Our Great City

"To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world."

~ Brandi Snyder

Small gestures make a big difference

In a recent survey of young Americans about what they wanted to be when they grow up, the number one response was "to be famous." There is a desperate desire to be known in our crowded world, and to know by some definite measure that we are leaving an indelible mark.

Though exciting in the moment, however, being well-known, or even notorious, may not be as great as it seems. Consider the most famous movie stars and athletes in the world today; within a hundred years or so, most or all will be forgotten. So if we pour our energy into making waves on a larger scale, what's the real long-term payoff?

On the other hand, the difference we can make on individual lives is profound. Though reading to a child or spending time with someone who is lonely may not make headlines, it is the unglamorous stuff with which lives are changed. Our gestures may be small, their impact nearly unnoticed. We may not even see the difference we've made in peoples' lives, but by investing in one person at a time, we express to that person that they are valued and important.

With hundreds of millions of us on the North American continent, and billions covering the planet worldwide, it's not hard to feel lost and insignificant. Sometimes, the one that shouts the loudest or shines the brightest may earn the spotlight for a few moments, but the day-to-day investment in relationships is one that yields measureless dividends.

There is a lot of buzz about radiant barrier these days and folks are looking at this option to save them money on their utilities over the long run. At AAA Heat Stop LLC we have been able to truly help many realize a lower heating and cooling bill year around by installing a radiant barrier in homes. There are a lot of options out there and many different products and installation methods. I have reviewed studies, applied some good common sense and see the differences in my own home, I am promoting a foil product and Installing it against the insulation (on floors and against insulated walls in the attic).

Spray on products that are applied to the underside of the roof are not a radiant barrier and will block up to 75% of radiant heat from coming in your attic not bad but you can do better for much less cost! Aluminum foil products that are rolled out will block 97% of radiant heat. According to American Standard of Testing Materials (ASTM) a product must block over 90% of radiant heat to be classified as a radiant barrier. Spray on products will help keep your attic slightly cooler but the attic area will still heat up and that heat will still get in your home. That is why many companies that promote a spray on product also sell insulation. Their products need extra help to work better!

 Article Submitted by:  Dr. Laura Steves

There are plenty of things that disguise themselves as inspiration in our culture. We may leave a movie, a meeting or get up from reading a book with a good feeling. These things may have left us happy, uplifted or simply entertained, but these feelings fade withy time. Inspiration, however, is something more.

When we are inspired by something, we can't sit still. We feel the urge to do something. Inspiration changes the way we look at the world, or how we look at ourselves. It's not just a fleeing, warm and fuzzy feeling; it is a shift in perspective that changes everything.

We know inspiration when we see it, but it's hard to know how to inspire others. First, we need to really own the ideas or words we share with others to inspire them, because nothing is less inspiring that a half-hearted cheerleader. Pretty words and nice thoughts may evoke a smile, but real conviction, a challenging point of view or an urgent call to action have the power to inspire.

The literal meaning of the word "inspiration" is to breathe new life into something. We enliven others by giving them purpose, hope and achievable goals, not just by patting them on the back and filling their ear with empty cliches.

Most important, perhaps, is to set an example that demonstrates the very things you're trying to share with others. So if you're trying to inspire others to recycle, show them how recycling has made your life better. Make it concrete, and keep it simple. Don't expect lofty, abstract ideas to inspire when real-life experience is something more people can relate to.