, but a local reporter paddling in a canoe through what was once Main Street, USA. Props for the “local guy” swishing through ankle high water behind the soon-to-be (snicker) former reporter.

More follow-up to weather. This time featuring residents searching for their belongings. This always makes me sad since these folks lost everything. The news seems to hunt and seek folks with heavy local accents who also lost several teeth and a good fitting pair of pants.

Sports. Fill in the blank of sports stories depending on the season. A player charged of doping, domestic assault, gambling. This team won. That team finished last for the third straight season . The stronger the rivalry, the bigger the street riots and the closer this story gets to the top of the broadcast. Then the uplifting sports stories. A long-standing record broken. The comeback of a cancer survivor. The retirement of a beloved player — Thanks, Big Papi.

Feel good story. Finally! At the end of the broadcast — a 30 second piece that punctuates the previous depressing 29 minutes with a heart-warming exclamation mark. An eighty-seven-year-old veteran reunited with his lost comrade. A group of employees sharing in a large lottery winning. Something Lost then Found. A kick-ass citizen walking/biking/dancing across America in support of ANY cause. A healthy baby born on the side of the highway by a rookie police officer and video of the mother saying she thought there was enough time to get to the hospital. I’d like 30 minutes of THESE STORIES at the end of the day.

That’s it for tonight folks. See you back here tomorrow for THE SAME NEWS. Have a good evening.

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic and quote: Stephanie DelTorchio

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Do These 6 Things To Be Happy Today

happiness quote/6 things to do today to find happiness/inspirational blog/inspirational quote/befat.net/Stephanie DelTorchio These six things entered my pea brain today when doing the mindless task of sanding (a bathroom vanity).

Every day I find more to be thankful for than I have any right to complain. But, I complain. About the mysterious water leak. Global warming. Too much work. Not enough work. Christmas commercials before Halloween — seriously the 1987 ringing kisses bells from Hershey’s was on last night. Some days I make up problems so that I’ll have something to complain about.

The Case of The Curious Octopus

Albert Einstein quote/passion/curiosity/inspiring quote/motivational/Stephanie DelTorchio/befat.net I‘m not sure who coined the phrase “curious octopus” but I first heard it beautifully explained by Paola Antonelli. She’s the Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Voted as one of the top 100 most powerful people in the art world, Antonelli is an Italian-born architect (who, curiously, never practiced architecture).

But she’s a “curious octopus” — defined as the reaching and grabbing from a wide spectrum of disciplines to create something new. Antonelli is speaking about art and design, but for those of us with other interests, the process of cross-pollinating ideas opens up infinite possibilities.

Consider our friend the Octopus (for some reason I think he’s purple?). Picture his “tentacles” as the different areas of the brain, all firing powerful information and ideas for consideration. Now take a basic idea, say, a game to delight a five year old. Then mix and match the tentacle firings to create something fun and entertaining for an entire day.

For a kindergartner, creative play is the octopus’s imagination on a sugar high. It’s funny how easily small children take ordinary objects — empty toilet paper rolls — and turn them into kazoos, pins for “bowling”, spy glass for birdwatching or pressed together to make a tunnel for Matchbox cars. (Can you tell what I did this weekend?)

Adults, too, can be curious octopuses. Our “tentacles” are the life experiences and varied interests that resonate with our core being.

Harness your aptitudes and loves (art, child-rearing, woodworking, mountain climbing, cake decorating, horse riding, etc.) and mix them with your curiosity. This opens you up to the possibilities of creation and innovation way beyond your imagination.

Go and be any color Curious Octopus you like. I’m sticking with purple.

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic: Stephanie DelTorchio

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But Will They Miss You When You’re Gone?

Oscar WIlde quote. befat.net/Stephanie DelTorchio/leaving a legacy/inspirational quote Come the Monday morning after you’re gone, the only person who will care about what’s left in your Inbox is the person who inherits it.

“There’s only one thing worse in the world than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” ~Oscar Wilde

Within two weeks time your work will be absorbed. You’ll be a periodic memory, reminder or footnote in one of two ways:

“Gosh, we miss Annie.”

If your work was stellar and brilliant, your inheritors will want to emulate your system, traits and processes. They might engrave your name on something to remind the new hires that ANNIE was here, and her contribution mattered to the collective success of this place. “Gosh, we miss Annie.”

Or…

“Gosh, Annie left us in a mess.”

When the first phone call ends with the realization that you coasted more than you counted, it quickly becomes apparent to your inheritors that you didn’t contribute as much as you took. Your name will be the scapegoat for weeks, perhaps months to come. Nobody can find an order, a reference or the place you left off. Excuses will mount as “the ghost of Annie” rises over and over. The only part of your legacy worth salvaging — staplers and sharpeners and expandable file binders — will be taken from your former desk before it’s assigned to someone new. “Gosh, Annie left us in a mess.”

We get one spin around this great big ball. Whatever we’ve accomplished or achieved matters, to the good or not-so-good, based on the people who follow us.

Take the stapler and the pens if you feel they’re token parting gifts. Just know that on the first Monday without you, the people who fill your space will miss you in accordance with how you left them to carry on. But seriously, leave the stapler.

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic: Stephanie DelTorchio

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Get Out Of My Way

Get Out Of My Way. Empowerment. Inspirational quote. Motivational quote. Stephanie DelTorchio. befat.net

You have SO MUCH POWER over what you do today. What, my darlings, will you do with it?

Okay, sure, there are uber obligations — most notably your job and your family, but there’s some wiggle room there, too. Unless physically unable, your family is capable of feeding themselves and finding clean underwear without your help. Trust me they can. An entire generation survived on two day old undies and SpaghettiOs, and we’re still here.

At work, take five minutes to be alone. Don’t say “you don’t understand my boss”. Oh, yes I do. Even more reason to lock yourself in the bathroom. Take a drive around the block. Walk up the street.

Nobody can suck you in or drag you along without your permission. Seriously, you guys, NOBODY.

People with their hands raised, shouting “ooh-ooh pick me!” doesn’t obligate you to do so. Every schoolteacher I know has learned to tell the class: “Put your hands down.”

I know…you’re so nice and want to make everyone happy. It’s sweet. And the world loves to take advantage of your always being one they count on to volunteer. To give a ride. Stay late on Friday night to finish the proposal. Think about your time you’re giving up to a person or situation that doesn’t A. Have your permission and B. Doesn’t make you feel good/helpful/appreciated for doing it.

People pleasers are asked to turn in your badges as you exit this life.

Stop accepting the belief that everyone is entitled to your time and space just because they invade it.

There is no rule that says you must open your door just because somebody knocked on it. Put up a freakin’ force shield. Draw a circle around your space. Install caller-ID.

Just as the world clambers for a piece of you, be sure you’re not stepping on somebody else’s day without permission. Respect in this world is a two-way street, so my mother said. Thank you, Mom.

You have dreams, goals and desires. They are waiting for you to breathe life into them. Make the time TODAY to work towards what you want to achieve.

When someone gets in your way, play a friendly game of “Mother, May I?” If you answer “yes, you may take two baby steps forward,” at least it’s on your terms. (The other answer is of course, “No, you may not. And for the love of God, change your underwear.”

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic & quote: Stephanie DelTorchio

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A Good vs Bad Hair Day

Have A Good Hair Day. Inspirational quote. Motivational Quote. #befat

Yesterday morning I “did” my hair, which means I washed it and used a blow dryer instead of not doing either. Looking in the mirror, kind of happy with my decision to join the clean world, I felt empowered to take on the day. Over a good hair day? Yes. Am I lying girls?

Now what to do. Should I work on the anthology of short stories piled on my desk? Tackle the screenplay that’s been incubating for a few weeks and ready for fresh eyes? Nah. Not feeling creative today. I’d recently finished a round of book edits and my brain is in need of a rest.

Decision made. Paint the shed.

I dragged the materials up the driveway — ladder, paint, brushes, rags — while periodically flipping my hair. So silky clean and bouncy.

The garden shed is tucked under a mighty oak tree. Love that tree. It’s beginning to show off beautiful yellow foliage. I grabbed the paint and brush and climbed the ladder, humming, happy with my decision to be outdoors for a bit. At the top, I took a moment to give the tree it’s respect. Sturdy, with a generous trunk, it provides summer shade and now a colorful backdrop to the yard. I actually smiled, and drew in a deep breath. Don’t you love the smell of fall? A slight crisp in the air. Heavy scent of rich earth at its peak before the change to the next season.

In my moment of reverential appreciation…SMACK. A friggin’ acorn cracked on the top of my head. A city of evil gray rodents, AKA “cute” squirrels, barreled through the oak’s full bounty, gathering their free winter stash. Tearing through the limbs those rats with tails instigated a hailstorm. Acorns ricocheted from branch to branch, hitting the roof, the ground and (have I mentioned?) one very rare nice hairdo.

Two of the most sinister (one Democrat, one Republican) laughed as they scurried back and forth across the roof. Alternatively they taunted me and then it seemed they targeted each other for all the acorns.

This gal is tenacious by nature. I’m not easily defeated and figure if I can’t outsmart a squirrel, it’s time to move to Canada. From my garage, I pull out a snow shovel and my grandson’s yellow Bob-the-Builder construction helmet. This was war.

Those two were formidable. Just when I thought my wielding shovel sent them to some other part of the yard, they came back. Louder, more angry, but just as offensive as when I’d first laid eyes on them. After two hours of fighting their onslaught I had a beautifully painted shed. But sadly, my once good hair day ended in a flattened, mangled mess — like two very nasty squirrels.

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic and quote: Stephanie DelTorchio

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Crazy Happy

Happiness quote/befat.net/funny life quote/befat.net/Stephanie DelTorchio 10.14.2016 The most memorable people in my life are crazy. Funny thing: those people are also the happiest. You don’t need to be crazy to be happy but it sure can’t hurt.

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

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Be Smart. Be Safe. Keep Your Head On.

Be Smart. Be Safe. Keep Your Head On/inspirational quote/parenting quote/Stephanie DelTorchio/befat.net I‘ve uttered these three little sentences countless times. Mostly to teenagers. Or younger work colleagues on Fridays at five o’clock. Occasionally as fair warning to a wayward comrade. Often to myself.

It’s an amazingly simple request from a parent to child as they run out the door and into a car full of other equally clueless classmates. Of course they are smart. Ask them. Be safe I say to eye-rolling. Keep your head on is met with: Where else would I put it?

You really want to know?

But when you get the call at midnight or hear about the party the next day you wonder…did you hear me? I know you did. But did you listen?

Then I’m reminded that giving advice, even loving, caring, all-knowing, all-seeing parental advice, drifts off almost as soon as it’s said.

“Wise men don’t need it and fools don’t heed it,” goes a paraphrased quote from Benjamin Franklin.

Be Smart. Be Safe. Keep Your Head On.

It’s going to be printed on a t-shirt. Or tattooed to someone’s forehead. Do you hear me?

Original graphic and quote: Stephanie DelTorchio

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Show Me Yours and I’ll Show You Mine

personal struggle/inspirational quote/Stephanie DelTorchio/befat.net

“No matter your battle, no matter your scars — visible or invisible — there were times when you were in a worse place and survived. Enjoy this day.”

I started this blog as a survivor’s celebration. One man. One woman. One family.

The purpose here is to share with you how to find the awesome in every day. Like I know, right?

But this is big news. The other day marked a huge anniversary of receiving a life saving bone marrow transplant — 17 years. This is stupidly remarkable.

The day we learned of the cancer prognosis was the worse day of our lives. If we were betting people we’d not have taken a two dollar bet to survive one month. Yet here we are. And a good reason why we don’t gamble.

Rewind a moment. Almost immediately we dug our heels in deep and vowed to fight like hell. “Finding the awesome” was a noble idea, a head fake to mask the truth when the world as we knew it felt twisted and rung dry.

That silver lining, the one everybody says to look for? Yeah, I didn’t find it most days. In real time my life imploded by the minute.

Here’s what I learned: A change in attitude is possible if you try really, really hard. But it ain’t easy when you feel bombarded and confused and out of your element. When everything you believed was your future and everyone you trusted to support you, suddenly folded up their tents and moved the circus out of town.

You hurt and bleed, and in time, regroup and carry on. As many times as necessary. But the scars are deep, and on days when they still itch I wear long sleeves.

Time heals all wounds? Whoever the f*ck said that has never even had a paper cut. Time may mask all wounds. Time may crust over all wounds. But the scar tissue remains deep under the surface. What you see on the outside fades to thin silvery white streaks barely noticeable to the normal eye. But you know. You carry them with you forever.

I totally forgot about this scar on my kneecap until the other day. Weird I thought. Where’d I get that? Then the day came back vividly. Hovey School playground. Third grade. I was wearing brand new red tartan cotton pants — just had to wear them after school because they were new. The boys and I raced around the schoolyard on bikes. I slid on a patch of gravel and hit the pavement hard, knee first, dragging my leg few feet under the bike. Ripped pants, lots of blood and a flap of skin.

The silver lining? The bike was okay. The boys made sure I was okay. I held it together as I walked the bike home, my leg killing me but not wanting them to see me cry.

I had totally forgotten about it but when I rubbed my knee, just like that the memory came back.

The other night in bed, watching the eleven o’clock news, my husband just drifting off to sleep I remembered something. I leaned over and gently shook him: “Happy Birthday,” I said. “Seventeen years.”

It took him a minute to open his eyes and smile.

“Really? I totally forgot.”

“You did?”

“No, I think about it everyday…I just forgot it was today. Unbelievable, huh?”

“Yeah.”

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic and quote: Stephanie DelTorchio

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8 Ways To Shift Circumstances In Your Favor

George Bernard Shaw quote/inspirational/motivation/befat.net/Stephanie DelTorchio/9.21.2016

Some things in this life we cannot change. And no amount of wailing or whining helps, regardless of how Oscar-worthy our performance. Blaming our circumstances as the reason we can’t or don’t move forward is an excuse.

“David,” the son of alcoholic parents was tossed around the foster care system with two younger siblings until he ran away for good at sixteen. One foster family changed his name to “Michael” because they had a son by the same name.

Despite David’s troubled childhood he went on to have an honorable life with a wife and family. Sadly, his brother and sister died young from substance abuse. David was able to reconcile with his elderly and ill father in time to mend some wounds before his death.

What separated David from his siblings? Why did he fare better?

In his own words, he “made different choices.” He couldn’t change the circumstances of his upbringing, he said. Water under the bridge. But he sure as hell needn’t let his future be controlled by his past.

Whether he was aware or not, David committed to specific tactics that changed his life. Here are few —

8 Ways to Shift Your Circumstances:

1.Let those people go

People rank high on this list. If they’re messing with you, do your very best to cut them off, wave sayonara, send them light and love and kick them the f*ck out of your life once and for all.

2. Take this job and shove it

Ditto for a job or boss who doesn’t honor your time or talents or plain out makes you miserable. You need employment for many years to pay-to-play in this world. Find something that you’ll happily trade your precious time for a paycheck. And for someone who will value your contributions, and reward you. Or do it yourself.

“Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him.” – Wayne Dwyer

3. Engage socially

Call on your tribe. Hang out with the right people, those who will support and share your ideas and ideals. Join groups or organizations that feed your mind and soul, if that’s what it takes. Often our circumstances will change based on the company we keep.

4. Big changes need big action

We know the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result. If it’s a big change in your circumstances you want to make, you’ll need to take some big and ballsy actions. Step out of your comfort zone. Stick all your fears in your back pocket and take them along. Be brave.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein

5. Go back to your childhood

Think back to when you were young. What made you laugh and happy when you were playing? You probably played OUTSIDE even in the rain. For hours and hours. You lost track of time building a “jigger” (go-cart), ice-skating, playing sandlot baseball or domestic bliss with your Easy Bake Oven. Play again. Get lost in the day again. Be childlike not childish.

6. Accept what is truly out of your control

Besides crooked front teeth or tropical storms, there are times when life’s unfortunate circumstances can feel as if darts have been hurled in our direction. We escape as best we can using every resource and tool we possess. Still, even with all our hard core training, awards, college degrees and adult smarts, there are days when life is a slow trudge through the mud. You just do the best you can.

“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.”– Eleanor Roosevelt

7. Practice Gratitude

Nothing pushes the woe-is-me off the wall like making a list of blessings in your life. From a roof over your head to a working bladder, giving a shout-out to the Universe for what you DO have is a humbling exercise. It’s not a bad plan to make a short list every day before your feet hit the worn carpet that you’re also grateful for.

8. Get Quiet

Take a walk. Read a book. Meditate. Pray. Whatever works to calm your breathing and put your mind in park. Call it returning to center. Focus. Give it a name if you must as long as the result is a peaceful state of rest.

Back to “David” for a minute.

A tough childhood may have explained his behavioral issues as a teenager or his hardened opinion on what makes a healthy family. But at some point in his life he let the swan sing its song. No lying…he needed to get tough on himself and fight through a lot of hurt and anger. He chose who he wanted to become. The result was, for him, a happy life.

When it comes to coping and/or outwitting the less tragic circumstances, be more strategic. (Note: Of course Big Shit circumstances require more time and more than a few boxes of Band-Aids to fix.)

There’s no magic potion or quick fix being offered here. Old-fashion grit and tenacity, and a willing spirit, can put the odds in your favor to shift your circumstances. Not to just survive but thrive.

Notes from me to you:

What are some of the ways you’ve tried in the past to shift your circumstances?
Please comment below. Your insights and tips will help other people.

BE F*CKING AWESOME TODAY!

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Original graphic & quote: Stephanie DelTorchio

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