GoldenMark, Ltd.

Not all Marshmallows are for Eating

2012-01-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

When my daughter Allyson was working at the pet store miscellaneous additional residents arrived in our home unannounced. These included; several fish, an African dwarf frog, a fresh water shrimp and one unintended addition a pink-eyed white mouse.

The mouse was supposed to be delivered to a friend of hers as dinner for a snake. She was just stopping in for a minute and it was a hot day so she brought in the plastic container with the obviously shaken tiny little guy so he wouldn’t roast in the car- kind of an ironic action. She placed the container on the kitchen counter and I asked “What is that?” She explained his fate to which I replied “He looks like a little marshmallow. I can’t let you feed him to a snake.” and his ultimate fate was sealed.

On board, Allyson returned to the pet store and another mouse was picked up to be sent to his fate at her friend’s house. This one, left in the car when she returned with a cage for our new addition and other rodent necessities for his comfort. I asked her if a cage was OK. Questioning if it might not hold him. Working at a pet store clearly made her an expert so when she explained it would be a cleaner environment and the close space between the bars would keep him in I proceeded to set him up in his new habitat on the same counter where Marshmallow’s destiny had been altered.

The center of attention for the next hour or so, Allyson’s step-father said he didn’t really like having a “rat” in the house but realized he had been over ruled. Lilly my granddaughter heard him and began calling him the “Marshmallow Brat” to soon be known as Marsh. The fanfare faded off and Marsh seemed to be settling in nicely so we got on with life. Just by chance I decided to check on him again. Something didn’t look right. Looking closer I noticed he had squeezed through the bars and he was behind the cage! I grabbed him by the tail and found a small plastic aquarium that was currently unoccupied to put him in. Not having been bred for the wild his life had been saved twice in one day. Allyson returned the cage and exchanged it for a safer easy to clean small glass aquarium that was inescapable.

Marsh flourished in his new home. We got used to the perpetual squeaking of the wheel throughout the night and he quickly learned what fresh produce and popcorn was. We often have Chinese wonton soup that comes with crunchy noodles that my granddaughter loved to snack on even before she had teeth. We ended up calling them “Chinese Baby treats”. She eventually would share them with the dogs, so they were then called “Chinese Dog and Baby treats”. One day she wanted to give one to the mouse and we discovered that he LOVED them! So now they were “Chinese Mouse, Dog and Baby treats”. As you might figure Marsh was quickly growing into a chubby not so tiny guy.

Now pegged a sucker at the pet store, there was a hamster with a tumor in his head that got sent to our house to give him some “life before death.” He lived out a couple of months with the same pampered life as Marsh. Eventually the tumor got so large one eye was forced shut and he could no longer drink water from the spout. Every little while for a few days I gave him a drink with an eye dropper. He would put his little paw on my finger and drink a few drops then return to the corner to sleep. Then the day came when he didn’t wake up. He was buried under the willow tree in the yard and his larger aquarium which was now a much better fit for his size became Marsh’s new home.

After about a year Marsh’s perfect charmed life was interrupted by a condition he developed called Mouse OCD. Mice exhibit increased anxiety and compulsive behaviors associated with OCD, such as excessive grooming. At one point he had scratched all the fur off his chest and upper arms and he stopped running in his wheel. I would actually hear him squeak in pain and I would speak softly to him which seemed to bring some comfort. Articles suggested adding things to chew on as a diversion but he continued to groom himself raw. The only thing I could think of doing was try to help him heal. He seemed to be losing his appetite as too. I got him some vitamins actually meant for larger rodents. He was not doing well and I figured what did I have to lose? To my relief they did help some. But he still kept scratching. Mostly his left side of the face now and his face was puffy but his appetite was returning and he was beginning to run in his wheel again.

Allyson had warned me that his life expectancy was less than a year. By New Year’s Day 2012 he had already beaten the expected life span by six months. Last night he crawled into his little log filled with fluff he arranged as his warm comfy bed and went to sleep forever. Good Night Marsh, sleep tight. I hope they have Chinese mouse treats in mouse heaven.

RIP Marsh 2010-2012

Waking Up & Clearing Up!

2012-01-21T03:25:00.000-08:00

I woke up from a dubious dream this morning. We had just gotten in the car. I had made a joke that struck cord causing a momentary slip of the tongue of (a person left nameless and unidentified here) where he inadvertently confessed an indiscretion by correcting me on a term I used to describe the "event". After corrected the conversation continued for a moment until I realized what had just happened I said "Wait, what did you say? You did what?" looking strait into his face. He had "that look" on his face, that busted-and-I'm-screwed look of terror that admitted the truth. I told him to "Get out of the car Now!" He was stumbling for words so I raised my voice "Now!" and he opened the door. as he exited the vehicle somehow I was already there. As he got out he slipped and fell to the ground. Leaning over him I turned his face towards me and asked him "Was she married!" he responded "She had kids..." I reiterated "Was she Married!" to which he said "divorced". As I turned away I woke up.

It has now become one of those dreams that in memory are as clear as actual events from yesterday. As it turns out the "event" confessed is really immaterial. It was more about the fact that I never felt like he ever owned up to anything. I just needed him to, for once accept responsibility for the outcome of his actions. Was this something that my subconscious needed to sort out? A closure I desperately needed to move on? I think so because this morning I have less anxiety about whether or not I am right as well as weather or not I am currently doing the right things in my life.

I read that the Stanford Research Institute suggests a person has between 90,000 and 150,000 thoughts per day. We all have all kinds of personal doubts and challenges in our lives (It's what makes us human) and we often obsess on one thought, one subject that effects everything from the smallest decision like; What size coffee should I buy and should I get a cookie? to What should I do with my life? Before I became a Throw Out FIFTY Things Charter Coach, I held on to EVERYTHING. Through Gail Blanke's process I was able to learn to let go of things and things already lost that I was still mentally holding on to. That's a BIG step to take! So now this revelation coming to me in a dream can be put to the good use of letting go of what does not SERVE ME! A life changing ability everyone should master.

If you want to learn more about the Throw Out FIFTY Things visit my website: http://goldenmarkltd.com/beyond/throw_out_fifty_things

Gail Blankes's Throw Out FIFTY Things property of Gail Blanke's Life Designs, LLC used by permission All Rights Reserved. Dawne-Marie Thompson is an accredited Throw Out FIFTY Things Coach

Seeing Red

2012-01-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

One of his students asked Buddha "Are you the messiah?" "No", answered Buddha . "Then are you a healer?" "No", Buddha replied. "Then are you a teacher?" the student persisted. "No, I am not a teacher." "Then what are you?" asked the student exasperated. "I am awake", the Buddha replied...The Buddha possesses the wisdom of the ages. I meditated with the Buddha this morning for direction and was instructed to burn two vanilla tea lites on a dull flat reddish stone. The vanilla soothed my melancholy insecurity and increased my senses while the dull red stone gave off a very apparent red glow in the candle light. This alerted me my red chakra was blocked which was what was causing me great anxiety among other issues as it is the first chakra and there would be no life without it as it supports in our body. In all humans the red chakra is active.

There are seven in all colors of the spectrum - our "invisible organs". They explain why light is nourishment to our bodies. Next the orange chakra brings understanding of how your actions affected the world this chakra is also active in all humans. The yellow chakra brings understanding of how the world affects you and broadens your realm of feeling and ability to analyze possible outcomes before they have occurred. It is not active in all humans and as we get further into the spectrum, one must work consciously activate them. The green chakra becomes activated, when you have reached an deep emotional understanding of self and others. Now very sensitive, not only can you feel deep love but pain in its absence. The blue chakra active lets you analyze things in a more advanced way. Usually only active in very charismatic people who can now master the ability to think in a deeper way and influence people to respond in their desired way. The indigo chakra causes your intuition, spiritual abilities & senses as well as the physical to be heightened beyond the average. The violet chakra is the spiritual one. It is the link to the source from which you came, to God. When this chakra is activated, it changes from violet to white.

This is a quick overview, just the tip of the iceberg. This fascinating subject is complex and requires much further study to grasp completely. When we understand more of our self and our world, our soul evolves. Buddhists believe that souls are continually passed on. You may get pangs of a past life and may already be an old soul further enlightened than you know and that annoying pest pillaging your cupboard or buzzing around your head just might be someone you once knew. Something to think about before you stomp or swat...

Only in Chicago

2012-01-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

50 degrees? 50 degrees in December, in Chicago? OK so it's only supposed to go up to 49 degrees. Still... Then again there is supposed to be snow tomorrow. As they say if you don't like the weather in Chicago, wait a few minutes. Very cliche but so true. I don't remember 50 degree days in December growing up. I hated winter because as a kid I (and my siblings) walked to school. Down the block, under the viaduct, past the highway, turn right at the next corner then all the way down to Hiram H. Belding school. I did this for nine years, kindergarten through eighth grade. In all the ridiculous Chicago weather, monsoons, hail storms, blizzards, tornadoes, searing heat, etc.(my recollection may be skewed a bit by post-traumatic stress disorder from just having to go to grammar school, but that's another story), my Mom would still send us out and to add insult to injury we had to go home for lunch and repeat the process.

In fact, despite the weather if you wanted to get somewhere you walked. A lot of times by yourself. You found yards to cut through, alleys, an occasional wooded lot, railroad tracks to follow and highway ramps to cross over. Thinking about it, it is actually amazing that we weren't abducted or worse. Back then we would often forget to lock the doors and not think twice about it. My Mom used to say that "Things like that didn't happen back then." I think more likely we just did not hear about it. Newspapers only came out daily, or even weekly and the TV news was more about the rest of the world. Today in our world of instant communication if something happens we are there almost immediately if we are not there to begin with.

None the less I survived those walks and the weather. Looking back those days seem surreal now and conjure up memories of my walks that create scenes worthy of fine bone china plates. Thoughts of wintery paths along the snow covered railroad tracks and long grasses and wild flowers waving in the wind on the sides of the highway in the summer give way to the obvious; "What the hell was I thinking?!"

Monarch on the Wild Flowers photo by DMThompson Copyright 2010 GoldenMark, Ltd. All Rights Reserved

A humble grain of sand...

2012-01-05T14:44:00.000-08:00

On the shelf in my office there is a photo collage from when my daughter Beth and I took a trip to Mexico and visited the ancient ruins of Tulum high on a bluff that overlooks the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea and the white sand beach below. I began to recall that the heat was scalding and the place was mesmerizing. I had taken several photos of one building that had an elaborate relief mask that profiled from either side and from the corner angle commanded your complete attention. As a diversion from my tasks my mind wandered back to the hot beach. I was alone, neither my daughter or any of the other tourists who had chartered with us existed any longer.

Unaccompanied as I circled the buildings. I imagined I stopped at the entrance of the Tulum's tallest building, a watchtower the Spaniards called El Castillo, meaning The Castle. I knelt down to touch the hot stone steps and imagined the bare footed inhabitants who built this amazing place with simple tools and bare hands. The Mayan were not tall or brawny. The men were about five feet tall and women were around four feet tall. They walked those steps without any thought of the blistering heat beneath their feet. And then further imagining I strolled towards the sound of the waves and stood dangerously close to the edge of the cliff to get a better view as wind whipped my hair into my mouth.

With no distractions I realized that when I was there I was awestruck looking at the sand. Perfect sand. I remembered then a quote from St. Therese of Lisieux referring to her chance at sainthood "There is the same difference between the saints and me as there is between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and a humble grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by. Instead of being discouraged, I told myself: God would not make me wish for something impossible and so, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint. It is impossible for me to grow bigger, so I put up with myself as I am, with all my countless faults. But I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight, a little way that is quite new."

St. Therese has walked with me since I was a child and I have always been drawn to water. I found many answers to many perplexing questions in my prayers to her and while strolling on the beach listening to the surf. Lately I was feeling small and defeated. Questioning my ability to handle the rebuilding of my life. My parents (who have passed on) came to me last night in a dream and were encouraging me to rebuild my office with sand as my only abundant resource. I needed to see the bigger picture, see the possibilities and gather strength from other "little people" who accomplish great things and made a difference, a great difference. I scanned one of my photos to remind me I can accomplish great things in my work if I just look past the sand.

Relief Mask Tulum Ruins on the Caribbean Sea photo by DMThompson Copyright 2012 GoldenMark, Ltd. All Rights Reserved by DMThompson Copyright 2011 GoldenMark, Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Lunch Anyone?

2012-01-01T09:38:00.000-08:00

2011 Bye now... Hello 2012! I have a deep focus on 2012. BIG changes and personal and professional challenges ahead and I am really looking forward to both. To begin I have decided to get rid of the "tomorrow bin" on my desk and the virtual one in my head. To explain. the "tomorrow bin" is in actuality a pile of stuff next to me on my desk. Most of the things inside that mess could well have been completed or discarded almost immediately. But for sheer procrastination and deep seeded indecision they remain as do the nagging piled up thoughts in my head. So moving forward I have realized that if they were able to be put there, they don't matter much. Anything that really matters to us we do without effort. Ah ha! There lies the key. There may be things that the powers that be in your life may insist you do and in their time frame. However, until you are inspired to make the move their insistence is moot. Ultimately even when we feel like it isn't our choice ironically it is. Yes, opening the safe for the robbers to steal the cash is probably not one of the things anyone would prefer to do. Given that scenario though the person who opened the safe did you because they chose it as the best option at the time. So it is really about doing what we can to keep ourselves in situations where we have the most potential to want the outcome. The more situations in our lives that produce the desired feelings and responses from others will help us to complete the tasks that the powers that be in your life insist you do. A few less desired actions are palatable if they are sandwiched in between the good stuff and it makes you hungry for more :) DMT

Lunch Anyone? photo by DMThompson Copyright 2010 GoldenMark, Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Sheen Family Circus: Bottom

2011-06-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

We feast on others, living vicariously. In response to this cartoon I say; They want to see you there so bad they can taste you frying in the pan...

Sheen Family Circus: Bottom

Hi :)

2011-03-12T02:57:00.000-08:00

Just putting a smile out into the world today:

:)

Pass it on ~ DMT

Something to :) About...

2011-01-23T02:26:00.000-08:00

As the New Year kicks in many of us have resolved to take control of our weight. As the window to your soul, your smile :) will be just as beautiful and inviting plus or minus those 10, 20 or even 50+ pounds. However, if the issue at hand is literally weighing that smile :( down emotionally and or physically that is the core of the matter.

Society has put upon us the notion that we have to fit in the box. And no matter how many of us proclaim it is not so, it is.

What is important here is that we realize that we are in the box we choose of our own doing. And we can only be negatively labeled if we allow it and further more BELIEVE it! I guarantee that on any given day regarding any given issue, SOMEONE out there will disagree with your opinion, so why let others decide how you feel?

If you don't like something CHANGE it! For example; you wouldn't eat spoiled food just because it was put in front of you, would you? NO! You would send it back! So why not just reject the negativity that is thrown your way? it does not serve you either. Let's face it; we are as they say our own worst enemy most of the time. We don't need additional help in this department.

Just make sure that you are making changes for your own health and well being and not so that you fit in the same box as everyone else. Remind yourself YOU are in control of YOU, what box YOU are in and YOUR beautiful smile ;)

Waiting...

2010-05-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

"Snow Drifts" photo by DM Thompson

After typing a synopsis into my phone keypad, I sat waiting on hold. As I heard the 5th "Your call is very important to us" loop yet again, my mind wandered back to looking out onto a frozen world wondering when it would thaw... Waiting is the worst! Helpless, like a fly in a spiders web we are tormented by the forced messages, suggestions and awful musical selections.

In this case only to get a person on the phone who gives the term "Customer Service" a whole new derogatory meaning. Our relationship took a down hill slide after "May I help you?". He thoroughly enjoyed trying to stump me with my own "security question" answer and thought he had me when I could not remember which level of school I was referring to when I typed my answer for "What were your school colors?" (Ironically, a question I had made us so I would never get it wrong.)I recovered on the next one though, as I aced "What is your father's middle name?"

We then moved on to "How can I help you?". I explained my situation and request in plain English, then paused for a response. Silence. I felt pressure to speak asking "Can you help with this?". Slowly words were returned "You should have selected option number 2, I'll transfer you now. Have a nice day." Instantly I was returned to hold. What to do now? If I hang up, I loose 24 minutes of my life and paradoxically if I hang on I could potentially loose 24 more. I decide to wait ignoring my better judgement, self worth and blood pressure.

This time I was ready!I know the school colors, Dad's full name, my zip code and social security number! Ready to rock, I block out all the hold banter (that I believe is designed to get you to hang up)and FINALLY I hear "Thank you for calling, our department is closed..."

DMT ;- (

Mint Condition

2010-05-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

Mint condition sparks thoughts of something that is almost perfect. Just a little more than 2 weeks ago this little garden delight was a thriving mint plant, fragrant and in full bloom. While I was not paying attention it was moved into a too sunny place and in less than a day it was dryer than beef jerky.

I was immediately grief stricken as I never even got to enjoy the soothing mint leaves in my midnight tea. An now I never would. My immediate thoughts were " If I had only noticed sooner I could have saved it...". Then it occurred to me that it was possible that the roots were still alive. I moved it into a partially sunny spot and began to water it. I poured and poured until the water was flowing like a tiny stream onto the counter.

After a few days had past, I noticed a tiny little green sprout emerging. My sad heart lightened. Not taking any chances I watered it again. The rational part of my brain that does not mourn over dead plants remined me that too much water would actually create another deadly scenario; killing the roots. Once the roots were gone there would be nothing left to revive.

As in most cases, it was all about balance. Not too much, not too little. Furthermore, balance includes paying attention in the first place. If I had been watching, the plant never would have been left to dry out and I would not have had to spend those few days preoccupied hoping that it would emerge victorious over the sunny ordeal. As it turns out it had been moved with the best of intentions. Sunshine is necessary to grow plants, but without balance it was almost it's demise. Just a friendly reminder: PAY ATTENTION!!!

DMT

Just Can't Take The Rat Race Any More ;-0

2010-05-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

TRAPPED by DM Thompson

Trapped on the rat race treadmill

my inherent flight response kicks in,

but there is no way to escape...

Kicking and clawing, chasing myself.

Out of breath and unable to keep up,

I collapse and fall to the ground.

Sitting there I realize I am no longer

trapped...

"Sparrow in the City" photo by DM Thompson

Every once in a while you find yourself at a juncture where you know it is obviously time to move on. When your world seems to be imploding change is necessary and inevitable. Days are long and unproductive, everything is a chore. The biggest clue may be when you start yelling "Why are you doing this to me!"at inanimate objects. Sometimes even though the signs are there, if you are not quite ready for the change you can be blind sided if it is another person taking what appears to you to be immediate action against you. Whether it is professional or personal, change is hard and you have to leave something or someone behind. Breaking the news of your decision is uncomfortable or accepting that someone else has the power to push you away and out of the picture is devastating at least. Those who are left in the wake of these circumstances are not happy there and what do you do with those things you can't take with and will be lost?

Under the guise of gathering perspective, I let myself pay hooky on the desktop this afternoon. Cup of hot tea in hand I began searching the universe for answers to my questions. First I found TM's blog and her quote of the day from 5/20 made me see that sometimes it's all about letting go and getting over. But deeper into the layers, Lauren's blog brought light to the fact that you also need to bring along carefully packed cherished memories as they are what makes us who we are. In any case, I'm glad I fell off "the rat race tread mill" and wondered into their worlds for just a while. Meeting both TM who I found out is a kindred spirit of beaches and photography along with Lauren and her Green Beans (who I am sure are very proud of their Mommy) gave me insight with a bit of courage.

Even when we know that we have to make the changes necessary for us to be productive and keep moving forward, it's still hard trusting in that little voice inside that whispers "Go on, you can do it".

DMT

Thinking Outside the Box

2010-02-16T05:58:00.001-08:00

IT'S A NEW DAY!

GoldenMark, Ltd. Proudly Announces

the 2010 Edition

Calling all Motivational and Training Professionals (or anyone who aspires to be!). An intense gathering of professional minds to collaborate styles and grow professionally.

Six hours that will change the way you think about workshops!

For more info or to register visit http://www.goldenmarkltd.com/contact_us

Come and Think Outside the Box!

Plan to Join Us September 17th, 2010 in Chicago!

Hello World >>> :)

2010-02-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

WELCOME!!!

We are happy to be a part of your day! Let us give you something back

Visit us at: http://www.goldenmarkltd.com

We want to hear about your success stories ;)

Awe over your inspired photos :0

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON GIVE US YOURS!

wdydwyd?

and don't forget to get some

MONDAY MORNING JUICE! Drink it up :)