Do I Smell Like Smoke

This question was asked of me one day by a patient before we began treatment. So I know her fairly well. She has participated in our medical missions and I consider her a friend, I’ll call her “L”.

When “L” asked the question, “Do I smell like smoke?”

I was confused because I knew she didn’t smoke. I just replied, “What do you mean?” with a puzzled tone to my voice.

She asked again, “Do I smell like smoke?”

All I could say was “No, what are you talking about?”

“Good”, she said, “Because I just came here right from a fire.”

I didn’t see that one coming!

Now I was shocked. “What happened?” I asked.

She was reluctant to speak to me about what she did and was really only interested in knowing whether she reeked of smoke. But because she asked such a strange question, I was compelled to find out why she asked it.

My persistence paid off and she gave up her story.

In fact, she was very humble and almost self-conscious while telling me the story. She said, “The morning news reported on an apartment fire and requested Spanish speaking volunteers to lend assistance. So I went down there to help out.”

She began to tell me that before leaving the house, she gathered up some supplies like water, clothing and other basics to take to the victims of the fire. She was sure that they would need those things since the news reported many families were displaced from their apartments.

Arriving at the scene, “L” put her Spanish speaking skills to use. She told the authorities about all the items she brought to aid the fire victims. Unbelievable as it may seem, she was told they couldn’t accept what she had brought. They had no one in charge to handle donations. Unwillingly to accept that answer, “L” found one of the victims and put her in charge of organizing the people and distributing the needed items to them. This turned out to be very successful.

“L’s” selfless act of giving comprised of two components—the giving of material goods and giving of herself through service.

“L” really didn’t see the enormity of her action; she down played it quite a bit. Not wanting to be recognized for her good deed.

She even said, “Anyone would do the same thing.” I pointed out to her that not just anyone would do that. Most people, the great majority, in fact, would watch the news, hear the request and go about their business. I illustrated my point by asking if any other translators showed up.

Her answer—“No”.

I said, “There are four million people in the city, so a large percentage of the population had to be watching the same news broadcast. Yet out of perhaps hundreds of thousands of people, maybe even a million or so, you were the only one to show up. And you took action beyond what was asked because you brought some very necessary supplies!”

“This is no small thing,” I said. “Don’t minimize its value and your worth! Not everyone would do it. Only one did it. But that one made quite an impact.”
Then she told me she felt that a good deed should be unpublicized.

I didn’t agree with her, citing these reasons. While I agree that shouting from the roof tops, “Look at me, look at what I just did!” is in bad taste, boastful and perhaps self-serving. Humbly talking about a need and filling it is quite different.

The intention is the difference.

“Do you think it takes away from giving if you tell some one about it?” she asked. I said, “I believe it helps to inspire others.”

Every giving action doesn’t have to be revealed. But some should. I also felt that by telling others it sheds light on a particular problem. It also nudges others to take action. Perhaps next time someone else will remember what she did and feel encouraged and strengthened to take action themselves.

Sometimes we need to read a story or hear how someone else participated in giving and serving which could enable us to believe that we, too, can do that! Perhaps it will inspire someone to look around their own family or neighborhood and spot a need that they can act on.

This is how relationships are built, goodwill is fostered, barriers fall and love is spread. The essence of our existence is to love one another.

To love a stranger can sometimes be difficult, to do this unconditionally, all the time takes effort, to do this only when it is convenient and under ideal circumstances takes little courage.

I told “L” that our work with the medical missions and helping Rudy build stoves for the Nahuatl people wouldn’t be possible if we kept it a secret. Throughout my office are photo albums, and pictures on the walls from each medical mission I’ve participated in.

Photos of beautiful children, the elderly, toothless people, people carrying bundles of wood, colonias and churches made of wooden shipping pallets and other discarded materials, photos of all our mission participants—dentists, nurses, medical doctors, translators, clergy, chiropractors, vision care, acupuncturists, massage, occupational and physical therapists and support people.

You can’t walk anywhere in my office without coming in contact with some reminder of a mission trip. I have pottery, blankets, walking sticks, and a host of different gifts given to me by people who I’ve served. I even have an extremely old wooden crutch hanging on the wall that a woman in Mexico gave to me after I treated her.

Why do I have all this? To be boastful? No! To draw attention to me? No! It serves several purposes.

For one, I enjoy the mission work totally. It is a passion for me. Some people like golf vacations or lying on the beach and then displaying photos of their trips.

The mission trips are my vacation. I love them. I enjoy looking at the photos. I enjoy the feelings they bring and the memories. Even the feelings of pain and discomfort about the hardships these people endure are important and welcomed.

It is also an “in my face” reminder of how fortunate, blessed, lucky—you pick the word, I and most people are. It is a reminder that at any moment, a tragedy could occur in my life and I could be one of those people. There really aren’t that many steps from having to not having.

These photos of wonderful people captured in their environment keep me humble, and keep me grounded in reality.

I also told “L” that because of the pictures, and the writing and speaking I do about the missions, people continually donate money. And many have been inspired to participate in the mission trips. In fact, our mission team in Sugar Land started because one of my patients inquired about the photos, and we created The Medical Missionaries of Divine Mercy.

(You can see more photos at http://www.missionsofhope.com)

My patients routinely deliver clothing, shoes, crutches, wheelchairs and toys to my office for me to bring on the mission trips. Soon I’ll have to build a bigger garage just to store it all! The photos, also, encourage people to do more and afford them an opportunity to be blessed by giving.

It allows them to “be” more. I have seen my patients find and fill a variety of needs in our own community because they were inspired by our photos and stories.
If we don’t see or hear—we don’t know. It’s important not to boast. But I believe it’s vital to tell the stories! It calls our attention to a need and screams to the universe—“Now who’s going to step up and help?”

I reminded “L” of the section in scripture which teaches; just as you wouldn’t hide a light under a bushel basket, you must allow your light to shine out for others to see your good deeds which glorifies God!

This is not ego talking, but simply showing by example. Being a good role model for others to follow even at the risk of making ourselves feel uncomfortable with the attention it may garnish.

This is why Joe and I wrote Give to Live, The Real Secret to Manifesting Life’s Rewards. And will continue to promote the timeless message of Give to Live—to stand for something more, to inspire and to motivate others. To fortify those that are “doing” and encourage others to join and revel in the experience!

“L” and I had a great conversation. She then opened up and told me about some other selfless acts she was performing quietly within the poorest areas of our community. Though I won’t tell you what those things are, I will say, she absolutely inspired me!! She truly has a giving heart.

I know “L” is making a huge difference in our world by spreading hope and love. She really lives the giving message and exemplifies the ideals set forth in my Affirmation of Service.

I choose to carry out my day as if it is my last.
I will give freely and unconditionally that which I can.
I will provide service to one or more persons
With or without their knowledge.
Thought coupled with action equals change, therefore,
As I think and act, I can and will create positive changes in my community and world.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve humanity today.

“L” is an inspiration to me and I believe I am to her as well as many others in my life. We inspire one another to reach within ourselves to find ways to improve the human condition and in the process, force our own growth.

A tool to help monitor one’s daily life of giving is the Acts of Service Journal.

It’s described in Give to Live, The Real Secret to Manifesting Life’s Rewards. Use it to keep a personal accounting of the goodwill services you provide. It is a nice way to stay grounded and periodically reflect on your daily life. I encourage you to get one and utilize it.

You can download a free Acts of Service journal at http://www.lulu.com/content/5526047)

Get a free digital Give to Live book at www.givetolivebook.com or purchase books at www.amazon.com or at http://www.lulu.com/content/5434310

With Love and Gratitude For All You Do, Known and Unknown,
Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S. Who you are, makes a huge difference…Thank you!

Blood Drive

Your blood is needed! Someone always wants something...right?

Please join us in saving some lives.

On Wednesday, September 30th, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will have a donor coach in the parking lot in front of my office.

Time: 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

330,000 to 340,0000--that's how many units of blood is needed to meet the demands of community per year.

1,000--that's the units of blood needed per day!

Help if you can.

To schedule an appointment, visit www.giveblood.org and login in to Digital Donor. Enter sponsor code S784 or contact Dafney Alvarez at(281) 499-4810.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, September 30th!


Barrett Chiropractic Clinic
2853 Dulles Avenue
Missouri City, Texas 77459

A Huge Blessing From Rudy

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Recently I was able to deliver $1000 more to Rudy to build ecological
stoves for the Nahuatl families. These funds are from donations by
people who have read about Rudy's work in our book,
Give to Live; The Real Secret to Manifesting Life's Rewards.

Those of you who have donated are making a huge impact on the lives
of the Nahuatl people.

One blessing of the internet is that we can stay in touch with Rudy on a
regular basis and continually update you on his work.

He sent me the following e-mail specifically to give his thanks to you.

I know you'll enjoy it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dear Friends,

Yes, the money got here. I went to the ATM this morning and withdrew
half of it. I shall do the rest tomorrow. I have already gone to the
hardware store and have paid for tin pipes, elbows and four bags of
cement.

Thank you very much for this help. Like I said yesterday, I will do four
stoves per village to start with, and later do the rest. I hope I can stretch this money and do 40 or 44 stoves. I will take pictures as it makes progress, and send you some so that you can show them to the people there. I know they want to know where their money goes and what is done with it.

The NAHUATL natives and I thank you very much for this great support. Without your aid, we would not be doing so well in stoves or anything else. It all takes pesos, and we do not have any.

Your help is much appreciated.

On behalf of all the NAHUATL families who have been benefitted with an ecological stove, through these years, I want to thank you so much for all your help and support.

You and your people have made a big difference in the lives of many
women and children.



Thanks to the generous contributions, you have made a pleasant change in our lives. I mention women and children because it is they who spend much time in the cooking area of their houses/huts. It is they who have to inhale the black smoke from the firewood.


It is they who get ear, nose, eyes, and throat infections.
They also get asthma and lung cancer.



Thank God there are still nice people in the USA and throughout the world who care and help those who are less fortunate. We hope (and pray) that all of you will continue helping us. We need you.

We pray to God to reward you plenty.

We need your helping hand, always.We have no other source of support.

Only you.

It is my pride to say that, as of this date, I have made over 1,400 stoves in four counties, for the last eight years. This means counties in our State, and also in our neighbor State of Hidalgo.

There are many NAHUATL families awaiting their turn to have stoves made. As you may remember, I have the will, the time and the vehicle to continue doing my work with the natives. But I do not have the money.

Please help me so that I can help them.



Right now, I have requests for about 600 stoves, in many villages. Word got out that I am making a stove that uses very little wood and the smoke is no longer in the cooking area. And now, many more people want one.



The NAHUATL love their women and their children very much, and if there is something that will improve their lives, they are willing to try it.

But they do not have the money to buy the material with. Neither do I. So, we all turn to you and to your good-will and generosity. And to your warm hearts.

Dear amigos, Tamazunchale alone has about 62,000 NAHUATL natives in 158 villages. The severe drought that we had this year made things much worse for all of us.

The natives just barely have enough pesos for black beans and corn. Minimum wages in this area is 80 pesos per day. That is about seven US dollars.

Thank God it has begun to rain now, but it is going to take a long timeto get back to normal.

Thanks again, for spreading the Give to Live message around the world.

Through this book, people who never knew about us and our great needs, have been graciously and generously sending money through my dear amigo, Dr. Richard Barrett to assist us all. Some of the money from the book sales also comes our way, and this is very helpful.

PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD, PLEASE HELP US BY BUYING THE BOOK.

(available at http://www.lulu.com/content/5434310)

We need all the help we can get.

I cannot thank everyone enough. All the faceless people throughout the world, are easing our suffering that we have had to carry on our backs for so many years.

We thought we would never find somebody who would look down upon us, analyze our needs and lend a helping hand. Such as Dr. Barrett.

Thank you, all of you.

Here is a NAHUATL thought for all of you to share:
TLASKAMATI MIAK. TU TOTIOTSI MU MITZ TIOCHIHUA.

Which means "Thank you very much. God bless you".
Greetings and best wishes to all of you, dear amigos.


Bye now,

Rudy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Rudy said, help is continually needed. By telling everyone you know via e-mail or regular mail or even phone calls about Give to Live, not only will the Nahuatl people benefit but the entire world.

We don't say this casually. Give to Live is making significant changes in the world. But we must keep sending out the message. Please get your friends and families on board to create the movement that will change them and others.

Tell them they, too, can have their own Give to Live e-book by signing up at www.givetolivebook.com. Once they sign up, they will receive a confirmation e-mail to confirm their subscription to Give to Live.Once they confirm, they will receive an e-mail with the link to download the Give to Live book.

Serving You,
Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S. If you would like to donate to the Stove Project please visit www.missionsofhope for more information. Thank you!

Honored by Toastmasters!

Last week, I spent a delightful evening with a group of people from the Sharpstown Toastmasters Club.

I was privileged to receive an invitation to deliver a talk about the book, Give to Live; The Real Secret to Manifesting Life's Rewards. Of course, I was happy to accept.

Toastmasters Clubs are international with a diverse membership. I fully support any group of people who are dedicated to self-improvement--and they are!

Sharpstown Toastmasters Club mission statement is very powerful! It states that they "provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth".

I was genuinely impressed by the caliber of people in attendance and the quality of their meeting. Loving to talk about a few of my passions made my speech easy to deliver.

I explained how Give to Live was born into existence and the messages revealed within. Remember, Give to Live reveals that an open heart and a willingness to serve not only changes you, but also the planet.

It teaches perhaps newly for some and reinforces for others, the importance of giving their time, money and resources to a power higher than themselves. Readers also learn that once they start giving unconditionally, they'll manifest and receive personal rewards they couldn't fathom prior to giving.

Another passion and one of the themes in Give to Live is the idea that serving is the highest form of giving one can express. I use my involvement in medical mission work to illustrate this in the book and spoke of it at Toastmasters. As well as speaking about my friend, Rudy, who builds special ecological healthy stoves for the Nahuatl indigenous of Mexico.

Rudy taught me to speak a few Nahuatl words. One phrase I shared with the group was Amu Xi Maj Mahue--don't be afraid!

While we've all likely felt the joy and experienced the rewards of helping another human being, I'm also sure there were plenty of other times when we've all stopped ourselves from giving.

Giving money, sharing a talent, or personally serving someone. Because of finances, prejudices, lack of time or just plain fear.

We create a belief that we feel serves us. A glass ceiling, a threshold of giving that we are unwilling to pass through.

In doing so, our own growth is stifled.

So we must find a way to break through this in order to receive abundance in life.

Amu Xi Mah Mahue. Do not be afraid.

Push through--find ways to give, to serve and create change in this world.

It was great fun for me to deliver those messages to the Toastmasters club.

I was quite surprised when at the end of the evening, they honored me with the "best speaker of the night" award.

It was an exciting night!

See every life fulfilled!

Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S. Please continue to send the Give to Live message. Tell everyone you know to get their free e-book at www.givetolivebook.com or books can be purchased at amazon.com with 20% of the proceeds going to charity.

Two weeks ago, I sent a message about "The Prayer Card". I am so pleased to have received a plethora of responses. Even from people who disagreed with me. After all, voicing our opinions is how we learn to see life through another's eyes, foster understanding and learn to live in harmony.

The ability to safely share information, support, criticism and opinions is a beautiful thing. I know I have grown from this interaction and am grateful for it.

Thanks again!

My sincerest wishes for health, happiness, freedom, peace and success in everyone's lives!

Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S. Remember this old epitaph:
What I gave, I have;
What I spent, I had;
What I kept, I lost.

My Prayer Was Rejected…And I Was Shocked!

I was attending a book signing with a few other authors at the One Woman Business Conference held at the Omni Hotel in Houston, Texas when the strangest thing happened.

Many years ago, I created a postcard with a prayer I wrote and a photo I had taken of a beautiful waterfall—the same prayer that appears in my book, Healed by Morning.
I have thousands of these prayer postcards that I have given out since 2000.

They are in my office; we give them to patients, when I give a speech I hand them out. In other words, I am very liberal with them. While at the conference, I had them at my table and when I walked around the hotel, I gave them to everyone I came in contact with—hundreds of people!

I always asked, “May I give you a prayer?”

Everyone was always excited and usually said, “Oh, yes, I love prayers.”

Everyone but one! He was a porter that helped me transport my books to the table.
I said to him, “I’d like to give you a gift.” As I stretched out my hand towards him, I said, “This is a prayer that I wrote.”

Immediately, he literally backed up, shook his hand in a negative way as to stop and oppose the gesture. And what he said absolutely shocked me…

He said, “I don’t want the prayer, I’m Muslim." He then continued with, “I pray five times a day.”

As he was saying this, he was attempting to walk away.

Though I couldn’t believe my ears, I walked towards him stretching out my hand.
I said, “That’s wonderful, this prayer is not about any one religion”. “I think you’ll like it but if it doesn’t resonate with you, pass it on.”

I then also gave him the Affirmation of Service postcard and explained the Give to Live book principle and our intention of helping everyone in all countries, of every faith.

He took the cards and went on his way. What he did with them I don’t know. This was the first time over all the years of handing out thousands of cards, that I encountered this.

I live and work in a very diverse community. My patients are Christians (of all types of denominations), Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. They are all loving, accepting good people who embrace their faiths, life and community.

I guess I was so shocked (even though he did accept the cards because I persevered), that I told several people about it that day.

Everyone was as amazed as I was and shared their thoughts on it with me. One person even said, “I guess the praying he does five times a day isn’t working!”

I suppose I have to agree.

For me, I’m honored and happy when someone gives me a prayer or says a prayer for me.
I want as much of this as I can get, from every source possible.

I wouldn’t tell someone, “Oh, don’t bother praying for me, you’re a Buddhist.”

How quickly this man reacted and seemed offended was, as I said—shocking. I don’t know what went through his mind or what life experiences he’s had to cause that reaction. My hope was that when he had a moment to think about it, and read the cards that he was enriched in some way.

And I hope that if they didn’t touch him, that he passed them on to another who might benefit.

Here is the Affirmation of Service and Prayer…

Enjoy, use them, and pass them on:

Affirmation of Service
I choose to carry out my day as if it is my last.
I will give freely and unconditionally that which I can.
I will provide service to one or more persons
With or without their knowledge.
Thought coupled with action equals change, therefore,
As I think and act,
I can and will create positive changes in my community and world.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve humanity today.

Prayer
Lord God, you are my Creator. I love you. I am party of you,
Therefore I cannot fail! I cannot fail, because you cannot fail! I am capable of everything,
Ultimate health, happiness and success.
Because I am part of you and you are completely capable, every good wish I have, I can have,
Because you wish it for me.
I will not linger in darkness and doubt because the Spirit of Your Light illuminates my way!
You are in me and I am one with you,
Together we can accomplish miracles.

We must all find ways to serve one another—to love and be loved.
Serving You,
Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S. Two movies you might enjoy are Emmanuel’s Gift and Kundun. http://movies.tvguide.com/kundun/132586
Remember that giving begins with you! Go and serve someone today! It's a great way to "Give to Live"!

P.P.S. Please remember we still need your help sending the Give to Live message around the world. Would you help us? Simply tell everyone you know that they can get their freee e-book at www.givetolivebook.com Tell ministers to have their congregation download it. Tell teachers to have their students download it; tell hospitals to get it for their patients; have hotels put it in the nightstand; tell Oprah! Tell Diane Sawyer!
Finally, an easier to read printed copy of our book can be had simply going to http://www.lulu.com/content/5434310 or at Amazon.com

(20% of the proceeds are donated to charities such as Rudy building stoves for the Nahuatl Indigenous. Donations for Rudy can also be sent to Dr. Rick Barrett.)

A Lesson In Receiving

I just relearned a valuable lesson. One I've known and also teach. I talk about it, lecture on it, and have even written about it in Give to Live; The Real Secret to Manifesting Life's Rewards. Yet, I still struggle with it personally. What is it? One word--RECEIVING. Receiving what? All kinds of things. Compliments,gifts, and help to name but a few.

What prompted this confession?

Well, I was given a beautiful gift. The gift I am about to tell you about may seem huge to some and to others rather small.

But let me caution you. As I've learned, there are no small or insignificant gifts! A gift is a reward. It is born of love, an expression of love, and love is
purely of God. So in spiritual terms, no gift is small. I see them all as equal, all a divine blessing. A tiny morsel of bread though physically small,can be a life saving morsel and huge in the life of the person who needs it. And it is huge in the gift of love of the universe.

The gift I received didn't save my life, but it certainly rejuvenated and enriched it. So in a way, since it added to the quality of my life, it may have contributed to the ultimate saving of my life.

To be honest, at first I struggled to accept this gift. What was it?

A completely paid vacation to a fabulous resort on the Mayan Riviera including airfare, food, beverages, and private transportation!

It was given to my wife and I by Jay--a patient of mine who owns a travel agency. Why? Because he values the work we do in the office, our community, charitable work and our years of medical mission service. He simply wanted to say "thank you" and reward us.

What a beautiful, loving and generous gift. One that should very easily be accepted. You would think! But for me it tripped a lot of circuit breakers within. I actually struggled internally with this. My first comments to Jay were "no". "I can't accept this", "you didn't need to do this", "it's not necessary".

Wow!

Did you get all that? Those are terrible things to say out loud or in self mind talk. What kind of message am I sending to myself? Perhaps I am not worthy? What was I saying to Jay in rejecting his gift? How would it affect his self worth? What was I telling God, the universe, the Divine? I think I was shouting loudly--Don't bother ever sending good things my way because I'll just cross my arms, reject it and send it right back to you!!

Oh, no! That's exactly the opposite of what I want. Of course, I want as many blessings, abundance, gifts, rewards, love, etc. that God can send to me.

It's said--ask and you shall receive.

But then when it shows up, don't reject it, like I started to do! This is not good. How many times a day, a month, a year, do each of us do this? We reject the very thing we want because it makes us uncomfortable, or we perceive it comes from a source we didn't expect.

Now if I had won the trip in a contest that would have been easy to accept. But this was different.

So immediately I had to put the brakes on, backup, erase the negative thoughts and accept Jay's gift. Though as you can tell, I didn't exactly swallow it with ease.

As hard as it was, I graciously accepted. I needed to...

I needed to honor rather than minimize or invalidate Jay's generosity, kindness and love.

Also...and this is important; I needed to allow Jay to experience the gift of giving and thereby give him the opportunity to receive his own rewards for doing it. Essentially this was a gift back to him from me, and critical for his personal growth.

Also, I needed to accept his gift to promote my own growth.

And I needed to tell God..."Whatever you send my way, I lovingly accept. I am open to abundance of every kind and as much of it as you're willing to send from whatever the source."

As I said, I've found it's easier to be on the giving end than the receiving end. But I will continue to work through my unreasonable discomfort in this area, and confront this head on. The more gifts I willingly receive, the better able I am to grow and give to others.

So now to make it real...I am writing publicly for all to see.

That I am willingly, graciously, and cheerfully accepting any and all gifts.

(Don't thing it wasn't hard to write this...it was.)

Now I want you to confront your blocks to receiving and allow abundance to flow to you and through you.

Wishing you every abundance in this life and the next.

Yours In Service,
Dr. Rick Barrett

P.S. Check out an audio clip from Joe and I at:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/nevada45/rickandjoeinterview.mp3

P.P.S. If you need help with a trip, consider Jay! Check out his website at
www.grandtravelcruise.com