She made me believe that Jesus must have been real. I had never really been quite sure until my three year old talked of him without ever having been taught of him. She seemed so self-assured and at peace with concept. She never spoke of God, just of her buddies and how they all loved to play together. She missed them dearly and yet she was never really alone. I would find her playing with Cracker and Michael in her room all of time. It was all very different from her brother who had an imaginary playmate for a short time. She didn't have to sit and think about it. She didn't giggle as she "played" at having conversations with them. She was at peace with fact that they were as real as her brother and me. Michael was her favorite and he was one who told her precognitive things on a frequent basis.

I wasn't surprised that a child of mine would have a "friend" named Michael who told her things about future. He was a member of our family until ladies at preschool told her that Michael wasn't real and she believed them. Once they convinced her that he wasn't real, she quit "seeing" him. At this point in time, she's not yet convinced herself that he's real and therefore still doesn't "see" or "hear" him anymore. A side effect they probably didn't consider when telling her that Michael was only make believe, is that she no longer "hears" or "sees" or "remembers" Jesus anymore either. By taking her best friend in spiritual world away from her, they also took Jesus away from her. It broke my heart to see her turn away from Michael.

Now that she's older, she's a little bitter about it all. She wants to reconnect with Michael, Cracker, and Jesus, but she just doesn't believe in it all anymore. I tell her that someday, when she's ready, they'll come back to her. They're still here. She hopes I'm right. She's always seemed a bit unsure of herself since losing that deep and amazing spiritual connection with them. She is still a caretaker by nature, but her soul doesn't seem quite so old and wise anymore. She may not remember, but I hold memories for her. The one thing I've learned about guardian angels is that they always look over us whether we believe in them or not.

Copyright 2003, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

#2. A student would exclaim to class that he/she has a “problem.” Pay a buck! for word “problem.” Replace “problem” with “challenge.” A negative connotation is attached to word “problem”, while “challenge” has a positive connotation. This is a much better use of our vocabulary and demonstrates a higher level of communication and expression.

#3. A student walks into training class and registers a “complaint.” Complainers suffer consequences and Pay a buck! They are asked to replace complaint with a request. This obliges student to abandon downward spiral of negative communication and make a specific request of what they want (or see improved).

#4. During middle of a role play, student makes a mistake and immediately justifies his/her actions or attempts to lay blame on another. They must Pay a buck! for justification or laying blame. The proper action would be to accept responsibility and move on.

#5. During any communication, a student uses any foul language. Pay a buck!

Other guidelines: •Make sure that all participants agree, in advance, to participate in Say What? Pay A Buck! program.

•Some of my clients may feel that Say What? Pay A Buck! program might be a little too much for their group. (This rarely happens). If this is case, take it in a different direction. Purchase Monopoly money or funny money for your group and initiate program. Distribute ten “bucks” in $1 bills to each person at beginning of your training or event. It will be very useful in watching Buck Bucket increase in size by hour. Remember, more bucks paid, more significant increase in awareness.

You can purchase inexpensive phony $1 bills from: Creative Presentation Resources, Inc 1.800.308.0399 www.presentationresources.net

•Utilize an on-site Gratitude Board or Acknowledgment Board for verbal rewards. A simple flip chart would suffice for this and post results on wall of training room.

•If you’re not using funny money, your “bucks” can also be used for: Student drawing – one winner for training class Training class party – have pizza and drinks delivered to class Quarterly party for all participants & their spouse/partners

•My personal preference for donating “bucks” is to this wonderful charitable organization: Angel Flight South Central http://www.angelflightsc.org

What is Angel Flight? If you or someone you know needs non-emergency transportation to medical treatment but cannot afford it, or if they cannot fly on public transportation for health reasons, or if public transportation is not readily available in your area, contact AFSC Office for information about Angel Flight and it's ability to assist. It is their goal that no one forgo treatment because of cost or inaccessibility to their required healthcare facility.

•Watch out for class “Buck Cop.” This person is usually a participant that is more concerned with “catching” a violator than paying attention to training curriculum and content. Each class has one, so make sure they stay focused on task at hand and do not disturb training.

Say What? Pay A Buck! can be easily implemented into mainstream of any company or corporation. It can be a regular method of operation, something new and different that most will embrace. Remember, many corporations are void of personal development – they’re spending all of their time on professional development. The Say What? Pay a Buck! program touches both sides of a person’s development.

The subconscious is a very powerful tool that our clients, family and friends carry as well as ourselves. Take to heart information shared throughout Say What? Pay A Buck! program. Rid yourself of foul language. Be sensitive to what you say and how you say it. Keep your awareness at a heightened level until superior vocabulary becomes a habit and a mainstay of who you are and what you represent. Say What? Pay A Buck! is an inspiring blueprint for what we can all do to rediscover values that our teachers and parents have taught us since we were children – communicate with utmost of professionalism and vocabulary with our friends, family, neighbors and clients. This type of practice places you on less crowded path; you separate yourself from masses and all whom you communicate with will see distinction between you. . .and rest of world.