Sunday, July 5, 2009

Two days to forget

There are two days in every week we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we've said - yesterday is gone.

The other day we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Happy and Healthy Thoughts

This list of Happy and Healthy Thoughts was my starting point. Reading this daily was like taking baby steps. However, as I practiced daily reading and reinforcing new thought patterns I began to feel better. I posted a copy on my refrigerator, in the bathroom and I still carry a copy in my Day timer. Now, when I catch myself "dumping" on me, I try to correct those self-defeating thoughts.

Read this everyday. Post them where you can see them. Carry a copy in your organizer, purse or pocket. It will lift your spirits.

I am a unique and precious human being, always doing the best I can, always growing in wisdom and love.

I don't need to prove myself to anyone, not even to myself, for I know that I am perfectly fine as I am.

I make my own decisions and assume responsibility for any mistakes. However, I refuse to feel shame or guilt about them. I do the best I can, and this 100 percent is good enough.
I am not my actions, I am the actor. My actions may be good or bad. That does not make me good or bad.

Whenever I am tempted to punish myself, I remember to be kind and gentle instead. I know that in order to be the best I can be, I need forgiveness and understanding.

I know that it is okay to need. I try to keep in touch with my needs so that I can respond to them.

I know that others cannot be expected to read my mind or to guess my needs. In fairness to them and to me, I ask for what I need.

I deserve to be appreciated. When others show their appreciation, I embrace it with open arms. I never try to deny or diminish my value.

I live one day at a time and do first things first.

I take great pride in what I do, in what I value and in the way I live for I truly believe in myself.

My mistakes and nonsuccess do not make me aloes, a failure, or whatever. They only prove that I am imperfect, that is human. It is wonderful to be human.

I love myself, absolutely and unconditionally, for that is what I truly need and deserve.

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Be Motivated - Take Action

As you become more aware, you’ll notice that motives usually come in three forms: fear, incentive or growth. People are motivated by fear, but the result is short-term motivation. People are motivated by incentive, which is a step up from fear, but not everyone gets excited by the same incentives. People are also motivated by growth and this is by far the best and longest lasting motivator.

Wise managers who want to be motivators will find the areas of personal growth their people need and want and then strategize ways to deliver "growth" benefits.

As a manager, you must educate yourself about the attitudes and perceptions of your staff. What are they thinking? What’s happening to them? You’ve got to know this information.

Don’t allow assumptions to guide your management decisions. Base your decisions on education. To do so, analyze every situation so that you know what’s going on.

Get involved in motivating your staff. Find out what they need, be sure you understand their experiences, and then do something about it. Provide the "growth" opportunities that will motivate your staff. Also, get your staff involved in the work. Don’t do the job yourself. Empower your staff to get involved. That’s motivating!

Successful managers who motivate people are aware, they analyze, and they take action. Now you know the three A’s of Motivation -- so go out there and motivate some people today.

Tell me what you think about this post; leave a comment

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Story of Rose


The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed, she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began:
"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success."
"You have to laugh and find humor every day."
"You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"
"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change."

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
We send these words in loving memory of Rose.

Remember:
--Growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional!
Author Unknown, Story taken from
http://www.askalana.com/stories/rose.shtml

Monday, April 27, 2009

Just Friends VS. Best Friends

A Just Friend says..hi,..hello,..bye,...and walks away.
A Best friend always stop by your side & asks how r u doing ??
A Just Friend has never seen you cry.
A Best friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A Just Friend thinks the friendship is over, when you have an argument.
A Best friend knows that it's not a friendship, until after you've had a fight.
A Just Friend hates it when you call, after he has gone to bed.
A Best friend asks you.... why you took so long to call.
A Just Friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.

A Best friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.
A Just Friend jealous about your romantic history.
A Best friend wonders of your love story.....
A Just Friend expects you to be always there for any help.
A Best friend is always there, wherever you require any help.

A Just Friend doesn't have time in his/her busy schedule,
A Best friend always have time for you in his/her busy schedules....
A Just Friend phones you whenever he/she has some work,

A Best friend calls you often just to hear your voice.....
A Just Friend doesnt have anything to talk to you on phone,
A Best friend doesnt know...what all to finish...


Setting Your Priorities

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. "The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. "The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. "The same goes for life. "If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. "Take time to get medical checkups. "Take your partner out to dinner. "Play another 18. "There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. "Set your priorities. "The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend." Please share this with someone you care about. I JUST DID.
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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Top 10 Posts in March

These are the top 10 posts based on page views by visitors to this blog in March

  1. Wally the Cab Driver
  2. My First Basketball Game
  3. An Enterprising Spirit By Jim Rohn
  4. Johnny the bagger - Written by Ken Blanchard & Barbara Glance
  5. Old Man on a Bicycle ~ By Rashmi
  6. The Joys of Being a Waitress By Babygirl
  7. A Dozen Inspirational Quotes on ATTITUDES, - Part 1
  8. Fear kills more people than death By General George Patton
  9. Keep a Shark in Your Fish Tank
  10. Thoughts of Life by George Carlin
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Growing Good Corn

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.
One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours.
"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.


"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbuors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn."
He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbour's corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbours to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbours grow good corn.

It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself (Proverbs 11:24-25)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

If I want my dreams to come true

A sharp tongue can cut your own throat. If I want my dreams to come true, I mustn't oversleep. Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important. The best vitamin for making friends..... B1. The happiness of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts. The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.


One thing I can give and still keep...is my word. I lie the loudest when I lie to myself. If I lack the courage to start, I have already finished. One thing I can't recycle is wasted time. Ideas won't work unless ' I ' do. My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.
The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice. The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been. Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right.. Pray for the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. Friends are like balloons; once you let them go, you might not get them back. Sometimes we get so busy with our own lives and problems that we may not even notice that we've let them fly away.

Sometimes we are so caught up in who's right and who's wrong that we forget what's right and wrong. Sometimes we just don't realize what real friendship means until it is too late. I don't want to let that happen so I'm gonna tie you to my heart so I never lose you.

Send this to all your friends including me and see how many you get back. Even send it to your balloons that you think have flown away forever. You may be surprised to see it return. Send this message to everybody you like. You may also return it to me.

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Sunday, April 5, 2009

If Yesterday didn't end up the way u planned...

If Yesterday didn't end up the way u planned... Just remember... GOD created today for u to start a new one... GOD gives the best to those who leave the choice to him . ..

Everything in life is temporary... Darkness of the night or brightness of the day. Even sunrise is temporary... And so is sunset. If things are going good enjoy it... It won't last forever And if things are going bad Dont worry coz it won't last forever either. Everything just passes by...

Have a beautiful day!
When life is hard and Payday is still so far away
And when the salary comes it's not enough there is only one thing to do
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I


Bring a Smile to someone today, Share this cutie with a friend!

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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Gulping Down That Lemonade


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Now this picture may seem like nothing to you, but to me it means the world!!! The ugly bathroom of the past is gone!!! It also means that burning ache in my shoulder blades is for a reason, and a damn good one!! I wish I had a picture of the old bathroom to highlight what a signifcant transformation this is. Little things like changing the inside of the house, is a reminder to me that moving forward is hard work, but well worth it in the end. That you can take a lemon, remove that bitterness...add a little sugar, and drink up some sweet lemonade.

Although there has been some rough spots in my life, I've managed along the way to find that lemonade. In doing so something I've learned is it really doesn't matter what other people may think of my walk in life, as long as I know I am walking the steps I need to. This past weekend was another time where "Everything Happens For A Reason" smacked me in the face. I was on my way home from Walmart in Tomah with my paint in tow, and I told my youngest we needed to stop at the Goodwill there. I am not really sure why I wanted to, just did. He grumbled, "but Mom, Blake is waiting for me to get home and play." I told him it would just take a moment or two.

He went off his merry way when we walked into the store. I really wasn't sure why I was there, so I just strolled the aisles looking. I ended up by the curtains, and decided maybe I should look for some that may match the paint sample of the paint I just purchased. So there I was holding up that cardboard paint sample next to the curtains and drapes, and it was then a woman walked by and said, "Oh that one! That one will work!" I laughed and thanked her for her opinion, and told her I agreed. The next thing I knew this stranger started opening up to me. She told me how she wished she could redecorate her home, but her husband wouldn't let her....that he was very "strict" with her.

Tears formed in her eyes, and she told me how he tells her she doesn't do anything right. I told her I understood, and that one of the reasons I was redecorating was because I finally could without hearing much of the same from my ex husband.I could tell she was hurting, it's that type of pain you have when you've been emotionally battered...parts of her was bursting at the seams to tell someone...purge it all out, and then other parts of her were saying,"what does it matter it wont change anything." Her eyes conveyed this to me...it was a look I was familar with, and one I often saw staring back at me in my own mirror.

I don't know if she sensed my understanding, but all of a sudden she purged her emotions to me. She told me about the abuse her and her child lives with. She told me about her fears, and how much she loved this man. This stranger told me her story...right there...in Goodwill....We stood there talking for about 15 minutes. I told her that I understood how isolated she must feel, that I had once been there myself. I explained to her about what I now do...the survivor network I am trying to get off the ground, and how "Everything Happens For A Reason."Before I knew it I was giving her contact info for the group, my email and number...she gave me hers. That is when I realized why I had that urge to stop at Goodwill...call it what you will..intuition.. or God's will...that moment in time happened for a reason, and for both of us.

I don't know if I will ever hear from that woman again...maybe I will...maybe I wont. I do know this, neither of us will forget that time we shared together...two strangers bonding over something we both were surviving. Yes, I believe she is on that road to surviving ...she reached out, and that's a first step. She may not be ready to take the next step for a while...but one day she will, and I know she will remember our conversation much like I remember it as for me I got to see just how far I've come from just a few short years ago...when things seemed bleak.So as I painted that bathroom and my living room this weekend, I thought of that woman. I thought one day she will know the freedom of being in control of herself, and her actions. She will know how freeing it all is to actually change and move forward in life...and one day...she will meet a stranger and together they will share some lemonade.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Befriending a Bully With Kindness ~ By Sparticus

During the first week of my second semester sophomore year, the first thing I happen to hear is that there's a new kid at school. From what was being spread around, this student was being portrayed as a big mean bully, someone that was expelled for getting in a fight at a school nearby.


In my mind, though, I could only think how awful and how uncomfortable I would feel as a new student with a reputation already set out for me.

So the next thing I did was I searched for the new student. I ran all over campus to find and locate him, until I found him, head sulked down and with a weary expression upon his face. Without hesitating, I approached him, introduced myself and asked him if he was new to the campus and if he needed any help getting around.

With a relief, he replied that he was new and was looking for the computer lab for his next class. He showed me his class schedule. I then offered to walk him to the room, and as I walked with him, I could feel the tension built up inside him begin to fade. Before I left him to his class I told him to let me know if he ever needed anything else. Looking at his face, I knew that he would not have any more trouble or problems at this school, and if he ever does I'll still be there for him or any one else that needs it.

And still today he's been one of my best friends.

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Old Man on a Bicycle ~ By Rashmi

Kindness acts are a great excuse to believe in ourselves and our world.

Once I had been invited for the lunch at one of my relative’s house. My aunty gave me the address and told me to come to her house for the meal, until I got settled into the new city. In trying to get to her house, I got lost and was desperately looking for help on the lonely roads for more than half an hour.

In a bit, I saw an old man on bicycle. I didn't want to stop him but I had no choice so I asked him for the address; he explained the route but it just didn't sink in; I was so tired of hunting around for the place and at this point, I was super hungry and thirsty too.

Well, that old man was a dear soul. Seeing the frustration and helplessness on my face, he accompanied me all the way to my aunt's house. When I reached my aunts house, I thanked that old man for guiding me till the house. He smiled and left.

When I shared my story with my Aunt, she mentioned that he was the "watchman" for their community and that he was going home for his lunch break. And that because his lunch breaks are only 15 minutes, he basically skipped his lunch to help me today.

That was the day I realised the value of kindness. Kindness is divinity personified.

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Sunglasses in the Custodian Closet ~ By Aurelia

I'm new to the Smile Cards, but here's my first experience with the cards.
I work in a school and after all the kids are gone for the day a sweet young lady Claire comes in to clean the school classrooms and offices. I'm there late once a week and I often chat for a few minutes with her.

She always makes me feel so good because she's not full of herself and instead she wants to hear about me or will talk about her children. Our conversations are always great.
Last week she wasn't her happy self and told me how her husband had lost his job of 15 years and that she didn't know what they would do without his income.

I wanted to cheer her up some how, but couldn't think of anything at that time. Later that week I was in a department store I noticed all the pretty summer clothing and racks of sunglasses. I tried on several pairs and finally found the perfect pair, and I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, then I thought, "Wow Claire would look great in these!" I already had a pair that would be fine again this year, so I bought the glasses for Claire.

I was too excited to wait until my one late night that I worked, so I put them in a pretty bag and left them in the custodians closet for her!
When I came in the next day a fellow employee told me that she was talking to Claire as she went to the closet and opened it. When Claire saw the bag and took out the sunglasses and read the Smile Card her face lit up! She put the glasses on and smiled a BIG grin. She said she hadn't had anything to smile about in a few days and it felt good.

She left me a note about how she was having a rough day and that my act of kindness meant so much to her. It made me feel good knowing that I got her the sunglasses instead of myself. I wish I could do more for her, but at least she knows I am thinking of her even when I'm not at work. I look forward to creating more Smile Moments.

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Semi; My Son


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It was a few years ago that I witnessed something remarkable, a lesson from life in which my child was the teacher. My son Justin is a unique young man, and as a mother I always knew this. When Justin was born he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his little neck. At the time we didn't realize just exactly how that affected him, but over the years watching him reach his developmental milestones achingly slow, we realized that his birth did in fact alter his life's destination.

After many visits to many specialist Justin was diagnosed as having a very mild form of cerebral palsy. It was a shock to my system to hear that diagnosis. "Not my son! He can walk! He doesn't look it!" The diagnosis lead to a quick and in depth lesson on what cerebral palsy is, and all the different forms it can take.

Now when most people look at Justin they see strong young man. Tall for his age and fully able. What they don't see is his low muscle tone, and his poor coordination. They don't notice the slight outward turn of his feet, nor can they see his learning disabilities, and central auditory processing disorder. It's only after talking with Justin, and watching him for a bit that one will notice what makes him unique. I cannot even begin to count the number of puzzled looks we've received once this dawns on people.

Justin, like many children, was often subjected to bullying at school and on the playground from other children. In their eyes he was an easy target. It always broke my heart when this would happen, and all I wanted to do was pull him close to me and protect him.

That is why when he wanted to join a tag football team I was so nervous. I knew it would be difficult for him. I knew he wouldn't be able to keep up, and I knew the other kids would make fun of him. Against my better judgment, and at his constant urging, I went ahead and signed the permission slip.

Justin was so proud of being part of the team, and never missed a practice. I would watch from the sidelines as he awkwardly ran down the field....often times appearing lost at what he should do. I could see the other boys snickering at times, whispering to each other and knowing they were laughing at Justin. Every time it took all I had in me not to pull him off the field and take him home to protect him from others.

The coaches would run through drills with the boys, and Justin never quite got the hang of the "tag" part of football, as he ran his coaches down. It didn't take long for him to get the name "Semi."

The end of the season came, and the coaches treated the boys to a bowling party where trophies were awarded to the best players. Justin was so excited to go to the party even though he knew he most likely wouldn't get a trophy for being the best.

The kids bowled a few games, and ate their pizza. It was at the end of the party, with the parents watching, that the coaches awarded trophies to the boys. Justin received a participant trophy as did all the other boys. Then came the special trophies for the players that had the best skills. I watched my son applaud loudly for each boy as their name was called. He was genuinely excited and happy for each player who received a trophy.

It was the end of the ceremony when the coach told the boys and parents that there was one more trophy to hand out. The coach told them how this one was the most important one of all. He then spoke how the player receiving it was an example to every person present. He said this player taught everyone on the team, including the coaches, what "drive and determination" was all about, and what "never giving up" truly means. It was then when he said "Semi get up here!"

Tears rolled down my face. My youngest son who was 5 at the time looked up to me and said, "That's my brother!" The other boys on the team stood up and cheered as my son, Semi, went up for his trophy. Among the adults in the room, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Still to this day when I think back to that moment in time, tears of pride run down my face. My son, Semi, not only taught his team members a lesson in life, but he also taught me one.....

Yes, I am very a proud mother, and I know that my son, Semi, will run into barriers in life but I am assured he will plow them down as long as I believe in him as much as he believes in himself.





Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Joys of Being a Waitress By Babygirl

As a waitress you meet and see all types of people. I guess you could call it the melting pot of the highway because the food connects us all.
I was about to end my shift one afternoon when a group of people came in. As they sat down, they explained that they were trying to make it home and just had enough to buy their children a small snack and that all they needed was water. So I showed them a few things on the menu and asked them what they would like.

As I walked away to turn in their order, I just couldn't see this family leaving hungry with a snack and some water! So I asked some friends to join me in helping this family and they agreed because they know how I am when it comes to helping others and it gives them the fuzzy feeling of making a difference too.

So I went back to the table and quietly let the parents know that they could order what they wanted because it was taken care of by some strangers. At first, they didn't know what to say but with a smile and a glance at the menu, they kindly accepted.
When they left all you could see was smiles, and with a tear in my eye, I wished them a safe trip and asked them to stop by if they were ever in the area again.

I learn that with every kind gesture you connect with that person and the emotion it gives flows both ways. I guess you could say they brought me home to my heart that day and every day.

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A Dozen Inspirational Quotes on ATTITUDES, - Part 1


1. It is not the level of prosperity that makes for happiness but the kinship of heart to heart and the way we look at the world. Both attitudes are within our power, so that a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy, and no one can stop him - Aleksandra Solzhenitsyn.
2. He who restrains his appetite avoids debt – china ness proverb
3. In a customer society, there are inevitably two kinds of salves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy. – Invan Illich
4. The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack or will. – Vine Lombardi
5. ‘We must learn to apply all that we know so we can attract all that we want.’ Jim Rohn
6. ‘Successful people develop and maintain a positive attitude towards life. They look for good in others and in the world and usually seem to find it’
7. ‘Successful people don’t get into ruts or become bored because they’re too busy looking for new experiences.’
8. Virtually nothing on earth can stop a person with a positive attitude who has his goal clearly in sight. Denis Waitley
9. Never begin the day until it’s finished on paper. Jim Rohn
10. People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care
11. You may choose what job you want. Now you can choose to dress like that job. Then you will get that job. Richard Teamplar
12. Just because I say you ought to blend in doesn’t mean you have to give up your identity or become a clone or lose all sense of your individuality. Richard Templar

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My First Basketball Game

I never knew I could learn so much about life and success from a game of basketball.
My mother was an athlete. She was a tom-boy, and growing up she played every sport she could. This was, of course, in the 1950s, when girls didn’t do such things and there wasn’t a lot of opportunity.

When I was growing up in the 70s, things had changed. There were girls leagues everywhere, and my mom enrolled me in all of them. I played softball, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. I don’t know whether I ever really wanted to play, but I never said no. I suppose it was peer pressure–after all, I knew lots of other girls who were playing, too, and my mom was always the coach.

When I got to high school, I tried out for the Freshman basketball team and made it. Before we started practicing, however, the coach gave us a talk and told us that it was going to be a lot of hard work. We would have to be at school at 5 a.m. for practices. He would be hard on us, and he expected us not to be quitters. If that was going to be our attitude, he said, we might as well quit now. So guess what? I quit. I decided it was too much effort. I was not my mom. I really didn’t want to be a jock. I was more interested in “girly” things like music and theatre. Trying out for Freshman basketball was the last time I ever played. That was 1982!

Whatever possessed me to join a team now, I’m not sure I will ever know. I got an email that they were starting up a church league and looking for players. Something in me just told me to join. So I did. Let me repeat: I don’t know why.
As time passed and our first game started to become a reality (there were no practices, by the way–just games every Saturday), I started panicking a little bit. It had been 25 years–did I even remember the rules? Could I shoot a basket? What the heck was I doing????

Alas, our first game day did arrive, and I headed to the church. There I met the other women on my team–all of them at least 10 years younger than I. Half of them were clearly real athletes and played all the time. More panic set in.
There were only six on our team that first day, so one person got to sit out. I was hoping to be the first, but someone else called it, so there I was, totally unsure of myself, thrown in the middle of a real game!

About two minutes into the first quarter, I was dying! It had been YEARS since I had run so much! My heart was racing, and I literally wanted to throw up. I tried to sub out but couldn’t, because I didn’t know the rules. Finally our captain told me I could go out, and so I sat on the sidelines for awhile to catch my breath and collect myself.
Again I wondered what the heck I was doing. What was to stop me from just leaving? I was too old. I wasn’t in shape. I didn’t even know the rules!

But I didn’t go home. I stayed. And when it was time to play again, I played as best I could. I didn’t make any baskets, but I passed the ball to team members who did, and I prevented the other team from making some! I sat out a lot, but I got back in when I was needed. And you know what? We won! And I knew deep down that each week, if I kept playing and kept practicing, I would get better. Running would be easier. I would understand more. And who knows? I might even score one for the team.

In the end, that’s exactly what happened. I built up the stamina to play an entire game without sitting out, and you know what what? By season’s end, I had even scored 6 points for the team.
Yes, I learned a lot about basketball that first day, but I learned more about the principles of success.

I learned that the most important thing is to STAY IN THE GAME! Maybe things aren’t going as well as you’d hoped. Maybe you feel like you’re floundering and don’t know the rules. Maybe you need to sit out for a minute and catch your breath. Just stay in the game! If you keep playing and keep practicing, you will get better. It will get easier. You will understand more, and you will win.

Copyright 2007, Margie Remmers
Margie Remmers is the author of the famous inspirational story, Parable of the Clothes. She is a business owner and entrepreneur, a mom, and, now, a basketball player. She can be reached at margie@asimplesolution.info.

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A Dozen Inspirational Quotes on GOALS - Part 1

1. Successful people set goals, accomplish them and then set new goals. They accept and enjoy challenges

2. People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going. Earl nightingale
3. Goals are the starting blocks of motivation. They give us a reason to get our stuffs and get going
4. Goals helps us take charge our own lives, instead of following the crowd or wandering though life
5. Goals gives us a destination. We’re far more likely to get someplace when we know whether we’re going
6. Goals give us a sense of purpose. Life has more meaning when we’re clear on what we want
7. Instead of merely existing from one day to the next, our goals give us reasons to start really living.
8. Goals are the antidote to the most dreaded of all social diseases: boredom. How can you be bored when you’ve got exciting things to do?
9. Goals more than anything else help us reach our potential. Setting goals helps us see what’s possible.
10. Each goal completed helps us see more of what’s possible and leads to new goals and more success
11. Virtually nothing on earth can stop a person with a positive attitude who has his goal clearly in sight. Denis Waitley
12. Discipline means choice. Every time you say YES to a goal or objective. You say NO to many more. Sybil Stanton

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Fear kills more people than death By General George Patton

Master success coach, Steve Chandler said, "The world’s best kept secret is that on the other side of your fear there is something safe and beneficial waiting for you. If you pass through even a thin curtain of fear you will increase the confidence you have in your ability to create your life."

Your ability to confront your fears is one of the most important keys to staying motivated. Because when you back away and do nothing, fear can quickly dominate your thinking and your emotions.

Everyone has fears and it takes courage to confront them.

Mark Twain said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not- absence of fear."

When you’re afraid, you have two choices: to do nothing and let the fear fester like a cancer, or identify the person or situation that is causing your fear and deal with it immediately.

Can it be difficult?

Of course it can, but the alternative to constant worry and pain is much worse

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Monday, March 23, 2009

An Enterprising Spirit By Jim Rohn

An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile of scrap metal and sees the making of a wonderful sculpture. An enterprising person is one who drives through an old decrepit part of town and sees a new housing development. An enterprising person is one who sees opportunity in all areas of life.

To be enterprising is to keep your eyes open and your mind active. It's to be skilled enough, confident enough, creative enough and disciplined enough to seize opportunities that present themselves... regardless of the economy.

A person with an enterprising attitude says, "Find out what you can before action is taken." Do your homework. Do the research. Be prepared. Be resourceful. Do all you can in preparation of what's to come.

Enterprising people always see the future in the present. Enterprising people always find a way to take advantage of a situation, not be burdened by it. And enterprising people aren't lazy. They don't wait for opportunities to come to them, they go after the opportunities. Enterprise means always finding a way to keep yourself actively working toward your ambition.

Enterprise is two things. The first is creativity. You need creativity to see what's out there and to shape it to your advantage. You need creativity to look at the world a little differently. You need creativity to take a different approach, to be different.

What goes hand-in-hand with the creativity of enterprise is the second requirement: the courage to be creative. You need courage to see things differently, courage to go against the crowd, courage to take a different approach, courage to stand alone if you have to, courage to choose activity over inactivity.

And lastly, being enterprising doesn't just relate to the ability to make money. Being enterprising also means feeling good enough about yourself, having enough self worth to want to seek advantages and opportunities that will make a difference in your future.

And by doing so you will increase your confidence, your courage, your creativity and your self-worth, your enterprising nature.

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What I valued most was your time

A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door.It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, ‘Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.’ Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

‘Jack, did you hear me?’‘Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,’ Jack said.

‘Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,’ Mom told him.
‘I loved that old house he lived in,’ Jack said. ‘You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,’ she said.
‘He’s the one who taught me carpentry ,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,’ Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture. Jack stopped suddenly.

‘What’s wrong, Jack?’ his Mom asked. ‘The box is gone,’ he said

‘What box?’ Mom asked.“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Every thing about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.‘Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,’ Jack said. ‘I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.’It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. ‘Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days,’ the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. ‘Mr. Harold Belser’ it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

‘Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.’ A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

‘Jack, Thanks for your time!
Harold Belser.’

‘The thing he valued most was… my time’

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. ‘Why?’ Janet, his assistant asked.

‘I need some time to spend with my son,’ he said. ‘Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!’‘Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.’Think about this. You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.

1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.
4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
5. You mean the world to someone.
6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
7. You are special and unique.
8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won’t get it, but if you trust God to do what’s best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
11. Someone that you don’t even know exists, and loves you.
12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
13 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you’ll both be happy.
14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

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Keep a Shark in Your Fish Tank

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the water close to Japan has not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever.

The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring the fish. If the return trip took more time, the fish were not fresh. To solve this problem, fish companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen fish. And they
did not like the taste of frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price. So, fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, they were tired, dull, and lost their fresh-fish taste. The fishing industry faced an impending crisis! But today, they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan.

How did they manage? To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks but with a small shark. The fish are challenged and hence are constantly on the move.

The challenge they face keeps them alive and fresh!

Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired and dull? Basically in our lives, sharks are new challenges to keep us active. If you are steadily conquering challenges, you are happy. Your challenges keep you energized. Don’t create success and revel in it in a state of inertia. You have the resources, skills and abilities to make a difference. Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character” - Albert Einstein

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Thoughts of Life by George Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there to hold hands and cherish.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away!

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