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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

I Am The New Year

I am the New Year.

I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.

I am your next change at the art of living.

I am you opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the past twelve months.

All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it out with more determination.

All the good that you tried for and didn't achieved is  mine to grant it when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you ever dreamed but didn't dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have...

these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am the opportunity to renew your alliance to Him to said, 

"behold, I make all things new."

I am the New Year.

From Truth Book

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and learned that I would have to be responsive when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned sometimes things hurts, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking".

Each of us (parent, grandparent,aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influence the life  of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Author Unknown

Benefits of Struggling

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.

But it has a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready to flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

And we could never fly.

Author Unknown

A Special Place

There is a special place in life, that needs my humble skill, a certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfill.

The time will be demanding and the pay is not too good and yet I wouldn't change it for a moment - even if I could.

There is a special place in life, a goal I must attain, a dream that I must follow, because I won't be back.

There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be, a legacy of love for those who follow after me.

There is a special place in life, that only I may share, a little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere.

There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say, a smile that I must give for there are tears to blow away.

There a special place in life that I was meant to fill, a sunny spot where flowers grow upon a windy hill.

There's always tomorrow and the best is yet to be, and somewhere in this world, I know there is a place for me.

Author Unknown

Reflection of You

There is a story about a father and his young son who were walking through the mountains. Suddenly, the son fell, hurting his leg on a rock. He screamed, "Aahhh!".

To his surprise, he heard a voice repeating, "Aaahh!".

This made him even more curious. So, he yelled, "Who are you". Back came the same answer, "Who are you?"

Feeling a bit perturbed by this response, he yelled out, "Coward!" Back came the same reply, "Coward!"

He looked at his father and asked: "What's going on?" His father smiled and said: "Son, pay attention."

Looking across the valley, his father yelled to the mountain, "I admire you!" The voice answered: "I admire you!"

Again the man cried out: "You are a champion!" The voice replied, " You are a champion!"

The boy was amazed, but he was very confused. So, his father explained...

"You are only hearing an echo, the sound of our voices bouncing back from the mountains. However, this is really how life works. It returns to you what you think, say and do!

Our lives are a reflection of our thoughts and actions. If you want more love in your world, create more love in your heart. if you want to be treated with kindness, treat others with kindness. If you want more competence on your team, become more competent.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give to you, everything you give it to it, only it will give you more in return. Your life is not ever a coincidence. Each moment is a reflection of you!"

The son listened and grew in understanding, and through the following years, he witnessed the true of these words in his life!

Author Unknown

How To Improve Your Vision

Did you know that the English word "thanks" come from the same root word of "think"?

 

And they not only share a similar background, they are related in another way. It seems the more we think, the more we thank. One woman illustrated the how thinking and thanking are related in a visit to the eye doctor.

 

She complained to her ophthalmologist that, as she grew older, her eyesight was getting worse. He examined her eyes and could not be encouraging about the future of her eyesight. But to his surprise, she did not seem to be upset.

 

She told him all she was grateful for...her deceased husband; her children and their families; her friends; the many years she has enjoyed upon this earth; her vast library of memories. She had done a great deal of thinking about these things.

 

"My eyesight is getting worse,' she summarized, 'but I'm not going to fret over that.'

 

Her doctor later made this observation: 'Her eyesight is poor, but her vision is better than most people.' She clearly saw what many never see - all the good in life. And she was content.

 

When we take time to think, and make time to thank, we see more clearly. It sound like a good way to improve your vision.

 

by Steve Goodier

 

Have a great thanksgiving day and THINK in all the blessings that you have.

 

 

 

The Weeds in Our Lives

Isn't amazing how you never have to water your weeds or nurture them and they still give you an unwanted crop?

I can remember as a young boy growing up in Santa Cruz, California my grandfather showed me how to dig up this pesky weed called Bermuda grass. I was terrible stuff and it would really spread if you didn't get it out by the roots.

That was then. But more recently when my wife and I bought our first home about 8 years ago; guess what I had to deal with? If you said weeds, you are correct. There was this certain patch of weeds that was similar to the Bermuda grass. In other words, just as invasive.

After getting the inside of our home settled, it was time to work on the outside. On my hands and knees I vigorously attacked the weeds with a small hand trowel getting each one out by the roots. Spring after, spring that was my ritual.

Just this Spring I realized that one particular weed was no longer prevalent but another one was in full force. So again, I got down on my hands and knees an got to work ridding them from my yard. When I was finished, my yard was better off.

What hidden message is this true story purveying? Sometimes in our life can be so similar. Yes, we all have weeds in our life. These weeds can be challenges, setbacks, negative beliefs, or naysayers, and the list can go on and on.

The solution is when dealing with these weeds of life is to get to the root of it and remove them one by one and eventually you will conquer this round. And when another crop of weeds shows up, deal with them directly before they spread, because now that you know what to do with them by getting the root of it, it will give you more courage and wisdom the next time a problem crops up.

You could say we all need weeds in our life to challenge us to grow. Once you know how to handle the weeds in your yard to make it beautiful - so too will your life be.

By Tony Masiello

Today I Went To Vote

Today I went to to vote.

 

I decided to vote for peace and not for war.

 

I decided to vote not for ideologies but for unity.

 

I voted against the abuse to children, elderly people, animals and the nature.

 

I voted against the abortion and against the lack of ethics and respect to human beings.

 

I voted for a better world and for the youth that one day will take care of us and the future of this nation.

 

I went to to vote today...not for a party but for the humanity.

 

Not for a person but for the creator of this world in whom I put my trust and the future of this nation.

Recipe of How To Live a Life

In exactly the same way that birds have to find courage to let go of a branch in order to actually fly, we must also let go of our emotional branches if we are to experience the exhilaration of soaring to our highest potential in life.

The branches we hold on to are our innermost attachments: our beliefs, our bad habits and those memories which keep us stuck. And then there are the outer attachments: they are people, possessions, positions and privileges - to name but a few. We must be aware that as long as we hold onto them, we will actually live in fear (of letting go and loss) and we will never feel the freedom that we all deserve.

Once you become aware of those birds and the initial courage they display when they let go of their branches just prior to flying, you will be capable of experiencing life in a totally different way.

This can be your new recipe of how to live a life where you learn to let go of one branch at a time, and learn to have new experiences, one at a time. The birds have found that by letting go of one branch, they are then able to spend the rest of their lives trying many other branches, one branch at a time, and they can enjoy the view from each new vantage point. What a way to live!

Are you actually flying and soaring in your life, or are you stuck on one branch, resenting others as they fly past? You can do it, go on, just try letting go!

Remember this - not letting go of old "stuff" is the same as driving through life with a flat tire on our cars; not stopping to change it; hoping that it will fix itself; pretending that the ride is smooth: knowing that it isn't; until one day it gets so loud and bumpy that we are forced to stop and take a look, and actually get help.

Author Unknown