by ColoradoCoach.

A large part of Living the Solution is taking time to live fully.  Participating in community events and getting to know your neighbors becomes an important part of feeling fully alive.

In that spirit I want to share for my local readers info about a fun community event.

Snow Sculpture in the Dark Event and Street Festival to be held in Downtown Loveland December 9 & 10th

Activities include a parade of lights, snow sculpting competition, an artisan show, entertainment, horse drawn wagon rides for the family and more! Snow Sculptors who have competed internationally will magically transform 4th Street into a winter wonderland.

The below clip is from the Snow Stomping Event that took place in Downtown Loveland to start the whole week off!

Six 8-foot-square molds were set up along Fourth Street and community stompers jumped, kicked, and stomped to pack the snow down. Six teams of artists willcreate one-of-a-kind works of art our of the snow blocks.

Friday, December 9 

• 10 a.m. - all night (weather permitting): Snow Sculpting Competition
  
• 5 - 9 p.m.:
  • Artisan Show with handmade items @ The Majestic Gathering Place, 315 E. 4th Street, Loveland, CO
  • People’s Choice voting for their favorite snow sculpture
  • FREE Ice Bowling complimented with S’mores and hot apple cider for purchase

• 5:30 - 10 p.m.: Liquid Arts Festival, a ticketed spirits tasting at the Bonnell Building 
• 6 - 9 p.m.: Horse drawn carriage rides . 

Saturday, December 10

• 8 - 11 a.m. : Snow Sculpting Competition
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: People’s Choice voting of Snow Sculptures 
• 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Artisan Show continues
• 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Live entertainment
  

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by ColoradoCoach.

Tis the season.  Tis the season for scammers to ramp up their efforts and prey on the innocent & hopeful.

This is not a usual post for me, but thought it was still pretty valid, so I thought I would throw it up as a warning.

I received an envelope that was  hand written addressed to me at my home address. I immediately thought something was fishy since there was no return address. Also, it was postmarked from Phoenix, Arizona.

The letterhead said “US Airlines”.  This was intriguing because I never heard of US Airlines. Perhaps this was meant to sound familiar as a clever with a cross between US Airways and United Airlines. Here is what the letter indicated (see below).

NOTE: You must respond no later than December 2, 2011

Dear Sean,

I am pleased to inform you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. Congratulations. These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. from any major international airport. The retail value of this award is up to $1,400.00. Certain restrictions apply.

We have attempted contacting you several times without success. This is our last attempt. If we do not hear from you soon, we may need to issue the ticket vouchers to the alternate.

Please call me today at 1-866-342-1899.

Regards,

<printed signature that is supposed to look like ink>

Erica Bale

Vice President

The bottom of the letter also had reference numbers (consisting of two letters – five numbers) as well.

Stuff like this annoys me so much, particularly because i know some people will be taken by this scam. I didn’t even waste time calling, but instead decided to make it public just in case anyone else receives a similar letter!

After searching on Google I discovered there are tons of people out there reporting these scam letters. In exchange for credit card information, they are promised round trip tickets which are NEVER received! Don’t fall for this stuff. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

As I have written about before there are plenty of dangers out there to navigate, including unscrupulous  people.  To quote a famous line from a TV show my dad enjoyed watching, “Let’s be careful out there.”

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by ColoradoCoach.

Do you create deadlines for your goals?

Ever notice how focused you are the 24 hours before you leave on a trip? You are packing last minute items, making a list of to-do’s before you leave, charging cell phones and turning down the hot water heater.  That is because that absolute deadline of leaving is creating a sense of urgency in your actions.  Use this same technique to create amazing action toward your goals.

Give your short-term goals absolute deadlines. Ones that you will do whatever it takes to get them done by that deadline. Create a sense of urgency. Make a commitment with yourself to get it done.

Deadlines that you commit to, create accountability. When you hold yourself accountable to your goals, you take focused action.  That focused action leads to your desired results.  The enforcement of deadlines has the amazing power to improve your results and create positive change in your life.

Today, give each of your goals a deadline that you are committed to.

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by ColoradoCoach.

Start Investing in the Application of the knowledge you already possess.

Many of you have already heard me talk about this topic and know this will be my platform for the upcoming year.  Some of you have even been engaged in conversations with me or others about how our educational system and society at large hinders our children (and hindered us) from their true potential. 

Most of us (in the states) have been trained, conditioned and molded to be good employees.  We have been brainwashed into the concept of: if you work hard (for someone else) you can make a good living and have the life you imagined. A friend of mine Stoll Vaughan sings about the difference between living and being alive. We have been conditioned to believe that the two are the same.  They are definitely not the same.

To begin to help you become aware of the idea I am talking about, I discovered this great video.  Awareness is the key to change.  Please watch, comment and share.

Again I look forward to your thoughts, comments and encourage you to share this with others.

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by ColoradoCoach.

By Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in you own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face
of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful. Strive to be happy.

*side note* Max Ehrmann (1872-1945) was from Terre Haute, IN,  where my Alma Mater is located.  Go Sycamores!

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