Shanty Turnings exists in dedication to my "lifelong" best friend

Best friends are Angels with their wings hidden

Medical updates since this page was published

Shanty Turnings was founded and developed in response to a serious back injury and a best friend who never allows me to give up.

We’ll just call her Angel, since to me that is exactly what she is, and has always been to me.

I have several degenerative disks in multiple locations in my back and neck. The pain is excruciating most of the time. Therefore I am on lots of narcotics. My chosen job field was heavy machinery and manufacturing, both of which require a strong back and long hours. Neither of which I was able to perform. I was ready to just give up and give in.

First, she unknowingly showed me the opportunities of putting computers and helping people together.

Then she spent a tremendous amount of time teaching me to be thankful for what I do have. If I could sum up (albeit poorly) her teaching, it would sound like this.

“I’ve learned a few things about thankfulness over the past few years that have absolutely been a life-changing experience for me. When it comes to this subject. I meet two types of people in the world. There are those who are grumblers and complainers and there are those who are thankful and grateful. It is interesting to note that almost universally the person who is a complainer is much less happy than the thankful person. The odds are overwhelming that you can measure your degree of happiness in life by the type of person you are. Which will often translate into your degree of success and Spirtual inner peace.

Thankfulness is an important factor as it can affect so many different life areas. For instance, in studying thankfulness I’ve discovered this: (Read: she taught me this)

Thankfulness is the key that unlocks your depressive emotions. You cannot be both thankful and depressed at the same time. They are opposite emotions. You can be sad. hurt, or angered and still be thankful; but you can’t be depressed and still he thankful. While we can’t make the decision about many of the negative circumstances we encounter in life, we can decide to be thankful. Thankful for what we do have”

Try this random act of kindness from me to anyone you'd like.

Please, let me explain my thoughts and give you some practical ideas on thankfulness that may transform your life (as they have mine) and also be a tremendous and useful gift that you can pass along to others.

Thankfulness is an attribute that transcends circumstances, No matter what your circumstances. I believe there is reason to be thankful in them (even if you must look very deeply for a long time). Your circumstances may never change. but your attitude toward them can change-and this can make all the difference. You see, it really is a matter of perspective. . . .

Above the stove in a friends home is the modern proverb. “I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” We must face the fact that some of our experience may not be the best. But we can always be thankful for what we do have.

No matter what your family circumstances, you can find reasons to be thankful. As a tool, take a few minutes, grab a notebook and pen, and make a list of 25 things for which you or your family is grateful. When you focus on positive things in your life and give thanks for them. the load seems lighter. Make thankfulness a habit in your family and watch good things happen. . . .Even in bad circumstances.”

See, Angel had unknowingly taught me that while my back was a wreck and I could scarcely move, I had friends and family who could, and did help me (talk about a lesson in humility). It allowed them to show me their love for me in ways they never could have before, and I could see them in a light never before possible.

With this expression of love, we can begin to understand the depth of thankfulness that can transform our hearts. Yes, your family circumstances might he difficult. But because you have a Lord who cares for every aspect of your family life, you can be assured you’re not alone in your struggles.

The medical field placed me on morphine twice a day pending back surgery, lessening my chances of work even further. Again, I was ready to just give up and give in. What could I possibly do now? I have been tinkering with computers since they were resistors, vacuum tubes and diodes., so I knew a little about the hardware. The Navy and my job taught me how to program, integrate and design. Furthermore I have an intense need to help others in need.

So I started collecting web site addresses that the focus was on help, health, nutrition, relaxation., etc. But what was I to do with them?

Pass them along to people that they can help.

Every web page referred to on this site is an opportunity.

An opportunity to help yourself, someone you love, maybe someone you’ll never actually meet.

So to my Angel, Thank you for the courage to go on, the strength to endure, and for loving me when I was anything but lovable.

In it you will find links to business opportunities, health supplemants, relaxation techniques and nice vacation places, as well as just good preventative health articles.

So enjoy Shanty Turnings, learn, and even contribute if you wish.

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