MOTIVATIONAL SITE (STORIES/QUOTES.)

Always Remember

2008-03-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Always remember two things..

Don't take any decisions when you are Angry.
Don't make any promises when you are Happy.

Remember these... for rest of your lives.

Life Is Not Perfect

2008-03-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Go ahead with life as it is, with the bumps and pitfalls.
However it is, give your best to every moment.

Don't spend your time waiting for the perfect situation,
something which is not very likely to come.

Life is not perfect;
the way you live can make it perfectly wonderful.

God's Cup Of Tea

2008-03-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

We are like teabags, whose strength comes out when we're put in hot water.

So, when problems upset you... Just think, you must be God's favorite cup of Tea!

Finding Your Way.

2008-03-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

If there is a way, I will find one...

If there is none, I will make one...

The True Friend (Inspirational Poem )

2008-03-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

A friend is someone to behold,

To laugh with and chat with, when warm or cold,

Someone to comfort you when you're blue,
To talk about the old and new.

One has many acquaintances in life,
But when there is sorrow or strife,

A friend is someone who will understand,
To lend an ear or a helping hand.

It matters not where you are,
Whether you are near or far,

Around the world or across the street,
A friend is someone we like to meet.

So when life's little troubles get you down,
Try to smile, do not frown,

Turn on the computer, or pick up the phone,
With friends, you are never alone.

DO NOT QUIT (Inspirational Poem)

2008-03-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

When things go wrong,
as they sometimes will,

When the road your trudging
Seems all uphill,

When the funds are low
And the debts are High ,

And you want to smile,
but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with it's twists an turns,
As everyone of us must sometimes learn
,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it our,

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you cannot quit.

--Unknown Author

The Old Fisherman.

2008-03-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic.

One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old, I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face--lopsided from swelling, red and raw.

Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning." He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face...I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..." For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning."

I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us.

"No thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was preface with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going.

At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch.

He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home.

Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again.

On his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.

In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden.

Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious.

When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning.

"Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!"

Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear.

I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.

--Author (Unknown.)

Bend; But don’t break!

2008-03-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times,
happy moments and unhappy moments.

The next time you are experiencing
one of those bad times or unhappy moments,
Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point; show resilience.

Bend; But don’t break!

Follow Your Dream…

2008-03-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Follow your dream…
Take one step at a time and don’t settle for less.
Just continue to climb.
Follow your dream…

If you stumble, don’t stop and lose sight of your goal.
Press to the top.
For only on top can we see the whole view
Can we see what we’ve done and what we can do
Can we then have the vision to seek something new
Press on.
Follow your dream.

Let Go....

2008-03-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

Let go of the Past,

Only then you move towards the future.

Let go of the Regrets,

Only then you move towards the happiness.

Let go of the Presumptions,

Only then you move towards the truth.

Let go of the Problems,

Only then you move towards the solutions.

Let go of Yourself,

Only then you move towards the divinity.

::: DREAMS & FUTURE :::

2008-02-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE
WHO BELIEVES IN THE BEAUTY OF
THEIR DREAMS.

IF YOU THINK ...... YOU CAN ....

2008-02-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

Ph.D. In Success.

2008-02-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

Do You Have a Ph.D. in Success?

Many people become success experts and never have much
success.

Why does this happen?

Because many people get caught in the trap of learning but
never applying what they learn.

If you have read a few of the classic books on success you
already know 90% of what it takes to succeed on a massive
scale in life.

You already know what to do and why to do it.

In fact, there is nothing whatsoever stopping you from
being happier, more successful and more content than you
have ever been.

Why then are you not already living the life of your dreams?

Because you have acquired a Ph.D. in success rather than a
successful life. You have confused knowing what to do with
actually doing it.

And you have incorrectly assumed that when you understand
the strategies of success that you will automatically be
successful. This is not how it works.

-- You only know what you can do --

From now on you might like to use this statement as the way
you measure your progress. This will stop you from
confusing knowledge with the implementation of that
knowledge.

You truly know something only when you can do it - not when
you can only describe how to do it.

A Ph.D. in success is easy to acquire but worth very
little. On the other hand the sincere application of those
very same principles and strategies can transform the
quality of your life very quickly.

All you need to do is unlock your personal motivation
blueprint - when you know what motivates you and how to
stay motivated your life will change.

You will have become one of the winners in life - those
people who apply time tested success principles.

-- By Peter Murphy.

BEAUTIFUL LESSON

2008-02-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

This is a story from a book written in 1875 by a man named Robert Boyd. It's called the "Trials and Triumphs of Faith." It's put me in tears, more than once.

A minister tells us that he was spending several days in one of our western cities. He put up at a hotel, and one morning he heard, while up in his room, the most wonderful whistling he had ever listened to. It seemed like the note of a bird, but he thought it could not be that, for there was a perfectly regular tune kept up with much power. Though he was in the third story, yet the music came gushing up in its sweet melody, and seemed to fill the whole house. He ran downstairs to get a sight of the wonderful performer, looking every man that he met in the face. At last, he asked the clerk who it was that had such amazing power as a whistler. Laughing at his simplicity he pointed him to a canary bird that had been trained to perform

in this way, and was valued at $150.

"How was that bird trained to sing this way?" the gentleman enquired. In reply the clerk told him that during the training process the bird is nearly starved and shut up in a room that is almost dark. While it is under this severe discipline, and its attention undivided, a bird organ is made to play this one tune over and over again, for days. Hearing nothing else, and taught by his troubles, the poor little bird takes up the tune, which he performs so perfectly.

Thus it is that God permits his people to be afflicted that they may learn the heavenly song. He shuts them up in the dark room of sorrow, away from the tempting sights and sounds of the world, that they may, without distraction, listen to his voice and learn to sing the higher melodies of glory. Blessed are those who patiently wait the Lord's good time to work out their deliverance. When the song of Grace is fully learned, he brings them into a large place, sets their feet upon a rock, and others learn from them the sweet song of redeeming love.

A Violin with Three Strings...

2008-02-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.

If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an awesome sight.

He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play.

By now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They

Remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play.

But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You

Could hear it snap - it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do.

We figured that he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage - to either find another violin or else find another string for this one. But he didn't. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again.

The orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before.

Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that, and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that.

You could see him modulating, changing, re-composing the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before.

When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done.

He smiled, wiped the sweat from this brow, raised his bow to quiet us, and then he said - not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone - "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."

What a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life - not just for artists but for all of us.

Here is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of four strings, who, all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings.

So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.

One Dollar and Eleven Cents Plus.

2008-02-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

Tess was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's bills and their house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."

Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?" "I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money".

"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago. "One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.

"Well, what a coincidence, " smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents-the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. "That surgery," her Mom whispered. "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents .....

plus the faith of a little child.

VALUE OF PARENTS ....

2008-02-21T18:26:00.000-08:00

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window. The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"

The Son replied "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"

The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow". After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, What is this?"

At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow". A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"

Old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page.

When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".

While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So..

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today". Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.

Value of Parents...

2008-02-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window. The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"

The Son replied "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow". After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3^rd time, What is this?"

This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?" A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an
Old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page.

When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So..
If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today". Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.

WEAKNESS to STRENGTH.

2008-02-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced.. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

"No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue." Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament.

He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every
move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm." The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

"Sometimes we feel that we have certain weaknesses and we blame god, the circumstances and our self for it but we never know that our weakness can become our strength one day. Each of us is special and important, so never think you have any weakness, never think of pride or pain, just live your life to its fullest and extract the best out of it!"

Story of Robby.

2008-02-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

( This is the story of Robby. )

He was a young boy who lived with his elderly Mother. His mother wanted him to learn how to play the piano because she Longed to hear her son play for her. She sent her son to a piano teacher who Took Robby in under her guidance.

However, there was one small problem Because Robby was not musically inclined and therefore was very slow in Learning.

The teacher did not have much faith in the boy because of his Weakness. The mother was very enthusiastic and every week she would send Robby to the teacher.

One day Robby stopped attending the piano lessons. The teacher thought that He had given up and in fact she was quite pleased since she did not give Much hope to Robby. Not long after, the piano teacher was given the task to Organize a piano concert in town. She sent out circulars to invite the Students and public to attend the event.

Suddenly, she received a call from Robby who offered to take part in the concert. The teacher told Robby that He was not good enough and that he was no longer a student since he had Stopped coming for lessons.

Robby begged her to give him a chance and Promised that he would not let her down.

Finally, she gave in and she put him to play last, hoping that he will Change his mind at the last minute. When the big day came, the hall was Packed and the children gave their best performance. Finally ,

It was Robby's Turn to play and as his name was announced, he walked in. He was not in Proper attire and his hair was not properly groomed.

The teacher was really Nervous since Robby's performance could spoil the whole evening's brilliant Performance.

As Robby started playing the crowd became silent and was amazed At the skill of this little boy. In fact, he gave the best performance of The evening. At the end of his presentation the crowd and the piano teacher Gave him a standing ovation. The crowd asked Robby how he managed to play so Brilliantly.

With a microphone in front of him, he said, "I was not able to Attend the weekly piano lessons as there was no one to send me because my Mother was sick with cancer. She just passed away this morning and I wanted Her to hear me play. You see, this is the first time she is able to hear me Play because when she was alive she was deaf and now I know she is listening To me. I have to play my best for her!"

MORAL OF THE STORY :::

This is indeed a touching story of love and excellence. When you have a
Passion and a reason to do something, you will surely excel. You may not be Talented or gifted but if you have a strong enough reason to do something, You will be able to tap into your inner God given potential.

Success.

2008-02-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

Success eludes many people because they define it too narrowly. They see it only in superficial terms of money, or fame, or power, and completely miss the real essence of success.

If you strive solely for material wealth, or influence, or the praise of others, then you're merely pursuing the empty shell of success, without ever attaining success itself. Such an approach rarely ever works, and even when it does it quickly crumbles.

Real success comes from adding value to the world in your own special way. And every day presents you with an abundance of opportunities for doing that.

Today is no exception. This very day, you can be as successful as the world's most widely acclaimed billionaire, simply by using what you have, to do what you can.

Success is found in directing your life toward a meaningful purpose. No amount of money, or power, or fame can ever equal that.

Great Quotation

2008-02-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

Ability is a poor man's Wealth.

SUCCESS.

2008-02-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

Some people succeed because they are destined to,

But most people succeed because they are determined to.

WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS.

2008-02-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

¨ The Winner is always part of the answer;

The Loser is always part of the problem.

¨ The Winner always has a program;

The Loser always has an excuse.

¨ The Winner says, "Let me do it for you";

The Loser says, "That is not my job."

¨ The Winner sees an answer for every problem;

The Loser sees a problem for every answer.

¨ The Winner says, "It may be difficult but it is possible";

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

¨ When a Winner makes a mistake, he says, "I was wrong";

When a Loser makes a mistake, he says, "It wasn't my fault."

¨ A Winner makes commitments;

A Loser makes promises.

¨ Winners have dreams;

Losers have schemes.

¨ Winners say, "I must do something";

Losers say, "Something must be done."

¨ Winners are a part of the team;

Losers are apart from the team.

¨ Winners see the gain;

Losers see the pain.

¨ Winners see possibilities;

Losers see problems.

¨ Winners believe in win-win;

Losers believe for them to win someone has to lose.

BORN TO WIN.

2008-02-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

An eagle's egg was placed in the nest of a prairie chicken. The egg hatched and the little eagle grew up thinking it was a prairie chicken. The eagle did what the prairie chickens did. It scratched in the dirt for seeds. It clucked and cackled. It never flew more than a few feet because that is what the prairie chickens did. One day he saw an eagle flying gracefully and majestically in the open sky. He asked the prairie chickens: "What is that beautiful bird?" The chickens replied, "That is an eagle. He is an outstanding bird, but you cannot fly like him because you are just a prairie chicken." So the eagle never gave it a second thought, believing that to be the truth. He lived the life of and died a prairie chicken, depriving himself of his heritage because of his lack of vision. What a waste! He was born to win, but was conditioned to lose.

Pessimists.

2008-02-13T08:27:00.000-08:00

Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. On the banks of the Hudson River he was

displaying his new invention. The pessimists and the skeptics were gathered around to

observe. They commented that it would never start. Lo and behold, it did. As it made its

way down the river, the pessimists who said it would never go, started shouting that it

would never stop. What an attitude!

LOOKING FOR THE GOLD.

2008-02-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

As a young Scots boy, Andrew Carnegie came to America and started doing odd jobs.

He ended up as one of the largest steel manufacturers in the United States.At one time he had 43 millionaires working for him.

Several decades ago, a million dollars used to be a lot of money; even today it is a lot of money.

Someone asked Mr. Carnegie

how he dealt with people? Andrew Carnegie replied, "Dealing with people is like digging

gold: When you go digging for an ounce of gold, you have to move tons of dirt to get an

ounce of gold. But when you go digging, you don't go looking for the dirt, you go looking

for the gold."

DAVID AND GOLIATH.

2008-02-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

There was a giant who was bullying and

harassing the children in the village. One day, a 17-year-old shepherd boy came to visit

his brothers and asked, "Why don't you stand up and fight the giant?" The brothers were

terrified and they replied, "Don't you see he is too big to hit?" But David said, "No, he is

not too big to hit, he is too big to miss." The rest is history. We all know what happened.

David killed the giant with a sling. Same giant, different perception.

Life is calling you today.

2008-02-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

Life always has its problems, but is that any reason to stop living it as fully as you possibly can? Things are never perfect, but is that any reason to be less than the best you can be?

Life is calling you today, calling you to live its richness. What are you waiting for? Now is a moment that's like no other. Sure, it has its challenges and problems, yet it also has so very much more.

Life is calling you today, calling you to make a difference. All that you've learned, all that you've experienced, all that you are has the magnificent opportunity to be put to positive, productive use today.

Even when the troubles cause you despair and dismay, keep in mind what is really going on. Life is simply calling you, calling you to make it better. And that's something you know full well that you can do.

ROSES AND THORNS.

2008-02-13T08:18:00.000-08:00

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it

Blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom and also the thorns. And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them.

One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past

The thorns and find the rose within others. This is the characteristic of

Love, to look at a person, and knowing his faults, recognize the nobility in his soul, and help him realize that he can overcome his faults. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns.

Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them their roses and not their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love we should feel for each other; only then can we bloom in our own garden.

All That Matters.

2008-02-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

Don't assume you've lots of time for all you want to do.
Though the future seems to stretch away into the blue...

Maybe you intend to scale those summits far away...,
But all that matters - is the hill you've got to climb today.

ACRES OF DIAMONDS.

2008-02-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, "If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country." And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn't sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent because he was unhappy.

The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm, took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn't find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn't find any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally,physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the
Barcelona River and committed suicide.Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put it in the living room. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, "Is Hafiz back?" The new owner said, "No, why do you ask?" The wise man said, "Because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one." The man said, no, that's just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come, I'll show you. There are many more." They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.

Moral :::
When our attitude is right, we realize that we are all walking on acres and acres of diamonds.

ATTITUDE

2008-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

There was a man who made a living selling balloons at a fair. He had all colours of

balloons, including red, yellow, blue, and green. Whenever business was slow, he would

release a helium-filled balloon into the air and when the children saw it go up, they all

wanted to buy one. They would come up to him, buy a balloon, and his sales would go up

again. He continued this process all day. One day, he felt someone tugging at his jacket.

He turned around and saw a little boy who asked, "If you release a black balloon, would

that also fly?" Moved by the boy's concern, the man replied with empathy, "Son, it is not

the colour of the balloon, it is what is inside that makes it go up."

Get Excited....

2008-02-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

Get excited and enthusiastic about your
own dream. This excitement is like a
forest fire -you can smell it, taste it,
and see it from a mile away.
--Denis Waitley

Great Quotation.

2008-02-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

--Lao Tzu

SHOW LIGHT.

2008-02-01T10:21:00.000-08:00

God created you and I to produce light in a dark world.

No matter how small we are or what colour we might be,

Like a little candle, we all can produce the same amount of light.

It is always up to us, either to get lost in darkness...

or sparkle and show light to others.

Your Goals.

2008-01-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

If you have trouble achieving the big goals, then break them down into smaller, more manageable goals. If you have trouble getting to work on the small goals, remind yourself of the bigger goals and purposes to which they lead.

The big goals are what will drive you, motivate you, and compel you to go forward. The smaller goals are what will actually move you steadily there.

When you have a big reason to take a small step, you're much more likely to find a way to take that step no matter what. String those small steps together and they'll add up to the big, important achievements you so earnestly desire.

Any accomplishment can be broken down into steps so small as to seem trivial. But put them all together, and the results are anything but trivial.

Keep putting one foot in front of another, and you can walk a thousand miles or even more, as long as you're motivated enough to keep going. Stay focused on those big goals, while persistently working through the small, day-to-day goals, and anything is within your reach.

POSITIVE CHANGE.

2008-01-18T17:16:00.000-08:00

Even when the day is cold and gray,
Life can be filled with warmth and joy.
Even when trouble weighs heavily on the world,
There are very real opportunities to move positively forward.

Even in the middle of winter,
There is the ever-present promise of spring.
Even when all seems to be lost,
There are still many ways to turn the situation around
Or to move on through it anyway.

Even when there appears to be no hope,
Someone will have the audacity to be hopeful anyway.
And more times than not, that person will be right.

The greatest opportunities for positive change
Very often arise from the most difficult situations.
The most enduring strengths are always forged
Against the most stubborn challenges.

There are those who give up at the first hint of trouble,
And then there are those
Who never give up no matter what.
Those who never give up are the ones who,
Thankfully, always get us through.

Sun Will Shine Again.

2008-01-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

Even though the sky seems dark, believe in the future.
The storm will pass over. The clouds will roll by.
Believe in the best though it seems hidden.
Know that it will come though it's not in sight.

Your faith will take you through the darkness.
Your belief shall prove that the sun will shine again.

Wings of a Bird

2008-01-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

There is a fable about the way birds first got their wings. The story goes that initially they were made without them. Then God made the wings, set them down before the wingless birds, and said to them, "Take up these burdens and carry them."

The birds had sweet voices for singing, and lovely feathers that glistened in the sunshine, but they could not soar in the air. When asked to pick up the burdens that lay at their feet, they hesitated at first. Yet soon they obeyed, picked up the wings with their beaks, and set them on their shoulders to carry them. For a short time the load seemed heavy and difficult to bear, but soon, as they continued to carry the burden and to fold the wings over their hearts, the wings grew attached to their little bodies. They quickly discovered how to use them and were lifted by the wings high into the air. The weights had become wings.

This is a parable for us. We are the wingless birds, and our duties and tasks are the wings God uses to lift us up and carry us heavenward. We look at our burdens and heavy loads, and try to run from them, but if we will carry them and tie them to our hearts, they will become wings. And on them we can then rise and soar toward God.

The heavy burdens when lifted cheerfully with love in our hearts will surely become a blessing to us. God intends for our tasks to be our helpers; to refuse to bend our shoulders to carry a load is to miss the new opportunity for growth. No matter how overwhelming, any burden God has lovingly placed with His own hands on our shoulders is a blessing.

ATTITUDE

2008-01-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

Once there was an old and very wise man. Every day he would sit outside a gas station in his rocking chair and wait to greet motorists as they passed through his small town. On this day, his granddaughter knelt down at the foot of his chair and slowly passed the time with him.

As they sat and watched the people come and go, a tall man who surely had to be a tourist -- since they knew everyone in the town -- began looking around as if he were checking out the area for a place to live.

The stranger walked up and asked,"So what kind of town is this that we're in?"
The older gentleman slowly turned to the man and replied," Well, what kind of town are you from?"
The tourist said,"In the town I'm from everyone is very critical of each other. The neighbours all gossip about everyone, and it's a real negative place to live. I'm sure glad to be leaving. It is not a very cheerful place. "
The man in the chair looked at the stranger and said," You know, that's just how this town is."

An hour or so later a family that was also passing through stopped for gas. The car slowly turned in and rolled to a stop in front of where the older gentleman and his granddaughter were sitting. The mother jumped out with two small children and asked where the restrooms were. The man in the chair pointed to a small, bent-up sign that was barely hanging by one nail on the side of the door.

The father stepped out of the car and also asked the man,"Is this town a pretty good place to live?"
The man in the chair replied," What about the town you are from? How is it?"
The father looked at him and said,"Well, in the town I'm from everyone is very close and always willing to lend their neighbour a helping hand. There's always a hello and thank you everywhere you go. I really hate to leave. I feel almost like we are leaving family. "

The older gentlemen turned to the father and gave him a warm smile.
"You know, that's a lot like this small town."

Then the family returned to the car, said their thank yous, waved goodbye and drove away.
After the family was in the distance, the granddaughter looked up at her grandfather and asked,"Grandpa, how come when the first man came into our town you told him it was a terrible place to live and when the family came in to town you told them it was a wonderful place to live? "

The grandfather lovingly looked down at this granddaughter's wondering blue eyes and said,"No matter where you move, you take your own attitude with you and that's what makes it terrible or wonderful. "

It's your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude. Happiness is not something you find, it's something you create.

QUOTE,

2008-01-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."

Dale Carnegie

20 Tips for a Positive New Year!

2008-01-12T17:23:00.000-08:00

1. Take a 10-30 minute "Thank you" walk every day. While you walk practice
gratitude. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a TIVO, tape your late night shows and get more sleep - it's the
ultimate energizer.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement: My
purpose is to___________ today.

5. Live with the 3 E's. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

6. Read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong and prayer.
They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Do the "one thing" you have always wanted to do.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that
are manufactured in plants.

11. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

12. Engage in daily random acts of kindness.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new
and flowing positive energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the
past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your
energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply
part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the
lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid
with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:

I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished____________.

19. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it
and enjoy it.

HENRY FORD

2008-01-12T17:19:00.000-08:00

If money is your hope for independence you will
never have it. The only real security that a man
will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge,
experience, and ability.

--Henry Ford

Blossom Like A Flower.

2008-01-12T17:16:00.000-08:00

The realization of happiness happens only after experience of pain.

If we desire to blossom like a flower in the garden of life,
Then we must learn the art of adjusting our life with the thorns!

DESIRE.

2008-01-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

If the things you desire are only for yourself, then what you accomplish will be empty and unfulfilling. Desire turned inward is nothing but greed, and will bring you nothing worth having. The greediest people are not those who desire too much. The greediest people are those who desire too little, who desire only for their own narrow, limited concerns.

The more outwardly your desires are focused, the more fulfilling will the fruits of those desires be. What you desire for the world beyond you, for all of life itself, will bring the most lasting, fulfilling rewards.

The person who solves his own small problems will receive some real value from his efforts. Yet when that person can make the same innovation available to others, the value that can be created is virtually unlimited.

Desire can be a powerful force, so be sure to point it in a positive direction. The more your desire is focused beyond your own concerns, the further it will take you and your world.

LIFE IS PRECIOUS.

2008-01-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so Often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard.

Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.

Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat.

This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own

Church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day

At the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday,

A man he'd never seen in uniform.

"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."

"Hello, Jack." No smile.

"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and

Kids."

"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.

"I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once."

Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct ." Ouch. This Was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.

"What'd you clock me at?"

"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"

"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

"Please, Jack, in the car"

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door.

Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the

Window.

The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.

Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?

Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.

There was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two

Inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.

Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this

One going to cost?

Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?

Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

"Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them.

I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever

Hug her again.

A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now.

Pray for me. And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."

"Bob"

Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head

Down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and

Hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message; please pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully.

Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker.

A Rebellious Little Bird.

2008-01-02T01:47:00.000-08:00

There was once a little bird who decided to rebel against tradition, and when it came time to fly south for the winter, he decided to stay behind. All the other birds flew south for the warmer weather, leaving the rebellious one alone.

Of course, it wasn't long before the little bird discovered he had made a terrible mistake. Winter set in and it became very cold. So, he decided that he had better take off and fly south like his friends.

He started flying, but didn't get very far before the cold north wind began to freeze his wings, and he went plummeting down, down, down ... He fell straight down from the sky, through an open hole in the rooftop of a nearby barn, and directly into a fresh pile of cow dung.

Well, the warmth thawed out his wings, and soon he was feeling fine again. But, as his little head popped out from the smelly dung, along came a cat who plucked him up and ate him.

Whenever you end up in a pile of DoDo it may not necessarily be a bad thing, and everyone that comes to pull you out of your DoDo may not necessarily be a good thing.

YOUR TALENT.

2008-01-02T01:41:00.000-08:00

There was a man played piano in a bar. He was a good piano player. People came out just to hear him play. But one night, a patron told him he didn't want to hear him just play anymore. He wanted him to sing a song. The man said, "I don't sing."

But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!" The bartender shouted across the room, "Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing!" So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard the song Mona, Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole!

He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he had to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America.

You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your "talent" is particularly great, but it may be better than you think! And with persistence, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess!

The moral of the story is : It is not "What ability do I have that is useful?" ; But - It is rather "How will I use whatever ability I have?"

QUOTES OF THE WEEK.

2008-01-02T01:37:00.000-08:00

"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know - that man is here for the sake of other men."
--Albert Einstein

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."
--Pantanjali

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008.

2008-01-02T01:35:00.000-08:00

May the way that lies ahead be lit with sunny gleams and prove to be the road to
fulfillment of your dreams.

May it lead you to the place where lost hopes are restored, where love is true and
life is good and faith has its reward.

May the year ahead be the year for you.

BRIAN TRACY.

2007-12-27T17:35:00.000-08:00

"The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance."
Brian Tracy

TAKE CHANCE.

2007-12-27T17:27:00.000-08:00

"The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed."
- Gordon Parks .

To Die . . .

2007-12-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

"To die is nothing; but it is terrible not to live."

Victor Hugo

Being Strong

2007-12-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

The harder the knocks you go through in life,
the more you learn and put them to use in the future!

Do not be discouraged by setbacks and failures...! They make you strong.

Pursue

2007-12-24T06:01:00.000-08:00

~~~~~~~

Some pursue happiness,

others create it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Pencil

2007-12-24T05:39:00.000-08:00

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."
"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."
"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."
"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."
"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."
"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write." The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.
And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

PURE SILVER

2007-12-24T05:34:00.000-08:00

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed

The woman was silent for a moment Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

We all need to know that God is watching over us.

Whatever we are going through, we'll be a better person in the end.

Be encouraged my friend.

In this Moment .

2007-12-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

There is no guarantee of what will happen tomorrow. That's what makes now so vitally important.

For now you can live and act and think and speak and work and love and learn and play. Now is here and you have it to use, so put into now the fullness of life.

What is your most treasured dream? Now is when you can bring it to life.

What means more to you than anything else? Now is your moment to fill with that meaning.

Let all the goodness you've ever known touch you in this moment. And use the positive power of your creativity to build even more new value.

Now is what you have, now is where you are, and now is everything you need. Now is when you can make life great.

~~unknown

INSPIRING QUOTES.

2007-12-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

"Your perception goes a long way in determining what your life is like. Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full."
-Russ Stiffler

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe."
-Gail Devers

"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history."
-Sonia Johnson

"The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed."
-Richard B. Sheridan

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."
-Tommy Lasorda

"There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul."
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

THE TWO FISHERMEN.

2007-12-23T09:35:00.001-08:00

Two men went fishing. One was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back. The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing the man waste good fish. "Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?" he asked.

The inexperienced fisherman replied, "I only have a small frying pan."

Sometimes, like that fisherman, we throwback the big plans, big dreams, big jobs, big opportunities that God gives us. Our faith is too small.

We laugh at that fisherman who didn't figure out that all he needed was a bigger frying pan, yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith?

Whether it's a problem or a possibility, God will never give you anything bigger than you can handle. That means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.

REMEMBER:Stop telling God you've got big problems.
Tell your problems you've got a BIG GOD!

QUOTE II

2007-12-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

Life isn't about how to survive the storm,

but how to Dance in the rain.

~~unknown

QUOTE.

2007-12-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

The unfortunate thing about this world,

Is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones.

~~Somerset Maugham

THE TWO BIRDS.

2007-12-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

There was once a lonely girl who longed desperately for love. One day while she was walking in the woods she found two starving song birds. She took them home and put them in a small glided cage. She nurtured them with love and the birds grew strong. Every morning they greeted her with a marvellous song. The girl felt great love for the birds. She wanted their singing to last forever.

One day the girl left the door to the cage open. The larger and stronger of the two birds flew from the cage. The girl watched anxiously as he circled high above her. She was so frightened that he would fly away and she would never see him again that as he flew close, she grasped at him wildly. She caught him in her fist. She clutched him tightly within her hand. Her heart gladened at her sucess in capturing him. Suddenly she felt the bird go limp. She opened her hand stared in horror at the dead bird. Her desperate clutching love had killed him.

She noticed the other bird teteering on the edge of the cage. She could feel his great need for freedom. His need to soar into the clear, blue sky. She lifted him from the cage and tossed him softly into the air. The bird circled once, twice, three times.

The girl watched delighted at the bird's enjoyment. Her heart was no longer concerned with her loss. She wanted the bird to be happy. Suddenly the bird flew closer and landed softly on her shoulder. It sang the sweetest melody, she had ever heard.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tight, the best way to keep love is to give it -- WINGS!

Take a closer look at Yourself.

2007-12-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

Many people put themselves down, by pointing out

Their inability's, inadequacies and weaknesses.

They underestimate their capabilities, competence

And potential.

Does this ring true with you? Take a closer look at

Yourself and tune into what you say and do. Vow to

Never underestimate yourself or limit what

You can achieve. You have huge amounts of

Talent and skill, screaming to be seen

And heard.

Instead of thinking in terms of what you "can't " do. Think

In terms of what you "can" do. This will let

Your talents shine!

Remember, you have the ability. You're perfectly

Adequate. You possess limitless potential, because

You're you.

~~unknown

THE POWER OF WORDS.

2007-12-23T09:25:00.000-08:00

There once was a wise sage who wandered the countryside. One day, as he passed near a village, he was approached by a woman who told him of a sick child nearby. She beseeched him to help this child.

So the sage came to the village, and a crowd gathered around him, for such a man was a rare sight. One woman brought the sick child to him, and he said a prayer over her.

"Do you really think your prayer will help her, when medicine has failed?" yelled a man from the crowd.

"You know nothing of such things! You are a stupid fool!" said the sage to the man.

The man became very angry with these words and his face grew hot and red. He was about to say something, or perhaps strike out, when the sage walked over to him and said: "If one word has such power as to make you so angry and hot, may not another have the power to heal?"

And thus, the sage healed two people that day.

DONT QUIT.

2007-12-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

When things go wrong as they sometimes will

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high

You want to smile but just sigh

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must but don't quit

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As everyone of us sometimes learns

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out

Don't give up though, the pace seems slow

You may succeed with another blow

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup

And he learned too late when the night came down

How close he was to the golden crown

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are

It may be near when it seems so far

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

IF .... (POEM)

2007-12-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,

If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

~~ By Rudyard Kipling

HOPE.

2007-12-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

Replace your worry with hope.

And fulfill your hope with action.

Send positive thoughts to your most troubling situation.

Soon you'll find yourself starting to act on those thoughts.

Instead of worrying about the worst that could happen,

Allow yourself to hope for the best that can happen.

In your mind, make the most positive outcome real.

Hope for the best, with passion, conviction and faith.

For when you do, you'll begin to see real,

Workable ways to get there.

There is no situation so desperate that it cannot be turned around.

Always, there is a place and a purpose for hope.

Hope for the best, and let that hope push you forward.

With hope in your heart, you're well on your way.

~~unknown

Sail, Don't Drift.

2007-12-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

I find the greatest thing in this world not so much where we stand,
as in what direction we are moving.

To reach the port... we must sail sometimes with the wind,
and sometimes against it.

But we sail, and not drift, nor live at anchor.

Flaws Within Us.

2007-12-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

Each of us has our own unique flaws.
It's these flaws we have, that makes life so very interesting and rewarding.
It binds our lives together.

Instead of looking for flaws;
we have to accept people for what they are and look for the good in them.

THE TWO BROTHERS.

2007-12-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

Two brothers worked together on the family farm. One was married and had a large family. The other was single. At the day's end, the brothers shared everything equally, produce and profit.

Then one day the single brother said to himself, "It's not right that we should share equally the produce and
the profit. I'm alone and my needs are simple." So each night he took a sack of grain from his bin and crept
across the field between their houses, dumping it into his brother's bin.

Meanwhile, the married brother said to himself, "Its not right that we should share the produce and the profit
equally.

After all, I'm married and I have my wife and my children to look after me in years to come. My brother
has no one, and no one to take care of his future." So each night, he took a sack of grain and dumped it into
his single brother's bin.

Both men were puzzled for years because their supply of grain never dwindled. Then one dark night the two brothers bumped into each other. Slowly it dawned on them what was happening.

They dropped their sacks and embraced one another.

SUCCESS.

2007-12-23T00:06:00.000-08:00

Success is what happens when you set out to make the world a better place, and when you keep going long enough to bring it about. Failure is what happens when you're convinced that the whole world is against you, and you persist in making that belief into a reality.

Success is what happens when you look for ways to create new value, and then enthusiastically follow those possibilities. Failure is what happens when you think the world owes you something and you expect to live off the value created by others.

Success is what happens when you open your mind to new ideas while keeping yourself grounded by proven virtues. Failure is what happens when you think you know it all and when you consider civilized behavior a waste of time.

Success is what happens when you find a way to take positive, effective action, no matter what obstacles may stand in your way. Failure is what happens when you become better at making excuses than at getting results.

Success is the consequence of certain specific thoughts, attitudes and efforts, and failure results from other thoughts, attitudes and efforts. Every moment is leading you to some very real, very specific results. And every moment, with the thoughts, attitudes and actions you choose, you can determine just what those results will be -- success or failure.

QUOTE :: LOVE

2007-12-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

"Love is not only something you feel. It is something you do."

David Wilkerson

Life Is Short!

2007-12-21T17:40:00.000-08:00

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."

"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. "In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later, after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"

~~unknown

LIFE IS ....

2007-12-14T19:32:00.000-08:00

Life is as fleeting as a rainbow, a flash of lighting, a star at dawn. Knowing this, how can you quarrel?

PURPOSE.

2007-12-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

"The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a PURPOSE."

William Cowper

Answer One Question,

2007-12-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

In life, answer to only one question matters!
Have you chosen a course that leads to a destination which matters most to you?

THE CACTUS STORY.

2007-12-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

A cactus stood all alone in the desert, wondering why it was stuck in the middle of nowhere. "I do nothing but stand here all day," it sighed. "What use am I? I'm the ugliest plant in the desert. My spines are thick and prickly, my leaves are rubbery and tough, my skin is thick and bumpy. I can't offer shade or juicy fruit to any passing traveler. I don't see that I'm any use at all." All it did was stand in the sun day after day, growing taller and fatter. Its spines grew longer and its leaves tougher, and it swelled here and there until it was lumpy and lopsided all over. It truly was strange- looking. "I wish I could do something useful," it sighed.

By day hawks circled high overhead. "What can I do with my life?" the cactus called. Whether they heard or not, the hawks sailed away. At night the moon floated into the sky and cast its pale glow on the desert floor. "What good can I do with my life?" the cactus called. The moon only stared coldly as it mounted its course.
A lizard crawled by, leaving a little trail in the sand with its tail. "What worthy deed can I do?" the cactus called. "You?" the lizard laughed, pausing a moment. "Worthy deed? Why, you can't do anything! The hawks circle way overhead, tracing delicate patterns for us all to admire. The moon hangs high like a lantern at night, so we can see our ways home to our loved ones. Even I, the lowly lizard, have something to do. I decorate the sands with these beautiful brushstrokes as I pull my tail along. Buy you? You do nothing but get uglier every day."
And so it went on, year after year. At last the cactus grew old, and it knew its time was short. "Oh, Lord," it cried out, "I've wondered so long, and I've tried so hard. Forgive me if I've failed to find something worthy to do. I fear that now it's too late." But just then the cactus felt a strange stirring and unfolding, and it knew a surge of joy that erased all despair. At its very tip, like a sudden crown, a glorious flower suddenly opened in bloom.

Never had the desert known such a blossom. Its fragrance perfumed the air far and wide and brought happiness to all passing by. The butterflies paused to admire its beauty, and that night even the moon smiled when it rose to find such a treasure.
The cactus heard a voice. You have waited long," the Lord said. "The heart that seeks to do good reflects My glory, and will always bring something worthwhile to the world, something in which all can rejoice - even if for only a moment."

TWO FROGS.

2007-12-14T19:24:00.000-08:00

Once a big fat frog and a lively little frog were hopping along togetherwhen they had the misfortune of jumping into a pail of fresh milk. They swam for hours and hours hoping to get out somehow; but the sides of the pail were steep and slippery and death seemed to be certain.

When the big frog was exhausted he lost courage. There seemed no hope ofrescue. "Why keep struggling against the inevitable? I cannot swim anylonger." He moaned.
"Keep on! Keep on!" urged the little frog, who was stillcircling the pail. So they went on for a while. But the big frog decided itwas no use.
"Little brother, We may as well give up" he gasped. "I am going to quit struggling."Now only the little frog was left.
He thought to himself. "Well, to give upis to be dead, so I will keep swimming."

Two more hours passed and the tinylegs of the determined little frog were almost paralysed with exhaustion. It seemed as if he could not keep moving for another minute. But he thought ofhis dead friend, and repeated,
"To give up is to be meat for someone'stable, so I'll keep paddling on until I die – if death is to come – but I will not cease trying – while there is life, there is hope."

Intoxicated with determination, the little frog kept on swimming around andaround the pail, chopping the milk into white waves. After a while, just as he felt completely numb and thought he was about to drown, he suddenly feltsomething solid under him.

To his astonishment, he saw that he was restingon a lump of butter which he had churned by constant paddling! And so the successful little frog leaped out of the milk pail to freedom.

Oprah Winfrey .

2007-12-14T19:22:00.000-08:00

"What I know for sure is that what you give comes back to you."

Oprah Winfrey

DESIRE.

2007-12-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Desire can be a powerful force, so be sure to point it in a positive direction. The more your desire is focused beyond your own concerns, the further it will take you and your world.

"Do Something..."

2007-12-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

Do Something,
If It Works,
Do More Of It
If It Doesn't,
Do Something Else.

WAKE UP.

2007-12-14T19:12:00.000-08:00

When you hear 'Repent for your past,' realize it's a great religious distraction from waking up. Wake up! That's what repent means. Not 'weep for your sins.' Wake up! Stop all the crying. Understand! Wake up!

An Attitude Choice.

2007-12-14T19:11:00.000-08:00

"Circumstances occur that could easily crush us. They may originate on the job or at home or even during the weekend when we are relaxing. Unexpectedly, they come. Immediately we have a choice to make. . .an attitude choice. We can hand the circumstances to God and ask Him to take control or we can roll up our mental sleeves and slug it out. Joy awaits our decision."

~~Charles Swindoll

Nothing good is ever lost.

2007-12-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

People and situations will change, things will come and go in and out of your life. Yet nothing good is ever lost. The love you know stays with you always, even when the person you love is no longer with you. The good things you do stay with you always, even when time has erased all physical evidence of them.

When you live in fear of losing something, then you never really have or experience it. When you avoid attempting anything because you fear failure, then failure is exactly what you get.

No good effort is ever wasted, for even if it fails to produce any outer value, the inner value is always there. Even when what you do is not recognized or reciprocated or appreciated, still you have had the priceless blessing of doing it.

If you constantly seek the validation of others, you will often be disappointed. Yet when you live, and love and act in each moment with the best that you have to give, the real value you create can never be diminished

JAMES ALLEN.

2007-12-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

James Allen

ACT TODAY,

2007-12-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

We grow old filled with regrets -
for things not done;
for words not said;
for love not shown;
for dreams not completed.

Life is short. Act today.
Do all that makes you happy. Now.

Albert Einstein.

2007-12-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

"From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others... for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received."

- Albert Einstein

(German-born Theoretical Physicist)

Where You Take Life.

2007-12-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

Over the same sea, on the same winds;
A ship sails in one direction, another in opposite.
It is not the wind that decides which direction the ship goes;
Its the sails; how they are tied and how they are maneuvered.

Similarly, it is not fate that decides where your life is going;
It is all about how you take life and where you take it to.

The great thing in the World....

2007-12-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

"The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Can You Sleep While the Wind Blows?

2007-12-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.

He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were

Reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the

Awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received

A steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached

The farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.

"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help,

Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from

Dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.

Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed

Next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the

Little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!

Tie things down before they blow away!"

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No

Sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on

The spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.

To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had

Been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens

Were in the coops, and the doors were barred.

The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.

Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his

Hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while

The wind blew.

MORAL OF THE STORY.

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,

You have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the

Wind blows through your life?

The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he

Had secured the farm against the storm.

We secure ourselves against the storms of life by

Grounding ourselves in the Word of God.

We don't need to understand, we just need to hold

His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.

The best years of your life....

2007-12-14T18:48:00.000-08:00

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You don't blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the President. You realize that you control your own destiny."

Albert Ellis

Life is an Experience

2007-12-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

The triumphs will be sweet and the regrets will sting. Take it all in, whatever it may be, and move on steadily ahead.

Whatever experience life may bring your way, find in it something to value. Take that value and make the most of it as you apply it in a positive, purposeful direction.

Concern yourself not with what is wrong, but with how you can make it better. Take pleasure not in what you have, but in what it can enable you to do.

Let go of the envy, the anger and despair. Hold on to the love, the joy and the hope.

In each ending, find the new beginning that is surely there. In each setback find the will to go forward, and use each success to create value that goes far beyond yourself.

Appreciate every moment, whatever that moment may bring. And from those moments will come a remarkable life.

You Can't Do Everything...

2007-12-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

Every day you're bombarded with an ever-increasing

Number of opportunities, yet you don't seem to have

Enough time to get things done. If that isn't enough,

You believe you're not working quickly enough to

Keep up with the nonstop flow of information streaming out

Of your computer. Worse yet, you feel as if you'll be lift

In the dust if you don't keep up.

The truth is, there will never be enough time to get

Everything done, so, don't kill yourself trying.

You can face overwhelming challenges, yet still make

Each day purposeful, by keeping in mind a clear

Intention of what you want to do. Resolve to stay

Focused on accomplishing important tasks. Be willing to

Say "No" when your asked to add responsibilities

That are not in harmony with your aspirations.

Life is not meant to be a struggle but a balanced and

Joyful journey

QUOTES FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON.

2007-12-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.

It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very fast.

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

Burdens Of Life.

2007-12-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

We worry about our family, we worry about money or the lack of it.
We worry about work, about where we live, about all sorts of things.

These are all burdens - the things we pick up along life's path and lug them around the obstacles and over the crevasses that life will bring; only to find that, at the destination they are useless and we can't take them with us.

Acres of Diamonds.

2007-12-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

One of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman.

One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but couldn't swing it financially. Dr. Conwell decided, at that moment, what his aim in life was, besides being a man of cloth - that is. He decided to build a university for unfortunate, but deserving, students. He did have a challenge, however. He would need a few million dollars to build the university. For Dr. Conwell, and anyone with real purpose in life, nothing could stand in the way of his goal.

Several years before this incident, Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a true story - with its ageless moral. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, wealth, which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, "Heck, the whole farm is covered with them" -
and sure enough it was.

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on "Acres of Diamonds" until he sold his farm.

Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to teach it's moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own "Acre of Diamonds", if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures. Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted enormous audiences. He told the story long enough to have raised the money to start the college for underprivileged deserving students. In fact, he raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple University in Philadelphia, has at least ten degree-granting colleges and six other schools.

When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own "Acre of Diamonds", he meant it. This story does not get old...it will be true forever...

Opportunity does not just come along - it is there all the time - we just have to see it.

Glad and Sad .

2007-12-02T17:54:00.000-08:00

A young man was traveling in a far country. It was getting late in the day, and he knew that he needed to stop to rest. However, he was thirsty and needed to find water before he slept.

He met a white haired old man sitting on a rock by the side of the road. The young man asked him if he knew of a place where he could find water to drink. The old man said that if the young man stayed on the path he would come to a small stream. However, it would be after dark before he would reach the stream. The old man told the traveler that he could safely drink there. The old man further said that if he would pick up a handful of pebbles from the stream bed, the young man would be both glad and sad. The young man thanked the old man and continued on his journey.

Sure enough, even though it was quite dark, the young traveler found the stream. He took a drink. The young man thought it silly to pick up pebbles, but just for curiosity he picked up a handful and put them in his pocket. He then found a place to sleep a short distance away from the stream.

When he woke up, the young man remembered the pebbles. He shoved his hand into his pocket and brought them out. As he looked at them in amazement, the young man simultaneously felt great sorrow and great happiness for there in his hand lay beautiful, sparkling jewels. Quickly he rushed back to the stream to get more. He frantically searched through many hands full of ordinary pebbles, but the opportunity was gone. As he looked at the beautiful jewels, the young traveler felt so sad that he did not pick up many more At the same time he was happy that he had at least picked up those that he had.

So it is with us. If we are wise, we will listen to and follow wise counsel. In life, we can't go back. We need to find joy in good choices and experience sorrow for opportunities lost.

QUOTES .

2007-12-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

-Some people complain that there are thorns on roses, while others praise
thorns for having roses among them.

-A person's true character is revealed by what he does when no one is watching.

-Although the tongue weighs very little, very few people are able to hold it.

-Falling down doesn't make you a failure, but staying down does.

-Don't be afraid of pressure. Remember that pressure is what turns a lump of coal into a diamond.

-Even a woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head.

-The poorest of all men is not the man without a cent but the man without a dream.

-The only preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today.

-People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

-Temper is what gets most of us into trouble. Pride is what keeps us there.

-The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little "extra".

-The heart is happiest when it beats for others.

-One thing you can learn by watching the clock is that it passes time by keeping its hands busy.