“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.
Small people always do that, but the really great
make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

- Mark Twain
(30 Nov 1835 - 21 Apr 1910)

"Stand by Me" is the title of a song originally performed by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller, based on the spiritual "Lord Stand by Me,",^[1] plus two lines rooted in Psalms 46:2-3. There have been over 400 recorded versions of "Stand by Me", including versions by John Lennon, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, U2, and Elton John.

According to the documentary History of Rock 'n' Roll, Ben E. King had no intention of recording the song himself when he wrote it.^[2] King had written the song for The Drifters, who passed on the chance to record it. It was not until after the "Spanish Harlem" recording session that he had some studio time left over. The session's producers, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, asked if he had any more songs and King played "Stand by Me" on the piano for them. They liked it and called the studio musicians back in to record it.

Mike Stoller recalls it differently: "I remember arriving at our office as Jerry and Ben were working on lyrics for a new song. King had the beginnings of a melody that he was singing a capella. I went to the piano and worked up the harmonies, developing a bass pattern that became the signature of the song. Ben and Jerry quickly finished the lyrics…"^[3] The fact that arranger Stan Applebaum could not possibly have dashed off an entire string chart at the end of a session, much less copied and distributed all the parts, supports this less dramatic version of the events.

Either way, King's record went to #1 on the R&B charts^[4] and was a Top Ten hit on the U.S. charts twice—in its original release in 1961, when it peaked at #4, and a 1986 re-release coinciding with its use as the theme song for the movie of the same name following its appearance in the film, when it peaked at #9, and also in an advertisement for Levi Jeans. It also reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1987 after its re-release, mostly because of the jeans spot, originally reaching #27 on its first release.

The song was not released on an album until it had been out as a single for two years. After those two years the song appeared as track seven on King's Don't Play That Song album.

"Stand by Me" was ranked number 121 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1999, BMI named it as the fourth most-performed song of the 20th century, with about 7 million performances.^[5]

The song uses a version of the common chord progression now called the 50s progression, which have been called the "'Stand by Me' changes"^[6] after the song.

Jimmy Key ('57) AND    Randy Bearor ('64) of VA!

   Happy Birthday tomorrow to       Rip Collins ('65) of TN AND      Sandi Bateman Chestnut ('65) of VA!

   Happy Birthday this week to:

Hope this will help find Gene Stephenson. (___) ___-____. His address is _________________, ______, SC _____

Jerry Blanchard (Class of 62) of Va.

   WOWZERONI! Thank you so much, Jerry! Find Gene; find Ronnie.....

Carol,

I was successful in contacting    Gene Stephenson ('62 - of SC) ...obtained    Ronnie's ('64 of ??) phone and e-mail address. Thanks for your assistance. You are a valuable resource!

Gene

     I love a good success story - especially when it involves old friends reconnecting! Thanks for letting us know, Gene!

   WONDERFUL! Thank you so much, Sister Webby!

This month's Health Trends Newsletter is entitled "Do You Know"?  These are multiple choice questions depicting things we should know about health which may help us make correct choices.  Answering these questions and submitting the answers to us by email on or before Thursday, December 15th, will enable you to be eligible for a Free Christmas Health Gift which will be based on the most correct answers submitted.  In case of ties, the tie-breaker question will be used.  Please include with your answers your name, mailing address, zip code and phone number.  Correct answers and the winner of the contest will be announced in the January issue of "Health Trends".

Merry Christmas And A Happy New year! 

Yours in health,

Alvin & Jean Mizelle
healthtrends@embarqmail.com
252-264-2171
 

To help save the economy, the Government will announce next month that the  Immigration Department will start deporting seniors (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.

Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home.

I started to cry when I thought of you.

Then it dawned on me ... Oh, @#$% ... I'll see you on the bus!

     Thanks, Ruthie!

By Sharon Melnick, PhDDo you ever have the experience where you are worried what is going to happen in the future? It's not anything specific, or maybe it's many specific challenges that are all adding up. You might even know your anxiety is 'irrational' but that doesn't help!

Here are two approaches you can use to 'think positive' and get back into a state where you have ease and can concentrate.

Focus on the Moment

1. Focus on the specific physical feeling you are having in your body, not on your thoughts.
For example, say to yourself slowly, "I feel tension in my shoulders; I have a sinking feeling in my stomach." Don't focus on thoughts like, "What if I lose my job" or "I have so much to do". Before 7 seconds have passed, you will notice a shift in the feeling in your body and breathing will come easier. Keep doing this a few times until the feeling of anxiety has passed.

2. Focus on what you CAN control in the moment.
Your thoughts tend to run wild towards worst case scenarios and what you can't control. Try to pinpoint something specific you are worried about, and determine specifically what worries you about the situation. Ask yourself, "What can I do right now to have more control over the outcome of this situation?" Action replaces fear.

3. Train your body to get rid of fear.
Do this exercise: Bring together the tips of the thumb and index finger and bring your hands up so they are in front of your chest facing away from you. You will breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth. Each time you breathe out, forcefully push your hands away from you like you are pushing away something you don't want and blow out through your mouth. Then breathe in through your nose and bring your hands back towards your chest, with your elbows by your side. Do this exercise for 1-3 minutes and you will train your body to get rid of fear.

Take yourself out of the moment -- Sometimes overfocusing on the moment keeps you stressed. Instead:

4. Project yourself into the future.
Picture yourself in the distant future, when this particular moment is insignificant and you have worked out your current problems. This 'future' version of your self has more perspective on your overall life than you do right now -- ask it what the best way is to proceed in the current situation.

5. Use distraction.
Make the distraction productive: connect with other people, go outside in a natural environment that is soothing for your senses, do a breathing exercise, listen to music or a motivating talk. Don't just numb out with an unmemorable surfing session on the internet or putter around at your desk. Probably the best distraction you can do is to be grateful for the problems that you have. Though it sounds trite, there are many people in the world whose problems are much worse than yours. I immediately think of a child I support in Africa barely living with running water, or a man I often see in the subway station who has no arms. It immediately gives me renewed appreciation for all that I have and then energizes me to do something with it. This works for a lot of people and may work for you too!

Here's a link to a recording that previews the Success under Stress for Women program. We start the actual program next week so if you want to be more efficient at accomplishing work, have good concentration and energy all day long and sleep through the night, then don't miss getting on the train that's about to leave the station. Click here to find out more: http://getcontrolnow.com/

Here's to you being positive when you are anxious!


About the Author:

Dr. Sharon Melnick, the SelfGrowth.com Official Guide to Stress Management, is a business psychologist dedicated to helping talented and successful people "get out of their own way". Informed by 10 years of research at Harvard Medical School and trained in cutting edge stress resilience techniques, she is a leading authority in helping business professionals move to the next level and feel secure about themselves in insecure times.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/guide/sharonmelnick.html
http://www.horizonpointinc.com