It meant taking a hard look in the mirror and seeing what parts of me I like and which parts I do not. I have gladly handed back those parts that do not belong to me. This took courage and awareness. Not everyone is aware.

So what happens when you are not aware or avoid those “bad” patterns in your life? Do we just forget and bury those incidents from our past and never see them again? Where do these memories sit?

I have a dear friend who lost her father recently and we were talking and she said to me that the stuff from her past hasn’t really affected her. I didn’t say anything however I found that comment interesting since I see that she is an avoider and doesn’t want to see some of her relationships for what they are. In the last year she has had neck and back problems, she had an issue with her eyes.

When we choose to avoid dealing with patterns in our life a couple of things happen. First, we create this great story for ourselves that we live by. I know because I was one of those people. What is your story you tell yourself? For me it was that I wasn’t supported by my parents, they give all of their attention to my younger brother, people compared me to my twin brother – I was the pretty one and he is the smart one. STORIES. There is no truth to our stories unless we give them credence. I have since changed my story … not only am I beautiful – inside and out – I am smart and giving and caring and my work is making a difference in the life of the young people.

Second, where do all of these memories (good or bad) sit? In our bodies. And yes, our bodies are always talking to us. But mostly we do not know nor understand that the “pain” you are feeling comes from something that happened before, sometimes years and decades. I did an energy session on a woman in her 30s yesterday and we did somebody energy work. She complained about her lower abdomen — it was hot and uncomfortable. So we went “into” her body part and began to explore. What came out was that she was holding a very traumatic experience that happened to her when she was 14 years old. This is where is settled. Not only did she hold the memory but the “side effect” is this incident shaped her future choices and decisions – or might I say lack of. While I was doing the work on her I felt a heaviness in my chest – like I could not breathe and my legs were stuck to the ground. Whatever she experienced was holding her back from moving forward. What I love about body energy work is that she discovered the incident, she embraced the emotions of what she felt at the time and then was able to let them go. We continued with energy healing to bring a feeling of safety. How this presented itself now is that every time she felt like she was in this dark and fearful place, she shut down and could not move forward. So she did not speak her truth and move forward in certain areas of her life. By creating that space of trust she can now move through the dark events and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. As we did this my legs became less heavy – at first I felt stuck like I could not move however over time, this became less until my legs moved freely and I could breathe much easier.

It was an extraordinary experience for her. Over time she forgot about the scary incident when she was 14 however she stored it in her body and subconscious mind and this feeling has been driving her since. By embracing and releasing she is no longer bound to this and can change her response and outcome.

I watched an interesting movie called The Tree Of Life, with Brad Pitt and it was existential and questioned our relationship to G-d. The movie was set in the late 1950s I believe and you see how the harsh treatment of the father (played by Brad Pitt) on a young boy affects him as he grows and becomes an adult. He is struggling from within and without. Our Stuff! He also lost his younger brother, whom he was very close to. You could visually feel and see the conflict the boy and later man felt.

Do not think or believe for a second that our past does not have an impact on our lives, for it does. The question becomes, how are you going to let this impact your life, your choices and your outcome? That is up to you. Figure out your story or stories. What part of them is true, not true, belong to you, belong to someone else?

We can look at our past as a gift that can give us the awareness and perspective of what we want versus what we do not want. Keep what feels right and makes sense and let the rest go. I know it is not that easy. Perhaps you will need to seek a professional. Whomever you choose, know you are whole and there is nothing wrong with you. Hopefully this person will help you peel away the layers to your truth, who you are and then you can live your life to the fullest and as you choose.

Have a wonderful weekend!

All my love,

Sandra

Here are the forecasts for February:

Monthly Astro-Forecasts February 2012

a message from Sarah-Jane Grace
Wednesday, 1 February, 2012

Welcome back. There is a strange kind of magic in the air as we step into February, there is a sense of anticipation and excitement, and yet it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause for this. And yet, in some ways the root of this seems unimportant, for it is the general peak in energy that looks set to inspire each of us to take some significant steps forward in life.

Neptune moves into Pisces on the 3rd, and this truly marks the age of a new dawn. This subtle but powerful combination of energies looks set to impact the collective as much as the individual, as we become increasingly aware of our inter-connectedness. At the same time, as each of us surrenders more to the flow of life and begins to embrace our gifts and powers, it seems that this is having a knock on effect on the global consciousness. We seem to be entering a new dawn, and a time where the spiritual, energetic and unseen forces around and within, become central to creating Heaven on Earth.

On the 7th, Saturn moves retrograde in Libra, and this suggests a time to become more aware of responsibility in life. Responsibility comes through being responsible for our lives and our actions, and being accountable for our choices. In many ways this is a personal journey, unique to each of us individuals, and yet just about every choice we makes ripples out from the pebble reaching far and wide on different levels of being and consciousness. The winds of change have been gathering momentum for quite some time and it now seems to be time to ‘put our money where our mouths are’ and get out into the world to make a difference. We each have a personal responsibility to make our mark, and to matter.

We all have unique paths; some will be noticed, but most will be tucked away, hidden from view. This doesn’t mean that they matter less, far from it! The wheels need to turn, and whilst it might be the shiny alloy wheels that get noticed, it is the axle and the engine, the rubber tyres and an array of other mechanical items, not to mention the fuel, that actually makes the alloy sparkle. For without motion, would anyone truly be impressed with a set of wheels that doesn’t go?!

As February progresses, Pallas Athene enters Pisces on the 12th and Vesta enters Aries on the 25th. Both of these seem to intensify the need for taking charge of our lives and for becoming more self-aware and connected. As each of us becomes a fully integrated and self-aware part of the Whole, we can expect huge shifts both within and without. In some ways, this is a time of great uncertainty, but when we go within, there is calmness, strength and focus. Even when the seas get stormy, we need to remain calm and strong, and know that we are on the path towards bliss on all levels of our being.

The Full Moon is in Leo on the 7th at 21.54 GMT and the New Moon is in Pisces on the 21st at 22.35 GMT.

With love,

Sarah

Aries

There can be no denying that you are a colourful and creative soul with a pioneering spirit and a strong sense of adventure in life. This is your true nature, but it seems that recently you have lost touch with this and become a little consumed and pre-occupied by the treadmill of life. This has resulted in some of your zest and energy getting lost by keeping on keeping on, instead of keeping on doing it your own way! As February progresses, it seems that you will have the chance to re-connect to your zest and sparkle, and begin to re-assess your path in life. You have big ideas and special dreams, and it seems to be time to explore these once again to see how you can manifest them into being.

There are some decisions to make in connection to how you move your life forwards, but once you have re-connected to your true essence, these decisions seem to form natural conclusions and opportunities, rather than mountains to climb. You seem to be on the bridge between where you once were and where you would like to be, and whilst unfamiliar, there is a strong sense of excitement and anticipation at what lies ahead. The pioneer and adventurer in you are seeking an outlet, and it seems that pushing your boundaries and raising your expectations will enable you to embrace a brand new direction in life. Whilst this may be a subtle change initially, there is a strong sense that this will grow and re-shape your life for years to come…

Taurus

February looks set to inspire and empower you towards making some big decisions about your life and your path ahead. Knowing that you are the driving force behind change and transformation in your life has given you more strength and self-belief as well as the realisation that you can change your life and embrace your dreams. The key to all of this comes from how you think and how you act. You are strong and determined, and you need to use these gifts now to re-shape all aspects of your Self in order to focus on what you truly want from your life. Try to feel the power and the energy here, and know that every little bit of effort makes such a big difference!

As the weeks progress, there is a strong sense that you will grow increasingly self-aware and confident that you do have what it takes to succeed in life. At the same time, letting go of doubts will inspire you to connect to your true power and might (for it is formidable!); your power is not a weapon to wield, but it is a tool to work with to create a rich, life affirming and abundant life. Once you embrace the full flow of your power and essence, you look set to embrace a brand new way of living and being. This is a wonderful and positive time for you, and knowing that this is all within your own power to achieve makes it even more of a joyful time, for you are proving to yourself that you absolutely have ‘what it takes’…

Gemini

February looks set to begin on a slightly confusing note for you as on one hand you feel energised, vibrant and focused, but on the other you have self-doubt and a lack of belief bubbling away. This somewhat paradoxical situation would seem alien to anyone other than you, for you live a life of two halves. As a Gemini, you are constantly drawn between two forces in life. This draw makes you the thinker and philosopher, but it can also thwart your progress if one side becomes too dominant. It seems that the more restrained and constrained side of your nature has been winning the battle lately, and this has left you feeling rather out of sorts when it comes to knowing how to live your life. The good news is that February sees the freedom fighting creative soul re-emerge to conquer the doubt and to allow a stronger sense of direction, purpose and motivation to surface.

It is important to remain focused on the stillness within you during this time, for being centred will help you to embrace a new perspective as you let go of the self-doubter in you once and for all. These are exciting and life affirming times as you are on the brink of a new adventure and a new way of being. These have been a long time coming, but you can now look forward to savouring the true sweetness of bliss as you begin to walk a new path. It is time to let go of the past as the defining force in your life, and to become fully conscious in the precious present…

Cancer

There has been a strong theme of decision making in your life over recent weeks and months. You have been pondering whether to maintain the status quo or to step into the unknown in order to explore unchartered terrain. This has been frustrating at times, and it seems that you have grown a little weary of trying to find ‘the’ answer and perfect solution. Seeking out ‘the answer’ may give you some reassurance as to what to do next, but as no answer is guaranteed, is waiting for ‘the answer’ more of an avoidance strategy than a plan of action? Sometimes life isn’t black and white, and sometimes logic doesn’t always know best. You seem a little lost in the confusion, and this has left you lacking in energy, drive and focus.

The good news is that February looks set to re-ignite your drive and give you a stronger sense of purpose and direction in life, and this will help you to step back a little to regain your perspective. It seems that you have been looking so hard for ‘the answer’ that you have failed to notice other solutions that have been waving frantically in your general direction. As you re-connect to your sense of Self, you will begin to realise that whilst life is never guaranteed, you do have it within you to step towards your dreams. This seems to be a time of positive and lasting change for you, and it seems wise to make the most of this amazing opportunity to transform your life from where you are now to where you want to be…

Leo

The positive and empowering energy that has been all around you (and within you!) looks set to continue to flow in your life throughout February as you begin to work with your Self and your life in a determined and life affirming way. As you reclaim your true power, your priorities and your energy, it seems that you are beginning to realise that you have taken on a great deal of ‘stuff’ from those close to you. Whilst this is human nature, it seems that your capacity to carry ‘stuff’ is greater than most. Combine this with your admirable loyalty and sense of duty to others, and it is hard for you to say ‘No!’ This has resulted in you becoming clogged up with the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and ‘stuff’ that is not yours.

It seems that the more that you can connect with your Self, the easier it will become for you to draw boundaries in order to give yourself the space to re-connect to your own pathway in life. You may feel a sense of guilt at standing your ground, but on some level, you have been looking for an opportunity to re-address this imbalance, so it is important not to let your pride get in the way and stop you from embracing such an amazing opportunity to re-shape your life. This is not about cutting yourself off from others, but it is about re-balancing all those little nuances and tugs that have seen you feeling disconnected and detached from your own purpose. This is your time to re-affirm your own importance and to know that your life is in your hands…

Virgo

February looks set to be a month of renewed vim and vigour in your life as you roll up your sleeves and get stuck into a new venture or project. This seems more about self-development and personal evolution than it does about anything else, for you are on a pathway towards increasing self-awareness and self-knowing. Whilst you have a myriad of things you want to do and goals you want to achieve, and you may feel frustrated that you are not moving forwards as quickly as you would like, this project, whilst personal in focus, seems to re-shape your perspective in quite a radical way. It is as though your urgency to move forward has disconnected you to why you want to achieve your goals, and as a result, the goals have taken on their own power and momentum.

As you begin to ponder what is truly important for you in life, you are likely to see your path ahead in quite a different way. You are growing and evolving all the time, and nothing ever stays the same, including your goals. So before you groan at the thought of wasting your time going down pathways that do not now seem relevant, remember that everything happens in life for a reason. Every choice and decision you make shapes your life, and everything you learn, you carry with you, always. As you begin to re-assess and let go of some of those goals, your frustration begins to lift as you can begin to see how you can now begin to live your life with more joy in your heart and freedom in your soul…

Libra

Your depths are as magnificent as they are perplexing; there is so much to you that even you do not truly know the full extent of your power and gifts. There are times when you become lost in your depths, feeling overwhelmed and confused. Yet there are also times when you find such meaning from getting lost in those deep crevices within. In some ways you fear your depths, for you are a thinker and philosopher, and you need to understand yourself on all levels. Yet, without at least some level of unknown within you, what have you left to discover and learn? It seems that you have become strongly focused on finding all the answers to your life in order to live your life. Yet, unless you live your life, you will not get the opportunity to use those answers, for your potential will remain largely untapped and unused.

Waiting for the time when you know all you need to know makes sense, but a lot can be said for learning, growing and evolving as you go. Sometimes, you have to step into the unknown before you have all the answers, for it is the only way to move forwards and to break free from the inertia. February looks set to be one such time, and as you begin to realise the adventure and excitement of learning and growing as along the way, you look set to take a giant leap forwards in terms of your sense of Self and belief in all that you are. You are a wonderful, bright and talented soul, and the time has come to embrace this now and to live a rich, abundant and blissful life…

Scorpio

February looks set to continue the theme of self-learning and self-discovery that has been a strong focus in your life recently. It seems that that more you go within, the more you find out about your Self, your gifts and your true path in life. Whilst you have been keen to take some big steps ahead, this has been a time of inner soul-searching instead. Yet, this has allowed you to stop focusing so much on the end destination and has brought you much more into the present moment. Having goals and dreams is important, but it is usually the journey to these goals that proves the most valuable and insightful. You now seem to relax into this knowledge and begin to re-think your life in a more relaxed and less pressured way. Whilst you are not letting your dreams go, you are beginning to see that you do not have to ‘rush, rush, rush’ all of the time, you can, instead, amble and rather enjoy yourself in the process.

Throughout this time, you seem to be growing increasingly at One with yourself, and this is allowing you to let go of some of the more ‘material’ ambitions that have previously been important to you. Obviously having enough is important, but you seem to be yearning for inner abundance and inner prosperity now. Such a powerful shift is likely to have ramifications to those close to you, as well as to your path ahead, but you seem so connected now, and your intuition looks set to guide you forwards with confidence, courage and faith. These are special and wonderful times, and you seem to be very much a part of this now…

Sagittarius

You are an optimist, and you are a believer; you have the capacity to turn negatives into positives, dead-ends into new and exciting opportunities. You are a dream weaver and a change maker, and yet you can struggle so much to embrace the power of this to transform your life. Why? Well, it seems that whilst you have more optimism than most, this is clouded by a sense of doubt that your dreams are just too far out of your reach. The irony of this is that the more you believe it, the more power you give it and the more you make it a reality. As you step into February, there is a strong sense that this is your moment to break this cycle once and for all; and to change your belief to one that is life affirming and positive.

It is important not to become lost in the chaos and busy-ness of your life during this time, and instead try to step back a little in order to regain your focus and perspective. Keep your focus clear and well-defined, and try to avoid meandering down pathways of possibilities just for something to do! Whilst a lot can be said for exploring possibilities, you need to keep your attention on the task at hand! This looks set to be a pivotal time of your life, and a time, where if you can keep working on your self-belief, you can expect to leap across that irksome ‘gap’ from where you are now to where you want to be, to live the life that you know you absolutely deserve to live.

Capricorn

It seems that your quest to get your life ‘back on track’ looks set to begin with gusto in February. Whilst you have been keeping on keeping on with life, you have been aware that the zest and joy have been somewhat lacking, and this is what you are searching for now. In some ways, this is a journey within, for it is your perception of your life that matters most. It seems that you feel that your life should have ‘more’, but inwardly you seem to want less. The confusion is clear, but simple to explain, for less means a simpler but more rewarding life, and more means a busier and perhaps a less focused life.

On one level you cannot comprehend seeking out less, because more always makes sense. This is a conundrum that only you can solve, but it seems that this is time to let go of the feeling that life should be busy, full of challenges and things to do. It is possible to live a simpler life that has more meaning, depth and purpose and still provides you with all that you need. This revelation is not truly a revelation, for deep down you have known this all along, you have just become carried away with the ‘ought’s, ‘should’s’ and expectations of others and life, and felt obliged to do more. In some ways this is a challenging time for you, as there is a need to connect to what you truly want from your life. No one else has the answers, and no one can find your solution. This is your chance to contemplate and change the dimensions of your life, and to step forwards with courage, confidence and belief…

Aquarius

The theme of self-knowing looks set to continue throughout February as you let go of doubt, fear and indecision on so many levels of your life. You now seem to have stepped back and regained your perspective, and can see your life and the possibilities and pathways out there for you quite clearly. This is opening up a new dimension in your life and inspiring you to think outside of the box when it comes to carving out a new and individual path ahead.

You have many gifts and talents, and you are not easy to fit into a box or category when it comes to how to utilise all of these gifts into one cohesive Whole. Yet your path is not meant to be one of conforming to a conventional route; you are meant to explore rough terrain in order to find your own path towards true happiness and abundance in your life. Truly embracing and accepting this concept will allow you to let go of the layer of burden that you carry in order to do the ‘right’ things in life, and instead to focus on what is right for you. This is not about being selfish, but it is about honouring your Self.

Your life is yours, and whilst others travel with you, only you can know what is truly right for you. The time has come to know yourself, to love yourself and to embrace your life with a passion. It is easy to say that life is not a rehearsal and you should do what’s right for you, as life often doesn’t pan out this way, but this seems to be your chance to re-write the rule book of your life…

Pisces

February looks set to be a month of empowerment, inspiration, and positive flow for you. It seems that you are now fully connected to your power and sense of Self, and the more you embrace the freedom within by doing things that you love, the more you are creating freedom and space on other levels of your life. You are a complicated and complex soul, for you often appear to be lost in your own depths being carried along by the currents of life. Yet this is a mirage, for you steer the currents and you direct the flow! It has been easy to buy into this mirage though, for life can, and does, feel overwhelming and confusing. Yet, once you realise that this, on the whole, is of your choosing, everything changes!

This may sound like jesting or a rap on the knuckles, and it is neither, but it is a gentle reminder for you to celebrate your power and strength! You are an amazing and gifted soul, and taking control of the helm is scary, but don’t you owe it to yourself now to steer your ship towards your dreams and to know that you have it within you to achieve this by your own fair hands?

You are a magnificent and wonderful individual, and your power is immense. Now you can ‘own’ this, you can work with it to transform and re-shape your life in the most amazing and life enhancing ways. This is a brave new world for you, so take small steps, and let these naturally grow into leaps as you embrace the full wonder and joy of being you…

You are encouraged to share articles as long as copyright and contact information are always included. Thank you for your courtesy. Sarah-Jane Grace www.theplanetwhisperer.co.uk
Copyright © 2006-2012 Sarah-Jane Grace. All Rights Reserved

Hi Sandra

Hope you are doing well. Sorry I haven’t called you. I will phone you today. It has been so hectic with work, kids etc. I hope you are doing well. There was a feature on CBC news about the movie Pink Ribbons, Inc. It talks about how the “Run For the Cure” etc are all driven by corporations so that they can increase their corporate profits. Some of these corporations like car companies should not be promoting breast cancer cures since car exhausts release carcinogenic substances. One of the big corporations originally involved in the whole breast cancer cure movement was a pharmaceutical company which made pesticides which is a known carcinogen which can have an impact on breast cancer. They don’t talk about the fact that we don’t know yet exactly what causes breast cancer. The number of women getting this disease has increased dramatically. It is unclear how much of the money given to breast cancer organizations actually goes to finding a cure.

We need to take corporations out of the whole breast cancer movement and work towards creating a world where we have a cleaner, healthier environment with healthy food and inexpensive access to sports and other healthy exercise. Finding a cure for the millions of women who have had breast cancer should not be a “for profit” business. Thought you might be interested in this to maybe put on your website/blog if you want to.

Love you lots,

Lynn

I found this article in the National Post. It discusses the fact that your employees are not driven solely by the dollar and compensation. We are in a very competitive global market and to remain at the forefront you need a highly motivated and productive workforce.

Senior leaders can no longer rely on employees to work longer hours and accept compensation cuts without risking labour unrest, high turnover and reduced performance. Senior leaders need to begin to think creatively about ways to foster higher levels of employee engagement and commitment.

The ultra competitive market that has existed for decades was externally driven – as an employee you were pitted against your fellow employee and it was survival of the fittest. This has not brought the level of productivity that senior leaders thought it would – what it led to was burnout, manipulation and greed. It is known that socially people tend to compare themselves on their own accord. People compare themselves with their peers and this incites employees to work harder in order to be recognized or to maintain prestige.

What I do not like about this article is the message that it is giving to human resources and those in a position to hire. It concludes by encouraging companies to be more cognizant of peer comparison especially when designing compensation and measurement plans. “In order to motivate employees, firms may want to consider more uniform and standardized salary scales, combined with ancillary incentive programs and contests that exploit the positive effects of social comparison”.

Any company considering “exploiting” their staff, to me, is not worth working for. Engaging people to be their best and to pay for what value they bring back to the company is a much more valuable way to encourage people. This alone will entice people to do more and better work without the need to bring down their fellow workers.

I had a brief conversation about death yesterday prior to the shiva and viewing and we talked about how really death is a process that begins the day you are born. Despite knowing this many people fear death. I don’t want to die right now for I feel my work is just beginning in this world, however I also know that whatever will be will be. So knowing that we will all eventually die, it behoves me and yes I use that word, I shocks me how many people do not live their life to the fullest. When the day comes for us to die you will be ready for you will understand this process on a physical, mental and spiritual level. It is my belief that the soul lives on forever and it is only our body, the physical vessel we live in, that dies — from dust to dust.

So knowing this, why do we not embrace every day as a gift? The greatest gift we can give ourselves is to live in the present and embrace each day with the fullest amount of unconditional love and joy. The PRESENT. I just watched an interview which I posted on my daily dose, of an interview with Anthony Robbins and 108 year old Alice Herz Sommer, a survivor of the nazi concentration camps. This interview is remarkable as this woman shares her secret of longevity. She looks at the positive, even when there is “bad”, she loves life, and is so happy and positive. That does not mean that she has not experienced sadness, or disappointment, or frustration, or anger … I am sure that she has, however she does not let it rule her life. Interestingly she had a twin sister who was quite the opposite of her – a pessimist. I call them the yin and yang.

There is a lot going on in the world. We have a choice how we respond to the events – what is going on in Europe with the financial crisis in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, in the Middle East and the desire to bring down dictators that have been greedy and ruthless, in the US and their presidential debates, and so on.

The only thing that you can control is YOU and your choices in life. If you let the events of the world impact you to a point of negativity, anger, frustration, you will be allowing this type of energy to rule your life. I ask that you do not. Choose to live your life as though every day is a present. You can create the peace and joy in your life by being this way, walking your talk – smile at a stranger, open the door and hold it for someone that is struggling, say thank you when someone gives you a compliment or does something generous and nice for you.

I choose to live life each day as it comes in the present. This is not the easiest for I am a planner and in my “past days” a control freak. I have LEARNED that by letting go, trusting and being in my truth brings every thing that I need. That does not mean that I sit around and “wish” NO I am doing as well. I am writing a resource and tool book for the youth – the next leaders of our world. I am speaking to different people to guide me in this process. What I am not doing is setting out a plan so tight that there is no room for possibilities and for it to unfold as it is meant to.

Take these words, ponder them, see what resonates and then make it your own — do what feels right in your heart for you. There is no judgement for whatever you choose.

Have a wonderful weekend!

All of my love,

Sandra

Not only did she and her son survive the Nazi camps because of her extraordinary pianist playing, but she maintained a positive attitude even until this day. Every day is a present to her.

Here is her story:

Anthony Robbins interviews 108 year old Alice Herz Sommer, a survivor of a Nazi concentration

Jamie Golombek, wrote an article on this topic and suggested 3 tax resolutions to think about:

1. Get Yourself Organized
It is too late for this year, but you can start to get yourself organized for 2012 tax year. If you are someone who throws things into a corner, misplaces receipts and other important tax info, now is the time to set up a filing system. Keep it simple and one that YOU can understand. You can do this physically as well as on-line: creating specific folders that you can put all things related to your tax info ( for example, charitable donations receipts).

If you use your part of your home for business, be sure to keep records, either paper or electronic, of bills for cell and home phone, electricity, heating, mortgage % of sq. footage, maintenance, property taxes and home insurance. As well, as any other expenses that are directly related to your business.

If you day-trade your own portfolio, make sure you track all buy/sell trade confirmation slips so you can properly calculate both the adjusted cost base of your investments when you come to sell them and accurately report your proceeds of disposition.

2. Plan Charitable Giving in Advance

Consider setting up charitable-donation budget for 2012 so you can give in the most tax-effective way possible by donating appreciated stock (wouldn’t that be a good position to be in!!) or mutual funds directly to charities. Not only do you receive a tax receipt for the fair market value of the stock or funds donated, but you also eliminate any capital gains tax bill on the accrued gains.

An easy way to do this is to establish a donor-advised fund (DAF) through a public foundation and transfer the appreciated stock or mutual funds to the foundation at the beginning of the year. Then, as requests for donations come in during 2012, you can direct your DAF t write the cheques. You’ll get the tax break up-front and make the donation in the most tax-effective way possible by donating “in-kind” and eliminating a future capital gains tax liability.

3. Maximize Tax-Free/Deferred Savings

With a choice of 4 types of registered accounts to choose from, make sure that you are prioritizing the order of your tax-free or tax-deferred savings. You need to do what makes sense for your right now. Every person’s needs are different. The choice of 4 are the following:

RDSP – Registered Disability Savings Plan
RESP – Registered Education Savings Plan
TFSA – Tax-free Savings Account
RRSP – Registered Retirement Savings Plan

If you are saving for someone in the family who qualifies for the disability tax credit and is under 60 years of age, then the RDSP is the first priority. In Canada, not only can up to $200,000 of contributions grow tax-deferred, but the RDSP may be entitled to receive up to $3500 annually in Canada Disability Savings Grants (with a $70,000 lifetime maximum) and an additional $1000 annually in Canada Disability Savings Bonds (with a lifetime maximum of $20,000).

Next is to save for RESP or each minor child (under the age of 18) for post-secondary education. In Canada, by contributing at least $2500 for each child annually, you can take advantage of the 20% matching Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). If you have started a little late consider contributing $5000 per child per year and collect the annual maximum of $1000 CESG per child.

If you are not sure whether to save for your TFSA or RRSP, one advisor suggests that if you cannot do both than if you earn $53,000 or less, maximize your TFSA contribution first since you are in the lowest federal tax bracket and likely pay combined federal and provincial taxes at about 20%.

Chances are your marginal effective tax rate upon withdrawal will be higher, particularly if you have RRSP savings that, when withdrawn, could cause claw back of various income-tested government benefits and put you into a higher effective tax bracket.

For those outside of Canada, I suggest you sit down with a financial advisor and ask what tax savings and tax deferred programs are available to you that will benefit you when you file your taxes next year.

For this article, I want to focus on Canada rather than compare. What I find most amazing is how long it has taken our P.M. to do something about this. With nearly 98% of Canada made up of small-to-medium size businesses, the impact of red tape on these businesses has been paramount — just ask. All Stephen Harper had to do was ask. Any small business owner that I talk to says the same thing … “The paper work is killing us. There is duplication of rules and regulations in the municipal, provincial and federal requirements. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business estimates that regulation costs Canadian businesses more than $30 billion a year. Canadian business owners estimate regulatory costs could be reduced by about 25% – or $7.5 billion – without affecting legitimate health, safety and environmental regulatory objectives.

Thank goodness Stephen Harper is acting now. He created the Red Tape Reduction Committee to consult with small business owners across the country, collecting more than 2,300 examples of regulatory irritants. They complained about everything from bad customer service with Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) to capricious enforcement of questionable rules that threaten the existence of some businesses. What I find astounding is that the Harper government has been part of the actual problem – growing the government to the largest it has ever been. That in itself creates inefficiencies. So what to do??? Committees? Interviews? I guess it’s a good start. I say it is time to JUST DO IT. Cut the red tape so that we can begin to be competitive and innovative and creative in the Canadian market and the world at large!

The first paper came out, What Was Heard, and this paper did not hold anything back. This paper asked for accountability from the regulators and government; to change the culture in the government to one that is more customer-centered. Stephen Harper says he is prepared to act — it is time to put your money where you mouth is. We can learn something from B.C. – they have reduced their red tape by 42% over the last 10 years and its reforms are widely credited with a dramatic improvement in the province’s economy.

It is good to see movement toward change in a positive direction for small business!

The most frustrating thing for me in the SOPA/PIPA debate now winding down is how unnecessary the whole thing should have been. It occurred to me that we learned a lot about what sort of behaviors make for great leaders and careers. The short version: do the opposite.

When did we lose Congress? Not just in terms of losing our respect for just about everyone there (one of the least respected careers in the USA) but in the sense that they no longer even pretend to represent our interests or act as we would act if given the chance?

I’m not so much angry as saddened that it has come to this.

When planning your career, avoid these pitfalls, behaviors evidenced by many elected officials:

In all things, look for money first. Listen to people with money, respond to people with money, justify your actions around money. Worth noting that 47% of those in Congress (House and Senate) are millionaires–an even greater percentage than those that are lawyers.
Embrace the fact that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Aspire to run systems you don’t understand.
Compromise over the important issues, but dig in and fight forever over trivia.
Along those lines: focus obsessively on the short run. Even though you are virtually assured of re-election, define the long term as “before the next election.”
Take months off from your day job (with pay) to actively campaign for a better job.
Blame the system, the other side and your predecessors for the fact that you are not taking brave, independent action.
Avoid developing independent thought and analysis. Focus on parroting the work of lobbyists and the party line.
When given the choice between being on television or doing hard work, pick television.
When a difficult problem shows up, duck.
Try mightily to outlast passionate resistance by quietly ignoring it and waiting for it to go away.
I’m thrilled that reality has intruded and SOPA is derailed (for now). You probably know more about how the internet works than your senator does. Has he or she called you or asked your insight?

I’m disheartened that even when a linchpin shows up in Washington, she is quickly beaten into submission. Where are the lions, the Mr. Smith’s and the statesmen who would rather do the people’s business than business as usual? Sure, Congress has a marketing problem–largely because they have a problem with the decisions they make and the way that they make them.

At least they’ve left us a useful career guide about what not to do in the real world.

I disagreed. He then put it this way and said, “You are a mother of two boys, are you going to risk your life for that of someone else and potentially die and leave your kids motherless”? Of course this is a tough question and really unless you are in that predicament you do not know what you would do.

What I will say is that because we live in a world that lacks accountability and responsibility, we come across incidents like this too often. I did tell my financial planner that when you are hired for certain positions – flight crew, boat crew, fire fighters, police, surgeon, nurses and so on you know what you are signing up for. I have NEVER heard of any flight crew that “jumped ship” when their plane was in trouble/went down. These people are trained for this and this is one of the risks of flying. Same with a boat… all is good when the boat is sailing and the weather is good however if something were to happen these people need to be trained to deal with emergencies.

The amount of chaos the ensued was horrific. People did not know what to do, the captain was non-existent and no one carried forward a system to get these people, their patrons and staff, to safety. Again, we must learn from tragedy — The company that owns this ocean liner, Carnival, needs to take responsibility as well. It is up to them to make sure that their staff, from the captain down to the towel person, needs to be trained sufficiently so that IF there is an emergency, in which there was one, these people know what to do .. and do it calmly and in good order. They need to review their hiring practices. As well, the captain of the ship must under no circumstances be allowed to jump ship otherwise he/she will will be tried in a court of law for whatever crime happens – manslaughter, 2nd degree, etc.

The newest article today states an excuse from the captain that he fell from the boat when it tipped. No excuses. The entire incident was caused because of his EGO when he chose to go to close to shore and “show off”. He fell, SO, get back on that boat and take care of your people – guests and crew. I say this man needs to be held accountable and responsible. As well, the parent company, Carnival needs to revisit its hiring policies as well as its safety procedures.

There is another topic that arose that did catch my eye and my planner brought up. He said he found it interesting that the coast guard asked how many women and children were still on board that needed assistance. He asked me in this day and age is that appropriate? It is another tough topic. The issue is really that the traditional family does not exist anymore. You can be a lesbian or gay couple with children; you can be a single parent who adopted, and the list goes on. I do think that children, under no circumstances, must be considered amongst the first, along with disabled people and even older people. As for women being before men, I really don’t know how to answer that. If I was on that ship there is no way in hell that I would leave my children’s side. If I was on the ship with a friend or my boyfriend and we can help out as long as we were “safe” then I think I likely would help out as long as permitted.

There is no right or wrong — only opinions. Whether you agree or disagree, I do want to say that there is one person who must be held accountable for his choice to go to close to shore, jumping ship and abandoning his crew and guests, causing more chaos than was needed, and causing death — THE CAPTAIN.

We must demand more responsibility and accountability but like all things it begins with YOU, the individual. Children do what you do not what you say.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.. Lead by example.

All my love,

Sandra