THE TIME TO LIGHTEN OUR LOADS. The heaviest thing that we will ever carry, and the thing that we have the most difficulty in putting down, is when we carry a grudge.
"Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy."
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.
Remember these simple rules to be happy: Live simply. Give more. Expect less. Free your heart from hatred and your mind from worries.
Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree
"There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering."-- Theodore Roosevelt
Last night I looked up at the stars and matched each one with a reason why I love you. I was doing great, but then I ran out of stars.
Love is the one gift that you can give again, again, and again.
Customer service is not a cost, it is an Investment
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
"The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended -and not to take a hint when a hint isn't intended." -- Robert Lee Frost
What happens if we train our people, and they leave? According to my friend Zig Ziglar, the correct question to ask is, What happens if we don't train our people, and they stay? Training is an investment: Invest - It will pay rich dividends
There is no law that says you HAVE to do good for others. Those who choose to, do good because they are "Difference Makers"!
An star player treats his misses simply as practice shots. Like an inventor who treats his failures like plain experiments.
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent."
"It's our PEOPLE's ATTITUDES that Make the Difference"
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
"Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be."
There's no scarcity of opportunïty to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen. -- Wayne Dyer
"The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money."
In order for you to do something you've never done, you have to be someone you've never been."
There is no shame when you try and fail; there is only shame when you fail to try.
Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day.
Live every day as if it were your last. Do every job as if you were the boss. Drive as if all other vehicles were police cars. Treat everybody else as if he were you.
An intelligent person doesn't have to have all the answers; he just knows where to go to get them.
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"."
Teamwork does not consist of gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction.
Stress is an untransformed opportunity for empowerment
When we accept tough jobs as a challenge to our ability and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen.
Either I will find a way, or I will make one. -- Sir Philip Sidney
There are situations when to be still demands immeasurably higher strength than to act
"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."
The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."
Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.
The right time to show your good character is when you are pestered by somebody weaker than you. --Buddha
There is no such whetstone, to sharpen a good wit and encourage a will to learning, as is praise.
Wealth amounts in not having great possessions but in having few wants
Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
No matter how long or hard the task ahead, if you break it down into a series of smaller steps (rather than looking at the entire chunk), it will go much easier and NEVER watch the clock while at work, the day lasts forever.
You might have a hundred tomorrows but only one today. Make it your best day. Do a good turn today.
Never apologIze for showing feeling, when you do so, you apologize for the truth
The world is good-natured to people who are good natured. -- William Makepeace
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do only a little. Do what you can."
Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there. -- Josh Billings
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand
To those who need encouragement, remember this: Beware of quitting too soon. Dr. Suess' first children's book was rejected by 23 publishers. The 24th publisher sold 6 million copies.--Ann Landers
People who soar are those who refuse to sit back and wish things would change.
Build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts. Never fret at any imperfections that you fear may impede your progress. Remind yourself, as often as necessary, that you are a creature of God and have the power to achieve any dream by lifting up your thoughts.
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
Expect the Unexpected. When the tide of life surrounds you and the water upsets your boat, Don't waste your tears on what might have been, Just lie on your back and float.
The indispensible first step to getting the things you want out of life is to decide what you want
It's easier to know what you don't want than know what you want
Silent gratitude isn’t much good to anyone
The heart and the gut holds the answers that the brain refuses to see
If you only strive to be average, don’t forget the average person is dead and forgotten
"If you're constantly in the neighborhood of good things, good things will
happen to you."
"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope." -- Martin Luther King
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. - H.H. the Dalai Lama
We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you."
Don't wait. The time will never be just right
Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world
"In the best institutions, promises are kept, no matter what the cost in agony and overtime."
"When I look back on all the worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened."-- Sir Winston Churchill
The Power Of Choice is Real. We can . . .
Choose to LOVE--rather than hate.
Choose to SMILE--rather than frown.
Choose to BUILD--rather than destroy.
Choose to PERSEVERE--rather than quit.
Choose to PRAISE--rather than gossip.
Choose to HEAL--rather than wound.
Choose to GIVE--rather than grasp.
Choose to ACT--rather than delay.
Choose to PRAY--rather than despair.
Choose to FORGIVE--rather than curse.
Each day brings a new opportunity to choose.
What kind of choices will you make today
Good Manners Are Key to Your Success
by L. Ron Hubbard
Do you like people who are rude to you? Do you mind if someone interrupts you? Are you happy when people ignore you?
Of course not. No one likes bad manners.
People with bad manners are rejected. They do not get the good jobs or the promotions. Their businesses do not succeed.
People with good manners are accepted. They are liked and supported. They have the friends, the luck and the success.
"In a culture, manners are the lubrication that ease the frictions of social contacts." -- L. Ron Hubbard
When you improve your social conduct, you improve your chances for success.
You earn the support, respect and popularity you need to succeed.
12 Examples of Good Manners
Good manners vary from one culture to another. The following examples apply to most circumstances.
1. Be polite to everyone you meet. You will never regret being too polite, but you might regret being rude. For example, when you go on a sales call or job interview, be courteous to receptionists and assistants as they can affect your chances of succeeding.
2. Use the magic words as often as possible: "Please," "Excuse me," "Sorry" and "Thank you."
3. Use good manners in all communications. Examples:
* Return telephone and e-mail messages within 24 hours.
* Do not use swear words or vulgar words.
* If you receive a rude message, do not respond until you can be polite.
* Do not interrupt people.
* Make sure people are ready to listen to you before you start talking.
* Talk less than 50% of the time.
4. Leave generous tips for food servers, luggage handlers, auto valets, hairdressers or barbers who do their jobs.
5. Use good manners as a driver. Weaving in and out of heavy traffic and cutting in front of other cars only gains you a few seconds of time. If you are courteous, patient and calm, you arrive safely and more relaxed.
6. Do not blow your nose, use toothpicks or perform other bodily activities in front of guests or people you respect. Never smoke around a non-smoker.
7. Show your appreciation at every opportunity, even for small things. "Thank you for returning my call." "Your advice has been very helpful." "I appreciate your taking the time to meet with me."
8. Arrive early for appointments. When you arrive late, you appear to be disrespectful, disorganized or both.
9. A good sense of humor is good manners. However, avoid all jokes about race, disability, sex and so on. Tell jokes about yourself or pass on humorous stories that anyone would enjoy.
10. If someone treats you with bad manners, do not lower yourself to the same level. Smooth out the friction with your best manners. For example, when one politician publicly criticizes another, the smarter politician is polite. For example, "Senator, I respect you too much to respond to that."
11. Before starting important conversations, meals or meetings, turn off your cell phone. Ignoring people while you chat on your cell phone is disrespectful. You can probably leave your cell phone off for hours with no lasting harm.
12. Do not try to show off or prove you are more important than others. This is called "one-upmanship" and is poor manners.
=================
THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO
One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
He said.
"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 month later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It has spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high!"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
Friend, the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."
=======================
7 Destructive Habits of Incompetent People
by Michael Lee
WARNING !!!
If you want to have a fantastic life, never engage yourself in these 7 deadly habits....
NUMBER 1 - They Think, Say, & Do Negative Things.
Yup. They see problems in every opportunity.
They complain that the sun is too hot. They curse the rain for ruining their plans for the day. They blame the wind for ruining their hair.
They think that everyone is against them. They see the problems but never the solutions.
Every little bit of difficulty is exaggerated to the point of tragedy. They regard failures as catastrophes. They become discouraged easily instead of learning from their mistakes.
They never seem to move forward because they're always afraid to come out of their comfort zones.
NUMBER 2 - They Act Before They Think.
They move based on instinst or impulse. If they see something they like, they buy at once without any second thought.
Then they see something better. They regret & curse for not able to take advantage of the bargain.
Then they spend & spend again until nothing's left. They don't think about the future. What they're after is the pleasure they will experience at present.
They don't think about the consequenses. Those who engage in unsafe sex, criminality, and the like are included in this group.
NUMBER 3 - They Talk Much More Than They Listen
They want to be the star of the show. So they always engage in talks that would make them heroes, even to the point of lying.
Oftentimes they are not aware that what they're saying is not sensible anymore.
When other people advise them, they close their ears because they're too proud to admit their mistakes.
In their mind they're always correct. They reject suggestions because that will make them feel inferior.
NUMBER 4 - They Give Up Easily
Successful people treat failures as stepping stones to success.
Incompetent ones call it quits upon recognizing the first signs of failure.
At first, they may be excited to start an endeavor. But then they lose interest fairly quickly, especially when they encounter errors.
Then they go & search for a new one. Same story & same results. Incompetent people don't have the persistence to go on and fulfill their dreams.
NUMBER 5 - They Try to Bring Others Down To Their Level
Incompetent people envy other successful individuals. Instead of working hard to be like them, these incompetent ones spread rumors and try every dirty trick to bring them down.
They could've asked these successful ones nicely. But no, they're too proud. They don't want to ask advise. Moreover, they're too negative to accomplish anything.
NUMBER 6 - They Waste Their Time
They don't know what to do next. They may just be contented on eating, getting drunk, watching TV, or worse, staring at the blank wall with no thoughts whatsoever to improve their lives.
It's perfectly fine to enjoy once in a while. But time should be managed efficiently in order to succeed. There should be a proper balance between work & pleasure.
NUMBER 7 - They Take the Easy Way Out
If there are two roads to choose from, incompetent people would choose the wider road with less rewards than the narrower road with much better rewards at the end.
They don't want any suffering or hardship. They want a good life.
What these people don't know is that what you reap is what you sow. Efforts & action will not go unnoticed.
If only they would be willing to sacrifice a little, they would be much better off.
Successful people made it through trials & error. They never give up. They are willing to do everything necessary to achieve what they aspire for in life.
===
The Filling Station ~ A Christmas Primer
The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. He had no decorations, no tree, no lights. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. There were no children in his life. His wife had gone.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through. Instead of throwing the man out, George, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the space heater and warm-up.
"Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy. I'll just go."
"Not without something hot in your belly," George turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew. Made it myself. When you're done there's coffee and it's fresh."
Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said.
There in the driveway was an old 53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked.
"Mister can you help me!" said the driver with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken."
George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold; the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.
"But mister. Please help...."The door of the office closed behind George as he went in. George went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building and opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting.
Here, you can borrow my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."
George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. George turned and walked back inside the office.
"Glad I loaned'em the truck. Their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new tires........" George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The thermos was on the desk, empty with a used coffee cup beside it.
"Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought. George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator.
"Well, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on. "Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car.
As he was working he heard a shot being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Help me." George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention.
"Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The laundry company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound.
"Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease. "Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills.
"You hang in there. I'm going to get you an ambulance." George said, but the phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your police car."
He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio. He went back in to find the policeman sitting up.
"Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."
George sat down beside him. "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."
George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.
"None for me," said the officer.
"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city." Then George added: "Too bad I ain't got no donuts."
The officer laughed and winced at the same time. The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun.
"Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.
"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.
"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George. "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."
The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!" The cop was reaching for his gun.
"Put that thing away," George said to the cop. "We got one too many in here now."
He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need the money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pee shooter away."
George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry.
"I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job. My rent is due. My car got repossessed last week..."
George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."
He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Being stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."
The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."
"Shut up and drink your coffee." the cop said.
George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn.
"Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.
"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"
"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.
Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just
dropped his gun and ran."
George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other. "That guy works here," the wounded cop continued.
"Yep," George said. "Just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."
The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"
Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas, boy. And you too, George, and thanks for everything."
"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems." George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box.
"Here you go. Something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."
The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."
"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."
George reached into the box again. A toy airplane, a racing car and a little metal truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."
The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier. "And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that, too. Count it as part of your first week's pay." George said. "Now git home to your family."
The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."
"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."
George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left."
"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"
"Well, after my wife passed away I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was getting a little chubby."
The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.
The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will become a rich man and share his wealth with many people.
That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."
George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.
"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again." The stranger moved toward the door.
"If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."
George watched as the man's old leather jacket and his torn pants turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.
"You see, George, it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."
- Author Unknown
===
To be more optimistic in your daily life, try these six strategies.
1. Be on the lookout for negative thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking your life is terrible, stop the thought in its track.
2. Put things in perspective. Remember, everyone’s life is full of sorrows and joys.
3. Try to find the good in bad situations. If you’ve suffered a setback at work, for example, look at what the situation tells you about yourself and learn from it. But don’t dwell on it.
4. Learn from your mistakes. Failure is one of the greatest learning tools, but many people let failure defeat them. Learn and try again.
5. Even if you’re feeling down, act as if your mood is good. Smile at others. Laugh. After a while, you may find that your mood really does improve.
6. Be grateful. Gratitude can help you focus on what’s right in your life.
Pat attention to how your view of life may be bringing you down. Whit practice, you’ll be able to replace your negative thoughts with more positive ones.
Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself.
Before you can move their tears, your own must flow.
To convince them, you must yourself believe
Resume Tip
Employers make snap judgments when glancing at your resume. If they see unrelated job titles or skills the likelihood is very high that they will make an immediate assumption that you are not qualified for the job you want. Adding to this problem is the fact that employers don't have the time to read through each of your job descriptions to determine if you have the skills they need. You Must Do That For Them! The design of your resume must highlight the most important information about your work experience, skills and education. At first glance this information forms the image that employers have of your skills and abilities.
How to Be Lucky
Many people are looking for luck. In fact, "luck" is a very popular Internet word search.
As you may have already worked out for yourself, you make your own luck. You control your future.
An easy way to make your own luck is to just make up your mind.
L. Ron Hubbard wrote;
"We used to talk about 'breaks' in the writing business all the time, youknow. And I just haven't had any good breaks lately.
"So I said, 'Well, that's just a matter of making up your mind to have some good breaks.'"
"So I made up my mind to have some good breaks. In the ensuing week I sold a movie and had a heck of a lot of other things happen, all of which were unexpected."
Recommendations
1. Make up your mind that you are going to be lucky. Decide that you will have some good breaks and that everything will now go your way.
2. Write down how you will be lucky this week. What good things could happen to you this week? Truly decide that these things will happen. Expect success.
=====================
I love baseball.
I love going to a game alone, with friends or watching it on TV. I can talk baseball for hours or even reading about it is interesting for me. Therefore, it should be no surprise that I play on a softball team. I am a decent fielder; however, I take tremendous pride in my hitting. The season before last there was only one at bat that I did not get on base. In other words, I either received a walk or made a hit 29 out of 30 at bats. At the risk of sounding boastful that is an extremely impressive statistic!
However, as sometimes occurs in every aspect of life, I went into a slump the very next season. During this season, I went 6 consecutive at bats without a hit or a walk. I even struck out once swinging! It was very frustrating for me. I quickly became the worst hitter on the team. I was embarrassed and didn't know what to do and then I remembered Ernie Banks....
Ernie played baseball in the 1950s and he lightened his bat by 3 ounces. He went from hitting 19 homes runs to 45 home runs all because of 3 ounces! So I took a cue from Ernie Banks and last season I lightened my bat by 3 ounces. It was AMAZING! I began clobbering the ball all over the field. I finished the season on a hitting tear.
How much is 3 ounces? Very little... but a lot!
Is your life in a slump? If it is, my guess is not because you need a major overhaul. Ninety-five percent of the time, dramatic changes can be seen with just minor tweaking. The difference between $50,000 and $500,000 a year may be the result of minor improvements.
If you are not getting your desired result...ask yourself, 'Is there anything that I can change just a little in my daily routine to see dramatic results?' Perhaps, a 20 minute daily workout, better time management reading a book a week or some other idea.
Sometimes a small change is all that it takes. You may be surprised how much 3 ounces is!
=======================
THANK YOU
By Oprah Winfrey
I live in the space of thankfulness - and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started giving thanks for small things,and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased.
That's because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.
"Say thank you!" Those words from my friend and mentor Maya Angelou turned my life around. One day about ten years ago, I was sitting in my bathroom with the door closed and the toilet lid down, booing and ahooing on the phone so uncontrollably that I was incoherent. "Stop it! Stop it right now and say thank you!" Maya chided. "But - you don't understand," I sobbed. To this day, I can't remember what it was that had me so far gone, which only proves the point Maya was trying to make. "I do understand," she told me. "I want to hear you say it now. Out loud. 'Thank you.' "Tentatively, I repeated it:
"Thank you - but what am I saying thank you for?"
"You're saying thank you," Maya said, "because your faith is so strong that you don't doubt that whatever the problem, you'll get through it. You're saying thank you because you know that even in the eye of the storm, God has put a rainbow in the clouds. You're saying thank you because you know there's no problem created that can compare to the Creator of all things. Say thank you!"
So I did - and still do. Only now I do it every day.
I kept a gratitude journal listing at least five things that I'm grateful for. My list includes small pleasures: the feel of Kentucky bluegrass under my feet (like damp silk); a walk in the woods with all nine of my dogs and my cocker spaniel Sophie trying to keep up; cooking fried green tomatoes with Stedman and eating them while they're hot; reading a good book and knowing another awaits.
My thank-you list also includes things too important to take for granted: an "okay" mammogram, friends who love me, 15 years at the same job (and loving it more than the first day I started), a chance to share my vision for a better life, staying centered, having financial security. I won't kid you, having money for all the things I want is a blessing. But as I look back over my journals, which I've kept since I was 15 years old, 99 per cent of what brought me real joy had nothing to do with money . (It had a lot to do with food, however.)
It's not easy being grateful all the time. But it's when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you:
PERSPECTIVE. Just knowing you have that daily list to complete allows you to look at your day differently, with an awareness of every sweet gesture and kind thought passed your way.
When you learn to say thank you, you see the world anew. And as Meister Eckhart so eloquently stated:
"If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is "Thank you", that would suffice."
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Yes Mommy
An effective tool when working with young children is that every time you give a direction have the child respond with “Yes, Mom” or “Yes, Dad”. You teach them this method by giving your direction, without changing the inflection in your voice, when adding on the “Yes, ___” part. For example, “Sebastian, pick up your toys, say yes, Mom.” This action puts the child in a positive frame of mind, moving the child away from the oppositional part of the brain (limbic system).
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Columnist Art Buchwald tells the story of a day when he was riding in a cab in New York City with a friend. When they got out of the cab, the friend said to the driver, "Thank you for the ride. You did a super job of driving this cab!"
The taxi driver seemed stunned for a second and said, "Are you a wise guy or something?"
"No," said the man, "I'm serious. I admire the way you keep cool in heavy traffic. Not many cab drivers are able to do that. I'm glad I rode in your cab today!"
"Yeah, sure," the cab driver said and he drove off.
Buchwald asked his friend, "What was that all about?"
"I am trying to bring love back to New York City," said the man. "I believe it's the only thing that can save the city."
"You think one man can save New York City?"
It's not one man," said the man. "I believe I have made that taxi driver's day. Suppose he has twenty fares. He's going to be nice to those twenty fares because someone was nice to him. Those fares will in turn be kinder to their employees, shopkeepers or waiters, or even their own families. Eventually, the goodwill could spread to at least a thousand people. Now that isn't bad, is it?"
"But you are depending on that taxi driver to pass your goodwill on to others."
"Maybe he won't," said the man. "But I might say something nice to ten different people today. If, out of ten, I can make three happy, then I can indirectly influence the attitudes of three thousand or more."
"You're some kind of a nut," said Buchwald to his friend.
"That shows how cynical you've become," said the man. "Take postal workers, for instance. The reason so many of them hate their work is because no one is telling them that they are doing a good job."
"But they aren't doing a good job."
"They're not doing a good job because they don't believe anyone cares if they do or not," replied the man.
Buchwald and his friend continued walking down the street and noticed five workmen eating their lunch. The friend stopped and said, "That's a magnificent job you men have done. It must be difficult and dangerous work."
The workmen looked at Buchwald's friend suspiciously.
"When will this job be finished?" the friend asked.
"June," growled one of the workmen.
"Ah, that is really impressive. You must all be very proud of what you are doing here!"
As they walked away, Buchwald said, "I still don't think you are doing any good."
"On the contrary," said the man, "when those workmen digest my words, they'll feel better about what they are doing and somehow the city will benefit."
"But you can't do this alone," said Buchwald. "You're just one man."
"But I'm not discouraged," he said. "I'm hoping to enlist others in my campaign."
They continued walking down the street.
"You just smiled at a very plain-looking woman," Buchwald said to his friend.
"Yes, I know," the man replied. "And if she's a schoolteacher, her class is going to be in for a fantastic day."
---
Application:
Most of us don't realize the impact that we can have on the world by sharing God's love one person at a time. When we do, we can set off a chain reaction that will reap huge dividends for the kingdom of God. You can make a big difference in the world with seemingly insignificant acts of kindness. Just as Jesus took a few loaves and fishes beside the sea of Galilee and fed a multitude, God is able to take the small things we do for him and perform miracles in other people's lives. Try it and see what happens!
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Do You Really Believe?
Elton Trueblood relates the story of a man who had the crazy idea he wanted to walk a tight-wire across Niagara Falls, pushing a wheelbarrow with a man in it.
The aspirant erected a simulated practice situation in his backyard.
Daily the determined person practiced, first with a balance bar, later without it.
Eventually, after long, arduous weeks of hard work, the "wire-walker" became very good.
At last the day arrived for the hazardous undertaking.
Neighbors and persons from the press assembled.
Looking nervously across the rushing water the stuntman said to an admiring friend, "Joe, do you believe I can do it?"
"I absolutely believe you can."
The performer looked out over the falls one more time, "Joe, do your really believe?"
"I really believe you can."
"Fine, you're my man. Get in the wheelbarrow."
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I'm reminded of that great 18th century founder of Methodism, John Wesley. When asked how he drew such large crowds of people to hear him preach, he responded, "I set myself on fire and they come to watch me burn!" People are drawn to enthusiasm.
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GREAT Lesson...
A story tells of a merchant in a small town who had identical twin sons. The boys worked for their father in the department store he owned and, when he died, they took over the store.
Everything went well until the day a dollar bill disappeared. One of the brothers had left the bill on the cash register and walked outside with a customer. When he returned, the money was gone.
He asked his brother, "Did you see that dollar bill on the cash register?" His brother replied that he had not. But the young man kept probing and questioning. He would not let it alone. "Dollar bills just don't get up and walk away! Surely you must have seen it!"
There was subtle accusation in his voice. Tempers began to rise. Resentment set in. Before long, a deep and bitter chasm divided the young men.
They refused to speak. They finally decided they could no longer work together and a dividing wall was built down the center of the store. For twenty years hostility and bitterness grew, spreading to their families and to the community.
Then one day a man in an automobile licensed in another state stopped in front of the store. He walked in and asked the clerk, "How long have you been here?"
The clerk replied that he'd been there all his life. The customer said, "I must share something with you. Twenty years ago I was 'riding the rails' and came into this town in a boxcar. I hadn't eaten for three days. I came into this store from the back door and saw a dollar bill on the cash register. I put it in my pocket and walked out. All these years I haven't been able to forget that. I know it wasn't much money, but I had to come back and ask your forgiveness."
The stranger was amazed to see tears well up in the eyes of this middle-aged man. "Would you please go next door and tell that same story to the man in the store?" he said. Then the man was even more amazed to see two middle-aged men, who looked very much alike, embracing each other and weeping together in the front of the store. After twenty years, the brokenness was mended. The wall of resentment that divided them came down.
It is so often the little things - like resentments - that finally divide people. And the solution, of course, is to let them go. There is really nothing particularly profound about it. But for fulfilling and lasting relationships, letting them go is a must. Refuse to carry around bitterness and you may be surprised at how much energy you have left for building bonds with those you love.
Ask yourself:
Am I holding resentments against anyone, whom? What is this resentement costing me physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spritually? How can I let go of this resentment?
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THE TOP 10 PLACES to START TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND
--by Diana Robinson
Sometimes the changes we would like to make in our lives are so far-reaching that the mere thought of them overwhelms us. We become frozen with fear and are unable to make a start. Remember, that one thing leads to another. If you start to change just one area of your life, the next will be easier, and then the next and the next. Here are ten possible places to start:
1. You as a person.
What do you like about yourself? Not like? How can you change it? (Hint, if you're not sure what needs to be changed, take a look at what you try to keep hidden from others.)
2. Your thinking.
Your unconscious takes orders from the programming you give it. Do you limit yourself? Talk negatively to yourself? Find all the reasons why not? Instead, become self-aware so that you catch your negative self-messages and refuse them. Then turn them around and make them into positives.
3. Attitude.
This is often an outward manifestation of our thinking. It is what others see. Would you want to be on the receiving end of what you offer to the rest of the world? If not, why should other people? Perhaps, instead of waiting for the world to change, you could try making the first move.
4. Associates.
Who do you spend your time with? Are they people you are proud to know? Do you justify your choice of friends by praising how non-judgmental they are, when actually they just have no standards? Are they people you would be glad to see your family or your work associates spend time with? If not, what are you getting out of the relationships? Is it time for a change?
5. Spare time.
How do you spend it? Does it enrich you or numb you? Do you use it to contribute or to consume? When did you last do something just because doing it made you feel joyous, proud, excited, and just plain GOOD?
6. Work.
Are you proud of what you do?
Do you enjoy it?
Or do you dread going to work and spend the weekdays counting the time to
the next weekend?
7. Surroundings.
Do your surroundings make you smile when you walk into a room?
Do they reflect how good you feel about yourself? Have you added flowers, frills, colors, or whatever lifts your spirit when you look at it? Or are you surrounded by piles and stacks of stuff just waiting to be sorted, folded or put away? How much energy does just thinking about this stuff take from you every day?
8. Eating habits.
Do you use food to contribute to your health and wellness or to numb yourself? Have you tried keeping a food diary for just one week? Anyone who reads, or watches TV has to know by now what is good for us. How can we disrespect ourselves by not making good use of that knowledge?
9. Exercise.
Ditto. Do you put more effort into maintaining your car or other transportation than into maintaining your body? We don't have to run a marathon or win an Olympic gold in order to work at maintaining the machine that we expect to carry us throughout our lives. There are so many ways to keep fit today that anyone can find something they can do, even if it is just(!) running up and down stairs instead of using the elevator.
10. Consumption.
As we look at the fragility of the earth, and the limited sources of what we consume, are we doing the best we can for what our grandchildren will inherit?
Or are we selfishly choosing to make our own temporary convenience more
important than the quality of future lives?
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Guide to good decisions
Define the situation.
Is there a problem that needs solving, or are you looking to make improvements?
Can the decision be broken down into smaller parts?
Is there a deadline for the decision?
Consider the impact of the decision.
How long will you be affected by it?
Is it reversible?
Who else will be affected by it?
Gather information and ideas.
Be creative about where you look for information.
Seek out different perspectives.
Write down your alternatives.
Generate a list of ideas.
Evaluate each option.
Picture how alternatives would be carried out. What resources would be needed? Imagine possible outcomes. List pros and cons. Identify those that are deal makes or deal breakers. These will depend on your values. Trust your instincts.
Realize that in many situations you are not going to find the perfect answer. Once you have made a decision accept it. You may need to re-evaluate it as you go along, but don’t add stress by second-guessing yourself or by looking back.
The most important - try to make decisions when you are rested, relaxed and clearheaded.
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GREAT Lesson...
When the Door of Opportunity Opens... by Chris Widener
Anybody can achieve anything - do you believe that? I do. But... Those who succeed are those who walk through the door of opportunity when it swings open. That we know. But what is the secret to getting through the door of opportunity?
Being outside the door when it swings open.
As the story goes, Frank Sinatra got his big break while working as a waiter. One day, as he was waiting tables, who does he see sitting in the restaurant, but one of the biggest names in the music industry. Old Blue Eyes did the unbelievable: He cleared off a table next to the gentleman and got up on it and sang! He knew he was done at the restaurant for doing so, but how many times would this door of opportunity open up? Needless to say, the rest is history.
You've probably never heard the story about the stagehand for Kenny G who one day was in the auditorium with Kenny, just the two of them, when he started to play every song for him on the piano that was set up. Kenny didn' t even know the guy could play the piano. Guess who is now the lead keyboardist for Kenny G? You got it!
You see, you never know when the door of opportunity is going to open wide. For some, the big break comes early in life and for others later on. But for all of those who become successful, there is one key similarity: They were ready. And for every one of those who were ready, there were thousands more who weren't.
So, the principle for us is: BE READY!
Are you ready? Here are some thoughts for you to consider.
Are your skills as sharp as they could be? Are they sharp enough so when your shot comes you can perform?
Is your character deep enough to handle success? Let's face it; you don't want big success if your character won't be able to handle it.
Are you working hard to position yourself now? The job to do while waiting for the door to open is to develop your skills and your character, so as to position yourself to get through that door before it closes.
Your door will open someday. It opens for everyone. It may only open once or it may open many times. It is different for everyone and life just isn't fair that way. But everybody gets a shot. Will you be ready?
When that huge door of opportunity opens up, will you be able to walk boldly through it?
Do everything you can to be ready. Don't just sit and wish and dream. Be proactive and make sure that you are the most qualified when the door opens. Make sure that you are the hardest worker. Make sure you are the closest to the door.
When it opens - Be Ready!
Shhhhh. Do you hear that?
Hinges creaking! It is the sound of the door opening. Your door of opportunity!
Are YOU READY?
--Chris Widener
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Just recently I came across this article that I thought provided an excellent message for all of us to live by.
Charlie Plumb was a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed. Plumb ejected and parachuted and spent six years in a P.O.W. camp.
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters from the carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied.
Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!"
Plumb assured him, "It sure did-if your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform and how many times I might have passed him on the Kitty Hawk not even saying 'Good Morning'. You see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table carefully folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.
Plumb, a lecturer now asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to help them make it through the day.
This might be a good time to think about who packed your Parachute!
Today it might have been your spouse; yesterday it might have been a foreman or farm hand. Don't forget to show your appreciation to all those who make you look good.
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