Life Coaches

[ElansarGelmir]

"When I played with Michael Jordan on the Olympic team, there was a huge gap between his ability and the ability of the other great players on that team. But what impressed me was that he was always the first one on the floor and the last one to leave." -- Steve Alford

"If we don't change the direction we're going, we're likely to end up where we're headed." -- Chinese Proverb

"The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what interests you and that you can do well, and put your whole soul into it - every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have." -- John D. Rockefeller III

"Failure isn't so bad if it doesn't attack the heart. Success is all right if it doesn't go to the head." -- Grantland Rice

"Before I'd get in the ring, I'd have already won or lost it on the road. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." -- Muhammad Ali

"Opportunity is missed by most people bacause it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -- Thomas Edison

"It is impossible to excel at something you don't enjoy." -- Jack Nicklaus

"Personnel determines the potential of the team. Vision determines the direction of the team. Work ethic determines the preparation of the team. Leadership determines the success of the team." -- John C. Maxwell

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." -- Albert Einstein

"The higher you want to climb, the more you need leadership. The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be. Whatever you will accomplish is restricted by your ability to lead others." -- John C. Maxwell

If you are bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals." -- Lou Holtz

"Nobody who ever gave their best effort regretted it." -- George Halas

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." -- Muhammad Ali

"Only winners are truly alive. Winning is living. Every time you win, you're reborn. When you lose, you die a little." -- George Allen

"True losers never know why they are losing. They will mention injuries, the officiating, the weather and bad breaks." -- George Allen

"Don't go to the grave with life unused." -- Bobby Bowden

[ElansarGelmir]

1) Lost and Possession

Once, there was a very successful and famous business man. During the time when he reached his peak in his business ventures, he accompanied his dad to a high class and elegant restaurant for dinner.

In this superior and luxurious restaurant, a famous pianist was performing to the diners with his heavenly bound music and skill.

While indulging in the music coming from this prominent and reputable pianist, the businessman recall that he learnt to play piano before when he was young and was so crazy with deep love on piano. He then turn to his dad, "If in the past, I seriously practiced piano, now I may be performing like a pro here in this luxurious place to all the distinguished diners."

"Yes, my son", replied his dad. "But if that's the case, you will not be dining in this luxurious restaurant as a distinguished diner now."

** LIFECOACHES: "We often sigh and regret over lost opportunities and achievements, but always forget to count our blessings for what we have now. Start counting your blessings, and treasure what you are possessing now. What are you possessing now? **ponder and list down** - health, youth, love, touch, taste, family, friends, wealth... and mostly, be glad and happy that you can still taste O2 (oxygen)"

[ElansarGelmir]

2) Pure and simple joy of rejoice

There is this charming little girl that walk to school from home. One morning, weather was turning bad, clouds darken and thicken, when it reached noon... wind was blowing wild, soon thunder was heard and lightning slashed the dark afternoon sky... heavy rain poured.

This little girl's mom is worried, she fear that her charming girl may frighten by the deafening thunder or even jolt by it! Thundering rain getting worst and worst, her mom quickly step on her car's accelerator along the road to school to search for her daughter.

Suddenly she saw her walking alone on the street heading home, but she was shocked by the reaction of her charming daughter... she noticed that every time when lightning strikes, she will stop from walking, look up and smile to the sky.

After a while, out of curiosity, her mom suddenly ran up to her and asked, "What are you doing, my dear?"

It was so beautiful that her answer was simply, "God is taking picture of me, that's why I have to give my best lovely smile!"

** LIFECOACHES: "Joy and happiness in life is everywhere if we choose to open up to see, hear, learn, taste, enjoy and feel with a pure heart and soul. With our pure, simple and plain heart and soul, like a baby... happiness and blessed life is surrounding and will blanket us."

[ElansarGelmir]

3) Knowing your "Limited" genius

A clever little boy was in a grocery store with his mom. When the lady owner saw this handsome little boy, she opened a box full of sweets and candies and offer it to him. She requested him to grasp a handful of these candies. But strangely, this little boy has no reaction at all. After landed a few empty offers, this lady owner grasps a handful of candies for him and placed them in his front pocket.

When little boy reached home, her mom asked in a curious tone, "why didn't you grasp the candies yourself, but wanted the lady owner to do it for you?"

The boy gave a brilliant answer, "Mom, because my hand is small compare to the lady owner. That's why she will definitely grasp more with her hand than mine!"

** LIFECOACHES: "This is a boy with wisdom, as he knew his own strength and limit. Do you know yours? The most important lesson is, he also knows the strength of others. In life, to achieve anything, it's rather stupid to work with our own energy. We must learn like this little boy, with his wisdom of getting help from the strength of others. This is called humble, this is termed wise!"

[ElansarGelmir]

SIP of WISDOM TEA
##################

Pauline is going for a job interview. At the corridor, she unhesitatingly
and faithfully pick up a piece of rubbish and put it in the rubbish bin. Her
good habit was captured in the interviewer's eyes, and she landed herself a
job.

** LIFECOACHES: "It's so easy to be honored and admired by others in
recognition, simply make your good habits grow and practiced them faithfully
daily."

----- // ----- // -----

Steven is an apprentice of a bicycle shop. He is a freshman amongst all
other apprentice. Beside fixing bicycles sent in by customers, he also took
additional effort to shine, clean and wash the bicycle for the customer by
not expecting anything in return. All other apprentice laugh at his
stupidity. Later... the next day after a customer reclaimed his bicycle,
Steven has been recruited to work in the big corporate of this customer.

** LIFECOACHES: "It's so easy to excel in life, simply endure a little
personal loss by giving more than expected."

[Ic3b3rg]

elansar...y r u the onli one here??

[ElansarGelmir]

Haha, dunno . . . But i receive this a lot in my email... used to delete tonnes of them. But just decided to post them here in case those who are down and desperate may want to look up some words of encouragements in their lives... That's why it's called Life Coaches. It tells us about the rough and tumble of life, how we usually see it, and how to derive positive thoughts and deeds from it. More to come.... Hehe!

[Ic3b3rg]

gee... so touching... thanx yer!

[ElansarGelmir]

In the States, they charge for Life Coaching. Hehe, although these are just a smidgeon of the Life Coaches (coz it's from my emails), i hope that there are some which will be useful to those who bother to check it out.

[Schye]

Thanks, ElansarGelmir ...
please dont stop :P cos i like those that you have posted ...

[ElansarGelmir]

Hehe, thanks. But if you guys stumbled upon other stuffs like this, try posting it here. I feel a little weird to be the only one in this place. Hehe.

[Ic3b3rg]

okie weirdo

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,
>because they are not going to be around forever.
>
>Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to
>you in awe, because that little person soon will
>grow up and leave your side.
>
>Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
>because that is the only treasure you can give with
>your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
>
>Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and
>your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and
>an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep
>inside of you.
>
>Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
>someday that person will not be there again.
>
>Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time
>to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
>
>AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
>
>Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
>take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[ElansarGelmir]

SIP of WISDOM TEA
##################

Aileen the sweet loving little girl tells her mom, "Mommy, you are so
beautiful today."
Mom replied, "Why, my dear?"
Aileen responded, "Because today mommy is not angry."

** LIFECOACHES: "To own and possess beauty, it's so easy; simply keep
yourself away from anger."

----- // ----- // -----

Peter the farmer, commanded his son to work hard on herding, farming and
pasturing everyday.
A friend advised Peter, "You don't have to be mean to that poor child.
Animals and vegetables will still grow well."
Peter replied, "My dear friend, I am not growing my livestock nor crop; I am
growing my son."

** LIFECOACHES: "It's so easy to cultivate and grow children, simply stretch
and endure them with hard work on foundation of love."

[ElansarGelmir]

Beautiful story. Thought I'd share it with all of you.

Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't
forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?"

Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her Grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday.

Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands.

The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower - her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green?

Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.

"Well, then, give me your pearls." "Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?" "Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."

A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you." "Well, then, give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have the Ribbons too if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father.


"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."

Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. "Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand.

With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure. Isn't God good?

Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of?

Are you holding onto harmful or unnecessary partners, bad relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?

Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe in one thing.... God will never take away something
without giving you something better in its place.

[Ic3b3rg]

When Things Are Beyond Your Control Here's a recipe for permanent misery...

a) Decide how you think the world SHOULD be.

b) Make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave.


Then, when the world doesn't obey your rules, get angry! That's what miserable people do!
Let's say you expect that:

Friends SHOULD return favours.
People SHOULD appreciate you.
Planes SHOULD arrive on time.
Everyone SHOULD be honest.
Your husband/wife SHOULD remember your birthday.
These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won't happen! So you end up frustrated and disappointed. There's a better strategy. Have less demands.
Instead, have preferences!

For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:

"I WOULD PREFER "A", BUT IF "B" HAPPENS, IT'S OK TOO!"

This is really a game that you play in your head. It is a shift in attitude, and it gives you more peace of mind.

You prefer that people are polite .. but when they are rude, it
doesn't ruin your day.

You prefer
sunshine .. but rain is ok!


To become happier, we either need to
a) change the world, or
b) change our thinking. It is easier to change our thinking!



IN A NUTSHELL

It's not what happens to you that determines your happiness.

It's how you think about what happens to you

[Ic3b3rg]

The Law Of Seed

Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on
The tree, each with ten seeds. That's a lot of seeds!

We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few
more
trees?"

Nature has something to teach us here. It's telling us: "Most seeds never grow. So if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once."

This might mean:

You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job.

You'll interview forty people to find one good employee.

You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, car, insurance policy,idea.

And you might meet a hundred acquaintances to find one special friend.

When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so
disappointed.

We stop feeling like victims. Laws of nature are not things to take personally.

We just need to understand them - and work with them.

IN A NUTSHELL
Successful people fail more often. They plant more seeds.

[ElansarGelmir]

The Art of Listening

In a TV talk show, the host is interviewing a little boy, the host asked
him, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Answered the naive boy,
"Yes! I want to fly a plane, I want to be a pilot!"

The host continue with his question, "If one day, while flying across
Pacific Ocean, suddenly all the engines of your plane cease to work. What
would you do?" The boy pause for a while, and said "I will tell everyone on
board to fasten their safety belts and I will jump out of the plane with my
parachute..." Suddenly, The host and audiences in the talk show laugh
hysterically when they heard what the boy has said.

The boy is numbed and hot tears rushing out of his eyes, he cry and weep in
hurt, in pain. After seeing this, the host felt sorry for what he and the
audiences did to him - laughing at him - to make him feel better, he asked
the little boy, "why would you do that?"

The little boy then wear a big grin on his charming face and responded, "I
am going to get help for them while they remain safe in the plane with their
safety belts on. I will be back!"

<==Everyone caught in silence==>

"Yes, I will be back to save all of them!!" say the proud little pilot.

** LIFECOACHES: "When you are listening to the speech of other, are you
listening or just hearing? Is your heart there when you are listening? Do
you really understand his meaning? Or you just merely hearing it and
perceive? If you don't understand, please let them carry on and finish
their speech first. As Steven R. Covey said, 'Seek first to understand,
then to be understood.' This is the art of listening. (1) In conversation,
never listen half and interject in other people speech. Let them finish
first. (2) Don't make assumption or draw unfounded conclusion based on
what you think you know. Most of the time, you don't! Let them finish
their speech first."

[ElansarGelmir]

The hint of an evening stroll

One day, God gave me a mission, He instructed me to lead a snail for an
evening stroll. I cannot walk fast, the snail is already crawling with all
its energy at best it can. Every time it only squeeze itself a tiny little
bit of crawl.

I hurry the snail, pester it, blame it, scolded it and even curse it with my
evil eyes... The snail look up on me with its guilt-ridden and apologetic
eyes, it's like saying to me, "I have already done my best!"

I pull the snail, I push it, I drag it... I almost kick it. The snail is
hurt, it's sweating tiredly and panting dyingly... while crawling forward
bit by bit. "It's so weird", I scream with all my might. "Why God asked me
to lead a snail on an evening stroll?!" I shouted. "Why God? Why!?" ... The
sky is in silence. "Sigh! Maybe God is catching more stupid snails now!" I
shouted in anger.

"OK, fine!" I then let loose the snail. "Since God doesn't care now! Why
would I! I will let loose this stupid snail! I won't care, I will let the
snail do its own crawling at its own desire."

While the snail crawling ahead of me, I sat and ranting behind it in deep
anger and frustration. "Eh?! I smell sweet scents of flowers? Oh, there's a
beautiful garden here. Why didn't I notice it all these years?"

While I caught in amusement by the perfume flowers wear... a nice breeze
hugs me with its tender warm touch. "Now I know how soft and lovely the
evening tender breeze is... Ahhhh! So refreshing. Wait! I hear the sweet
chirping of birds and insects in their beautiful and elegant melody. It's
like an orchestra. Marvelous! I even see sparkling and twinkling little
stars smiling at me from the sky above... Why didn't I notice all these in
the past?"

Suddenly, I was awaked, "I have made a mistake! God is actually asking the
snail to lead me on an evening stroll!"

** LIFECOACHES: "Have you found your snail? Go for a morning and evening
stroll with your snail and start to explore life now! Life is not meant to
rush... enjoy life's aroma bit by bit, like sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
Certain time, we have to let go of our self inflicted mission, to open our
heart to see, feel and touch a true, ideal and substantial life. Slow down
or halt for a while and enjoy."

[ElansarGelmir]

You can be unbounded and free
#############################
There was a book "Living Elsewhere" that I came across in the past. It stroke my imagination that my life is always far away, which I kept thinking: If I am rich tomorrow, I can ....

But,

# If you aren't happy now when you are living on a string with little money, you won't be happy no matter how rich you become later.

# If when you are alone, you can't enjoy yourself; even when you get married, your wife or husband won't enjoy themselves when they are with you.

# If you aren't treasuring and enjoying your life daily, in future you won't be enjoying your life too.

Someone once asked, what's freedom? What's unbounded freedom? Freedom means:

# you don't need to make up a reason to decline someone's invitation. You have your own power and authority to live your own life to go where you crave of going. Simply speaking, life is simple.

Men and women like to set a deadline in their own life, for example:

# I must get marry by 25

# By 26yr, I must have kid

# By 30yr, I must have at least a son and a daughter

# By 31yr, I must owned a house... etc.

With these rules, that's why a lot of decision will be made slovenly.

If at start, the one you have found is not meant for you, in future no matter how hard you work on the relationship, it still won't work.

Sometimes, we may think: we are married to each other and all problems are gone forever, but then to our surprise... problems still exist, so we thought, let's get a baby and problems will be solved, and again... we still experienced the same problems, which now snowballed into a messy big problem. We must understand that, if we didn't face our problem right on and solve it at present level; if we find excuses to escape from our problem at present level, it will snowball and become a more complex problem.

We shouldn't expect too much from the future, the more of our expectation, the more our disappointment. Just live now! Live in the present moment wholeheartedly. Why don't you think what can you do now that can make you feel relax and as light as feather, with a relax heart and emotion, we tend to absorb more in life... and that will complete our life.

Other than that, if we work very hard to live in other people's expectations, it will decay our life and suffocate us in pain. Live life to your own expectation! If today, you can proudly say that you don't care what others are saying about you, then you are living an unbounded free life.

To me, as I always say, "Life is about living, life is about loving."; let me tell you this, the beauty of life is love made real!

How attractive are you? I don't mean externally, I mean what is your ability

to attract success, happiness, relationships, business, etc.?

What is the quality of your life?

Read on to find out ways to reinforce things you do successfully

and discover tools which will help you to reach new heights. It is a frame work to being the best person you can be.

"Imagination is everything, it is the preview of life's coming attractions." - Einstein

Imagine yourself in total grace, imagine yourself living your purpose. If you have a vision for yourself, go forth in beauty like the ocean waves. A beautiful wave never slows down to let the other waves go by, a beautiful wave just goes. Your beauty is your birthright; On your journey to a more fulfilled you, be mindful about walking in beauty. Keep in mind that "a diamond was a piece of coal that kept trying."

Love is the essence of beauty. It is the way we aspire to present ourselves in the world. Beauty is a function of the mind and emotional conditioning. It is said, "Beauty is as Beauty does." How you feel inside reflects on the outside, the way you treat yourself and others, how you handle matters in good times and bad. Beauty is confidence with humbleness, certainty with gentle strength. Beauty is when your heart and your head work together. Since the longest journey is from the mind to the heart, be kind with yourself as you make that wonderful journey to love.

Presentation is an extension of our belief system of who we think we are. That is how we present ourselves physically, intellectually and spiritually. It is said that the first impression you make lasts the longest. To create a lasting impression, work on your Star Essence. Everybody has a sparkle in their eyes even if it is hidden, and everybody has a song in their heart even if they can't hear it. Retrain yourself to live and love as there is nothing sexier then being alive and vital.

Beauty has Grace, Class and Style.

Grace is an inner refinement that consist of ethics, loyalty, integrity, truth, self-love and generosity.

Class is not something tangible. It is a sense of quality in everything we do.

Style is a manner in which art is expressed. It has character and originality.

There is only one you, and nobody else mimic you. You are a human treasure.

You have been given the gift of life, and what you do with it is your gift to the creator.

From now on,

1) Work on self-esteem, self-confidence.

2) Define your goals and passions.

3) Develop confidence and be in harmony with every situation as the basis for true compassion and intelligence.

4) Get Rebirth.

5) Present yourself with love physically, intellectually, and spiritually.

** LIFECOACHES: "Life is showering its gifts upon us at this very moment. There is a force of love and light that is streaming, rushing, pouring toward us from all angles at all times. All we have to do is to let it in. Blessings are being offered to all of us without condition or limit. Its all already given to us. The keys to the Kingdom are ours whenever we are willing to accept them. What we have to lose is fear, lack, limitation, and sorrow. What we have to gain is peace of mind, success, health, and love. We do not need to become anything that we are not already. We need only say, "Yes!" - to what the universe would just love to give to us. We need to think with God."

"From now on, live freely and love fully"

[ElansarGelmir]

http://www.pathways-to-peace.com

[ElansarGelmir]

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com

[yekban81]

Thanks a lot to everyone here especially Elansar for the interesting and meaningful posts in this forum.


4 Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation
By Michael Lee, CPA

It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to fail, isn't
it? Are there times in your life when you really want to call
it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from all
the hard work you've done?

Hold your horses!

Never ever think of giving up. Winners never quit and quitters
never win. Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary
and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience.
The battle is never lost until you've abandon your vision.

But what if you're really exhausted physically, mentally, and
most of all emotionally? Here are some sources of motivation
to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.

1) The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End

How would you feel after accomplishing your mission? Of course
you will feel ecstatic. You might be shedding tears of joy. Let
this tremendous feeling sink in and encourage you to persist
despite all odds.

When I was studying for the Board Exams, I used this technique
to motivate me. I would envision the sweetness of folks calling
me a CPA. It would command respect. People will look up to
me as a higher level of authority. And I would have better
chances of finding a good job. I absorbed all these great
perceptions into my inner being in order to achieve my ultimate
goal.

2) The Reward System

How would you feel if you've entered a contest, but there are no
prizes for the winners? It's not very encouraging, isn't it?

The same principles apply to your vision. Reward yourself after
accomplishing a goal. Set a particular incentive for every
objective.

Let's say if you've achieved a particular task, you'll treat
yourself to your favorite restaurant. When you've finished
a bigger task, you'll go on a vacation.

Got the idea?

Just set something gratifying to indulge in after completing
a certain undertaking.

3) The Powerful Force of Humanity

If you want to succeed, surround yourself with the right
kind of people who will support and encourage you all the
way.

Be with people who have the same beliefs and aspirations as
yours. Positive aura is generated by this fusion of
collective energy from people of "like minds."

On the contrary, being with people who oppose your ways of
thinking may trigger a negative, yet very powerful, kind of
motivation.

Has anyone ever said to you that "You'll never get anywhere"
or "You're wasting your time with what you're doing?"

Didn't it made you furious and determined enough to prove to
them how wrong they were? This is what I'm talking about.

When aggravated, you will do anything to make those who are
against you swallow their words. But of course, your main
focus should be on the acccomplishment of your goal and not
for the purpose of revenge. Never let your emotions toward
others alter your main objective.

4) Take Care Of Your Health

Exercise regularly. Fill your brains with enough oxygen to
allow you to do your daily tasks with more vigor and energy.

Take regular breaks if time allows. Having the will power
to continue despite all hardships is extremely important, but
you should still know your limits.

If you don't take enough rest, you will not be able to think
clearly and you will not be able to do your tasks properly.
In the process, you will just get more frustrated.

Take sufficient sleep and recharge yourself after a hard day's
work. Never, ever ignore your health. I've learned my lesson
when I sacrificed my health for the sake of success. I've
worked very long hours everyday and just got minimal sleep.
As a result, I became ill.

It's not worth it. Success won't matter if you don't have
good health to enjoy it.

Fire up your motivation and live life to the fullest!

[yekban81]

How To Use The Past, Future, And Present In Attaining Success
By Michael Lee, CPA

Did you know that your past, present, and future can affect
directly or indirectly your outlook in life?

THE PAST

Have you ever done something that is so regrettable you couldn't
forgive yourself? Have you ever made a mistake that up to the
present time you're still blaming yourself? Are you still torturing
yourself with the thought that only if you could've done it
differently, you're living a much better life right now?

Good news for you! You don't have to keep this burden in your heart
for as long as you live. Release it. Set yourself free.

If you keep bad memories, you're depriving yourself of good mental
and emotional health. You're making yourself a prisoner of the past.
This will adversely affect your capacity to act at the present moment.
You will not be able to think clearly and you will lose your focus
if you are still lingering in the shadows of your dark past.

No matter what you do, you couldn't reverse or otherwise change
history. So let bygones be bygones. Why worry about something you
have no control of?

Let go of the past, but keep the LESSONS. Whatever lesson you've
learned will be of utmost importance to the fulfillment of your goals
in the future. These lessons are your mentors that may sometimes
teach you the hard way; but nevertheless, success comes to those
who are willing to take the risk and pay the price for their actions.

And what about the successes you had in the past? How did you feel
when you've accomplished something exceptional? It feels great isn't
it?

Well then , use these past experiences in your present endeavors
to encourage you and to motivate you. These memorable experiences
will bring a positive aura of enthusiasm and will remind you that
you have the power to achieve anything with the right attitude.

Recall these affirmative memories in everything that you do and you
will see amazing results in all your undertakings.

THE FUTURE

Now how can the future influence your success if it hasn't occurred
yet?
The answer is simple.

Your burning passion to attain your ideal life in the future will
become
the motivating factor that will prod and push you to take the essential
steps at the present moment.

Conceive your future in the most vivid and comprehensive way possible.
For instance, if you want to get rich, then take into consideration:
1) How much money you desire to make, when you intend to get them, and
your action plan to have that exact amount by your target date;
2) The vision of your lifestyle when you've attained the money; like
the
people you are in contact with, the activities you are engaging in,
the
food you are eating, the places you are visiting...Well, you get the
picture.

These are the guiding forces that will chart the right path to your
intended destination. If you envision yourself as having attained them
and focus all your efforts regardless of the impending obstacles ahead,
then your inner power will release the right kind of energy that will
enable you to do nearly anything in pursuit of your desired end.

THE PRESENT

The present moment is the time to ACT. Ready or not, you must do some
action now! Mistakes will be made, but you could always revise them.

Put procrastination aside. One delay or excuse will generate a chain
reaction of more postponements and alibis that will never end. Before
you knew it, open opportunities have already passed you by.

Never let fear get on your way. Some people are struck by the threats
of failures, setbacks, or criticisms. What they don't realize is that
majority of successful people had to pass through "the eye of the
needle"
in order to get where they are now.

Act intelligently. Use your past mistakes as guides to avoid future
blunders. Let the vision of your ideal life in the future compel you
to
carry out your plans and catapult you to reach your deepest desires.

[ElansarGelmir]

Hey Yekban, glad to have you back here again... I was beginning to ponder where the heck did all the members from this SIG go? Hehe...

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop
> > in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and
> > pottery and especially teacups. This was their
> > twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
> >
> > One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful
> > teacup. They said,"May we see that? We've never seen
> > one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to
> > them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
> >
> > "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always
> > been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I
> > was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted
> > me over and over and I yelled out, 'Let me alone', but
> > he only smiled, 'Not yet.'
> >
> > "Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup
> > said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and
> > around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But
> > the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'
> >
> > Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I
> > wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and
> > knocked at the door. I could see him through the
> > opening and I could read his lips as he shook his
> > head, 'Not yet.'
> >
> > Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I
> > began to cool. 'There, that's better', I said. And he
> > brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were
> > horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I
> > cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'
> >
> > Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like
> > the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I
> > would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I
> > cried. All the time I could see him through the
> > opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'
> >
> > Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make
> > it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he
> > took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later
> > he handed me a mirror and I couldn't believe it was
> > me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'
> >
> > 'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it
> > hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you
> > alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you
> > dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had
> > stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and
> > was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't
> > put you there, you would have cracked.
> >
> > I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted
> > you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never
> > would have hardened; you would not have had any color
> > in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that
> > second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long
> > because the hardness would not have held. Now you are
> > a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I
> > first began with you.
> >
> > God knows what He's doing for all of us. He is the
> > potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make
> > us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of
> > work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
> >
> > Let this story be an encouragement to you and remind
> > you that God has a perfect plan for your life. He may
> > need to place some struggles in your life to
> > strengthen your character so that you may be strong in
> > the days of greater adversity. Don't get discouraged
> > when you feel like the heat of the struggle is going
> > to burn you. God knows exactly
> > when to pull you out and deliver you from that
> > problem, and when He does you will be much wiser and
> > stronger than you were before.
> > Proverbs 3:5-6) (Psalm 103:13-14)
> >
> > God will never give to us more than we are able to
> > withstand, so remind yourself that if many problems
> > are coming your way, it is only because God knows your
> > inner strength and ability to be strong even
> > in the midst of a problem.

[ElansarGelmir]

I got this from Yoong Wearn. Thanks arr!

What Hug Can Do~????
>
>
>
>A hug is a wonderful gift to share,
>A way to show each other that we care;
>There is so much a hug is able to do,
>When you feel those arms holding you.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>A hug is a place to feel safe and warm,
>A comfort for a sad heart that is torn;
>An __expression of the love in our heart,
>For ones who we wish, never to be apart.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>A hug is a greeting when we meet to say hello,
>Or to say goodbye when we have to go;
>It can hold us up when life gets us down,
>And makes us smile, instead of frown.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>A hug can be given for no reason at all,
>And given to those, both big and small;
>We're never too old to feel the joy it brings,
>As it is one of life's most pleasing things.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>And for all of this beauty, a hug is free!
>It costs nothing, yet means so much to me;
>
>
>We should all hug another to show we care,
>
>
>For to feel a warm hug, nothing can compare.
>
>
>
>
>
>Here's Your Virtual Hug from Me to YOU
>For no reason at all except...I LIKE YA !!!

[yekban81]

Whether it's your relationships, your career, or anything that's
important in your life, you have all the power it takes to be
the master of your destiny.

Are You The Master Of Your Destiny?
By: Michael Lee, CPA
How strong are you?

I'm not asking if you can carry 150 lbs. of weight. What I'm
after is your strength of character. How resilient are you to
hang on to your dreams amidst the raging forces of discouragement
and criticisms?

There are far too many individuals who never get to experience
the joy of attaining their desires because other people's
influence has significantly (and sometimes negatively) affected
their crucial decisions.

Are there instances in your life when other people said that
you should not continue your plans because they're never gonna
work? What did you do? Did you continue your endeavors or did
you just follow their command?

If you always adhere to other's beliefs and opinions even though
they are contrary to yours, you're just torturing yourself. It's
like you don't have a mind of your own. You're like a shadow
following the moves of someone else.

You may listen to other people's advices, but never let them
control you. If their advices would contribute to your
success and well being, then by all means follow them. But
if they would hinder you and stray you away from what you
really want in life, then you've got to make a stand and
pursue your heart's aspirations.

Sure there would be criticisms. But if you always avoid
them, then you will never be truly happy.

As one famous person said, "There is a sure way to avoid
criticisms, be nothing and do nothing. This remedy never
fails." True enough.

Take my case.

When I was in first year college, my dad wanted me to shift
my course to Physical Therapy because it was in demand in the
United States at that time. But I wanted to continue my
studies in Accountancy. I remained firm with my decision
and after some negotiations they finally gave in.

Then there's my love life. Chinese tradition states that
Chinese people marry their own kind. (No offense) But I fell
madly in love with this Filipino girl. Despite all the
criticisms, discouragement, and harsh words (pardon me), I
defended my love for her. Right now we're going strong and
my relatives have respected my decision.

You see, if I have given up easily in any of the two scenarios,
I would've deprived myself of joy and contentment in my life.

Sometimes other people's words would cut like a knife. But
never be disheartened. Listen to the voice inside of you.
We will never be able to satisfy everybody because each of
us is unique. We have our own distinct traits and values.
Respect for each other's opinions should be upheld.

With that said, I would like to leave this final message that
sums it all up. Follow your heart and happiness will follow.

[ElansarGelmir]

All about INSPIRATION (...continue):
501. "Live your life NOW!! A Life that is You and a You that is Life." -- Cae Hiew

502. "Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather than invest it." -- Jim Rohn

503. "Time is amazing...you spend it, and it multiplies...you invest it, and it intensifies...and you ignore it...it passes you by..." -- Doug Firebaugh

504. "The whole purpose of time management is to enable you to have more time to spend with the people you love, doing the things you enjoy." -- Brian Tracy

505. "You may delay, but time will not." -- Benjamin Franklin

[ElansarGelmir]

The Difference He Made
######################

Amidst the morning mist of the swift returning tide
I set out on my daily run, my walkman on my side.
Lost within my private world apart from cares and woes
I ran along the moistened shore, the sand between my toes.

In the distance, I saw a boy, as busy as can be.
He was running, stooping, picking up, and tossing in the sea.
Just what he threw, I couldn't tell, I looked as I drew near.
It seemed to be a rock or shell - as I approached him I could hear:

"Back you go, where you belong. Your safe now hurry home.
Your family's waiting for you little starfish, hurry on!"
It seemed the evening tide had washed the starfish on the shore,
And the swift receding water left a thousand there or more.

And this self-appointed savior, was trying one-by-one
To toss them back into the sea, against the racing sun.
I saw his plight was hopeless, that most of them would die.
I called out from my private world, "Hey Kid, why even try?"

"Must be at least a thousand here, strewn along the beach,
And even if you had the time, most you'll never reach.
You really think it makes a difference, to waste your time this way?"
And then I paused and waited, just to hear what he would say.

He stooped and took another, and looked me in the eye.
"It makes a difference to this one sir, this starfish will not die!"
With that, he tossed the little life, back where there was hope.
He stooped to take another. I could tell this was no joke.

The words that he spoke to me cut like a surgeon's knife.
Where I saw only numbers, he saw only life.
He didn't see the multitude of starfish on the sand.
He only saw the little life he held there in his hand.

He didn't stop to argue, to prove that he was right.
He just kept tossing starfish in the sea with all his might.
So I too stooped, and I picked up, and I tossed into the sea,
And I thought, just what a difference, that this boy has made in me.

Do not let your fire go out,
spark by irreplaceable spark,
in the hopeless swamps of the approximate,
the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all.
Do not let the hero in your soul perish,
in lonely frustration for the life you deserved,
but have never been able to reach.
Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won.

It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours."

[ElansarGelmir]

PEACE
will come when people live
In friendship, side by side,
And cherish understanding
More than hatred, greed and pride.

PEACE
will come when people see
All people as the same,
And no one has to live in fear,
In ignorance, or shame.

PEACE
will come when people
Who are needy can reach out
For shelter, food, or love,
And no has to do without.

PEACE
will come when people
Learn to listen and to care
About the rights and dignity
Of people everywhere.

PEACE
will come when love and trust
And kindness know rebirth,
And on that day all people
Will rejoice in peace on earth.

~By Amanda Bradley~

[ElansarGelmir]

I Am / I Shall

I am capable.
I am worthwhile.
I am beautiful.
I am lovable.
I shall accept both my strengths and my weaknesses for they are me.

I shall never again believe the "lie" that if I make a mistake, I am
a mistake.
My mistakes are the learning tools that I shall encounter on my life
journey.

When I learn from my mistakes, I give them meaning When I give my
mistakes meaning, I can begin to forgive myself, I can begin to heal.

I shall not use my mistakes as excuses to give up on me... My
mistakes are not me.

I shall seek the wisdom to nurture my heart, mind, body, and soul so
that I may feel more centered

providing an energy reserve that allows me to climb the mountains in
my own life

providing an energy reserve that allows me to love and support others
who are climbing a different mountain

providing an energy reserve that allows time for friends, play and
the celebration of life.

I shall allow myself to feel capable so that I may seek excellence.

I shall allow myself to feel sadness so that joy may return.

I shall allow myself to feel joy so that I may be revitalized.

I shall allow myself to feel afraid so that I may find courage.

I shall allow myself to feel alone so that I may know me.

I shall allow myself to feel beautiful so that I may feel free.

I shall allow myself to feel lovable so that the loving may seek me.

I shall allow myself to feel pain so that I may heal.

I shall allow myself to feel worthy so that I may fulfill my purpose.

When I am centered, I see the perfection in the world, myself and
others.

When I find the world to be imperfect, I will take responsibility for
painting it that way.

I will look into the heart of a rose, or the eyes of a newborn baby
and again know perfection.

I take responsibility for creating my own life story through the
choices I have made; to blame others is to give away my personal
power.

Who will I allow to write the next chapter of my life?

I shall seek the courage to believe in a God or Higher Power who will
laugh with me in the sunlight or cry with me in the darkness.

I shall make a small difference on this planet through the work I do.
When I leave, I will have done my share.

I shall live, love, laugh, and learn on my journey.

[ElansarGelmir]

The 90/10 secret is incredible!
Very few know and apply this secret.The result?
Millions of people are suffering deserved stress, trials,problems, and
heartache.
They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days.
Terrible things seem to be constantly happening.
There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships.

Worry consumes time, anger breaks friendships,and life seems dreary
and is not enjoyed to the fullest.
Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel.
Does this describe you?

If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and apply
the 90/10 secret. It will change your life!
What is this secret?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean?
We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.
We cannot stop the car from breaking down.
The plane may be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off.
A driver may cut us off in traffic.
We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different.
You determine the other 90%! How? By your reaction.
You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction.
Don't let people fool you, YOU can control how you react!
Let's use an example.

You're eating breakfast with your family.
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee into your business shirt.
You have no control over what just happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.
You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over.
She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse
and criticize them for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table.

A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt.
Back downstairs you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish
breakfast and get ready for school.
She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.
You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school.
Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.
After a 15 minute delay and throwing $60 (traffic fine from traffic police)
away,you arrive at school.
Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye.
After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your
briefcase.

Your day has started terrible.

As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.
You look forward to going home.
When you arrive home you find a small wedge
in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.
Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the Policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee.
How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry.
You gently say "It's OK honey, you just need to be more careful next time".
Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs.
After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down (instead of
wasting time in arguments, scolding and anger)
in time look through the window and see your child getting on the bus.
She turns and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both go to work.
You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.

Your boss comments on how good a day you are having.
Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same.

Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED.
You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens.
The other 90% is determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 secret.

If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge.
Let the attack roll off like water on glass.
You do not have to let the negative comment affect you!
React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong
reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out,
etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic?
Do you lose your temper? Pound the steering wheel?
(A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!)
Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket?
Do you try and bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work?
Why let the blue car ruin your drive.
Remember the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? It will
work out. Use your "worrying" energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late. It is going to mangle your schedule for the day.
Why take out your frustration on control over what is going on.
Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger, etc.
Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

You now know the 90-10 secret. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.

[ElansarGelmir]

Subject: : A love story



this is really meaningful....
very touching,very true in real life.......


My husband is a scientist by profession, I love him for his steady-being
nature, and I love the warm feeling while lean against his broad shoulder.

Three years in the courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would
have to admit, I am getting tired of it, the reasons of me loving him
before has now transform into the cause of all the restlessness.
I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive and
exquisite when it comes to relationship and feelings, I yearn for
romantic moments, as though a little boy yearning for candy. And my
husband, is just a contrast of me, his lack of sensitivity, and of all,
inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has
disheartened me about love.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I want a divorce.
"Why?" he asked, shocking.
"I am tired, there aren't reasons for everything in the world" I answered.
He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in deep thoughts the whole
night with cigarette lighted all the times.

My feeling of disappointment is getting intense, a man who can't even
express his detainment, what else can I hope from him? And finally he
asked :" What can I do to change your mind?" Somebody said it right,
it's hard to change a person's personality, and I guess, I have started
losing faith in him. Look deep into his eyes and I slowly answered :
"Here is a question, if you can find the answer in my heart, I will
change my mind, Let say, I love a flower at a mountain cliff, and we
both sure that the making you to pick the flower will cause death, will
you do it for me?" He said :" I will give you your answer tomorrow...."
My heart just sink by listening to his respond.

The next morning, he was not around, and I saw a piece of paper with his
scratching writing, underneath a glass of warm milk, It goes....
Dear,
"I would not pick that flower for you, but please allowed me to further
explain the reasons " this first lines has already break my heart. I
continue reading. "You can only type with computer and always messed up
the programs in the PC, and cries in front of screen, I have to saved my
fingers so that I can help to restore the programs.
You always left the house key behind, I have to save my legs to rush
home for opening the door for you.
You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to
save my eyes to leads you the way.
You always has the cramp whenever your "good friend" approach every
month, I have to save my palm so that I can calm the cramp at your tummy.
You like to stays indoor, and I worries that you will be infected by
infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tells you jokes and stories
to cure your boredom.
You always stared at the computers, and that do no good to your eyes, I
have to save my eyes so that when we grow older, I can help to clip your
nails,and help to removed those annoying white hairs.
I will hold your hand, stroll down the beach, enjoying the sunshine and
the beautiful sands... tells you the colour of flowers, just like the
glow on your young face...
Thus, my dear, before I am sure there are someone who loves you more
than I do... I would not pick the flower, and die.. "
My tears drops on the letters, and blurred the ink of his hand
writing... and I resume my reading...
"And now, dear... you have finished reading my answer, if you are
satisfied with these answers, please open the door of our house, I am
standing there,with your favorite bread and fresh milk... I rush to
pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, with his hand holding
tight on the milk and bread.... Oh I am sure no one ever love me as
much, and now I have decided to leave the flower alone...
That's life, or some said, love, when one is surrounded by love, the
feeling of excitement fade away, and one tend to ignore the true love
lies in between the peace and dullness. Love shows in any form, even a
very little and corny form, it has never been a model, it could be the
most incurious form... flowers, romantic moments is only the buckish
formed on the surface of the relationship.
Under all this, the pillar of truelove stands... and that's our life...
I hope everyone enjoy reading it... love, but not words win the arguments...

[ElansarGelmir]

SELF WORTH
(... to a special LC member drowning, suffocating and struggling in the ocean of unworthy love... to you S.C.)


So many times in life we feel unappreciated, rejected, manipulated and unloved.
And that makes us think less of ourselves. Well, change that way of thinking now.

A sunrise is no less beautiful because the only person awake is blind !!
A symphony is no less magnificent just because the only "listener" is deaf !!!
And YOU are no less loveable just because those around you are incapable of giving love !!!

"We are what we are and what we want to be.
We have total control over ourselves.
If we don't appreciate ourselves, who will?? Will he??
If we don't find ourselves lovable, who else will ???"

He cheated once, we forgive. He cheated twice, we alert. BUT when he cheated thrice, we despise!!
Stop rotting your youth in the unworthy him!!
You're worth more than you could possibly imagine !!

From a caring friend,
cae hiew

[ElansarGelmir]

All about INSPIRATION (...continue):
506. "Very few of us are authorities on the truth. About the closest that any of us can get is what we hope is the truth or what we think is the truth. That's why the best approach to truth is probably to say, 'It seems to me...'" -- Jim Rohn

507. "Fear fades when facts are faced." -- Frank Tyger

508. "Buried deep within each of us is a spark of greatness, a spark that can be fanned into flames of passion and achievement. That spark is not outside of you it is born deep within you." -- James A. Ray

509. "All the great people say it was their destiny to be great. Know thyself ? you have a destiny to be great. It's coded in your DNA/RNA. Meet thy greater self. Express thy higher self. Fulfill your real self." -- Mark Victor Hansen

510. "You are a potential genius -- the number of ideas you can suggest for improvement are virtually unlimited." -- Brian Tracy

[ElansarGelmir]

The Rose Within

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-but 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.
Then will he blossom, blooming forth thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold as it
is given to him.

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.

Remember: "If we show them the rose, they will conquer the thorns!!"

[ElansarGelmir]

The Greatest Pain in Life


The greatest pain in life
is not to die, but to be ignored.

To lose the person you love so
much to another who doesn't care at all.

To have someone you care about so much throw a party...
and not tell you about it.

When your favorite person on earth
neglects to invite you to his promotion party.

To have people think that you don't care.

The greatest pain in life,
is not to die,
but to be forgotten.

To be left in the dust after another's great achievement.

To never get a call from a friend,
just saying "hi".

When you show someone your innermost thoughts and they
laugh in your face.

For friends who are always be too busy to console you when you
need someone to lift your spirits.

When it seems like the only person who cares about you,
is you.

Life is full of pain,
but does it ever get better?

Will people ever care about each other,
and make time for those who are in need?

Each of us has a part to play
in this great show we call life.

Each of us has a duty to mankind
to tell our friends we love them.

If you do not care about your friends
you will not be punished.

You will simply be ignored...
forgotten...
as you have done to others.

This poem was written by a someone who was contemplating
committing suicide some years ago.

Please show someone you care for them today. It takes so little of your time to
smile, give a hug, a word of encouragement or just to say "I care" You will be
rewarded for sure:-)

[ElansarGelmir]

The one that got away
By: Mark J. Macapagal


In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people.
Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who
will always mean something. There's the one you first
kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your
virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one
you're with...and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person
with who everything was great, everything was perfect,
but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in
the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but
the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone,
finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely
in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal
part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with
the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready
to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes
beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing
it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner,
it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work.
Small problems become big; inconsequentials become
dealbreakers simply because you're not ready and it shows.
It's not that you and the person you're with are no good;
it's just that it's not yet right, and little things become
the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this
happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone. He or
she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the
brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your
life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work
because it's the right time and you'll make it work.
And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of
things, and you find yourself to be a different person.
Things are different, your approach is different, you
finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've
become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind
you, there's no telling when this day will come.
Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term
relationship, you could be married with three kids, it
doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and
for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person
you think about.

You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they
were here today?" You'll wonder, "What if we were together now,
with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that
got away is. The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life.

If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the
one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy
tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of
us. But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're
already with the one you're with and this is just another test
of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage
when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so
often, but it's alright. It's never nice to live with a
"might have been," but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married.
In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and
know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice
little smile to your lips in the future when you're old and gray
and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it's different. What do
you do if it's not yet too late? Simple...find him, find her.
Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that
you'll always wonder, what if you got that one?

Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter
if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised,
you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person
who is your "the one that got away."

You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won't make a
difference. If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall
into place somehow and you know, I'm thinking, it would be a great
feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're
the one that almost got away."

[ElansarGelmir]

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
" Disappointments are part and parcel of life. In this circus of
existence, you cannot have your way all the time. Things change; people
change. Events and results have an unpredictable and uncontrollable way of
happening.

To keep you from being utterly frustrated and dismayed, here are some
things to avoid or at least soften the pangs of great disappointment:

1. Expect the best but be ready for the worst. When you work hard on
something, it's natural to expect the best results. And the most glorious
rewards. But sometimes things don't turn out the way you want them to. To
keep from being dreadfully dismayed, expect the best, but at the same
time, psyche yourself up for the worst. Then you'll be ready for any
unexpected turn of events!

2. Give it your best shot.
Much of the frustration that follows a failure is the big disappointment
you feel towards yourself. When you do not try hard enough, you are
overcome with guilt and regret. In whatever you are doing, do your best,
give it your best shot. Then you'll know you did all you can and you
should be proud for trying.

3. Realize that you cannot own people.
We often expect people to act or be a certain way that would be congruous
to how we want them to be. Realize that you do not and can not own people.
Each person has his own mind and the natural right to free will. Give
others the gift of space and freedom. Remember that when you lose someone,
whatever you were expecting was not meant to be.

4. Realize that we are just temporary stewards of things.
When you lose material things, whether they are stolen from you or gutted
down by a fire, minimize your grief by realizing that we are just
temporary keepers of what we own. They will finally find their way to where
they were destined to be.. Besides, when you finally go, you cannot take a
single thing with you.

5. Never expect anything back.
People get bitterly disappointed when they don't get back what they give to
others. People always expect some (even demand!) repayment. This is a
major cause of extreme frustration. When you help someone (especially
financially) do not expect anything back. Think of it as a gift of love
that's given freely and completely with no strings attached.

6. Don't pin your life on one person.
You would be doing yourself a great injustice if you pinned your life on
one person. No one person should take control, importance or dominance
over your existence. People come and go in our lives. If you depend too
much on someone, you will feel so shattered, helpless and hopeless if you
lose him. Make sure you can stand on your own two feet. And live your own
dreams, not other people's.

7. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
To avoid disappointment from losing anything, don't put all your eggs in
one basket. It's a good practice to have more than one project happening
so that when one fails, you have others to look forward to. Regarding
financial investment, it is wise to diversify. The more things you have
going, the less the chance of losing it all.

8. Realize that success is a combination of many factors.
You do not have full control over the outcome of things. Even with all the
necessary preparations and precautions, things may end up differently from
how you want them to. There are many factors and variables that determine
how something or an event will turn out. And that includes the weather!

9. Realize that you will always get another chance.
If you don't succeed now, there will always be another time. Tell yourself
that maybe it just isn't the right time yet for what you desire. Keep in
mind that you will always get another chance to get a crack at it. Never
lose hope. Hope springs eternal.

10. Realize that without defeat, victory won't be as sweet.
You have to feel the bitterness of failure to be able to savor the
sweetness of success. Failures make you strong and powerful. Use them as a
challenge for more determination to go after your dreams next time. Analyze
why you failed and learn from your mistakes.

11. Realize that the universe has its own divine plan.
Yes indeed, the universe has a divine design. It has its own unchangeable,
unique plan which may be very different from yours. You may not understand
it at all for now, but it is something you have to force yourself to live
with. Going against the current will just frustrate you. Do what the Zen
masters preach: Go with the flow!

12. When things turn out awry, it's not the end of the world.
The world will not end just because something did not turn out the way you
expected it to. It will keep on turning even if you cried a bathtub of
tears in your own little dark corner. So dry your eyes and erase those
disappointments.

[ElansarGelmir]

There was this byword of one of my students, it is "boring".
He complains about being bored every day. He told me that he finds life boring.
For example, going to school and studying is very boring. Also, having a career is very boring. Getting married and having children are the most boring. I explained, "If you take away school, career, marriage, and children, there will be nothing left in life."

He said, "Exactly!! So it's very boring!"
I laughed, "Then do cultivation. Cultivation is the most meaningful."
He replies, "We cultivate because life is really too boring. That's why we boringly cultivate."
In short, life is boring in every possible way to him.

I have calmly pondered the question of boredom before. People in this world follow the same path. First, they go to school, then they have a career, and they also get married. Everybody is similar. It looks like these three stages of life are carefully planned, yet it also looks as though there isn't any deliberate planning. Nonetheless, it's basically these three stages in life.

My student said that going to school is boring, having a career is boring, getting married is boring, and even cultivation is boring. I don't know what else he can do! I also don't understand what his purpose in living is. How many people such as him are out there in this world?

To expand this further :
Why live?
Living is boring.
It's a pity to die.
Why is it a pity?

Afterwards, it dawned on me that the Sun, Moon and stars all shine above. The mountains, water, and grass all exist with a meaning. Everything in this world has its reason for existence. If people want to live a life without boredom, they must see the things behind the things they see, and hear the sounds behind the sounds they hear. For example, the discovery that life is boring will lead to the diligent and zealous exploration of life. When life is finally understood, one will delve deeper into cultivation. One will be able to walk out of the prison of boredom because one has superseded the ordinary to enter into the holy stream!

[ElansarGelmir]

Angels All Around Us

When the world is on your shoulders
And you don't what to do
There's an angel somewhere out there
Who is watching over you
It's a gift that heaven sends us
Though we sometimes fail to see
Angels spread their wings around us
And they do it constantly
In a form we may not notice
In the way we never thought
They are always there regardless
In some way that can't be bought
Like the beauty of the seasons
With the flowers in the spring
And in summer with its reasons
In the sun and rain it brings
Autumn leaves and chimneys burning
Compliment a harvest moon
Until winter snows start churning
All those sacred Christmas tunes
Yes an angel has dimensions
Far beyond a naked eye
That are greater than a mountain
Reaching to a clear blue sky
And the neighbor who comes calling
Just to see if you're ok
Or the friend who stops your falling
When you stumble through a day
Like your family they all have wings
And without them you would die
For a heart and love that it brings
Is the very reason why
God created life so special
And because of it He knew
There should be some kind of angel
Always watching over you

[ElansarGelmir]

Sometimes things happen in life for apparently no reason at all.
You think that there isn't any reason for something to happen
until after the fact when that something has changed your life or
pointed you into a new direction.

Two seemingly totally opposite things can happen to you one day
but they have a certain affect on you. Can you think of one such
situation where 2 totally opposite things happened same day??

Let's say you get this idea to do something, like read a certain
book you keep putting off. The idea pops in and out of your head
and you dismiss it. The usual 'I'll do it later' routine.

During the day while working, someone casually mentions that
book, talking about how much it helped them in their situation
and so on and so on. You dismiss it again because of course
you'll read it at another time.

A few days later, you're at a doctor's appointment and you're
flipping through a magazine. You see a review for the same book.
By now you should be thinking either you're crazy or somebody's
trying to give you a big hint.

That's the point when you should take the hint and read the book.
That's how life works. Intuition hits - you get an inspiration
or an idea to do something and you get bombarded left and right
with all of these situations that don't seem like they have any
similarity. Until you take a closer look and then you see. If
you look hard enough at each situation it's like putting the
pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. If you fit each piece in the right
place you finally get the picture. Got it ?! Now what have you
procrastinated & delayed? Do it now!! Re-ignite your energy NOW!

Let's say that you want to buy a computer program. It's a really
good program that you need to help run your business. The only
problem is that it costs $200 and you don't have that money right
now to pay for it. So you put it on your to do list for a couple of
months down the road when you can fit it in your budget.

You go through your day to day routine and guess what? You get
an email from a discussion list answering someone else's question
about the same program. As you read it you realize that it's
from the maker of the program. And here's the kicker - there's a
new special 30 day trial download of the program.

So you think it may be a coincidence. I say not!! You go to the
website to download the program and it's a 60 day trial instead
of 30 days. Now you're probably dumbfounded by now because
you just told yourself that morning you would have to wait a couple
months to buy it. Except now you can use the program for free for
a couple of months and then buy it. Now if you still aren't convinced
of synchronistic events then let me say this - every single thing
happens for a reason.

Look back on some of your past experiences in life. I am sure
that there were several times where things happened to you for no
apparent reason at all. These events either led to other events
or were major turning points in your life that didn't match up
anywhere else. They didn't seem to fit in to what you were doing
at the time. But looking back, they fit in perfectly. It's just
that you couldn't see it at the time.

*stop reading, and ponder it for a minute*

When things happen without any obvious reason, remember that
there's something you need to pay attention to. There's always a
reason, it's just that you can't see it while it's happening.
There's an unseen force that's always pointing you in the right
direction whether you notice it or not. And those unreal
experiences, those strange synchronicities - things happening by
'chance' are usually a push in the direction you want (or didn't
know you wanted) to go. Just follow the flow and say thanks -
whether it's a computer program that you get to try out for free
or it's a book you've been putting off reading or some other things...
What yours??

[ElansarGelmir]

Accept Yourself Exactly as You Are
By Sandy Karn

Do you accept yourself?
Do you really accept who you are, the body you have, your status and
accomplishments?

It is essential that you learn to accept every little thing about you.
I know! There are things about you that you simply dislike and
you want desperately to change them. O.K.! Welcome to the club!

We all dislike some things about ourselves, and making some changes
might be a great idea. However until you are able to truly accept those
aspects of yourself, it will be much more difficult to make those changes.
Recognize that you are not broken or defective in any way, although
there are probably some things you would choose to change.

So, what does it mean to accept yourself? Let me suggest the following
simple steps for self-acceptance. (They really are simple, although
completing them may not always be easy.):

1. Recognize and acknowledge the reality of who you are and everything
about you: your traits, characteristics, habits, beliefs, thought
patterns, etc. It is important to eliminate your blind spots and see
what is really there.The real trick, however is to do this without
judgment.

2. Acknowledge that everything about you is exactly as it needs to be at
the present moment. If something really could have been different, it
would be. Some things are preordained as part of your creation and genetic
makeup. They are not good or bad, they simple are part of your reality.
Other things are the result of choices made by you and/or other people in
your life.
Once a choice is made and/or an action taken, the consequences are
unavoidable. Again they are not good or bad, they are simply your reality.
Once you can accept everything about yourself as reality without it being
good or bad, then you can begin to look at your preferences, your likes and
dislikes.
It is perfectly O.K. for you to dislike things about yourself--once you
acknowledge that they are part of your reality and are not bad.
You can then determine which of the things you dislike you can realistically
change and decide whether or not you wish to do what it takes to change
them. Acceptance of your current reality provides a solid foundation for
personal change and development.

Trying to make significant changes in your life without first accepting
yourself as you are now is like trying to build a building on shifting
sands without any clear understanding of what lies beneath the surface.

Your goal: To learn to accept yourself totally and unconditionally.

The result: You will experience an increase in personal power as you take
greater control of yourself and your life, making any desired changes
based upon a solid understanding of who you are and your personal
reality.

Your assignment: Think about those things about yourself that you
tend to dislike. How did they come about? What benefit, if any, have
you received from them? What do you wish to change about them?
How will you do this?

[ElansarGelmir]

100/0

by Dorothy Casper

As a teenager, I had certain ideas in my mind about what
constituted the idyllic life of love and marriage.

In Home Economics, our teacher had us plan the perfect
wedding, and the perfect reception, right down to the
throwing of rice and driving away in a limousine. It was
just like the movies where the nice guy gets the beautiful
girl and they live happily ever after. Reality was not a
part of the picture.

After high school, came college and my determination to
become a nurse. I forgot about marriage. I could put that
on hold since I was going to help people and travel.

Surprisingly, two years later I met the man I would marry.
It's often said, "opposites attract." This was really true
about us. He was from a small town in Idaho and farmed with
his father. I was from a Southern town, which had a greater
population than the entire state of Idaho. I had always been
emphatic that I didn't know whom I would marry, but one
thing was for sure -- he would not be a farmer or dairyman!
Well, I was wrong in both cases. They were not only farmers,
but dairymen as well.

We were married in October just prior to the beginning of
heavy snowfalls. By December, we were walking over fence
posts, and chains for the snow tires were required most of
the winter. Our only entertainment was listening to the radio
or the local high school sporting events.

My new husband was a lover of sports. He had been a champion
boxer and also participated in most sports. I was a lover of
the arts. Speech, drama and dance were my first loves. The
nearest town with this kind of entertainment was forty miles
away, and the highway was closed off and on all winter.

We had only been married seven months when I received word
that my mother, who was battling cancer, would not live much
longer. Even though there was the dairy with 75 cows and 1400
acres to farm, as soon as my husband read the telegram, he
sadly said, "Honey, get your bags packed while I make
reservations for you. Your place is with your mother and
your father right now."

To him, there had been no other decision to make. Every week
I would receive a letter telling me all about how the farm was
doing and inquiring about my parents and how we were all doing.
Little was said about his sadness of being alone, or of missing
his new bride, except at the very end of his letters where an
unmistakable, "I love you" was written.

Teenage dream letters would have been filled with remarks of
undying love and pain of missing me, but his letters were simple
words of reality.

Four months later, after the funeral and final matters were
taken care of with my father and brother, I returned to Idaho
where I knew my husband would be at the airport to meet me.

The look in his eyes told me more than any dream letter could.
The joy and honesty of love was deep. On the 80-mile drive to
our home, I talked incessantly while he quietly listened,
without interrupting. When he finally had a chance to respond,
he asked me to open the glove compartment of the car and take
out an envelope with my name on it.

"I wanted to give you something special to let you know how
much I missed you," he said quietly.

I opened the envelope to find season tickets, for both of us,
to all of the area's fine art functions. Our income was not
all that great and I was stunned.

"I don't believe this," I cried, "You don't enjoy these things!"

When I finally stopped protesting, he reached out, hugged me
and quietly said, "No, but you do, and I will learn."

In that moment I realized marriage wasn't a 50/50 deal, but real
love was made of 100/0 sometimes. Love means putting the other
one first. His example taught his young wife a great lesson -- a
lesson that has made a happy marriage for 51 years.

[ElansarGelmir]

Something worth reading....

The story given below is quite interesting and really gives us an insight
into DECISION MAKING.

Which one will you choose?

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use
while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track,
the rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just
beside the track interchange. You could make the train change its course
to the disused track and saved most of the kids.

However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track
would be sacrificed.

Or would you rather let the train go its way?

Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make.

Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice
only one child. You might think the same way, I guess.

Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the
children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most
people would make, morally and emotionally.

But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused
track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?

Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who
chose to play where the danger was.

This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community,
in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is
often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish
or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the
minority are.

The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track
was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear
for him,because he plays on the track.

The friend who forwarded me the story said he would not try to change the
course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the
operational track should have known very well that track was still in use,
and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens.

If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because
he never thought the train could come over to that track!

Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe.

If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all
passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by
sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to
save these few kids.

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to
be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be
the right one.

"Remember that what's right isn't always popular" and
"what's popular isn't always right."

Hope you make the right decision in your entire life.

[ElansarGelmir]

HAPPINESS IS IN THE JOURNEY, NOT IN THE DESTINATION

Happy is he who has found self.

Happy is he who has lofty and noble aspirations.

Happy is he who is rising in the world, climbing higher and higher.

Happy is he who is enriching the lives of all those about him.

Happy is he who is contributing something to make the world a better place in which to live.

Happy is he whose work, whose chores, whose daily tasks,are labours of love.

Happy is he who loves love.

Happy is he who loves life.

Happy is he who is happy.

Happiness is every day. Happiness is now. Happiness is in the journey

Happiness is a state of mind. It can never be found in the material things about us, in such things as wealth, position or power. Disillusioned and dispointmented are they who spend a lifetime harvesting and accumulating more wealth than they need, only to discover , too late, that all the money in the world won't buy a grain of happiness.

Happiness is an expression of appreciation for the things which we have now. Happiness is today. Happiness is now. Each new dawn signals the birth of a glorious new day wherein we can both give and find love, contentment, cheerfulness and unselfish service.

PLEASURES CAN BE PURCHASED, BUT NOT HAPPINESS.

[ElansarGelmir]

Quotes of love:

31. You never lose in loving. You only lose in holding back.

32. Don't throw your back to love when it's already in front of you, don't drive it away from you because if you did, someday you'll think again why
you let love fly away when it was once next to you.

33. I will not love you for the rest of your life but for the rest of mine.

34. You make me smile for no reason whatsoever, you make me laugh at the unfunniest things, but most of all, you make me love you When I shouldn't be loving you.

35. I shouldn't love to fill an empty space... But to have somebody stay by his as the missing place in this life heals his own.

[ElansarGelmir]

Found another one in my mailbox today:


CH
******************************************************
God: Hello. Did you call me?

Me: Called you? No. Who is this?

God: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I
would chat.

Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually
busy now. I am in the midst of something.

God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too, you
know.

Me: I don't know. But I can't seem to find free time.
Life has become so hectic. It's rush hour for me all
the time.

God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity
gets you results.
Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can't figure a way out.
By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on
instant messaging chat.

God: Well, I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by
giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to
reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is
what makes it complicated.

Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?

God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about
yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing.
Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not
happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much
uncertainty?

God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is
optional.

Me: But then again, there is so much pain due to
uncertainty...

God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people
always suffer?

God: Diamonds cannot be polished without friction.
Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go
through trials, but don't suffer. With that
experience their life become better, not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?

God: Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher.
She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests?
Why can't we be free from problems?

God: Problems are

Purposeful

Roadblocks

Offering

Beneficial

Lessons to

Enhance

Mental

Strength.

Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not
when you are free from problems.

Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't
know where we are heading...

God: If you look outside you will not know where you
are heading. Look inside.

Looking outside, you dream.

Looking inside, you awaken.

Eyes provide sight.

Heart provides insight.


Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more
than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God: Success is a measure as decided by others.
Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing
the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you
rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work
with the clock.

Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God: Always look at how far you have come rather than
how far you have to go. Always count your blessing,
not what you are missing.

Me: What surprises you about people?

God: When they suffer they ask, "Why me?"

When they prosper, they never ask "Why me?"

Everyone wishes to have truth on his or her side, but
few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me: Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here. I can't
get the answer.

God: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine
who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to
why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of
discovery, but a process of creation.

Me: How can I get the best out of life?

God: Face your past without regret. Handle your
present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are
not answered.

God: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the
answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy
to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.

God: Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't
believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a
mystery to solve not a problem to resolve.
Trust me.

Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

[ElansarGelmir]

Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise
to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

I recently read a funny story about a parakeet named Chippie. It seems that
Chippie's problems began one day, when his owner decided to clean the mess
out of the bottom of his cage using a vacuum cleaner. (Both my wife and I
have birds, we know about feathers, empty seed-hulls, and etc.) As she was
vacuuming out the cage, the phone rang.(Smile) As she turned to pick it up,
there was an awful fluttering sound and, whoosh, Chippie had disappeared.

She switched off the vacuum, and gripped with panic, removed the bag; sure
enough, there was Chippie. He was still alive, but stunned! Can you
picture him sitting there; covered in thick, grey dust?(You know what a mess
a vacuum bag contains.)

She carefully picked him up, and rushed him to the bath-tub, where she held
poor Chippie under a blast of ?cold? water. Now, the dust was gone, however
she realized she?d probably done even more damage.

What was she to do? HHmmm, the hair dryer. My friend, Chippie doesn?t sing
any more!!!

What is the point of this story? When you get sucked up by the bureaucracy
of life, don?t let it steal your song! Should you become covered with the
filth surrounding you, ?don?t let it steal your song!? If you get soaked
with a deluge of problems, ?don?t let it steal your song!? In the event you
get burnt by a careless word, ?don?t let it steal your song!?

Instead, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, dry yourself out and cool
yourself off, as you cry out, ?I will bless the LORD at all times; His
praise shall continually be in my mouth.?(Psalms 34:1)

A dear pastor friend of mine told me, ?never let a bad day, ruin your day.?
Come to think of it, that is a recipe for a ?great? day. Look around you,
there are individuals who have had it worse than you, and have done better;
there are people who have done worse, even though they had it better than
you. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who stated, ?most people are about as
happy as they make up their mind to be.?

Let praise become your lifestyle; when you do, you will discover the way you
deal with problems has changed; you will become aware that your attitude
toward others is better; you will perceive the whole atmosphere around you
in a different light.

God?s Word says, ?Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you
peoples!?(Romans 15:11) My friend, do you want an ?iron-clad guarantee? you
will never lose your song? If so, let praise be your lifestyle

[ElansarGelmir]

All about INSPIRATION(...continue):
356. "Practice is the price of mastery. Whatever you practice over and over again becomes a new habit of thought and performance." -? Brian Tracy LifeCoaches.
caehiew.com
357. "Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer." -- Denis Waitley
caehiew.com
358. "The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." -- Theodore Rubin LifeCoaches.
caehiew.com
359. "Never attack a problem without also presenting a solution." -? Jim Rohn
caehiew.com
360. "I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress...It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitude is right, there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me." -- Charles Swindoll LifeCoaches

[ElansarGelmir]

"Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity." -- Henry Van Dyke
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Why I Love You By Stuart Doyle

Sometimes at night, when I look to the sky,
I start thinking of you and then ask myself ?why?,
?Why do I love you?? I think and smile,
because I know the list could run on for miles.

The whisper of your voice, the warmth of your touch,
so many little things make me love you so much.

The way you support me, even my silly notions.
The way that you care and show such devotion,
the way that your kiss, fills me with desire,
and how you hold me with the warmth of a fire.

The way your eyes shine when you look at me,
lost with you forever is were I want to be.

The way that I feel when you're by my side.
A sense of completion and overflowing pride.

The dreams that I dream, that all involve you,
the possibilities I see, the things we can do.

How you finish the puzzle that lies inside my heart.
How deep in my soul, you are a very important part.
I could go on for days, telling of what I feel,
but all you really must know is... my love for you is real.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LifeCoaches
"Perfect love is rare indeed -
for to be a lover will require that you continually
have the subtlety of the very wise,
the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist,
the understanding of the philosopher, the acceptance of the saint,
the tolerance of the scholar and the fortitude of the certain." --Leo Buscaglia
~~~~~~
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour.
Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity." --Albert Einstein
~~~~~~

"The first duty of love - is to listen." --Paul Tillich
~~~~~~

"Do you love me because I am beautiful,
or am I beautiful because you love me?" --Cinderella
~~~~~~

"It's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all." --Alfred, Lord Tennyson
~~~~~~

"Men always want to be a woman's first love--
women like to be a man's last romance." --Oscar Wilde

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless
garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of
loving and being loved brings a warmth and a richness to life
that nothing else can bring." --Oscar Wilde

[ElansarGelmir]

IF I KNEW.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time
I could spare an extra minute,
to stop and say "I LOVE YOU"
instead of assuming you would know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you",
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day.

That you didn't take extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank You," or "It's OK"
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

[ElansarGelmir]

QUIT SUPPOSIN'

Don't start your day by supposin'
that trouble is just ahead,
It's better to stop supposin'
and start with prayer instead,

And make it a prayer of thanksgiving
for the wonderful things God has wrought
Like the beautiful sunrise and sunset,
God's gifts that are free
and not bought-

For what is the use of supposin'
the dire things that could happen to you
And worry about some misfortune
that seldom if ever comes true-

But instead of just idle supposin'
step forward to meet each new day
Secure in the knowledge God's near you
to lead you each step of the way-

For supposin' the worst things will happen
only helps to make them come true
And you darken the bright, happy moments
that the dear Lord has given to you-

So if you desire to be happy
and get rid of the misery of dread
Just give up supposin' the worst things
and look for the best things instead.

[ElansarGelmir]

Life is a miracle


ADVERTISEMENT


Life is a miracle.
Don't let it slip away.
Open your heart to others.
Give of yourself each day.

See the beauty in everyone,
Regardless of where they've been.
Some have a difficult journey,
and really need a friend.

Share your gifts and talents.
Listen with your heart.
Do the things you dream about,
but don't have time to start.

Pick a bouquet of flowers.
Show someone that you care.
Be gracious and forgiving.
Life is never fair.

Hold on to your courage.
You may need it down the road.
We all have a cross to bear.
It could be a heavy load.

If you practice all these things
No matter where you roam,
you may find both sun and rain,
But you'll never feel alone.

[ElansarGelmir]

STOP COMPARING

We live in pathologically dissatisfied world and I'm going to
tell you why... Because we love to compare!!

Go around the world and you will discover that people aren't
happy with their bodies... such as,
Filipinos want to have fair complexion like Westerners, and
so they buy bleaching stuff.
Westerners want to own bronzed bodies like ours, and so
they purchase tanning lotions.

Those with moles have them removed,while those who don't
strategically implant beauty spots.

Some people want to shed a few pounds to look like Ally McBeal,
while Others want to gain some baby fat to look like Drew Barymore.

When are we ever going to stop and simply be happy with how we look?
We live in a sick world, I tell you.
And that sickness is comparisonitis.

Then take a look at wealth
When we drive our old Honda, it really suits us fine.
We feel blessed in fact when the rain pours outside
We feel snug and cozy on its faded upholstered seats.

But the moment we see our own office mate
(or neighbor, or buddy, or cousin, or brother)
drives his sleek sky-blue, four-door, four-wheel-drive Mercedez,
we automically feel like third-class children of God.

Next time we drive our bumpy, noisy, rusted, dilapidated Honda,
(notice how all the defects pop out all of a sudden?)
we feel deprived, dispossessed, pariah, debased,
and only a little higher than the insects of the earth.

Listen carefully,
Bill Gates total assets are worth $60 billion.
That's more than the GNP of some small countries.
Tiger Woods earns $80 million simply by smiling on TV in a Nike shirt.
And the stars of the sitcom "Friends" are paid $750,00 per episode!

My point ?
No matter how hard you work,
there'll still be some people who will be richer than you are.

And there'll be some people who will be more beautiful, less worries,
have more sex appeal, have more boyfriends, have more problems.

Try it for once: "Stop looking around. Don't compare with others!"

Don't compare her nose with your nose
Don't compare his wife with your wife
Don't compare her breast size with your breast size
Don't compare her kids report card with your kids report card
Don't compare his prayer group with your prayer group.
Don't compare her cellulite deposits with your cellulite deposits.

For crying out loud, "Stop comparing and Start Living !!!"
And you'll be happier with your life, I guarantee

This is crucial to us:
The most difficult thing in the world is to be who you are not.
Pretending and trying to be someone else is the official pastime of
the human race
(I don't think dogs and cats and cows and horses have this problem)

And the easiest thing in the world is to be yourself...
Be happy. Live !!
There must be a reason why God made you tall or short or fat or thin or
bumby all over.
Love who you are !!

Being happy, it's not that difficult. Think about it... its true.
How Man is so blinded by so many things.
Stop *sighing* and start LIVING!

[ElansarGelmir]

*** KEEP A JOYFUL SPIRIT ***

1. Encourage someone today. We never know what a human heart is bearing.

2. Do an anonymous deed of kindness.

3. Smile at people. See how many will smile back. (You will be surprised!)

4. Overlook offenses. Getting even only leads to sorrow.

5. Think before you speak. Wrong words bruise the soul.

6. Go the extra mile. Somewhere, sometime, someone has done that for you.

7. Be nice to your body. Eat healthy, exercise, keep a joyful spirit and
your body will be happy.

8. Find humor in your day. Laughter is good for the soul.

9. Be thankful. You will find your blessings far outweigh your problems.
Every morning thank God for His kindness.

10. Spend time in prayer and grow spiritually.

A joyfull spirit adds life to your years. You may have had a painful
past, but it doesn't have to be your future. Be joyful today and every day.

Remember, "If you stop peddling you fall!"

[ElansarGelmir]

Youth
By Samuel Ullman (1840-1924)
###########################

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of
rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of
the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep
springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the
appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60
more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old
by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder,
the unfailing child like appetite of what's next and the joy of the game of
living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station: so
long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men
from the infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism
and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20, but as long as
your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young
at 80.

[ElansarGelmir]

Beginning Today

Beginning today I will no longer worry about yesterday.
It is in the past and the past will never change.
Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.
But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first
&n! bsp; making the most of today.

Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person
worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy
spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better.

Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life.
I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will
unselfishly share this gift with others.
I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.

! Beginning today I will take a moment to step off the beaten path
and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.
I will face challenges with courage and determination.
I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder
my quest for growth and self-improvement.

Beginning today I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image,
my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning today I walk with renewed faith in h! uman kindness.
Regardless of what has gone before, I believe there is hope
for a brighter and better future.

Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart.
I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people.
I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else:
perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.
But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning today I am responsible for my own happiness!
and I will do things that make me happy . . .
admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my favorite music,
pet a kitten or a puppy, soak in a bubble bath . . .
pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try something
different;
I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer.
I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.
I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.
Beginning today. And every day.

[ElansarGelmir]

The most destructive habit..............................Worry
The greatest Joy.......................................Giving
The greatest loss........................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work.......................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.....................Selfishness
The most endangered species.................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource.......................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"..................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.........................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill................Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease....................Excuses
The most powerful force in life..........................Love

The most dangerous pariah..........................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer................The brain
The worst thing to be without.... ...................... Hope

The deadliest weapon...............................The tongue
The two most power-filled words......................."I Can"
The greatest asset......................................Faith

The most worthless emotion..........................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire..............................SMILE!
The most prized possession......................... Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication.............Prayer
The most contagious spirit..........................Enthusiasm

[ElansarGelmir]

Do Small things with Great Love
All of us want to do something grand to show our love for our loved ones. It would be marvellous if we have the opportunity to do it. But, we don?t need to carry out grand things in order to show great love for others and for God. We don?t have to do big things only small things with great love. It is the intensity of love we put into our actions every day that makes them into something beautiful for God and for others. It is not the magnitude of our action that counts but the depth of love we put into it.
So, how do we show how much love we put into our deeds every day? Mother Teresa shows us how, ?Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.
How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small drops of oil. If the drops of oil run out, the light of the lamp will cease, and the bridegroom will say, ?I do not know you? (Matthew 25:1-13).
What are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, punctuality, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting. These are the true drops of love that keep our religious life burning like a lively flame.
Do not look for Jesus away from yourselves. He is not out there; He is in you. Keep your lamp burning, and you will recognize Him.? (A Life for God, 70)
Even a small thing like being present for others can be done with great love. Mother Teresa says:
?If there is a need God will guide you, as He guided us to serve those with AIDS. We don?t judge these people, we don?t ask what happened to them and how they got sick, we just see the need and care for them. I think God is telling us something with AIDS, giving us an opportunity to show our love. People with AIDS have awakened the tender love in those who had perhaps shut it out and forgotten it.
Sister Dolores shows how simply being there with love is often enough:
?There is a lot of fear at the beginning for those who come to us with AIDS. It is hard for them to cope with the fact that they are going to die. But being there with us and seeing us with others in their last moments makes a difference. I remember in New York that the mother of a man from Puerto Rico offered to nurse him if he came home. He thanked her but said he would remain with us, though he would visit her. One day he told me, ?I know when I am dying you will be there holding my hand,? because he had seen us doing it with others and knew that he wouldn?t die alone.
It?s quite simple really. The dying are moved by the love they receive and it may be just a touch of my hand, or a glass of water, or providing them with some kind of sweet they desire. You just take that to them, what they ask for, and they are satisfied and know someone cares for them, someone loves them, someone wants them---and that, in itself, is a great help to them. Because of this they believe that God must be even kinder, more generous, and so their souls are lifted up to God. As we don?t preach, we just do what we do with love, they are touched by God?s grace.?
Brother Geoff, General Servant of the Ministries of Charity Brothers, also comments of the best way to offer love:
?When people who are used to being rejected and abandoned experience being accepted by others and being loved, when they see people are giving their time and energy for them, that conveys a message that, after all, they are not rubbish.
Certainly, love is expressed first in being with before doing to someone. We have to continually, renew our awareness of this because we can get caught up in a lot of the doing for. You see, if our actions do not first come from the desire to be with a person, then it really becomes just social work. When you are willing to be with a poor person you can recognise his need and if your love is genuine you naturally want to do what you can as an expression of your love. Service, in a way, is simply a means of expressing your being for the person---and often with the poorest people you cannot completely alleviate their problem. But by being with them, by being for them, whatever you can do for them makes a difference. The message we try to convey to the poorest of the poor is: We cannot solve your problems but God loves you even while you are handicapped or alcoholic or have leprosy, and whether or not you become cured, God loves you just as much and we are here to express that love. And if we can help relieve their pain a bit all well and good, but it is more important for us to remind them that even in the midst of pain and suffering, God loves them. It?s a difficult message to communicate, obviously, but we believe that being for them is the first thing. If you spend time with a person then that is as much an expression of love as what you can do for them.?? (A Simple Path, 87-90)

"I would like it very much if our Co-Workers, each in his or her own immediate environment, would concentrate more and more on giving service freely and generously to the poor. Let each of them seek out those who live alone, who lack affection, those cut off, in any way, and try to see in them the suffering Christ.
Give some a smile, visit someone for a short time, make a fire for someone who is cold, read something to someone. These are small things, very small, but they will make your love for God more concrete." (Stories of Mother Teresa, 61)
?It may happen that a mere smile, a short visit, the lighting of a lamp, writing a letter for a blind man, carrying a bucket of charcoal, offering a pair of sandals, reading the newspaper for someone--something small, very small--may, in fact, be our love of God in action.? (A Life for God, 77)

Again, Father Henri Nouwen shows us how we can choose love in the little things we do every day: ?We choose love by taking small steps of love every time there is an opportunity. A smile, a handshake, a word of encouragement, a phone call, a card, an embrace, a kind greeting, a gesture of support, a moment of attention, a helping hand, a present, a financial contribution, a visit---all these are little steps toward love.
Each step is like a candle burning in the night. It does not take the darkness away, but it guides us through the darkness. When we look back after many small steps of love, we will discover that we have made a long and beautiful journey.? (Bread for the Journey, June 15)
To pay attention to others can also be done with great love, as Father Henri Nouwen says, ?Paying attention to our fellow human beings is far from easy. We tend to be so insecure about our self-worth and so much in need of affirmation that it is very hard not to ask for attention ourselves. Before we are fully aware of it, we are speaking about ourselves, referring to our experiences, telling our stories, or turning the subject of conversation toward our own territory. The familiar sentence, ?That reminds me of. . .? is a standard method of shifting attention from the other to ourselves. To pay attention to others with the desire to make them the center and to make their interests our own is a real form of self-emptying, since to be able to receive others into our intimate inner space we must be empty. That is why listening is so difficult. It means our moving away from the center of attention and inviting others into that space.
From experience we know how healing such an invitation can be. When someone listens to us with real concentration and expresses sincere care for our struggles and our pains, we feel that something very deep is happening to us. Slowly, fears melt away, tensions dissolve, anxieties retreat, and we discover that we carry within us something we can trust and offer as a gift to others. The simple experience of being valuable and important to someone else has a tremendous re-creative power.? (Compassion, 80)

Ultimately, God will not ask us how many projects we have accomplished, the number of books we have read, nor how many degrees we have obtained, but He will ask us if we have done our best, for the love of Him and others.

[ElansarGelmir]

In and Out
By Cedric Martin

There is a poem that goes:

?There is only one story

A boy loved a girl then the girl loved him back

Then the boy stopped loving the girl but the girl kept on loving the
boy

There is only one story

A girl loved a boy then the boy loved her back

Then the girl stopped loving the boy but the boy kept on loving the
girl

The truth is simple, we do not die of love

We only wish we did?


When I first read this poem, I was critical of this dudes concept of
love. But experience has led me to revisit this theory that there is no
such thing as a constant, undying love. People fall in love and then
they fall out of love.

(1) Falling In
About 3 years ago, I fell in love with a friend and she loved me back.
We had a great relationship that lasted for about 2 ? years. In those 2
? years, we kept two simple rules that defined our relationship. These
were ?No complications? and ?Just good memories?. Simply put, I was
happy.


(2) Challenge
Mid-way into the relationship, my girlfriend got a scholarship for a
masters degree which was to be taken in Singapore and Germany. Ok, at
this point you?re probably thinking ?Long distance relationship! That
never works?.. I?ve heard this story before?. Well, for my part, I just had
to analyze and figure out what really happens, the truth behind it all.
And besides, it?s my article so you might as well just read on.

So anyway, she couldn?t pass off a chance like that and besides, I
wouldn?t let her miss out on that opportunity (I?m a good boyfriend you
know), so she took it. So for the next 6 months, she was going to spend
most of her time in Singapore, which, for both of us, was easy to manage.
It was near (about 3 hour flight) and there was no time difference.
Also, the ticket was somewhat affordable. For us, Germany was the real
challenge.


(3) Falling Out
Every good thing must come to an end, so as the months went by, the
inevitable happens. One morning she wakes up and realizes that she does
not love me anymore. I?m not so sure when the falling out actually
starts, but I think for her it started toward the end of her stay in
Singapore. So how did I react to that? Well, I stayed in love with her (Trust
me, if you knew her, that isn?t hard to do). Actually, I was not really
sure (During that time at least) if she fell out of love for me, or at
least I tried to deny it. I was still hopeful that when she comes home,
she will realize it was just the distance. Well, I was wrong, she did
fall out, and to best describe how that made me feel?..
Eeeeeeyyyyyooooouuuuch!!! Trust me, I?d rather have my pinky finger cut off than go
through that again??. Or maybe not.


(4) Human
Well, being only human, it was only natural that I ask questions like,
What happened? (Loser) What did I do wrong? (Loser x2) What do I do to
get her back? (Loser x10). So what did I get, the answer I?ve been
dreading?.. ?I don?t love you anymore! And you just have to accept that?..?
Picture this, a 6ft tall, 180-lbs?..ok fine! 190lbs (It was the
holidays you know), extremely good looking (Don?t argue, its my article) man
being devastated emotionally by a 5ft tall lady with her cute little
smile. Only one thing I can say about that??Pathetic! The worst time of my
life?.. well, maybe second to when I had to wipe this old mans ass ??..
It was really bad.


(5) Realization
So now, here I am on my bed, pounding away on my laptop at 3 in the
morning, the 5th of January on a brand new year. I am asking?. actually
more like demanding, an answer from my Maker, asking him how in the world
do you handle such creatures? Then just like that, an answer. You see,
in order to better understand the aspects of falling out of love, you
have to go back to its roots which is falling in love. You will realize
that it starts and ends as a mystery. When we fall in love, we can?t
explain it, it just hits you. The feeling, the emotion all of a sudden
become so real to you that you just can?t help it. It is like a flame is
ignited within you. And you do not reason with that, you just know its
there.

Falling out of love happens in the same manner. Before you know it,
that flame is gone, it just dies down. Why? Well, just like falling in
love, we can?t tell what exactly causes it. You just know it?..you feel it
and you cant argue with it. Take my case for example. I did not do
anything wrong. All I did was love her the best I could. But human nature
took its course (Her human nature). It just found an end.


(6) Key Learning
In any given relationship, the flame of love dies down at a given
point. In fact, the real question should be, between the two of you, whose
flame dies down first? You see, it?s part of human nature. We adapt and
we evolve, we tend to change with the environment. The forces that
encourage such change are all around us and we cant stop it. No one is
really to blame, its just the way things are. Ok, I know there are a lot of
reactions out there at this point. Please, stay calm, and read on.

So, how do you make a relationship work? How do you make it last? Two
words; Commitment and Responsibility. No, its not a commitment to love
that person, but rather the commitment to be part of the betterment of
the other individual. You don?t commit to the love but rather commit
that you will be part of the growth of your partner. And please take note
that it should be both ways, because if it is only one way, its not a
relationship. It?s more like an illness or a psychological problem. As
for responsibility, you should be responsible for your commitment and
not for the other person. And, in order to maintain both, all you need is
maturity. You see, this is what makes most real relationships last. As
the other person improves and develops, you fall in love all over
again, and the cycle goes on until there is no room left to fall out of
love. As for married couples, family and children are the additional
commitments. Most married couples know this, and sometimes, its all that
keeps them together, not love.

Ok, I?m not really what you call an ?expert? on the subject. I just
happen to be an analytical genius. Please do not argue with that, just
read on. In my case, we were both living our own lives over 9,000 miles
apart. How in the world do you keep up with each other?s growth as a
person in that case? No technology or communication standard can fix that??
unless somebody speeds up the development of the molecular transporter
or something like that. We were on different worlds with different
lives, so it was really inevitable that one of us was going to give way.
Unfortunately for me, it was faster on her part because she was the one
who was starting out on a new environment, so the pace of change was
much faster for her. So I can?t blame her?.. that witch! ?.just kidding,
there really is no reason to get mad at her. The forces of change are
much stronger on her side. It?s not like she planned the whole falling
out of love thing, it?s just her being human. If I can't live with that,
I should have ended up with a more subhuman life form?..not at all
complicated (weird is more like it?.imagine dating a goat).


(7) Conclusion
So what should a person do? Fall in love. Why? Well, it?s what defines
our humanity, as much as getting hurt (emotionally) does. But please,
do not expect or wait to fall out when you are in a relationship. Let
nature take its course, just be ready to feel the pain of loss or the
difficulty of inflicting pain (remember, it?s not your fault), either way,
it?s emotionally excruciating. Or better yet, make that
commitment?because if it works out, it will be your life fulfillment.

As for me??.well ladies, I?m available. I write and think this way, but
I am not gay?..trust me. You can reach me through??just an idea? Well
I?m doing ok, I miss her a lot, but it will go away soon. Like I told
her, my only consolation right now is that I know she will be ok and that
she is happy with what she is doing (Told you I was a good boyfriend).
Well, like I always say, Its all good. So, before I close, a message to
my ex girlfriend?. It would have been a beautiful wedding. Peace!

HAVE A NICE DAY!....

[ElansarGelmir]

Life's Challenges

Life's Challenges are like stumbling
blocks, we can avoid them and go
nowhere, we can go around them
and temporarily overcome, or we can
face them and permanently overcome.

Please know that with patience,
persistence, determination, courage,
faith, truth, and love, life's challenges
can be overcome.

Julie Murray

[ElansarGelmir]

LIFE IS AN ENDLESS JOURNEY


Life is an endless journey; that like a seed once planted will
flourish; but it must be watered, nurtured, and continually
nourished; it must be stimulated and always encouraged.

Life is good; life is good; life is oh so good.

Life could be viewed as a lesson;life could be viewed as a test;
life could be viewed as a blessing; therefore we must be our best;
than allow our results to manifest.

Life is good; life is good; life is oh so good.

Life can bring us sorrow; life can bring us pain; life can bring us
treasured; which begin to occur once we have overcome all the rest.

Life is good; life is good; life is oh so good.

So during the endless journey called life; try and plant good seeds,
remember they must be watered, nurtured, and nourished; but more
importantly stimulated and always encouraged.

Whatever direction we choose; always remember to view; our daily
challenges as lessons, and via positive re-inforcement watch them
become our greatest blessings.

Life is good; life is good, life is oh so good.


Written by Julie Murray

[ElansarGelmir]

What is Success!

Success is living simply, living orderly, living truthfully and most
importantly living Lovingly. It is positive over negative, it is
good over bad, it is love over hate. It is thinking wisely at all
times.

Once one lives in alignment with their highest, most productive,
only positive beliefs, one automatically obtains success.

Please know that success is a state of mind, one can feel success,
one can see success, one must think success, because everyone is
success. Let's all live accordingly and enjoy our success in
abundance.

[ElansarGelmir]

D E S T I N Y


Some may call it destiny.
Some may call it fate.
Others call it good luck.
I call it FAITH.

At times life may appear to be passing you by. Than you start to
ponder and ask yourself why? Why does life appear to be passing me
by? But than you take another look and realize that whatever is
destined to happen, will happen naturally.

Life cannot be forced, life cannot be rushed, life comes and goes
with the universal flow of time... Like a river flows so gently, or
the dawning of a new day, each day is a new beginning, whatever is
destined to happen will happen eventually.

Remember some may call it destiny.
Some may call it fate.
Others call it good luck.
I call it FAITH.

[yekban81]

THE RICH MAN'S WISH

There was a very rich and selfish man. He had many servants
and lived in a very large house.

One day while walking in his beautiful garden he saw a very odd-looking
man. This man was not only in his garden, he was floating above it!

The rich man asked the odd man, "Who are you and why are you in my
garden?"

The man replied, "I am a genie and I can grant you one wish."

The rich man pondered this. He already had a lot of money and
everything he could possibly want. Finally after much
consideration, he answered,

I want to know how many people on this world are thinking about me."

The genie answered quickly, "One."

"ONE?" The man was so curious he grabbed the genie, shook him and
pleaded,
"You must grant me one more wish!." When the genie agreed, the man
asked,
"Who is that one person?"

The genie cackled and said, "The person who is thinking of you my
son,is you." With this, the genie disappeared and left the rich man in deep
thought.

In today's world, oftentimes we are just thinking of our own selves and
not about the people around us, nor about God. Perhaps if we
stop thinking only of our needs and that of our families and listen to
what God is telling us, more of our wishes will come true. Let's live
for God!

[yekban81]

Put excitement into your career, relationship, anything!

Live Your Life to the Fullest
By Michael Lee, CPA

Do you sometimes feel that you're living a boring life? You
just can't seem to find anything exciting.

You wake up in the morning, then do the same old rituals.
You go to the office or to school. You meet the same people,
do the same job, travel the same road, booooring. Next
day, same story.

Do you want a change in your life? The solution is YOU!
You're the master of your destiny. You decide if you want
to have a change or not.

Take the situation of a high school graduate. He have 2
choices - to continue through college or earn money working
as a clerk.

He's intimidated by the difficulties of studying, thesis, etc.
He doesn't think he will pass the exams because he thinks he's
below average. He doesn't like to take the risk of failing
college and earning no money at present.

So he works as a clerk earning meager income. He's happy
because he's earning money at such a young age while his
friends are having a hard time.

But then his friends graduated and got high-paying jobs. He
envies them. If only he have sacrificed a few years and
faced all the challenges of college, then he could've had
a better life. If only he had taken the risk!

There are also some people who want to improve their lives,
but they're just too afraid to come out of their comfort
zones and explore the endless opportunities out there.

Yes, there may be challenges and problems; but if you try
your best to move forward, you'll get more out of life.

Explore and diversify. Take a different route to work,
eat exotic foods you've never tasted, do something
outrageous (not dangerous).

Life could be exciting. It's your choice. Are you
satisfied with your life right now? If not, then you
need to do the things that you think will make your
life complete and meaningful.

You've got only one life to live. Maximize every opportunity.
Go out and do those things which will leave lasting memories
in your mind. Live every day as if it's your last.

Seize every moment!

[ElansarGelmir]

At the wondrous moment you were born, as you took your first breath, a great
celebration was held in the heavens, and twelve magnificent gifts were
granted to you by the angels.........

The first gift is Strength....... may you remember to call upon it when you
need it

The second gift is Beauty .......May your deeds reflect its depth

The third gift is Courage...... may you speak and act with confidence and
use courage to follow your own path.

The fourth gift is Compassion ........May you be gentle with yourself and
others. May you forgive those who hurt you, and yourself when you make
mistakes.

The fifth gift is Hope ..... Through each passage and season, may you trust
the goodness of life.

The sixth gift is Joy ....... May it keep your heart open and filled with
light.

The seventh gift is Talent ...... May you discover your own special
abilities and contribute them toward a better world.

The eighth gift is Imagination ...... May it nourish your visions and
dreams.

The ninth gift is Reverence ..... May you appreciate the wonder that you are
and the miracle of all creation.

The tenth gift is Wisdom....... Guiding your way, wisdom will lead you
through knowledge to Understanding. May you hear its soft voice.

The eleventh gift is Love ........It will grow each time you give it away.

The twelfth gift is Faith ........ May you believe.

[ElansarGelmir]

The difference between the Great and the Common is in how they handle what life throws at them. Falls and setbacks are inevitable in life but the difference is in how they pick themselves up from the fall. A wise young man once told me that the magic formula is to pick yourself up quickly when u falls. Else other people will step all over you.

"One of human most amazing characteristic is in their ability to turn a minus to a plus." ---Alfred Alder

Some part of success also lies in our ability to see the extraordinary out of the ordinary. It is seeing what everyone else did not see and to hear them say "it is such a simple idea but why I did not think of it? "

[ElansarGelmir]

And they call some of these people "retarded". . .
>
> A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics,
> nine contestants, all
> physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the
> starting line for the
> 100-yard dash.
>
> At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a
> dash, but with a relish
> to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is,
> except one little boy
> who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple
> of times, and began to
> cry.
>
> The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down
> and looked back. Then
> they all turned around and went back. . . . . .
> every one of them.
>
> One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed
> him and said, "This will
> make it better. " Then all nine linked arms and
> walked together to the
> finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the
> cheering went on for
> several minutes. People who were there are still
> telling the story.
>
> Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What
> matters in this life
> is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in
> this life is helping
> others win, even if it means slowing down and
> changing our course.
>
> If you pass this on, we may be able to change our
> hearts as well as someone
>
> else's. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>
> "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"

[ElansarGelmir]

==== INSPIRING STORY OF THE DAY ====

If You Have a Dream

Don't wait for some distant day to come,
it may be too late before you've even begun.
Not everyone will agree with all you decide.

Be true to yourself first and foremost.
The only important thing in life is what
you do with the time you spend here on earth.

Don't cloud today with things that can't
be undone. You have no more control over
yesterday or tomorrow, than you do the raging
of your passions.

Do not quiet these dreams
nor quench your desires. For if you do,
your journey is ended.

You have only today to begin anew and
follow your dreams. For in the end all
we have are our memories.

When the twilight comes to us, let there
be, no excuses, no explanations,
no regrets!

-- Unknown

[ElansarGelmir]

The Acorn Principle

The acorn principle states that your greatest, fastest and easiest growth always come from your natural abilities. The source of the acorn metaphor is that most people tend to look at other as if they can change them into whatever they want. What they ought to be doing is to look within those people to see what kind of see is on the inside. Just like every tree, every person has a seed.

A lot of managers get it backward. They look at that little acron that they see inside somebody, and they say, Acorn, I think you have potential. I think, with a little training and a little hard, you could a giant red wood. In fact, the only thing an acorn can be is an oak. But it is a wonderful one if u developed it right.

Then this misled manager comes back and says," Acorn. Here?s what I am going to do for you. I am going to work with you to help develop your redwood skills. Here isa tape I want you to listen to called The power of positive Redwood thinking by Dr Norman Vincent tree. Here?s a book on the history of some of the great redwoods of all time. Learn from their example. I?d also like you to start networking with redwoods. Just take a redwood to lunch, find out what they lke and ask them their secrets. I also want you to say a daily affirmation I?ve written for you. Just take a redwood to lunch, find out what they like and ask them their secrets. I also want you to say what they like and ask them their secrets. I also want you to say a daily affirmation I?ve written for you. It says," I am a redwood, great and tall. My mighty branches shelters all. I am good enough, I am smart enough and doggone it, people like me.".

now I ask you, what is that acorn going to be when it grows up? You?re probably thinking an oak. I say yes. But a really insecure one oak?because all this time it is getting the message that it ought to be something else and in this case something it is not capable of becoming.

But what if that same manager takes a different approach and says," first let me find out what is the nature of this person." Then come the other qn, "how can I cultivate that nature?", " how can I find the nature gift that this person has and then structure a growth plan around those nature gifts? Then they might have said to the acorn, " here is a tape on the Power of Positive Oak thinking. Here are some examples of successful oaks I?d like you to learn from. Here is a sign-up for a seminar on oak skills. I want you to start networking with other oaks, and I?ve written an affirmation for you that is related to your oak qualities."

If they had done that, the use of the same techniques would have paid off handsomely because they were nurturing the nature that was already there. The more we find the seeds that are inside ourselves and other grow along their natural lines so that they tap their true potential.

- - Jim Cathcart

at some pt of our life, have we meet these "well meaning managers" who can come in the form of teachers, parents, friends ...that encourage us to be someone else than be we are...to do what is good than what we are interested or talented in? due to the conditioning, we know what is right and wrong in the eye of society, parents ...but we forget what we really want for oursleves. how many of us know what are our natural abilites? how many of us are encouraged to develope these talents? let's resolve to find our long lost dream now and committe to making them come true.

at some pt of our life, we may have been these "well meaning manager" oursleves. are u guilty of that? Next time, before we think we know better and give advice, let's remember only the person will know what they really wants.

[ElansarGelmir]

"You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can
change your direction overnight." --Jim Rohn

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is
a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. --Albert Einstein

Did you ever see an unhappy horse?
Did you ever see a bird that had the blues?
One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.
--Dale Carnegie

"Read an hour every day in your chosen field. This works out to
about one book per week, 50 books per year, and will guarantee your success." -- Brian Tracy

[ElansarGelmir]

LETTING GO

How can I say good-bye;
to one for whom I'd die?
to one I care for so;
how can I bear to see him go?
But sometimes, loving someone;
means to release him;
Once the loving is done;
it's like losing a limb;
But I gave away my heart;
and he'll always own a part;
because I'll always care;
even though love we no longer share;
and he no longer loves me;
therefore being free;
Clouds fall through my hands;
into far away lands;
and I let them go;
still holding them in me;
and letting him be;
always in my heart;
as we part;
I love him and that's why I let go.

[ElansarGelmir]

Memories

never fading but always there;
times of how we cared;
times of angry bouts;
times of jealous doubts;
times of loving trust;
times of passionate lust;
those we'll never forget,
like how we met.

Despite all, that's all we'll keep;
We may bemoan and weep;
All that is truly lost;
And what a heavy cost;
By and by, we'll go on;
With memories to look upon;

Yet do not dwell in the past;
That will never last;
Remember our good times;
But the bad times, as well;
When we fell apart;
There was a good reason on that part;
Now we're not together;
This is for the better;
but we'll have the memories forever.

[ElansarGelmir]

Here is the seventh "Cappuccino" stories for your reading pleasure:

THE TRAP

There was a village that was attacked by wild boars. Everyday the wild boars
would enter the village to rampage the whole village of their food. The
villagers tried various means to fight and chase away the wild boars, but
without much success. One day a wise man approached the village headman to offer
his advice. He told the villagers that they will have to follow all his advice
and directions. Out of desperation, the villagers agreed. The wise man told the
villagers to gather all the food from every household and put it in the middle
of a big empty field. They followed his advice, and immediately they saw
hundreds of wild boars approaching the vicinity where the food was placed. The
wild boars were apprehensive initially, but after a while they went for the
food. Once the wild boars had a taste of the food they came back for the free
food everyday. And everyday the villagers would put more food in the field and
the wild boars would come to have their free meals. After a while, the wise man
asked the villagers to erect four poles at the four-corners of the field. The
wild boars were too busy having their food that they did not take notice of what
was happening. After a few weeks, the wild boars developed the habit of having
free food. The wise man then asked the villagers to put fencing around the
field, with a large gate through which the wild boars can enter to have their
food. Finally once the fencing and the gate were completed the villagers closed
the gate and all the wild boars were trapped inside the field. The wild boars
were finally defeated!

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

Habits are easily developed but difficult to get rid of. The wild boars were
trapped because out of their greed, they developed the habit of having free
food, and without having to work for their food. They became so comfortable,
that they did not realize they were being trapped. Most of us are like the wild
boars because we become too comfortable with our jobs and businesses that we do
not realize we are in one way or another being ?trapped?. We seek security
rather than freedom!

[ElansarGelmir]

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a
baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and
we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will
certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our
life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get
a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now,
when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to
admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it
more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your
time with...and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting and procrastinating

--until your car or home is paid off
--until you get a new car or home
--until your kids leave the house
--until you go back to school
--until you lose ten pounds
--until you gain ten pounds
--until you finish school
--until you get a divorce
--until you get married
--until you have kids
--until you retire
--until summer
--until spring
--until winter
--until fall
--until you die


There is no better time than right now to be happy.Happiness is a journey, not a
destination.

[ElansarGelmir]

A group of Geography students studied the Seven Wonders of the
World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what
they think were considered to be the present Seven Wonders of the World.
Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a
quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she
was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little.
I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher
said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the
World are:

1. to touch
2. to taste
3. to see
4. to hear,
She hesitated a little more, and then
5. to feel
6. to laugh
7. and to love

Then there was the room so full of silence it was deafening! It is
far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as
"wonders" while we overlook all God has done for us, regarding them as
merely "ordinary".

May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous.

[ElansarGelmir]

"The only thing worse than not reading a book in the last ninety days
is not reading a book in the last ninety days and thinking that it
doesn't matter." Jim Rohn.

THE TWO CHOICES WE FACE by Jim Rohn

Each of us has two distinct choices to make about what we will do
with our lives. The first choice we can make is to be less than we
have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and
think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the
choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once
made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of
wondrous anticipation.

And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can
possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much
as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To
strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of
us have the choice. To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all
or to be less or to be nothing at all.

Like the tree, it would be a worthy challenge for us all to stretch
upward and outward to the full measure of our capabilities. Why not
do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can,
for as long as we can?

Our ultimate life objective should be to create as much as our talent
and ability and desire will permit. To settle for doing less than we
could do is to fail in this worthiest of undertakings.

Results are the best measurement of human progress. Not conversation.
Not explanation. Not justification. Results! And if our results are
less than our potential suggests that they should be, then we must
strive to become more today than we were the day before. The greatest
rewards are always reserved for those who bring great value to
themselves and the world around them as a result of who and what they
have become.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

[ElansarGelmir]

Learning To Love Yourself -

When you love yourself, you refrain from judging
yourself. You no longer get caught up interpreting or
reading too much in what you say or do. When you do
not judge yourself, you tend to avoid judging others.
When you do not judge others, you do not jump to
conclusions.

It is wonderful to let go of judgment. Your vibrations
become lighter and life appears simpler. As you move
about in greater freedom, you allow others to move
about in greater freedom in expressing who they are.
This sense of freedom leads to greater openness,
listening and receiving. You begin to see your
relationships improve because in loving yourself, you
experience humility and can respect and honor others
for you they are. Always look for the potentiality of
others instead of their one or two setbacks. Have a
bird's eye view of self and also of others, for the
highest good of both parties. Do not be too rash and
be lop-sided in your outlook and thoughts.

When you love yourself, you tend to love others more
easily. Love is an attractive quality. Like a magnet,
it draws people to you. People will come to offer you
gifts of love, friendship and assistance. You need no
ask, help will offer itself in many wonderful ways. Be
ready and open to receiving these gifts of love when
they appear. Remember that all good things are
happening to you because you are filled with love and
are willing to love, give, share and care for others.
When you send out these vibrations, you attract the
same vibrations back. If not, then examine yourself
why this is not happening to you.

[ElansarGelmir]

"One night, a man sleeping peacefully on his bed awaken to find an angel
standing beside him.
"Greetings my friend, I'm here to bring you on a tour of Heaven" said the
angel. The angel offered his hand out, and the man touched it. Suddenly a
great beam of white light encased the man, and the next moment he knew he
was no longer in his room, he was in paradise, where there seem to be so
peaceful, so joyous, so beautiful, that he thought to himself "This must be
Heaven".
The man looked at the angel and saw him nodding his head, as if the
angel confirmed his answer
The angel held the man's hands as they begin to tour Heaven.
The man was shown all the world's greatest riches, wisdom, love,
passion, joy, peace and many other great things. He was held in awe as he
see all these great things in life.
After what it seem like a long time of touring through paradise, he was
brought before a very magnificent building, so big and grand it is, that
it is something he never even imagined existed.
The angel swung open the door, and led the man inside the building. The
man as he was walking in, got blinded by a bright light. Slowly as he
regained his sight, and what was before the man's eyes, shocked him so much
that he was held speechless for quite a while.
Before his very eyes, were many gifts, Gifts of Love, Riches, Success,
Heath, Compassion, Joy,
Peace and many others, and there are thousands, millions, thousand of
millions of them in this room. Many were dusty and covered with cobwebs
while many others looked so clean and fresh.
The angel who, knew what he was thinking, broke the silence and said
"All the Gifts you see here are God's gift to Man, everyone of them, from
the begining to the present. For our God is a loving God, who wants to
shower those he created, all of Mankind, with those wonderous Gifts.
But the problem is, throughout the civilization of mankind, so few people
attempted to claim these
Gifts, even fewer people persisted until they lay their hands on it."
"Those Gifts that are dusty and covered with cobwebs are meant to be
forever UNCLAIMED, because the recipient is no longer around to claim them.
Those that are still CLEAN and FRESH are meant for those who are still
ALIVE, who still have a chance of claiming them"
"But it is the greatest regret, that in the many years to come, many of
these Gifts that are now
clean and fresh will join those that are covered in dust and cobwebs."

[ElansarGelmir]

"Never sell yourself short. Anything anyone else has done, you can
probably do as well."
Brian Tracy

**********************************************************************
LIFESTYLE

It,s really not hard to learn the art of living well. Even people
with modest means can experience the sophisticated lifestyle. They
simply save up some of thier soda money for a bottle of fine wine.
They skip going to the movies and attend the theater. By saving up
thier money all year, they have enough for a trip to Europe or a fine
work of art.
Don't spend all of your money a quarter at a time. Save up and buy
something special, something fine, something of lasting value, or
something that will give you rich memories for a lifetime. Remember,
all that candy money can add up to a small fortune. And for a
sophisticated person, quality is far more important than quantity.
Better a few treasures than a house full of junk.
Jim Rohn

[ElansarGelmir]

In time, long before slavery was
abolished in America, 2 negro slaves, Jack & James
were
taking a breather after a whole morning of tolling in
the fields.
Both were enjoying the shade under a big apple tree,
when James noticed a big smile on Jack's face. He woke
Jack up, asked "What are you thinking about?"

"I dreamt about owning a million apples" replied
Jack.

"If you have a million apples, would you give me a
thousand of them, from your million" asked James.

"No" replied Jack

"How about a hundred pieces" asked James.

"No" replied Jack.

"How about a lousy ten pieces, from your million
apples" asked James, unhapply.

"No, I won't even give you a bite of one, if I had
a million apples", said Jack.

"I thought, I was your best friend, then why are you
treating me this way." James said angryly

"Because you are too "Lazy" to Dream for them
yourself" answered Jack.

The sad thing in life is that, many people are
simply too "Lazy" or too Scared to "Dream" about what
they want for themselves. Some of the better ones have
dreams like : Person A:"I want to be Rich", Person
B:"How much money will make you rich", Person A:"A lot
of money".

Do you know friends who are like this, maybe
"intimately" (yourself).

Yes, to dream of a big dream is to risk being
"Ridiculed". To add in the details to your dream, is
to be easily disappointed by the yardstick you set for
yourself.

You will be very "Safe", If you have no dreams, thus
you will not be ridiculed, or no details to your
dreams means you will not be easily disappointed.
(because everything is so general)

But my friend, will you be "Happy" living a "Safe"
life like this.

"Not much "Expectations", thus not much "Pain", but
also
not much "Results"

OR

"Massive "Expectations", thus Massive "Pain", but
also Massive "Results"

You Decide

[ElansarGelmir]

NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE... by Jim Rohn

No matter how busy you are, try and find some time over the
next two weeks to reflect, think, give and plan.

The week between Christmas and New Year's is the ideal time
for this. Try and slow things down. Spend time with the ones
you love and care about. Take some time to talk with your
spouse and kids about goals and dreams for the year 2002. Use
this as a time to recharge your batteries, not just by
watching TV the entire time, but to seriously and with
excitement think about a handful of changes or additions you
want for your life in 2002.

I believe you will find the act of reflecting, thinking,
dreaming and planning (with your family) to be one of the most
important exercises you can do that will positively impact the
next 12 months.

And remember, do not neglect to commit yourself to set this
time aside or you will find that the business of life can and
will get in the way.

So let's all take a moment to gather up the past year of
victories and defeats, growing as well as those times of
stagnation and use it to wipe a clean slate and thoughtfully
design the next year the way we truly desire it to be.

[ElansarGelmir]

PLANNING by Jim Rohn

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations
with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is
because escape is easier than change.

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll
fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have
planned for you? Not much.

The reason why most people face the future with apprehension
instead of anticipation is because they don't have it well
designed.

The guy says, "When you work where I work, by the time you get
home, it's late. You've got to have a bite to eat, watch a
little TV, relax and get to bed. You can't sit up half the
night planning, planning, planning." And he's the same guy who
is behind on his car payment!

[ElansarGelmir]

I WILL WAIT

A big flood hit a village. Everyone was evacuated and fled for safety, except
for one man who said, ?God will save me. I have faith.? As the water level rose,
a jeep came to rescue him but he refused help and said, ?God will save me. I
have faith.? As the water level rose further, he went up to the second story,
and a boat came to help him. Again he refused to go saying, ?God will save me. I
have faith.? The water kept rising and finally he climbed to the roof. A
helicopter came to rescue him, but he said, ?God will save me. I have faith.?
Finally he drowned. When he came face to face with his Maker he angrily
commented, ?I have complete faith in you. Why did you ignore my prayers and let
me drown?? The Lord replied, ?Who do you think sent the jeep, the boat, and the
helicopter??


SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

We must be accountable for what we do and not blame others for our shortcoming.
We have to take the necessary action to help ourselves, rather than waiting,
wishing and wondering what is happening in life. Nobody will help you unless you
first decide to help yourself.

[ElansarGelmir]

LOVE by Zig Ziglar

Love is not always giving others what they want; love is doing for
others what is best for them. That reminds me of my close friend,
really, he's more like a brother, Bernie Lofchick, from Winnipeg,
Canada. His son, David, was born with cerebral palsy and initially
had a very difficult time.
When David was about 18 months old, Bernie and his wife, Elaine, had
to put braces on David's legs every night. The doctor instructed them
to make the braces progressively tighter, which caused considerable
pain. Many times David pleaded, "Do you have to make them so tight?"

Today, David is an active, healthy, successful businessman with a
beautiful wife and three beautiful children. David's success story is
the result of a love so deep that the Lofchicks were willing to do
for David what was best for him, and not what David wanted at the
moment.

Think about it. Make that kind of love paramount in your life.

[ElansarGelmir]

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in tighter
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute or two
to stop and say I love you,
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I'm sure you'll have so many more
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything right.

There will always be another day
to say our," I love you's,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our. " Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So always hold them dear.
Take time to say I'm sorry, Please forgive me,
Thank you, or It's okay.
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

[ElansarGelmir]

Begin The Healing -- By Suzanne Zoglio, Ph.D.

When life as we know it comes crashing down around us, our hearts ache, our minds go numb, a haze seems to surround us. We are shocked, angry, and sad beyond anything we've ever felt before. We are frightened and shaken. We ask, "Why? How could this happen?" And often, we ask, "Why me? Why us? Why them?" Our faith is tested?and also our resolve. We might wonder if we will find the strength to go on?or if we even want to go on. It's all so overwhelming. Here are 10 steps to help you move forward.

1. Schedule quiet time. Do what you have to do each day, but schedule at least 15 minutes of silence every day for a while. Take a walk alone before work, stop at noon for a bit of reflection, or meditate each evening before bed. Use the time to reflect, weep, pray, or just sit and be aware.

2. Accept your feelings. Don't try to push them away. Healing begins with identifying our emotions?whatever they are. Fear, guilt, regret, anger, or sadness?accept them as they surface.

3. Express your feelings. Write in a journal, pen a poem, sketch a drawing, or write a letter to a dear friend.

4. Connect with people. Be with family, friends, or church groups. Share your pain, and comfort each other. Talk to a counselor, if you wish, or a spiritual leader, but be open to the love and comfort available to you. Know that you are not alone.

5. Create remembrances of what has been lost. Hold a memorial service and ask close friends to share memories in a book. Assemble a photo scrapbook of someone lost, or a video collage of treasured moments. Frame a special note or a shared favorite quote. Perhaps you can find a small object (a ring, photo, or small piece of glass?) that will help you to feel connected. Keep it close to you and hold that love forever in your heart.

6. Pass along the love. One way to honor a life lost is to give others what meant so much to you?a tender touch, an understanding smile, a shoulder to lean on, or the boost of positive energy.

7. Contribute what you can. Donate to an appropriate cause, offer prayers of healing, volunteer your time, give blood, or support your local rescue workers.

8. Be an emotional support. Hold someone who is grieving. Listen generously. Tell your own story of this and past recovery so others will not feel alone.

9. Commit acts of kindness. In your workplace leave anonymous notes of appreciation, offer to help someone who's on a tight deadline, or simply bring in a breakfast treat. In your community, you might adopt a homeless pet, volunteer to deliver meals on wheels, or rake leaves for an elderly neighbor. Show more patience with everyone you meet.

10. Live each day in meaningful ways. Revisit what's important to you?and then schedule it in. Make time for birthday parties and coffee with friends. Tell people what they mean to you. Stop to give thanks for all that you have. Use your gifts every day. Hug your children more?teenage or not!

And remember that we all heal in different ways and at differing speeds. Follow your heart. Take time to feel, take care of yourself, and take one step at a time.

[ElansarGelmir]

A SENSE OF URGENCY IS TREMENDOUS BY CHARLIE 'T' JONES

Perhaps my findings are not the only solution, but with all my
heart I believe the fires of greatness in our heart can be
kept aglow only after we develop a sense of urgency and
importance for what we are doing. I mean a sense of urgency to
the extent that we feel it is a matter of life and death; and
it is a matter of life and death, for in growing we are alive
and in quitting we are dying in a sense. If you don't believe
this, talk to anyone who has lost the sense of urgency of
getting things done and has been drifting in complacency,
mediocrity and failure. If you are without a sense of urgency
in your work, you know what I mean.

A sense of urgency is that feeling that lets you know
yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow never comes. TODAY is in
your hands. It lets you know that shirking today's task will
add to wasted yesterdays and postponing today's work will add
to tomorrow's burden. The sense of urgency causes you to
accomplish what today sets before you. Thank God for the sense
of urgency that can change a dull, shabby existence into a
sparkling life. Right now, ask God to give you a sense of
urgency. Believe that He did, and then act accordingly.

Tremendously,
Charles "T" Jones

[ElansarGelmir]

Something meaningful....

Once upon a time, there was a king. The king liked one of his
followers very much because he was very wise and always gave very useful
advice.

Therefore the king took him along wherever he went. One day,
the king was bitten by a dog, the finger was injured and the wound was
getting worse. He asked the follower if that was a bad sign.

The follower said, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. In the end, the
finger of the king was too bad that had to be cut. The king asked the
follower again if that was a bad sign. Again, the follower gave the same
answer, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. The king became very angry and sent the
follower to prison.

One day, the king went hunting in the jungle. He got excited when he
was on the chase of a deer. Deeper and deeper he went inside the jungle. In
the end he found himself lost in the jungle. To make thing worse, he got
captured by the native people lived inside the jungle.

They wanted to sacrifice him to their god. But when they noticed
that the king had one finger short, they released him immediately as he was
not a perfect man anymore and not suitable for sacrifice in their worship.

The king managed to get back to his palace after all. And he finally
understood the follower's wise quote, 'Good or bad, hard to say'.
If he hadn't lost one finger, he could have been killed by the native people.
He ordered to release the follower, and apologized to him.

But to the king amaze, the follower was not mad at him at all.
Instead, the follower said, 'It wasn't a bad thing that you locked me up.'
Why? Because if the king hadn't locked the follower up, he would have brought
the follower along to the jungle. If the native found that the king was not
suitable, they would have used the follower. Again, the quote 'Good or bad,
hard to say' stands.

The moral of the story is that everything that happens in this
world, there is no absolute good or bad.

Sometimes good things turned out to be bad things eventually,
while bad things become a gain.

Whatever good things that happen to you, enjoy it, but don't
have to hold too tight to it, treat it as a surprise in your life.

Whatever bad things that happen to you, don't have to feel too
sad or despair, in the end, it might not be a total bad thing after
all.
If one can understand this, he or she will find life much
easier.

[ElansarGelmir]

"...........they who have no central purpose
in the their life
fall an easy prey
to petty worries, fears , troubles and self pitying,
all of which is indication of weakness......

......... road to self control & true concentration of the thought.
even if he fail again and again
to accomplish his purpose
( as he necessarily must until weakness is over come.),
the strength of the character gained will be measure of his true
success............ "

--jame allen
author of As a Man thinketh

[ElansarGelmir]

" it is up to you.
you can read this book or other self-help tomes,
watch all the high energy ,
all promising video
or to attend paradise like weekend retreat,
but at the end of the day,
it is you and you alone
who have to make things happen.
the cold hard truth is that
the outside influence can only propel you so far.
the drive has to come from within you.
whether it is this book or anything else you may come in contact with,
you have to apply what you learn on a daily basis."

--Dave Peter

author of HELP YOURSELF
(finding hope courage and happiness)

[ElansarGelmir]

I'd Pick More Daisies

" Of course, you can't unfry an egg, but there's no law against
thinking about it.

If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I
would relax.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would be less
hygienic. I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and
swim more rivers. I would eat more ice-cream and less spinach. I
would
have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary troubles.

You see, I have been one of those fellows who live prudently, hour
after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments. But if I had it
to do over again, I would have more of them - a lot more. I never go
anywhere without a thermometer, a map, a raincoat and a parachute. If
I had it to do over, I would travel lighter.

If I had my life to live over, I would start going barefoot a little
earlier in the spring and stay that way a little later in the fall. I
would have more dogs. I would keep later hours. I would have more
sweethearts. I would fish more. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I
would go to more circuses.

In a world in which practically everybody else seems to be
consecrated
to the gravity of the situation, I would rise to glorify the levity
of
the situation. For I agree with Will
Durant, who said, "Gaiety is wiser than wisdom." If I had my life to
live over, I'd pick more daisies."
--Don Herold

[ElansarGelmir]

bEliEve iT..aNd mAkE tHe RiTe cHoIcE...

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat." "Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No", she replied. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in", they replied. In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. "Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in" "We do not go into a House together," they replied. "Why is that?" she asked. One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home." The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!" His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!" "Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest." The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?" The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!" MY WISH FOR YOU... -Where there is pain, I wish you peace and mercy. -Where there is self-doubting, I wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through it. -Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I wish you understanding, patience, and renewed strength. -Where there is fear, I wish you love, and courage.

[ElansarGelmir]

If you live this day to the fullest, there are regrets that you
will never have to know. Make the most of each moment, and there
are pains you will never need to experience.

Think of how many of your most difficult burdens are largely of your
own making. By virtue of the actions and choices you make on this
very day, you can avoid so very many similar burdens in the future.

The things you do right now, and the choices you make today,
can affect every day for the rest of your life. That can either be a
golden opportunity or a wicked curse, depending entirely of what
choices you make.

Just imagine all the great and wonderful things you can begin to
create right now. Just think of all the things you could do that
would soon have you looking back on this day with gratitude and
satisfaction.

Five years from now, you can look back on today and be overwhelmed
with joy, or overwhelmed with regret. Now is the time when you can
decide which one it will be.

[ElansarGelmir]

The Frogs

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he
could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and
asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied,
"There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs ---millions of them.
They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!" So the
restaurant Owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer
would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next
several
weeks.

The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather
sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs.

The restaurant owner said, "Well... where are all the frogs?" The
farmer said, "I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the
pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!"

< < <Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you,
remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that
problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at
night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million
frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and
you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. > > >

[ElansarGelmir]

The Pretty Lady

Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were travelling together.
They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged.
They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was
stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river.

The big monk offered to carry the pretty lady across the river on his
back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move
of the big monk."How can big disciple brother carry a lady when we are
supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?" thought the little monk. But
he kept quiet.

The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk
followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let
the lady down and they parted ways with her. All along the way for
several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big
monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about the big monk in his
head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the
big monk had no inclination to explain his situation.

Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand
it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk.
"How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first
opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty?
All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite."
The big monk looked surprised and said, "I had put down the pretty
lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying
her along?"

< < <This very old Chinese zen story reflects the thinking of many people
today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us
and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt,
sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous. But like the little
monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the
baggage of the "pretty lady" with us. We let them keep on coming
back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony.
Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage
of the "pretty lady". We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after
crossing the
river,immediately after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately
remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant
event after it is over. It is just that simple.> > >

[ElansarGelmir]

The Turtles

A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. Turtles,being naturally slow
about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the
turtle family left home looking for a suitable place for their outing.

During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for
them at last! For about six months they cleaned up the area, unpacked
the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they
had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all
agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to
retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow
moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell.

He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned.
The family consented and the little turtle left. Three years
passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years... six
years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle
could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to
eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich.

At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree
shouting, "SEE! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get
the salt."

< < <Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our
expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that
we don't do anything ourselves.> > >

[ElansarGelmir]

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the off
country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be
considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father
asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Oh Yeah" said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father proudly.

The son answered: I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a
creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go
beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to
protect them."

With this the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't
have. What is one's persons worthless object is another's prize possession.
It is all based on one's perspective. Makes you wonder what would happen if
we all gave thanks for all the bounty we have instead of worrying about
wanting more.

Take joy in what you have and see the treasure in it.
--Author Unknown

[ElansarGelmir]

In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola
Enterprises, spoke of the relation of work to one's other commitments:

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling
some five balls in the air. You name them work,
family, health, friends and spirit - and you're
keeping all of these in the air. You will soon
understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop
it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls
- family, health, friends and spirit - are made of
glass. If you drop one of these, they will be
irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or
even shattered. They will never be the same. You
must understand that and strive for balance in your life."

How?

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself
with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem
important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest
to your heart. Cling to them as they would your
life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by
living in the past or for the future. By living
your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days
of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to
give. Nothing is really over until the moment
you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less
than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds
us to each together.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by
taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's
impossible to find. The quickest way to receive
love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love
is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to
keep love is to give it wings.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget not
only where you've been, but also where you are going.

Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need
is to feel appreciated.

Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless,
a treasure you can always carry easily.

Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored
each step of the way. Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a gift: that's
why we call it The Present.

[ElansarGelmir]

5 Simple Reasons Most People Will Never Get Rich ... and How To Make Sure You Do!
by Mike Litman

What did I learn about getting rich by interviewing over 20 self-made millionaires? Well, after interviewing one famous self-made millionaire after another I realized many of the secrets that make them rich while others continue to struggle.

When you understand and do what self-made millionaires do, you get to become one of them. If you don't understand and do what they do you don't get to become one. It's really that simple.

Here are 5 simple reasons most people will never get rich and how to make sure you do:

~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Reason #1 - Waiting to start:
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

Most people don't want to wait for success. But, at the same time, they are willing to wait before getting started on the road to success. Do you see the problem here?

The longer you wait to get started, the longer it will be before you get the money, success, and lifestyle you want. Many people are waiting for everything to be perfect before they get going. Therefore, they never get going and never get the rewards.

No race has ever been won (or even finished) by someone who never left the starting line. Don't wait to get going. Start today on the road to success.

=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Reason #2 - Being financially illiterate:
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

The cornerstone of all wealth is understanding the difference between assets and liabilities. The difference is this: Assets put money IN your pocket. Liabilities take money OUT of your pocket. Most people think their home, car, and other possessions are assets.

But, the truth is that in most cases those things take money out of your pocket. They COST you money. They don't MAKE you money. Therefore, by the true definition above, those things are liabilities. They take money OUT of your pocket each month.

When you have more money coming IN from real assets than you have going OUT to pay for liabilities, you will be financially free. There is only one way to do this. Which brings us to...

=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Reason #3 - Focusing on linear income
instead of passive income:
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

One of the millionaires I interviewed said it simply. He said, "if you're not making money while you sleep, you'll never be rich." Linear income is what you get from a job. You work for an hour and get paid only one time for that one hour's work, and that's it. Passive income is when you work once but continue to get paid over and over again from work you're no longer doing.

Investing in or creating true assets that provide passive income for you is your ticket to wealth.

=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~
Reason #4 - Not understanding or using
systems for making money:
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

A system for making money is anything that allows you to make money without your own effort. In other words, it's an automated way to make money. All true assets are simply "systems" of one sort or another.

Once you create or invest in a proven system for making money, there is no limit to the money you can make. Becoming a master of money systems can bring you riches beyond your dreams.

=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
Reason #5 - Not being persistent or patient
enough:
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=

To finish any race you have to leave the starting line and follow through to the finish line. Most people create their own failure by either not getting started or not following through, or both. To get rich, successful, and happy you must have the patience and persistence to cross the finish line.

You must not only get started, but also follow through. This may sound obvious, but it's still the cause of most failure. Only by joining the small percentage of people who are willing to do the 5 things mentioned above will you have the greatest chances for wealth and success.

It's really quite simple...Decide to do these things and you can get rich too. If you don't do them, then like most people you may never get rich. Decide now to master the ideas mentioned above and begin your road to success now. Then follow through and watch the difference it makes.

[ElansarGelmir]

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the
monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him,
but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So the monarch offered him
freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would
have a year to figure out the answer; if, after a year, he still had no
answer, he would be put to death.

The question: What do women really want? Such a question
would perplex even the most knowledgeable man and, to young Arthur, it
seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he
accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everybody:
the princess, the prostitutes, the priests, the wise men,
and the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him
a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch-
only she would know the answer. The price would be high; the witch was
famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no
alternative but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer his question,
but he'd have to accept her price first.

The old witch wanted to marry Gawain, the most noble of the
Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was
horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled
like sewage, made obscene noises ... etc. He had never encountered such a
repugnant creature.

He refused to force his friend to marry her and have to endure such a burden.

Gawain, upon learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.
He told him that nothing was too big a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life
and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, their wedding was
proclaimed, and the witch answered Arthur's question thus:

"What a woman really wants is to be in charge of her own life."

Everyone instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that
Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was. The neighboring monarch
granted Arthur total freedom.

What a wedding Gawain and the witch had! Arthur was torn
between relief and anguish. Gawain was proper as always, gentle and
courteous. The old witch put her worst manners on display, and generally made
everyone very uncomfortable.

The honeymoon hour approached. Gawain, steeling himself for a horrific
experience, entered the bedroom. But what a sight awaited him!
The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen lay before him! The astounded Gawain
asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to
her when she'd appeared as a witch, she would henceforth be her horrible,
deformed self half the time, and the other half, she would be her beautiful
maiden self. Which would he want her to be during the day, and which
during the night?

What a cruel question! Gawain pondered his predicament.
During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night,
in the privacy of his home, an old witch? Or would he prefer having by day
a hideous witch, but by night a beautiful woman with whom to enjoy many
intimate moments?

What would you do? What Gawain chose follows below, but don't read until
you've made your own choice...........
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
Noble Gawain replied that he would let her choose for herself. Upon
hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all
the time, because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge
of her own life.

What is the moral of this story?

The moral is:
If a woman doesn't get her own way,
things are going to get real ugly! (^_^)

[ElansarGelmir]

Around the corner

In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine,
we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.

Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jim",
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."

But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner - yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram, Sir"
"Jim died today."

And that's what we get and deserve in the end,
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

By Henson Towne

[ElansarGelmir]

SLOW DANCE
>
> Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round?
> Or listened to the rain Slapping on the ground?
> Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
> Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
>
> You better slow down.
> Don't dance so fast.
> Time is short.
> The music won't last.
>
> Do you run through each day On the fly?
> When you ask "How are you?"
> Do you hear the reply?
> When the day is done
>
> Do you lie in your bed
> with the next hundred chores
> Running through your head?
>
> You'd better slow down
> Don't dance so fast.
> Time is short.
> The music won't last.
>
> Ever told your child,
> We'll do it tomorrow?
> And in your haste,
> Not see his sorrow?
>
> Ever lost touch,
> Let a good friendship die
> Cause you never had time
> To call and say "Hi"?
>
> You'd better slow down.
> Don't dance so fast.
> Time is short.
> The music won't last.
>
> When you run so fast to get somewhere
> You miss half the fun of getting there.
> When you worry and hurry through your day,
> It is like an unopened gift....
> Thrown away.
>
> Life is not a race.
> Do take it slower
> Hear the music
> Before the song is over.

[ElansarGelmir]

Keep Flapping your Wings


I remembered seeing a documentary film on the
life of birds, and one scene I saw really caught my attention. I saw a
"cruel" mother eagle "pushed" her offsprings from her nest (high up in the
mountains), down to the deep "emptiness" of the valley below. At this
point, I was thinking that this "mother" must be "mad", feeding her kid for
weeks, then "dumping" it away.

We see the poor "kid" falling down the depths of the mountain, almost on
a vertical basis, while
flapping her wings almost like crazy. It looks as through as she is going
to fall to her death.

Then as we zoomed in closer to the kid, we noticed that her descending
speed seems a lot slower, as she falls, while she still continues to flap
her wings. Then she "stopped" in mid air, then.....

The next thing we know she's soaring up, with a new found "confidence",
and circling the mountains, fulfilling her inborn destiny, Soaring high up
in the skies as proud as an eagle should.

I could see many similarities between the eaglet and us as human beings.
I do believe that we are all born with a "magnificent" destiny, that is to
soar the "skies". I do believe that God created us for a purpose, and that
is to live our lives to the fullest.

The problem is, when God "pushes" us out of the "nest", or we "jump"
out of the nest , ( HE hands out multitude problems, or Big and Massive
Failures come upon you ). We fall down the "depths", flapping our "wings"
like crazy, ( we come up with many solutions, but none seems to work. We
try again & again & again....... , but we get nothing but failures & more
failures...... . )

At this point, many of our potential "eagles" give up, they stopped
flapping their "wings" and just let themselves fall down to the
depths, of course, they will not die, but living a life of quiet
desperation or having a "sinking" feeling that your life could have been
otherwise, or could have been a lot better. Isn't this worst than death itself?

For those "brave" ones, who still continues to flap their "wings", they
will still continue to "fall" deeper and deeper into the depths of the
"valley", ( the depth that we will fall is different for everyone ) , only
to find out that........

Suddenly, they stopped "falling", and begin their upward flight,
"soaring" up way above, far above where their nest lies
( their present, their comfort zone ), to soar the skies as an eagle
should, fulfilling their destiny.

Only then, they will realize that "falling" down is a step to "soaring"
up ( as long as you keep on "flapping" your "wings").


Andrew Loo

[pandaboy]

A meaningful article...

This is a story that I read in the Chinese
papers Lianhe
Zaobao on 2 Aug 1999. It is written by a local
Chinese traveller cum
writer,WeiCai. I felt very touched and shaken
by the story and I
have
translated it to English, so that more people
may read about it...

"This happened on a highway in China. 40
passengers, mostly males
were
on an inter-state bus. Halfway through the
journey, two thugs on the
bus
suddenly went up to the lady bus driver and
demanded that she
stopped the
bus and follow them to a waste grounds nearby.

The lady driver
refused
and began to Put up a fight against them. At
the same time, she
cried out to
the other passengers in the bus to help her.

However, the other passengers not only cruelly
turned a deaf ear to
her
cries, they even suggested that she give in to
the thugs' demands so
that they can carry on their journey quickly
when they are done with
her.

One young man amongst the passengers stood out to
chide the rest of the
passengers and tried to help the lady driver.

However, sensing that the majority of the
people do not have the
guts to
resist them, the thugs grew even bolder and
beat up the young man.
They
then forcefully dragged the lady driver out of
the bus. Right on the
side of
the road, the two thugs took turns to rape the
lady driver while the
rest
watched. After the thugs have satisfied their
lust,they commanded
the lady
driver to return to the bus and resumewith the
journey. With tears
streaming
down her face, the lady driver begged that they
drive the righteous
young
man
out of the bus as she is too ashamed to face
him again.

The young man felt absolutely stupefied. So
much for trying tospeak
up
for
the lady and now he is thrown out and left
stranded on a desolated
highway!

Hours later, when the lady driver passed by a
mountainous cliff, she
sped up and flung the whole bus with all its
passengers over the
cliff,
right
into the bottom of the valley. This story was
retold later by the
only
survivor of the journey the righteous young man
driven out of the
bus."

Recently there have been a spate of events that
reveal the
ugly side of our "civilised" society. Not so
long ago, a Malaysian
bus
driver was viciously beaten up when he tried to
stop a snatch thief.
He
was surrounded by members of the public,
watching with their arms
folded.

Another baby is found in a dust bin and was
nearly crushed to death
by
durian husks.I question myself. Have we gone
from the stone age to
become even more barbarious? Has the condition
of the human heart
degenerated to being no different from that of
an animal? Did the
lady
bus driver commit suicide because she couldn't
bear the shame of
being raped
or is it because she has given up on the
humanity of "humans"?

If this article has caused you to pause and
check the condition of
your
heart,
you may wish to pass it on to someone else to
read.

Author unknown.

[yekban81]

24 hours are not enough

By unknown author

WHEN things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things ? your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions ? things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else ? the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I?m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there?s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

[ElansarGelmir]

Here's an awesome idea

Siginificance

Have you ever considered how vast the universe is? Have you ever
imagined how far it streches and how deep it lies?

Furthermore, have you ever considered what a small speck of dust we
really are in terms of the greater picture that exists.

It is in this comparison that a great miracle lies. Human Beings,
despite their total insignificance, have the capability and the
vision to search for great answers about the very nature of the
universe and life itself.

This factor is one that amazes me fully. Whereas our bodies are
bound by time and space, our mind is free to wonder and to question.
More importantly, it has the ability to answer such perplexing
questions.

Take some time to ponder how significant we are. Consider the
capabilities that the human mind. Imagine then what we could achieve
if two minds worked together, then four minds and then eight minds.

The success of our future depends entirely on how effectively we all
learn to manage our brains. This is our greatest strength. It is
limitless in potential and has the ability to provide solutions that
no computer, machine or statistical platform can.

To understand how insignificant human beings initially are and to
then realise how significant we have become is to realise how lucky
we are to be able to think, to dream and to live.

[ElansarGelmir]

SLEEPING WITH THE GIVERS

One Mercedes Benz TV commercial shows its car colliding with a cement

wall during the safety test. Somebody asked the company spokesman why they
do not enforce their patent on the Mercedes Benz energy-absorbing car body,

a design evidently copied by other companies because of its success. The
spokesman's reply: "Because some things in life are too important not to
share."

...Even in a dog-eat-dog, cutthroat world of business, sharing has its

place.

God has never intended for us to cling to the things He lavished on
us. All the talents, all the gifts, all the blessings are meant to be
shared.

There's a story of a Pastor who was profusely thanked by a farmer
after hearing his sermon on giving. The Pastor, testing the farmer, asked,

"If you had one hundred horses, would you give me fifty?" The farmer
replied, "Certainly!" The Pastor went on, "If you had one hundred cows,
would you give me fifty?" And the farmer nodded again. If you had two
pigs, would you give me one?" the Pastor continued. The farmer lost his
cool and said, "Now, cut that out, Pastor, You know that I have two pigs!"

If there's one thing I have come to understand in this life, it is
this: giving is always more blessed than receiving. As we give our time,
talent and treasures to those who need them, the joy we experience is
indescribable.

Take a good look around you and you'll see that the people who are
in the business of giving are usually the happiest people on earth. That
officemate who keeps on sharing her food during breaks, listening to those
in distress. That manager who shares his knowledge and expertise to the new

employees. [And many more like them.] These people are always enjoying
every minute of what they are doing.

What can you give? Well, you can give your love for a start. A little

of your precious time. A portion of your treasure.You don't have to look
far. Those who are in need are near you, even right beside you.

"It has been said that the world is full of two kinds of people, the
givers and the takers. The takers eat well, but the givers sleep well."

By Francis J. Kong
Excerpted from his book: Only The Real Matters

[Ic3b3rg]

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all;
What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?
No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call;
All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.
Then if for my love thou my love receivest,
I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;
But yet be blamed, if thou thyself deceivest
By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.
I do forgive thy robbery, gentle thief,
Although thou steal thee all my poverty;
And yet, love knows, it is a greater grief
To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.
Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,
Kill me with spites; yet we must not be foes
sonnet 40- william shakespeare

love is eternally engraved in the human soul.................

[windrunner]

'Cogito Ergo Sum'
I think, therefore i AM.

You are not who you are , but who you think you are.

And to those who hate maths because it is hard, remember, it is in the brain.. :D

[ElansarGelmir]

Say NO to "A", "C", "D" by Cae Hiew

"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that
causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you
will find you have crossed the mountain." - Author Unknown

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems
longer." - Albert Einstein


Remember, never quit! Because you know, those around you will never
quit on you, at least... I won't!! My faith and prayers are always
there, showering you like a motherly love to her baby.

Remember this, "To get water by digging a well, you have to keep
digging!" Let me tell you this story, told by my Kuk Sul Do
Grandmaster Lim (http://kuksuldo.com), which related to my decision
making process on my career:

An airplane crashed on a dessert. Fred and a few of his crew
survived with no water. As a trained pilot and captain, he knew that
there are water under this dry dessert. Fred then analyse the
surrounding and after a thorough study, he decided that point "x" is
the location of the water source and led his men to dig a well for
water to quench their thirst.

They started digging with all their might and energy. The hot
sunlight, dry dessert, and laborous digging tortured them and
exhausted their hungry and thirsty body. After sometime, one of the
crew members grumbled: "We have been digging for nearly an hour! We
have to stop before we run out of energy! Fred made a wrong
judgment. There is no water here!"

They quited on "x" and start anew on location "y". Again, another
hour passed... still, no sign of water. They quited again and start
digging on a new spot "z"... soon, all of them died of thirst.

When rescue team found them, they saddened to know that all "x", "y"
and "z" have water just another one foot below. Only if Fred and his
crew focus on digging one hole, they would have survived.
---//--//---

Recently I have experienced the same. I was challenged with options
on the path of life... Sometimes, life throws you options that are
so good to refuse. Initially, I only had 2 choices on my career
path... and I have chosen 'B' from 'A'.

Soon, 'C' and 'D' started to appear as additional choices... which
seems more attractive than my initial choice of 'B'. You know what?
God often test our will. And, I failed His test, I have held
back 'B' and go for 'C' and then 'D'... which turned out not as good
as I thought, that wasted my precious asset--> my time (my money and
credibility too).

I have then, stepped my feet back on 'B', which still available to
me... but guess what? Life threw me with another enticing
option, 'E'. I was so tempted to... again, quit 'B' and go for 'E'.
While hesitation clouded my mind, one day... when I was gardening, I
have been enlightened by nature to stick with and stand firm on "B".

On one hot afternoon, I saw those 2 plants (passiflora and little
yellow daisies) that I planted in my garden yesterday dying under
the hot sunlight. I made a mistake not to focus on saving one first
from another, and have both died under the hot sunlight.

When life throws us with choices of same weight and importance. Have
a deep thought, analyse them and make a wise choice BUT then, FOCUS
on it like laser beam, don't be swayed away by other choices that
come your way.

So, my beloved LifeCoaches, start thinking and plan for what you
expect to achieve in the coming 3 months. Remember, be firmed on
your decision... OR "you will DIE on Thirst".

"The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places
that delay you." - Author Unknown

"Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that
opens the lock." - Author Unknown

"He conquers who endures." - Persius

"You can't go through life quitting everything. If you're going
to achieve anything, you've got to stick with something." - From
Family Matters TV show

"The drops of rain make a hole in the stone not by violence but
by oft falling." - Lucretius

[ElansarGelmir]

"If we are not happy and joyous at this season,
for what other season shall we wait and
for what other time shall we look?" -- Abdul Baha


"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think
freely, to risk life, to be needed." -- Storm Jameson


"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means
paint, and that voice will be silenced." -- Vincent Van Gogh


"One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in." --Wayne
Gretzky


"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the
lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer,
or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have
problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we
know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.
Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using
reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no
argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you
understand, you can love, and the situation will change." -- Thich Nhat Hanh


"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as
Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote
poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and
earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job
well." -- Martin Luther King Jr.


"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original
dimensions." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.


"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people
always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become
great." --Mark Twain


"In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the
next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is
nothing." -- Theodore Roosevelt


"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates
it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral." -- Antoine De
Saint-Exupery


"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one
can go." -- T. S. Eliot


"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase,
just take the first step." -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


"Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected
to a critic." -- Jean Sibelius


"I was born to catch dragons in their dens
And pick flowers
To tell tales and laugh away the morning
To drift and dream like a lazy stream
And walk barefoot across sunshine days." -- James Kavanaugh

[yekban81]

MOMENTS IN LIFE

There are moments in life when you miss someone
so much that you just want to pick them from
your dreams and hug them for real!

When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the
closed door that we don't see the one
which has been opened for us.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive.
Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to
make a dark day seem bright.
Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go;
be what you want to be,
because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things
you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,

enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human, and
enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the most of
everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always
be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until
you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying
and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end,
you're the one who is smiling and everyone
around you is crying.

Don't count the years--count the memories...........

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

[vseehua]

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar (http://livinghereandnow.blogspot.com/2008/06/ducks-quack-eagles-soar.html)

No one can make you serve customers well.

That?s because great service is a choice.

Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed my friend a laminated card and said, ?I?m Wally, your driver. While I?m loading your bags in the trunk I?d like you to read my mission statement.?

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said, ?Wally?s Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment. This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, ?Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.?

My friend said jokingly, ?No, I?d prefer a soft drink.?

Wally smiled and said, ?No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.?

Almost stuttering, Harvey said, ?I?ll take a Diet Coke.?

Handing him his drink, Wally said, ?If you?d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.?

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. ?These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you?d like to listen to the radio.?

And as if that weren?t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he?d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

?Tell me, Wally,? my amazed friend asked the driver, ?have you always served customers like this??

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. ?No, not always. In fact, it?s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called You?ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you?ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ?Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don?t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.??

?That hit me right between the eyes,? said Wally. ?Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.?

?I take it that has paid off for you,? Harvey said.

?It sure has,? Wally replied. ?My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I?ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don?t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can?t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.?

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I?ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn?t do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about us?