Discover Your Bliss

5 Entertaining Ways to Save Money

If you're looking for entertainment then there's a way to have your cake and eat it for free (or a small charge). 

• paperbackswap.com - exchange books with another person
• swapacd.com - exchange CDs
• swapadvd.com - exchange  DVDs

The tag line to the above sites reads:  "No risk.  No spam.  No advertising.  No gimmicks.  No gotchas.  No kidding."  The sender pays the shipping costs and can send by any method he chooses. 

The swapping currency is simple:  one book, CD, or DVD equals one credit, but you'll need to list 10 items before you can earn credit. 

Two more similar sites:

• swaptree.com (video games too)
• bookmooch.com (you can donate your points to sick or low income kids)

What bliss - enjoy! 

What's the difference between swapping your stuff verses buying it?  How will these ideas support you? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

A Book Everyone Will Love

I have this book, that I love, love, love.  Yes, it is a children's book, yet it never gets old and always makes me smile. 

The Monster at the End of this Book:  Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover.  Yes, that Grover from Sesame Street. 

I don't want to ruin the ending, yet I can tell you a little about this book.  Based on the title, Grover is worried, upset and downright scared that there's a monster at the end of the book.  He does everything he can to stop the reader from turning the page (nailing down pages, putting up a brick wall, etc.).  However, the book does have a twist at the end (hint - Grover is a monster). 

I've always loved this book and as a result, I shared it with as many people as I could over the years. 

In the past month, I've read the book to hundreds of kids - and they LOVED it.  Some of them asked me why I didn't bring it every day to read, while another kid (a 5th grader no doubt) had his mom buy him the book. 

I'm always surprised when kids have never heard of this book.  As always, I'm happy to share the book and love to read it in my best Grover-style voice. 

What's something that you love that might be fabulous when shared?  How does sharing joy raise or lower your own joy level?

I'd love to hear your comments and insights.

Biissful Book - part 3

This will be my third and final piece about the book, Children's Letters to God.  It just increases my bliss every time I read them!

Here's a few of my favorites from the section, "Approvals, confidences and thanks."

Dear God,

I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions.

Ruth M.

Dear God,

I bet is is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world.  There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.

Nan

Dear God,

My brother told me about being born but is doesn't sound right.

Marsha

Dear God,

If you watch in church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes.

Mickey D.

Dear God,

If you let the dinasor not exstinct we would not have a country.  You did the right thing.

Jonathan

Every time I read these letters, it reminds me to access that place of wonderment in myself.

By sharing these letters, it is not my intention to impose a belief system or religion on anyone.  I just wanted to share the bliss that comes from reading the letters.

How can you access that place of pure curiosity in yourself?  What would you say in a letter and to whom/what would you address it?  To a tree?  The clouds? The tooth fairy?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Blissful Book - part 2

Yesterday, I blogged about the book Children's Letters to God. 

The book ups my bliss so much that I'd like to share a few more of my favorite letters from the section "Fervent wishes, suggestions and complaints."

Dear God,

Thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy.

Joyce

Dear God,

Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter.  There is nothing good in there now. 

Ginny

Dear God,

It rained for are whole vacation and is my father mad!  He said somethings about you that people are not supposed to say, but I hope you will not hurt him anyway.

Your friend,

But I am not going to tell you who I am

Dear God,

Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each so much if they had their own rooms.  It works with my brother.

Larry

Dear God,

Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year.

Peter

How can you see from the eyes of a child and embrace their wonderment?  What would happen if you saw everything from a new perspective?

I'd love the hear your comments and discoveries.

Blissful Book

While shuffling through my books, I discovered a book I'd forgotten - Children's Letters to God. 

This is not a book of religion but a book filled with wonder, insight and pure curiosity.  If I want a pick-me-up, all I have to do is pick up this book and start reading.

Here's a sampling of my favorites from the section "Puzzlements, dilemmas and other imponderables." 

Dear God,

I read the bible.  What does begat mean?  Nobody will tell me. 

Love,

Alison

Dear God,

Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house?

Anita

Dear God,

I would like to know why all the things you said are in red?

Joanne

Did you really mean do unto others as they do unto you, because if you did then I'm going to fix my brother.

Darla

Dear God,

I am American.  What are you?

Robert

Just reading the letters ups my bliss meter.  The children's viewpoints are refreshing.

What is your "pick-me-up" book?  How would having a "go to" book that made you smile support you in freedom? 

I'd love to hear your discoveries and comments!