Pursue Loyalty

This morning I was reading my email and I found this and it caught my attention. Because we live in an era where loyalty and integrity is missing and that is sad.

"Have you ever noticed that righteousness and loyalty go together? In other words, if we're not being loyal to - our family, friends, country, job - then we aren't going to experience God's best. Loyal people are honorable people. When you're loyal, you stick with someone through thick and thin. When you are loyal, you keep your word to people - even if you get a "better" offer."

"Loyal people are respectful of their country and leaders. Loyal people honor their parents and defend their family. When you are loyal, you are a person of integrity. You build trust with others. Is this an area where you can rise higher? Are you faithful in the things you're committed to? Don't let the distractions of everyday life keep you from being dedicated. Look for ways to show honor to those around you. Is there something you need to set aside for the sake of a loved one? Show love by staying loyal."

Joel Osteen

Keep Trying

Sitting meditating on the imprudence of life. So many years choosing to do the best. But at the same time feeling the passage of time. Dreams not achieved, mental fatigue. Seeking to achieve a dream but at the same time looking at the distance and recognize how far is that dream.

It will be stubbornness on my part, ignorance or self-denial. But I keep trying, maybe for rebellion, to find that world that really fills me, a place where I really feel part of it. Because that is life...never give up.

And even if there are days when my ships wrecks, there will be always a lifeguard, an exit or an opportunity to keep trying. Maybe a new dawn or a beautiful sunset that will recharge me again to take the next step...and keep trying.

Ever I Love You

https://youtu.be/ZItHAG_TSIE

Waiting for a Message

"At times we realize that we can interpret a message as negative when is only an invitation to expect, but as will not know at the time, we must drop what anchor us and follow our lite path luggage, hoping that were are going in the right direction and it has to be in our life to make us grow, to align to our happiness, to stay for ever or for short time, will be without force"

"If you are waiting for a message  that does not arrive, that is also a message"

By Sarah Espejo

http://rincondeltibet.com

Love in Action

One night a man came to our house and told me, "There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days." I took some food and I went. When I finally came to the family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger.

I gave the rice to the mother. She divided in two, and went out, carrying half of the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her, "Where did you go?" She gave me this simple answer, "To my neighbors - they are hungry also."

I was not surprised that she gave - because poor people are generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves that we don't have time for others.

- Mother Teresa

Malaika

https://youtu.be/SXDoiNWuVCI

See it Through

When you're up against a trouble, meet it squarely, face to face;

Lift your chin and set your shoulders, plant your feet and take a brace.

Lift your chin and set your shoulders,

plant your feet and take a brace.

When it's vain to try to dodge it,

do the best you can do;

You may fail, but you may conquer,

See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you,

and you future may seem grim,

but don't let your nerve desert you;

Keep yourself in fighting trim.

If the worst is bound to happen,

Spite of all that you can do,

Running from it will not save you,

See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile;

When with troubles you're beset,

But remember you are facing

Just what other men have met.

You may fail, but fall still fighting;

Don't give up, whate'er you do:

Eyes front, head high to the finish,

See it through!

By Edgar Guest

Illumination of the Heart

https://youtu.be/qjvBzlJkE8M

William Ackerman - The Bricklayer's Beautiful Daughter (2004)

https://youtu.be/9Cpaqo0GCMQ

Being and Breathing

One warm evening may years ago...

After spending nearly every waking minute with Angel for eight straight days, I knew that I had to tell her just one thing. So late at night, just before she fell asleep, I whispered it in her ear. She smiled - the kind of smile that makes me smile back - and she said, "When I'm seventy-five and I think about my life and what it was like to be young, I hope that I can remember this very moment."

A few seconds later she closed her eyes and fell asleep. The room was peaceful - almost silent. All I could hear was the soft purr of her breathing. I stayed awake thinking about the time we'd spent together and all the choices in our lives that made this moment possible. And at some point, I realized that it didn't matter what we'd done or were we'd gone. Nor did the future hold any significance.

All that matter was the serenity of the moment.

Just being with her and breathing with her.

The moral: We must not allow the clock, the calendar, and external pressures to rule our lives and blind us to the fact that each individual moment of our lives is a beautiful mystery and a miracle - specially those moments we spend in the presence of a loved one.

Written by Marc Chernoff

Fiona Joy Hawkins - Blue Dream (HD, HQ)

https://youtu.be/fNG5QkH1zZs

Good Things Will Come

There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be.

That's when you hate to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down.

But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.

There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.

Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are.

So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be.

Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.

Keep believing in yourself.

Author Unknown

My First Day as a President by Max Lucado

Best I can guess from looking online, there are twelve steps from the door of the oval office to its desk. I've never been there. Doubt that I ever will. But if ever bequeathed the tittle "President of the United States" I have an idea how I would handle my first day in office.

I would, freshly sworn in as commander of the free world, enter the office, ask my secretary, Chief of Staff, Vice President, Wife, and anyone else who wants to come in, to wait. Give me a few minutes, please. I'd close the door, take the dozen steps across the room, stand for just a second behind the desk, and hit my knees.

With hands folded, head bowed, and heart open I would confess, "God, I don't know how I got here. I don't know how this happened. I don't know what the voters were thinking...but I know this, if you don't take over, we're sunk."

At that point I would present my prayer requests.
- heal the hurts of the land
- stop the violence in this land
- show us how to love each other
- give us a second chance at caring for babies, hungry people, and mountain streams

On and on I'd go. The secretary would buzz, but I'd tell her to wait. The Russian President would call, but we'd put him on hold. My VP would remind me that the parade awaits outside...but hold on, I'm not done yet.

Then, once the prayer was finished, once I'd confessed every fear and claimed every promise, I would rise to shaky legs and send out a decree. On Presidential stationary with Presidential pen I would write: "By virtue of this office, I declare tonight to be "Let's try it again night." I would ask, compel, invite, request, cajole, and recruit every person who has a kitchen table to invite someone dinner. Cook your best chicken or enchilada or chicken enchilada and, for one night, no arguing. Words like Democrat, Republican, Liberal, and Conservative are not allowed and, if used, will prompt and outpouring of mashed potato gravy the lap of the person who says them. For one meal, for one night, we will listen to each other story before we tell our own. We will try to understand how we got angry, so ticked off, so blasted mad, and, before the serving of the pie and the ice cream, we will ask, "Can't we try again?

And, I would suggest that we do what I did - bow our heads and ask for help.

I know. Presidents don't do those things or make such decrees. Then again, maybe they should.

Max Lucado, September 2016

Good Leaders are Good Followers

A young woman was filling out an application for college when she came across the question: Are you a leader? She thought she had better be honest, so she answered, "No."

She was convinced when she sent the application in that she'd never hear from them because of that answer. But she received a letter back from the school that read: "We have reviewed numerous applications and, to date, there will be some 1.452 new leaders attending school next year. We have decided to accept your application because we felt it was imperative that they have a least one follower."

Should all of us be leaders all of the time? Isn't there a time to follow as well as lead?

One man likes to tell about the day he purchased a novelty sign and hung it on his office door. The sign read..."I'm the boss". The next day he came to work he noticed that the office comedian affixed a sticky note to his door that read, "Your wife called. She wants her sign back."

He may be the boss at work, but home is different altogether. I'm marriage and family as well as most social relationships, sometimes we lead and sometimes we follow the lead of another. If the so-called boss happens to be an effective leader at work, he has probably learned that getting his own way all of the time does not produce good results.

As it turns out, the nest leaders area also called follower. Why?

1. Good leaders share leaderships. They know when to follow and when to lead.
2. Good leaders build their skills on following role models for the behaviors they want to learn. What they admire in another, they copy.
3. Good leaders exhibit humility. They remain open to suggestion. When they need it, they ask for   help and follow good advice.

In other words, good leaders are also good followers. They know when to follow in the footsteps of others and when to leave tracks of their own.

You may be a boss, but you will be a leader when you also learn how to follow.

 Written by Steve Goodier

Gracie's Theme

https://youtu.be/5vh-w6xStZE

A Date with Mom

A son took his old mother to a restaurant for an evening dinner.

Mother being old and weak, while eating, dropped food on her skirt. Others diners watched her in disgust while her son was calm.

After she finished eating, her son who was not all embarrassed, quietly took her to the wash room, wiped the food particles, removed the stains, combed her hair and fitted her spectacles firmly. When they came out, the entire restaurant was watching them in silence, not able to grasp how someone could embarrass themselves publicly like that.

The son settled the bill and stated walking pout with his mother.

At that time, and old man amongst the diners called out the son and asked him, "Don't you think you have left something behind?"

The son replied, "No sir, I haven't".

The old man retorted, "Yes you have! You left a lesson for every son and hope for every mother".

Author Unknown

Expand Your Vision of Possibilities

Imagine for a moment that you have been given this one day to live - there are no yesterdays or tomorrows. If that were true, how would you experience this day differently? What would you choose to think. see, and do?

Today truly is when life's drama will unfold. We can learn from the past and plan for tomorrow, but we can't live in the past or future. The present moment is where we will experience life. This day is filled with tremendous possibilities for growth and achievement.

We can choose to dwell on yesterday's hurtful memories, or we can see through the eyes of a child - with newness, joy, and the thrill of adventure.

Pause today. Experience deeply all the sights and sounds around you. Allow yourself to feel each emotion that this day brings. Take a moment to relax and let your imagination flow without limitation. Allow the possibilities of this day to become clear in your mind.

Then walk through this day in keen awareness, mindful of the miracles and possibilities it offers. Today we can build new dreams and discover solutions to unsolved problems. There will be chances to see, hear, touch, taste, feel, laugh, and love that we've never had before.

Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) wisely said. "We all have possibilities we don't know about. We can do things we don't dream we can do."

Inside each person there are possibilities he or she has not discovered. When we rush through the day without observing our thoughts, we overlook those possibilities. Living with intentional awareness will strengthen and broaden our vision of possibilities.

This moment can de a new beginning. There will be thrilling possibilities to see if you will stop, look and listen your mind and heart. To your success"

by Steve Brunkhorst

Thoughtfulness

https://youtu.be/3zzinMV8vdI

The Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us!

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage (frustration, anger, and disappointment, etc.). As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they will dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...love the people who treat you right & pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage free day.

Author Unknown

Rain

https://youtu.be/M1_qRNrNn68

The Falcon & The Branch

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed, and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly.

He presented the task to the members of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch.

Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, "Maybe I need someone familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem." So he cried out to his court, "Go and get me a farmer".

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of this miracle".

Th court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king. The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?

With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, "It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting."

We are all made to fly - to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But at times we sit in  our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us. The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar. So for most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling.

Let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight.

Author Unknown

The Cockroach Theory for Self Development

At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady.

She started screaming out of fear.

With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.

Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky.

The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but...it lands on another lady in the group.

Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.

The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter.

The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.

Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behavior?

If so, then why was the waiter was not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.

It is not the cockroach, but the inability of those people to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach, that disturbed the ladies.

I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that disturbs me, but it's my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me.

It's not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.

More than a problem, it's my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in mi life.

by Sundar Pichai

Priceless Gifts You Can Give

The Gift of Listening

No interruptions, no daydreaming, no planning your responses. Just listen.

The Gift of Affection

Be generous with appropriated hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and hand holding.

The Gift of Laughter

Share articles, positive news, funny stories, and cartoons to tell someone, "I love to laugh with you."

The Gift of a Compliment

A simple and sincere "You look great in read", "You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

The Gift of Solitude

Be sensitive to the times when others want nothing more than to be left alone.

The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a king word to someone, even if it's just saying hello or thank you.

The Gift of Friendship

Without friends life would hardly be worth living, let your friends know just how much they mean to you today.

The Gift of Your Smile

A simple smile breaks all the barriers of language and culture. Smile and the world smiles with you!

Author Unknown

Eagle Mountain

https://youtu.be/HmLOCfGaBzc

The Seasons of Life

There was a man who had fours sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the three was ugly, bent, and twister.

The second son said no - it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

 The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and dropping with fruit, full of life and fulfilment.

The man the explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are - and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life - can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfilment of your fall.

Don't judge a life by one difficult season. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

 From livelifehappy.com

Lokesvara

                           https://youtu.be/3A01XRSKd98

Life

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably, more than once and it's harder every time.

You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.

You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute if happiness you'll never get back.

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Author Unknown

San Simeon

                             https://youtu.be/PRMrUgtgF7U

Be a Good One

Pablo Picasso, the great Spanish painter and sculptor, once said this about his ability: " My mother said to me, if you become a soldier, you'll be a general; if you became a monk, you'll end up as Pope. Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso, "No lack of confidence here!

But he would have agreed with Abraham Lincoln. "Whatever you are", said Lincoln, "be a good one." He demonstrated the wisdom of that advice with his own life. And in this present age, which often seems to be contented with mediocrity, his words summon a yearning for improvement and growth.

I think it helps to remember that excellence is not a place at which we arrive so much as a way of travelling. To do and be our best is a habit among those who hear and understand Lincoln's admonition.

Viennese-born composer Frederick Loewe, whom we remember from his musical scores that include - My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot, was not always famous. He studied piano with the great masters od Europe and achieved huge success as a musician and composer in his early years. But when he immigrated to the United States, he failed as a piano virtuoso. For a while he tried other types of work including prospection for gold and boxing. But he never gave up his dream and continued to play piano and write music.

During those years, he could not always afford to make payments on his piano. One day, bent over the keyboard, he heard nothing but the music that he played with such rare inspiration. When he finished and looked up, he was startled to find that he had an audience - three moving men who were seated on the floor.

They said nothing and made no movement toward the piano. Instead, they dug into their pockets, pooled together enough money for the payment, placed it on the piano and walked out, empty handed. Moved by the beauty of music, these men recognized excellence and responded to it.

Whatever you are, be a good one. If what you do is worth doing, if you believe that who you are is of value, then you can't afford to be content with mediocrity. When you choose the path of excellence through this life, you will bring to it your best and receive the best it can offer in return. And you will know what is to be satisfied.

By Steve Goodier

Lucinda

 https://youtu.be/eXqZ8XDtntk

The Power of Responsability

It's been said that the line between childhood and adulthood is crossed when we move from saying "It got lost" to "I lost it".

Indeed, being accountable - and understanding and accepting the role our choices play in the things that happens - are crucial signs of emotional and moral maturity. That's why responsibility is one of the main pillars of good character.

May people have been seduced by the Perter Pan philosophy of refusing to grow up and avoiding the burdens implied in been accountable. Yes, responsibility sometimes requires us to do things that are unpleasant or even frightening. It asks us to carry our own weight, prepare and sets goals, and exercise the discipline to reach our aspirations.

But the benefits of accepting responsibility far outweigh the short-lived advantages of refusing to do so. No one makes his or her better by avoiding responsibility. In fact, irresponsibility is a form of self-imposed servitude - to circumstances and to other people.

Responsibility is about our ability to respond to circumstances and to choose the attitudes, actions, and reactions that shape our lives. It is a concept of power that puts us in the driver's seat. The grand panorama of the potential of our lives can only be appreciated when we begin to be accountable and self-reliant.

Responsible people not only depend on themselves, but show others that they can be depended on. This breeds trust, and trust is a key that open doors.

If you want more control over your life an the pleasures, prerogatives, and power of freedom and independence, all you have to do is be responsible.

By Michael Josephson

Chasing the Shade

https://youtu.be/bmdlY1pECAI

Another Chance

How often we wish for another chance to make a fresh beginning.

A chance to blot out our mistakes and change failure into winning.

It does not take a new day to make a brand new start,

it only takes a deep desire to try with all our heart.

To live a little better and to always be forgiving

and to add a little sunshine to the world in which we're living.

So do not give up in despair and think that you are through,

for there's always a tomorrow and the hope of starting new.

Helen Steiner Rice

Grace

                                         https://youtu.be/aQQeoxl61pg

The Trouble Tree

A carpenter I hired to help me restore and old farm house has just finished a rough day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family.

As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me so I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong at home with my wife and my children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them  up again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before"

Author Unknown

Evenstar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DlMG7JM33M

The Silence of Love

A wise man who was visiting a river to take a bath, found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked. "Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?"

The disciples thought for a while, on of them said, "because we loose our calm, we shout." But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner."  asked the wise man.

The disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples. Finally, the wise man explained, "when two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other."

The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people falls in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small, the wise man continued, "when they love each other even more, what happens? They don't speak, only whisper, they get even closer to each other in their love.

Finally, they even need not to whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how two people are when they love each other.

He looked at his disciples and said, "So when you argue do no let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return."

Author unknown

Patience My Friend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-i0b3v2EhI&index=15&list=PL8u7QbWFPEKsOwzs7qP_AtPIQbvbF6M8P

The Weight of Stress

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd asked the "half empty or half full" question.

Instead, with a smile on her face she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out from 8oz. to 20oz.

She replied. "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. Is I hold it for a minutes it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will fell numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes"

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about then for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will be paralyzed - incapable of doing anything."

It's important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night.

Remember to put the glass down.

Author Unknown

Anger, Envy & Insults

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people.

One afternoon, a warrior - known for his complete lack of scruples - arrived there. The young and inpatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai's reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame.

All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge.

All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun - he even insulted his ancestors.

For hours he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now felling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left.

Disappointed by the fact that the master had received son many insults and provocations, the student asked: "How could you bear such indignity? Why didn't you use you sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all?"

"If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do no accept it, who does the gift belong to?" asked the old Samurai.

"He who tried to deliver it" - replied one of the disciples.

"The same goes for envy, anger and insult" - said the master. "When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them".

A Legend About A Dictador

There is a legend about and old dictator, that when he knew he would die soon, he picked two men whom he felt he could trust as potential successors to his throne. As he lay on his deathbed, he summoned the two men and asked his servant to bring him two birds.

When the two men came to his deathbed, he said, "I called you here to see which one of you is worthy to be the heir to my throne. In order to prove yourself, you must  take one of these birds and make it remain in the palm of your hand for five minutes without killing it."

One of the men took a bird from its cage, but he held it so tightly, he suffocated. The other man, determined not to make the same mistake, took out the other bird and held it firmly but made no attempt to restrain it. Therefore, it quickly flew away through one of the room's windows.

"Fools! I will show you how to do it properly," said the dictator. "Bring me a bird!" he ordered his servant.

When the servant came back, the dictator took the bird, plucked out all of its feathers, then held the birds in his hands. The bird was now shivering without its heathers to warm him, and although he was unmistakably terrified, he did not fly away.

"Do you see it? It is now helpless. It is terrified. It is freezing. It is vulnerable. I have stripped it of everything, and now it is thankful for the warmth I am giving it in the palms of my hands," the dictator said.

The legends ends here, but the assumption is that this how the dictator  controlled his people - by taking everything away from them, then making them fell thankful for his protection. He essentially got those people to "play frozen," just as the bird was "playing frozen" in his hands.

And he was able to take advantage of an emotion that all animals and human beings have.

This emotion is FEAR.

From jamesmw.com

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all the times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, to noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in greet deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

by C.D. Larson

"Your Forces and How to Use Them"

John Barry - Somewhere In Time (Original)

https://youtu.be/esrTfwBiOM0

A Lesson About Judgement

A father and his daughter were playing in the park. His young daughter spotted an apple vendor. She asked her father to buy her an apple. The father didn't bring much money with him, but it was enough to purchase two apples. So, he bought two apples and gave them to his daughter.

His daughter held one apple each in her two hands. Then the father asked her if she can share one apple with him. Upon hearing, his daughter quickly took a bite from one apple. And before her father could spear, she also took a bite from the second apple.

The father was surprised. He wondered what mistake he made raising her daughter that she acted in such a greedy way. His mind was lost in thoughts, that perhaps he is just thinking to much, his daughter is too young to understand about sharing and giving. A smile had disappeared from his face.

And suddenly his daughter with an apple in her hand said, "Father have this one, this one is the most juiciest and sweeter". Her father was speechless. He felt bad about reaching to the judgement so quickly about a small child. But, his smile came back now knowing why his daughter quickly took a bite from each apple.

Moral: Don't judge anything too quickly or reach a conclusion. Always spare a time to understand things better.

moralstories.org