The Quiet Man

Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake. Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in World War II. Watching him, we worried that although he had survived the war, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

When he saw the flier at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.

He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?" The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah, sure," with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him. Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. "Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet. Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head.

"Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise up someday." His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.

Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you doing?"

"I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately," came the calm reply.

Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose. This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done.

Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering. The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him.

He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack.

"Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time." The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.

"What's this?" Carl asked.

"It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet."

"I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?"

The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I learned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate." He stopped for a moment "I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back." He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked off down the street.

Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.

The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden."

The following spring another flier went up. It read: "Person needed to care for Carl's garden." The flier went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flier. "I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said.

The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him."

The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done. In that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday."

"Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?"

"Carl," he replied.

[forwarded by Raynette from Phyllis]

A beautiful message about growing old

A beautiful message about growing old

heaven and hell

Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand. 'It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill.

You see, they have learned to feed each other.

[via Donna]

Rich or Poor?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

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 live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

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."

The boy's father was speechless.

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

who will sit in that chair?

I have visited Japan many times on invitation. Once while giving a religious discourse there, I wanted to test the quality of the audience. I said to them, "Please consider a living room which has only one chair in it. Now let us suppose that Sri Krishna, Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad have entered that living room together. Please tell me who among them will sit in that chair."

One lady stood up and said, "The chair will remain empty because, I am sure, each of those prophets will offer the chair to others."

Her answer was correct because all saints and prophets are humble.

Rules of Life

RULES OF LIFE

Complete the rule with one word.

(e.g., The road to hell is paved with good ___. Answer: Intentions.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. He who can, does. He who cannot, ___.

Answer________

2. Never mistake personality for ___.

Answer________

3. In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of ___.

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL

4. No one can make you feel inferior without your ___.

Answer________

5. When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to ___.

Answer________

6. Most men never mature; they simply grow ___.

Answer________

PH.D. LEVEL

7. When in charge, ponder; when in trouble, delegate; when in doubt, ___.

Answer________

8. A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of ___.

Answer________

9. Never invest your money in anything that eats or needs ___.

Answer________

ANSWERS

Observations from Andy Rooney

Please Read all the way to the bottom: If you will take the time to read these. I promise you'll come away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis:

They're written by Andy Rooney , a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy.......

I've learned..... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned..... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned..... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned..... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned..... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned..... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned..... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned..... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned..... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned..... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned..... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned..... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned..... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned..... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned..... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned..... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned...... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned..... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned..... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned..... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned..... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned..... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned..... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned..... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned..... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned..... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occur while you're climbing it.

I've learned ..... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

[email forward via Raynette]

* * *

Thoughtful lessons, though it actually wasn't written by Andy Rooney, but largely taken from the book Live and Learn and Pass It On.

Instructions for Life

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

This is from a chain letter supposedly written by the Dalai Lama. As might be expected, it's not from him, but is actually from Life's Little Instruction Book. But good thoughts nonetheless.

From: You Know Who

Date: Eternity
To: My Children On Earth
Re: Idiotic Religious Rivalries and Non-sense


My Dear Children (and believe me, that's all of you),

I consider myself a pretty patient Guy. I mean, look at the Grand Canyon.

It took millions of years to get it right. And how about evolution? Boy,
nothing is slower than designing that whole Darwinian thing to take place, cell by cell and gene by gene. I've even been patient through your fashions, civilizations, wars and schemes, and the countless ways you take Me for granted until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again.

But today, I want to let you know about some things that are starting to
tick Me off.

First of all, your religious rivalries are driving Me up a wall. Enough
already! Let's get one thing straight: These are your religions, not Mine.
I'm the Whole Enchilada; I'm beyond them all. Every one of your religions
claims there's only one of Me. But in the very next breath, each religion
claims it's My favorite one. And each claims its bible was written
personally by me, and that all the other bibles are man-made. Oh, Me. How do I even begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense?

Okay, listen up now: I'm your Father and Mother, and I don't play favorites among My Children. Also, I hate to break it to you, but I didn't write that stuff. I've always been more of a "doer" anyway. So all your books, including the bibles, were written by men and women. They were inspired, remarkable people, but they also made mistakes here and there. I made sure of that, so that you would never trust a written word more than your own living Heart.

You see, one Human Being to me -- even a Bum on the street -- is worth more than all the holy books in the world. That's just the kind of Guy I Am.

My Spirit is not an historical thing, It's alive right here, right now, as fresh as your next breath. Holy books and religious rites are sacred and
powerful, but not more so than the least of You. They were only meant to
steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with each other,
and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with Me.

Which brings Me to My next point about your nonsense: You act like I need you and your religions to stick up for Me or "win souls" for My Sake. Please, don't do Me any favors. I can stand quite well on my own, thank you. I don't need you to defend Me, and I don't need constant credit. I just want you to be good to each other.

And another thing: I don't get all worked up over money or politics, so stop dragging My name into your dramas. For example, I swear to Me that I never threatened Oral Roberts. I never rode in any of Rajneesh's Rolls Royces. I never told Pat Robertson to run for president, and I've never ever had a conversation with Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, or Jimmy Swaggart! Of course, come Judgment Day, I certainly intend to...

The thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of loyalty pledge to Me. The true purpose of your religions is so that you can become more aware of Me, not the other way around. Believe Me, I know you already. I know what's in each of your hearts, and I love you with no strings attached. Lighten up and enjoy Me. That's what religion is best for.

What you seem to forget is how mysterious I Am. You look at the petty little differences in your scriptures and say, "Well, if this is the Truth, then that can't be!" But instead of trying to figure out My Paradoxes and Unfathomable Nature -- which, by the way, you never will -- why not open your hearts to the simple common threads in every religion?

You know what I'm talking about:

a.. Love and respect everyone.
b.. Be kind. Even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be of
good cheer, for I Am always with you.
c.. Learn how to be quiet, so you can hear My Still, Small Voice (I don't
like to shout).
d.. Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity and
gracefulness, for you are My Own Child.
e.. Hold back nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die will
surely die, and the parts that can't, won't.
f.. So don't worry, be happy (I stole that last line from Bobby McFerrin,
but he stole it from Meher Baba in the first place.)

Simple stuff. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It's like you're
always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I'm very tired of being your main excuse. Do you think I care whether you call me Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Wakantonka, Brahma, Father, Mother, or even The Void or Nirvana?

Do you think I care which of My Special Children you feel closest to -- Moses, Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed or any of the others? You can call Me and My Special Ones any name you choose, if only you would go about My business of loving one another as I love you. How can you keep neglecting something so simple?

I'm not telling you to abandon your religions. Enjoy your religions, honor
them, learn from them, just as you should enjoy, honor, and learn from your parents. But do you walk around telling everyone that your parents are better than theirs? Your religion, like your parents, may always have the most special place in your heart; I don't mind that at all. And I don't want you to combine all the Great Traditions into One Big Mess. Each religion is unique for a reason. Each has a unique style so that people can find the best path for themselves.

But My Special Children -- the ones your religions revolve around -- all
live in the same place (My Heart) and they get along perfectly, I assure
you. The clergy must stop creating a myth of sibling rivalry where there is none.

My Blessed Children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotry and confusion. The whole planet is connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases, and mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program! If you really want to help Me celebrate life, commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry, clothe your naked, protect your abused, bring the soldiers home from this nonsense war and shelter your poor. And just as importantly, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I've given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, loving, and laughing together.

Finally, I'm not really ticked off, I just wanted to grab your attention because I hate to see you suffer. But I gave you Free Will, so what can I do now other than to try to influence you through reason, persuasion, and a little old-fashioned guilt and manipulation? After all, I Am the original Jewish Mother. I just want you to be happy, and I'll sit in The Dark. I really Am, indeed, I swear, with you always. Always. Trust In Me.

Your One and Only,

You Know Who

[via Herbert Gordon @ TheGreatSecret]

Bulding Bridges

Two Brothers
By: Author Unknown

Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's d oor. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box. "I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you."

"Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."

"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.


As you work at building your business let this story by a reminder that you too want to build bridges with your associates rather they be affiliates, distributors or customers Build Bridges of friendship with them and your success will be guaranteed.

-- via Herbert Gordon, @TheGreatSecret

Fabulous Friday 50 Words of Wisdom

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is - it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in Miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative--dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

[from Gwyn Walker Chambers via Herbert Gordon@thegreatsecret, 6/15/07]

who to hang out with

Be with people who make you want to be a better person in the world. Be with people whose very presence makes you aspire to be greater. The people I am talking about do not require that you want to rise. There is no sense of obligation. There is not even a request to you to expand your horizons. It is that simply by their presence, you feel something good, and you want more of it, and you want to be it. You want to be like these people who somehow, by their very being, increase your worth to yourself.

-- via Herbert Gordon@TheGreatSecret (free ebook)

Change The World

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

-Margaret Mead, anthropologist (Kehaulani Christian's favorite quote)

I see that Mead is also quoted at Ben&Jerry's 50 ways to promote peace.

The Art of Not Being Offended

There is an ancient and well-kept secret to happiness which the Great Ones have known for centuries. They rarely talk about it, but they use it all the time, and it is fundamental to good mental health. This secret is called The Fine Art of Not Being Offended. In order to truly be a master of this art, one must be able to see that every statement, action and reaction of another human being is the sum result of their total life experience to date. In other words, the majority of people in our world say and do what they do from their own set of fears, conclusions, defenses and attempts to survive. Most of it, even when aimed directly at us, has nothing to do with us. Usually, it has more to do with all the other times, and in particular the first few times, that this person experienced a similar situation, usually when they were young.

Yes, this is psychodynamic. But let’s face it, we live in a world where psychodynamics are what make the world go around. An individual who wishes to live successfully in the world as a spiritual person really needs to understand that psychology is as spiritual as prayer. In fact, the word psychology literally means the study of the soul.

All of that said, almost nothing is personal. Even with our closest loved ones, our beloved partners, our children and our friends. We are all swimming in the projections and filters of each other’s life experiences and often we are just the stand-ins, the chess pieces of life to which our loved ones have their own built-in reactions. This is not to dehumanize life or take away the intimacy from our relationships, but mainly for us to know that almost every time we get offended, we are actually just in a misunderstanding. A true embodiment of this idea actually allows for more intimacy and less suffering throughout all of our relationships. When we know that we are just the one who happens to be standing in the right place at the right psychodynamic time for someone to say or do what they are doing—we don’t have to take life personally. If it weren’t us, it would likely be someone else.

-- By Dr. Jodi Prinzivalli (via Herbert Gordon @ TheGreatSecret)

How To Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
   Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, friends, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
   improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

http://www.avolites.org.uk/jokes/aging.htm

The Echo Of Life

A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy
trips and feeling a sharp pain he screams, “Ahhhhh.”

Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, “Ahhhhh.”

Filled with curiosity, he screams, “Who are you?” but the only
answer he receives is: “Who are you?”

This makes him angry, so he screams, “You are a coward!” and
the voice answers, “You are a coward!”

He looks at his father asking, “Dad, what is going on?”

“Son,” he replies, “pay attention!” Then he screams, “I admire you!”

The voice answers, “I admire you!”

The father shouts, “You are wonderful!” and the voice answers,
“You are wonderful!”

The boy is surprised, but still can’t understand what is going on.

Then the father explains, “People call this ‘ECHO’ but truly it is
‘LIFE!’ Life always gives you back what you give out! Life is a mirror
of your actions. If you want more love, give more love!

If you want more kindness, give more kindness! If you want
understanding and respect, give understanding and respect. If you
want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and
respect! This rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives.”

Life always gives you back what you give out. Your life is not
a coincidence, but a mirror of your own doings.

-Author Unknown

Unleash Your Potential

Life is a gift to cherish. You are put on this earth to fulfill one major purpose, a mission, if you like. If you do hundreds of things but fail to do the one thing you were sent to do, you will not fulfill your purpose in life. You are unique and blessed with a great gift with which you can accomplish your mission in life. If you fail to find your mission and your gift, you will not succeed in unleashing your full potential.

One way to discover your mission is to imagine that you have won a 20-million-dollar lottery. Ask yourself where you would spend your time or what kind of work you would do.

Another way is to imagine being on your deathbed. Ask yourself what regrets you would have. This type of thinking can tell you where you need to spend your time and what kind of work you need to do to unleash your potential.

When you live in the present, you are able to capitalize on the opportunities of the moment. If you carry with you the baggage of the past or the burden of the future, you let a lot of your energies go to waste. Remember, your past baggage - the past hurts and losses - is gone forever. Your future is unfolding with each moment. To unleash your potential you have to focus on each moment before you; you must live every day as if it were your last day. In this way your life expands and flourishes. Every day becomes an eternity, every minute precious and energizing.

-- Azim Jamal [via Laila@TheGreatSecret, 3/24/07]

Daily Survival Kit

Toothpick, Rubber Band, Band Aid, Pencil, Eraser, Chewing Gum, Mint, Candy Kiss and Tea Bag

Why is that you ask?

1. Toothpick - to remind you to Pick Out The Good Qualities in others

2. Rubber band -to remind you to Be Flexible: things might not always work out the way you want, but it will work out.

3. Band aid -to remind you to Heal Hurt Feelings, yours and someone else's

4. Pencil -to remind you to List Your blessings Everyday

5. Eraser -to remind you that Everyone Makes Mistakes,and it's OK

6. Chewing Gum -to remind you to stick with it and You Can Accomplish Anything

7. Mint - to remind you that You Are Worth a Mint!

8. Candy Kiss -to remind you that Everyone Needs a good hug or kiss every day

9. Tea Bag - to remind you to Relax Daily and go over your List of Blessings

-- from Herbert Gordon@TheGreatSecret

Jumping off cliffs

"If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a
love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go
into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's
nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and
build your wings on the way down." -Ray Bradbury

-- from Dawn@thegreatsecret, 11/22/06

Socrates on war

Wars and revolutions and battles are due simply and solely to the
body and its desires. All wars are undertaken for the acquisition of
wealth; and the reason why we have to acquire wealth is the body,
because we are slaves in its service. - Socrates [InvestorWords, 11/27/06]