Drinking and driving cost lives. According to Jerry Johnson,* the American Hospital a.s.sociation reports that half of all hospital admissions are alcohol-related and according to the National Safety Council's 1989 Accident Facts Edition, a person is injured in an alcohol-related crash every 60 seconds.

3. p.o.r.nography

p.o.r.nography is nothing short of dehumanizing women and children.

The consequences of p.o.r.nography are that it

dehumanizes women victimizes children destroys marriages encourages s.e.xual violence makes fun of ethical and moral values destroys individuals, families, and communities

A woman is raped in the United States every 46 seconds. (National Victim Center/crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, 1992). Eighty-six percent of rapists admit to regular use of p.o.r.nography, with 57 percent admitting imitation of p.o.r.nography scenes when committing s.e.x crimes (Dr. William Marshall, 1988).* *

25*It is sad to see how low some people will stoop to make a buck by making p.o.r.nography their business. What about the sick people who buy it?

* ''In his book It's Killing Our Kids, Word Publishing, p. xv.

** From the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, Annual Report, 1995.

4. Negative Movies and Television Programs

Today's kids are learning their att.i.tudes and values more from television and movies than from anywhere else. It is estimated that in the United States, by the time a youngster gets out of high school, he has watched more than 20,000 hours of television, witnessed 15,000 murders, and watched 100,000 alcohol-related commercials.*

They convey the message that drinking is fun, smoking is glamorous, and drugs are the "in" thing. No wonder the crime rate is so high!

Soap operas glamorize premarital and extramarital s.e.x. No wonder commitments are lacking in relationships and divorce rates are high. Impressionable viewers set their standards and benchmarks based on what they see and hear in the media. And no matter who it is, we are all impressionable to varying degrees.

5. Profanity

Using profanities show a lack of self-control and discipline.

6. Rock Music

The lyrics of some hit songs are obscene. We can be subconsciously influenced by the music we hear and the performance we watch.

Step 7: Learn to Like the Things That Need to be Done

Some things need to be done whether we like them or not; for example, mothers caring for their young. They may not be fun and games, and may even be painful. But if we learn to like the task, the impossible becomes possible.

Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

--St. Francis of a.s.sisi

Step 8: Start Your Day with a Positive

Read or listen to something positive first thing in the morning. After a good night's sleep we are relaxed and our subconscious is receptive. It sets the tone for the day, and puts us in the right frame of mind to make every day a positive day. In order to bring about change, we need to make a conscious effort Andre committed to make positive thoughts and behavior part of our lives. Practice having positive thoughts and behavior daily until they become a habit.

William James of Harvard University said, "If you are going to change your life, you need to start immediately and do it flamboyantly."

26*

* As mentioned in Jerry Johnson's book It's Killing Our Kids, p. xvi.

WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS.

The Winner is always part of the answer; The Loser is always part of the problem.

The Winner always has a program; The Loser always has an excuse.

The Winner says, "Let me do it for you"; The Loser says, "That is not my job."

The Winner sees an answer for every problem; The Loser sees a problem for every answer.

The Winner says, "It may be difficult but it is possible"; The Loser says, "It may be possible but it is too difficult."

When a Winner makes a mistake, he says, "I was wrong"; When a Loser makes a mistake, he says, "It wasn't my fault."

A Winner makes commitments; A Loser makes promises.

Winners have dreams; Losers have schemes.

Winners say, "I must do something"; Losers say, "Something must be done."

Winners are a part of the team; Losers are apart from the team.

Winners see the gain; Losers see the pain.

Winners see possibilities; Losers see problems.

Winners believe in win-win; Losers believe for them to win someone has to lose.

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