Swine flu, friendship, social networking and other random thoughts

First of all, you can now find me at Twitter and Facebook. I will be writing short messages there to share quick tips and messages. I know how busy everyone is, including me, so often there is little time to read (and write) the blog. Just search for my name on both and you'll find me (Marianne Douglas. I'm also on Digg, Squidoo, MySpace, Plaxo, and Linked In.)

Are you worried about the swine flu? I can't say I am. I'm more worried about those that spread the fear. Check out these Tweets from Tony Robbins that I read this morning and that I have also been saying:
* the misdiagnosis of swine flu and its treatment in 1976 killed more people than flu
* the L.A. Times now reports that this swine flu is so mild it will probably be less than a normal flu season
* "Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world." Ralph Waldo Emerson
* "The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear." Gandhi.

Everyone is running around scared. The airlines even tossed the pillows and blankets (which to be honest weren't all that sanitary to begin with but I sure could have used a blanket when I flew home Saturday!!) Another lesson in being better prepared!

Don't let fear rule your life. Fear is worry about things that most likely will not ever happen. Try to balance your thoughts by thinking and seeing in your mind's eye the opposite of what you fear. All the great inspirational leaders ask us to see what we want, not what we fear.

Someone sitting next to me yesterday said she was going to give someone "a piece of her mind". Will she have less mind left if she gives some away in anger? Hmmmm....

And finally, here's a great message from one of the people I subscribe to - the Happy Guy.

FRIENDSHIP

Everything is easier with friends. They are so important to our sense of well-being. In an interesting experiment, researchers took 34 students to the base of a steep hill with a weighted backpack on each. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends, while others stood alone.

Those students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill than those who stood alone. Eevn more telling was that the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared to them.

Our lives are full of steep hills. Injuries, Illness. Loss. Stress. Financial. A friend can make the hill seem much less steep. Have you called up a friend recently?

Have a great day!!