SAVED BY CRITICISM IN LIFE

Peanut the cat chasing his own tail - “Realize what you really want. It stops you from chasing butterflies and puts you to work digging gold.”

One of my favorite stories comes from pilots Peter Gaylor and Stephanie Pound of Navajo Aviation. A funny thing occurred once when they flew their tiny airplane over the bay on an ash-scattering mission. With them were the two sons, in their twenties, of a late mother who was being consigned to the winds.

As Stephanie opened the cockpit door, a stiff breeze blew the ashes back into the plane, dusting the four occupants. A moment's stunned silence, and then one of the boys sighed, "Just like Mom - she was always all over everyone."

Maybe it was because she was their mother and believed it was her lot to correct. Children, especially, may feel that parents are "always all over them." Few of us particularly like others to point out areas for improvement. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said it well: "Most of us would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism."

I hold that encouragement is often more effective than criticism, and we should criticize sparingly. But those who are wise will regularly seek out someone they trust to hold a mirror before them that they may see themselves more accurately. It is important to know the truth, and it is often heard better when spoken by one who sincerely cares.

Someone accurately said, "Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish one's growth without destroying one's roots." If you are in a position to critique, may your words nourish growth.

If you are the one reflected in the mirror, remember that what you see may be your salvation. Learn what you can and discard the rest. It may be more enjoyable to be ruined by praise, but what truth you hear will help you grow.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

SLOW DOWN FOR LIFE

Waiting at the registration counter - “May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays.”

An American racing enthusiast entered his horse in Britain's famous Epsom Downs Steeple­chase. Just before the race began, he slipped his horse a white pellet. The Duke of Marlboro, who was serving as steward, caught the owner in the act and objected. "I say, old man, really you can't do that sort of thing over here!"

"Just a harmless sugar lump," the Ameri­can assured him. He gulped one down himself. "Here, try one," he said.

The Duke took a pill, swallowed it, and seemed satisfied. As the jockey mounted, the American whispered in his ear, "Son, keep that horse on the outside and stay out of trouble, be­cause once he starts running, there ain't nothing that can catch him...except me and the Duke of Marlboro!"

Do you ever feel that way - running so fast that nothing can catch you? Our busy and full lives are too often like that; we rush here and hurry there. We eat fast food. We run our errands. We use e-mail and put off reading our messages until we have the time. We hurry through meals and can only give friends "just a minute." We live fast-paced and anxious lives. Too often, we run so fast we lose our center.

But, in the end, it's not how fast you lived that matters, but how well you lived. Are you tak­ing time to enjoy? Have you left enough time for you? Is there time to listen to a friend or visit a relative in need? Are you leaving time each day to nurture your faith? Do you need to slow down? After all, the only race that matters goes, not to those who run it quickly, but to those who run it well.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

SOMETHING ONLY YOU CAN DO FOR LIFE

Colorful flower motif design art - “Religion is the masterpiece of the art of animal training, for it trains people as to how they shall think.”

Tallulah Bankhead quipped, "Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it." But the truth is...we DO have trouble being ourselves, don't we? Especially in a world that wants us to conform. "To be nobody but yourself in a world that is doing its best day and night into making you like everybody else," said poet E. E. Cummings, "is to fight the hardest battle there is and never stop fighting."

One of the deepest cravings of young people, especially teens, is to be liked by their peers. They want to be accepted. Like all of us, they want to be valued. It's during those critical teen-age years, according to Earl Nightingale, that they begin to play a game called "Follow the Follower." The game is not the same as "Follow the Leader." Following the follower is about conforming...talking, dressing, acting and thinking like one another. Everyone follows everyone else.

In adulthood, we discover who we really are and do our best to grow into that person. We find our value, not in acceptance by others, but because we believe in our worth. It's a wonderful day when we can say in honesty, "I know who I am and I'm glad I am me."

The lovable children's author Dr. Seuss got it right when he wrote, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." It takes strength to swim against the tide. It takes courage to speak your convictions. It takes trust to act on your own intuitions. In the end, your success will always be a result of your being true to yourself rather than an imitation of somebody else.

You'll never have to give an account for not being more like your favorite celebrity, that shining star in your chosen field or anybody else. However, at the end of my life, the question I never want to be asked is, "How come you weren't more like you? You had such great potential. You were a wholly unique person -- an unrepeatable creation. Why you weren't more like you?"

Whatever your ambitions, your greatest success will be derived from your being the best YOU possible. In a world that wants you to conform -- be yourself. It's a challenging and rewarding job...and nobody can do it as well as you.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

ONE LIGHT FOR LIFE

Crystal globe display ornament - “The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides.”

Imagine an artist painting a winter scene. She depicts a white, frozen ground and evergreens draped in snow. Her hand brings the day to a close as she paints night falling on the canvas. In the deep shadows of dusk, she has painted a grim, log cabin, barely visible to the casual observer.

Then she dips her brush in yellow paint and, with a few quick strokes, places a brightly burning lamp in one of the cabin's windows. Warm rays dance on white snow, now made brighter by the light. The lonely lamp wholly changes the tone of the picture, replacing feelings of dark and gloom with warmth and security.

Edith Wharton has said that there are two ways of spreading the light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Sometimes we are candles. We shed light of love and hope. We shine encour­agement into dark souls. Or we illuminate with in­sight.

But sometimes we reflect the light. We are mirrors to enable others to see the light of their own goodness and beauty. And when we have no other light of our own, we are mirrors which re­flect a greater Light.

For some, the world can be bleak and cold. They feel frightened, lonely and even hopeless. But it's true that no amount of darkness can extin­guish the light of one, small candle. You?

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

ALGEBRA HELP FOR LIFE

My cousin, who also happens to be my next door neighbor, has no qualms running to my house bugging me for algebra 1 help. My cousin does not just stop there with her algebra 1 problems. As if I am a walking book of algebra 1 answers, she would ask me all sorts of questions pertaining to the subject.

I guess this is partially my fault, because I have always given the impression that I am an expert in algebra 1 and algebra 2. I always got lucky in school in solving algebra 2 problems. But truth be told, age has gotten the better of me and I tend to take longer in giving out algebra 2 answers. I thought about this for a while and to buy me time, I would introduce my cousin to all sorts of distractions from the latest MMORPG to the latest blockbuster movies. I admit that this is not of any help whatsoever as her exams are coming up soon. It is too late to look for a tutor who can provide algebra 2 help to my cousin this late in the day. I crossed my fingers and went online. I remember my friend telling me about TutorVista a few months back, so I decided to check it out. I was in luck. TutorVista is the perfect solution for my cousin's requirements.

MAD DASH FOR LIFE

Emergency drill assembly point - “All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears - of falling, of the dark, of lobsters, of falling on lobsters in the dark, or speaking before a Rotary Club, and of the words "Some Assembly Required”

This is the age
Of the half-read page.
And the quick hash
And the mad dash.
The bright night
With the nerves tight.
The plane hop
With the brief stop.
The lamp tan
In a short span.
The Big Shot
In a good spot.
And the brain strain
The heart pain.
And the cat naps
Till the spring snaps -
And the fun's done!

Sound familiar? But wait - this poem was actually published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1949, under the title, "Time of the Mad Atom." Seems that people were as rushed then as they are now!

Personally, I like the father who decided to slow down and spend some afternoon time walking with his son. The inquisitive boy used the opportunity to satisfy his curiosity on a few subjects he'd been thinking about.

"How does electricity go through those telephone wires, Dad?" he asked.

His father replied, "I don't know. I never knew much about electricity, Son."

A few blocks further the boy asked, "What causes lightning and thunder?"

"To tell you the truth," came the reply, "I never understood that myself."

A bit later he asked, "Why do some leaves turn red and others turn yellow in the Fall?"

"I'm not really sure, Son," his father answered.

Finally, as they were nearing home, the boy said, "Dad, I hope you don't mind my asking you so many questions."

"Of course not!" exclaimed his father. "How else are you going to learn?"

Maybe the old man wasn't a walking encyclopedia, but you have to hand it to him, he invested some time listening and talking to his son. Which may be far more valuable than rattling off accurate answers to questions! The message he gave his boy was: "You are important to me and I want to spend time with you." It's a matter of finding time.

Whether these are the worst of times or the best of times, these are the only times we've got. Today, will you find time for that which is valuable?

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

THE REAL YOU FOR LIFE

Prawn with lime - “If life gives you limes, make margaritas.”

One woman describes herself as "Five feet, three inches tall and pleasingly plump." After she had a minor accident, her mother accompanied her to the hospital emergency room. The admitting nurse asked for her height and weight, and she blurted out, "Five-foot-eight, 125 pounds."

The nurse pondered over this information and looked over the patient. Then the woman's mother leaned over to her and gently chided, "Sweetheart, this is not the Internet."

If you could change your appearance in life as easily as you can make one up on the Internet, would you remake yourself? We live in an age when people are increasingly dissatisfied with their bodies. They want liposuction, face lifts, tummy tucks, silicon implants and cosmetic surgery – too often for no other reason than to look like someone else!

And don't think I am only talking about women. Men too place great emphasis on their bodies. Studies show that in 1972, one in six men didn't like their appearance; today, almost 50% of men surveyed reported being unhappy with their looks. According to the book THE ADONIS COMPLEX New York: The Free Press, 2000), more and more men are feeling insecure about their appearance. In 1996, over 700,000 men had some cosmetic surgery – often in an unhealthy attempt to fix a perceived flaw that nobody else noticed. Eating disorders and steroid abuse are all too common among males.

Authors Harrison Pope, Katharine Phillips, and Robert Olivardia did an experiment in which men were asked to take a computer image of an ordinary man and add muscle mass to him until he was the size these men wanted to be. On average, the men packed about 28 more pounds of muscle mass on the computer image; women, on the other hand, only added a negligible amount of muscles to the image to create their ideal guy.

Poet Khalil Gibran said, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." When we choose to believe that our most attractive qualities lie within, we can let go of those unrealistic expectations of our bodies. Care for your body; you'll keep it for the rest of your life. Be thankful for it and treat it well. But remember, the real you, the essence of you, cannot be improved by a bottle, a pill or a salon. It is a beautiful and glorious light shining from your heart to the heart of the world. Cherish it. And let it shine.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR LIFE?

Antique ceramic plates on display - “Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends.”

Did you hear about the man who attempted skydiving for the first time? His parachute didn't open. Then his auxiliary chute failed. Now he found himself in free fall with no more options.

Then a strange thing happened. He spotted something coming up towards him from the ground at a high rate of speed. It was a man! When he was sure they would pass one another without a collision, he shouted down to the figure, "Do you know anything about parachutes?"

"No!" the man called back. "Do you know anything about gas stoves?"

A little bit of technological knowledge could have been helpful in both cases. But it has never just been about how much we know.

I read that the world's body of knowledge doubled from 1900 to 1950. In other words, knowledge that took thousands of years to accumulate doubled in only fifty years. It then doubled again between 1950 and 1965. In just fifteen years. It is estimated that the world's body of knowledge doubled once more between 1965 and 1970 and now doubles every five years. Amazing! We can never keep up with all there is to learn.

But perhaps more important than how much any of us knows is how consistently we act on the knowledge we have. We certainly need enough knowledge to live fruitful and constructive lives, but even knowledge will not serve well if we neglect to use it.

You may know that material things don't bring lasting happiness. Will you actively pursue things of the heart and spirit?

You may know peace comes when you forgive. Will you decide to put down that grudge and leave it behind?

You may know that any decision made from fear alone is likely to be wrong. Will you choose the path of courage, even if that path seems hard to navigate?

Most of us know important principles about effective living. But in the end, what we know to be true is of no consequence - the decisions we make are everything. And if we apply well even the little we know, we can be healthy, happy and hopeful.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

THE WAY FAMILIES WIN FOR LIFE

Table cutlery in an eatery - “True luck consists not in holding the best of the cards at the table; luckiest he who knows just when to rise and go home”

Winston Churchill said, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills." Like humorist Bob Orben added, "That sounds a lot like our family vacations." And for some people it sounds like everyday life.

The problem is not whether families should have conflict - of course they will! The problem is rather whether or not those conflicts will end. For some people, living in families is like the Hundred Year War. Conflict that has a good ending can bring people closer together, but fighting that goes on and on will only tear families apart.

At one point during a game, the coach said to one of his young players, "Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?" The little boy nodded yes.

"Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?" The little boy nodded yes.

"So," the coach continued, "when a strike is called, or you are out at first, you don't argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?" Again, the boy nodded yes.

"Good," said the coach. "Now go over there and explain it to your mother."

Families are like baseball teams. The only way a family will win is as a team. They win pulling together; they never win pushing against each other.

If your family has conflict – talk it out. Then when it's over, let it really be over so you can pull together. That is the only way your family will win!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

AFFIRMATION FOR TODAY IN LIFE

Papercraft model suv - “I think it's an honor to be a role model to one person or maybe more than that. If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson has accurately said, "One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."

Today is an important day. That problem you solve, that decision you make, that time you enjoy can shape your whole life. The way you and I ap­proach today, and each day, is crucial. Our lives are built by a series of days like today.

I discovered an affirmation that can help in living each day fully:

Today I will live through the next 24 hours and not try to tackle all of life's problems at once.

Today I will improve myself , body, mind and spirit.

Today I will refuse to spend time worrying about what might happen if...

Today I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not dif­ferent. I will do my best with what material I have.

Today I will find the grace to let go of resentments of others and self-condemnation over past mistakes.

Today I will not try to change, or improve, anybody but me.

Today I will act toward others as though this will be my last day on earth.

Today I will be unafraid. I will enjoy what is beauti­ful, and I will be­lieve that as I give to the world, the world will give to me.

Whether these are the best of times or the worst of times, these are the only times we've got. Live each day fully and you will look back on a life that made a difference.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

NOT "SKEERED OF DYIN'" IN LIFE

Queuing up at the registration counter - “I oppose registration for the draft . . . because I believe the security of freedom can best be achieved by security through freedom.”

Economist Jeremy Gluck speculated on US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan's epitaph. He decided it would probably read something like this: "I am guardedly optimistic about the next world, but remain cognizant of the downside risk."

Though many people feel at peace about their own eventual death, others are concerned about the possible "downside risk." One of humankind's greatest fears is around death and the process of dying. Like the song "Old Man River" says:

"Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin'.
"Ah'm tired of liven' an' skeered of dyin'."

Some people believe that the most basic of human fears is the fear of death. "Skeered of dyin'." Maybe you feel it, too.

In his later years, John Quincy Adams once remarked, "I inhabit a weak, frail, decayed tenement battered by the winds and broken in on by the storms, and from all I can learn, the landlord does not intend to repair."

Though he may have held out no hope that he would not die, he approached his own death with acceptance and a remarkable lack of concern.

When the elderly statesman fast approached his 80th birthday, he succinctly related his philosophy of death. The occasion happened as he hobbled down the street one day in his favorite city of Boston, leaning heavily on a cane, and a friend suddenly approached and slapped him on the shoulder.

"Well, how's John Quincy Adams this morning?" the friend inquired.

The old man turned slowly, smiled and replied, "Fine, sir, fine! But this old tenement that John Quincy lives in is not so good. The underpinning is about to fall away. The thatch is all gone off the roof, and the windows are so dim John Quincy can hardly see out anymore. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me if, before the winter's over, he had to move out. But as for John Quincy Adams, he never was better...never was better!"

I have spent much of my life around death. I have sat with people as they died. I have listened to others relate near-death experiences. I have studied theology and am aware of what scriptures and religions say about life and death. And I have come to the conclusion that death is not to be feared. Moreover, when it is time for me to move out of this tenement in which I am housed, I will to look forward to it joyfully. I will say, "I never was better...never was better!"

Who is ready to live who is not ready to die?

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

STICK TOGETHER FOR LIFE

Bootleg Ben 10 toy - “There may be a new album, and there may not. Right now, we're encouraging bootlegging because there have been some great live things that ended up on the Internet. Rather than try to stop it, we like it. If nobody gave a crap about you, they wouldn't bother to bootleg you.”

An old story is told of two men who went fishing in a small boat. The day was uneventful until one of them hooked a huge fish, which, in the strug­gle, pulled him overboard! He couldn't swim and began to panic.

"Help!" he yelled. "Save me!"

The friend reached over and grabbed the man by the hair to pull him closer to the boat. But when he tugged, the man's toupee came off and he slipped down under the water again.

He came up shouting, "Hey, help me! I can't swim!"

So the friend reached down again and this time latched onto the struggling man's arm. But when he pulled, the arm came off! It was an arti­fi­cial limb.

The drowning man continued to kick and thrash around and his friend reached out a third time. This time he grabbed a leg and pulled. You guessed it -- he pulled off a wooden leg!

The man continued splashing and sputter­ing and calling out, "Help me!" and the friend fi­nally called back in disgust, "How can I help you if you won't stick together?"

Similarly, how can people in marriages and families be helped when they won't stick to­gether? How can churches, schools and businesses get anywhere when they won't stick together? And how can a nation function well when it can't stick together?

None of us lives in isolation. This life is a group outing. And some conflict along the way is inevitable. But when we stick together, beauti­ful things can hap­pen.

If you feel as if things in your life are fal­ling apart, maybe it is because the people in your life are not sticking together!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

PIANO LESSONS FOR LIFE

When I was little, about 12 years old, I used to think very highly of my peers who took musical instrument lessons. They were highly regarded as the elite bunch who have rich parents to provide for them. Without any extra musical tutoring, the only instrument that I could carry a proper beat with was the drum. Truth to be told, I was and still is fascinated by the heart felt melody that can only be produced by the piano. But getting piano lessons the conventional way can be rather costly.

With a recently renewed vigor to learn how to play the piano from scratch, I quickly fired up Firefox and googled for any good piano lessons that I could manage to find. I should have looked up piano lessons on the internet sooner as there are a multitude of helpful resources available which are of minimal cost or even free! All I need now is to set aside some time and incite more dedication into learning piano lessons so that I can finally play something more complicated than "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

ONE OF YOUR GREATEST ASSETS FOR LIFE

Sea horse statue under the spot light - “I ran up the door, closed the stairs, said my pajamas and put on my prayers, turned off the bed and hopped in the light, all because you kissed me goodnight”

One of your greatest assets is...your imagination!

In his book THE WINNER'S EDGE, writer Denis Waitley tells of high school basketball players who were divided into three groups. Group One was told not to practice shooting free throws for one month. Group Two was told to practice shooting free throws in the gym every afternoon for a month. Group Three was told to "imagine" shooting free throws every afternoon for one hour for a month.

The results? Group One slipped slightly in their percentage free-throw average. Group Two increased about two percentage points. Group Three also increased about two percentage points.

Do you want to excel at some endeavor? Or perhaps improve or change something about yourself? Is there a skill you'd like to perfect? Or maybe you want to replace your fear of something, such as speaking in public or heading up a project, with more confidence and courage. If so, then mental practice, visioning success, is as important as physical practice. The time you spend "seeing" in your mind what you are trying to accomplish actually helps to bring it to pass.

Imagine your success. Visualize doing that thing you fear. Get it in your mind. Then imagine your success in that area again and again, like free throws going into the basket. In a short time, you'll likely discover that things really did change for you!

Anatole France said, "To know is nothing at all; to imagine is everything." Whatever you desire begins in the mind. You can IMAGINE what will follow!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

GOLD SPOT FOR LIFE

It is good to have some form of financial investments in life which serve as an umbrella buffer for those unexpected rainy days. I have been asking around my close circle of acquaintances about viable forms of financial investments which are safe and have low risk factors. The majority of them told me to pay more attention on the price of gold in the market. After a brief research online, I found out that gold price has been one of the more stable element in the market throughout history.

That piqued my curiosity about how gold prices are set and a quick google landed me on a helpful page detailing the procedures and workings of gold spot. It explains how to spot gold and similarly how gold prices are set and bench marked throughout the world. Now that has been cleared up, I guess it is high time that I go and seek out feasible and healthy investment opportunities in gold spot.

LIVING FULLY FOR LIFE

Petting Peanut the cat - “The problem with loving is that pets don't last long enough and people last too long.”

Do you feel your life is all it can be? Do you yearn for life to be fuller? A friend once re­cited this poem to me:

There once was a cautious gal,
who never romped or played;
She never drank, she never smoked,
from the path she never strayed.

So when she passed away
the insurance was denied;
For since she never really lived
they claimed she never died!

Of course, I don't think these behaviors de­scribe quality living, but I do think most people want to experience life as fully as possible. This has always been the case. Even two thousand years ago, Jesus, that great lover of life, recog­nized our universal yearning for life when he said, "I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

And, of course, "romping," "playing," and "straying from the path" have little to do with how fully one experiences life. Abundant living is more about how we love the other people on this planet, how we care for ourselves and how well we honor our God. It has to do with joy and laughter, kind­ness, forgiveness and peace. It means taking time for what is truly necessary.

One man was asked if he believed in life after death. His wife spoke first. "Life after death?" she said. "He doesn't even believe in life after din­ner!"

I believe in life after death. But I also be­lieve in life before death. Abundant and full and beginning today.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

YOU ARE ONE OF US FOR LIFE

Waiting for the department store to open for business - “The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”

Salt Lake City, Utah, is a worldwide center for genealogical research. Even the big department stores sell genealogy supplies.

One newcomer to Salt Lake City, and a non-researcher, got a job as a clerk at one of those big department stores. She received her introduction to genealogy one day when a customer came into the store and asked, "Where do I find the family group sheets?"

The new clerk, with a shocked look on her face, answered, "Family group sheets? All we carry are the king, queen, double and twin-size sheets."

Maybe family sized bedding is taking closeness a bit far! But having family or close friends is one of the essential needs of all people. We long for emotional support and intimacy.

Most of us are familiar with studies that have shown that people suffering from cancer or vascular problems have a higher survival rate when they enjoy a strong support system of family and friends. People need people.

Moreover, a supportive wider community can also be important. Not long ago, scores of people gathered on a California beach, lighting candles and lifting voices in song. Mostly strangers to one another, they came there to grieve the loss of 88 persons who died when a jetliner crashed into the ocean off their coast. They were not even family and friends of the victims - simply concerned residents who cared.

"Your joy, your pain, your loss, your gain - are ours...for you are one of us." That is the powerful message of family. At its best, even an Internet family can help fill our need for closeness. Your joy, your pain, your loss, your gain - can be shared. You belong. And together, we'll celebrate it! Or, we will get through it.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

THE LOVELIEST WORD FOR LIFE

Marinated fried prawns - “Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it. There's, um, shrimp kebabs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir fried. There's pineapple shrimp and lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich... That's, that's about it.”

A funny story has it that in 1926 Thelma Goldstein from Chicago treated herself to her first real vacation in Florida. Unfamiliar with the area, she wandered into a "restricted" hotel in north Miami.

Getting the attention of the manager, she said, "Excuse me, but my name is Mrs. Goldstein and I'd like a small room for two weeks."

"I'm awfully sorry," he replied, "but all our rooms are occupied."

Just then a man came down the stairs and checked out.

"What luck!" Mrs. Goldstein smiled. "Now there's a room."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but there are no rooms available. This hotel is restricted. No Jews allowed."

"Jewish? Who's Jewish? I happen to be Catholic."

"I find that hard to believe, Mrs. Goldstein. Let me ask you, who was the son of God?"

"Jesus," she answered.

"Where was he born?" he man continued.

"In a stable."

"And why was he born in a stable?"

"Because a schmuck like you wouldn't let a Jew rent a room in his hotel!"

Poet Carl Sandburg was speaking in Hendersonville, North Carolina, when he was asked an unusual question: "What is the ugliest word in the English language?" How would you answer that question? Sandburg struggled for a moment. "The ugliest, ugliest word?"

"The ugliest word," he finally answered, "is `exclusive.'"

I think he is right. A group that is exclusive includes some people and shuts out others. Its doors are open only to a few. It separates people into favorable and less favorable categories. It differentiates between "our kind" and "those others."

If "exclusive" is the ugliest word in the language, would "inclusive" be the loveliest? Is the loveliest thought one that shuts out nobody? The loveliest act one that brings in everybody? The loveliest place one where we all belong?

If so, then the loveliest world is one that includes all of us... fully... no exceptions. And THAT...is a beautiful thought.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

THERMOMETERS AND THERMOSTATS IN LIFE

Checking things out at the grocery store - “I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, "Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours." He said, "Yes, but not in a row."”

Do you know the difference between a ther­mometer and a thermostat? A thermometer simply measures the temperature. It doesn't do anything about it.

A thermostat measures the temperature and then responds. If the temperature is too high, a thermostat may shut off the heat. If the temperature is too low, a thermostat may trigger heat to turn on. It measures temperature and it does something about it.

While a thermometer is a passive tool, a thermostat is an active tool. They both experience the temperature, but a thermostat responds.

Some people are like thermometers - they passively allow what may harm them to just hap­pen. They have problems and difficulties and they believe there isn't anything that can be done about it. They feel helpless as they watch life happen. They feel as if they have no power.

Others are more like thermostats. When they are faced with difficulty, they kick into action. They believe that something can be done; a solution can be found; a hurt can be healed. They respond; they make decisions; they go into motion.

Advice columnist Ann Landers said, "If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: expect trouble as an inevitable part of life. When it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye, and say, 'I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.'" In other words, re­spond courageously and creatively.

Do you know that you can be bigger than any trouble that comes your way? If you have be­come stuck because you feel frightened or helpless, it is time to respond. It is time to go into motion. It is time to activate your faith. When you become big­ger than your problem, it cannot defeat you.

Today - will you be a thermometer or a thermostat?

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes