Dare to aim high

"Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly."

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

 

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8 steps to boost happiness

Word Alive, MB Fr. Bel San Luis, S V D
8 steps to boost happiness      IN her article published in the February 28, 2005 issue of Time magazine, University of California psychologist Sonja Lybomirsky cites the following practical suggestions on how to lift your level of happiness: * * * 1. Count your blessings. One way to do this is with a "gratitude journal" in which you write down three to five things for which you are thankfulfrom the mundane (your peonies are in bloom) to the magnificent (a child’s first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night. Keep it fresh by varying your entries as much as possible. * * * 2. Practice acts of kindness. These should be both random (let that harried mom go ahead of you in the check-out line) and systematic (bring Sunday supper to an elderly neighbor, visiting a sick friend). Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers, triggers a cascade of positive effects – it makes you feel generous and capable, gives you a greater sense of connection with others and wins you smiles, approval and reciprocated kindness – all happiness boosters. * * * 3. Savor life’s joys. Pay close attention to momentary pleasures and wonders. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the shade. Some psychologists suggest taking "mental photographs" of pleasurable moments to review in less happy times. 4. Thank a mentor. If there’s someone whom you owe a debt of gratitude for guiding you at one of life’s crossroads, don’t wait to express your appreciation-in detail and, if possible, in person, To turbo charge your joy, Seligman says, is to make a "gratitude visit." That means writing a testimonial thanking a teacher, pastor or grandparent – anyone to whom you owe a debt of gratitude – and then visiting that person to read him or her the letter of appreciation. * * * 5. Learn to forgive. Let go of anger and resentment by writing a letter of forgiveness to a person who has hurt or wronged you. Inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving bolsters positive feelings about your past and gives you peace of mind. 6. Invest time and energy in friends and family. Where you live, how much money you make, your job title and even your health have surprisingly small effects on your satisfaction with life. The biggest factor appears to be strong personal relationships. * * * 7. Take care of your body. Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practiced regularly, they can help make your daily life more satisfying. 8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships. There is no avoiding hard times. Religious faith has been shown to help people cope and genuinely lifts the spirit, but so do the secular beliefs enshrined in axioms like "This too shall pass" and "That which doesn’t kill me makes me stronger." The trick is that you have to believe them. * * * After working in the field for 25 years, Veenhoven has concluded that happiness is "how much you like the life you are living. People can live in paradise and still be unhappy because they screw up everything in their lives." * * * THE LIGHTER SIDE. A shapely young lady was leaving a charismatic meeting one evening when she slipped and fell, landing in a most embarrassing position with her skirt around her waist. To save her confusion, the priest shouted out, "Anyone who does not avert his eyes will be struck blind!" One old fellow turned to his friend and muttered, "I think I’ll risk one eye!"

 

 

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An Original Volunteer is the new SBMA Administrator

Volunteers are all-out in support of the President's appointment of the new SBMA Administrator Armand Areza who will replace Freddie Antonio who resigned in order to transfer to Philippine Monetary Board.  Areza is one of the 8,000 original Subic Volunteers who have shown his dedication to ensure the success of Subic.

 

The resignation of Licuanan with some quarter's insinuation that Gordon (who is known to be close to Areza) will gain control over Subic Freeport is baseless and unfair, according to Balikatan Ladies.  It is only proper for the President to appoint to a position somebody who really cares and is knowledgable of the institution.

 

Olongapo residents supports the President's appointment of Areza and is grateful in her recognition and appreciation  of the volunteers' sacrifices.

 

http://subicbaynews.blogspot.com/

 

Visit SubicBay, Philippines website for latest developments in Subic Bay and Olongapo City

---

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

DECISIONS:

The decision
to be happy
is actually
the decision
to stop
being unhappy.

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MY BLOG MAIL ADDRESS

SAVE SPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN UPLOADING WITH PICTURE, YOU CAN COPY PASTE A PICTURE IN THE WEB FOR IT TO APPER IN THE BLOG

---

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

Its recommended DAILY

"People often say that motivation doesn't last.
Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
~Zig Ziglar

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The Power of Gratitude

by Michael Licenblat B.Sc. (Psych), Resilience Expert.


What you focus on is what you feel.


In the same sense...
* When you focus on the negative aspects of other people, they tend to bother you more often.
* When you focus on the negative aspects of your business/work, you tend to feel more uptight, annoyed or stressed.


It is not that people, work or life bothers us.

Rather, it is the negative aspects of people, work or life that we focus on that tend to bother us.

Becoming resilient to pressure is a choice.
How fast you bounce back from stress, pressure and burnout is a choice.


> Question: So, how do you choose to be resilient?

> Answer: By practicing gratitude


Dr. Michael McCollough and Dr. Robert Emmons say their initial scientificstudy indicates that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being.



They conducted the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving.
The study required several hundred people in three different groups to keep daily diaries.
The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day,while the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.



The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy.
Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals.
According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to
feel loved.
Gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.


In an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events.


So, the next time you start feeling overwhelmed by your workload, business crises, or relationship dramas, realise that you been infected by the illness known as 'accidental negative focus syndrome'.



Don't worry, the remedy is quick to apply and it is fast working :)




Action Steps:



1. Frequency of gratitude.


Make gratitude a daily practice.



Native Americans teach their children to wake up being thankful for each new day.

"be grateful you woke up that morning because thousands of people around the world, didn't!!)



Before getting out of bed each morning (or whilst in the shower), take just 30 seconds to recount 5 things that you are grateful for in your life.



It may be
* what is going right in your life
* the little things that add joy to you life
* the aspects of yourself that you enjoy and value
* the things in your life that you have accomplished - personal, physical and professional





2. Small gratitude

Start with small aspects of your life to focus your gratitude on.



If you eat cereal for breakfast, be grateful for having fresh milk in your fridge - which you didn't have to go out and milk the cow yourself for. Try being grateful for traffic - which means that you have a car. Try being grateful for bumping into rude people - which reminds you of how fortunate you are to have the type of friends you have.



Pracice an "Attitude of Grattitude" and you'll be amazed what a Difference
it'll Make!

Either I will find a way, or I will make one.

-- Sir Philip Sidney, 1554-1586, English Poet/Courtier/Soldier

A politician thinks of the next election - a statesman, of the next generation.

- James Freeman Clarke

Success, R W Emerson

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

THE THREE KINDS OF RISKS

A wise person takes the risks that are more than compensated by the likelihood of succeeding and how rich the reward. An ordinary person that takes a risk tends to focus only on the size of the reward. A fool ignores both and focuses only on personal fears and desires regardless of how unlikely the success or small the reward.

Want What I Need

If I can't have what I want, let me want what I have.

HEROIC LEADERSHIP

"Heroism lies in the nobility of committing to a way
of life that focuses on goals that are greater than
oneself." - Chris Lowney, HEROIC LEADERSHIP

The Six Pillars of Character

The Six Pillars of Character


Trustworthiness
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends and country

Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements

Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices

Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly

Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment


Six Pillar Mnemonics

To help young people remember the Pillars, some educators employ these creative devices.

Color Scheme
Each of the Six Pillars is associated with a certain color.

Trustworthiness: Blue — like "True Blue"
Respect: Yellow or Gold — like the Golden Rule
Responsibility: Green — as in being responsible for a garden or finances; or as in being solid and reliable like an oak
Fairness: Orange — like dividing an orange into equal sections to share fairly with friends
Caring: Red — like a heart
Citizenship: Purple — as in the regal purple representing the state

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

TRRFCC
Use this acronym to help you remember that people with good character are terrific:
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship

RULES ABOUT TRUST

I've talked about it lots of times before: The high cost of lying and deception by politicians and police, corporate executives and clergy, and even journalists, accountants and educators has weakened every major social institution.

As each of these institutions wages its separate battle to remove the cloud of suspicion and cynicism that hovers over it, there are certain truths about trust that must be understood and dealt with.

First, there is no shortcut to building trust. In fact, rebuilding trust on the rubble of lost credibility is much harder. The antidote is nothing less than scrupulous and consistent honesty -- especially when the truth is costly.

Second, where trust is important, there are no little lies. In some ways lies, however small they seem, are like germs. Without the antibody of trust they cause infections that can kill credibility.

Third, the lethal quality of lies lasts long after the lie is told. And even lies told years ago have an immediate poisonous effect on trust when they are discovered. Think of all the prominent people who have been undone by the discovery of falsehoods on old resumes.

Fourth, while honesty and forthrightness don't always seem to pay, dishonesty and concealment always cost. It's true that in some settings nothing good may come of admitting wrongdoing, but it gets a lot worse when you don't.

Fifth, lies breed other lies. It's harder to tell just one lie than to have just one potato chip. Once you start lying, it takes an ever-growing bodyguard of new lies to protect the old ones.

Finally, don't be seduced by the "fight fire with fire" excuse or all you'll end up with is the ashes of your integrity. Self-justifications aside, you can't lie to a liar or cheat a cheater without becoming a liar and a cheater.

TRUST MUST BE EARNED AND PROTECTED

Every organization I work with talks freely and frequently about the importance of trust as a crucial business asset. No one seems to doubt how important trust is to business or personal relationships, and everyone seems equally aware of the tremendous costs of distrust.

Yet despite enlightened rhetoric about trust, many people in business regularly engage in conduct that undermines trust and damages credibility.

It's really quite simple: To be trusted one has to be perceived as being trustworthy. That means being scrupulously honest even on little things, and especially when one may have to pay a high price. Trustworthiness is a lot more than telling the literal truth. It requires conveying the truth. Deception through clever wording or half-truths is essentially dishonest.

Individuals and companies that really care about building and retaining trust don't rely on legalistic loopholes or take refuge in the idea that "you never asked." People worthy of our trust are forthright and candid as well as truthful. They tell us what they know we want to know, even if it's not in their self-interest. Thus, being trustworthy involves a complex trio of concepts: truthfulness, nondeception and candor, all aspects of honesty.

But it also requires integrity, promise-keeping and loyalty. We trust people who put principles above profit and who have the courage of their convictions. We don't trust those who look for and find exceptions and special circumstances justifying dishonesty.

Trust isn't attained by wishing and wanting. It must be earned by actions. And even after it's been earned, it must be continually protected. Remember, even a little lie can raise the question: "What else have you lied to me about?"

"Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can."

-- Richard Bach

Seeing opportunity

The stupid sees difficulty in every opportunity;
the intelligent sees opportunity in every difficulty.

--Nahsti

S T A R T O V E R

When you've trusted Jesus and walked his way
When you've felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way,
start over.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry
When you've tried your best and there's no more try
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
start over.

When you've told your friends what you plan to do
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through
And now you're all alone and it's up to you,
start over.

When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone
When you've done your best but it's turned out wrong
And now your grandchildren have come along,
start over.

When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill,
start over.

When you think you're finished and want to quit
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
start over.

When the year has been long and successes few
When December comes and you're feeling blue
God gives a January just for you,
start over.

Starting over means "Victories Won"
Starting over means "A Race Well Run"
Starting over means "The Lords' Will Done"
We need not just sit there ... START OVER.

When we're in a crisis situation, it's easy for us to panic. We can
believe that our situation is horrible, terrible, or any number of
other hopeless adjectives. If there's no hope, then we can easily
give up.

Sometimes we can change things to eliminate or at least decrease the
severity of our crisis. We might make a commitment to work on our
marriage. We might seek help for our drinking problem or other
addiction. We can seek treatment for a disease and trust in our
doctor. We might become part of a support group made up of those
with a similar problem. We might share our experience, strength and
hope with others in similar situations.

The first step in dealing with a crisis is knowing that others have
faced similar situations in the past. We can rely on their
experience. We can begin to break the problem down into parts. We
can begin to accept the things we cannot change. We can begin to
busy ourselves with the things we can.

"Slow Down Therapy"

1. Slow down; God is still in heaven. You are not responsible for doing it all yourself right now.

2. Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. Rest there. Each moment has richness that takes a lifetime to savor.

3. Set your own pace. When someone is pushing you, it's OK to tell them they're pushing.

4. Take nothing for granted: watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow.

5. Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed.

6. Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn, or possess. God's gifts just are; be grateful and their purpose will be clear.

7. When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.

8. Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried little person inside you.

9. Create a place in your home...at your work...in your heart...where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it.

10. Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.

11. Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't measured by words.

12. Give yourself permission to be late sometimes. Life is for living, not scheduling.

13. Take time just to think. Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull.

14. Make time for play - the things you like to do. Whatever your age, your inner child needs re-creation.

15. Listen to the words you speak, especially in prayer.

16. Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders. There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front again.

17. Divide big jobs into little jobs. If God took six days to create the universe, can you hope to do any better?

18. Take time to read the Bible and inspiring words. Thoughtful reading is enriching reading.

19. Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency. The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first.

20. Take a day off alone; make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one.

21. Pet a furry friend. You will give and get the gift of now.

22. Work with your hands. It frees the mind.

23. Once in a while, turn down the lights, the volume, the throttle, the invitations. Less really can be more.

24. Let go. Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do - but often it is the best.

25. Take a walk - but don't go anywhere. If you walk just to get somewhere, you sacrifice the walking.

26. Count your friends. If you have one, you are lucky. If you have more, you are blessed. Bless them in return.

27. Count your blessings - one at a time and slowly.

The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement.

--Charles Schwab


"Before I Went To Bed Tonight"

Before I went to bed tonight I just had to let you know,
I truly do appreciate the kindness that you show.
Before I went to bed tonight I thought that you should hear,
that every time we chat or write, I hold each second dear.

Before I went to bed tonight I had you on my mind.
I thought of things you've done or said, things from a heart so kind.
I hope this letter makes you happy, if only for a while,
but I'd gladly write a million, if it would make you smile.

I know this may sound silly, like perhaps I've lost my head,
but I just had to let you know these things, before I went to bed.

Today has shown us that you never know what might happen tomorrow.
So send this to everyone special in your life because you really don't know if tomorrow will even come!

Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman.

"Quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13).

"Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks
equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing
of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle." Phillips
Brooks.

We must remember that it is not in any easy or self-indulgent life that
Christ will lead us to greatness. The easy life leads not upward, but
downward. Heaven always is above us, and we must ever be looking up toward
it. These are some people who always avoid things that are costly, that
require self-denial, or self-restraint and sacrifice, but toil and hardship
show us the only way to nobleness. Greatness comes not by having a mossy
path made for you through the meadow, but by being sent to hew out a
roadway by your own hands. Are you going to reach the mountain splendors?
--Selected.

Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift.

Be strong!
Say not the days are evil--Who's to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesece--O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, In God's name.

Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long,
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
--Maltbie D. Babcock

2 Chronicles 7:14-15

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

Don't Let People Get You down

No matter where you go, there will always be two groups of people:
One who likes you and one who does not. Be encouraged by the ones who do and pray for the ones who don't.

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."

--Thomas Jefferson, US President


To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows.
-- Jean Anouilh



There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.

-- Katharine Butler Hathaway

"Because I took a moment to speak
And you took a second to smile
A tiny part of me will leave with you
And a little bit of you will stay."

-- Jevan


"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be,
and you help them to become what they are capable of
being."

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,
yet we forget that HE is someone today."
-- Stacia Tauscher

"If you worried about falling off the bike, you'd néver get on."

-Lance Armstrong
7 times Tour de France Champion

There are a million and one reasons for not reaching for your goals.

If you focus on all the ways you can possibly fail, you'll néver get started, and you'll néver keep going.

Besides, if you do happen to fall, you just pick yourself up, stick a band aid on and keep going!

"Real courage is moving forward when the outcome is uncertain."

-Michael Angier

Imagine if you waited until you were 100% sure about the outcome before you started anything.

You would spend a lot of time waiting to begin, wouldn't you?

Action Point
The outcome is never truly certain.

Start anyway.

There are always obstacles along the road.

Keep going anyway.

Move forward despite the fear.

That's the secret to life!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

(by Debbie Preuss)

Lord, help me make a difference
In someone's life today.
May I always be alert
As I go on my way.
May I reach out in love
To point the way to you;
Showing Your direction
When this life is like a zoo.
May fear never be a reason
For me to shrink away.
May I always feel free
To say "come on let's pray."
May I be a beacon
Shining brightly in the night;
Radiating joy and mercy,
Shining forth Your light.
May I always be alert
As I go on my way.
Lord, help me make a difference
In someone's life today.

"Someone Had A Dream"

The car you drive was designed and built because someone had a dream.

The highway on which you travel is there because someone had a dream.

The telephone you talk on and the worldwide network to which it is connected, was constructed because someone had a dream.

Achievement begins with a dream.

Yet there are many, many dreams which wither and die without ever coming to pass.

We will never know the benefits which they could have brought.

Great accomplishments come about not only because someone dreamed of them, but also because someone believed in the dream enough to walk the long, hard road of making that dream a reality.

It takes a dream.

And then it takes more than a dream.

What is yours? And what are you doing about it?

Stop and think for a moment about all the great things that have ever been achieved.

Someone had a dream. Someone just like you.

The world is filled with possibilities today.

Take your pick, and then make it happen.

--Ralph Marston

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to what happens to you.

Always do your best, and forget the rest. When things go wrong, just remember this to shall pass.

 

why is it my responsibility to save the world?

ans: i don't know, but it was you to whom God gave the talent!


Freedom isn't free . . .
success isn't given in a silver platter


what is your reason to believe?
sometimes. . . believing is all we have


the Noah's principle:
No reward to those who can predict rains or floods, but to those who can build the ark.

"Hand On My Shoulder"

Once a friend of mine was getting off a train in the Cleveland Terminal, and a young man got off in front of him, carrying a suitcase in one hand and a cane in the other.

The man walked awkwardly as he felt his way with the cane. "May I help you carry your suitcase?" my friend asked.

"No, thanks, I don't need any help with the suitcase," came the reply.

"But if you wish, you may guide me up these stairs so I won't run into anyone. I am blind and I have a new set of artificial legs. But I've got to learn to make my own way, you know."

When they got to the top of the stairs my friend took the young man rather firmly by the arm to guide him through the crowd entering the terminal. But the blind man stopped at once and spoke quietly:

"No, don't take possession of me, just guide me, please. Put your hand on my shoulder; that's all I need."

Good words to remember when you help someone.
"Put your hand on my shoulder and just guide me, please."

- William L. Stidger

expect to pass through life but once

It was a bright Saturday morning in the late fall. I
had stopped at a cafe' to enjoy a cup of coffee and
scan the morning newspaper. Suddenly, I felt a hand on
the back of my jacket and heard someone say, "Hey
Steve! How ya doin'?"

Looking up, I saw a boy wearing a mechanic's uniform
worn by employees of the gasoline station next to the
cafe'. He looked familiar, but, at first, I was unable
to recall where we had met.

He also held a cup of coffee, so I asked him to join
me. Very soon, his story--and probably my coffee--began
to thaw out my memory.

Five years earlier, he had been traveling home late one
February night with a group of friends. A ferocious
blizzard had arrived that afternoon, and by midnight,
the snow drifts were getting deep. He recalled hitting
a drift just down the road from my house.

He had walked to my house for help. I had taken my
pickup and tow rope and pulled him out of the snow
drift and up to the highway where maintenance trucks
had cleaned away the snow.

This has been a common occurrence here during the
winter. I cannot count the times someone has also
pulled my car from a snow drift.

However, it was an unforgettable experience for him. He
was only eighteen at the time, and he described how
frightened he had been. That was not a storm one would
want to be stuck in all night. Within a couple hours,
my pickup would not have made it to the highway.

As it turned out, his memory and account of that snowy
night was a very unexpected--and much appreciated--
kindness toward me. I thanked him sincerely for
stopping to chat during his break.

His memory of our unexpected meeting in a snow storm
brightened my entire day. Since then, we've had several
chats over a Saturday morning cup of coffee. Such
simple actions can indeed have an underestimated power.

There are many people who desperately need kind words,
smiles, and listening ears--ears that will hear without
judging and respond without possessing.

One simple kindness at the right moment can change the
direction of a life and shine a light of hope when all
light seems to have gone out. Sometimes it has the
power to save a life.

Here is a great quote that I keep in my e-journal. It
was written by William Penn...

"I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore,
there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I
can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not
defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again."

--Steve Brunkhorst

The Scout Law

Qoutes for life

This book makes a great gift or award for Scouts, parents, volunteers and all Friends of Scouting. A great book to recognize those who live their life as good examples for shaping the character of today’s youth who they directly support.

The Scout Law - Quotes for Life
Copyright (c) 2002 - Patrick Flaherty
ISBN 1932043-16-0
Library of Congress Number:2002112273

Book Description
This 110 page book was produced to inspire everyone but especially those involved in scouting. It focuses on the 12 values of Scout Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Quotes that relate directly to these values are contained in this book. Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Booker T. Washington, Henry David Thoreau, Aristotle, Emily Dickinson, and Theodore Roosevelt are some of the many timeless voices who offer hope and wisdom to readers of all ages.

Below are samples of its content:

Trustworthy

trust·wor·thy adj. worthy of trust; dependable; reliable.—SYN. see reliable.


Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.

—Thomas Jefferson 1743–1826

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of United States from 1801 to 1809
He was the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
—Andrew Carnegie 1835–1919

Andrew Carnegie was an American businessman and philanthropist.

As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.
—Josh Billings 1818–1885

Josh Billings is the pen name of Henry Shaw, United States political writer

Loyal

loy-al, adj. [Fr.; OFr. loial, leial < L. legalis; see LEGAL], 1. faithful to the constituted authority of one’s country. 2. faithful to those persons, ideals etc. that one is under obligation to defend or support. 3. relating to or indicating loyalty.—SYN. see faithful.


I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

—Nathan Hale 1755–1776

Nathan Hale was a United States patriot during the American Revolution, and these were his last words before being hung by the English as a spy.

Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; take honour from me, and my life is done.
—William Shakespeare 1564–1616

William Shakespeare was of England’s greatest writers

Helpful

help·ful, adj. giving help; of service; useful.


Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

—John Wesley 1703–1791

John Wesley was an English religious leader and a founder of Methodism.

As to diseases, make a habit of two things—to help, or at least, to do no harm.
—Hippocrates (approximate life span) 460–377 B.C.

Hippocrates was a Greek physician, often considered the father of modern medicine.

Friendly

friend·ly, adj. [FRIENDLIER , FRIENDLIEST (-li-ist)], 1. like, characteristic of, or suitable for a friend, friends, or friendship; kindly. 2. not hostile; amicable. 3. supporting; helping; favorable. 4. desiring friendship.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803–1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a United States writer and poet.

A clever man commits no minor blunders.
—Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749–1832

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was a German writer and scientist.

Have no friends not equal to yourself.
—Confucius 551–479 B.C.

Confucius was a Chinese writer and philosopher.
Epicurus was a Greek philosopher.

Courteous

cour'·te·ous, adj. [ME. cortais, corteis, corteous; OFr. curteis, corteis (Fr. courtois) < curt; see COURT, n., 8 & -OUS], polite and gracious; considerate toward others; well-mannered. —SYN. see civil.

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803–1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a United States writer and poet.

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow grow, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
—George Washington 1732–1799

George Washington was the United States military leader during the American Revolutionary War and was unanimously later elected president serving from 1789 to 1797.

Kind

kind, adj. [ME. kinde, kynde, kunde; AS. gecynde, cynde] 1. sympathetic, friendly, gentle, tender-hearted, generous. etc. 2 cordial; as, kind regards. 3. [Obs.], a) natural; native. b) rightful. c) well-born.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.

—Plato (approximate life span) 427–347 B.C.

Plato was a Greek writer and philosopher and a student of Socrates. His most famous student was Aristotle.

A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.
—Joseph Joubert 1754–1824

Joseph Joubert was a French writer.

Obedient

o·be·di·ent, adj. [ME.; OFr.; L. obediens, ppr. of obedire; see OBEY], obeying or willing to obey; docile; tractable.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

—Confucius 551–479 B.C.

Confucius was a Chinese writer and philosopher.

Give all to love; obey thy heart.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803–1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a United States writer and poet.

Whoever obeys the gods, to him they particularly listen.
—Homer (approximate life span) 780–720 B.C.

Homer was a Greek writer and poet, perhaps best know for his epics Iliad and Odyssey.

Cheerful

cheer·ful, adj. 1. full of cheer; glad; joyful. 2. filling with cheer; bright and attractive; as, a cheerful room. 3. willing; hearty: as, a cheerful helper. –SYN. see happy.

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.

—Mark Twain 1835–1910

Mark Twain is the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, United States writer and humorist.

Happiness is a habit–cultivate it.
—Elbert Hubbard 1856–1915

Elbert Hubbard was a United States writer and editor who when to cruise ship Lusitania sank.

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.
—Martha Washington 1732–1799

Martha Washington, America’s first lady, was the wife of President George Washington, the first president of the U.S.

Thrifty

thrift·y, adj [THRIFTIER THRIFTIEST (ti-ist)], 1. practicing thrift; provident; economical. 2. thriving; flourishing; prospering.

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.

—Henry David Thoreau 1817–1862

Henry David Thoreau was a United States writer and philosopher.

Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.
—Mark Twain 1835–1910

Mark Twain is the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, United States writer and humorist.

A penny saved is a penny earned.
—Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790

Benjamin Franklin was a United States writer, inventor, scientist, and Revolutionary War patriot.

Brave

brave, adj. [Fr.; It. bravo. brave, bold], 1. not afraid; having courage. 2. showing to good effect; having a fine appearance. 3. [Archaic], fine; superior.

Fortune favors the brave.

—Terence (approximate life span) 185–159 B.C.

Terence was a Roman writer and playwright.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.
—Mark Twain 1835–1910

Mark Twain is the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, United States writer and humorist.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803–1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a United States writer and poet.

We must either find a way or make one.

Clean

clean, adj. [ME. clene; AS. clæne, clean pure; akin to OHG. kleini, gleaming, bright, fine (whence G. klein, small, kleinod, gem); IE. base *gel- *g(e)li-, gleam brightly], 1. free from dirt or impurities; unsoiled; unstained. 2. recently laundered. 3. morally pure; sinless. 4. habitually avoiding filth. 5. shapely; well-formed. 6. clever; deft. 7. having no obstructions, flaws, or roughnesses; clear; regular.

What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny compared to what lies within us.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803–1882

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a United States writer and poet.

Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.
—Henry David Thoreau 1817–1862

Henry David Thoreau was a United States writer and philosopher.

Reverent

rev·er·ence, n. [ME. < OFr. reverence or L. reverentia < reverens, ppr. of revereri; see REVERE], 1. a feeling or attitude of deep respect, love, and awe, as for something sacred; veneration. 2. a manifestation of this; specifically, a bow, curtsy, or similar gesture of respect; obeisance. 3. the state of being revered.

Preach the Gospel all the time; if necessary, use words.

—St. Francis of Assisi
(approximate life span) 1181–1226

St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian monk and the patron saint of merchants.

Nature does nothing uselessly.
—Aristotle 384 –322 B.C.

Aristotle was a Greek writer, teacher, and philosopher, often considered the father of logic.
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.

—St. Augustine 354 –430
St. Augustine was writer and religious leader.

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

- Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President


"Enthusiasm finds the opportunities,
and energy makes the most of them."

--Henry Hoskins



"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

--Anne Frank


An English Proverb says,

"A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner"

Everything is difficult before it becomes easy.

We cannot run away from our problems.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem



Never discourage anyone...
who continually makes progress,
no matter how slow.

-- Aristotle



Success can make you go one of two ways.
It can make you a prima donna, or it can smooth the edges,
take away the insecurities, let the nice things come out.

--Barbara Walters, TV journalist


If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fear.

--Glenn Clark



GREAT Lesson....


WHEN THE MESSAGE LIGHT DOESN'T BLINK
by Steve Goodier

Seeing one of her neighbor's children playing alone, a woman asked him where his brother was. "Oh," he said, "he's in the house playing a duet. I finished first."

Too many people find themselves playing a duet alone. Too many people are lonely. They rise alone in the morning, they eat meals alone, they watch television alone and retire alone in the evening. They have too few friends and family to share their lives with. It feels as if they should be playing a duet or an ensemble and everyone else finished first. They are more than alone; they are lonely.

"I don't have an answering machine," one man said. "I live alone, and I'm sometimes told that I've missed calls when I've been out. `You should really get an answering machine,' my friends tell me, but I won't. I don't want to come home to find the message light not blinking. I don't want to know with such certainty that no one tried to get in touch. It's worth missing a message or two to avoid that."

A folktale tells of a monarch long ago who had twin sons. There was some confusion about which one was born first. As they grew to young manhood, the king sought a fair way to designate one of them as crown prince.

Calling them to his council chamber one day, he said, "My sons, the day will come when one of you must succeed me as king. The burdens of sovereignty are very heavy. To find out which of you is better able to bear them cheerfully, I am sending you together to a far corner of the kingdom. One of my advisors there will place equal burdens on your shoulders. My crown will one day go to the one who first returns bearing his burden like a king should."

In a spirit of friendly competition, the brothers set out together. Soon they overtook a frail and aged woman struggling under a heavy weight. One of the boys suggested that they stop to help her. The other protested: "We have a burden of our own to worry about. Let us be on our way."

So the second son hurried on while the other stayed behind to help the woman with her load. On his journey to the kingdom's edge, the same young man found others who needed help. A sightless man who needed assistance home; a lost child whom he carried back to her worried parents; a farmer whose wagon needed a strong shoulder to push it out of the mud.

Eventually he did reach his father's advisor, where he secured his own burden and started home with it safely on his shoulders. When he arrived back at the palace, his brother met him at the gate and greeted him with dismay. "I don't understand," the brother said, "I told Father the burden was too heavy to carry. How did you manage it alone?"

The future king replied thoughtfully, "I suppose when I helped others carry their burdens, I found the strength to carry my own."

Isn't that the secret of living with loneliness? When we find others who need help with their burdens, we also find the strength to carry our own! Get busy helping others, even if it is nothing more than making a phone call or writing an encouraging note, and you'll find that your burden of loneliness will become easier and easier to manage. And soon you'll be too happy and busy to even notice if the message light is blinking.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE

from the Dalai Lama

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Dont let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone everyday.
9. Open arms to change, but dont let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving athosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Dont bring up the past.
14. share your knowledge. Its a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle the the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.