Recently, a sweet friend of ours, April Thomas Fulghum was killed, tragically, at her workplace... a young mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend was gone, just like that. Her death rocked those who were most touched by her and left many people wondering why bad things happen to such good people. This beautiful and happy girl did not lose her life in vain, for she and her family continue to inspire us through these life lessons of love -- - Overcome tragedy with love: At April's funeral, her brother, Shelby (wearing a cowboy hat 'cause his sister liked him in it), stepped up to the podium and began speaking about love and forgiveness... I'm not gonna lie, even though I forgave my own sister's killer, I was in awe of how quickly he was able to forgive and encourage others to move forward with love. On "the hardest day" of his life, he left us with this... Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Hugs make it better: A simple and yet beautiful life lesson was taught by April's youngest son... While volunteering at our kid's school, I saw him in the cafeteria... he came right up to me so precious and we hugged and hugged; He said, "I'm sad... I miss my mommy". With tears in our eyes, there wasn't much more we could say. We just held each other... speechless. Although I can't explain it, right then and there, came over me a feeling of peace. He taught me, in that moment, that everything was going to be okay. - Strength of a lion: April's husband, Scott, has always been a man of character... Some days, my heart just aches for him. They had a marriage most could only dream about, and a love that will always be stretched beyond space and time. Having to raise two boys, Scott must now muster up the energy to get up every day, put one foot in front of the other, and "go through the motions" of life in a new way. He proves that overcoming tragedy requires strength and dedication like no other. Scott teaches us that regardless of what happens in life, we are stronger than circumstance. It is not always certain why bad things happen in life... To love and be loved, regardless of the consequence, is a message that echoes throughout April's family and friends. She loved with all she had, and influenced those around her to do the same. Today and always, may April's life remind us, "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." - Anon Amy O'Pry Massey www.dogtiredranch.com View "A Promise of Hope"
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Do you ever feel like you're swimming in a sea of responsibility? If so, you're not alone... Being overwhelmed by day to day tasks happens to the best of us. Sometimes, we feel so spread thin by obligations, we wonder if we're even making a difference, at all. For a quick reality check, ask yourself this simple question when facing any given task: How can this help me reach my overall goal? See, all too often, we tend to overlook the importance of our daily progression. Let's face it, we all have to do things we don't want to do... and it usually takes longer than we thought! If a task is not helping you progress towards what you ultimately want or need, then change it. Each time we make the right choice, each step we take towards accomplishing our ultimate goal can be celebrated as a victory! In the 1950's, Robert H. Schuller, popularized the phrased “inch by inch, anything’s a cinch." Okay, so we know e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g is not a cinch, but when we look back on our lives, we rarely remember all the little details... sometimes, we are in awe that we even did it! Finding meaning and value in our day to day activities can be the secret to our progress. Let's keep in mind, it's little tasks that create achieved goals. Amy O'Pry Massey www.opryconsulting.com Dedicated As A Living Memorial to Kristi G. O'Pry. When our sister, Kristi, was killed and never found, we weren't sure if we'd ever find closure... Today, celebrating our 5th Year Anniversary of Dogtired Ranch Small Dog Rescue and Shelter, Inc., we can look back and see how helping each homeless dog find a loving family, in her honor, has helped our family heal. Please visit our current Adoptables List. In just five short years, our nonprofit, family operated, no-kill animal shelter has rescued over 1,000 dogs in Louisiana and Arkansas (including 350 puppies), spayed/neutered approximately 950, and transported over 750 dogs to loving families, nationally! It's clear; Dogtired Ranch's dedicated volunteers are committed to saving God's creatures, and finding homes that will spoil them rotten. Founded in October 2007 by our mom, Janet Anderson Dodson, in Mena, Arkansas, Dogtired Ranch is driven to bring joy and happiness to families all across the country. By offering a smooth and easy adoption and transport service, Dogtired Ranch is able focus on making the right match for both the dog and family. We welcome you to visit our Dogtired Ranch Family Album. Daily, we are reminded that love and forgiveness set us free. By blessing others in need, healing takes place. Kristi was funny and sweet; she was a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend. Through her tragedy, we have found hope and strength beyond measure. Please visit Dogtired Ranch online, www.dogtiredranch.com. No greater love is displayed than when what you thought was unforgivable is forgiven. Amy O'Pry Founding Director Dogtired Ranch Small Dog Rescue and Shelter, Inc. www.dogtiredranch.com With today's technology, it's easier than ever to increase your online presence and influence through the power of the internet. How easy do you make it for potential clients to learn about your company's products and services online? The answer to this question is vital...
See, through social media marketing, a company can inform and educate others about their services and products, and introduce who they are and what they do. Driving potential clients and community connections to your website could be one of the best business boosters around. Here are some tips for growing your online influence: - Have a website you can be proud of - Keep your website updated - Utilize Social Media Marketing to drive users to your website through LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook - Give away something for nothing (including tips, a blog, an e-newsletter, complimentary e-books, etc.) - Make it easy for people to access information about who you are and the services your provide Experts say, statistically it takes 7 - 9 "touches" for the average person to become a client. We all know it takes a variety of ongoing activities to create success. In my opinion, social media marketing has taken the place of many cold calls, telemarketing, and mail outs. (Who enjoys cold calling anyway?) If you don't have the desire to build and update your own website, or to conduct social media marketing yourself on a regular basis, hire someone! There are plenty of web designers and social media marketers who can grow your image successfully. Admittedly, building a website my client loves, driving thousands of people to their products and services online every month and ultimately growing their influence and success is O'Pry Consulting's #1 goal! Today, I encourage you to envision your company's goals, and ask yourself, "How can I better utilize the power of the internet to increase my success?" Amy O'Pry www.opryconsulting.com Learn. Grow. Inspire. If you're an inspiration in any way, chances are, you make it look easy. Living an inspirational life is work, and rarely feels as nice from the inside, as it does from the out. While these truths are not inclusive, they represent a slice of living, loving and overcoming life. 5 Simple Truths About Inspiration: Overcoming Obstacles - Sometimes life is so tough, we can get down in the dumps quickly. It's helpful to remind ourselves, and others, that troubles come and go, if we allow them. Keeping a positive outlook, in all things, helps us enjoy our life. Identifying the benefits of an obstacle is as important as acknowledging the challenges. Imagining the bigger picture helps us overcome quicker. Pushing Through Fear - Chances are, you have fear. Being an inspiration is not living with the absence of fear, but living with courage to push through fear. Recognizing the "feeling of fear" when it arrives, and allow ourselves to feel it... for a moment, is healthy. See, once we know what the fear looks and feels like, we are able to understand it is simply a symptom. Seeking Wisdom - People need inspiration, continually. By reading, discussing, researching, and pressing forward to learn and understand more, without judgment, we grow. As a result of our own personal and professional development, we have the ability to add value to our lives and others. Its important to keep in mind, gaining wisdom and inspiration is an ongoing process. Stepping Out On Faith - It's not easy "going out on a limb"... some decisions affect our entire life, for better or worse. When we have dreams and desire to better our world, we know they come with price. "No pain, no gain", right? The truth is, in life, we must make decision when we cannot foresee the future, and we must listen to our inner voice. Smiling - As Mother Teresa often said, “Peace begins with a smile.” When we smile, our demeanor changes... Our energy becomes lighter, our appearance is more pleasant and those around us feel happier. Smiling gives us hope without having to define it. Living a life of joy and inspiration doesn't just happen, it's cultivated. It's important to remind ourselves that it is natural to feel highs and lows. When feeling less than inspired, may we recognize it, see the bigger picture, and move forward. Amy O'Pry www.opryconsulting.com What if "dreams" and "wishes" were really our life's purpose? It's amazing to consider having the life "we've always wanted"... In just a short time, both professionally and personally, focusing on the ideal has taken me from "where I used to be" to "where I want to be" quick. Of course, since we are always a work in progress, dedicating the time and attention to building our dream requires focus! 4 Steps For Turbo-Charging Your Life: 1) Have A No Limit Mindset - Just for a moment, consider if you were able to achieve the life of your dreams... If you had no boundaries on what you could do, what would you just love? By stretching your way of thinking 2) Write Down Your Ideal, Continually - Include any details of what "living your best life" looks like and give yourself the freedom to express what comes to mind. As we grow through communicating our dreams, goals and wishes, we become less judgmental of our "crazy notions" and more in-tune with the voice inside that says, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if..." Brainstorm, make a list, write some notes; do whatever you have to do to get in your flow to write it down. 3) Overcoming Self-Doubt and Fear - Being afraid of aiming too high is real, and facing the "fear of failure" can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning. So often we think true success is something that happens to other people. You are no better than achievers, and they are certainly no better than you. 4) No Guts, No Glory - It takes courage and hard work to stand up for your life's purpose. So often we want the benefits before we pay the price of bravery. Rest assure, if we take life day by day, plan by plan, we will see that working towards our goals is worth the effort. By writing down our hopes, dreams and wishes, continually, we open ourselves up to creating the possibility of living our best. The truth is... happiness and success are most achieved by those willing to create it. The question is, are you? Amy O'Pry O'Pry Consulting www.opryconsulting.com Public Relations and Business Development Life is like a rollercoaster... We can hold on for dear life, or we can raise our hands and scream! We all can recognize the classic "fig leaf" in a photo... You know, it's the pose that looks like someone either has to pee or they're just really uncomfortable? Yeah, it's pretty funny unless the picture is of you. Check out these 3 quick tips for making a positive photo impression: Lighten your energy - Intentionally altering our "energy" by putting away the worries and living in the moment makes a much better photo. "Bring It" - Right before the image is taken, instantly look and feel your best - stand up straight, open those shoulders, put your arms and hands to the side, feel the gratitude and smile. Assess - Knowing how to present your best is important. Take a look at your own photos every now and then, how do they measure up? If you have to look in the mirror to improve, do it! Often, it's the slightest changes in life that make the biggest difference. Try these 3 easy steps and you'll be giving your best in no time! Amy O'Pry O'Pry Consulting www.opryconsulting.com Public Relations and Business Development It's true, we often can forgive others much easier than we can forgive ourselves. For example, do you ever have the same old thoughts about how you messed up or could have done better in the past? Have these thoughts ever kept you from feeling fully alive and present? If so, you are not alone. Today, instead of jumping to the daily grind, I spent some time on personal development. Watching a previously recorded series called Life Class on OWN, the world-renowned spiritual teacher, Deepak Chopra talked about our own awareness. Thinking about who we are from the core of our being and who we want to be mentally, physically, spiritually and soulfully, I realized more so than ever how much we hold on to unhealthy images, about ourselves, and how they affect our daily lives. You may have forgiven others for their past, but have you forgiven yourself? Just for a moment, allow yourself to see your own anger, guilt, shame and resentment about your past and current choices... chances are, you know those feelings all too well. By acknowledging aloud, we can start forgiving ourselves TODAY: I forgive myself for the poor choices I have made. I forgive myself for the pain I have caused others. I forgive myself for the opportunities I did not seize. I forgive myself for the pain I've caused by not letting go. I forgive myself for the bad habits that have held me back. I forgive myself for living out of fear. I forgive myself for not listening to my inner voice. I forgive myself for not recognizing my own power. I forgive myself for not protecting my own thoughts. I forgive myself for comparing myself with others. I forgive myself for feeling small. I forgive myself for allowing unhealthy thoughts to control my emotions. I forgive myself for placing my own value by how others think of me. I forgive myself for not trusting my intuition. I forgive myself for having unrealistic expectations. I forgive myself for judging. I forgive myself for ... What do you need to forgive yourself for? See, when we acknowledge aloud and/or in writing, something in us begins to change... Our spirit begins to stir the light within us like never before. Recognizing how our own anger, guilt, shame and resentment has affected the way we've lived our daily life and changing it for the better is key to creating a happier tomorrow. We can build our own personal power, starting TODAY! In Unity, Amy O'Pry O'Pry Consulting www.opryconsulting.com Public Relations and Business Development Have you ever tried smiling and staying mad at the same time? It doesn't happen. See, when we smile our demeanor changes... Our energy becomes lighter, our appearance is more pleasant and those around us feel happier just by seeing our smiling faces. Oh, sure, there will always be those people who can't stand a "happy, smiley person"... I say, just pray for those folks, 'cause everyone needs the power of an immediate "lift me up", especially us. Here are excellent quotes about the importance of smiling: “Peace begins with a smile.” - Mother Teresa “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh “I smiled back and I though how incredible that was, that they would find the time to smile...” - Jenny Valentine “You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile.” - Charles Chaplin “...and he smiled a lot. The smile did not mean that he was happy. It meant he was stronger than most people, and that he intended to take advantage of it.” - Michael Cadnum “There is thin line between smile and laughter.” - Santosh Kalwar “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” - Mother Teresa So today, tomorrow and forevermore, keep smiling... you will never know who all you've touched with your smile. In unity, Amy O'Pry O'Pry Consulting www.opryconsulting.com Public Relations and Business Development Check out Amy's Blog and Build Your Dream Complimentary Form!
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Amy O'Pry
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September 2023
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