Robert Dembik's Rise Above It All Now FREE giveaway April 6 - 10

First, this book isn't just about the image on the front cover. Taken from a photograph I took at Niagara Falls, the image is a symbol of the hope and faith it takes to maintain a belief in one's abilities here on earth. It also delivers the message that "this too shall come to pass." This book is about perception, refusing to pass judgments, and releasing the God-given spirit that's in each of us. I believe that the image depicts Angelic mist rising above Niagara Falls—a divine inspiration.

Second, although this is my story, there's a deeper message contained within these pages: a message of profound peace and wonderment. The photo is a part of that story. I took it in December of 1997 with—believe it nor not—a Kodak throwaway camera! My "journalistic" mission when I went to the Falls was to complete the first draft of what you hold in your hands. The complete explanation of this true story is in the epilogue; therefore, you may want to read that portion first. The image is a part of my life story. Not only is it a great little picture, but the photo is also part of a series of photographs that tells a simple and honest story of its own. The angelic mist was discovered because of this book and the completion of this book was inspired by the angelic mist. Therefore, I believe that a profound message from the photo is that "someone or something will always have your back."

The image is separate yet attached to this work. And I think that's how we go through life sometimes—separate from God because of our physical nature in the "now moment" called reality. This higher power, or God, is our inner energy and source of spirit, and we're attached to this force all the time—every moment! The image is a symbol for this message: when all seems to be lost, when it looks like all else has failed, remember, you'll still be able to "rise above it all now." The message was clear to me—I have and will continue to rise above it all!

The last chapter, Hope, conveys this idea—don't give up hope. And as a student of faith and belief, who knows that the challenges before me shall all come to pass, I can attest that hope led me to cope with and conquer the obstacles in my life.
We all must strive to be in the moment. I was in the moment when I captured that image above Niagara Falls. The full discovery of that image can be yours at www.niagarafallsangel.com. There's always a part of us connected to God, and we serve Him by playing a role in this world. The act of serving God is the art of expressing joy in his might; it is embracing his wisdom and reaching out to grasp the comfort of his grace. By doing so, we will have peace—the peace of the knowing that we can rise above it all!
I welcome you, the reader, to this work of passion and compassion. I applaud you for taking the time to put yourself closer to a personal victory by opening your mind to the thoughts and concepts contained within these pages. With that said, I hope you enjoy my book!

PUTTING CLIENTS TOGETHER: Story Merchant Client Robert Dembik Interviewed by SM Client Diane Maroney For her IMAGINE PROJECT

Ordinary folks tell extraordinary tales

by  Mike Cejka

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Sometimes it's a good thing to pause and take stock in life's lessons.

This week the "Imagine Project" came to Buffalo to do just that. The soon-to-be-published book will highlight some ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

According to Dianne Maroney, book editor and nurse, "We realize everybody has a story and that there will be more compassion and less judgment and more kindness in the world. And just to make the world a little better place."

What sparked the idea was the emotional and physical toll that Maroney dealt with after giving birth to her three-and-a-half month premature daughter.

"I would tell people stories about their premature infants using the word "imagine." So, it was very impactful," Maroney said.

West Seneca native, Robert Dembik is among three from the area that will be featured in the book.

"My guardian angel was coming by," Dembik said. "A doctor saw the whole thing, started CPR on me immediately and it took a couple months to find out that the CPR the gentlemen was doing, was 25 minutes long. So anyone in the health industry knows that 25 minutes, you really shouldn't make it."

According to Tyler Kellogg from Watertown, who will also be profiled in the book, "I found myself depressed and overweight in my sophomore year of college. Instead of going on antidepressants, or down that road, I decided I'd live out of my car for a summer and just commit random acts of kindness for people."

The "Imagine Project" has an inspirational message for all of us:

"We all have challenges, big and small, and certainly some days are better than others. If you think in terms of having the mind set that this too will come to pass," Dembik said.

"Some us live out of a car and help people, some of us play bass guitar in a band, some of us work at a gas station, but it's all important whatever you do. Do it well and make this place a little better for the people who are around," added Kellogg.

Kellogg provided 115 acts of kindness over 65 days during his travels across the eastern United States. Everything from tarring a driveway and planting trees, to just listening to a widower reminisce about his wife.

Guest Post: STORY MERCHANT CLIENT ROBERT DEMBIK HAPPY IN BUFFALO

My View

http://www.buffalonews.com/

Life goes on with help of a caring community

Robert Dembik, a resident of West Seneca, is thankful to be living in Western New York.

By Robert Dembik



It will be another great year in Buffalo because in this locale, someone or something will always have your back.

Yes, it will be a great year in Buffalo because we live in one of the greatest cities in America. We live in an area that has some of the best weather in the country. And, of course, we live in a region where people tend to stick up for one another, look out for one another and have each other’s back. I know that last entry firsthand and all too well.

I had been traveling in late October to the Maryland/Washington,

D. C., area for a family christening. It was an early Sunday morning, one of those 6 a. m. flights that we all love so much. Our family was preparing to welcome

its first newborn in more than 30 years. There was a lot to be thankful for, right before the holiday season.

I had come to enjoy and embrace Buffalo Niagara International Airport’s coziness, and I was looking forward to this excursion. However, I don’t remember my trip to the airport, or even being there, because I had a “heart event” and almost met my maker. I collapsed just after making it through the security checkpoint.

If you live in Western New York, you know what happened next. The Buffalo Airport Fire Department and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department went into emergency mode. The first responders’ actions were magnificent!

As fate would have it, a local doctor was walking by and saw the whole thing. He immediately began CPR on me, which turned a life-threatening event into a lifesaving experience for me. The automatic external defibrillator was used with great success. I eventually made it to one of our great, local hospitals. The doctors cooled my body down to 90 degrees. Then the wait began. Maybe it wasn’t my time, after all.

For those of you who like to complain about the little stuff, or the big stuff, or any stuff we have to put up with in life, (myself included), I say, “complain not!” It’s a privilege to live in this realm of existence we call life, this great city we call Buffalo and this great country we call the United States of America.

The City of Good Neighbors? This is an understatement! We have a wonderful and unmatched spirit in this locale. The people in this region stand for something and mean something to each other, and I suggest the notion that we mean something to the rest of the world.

For those who like to whine that no one cares about them, or that they are always in a bad spot, or that their glass is always half full, or not full at all, I say: Remember that someone or something will always have your back in Buffalo.

That’s because the great spirit of Niagara Falls, or the spirit of Father Nelson Baker, or the spirit of someone or something you care deeply about, had my back on that fateful day. And it will always have yours, too. It’s another great new year in Buffalo, and I am thankful to be here.