EARLY TO BED FOR LIFE

Imitation Transformers robot toy - “By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.”

I know one man who says he likes work. It fascinates him. He says he
can sit and watch it for hours.

He was probably the same guy who went to his supervisor to ask for a
raise.

"I am already planning on giving you a raise," she said.

"Oh, great!" he said. "When will it be effective?"

"As soon as you are!" shouted the boss. (Do you know that man?)

Someone said, "Find a job that you love, and you'll never work a day
in your life."

Some people are fortunate enough to be able to find a job they love.
But not everyone can follow their bliss into the marketplace. I've
had jobs where my motto was closer to "Early to bed and early to
rise, 'till you make enough money to do otherwise." I had to decide
to at least try to like what I do, since I did not find myself doing
what I liked.

There are benefits to learning to enjoy at least parts of what we do
if we can't do what we love. It stands to reason that the more
pleasure we find in our work, the more effective and successful we
will become. And usually we will make more money. But mainly, who
wants to spend a life dreading to climb out of the bed every morning
only to spend the rest of the day watching the clock tick off
endless minutes and hours?

Can you concentrate more on the aspects of your work that you enjoy?
Can you find ways to develop nurturing relationships in your
workplace? Can you remember why you are working: to educate your
children or to save for retirement? Can you see yourself less as
chipping stones and more as building a temple.in other words, can
you see the big picture of what you do all day? Are there ways you
can serve others in your work environment? All of these techniques
and others can help you to learn to find more enjoyment at work.

It was the mystic Kahil Gibran who put it this way: "Work is love
made visible. And if you cannot work with love, but only with
distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at
the gate of the temple and ask for alms of those who work with joy."

If you can't do what you love ALL of the time, can you learn to
enjoy what you do MORE of the time?

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

A CONSPIRACY OF KINDNESS FOR LIFE

Brown rectangular delivery box - “Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.”

Kevin is a boy who might be described as "slow." He didn't learn his
ABCs as fast as other kids. He couldn't compete in schoolyard races.
But Kevin had a way with people. His bright smile and big heart won
him plenty of friends.

My friend Randy, the pastor at Kevin's church, decided they needed a
basketball team for boys. Kevin signed on and soon basketball became
a center of his life. He practiced hard. While the other boys worked
at dribbling the basketball and shooting lay-ups, skills Kevin would
never master, he simply shot baskets. Or more correctly, he threw
the ball AT the basket. He had a special spot near the free throw
line. He threw and threw, and it occasionally went in. On the rare
times that he succeeded, Kevin raised his arms and shouted, "Look at
me, Coach! Look at me!" Randy looked at him. And smiled.

The day before their first game, Coach Randy gave each player a
bright red jersey. Kevin was number 12. He scrambled himself into
the sleeves and wore that jersey almost every day. Everywhere. One
Sunday morning the church worship service was interrupted by Kevin's
excited voice. "Look, Coach!" He lifted his gray wool sweater to
reveal the red jersey underneath with number 12 on the front. Nobody
there minded the interruption; the congregation knew Kevin and loved
him.

I'd like to be able to tell you that the team did well. But the
truth is.they never won a game that season -- except for the night
it snowed and the opposing team never showed up.

At the end of the season, the boys played in the church league's
tournament. As the last-place team, they drew the unfortunate spot
of playing against the best team -- boys who had never lost a game
all year.

Game day arrived. Both teams played their best, but the game went as
expected. Near the end of the last quarter, Kevin's team stood
nearly 30 points behind. It was then that one of the boys called
timeout. "Coach Randy," he said, "this is our last game and Kevin
has never made a basket. I think we should let him make a basket."

The team agreed. Kevin was instructed to stand at his special place
near the free throw line and wait. He was told that when he was
given the ball, he should shoot.

Kevin was ecstatic. He ran to the floor and waited. When the ball
was passed to him he shot -- and missed. Number 17 from the other
team snatched the rebound, dribbled down the court for an easy
basket. But a moment later Kevin got the ball again. He shot -- and
missed again. Number 17 repeated his performance scoring two more
points. Kevin shot a third and fourth time with the same result.

But slowly the other team seemed to figure out what was going on and
the next time they snatched the rebound, a boy threw it to Kevin! He
shot...and missed. Now every rebound came to him and he threw and
threw toward the basket. Time was running down and Kevin still had
not scored.

BOTH teams circled the boy by this time and all of the players were
shouting, "Kevin! Kevin!" The crowd took up the chant. Soon everyone
in the gym was shouting Kevin's name.

Coach Randy was sure that time must have run out; the game HAD to be
over. He glanced at the official clock. It was stopped at 4.3
seconds. Even the timekeepers joined in the mania and stood by their
table shouting with the crowd, "Kevin! Kevin!"

Kevin shot and shot. Everyone was screaming. He attempted again and
again and again and...miraculously, one of his shots took a crazy
bounce on the rim. Everyone held their breath.

The ball dropped in.

Chaos reigned. Nobody remained seated. Everyone stood and cheered as
if one boy had single-handedly won a world championship. Kevin's
arms sprang up in the air and he shouted, "I won! I won!" He had
scored. His team escorted him off the court, the clock ticked down
and the game was over.

That day an undefeated team retained their perfect record. But
everybody won. Everybody. Because everybody had participated in a
crazy conspiracy of kindness that was so compelling, so powerful,
the earth itself might have stopped for a moment to rejoice with one
young boy.

How beautiful it is when we all conspire together in kindness.
Everybody wins.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

WHO'S YOUR HERO FOR LIFE?

Bootleg Transformers Optimus Prime toy - “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.”

One of those strange newspaper stories told of a 19-year-old woman
who had been charged in Los Angeles with two counts of
trespassing -- after sneaking into the home of actor Brad Pitt and
trying on his clothes. I suppose we have different ways of adoring
our heroes..

But who are our real heroes? I was given a little quiz recently. See
how well you do:

Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
Name five Olympic gold medalists.
Name the last five winners of your national beauty contest.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the last half-dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and
actress.
Name the last decade's national or world champions in your favorite
sport.

These people, of course, are the best in their fields. But fame is
fleeting and outstanding performance is too soon forgotten.

Now try another quiz:

List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and
special.
Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

If you found the second quiz easier, it may be because those people
who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the best
degrees or pedigrees, nor are they the most honored or acclaimed.
The people who make a difference are those who care. They may never
have seen a battle; never scored a winning goal; never been featured
in a magazine. But they have been busy helping you to be the best
you can be.

Let's remember and thank our real heroes. And don't be surprised if
someone thanks you.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

FINDING HOSTING IN LIFE

Finding the most suitable web site hosting for your own specific purpose can be a very daunting task for the uninitiated. There are quite literally thousands of web hosting service providers out there for you to scan through and choose from. Just a few years ago, the task of searching for the right one was like finding a needle in a hay stack!

But fret not everyone! The situation has improved dramatically since then and almost all the hard work of filtering and research has been done for us. For those who are short of time and patience, you can jump straight to the Best Web Hosting Awards page and have a hassle free experience of picking the right web site hosting that is well suited for your specific needs. As for the inquisitive and discerning users, do have a look at the helpful Hosting Guide with the latest news and development in the industry. Last but not least, for the budget conscious users, please help yourselves to the insightful information on the page of the Best 10 Cheap Web Hosting Services.

BELIEVE IT IN LIFE FOR LIFE

Plastic bear and friends - Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.

Writer Norman Cousins tells about a football game at which a doctor
found himself treating five spectators for stomach disorder. Each
complained of nausea, dizziness and cramps. Upon checking, the doctor
learned that all five had previously consumed soft drinks from the
arena's concession stands. In the interest of protecting public
safety, an announcement was made to the crowd that it would be wise to
forego drinks in the stadium because certain people were becoming ill.

By the third quarter of the game, 200 people – all of whom had been
slurping sodas – were reporting the same symptoms. Half of these
hurried off to a nearby hospital. Later in the afternoon the doctor
determined that his five original patients had also eaten potato salad
from the same delicatessen on the way to the game. The potato salad,
not the drinks, was apparently the culprit.

An announcement was made. Almost immediately those who were sick felt
remarkably better. The fans taken to the hospital were sent home as
their symptoms quickly disappeared.

All of this goes to show the tremendous power of belief. What we
believe to be true will often become true.

The power of our beliefs will dramatically affect our future. Like
automaker Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or not, you are
right." If you believe you will succeed or fail, you are probably
right. If you believe strongly enough that something good or bad will
surely happen to you, it likely will.

Mahatma Gandhi found this principle to be true in his own experience.
"If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing
it," the Indian leader said. "But when I believe I can, then I acquire
the ability to do it, even if I did not have the ability in the
beginning."

Where did that ability come from? Was it the sheer power of his belief
that gave him the capacity to do what seemed impossible? He was sure
that was the case.

Great belief is great power. And probably more than any other single
factor, great belief that something just might be possible … can bring
about what we want in life.

Believe it.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

KICK START INTERNET WEBHOSTING

Just the other day my cousin came to me to inquire about the most suitable website hosting for her to help kick start her own budding online business. She is very keen on selling her own custom made intricate handicrafts and expressive trinkets on the internet as a recurring passive side income. Ever since she was about 10 years old, she has shown signs to have innate artistic creativity skills for creating interesting beaded handicrafts. So it is only natural that somehow she can find a way to profit from it.

Well she came to the right person to answer her query. I have been keeping track of the latest industry news pertaining web site hosting and I have some useful recommendations and helpful suggestions for my cousin that will help her along the way. First up I strongly recommend her to read the insightful Web Hosting FAQ that will demystify all the associated technical terminology related to web hosting. Then as the major part in replying her initial query, I pointed her towards the helpful Web Hosting Reviews. I will be rooting for her success in her wonderful endeavour.

THE BEST REVENGE FOR LIFE

Connection ports on video conferencing device - “a good friend is a connection to life- a tie to the past,a road to the future,the key to sanity in a totally insane world”

One person jokingly says she never goes to bed angry. Instead, she
stays awake and plots her revenge.

As one story goes, a group of occupational soldiers hired a local
boy to run errands for them. The soldiers liked to relieve stress by
playing practical jokes on the young boy. They would hide his
belongings, put gum in his shoes, or send him on silly errands.

The boy handled the joking quite well. He never seemed upset by it.
After a while, the soldiers decided that they had bothered the child
enough. They approached him to apologize and to tell him that they
would no longer play any jokes on him.

The boy replied in stilted English, "You stop making joke on me, I
stop spitting in your soup."

He had his revenge. But for most of us, revenge turns out to be more
bitter than sweet. Unsatisfying at best. It "has no more quenching
effect on emotions than salt water has on thirst," one writer says.
And it's true. The desire to inflict hurt and pain remains long
after one has given in to the urge to get even. Bitter emotions are
more often quenched by love and understanding than by fighting back.

Over 400 years ago, the English poet George Herbert said, "Living
well is the best revenge." Good advice - especially when tempted to
get even.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

LEAFAGE AND ROOTAGE FOR LIFE

Having lunch at a restaurant - “A friend is one who takes you to lunch even if you're not tax deductible”

American President Woodrow Wilson once pointed out that "a man's
rootage is more important than his leafage." What others see are the
leaves, the outside. What they can't see are the roots, the values
and principles that ground a person. A happy and fulfilled life
grows from a good system of roots.

No one believed in the solid "rootage" of President Jimmy Carter
more than his own mother "Miss Lillian," as she was fondly called.
She was aware of her son's reputation for honesty, which had become
a topic of curiosity among many politicians and even reporters.
During a 1986 speech at the University of Tennessee, Jody Powell
told a story about a television reporter who grilled Miss Lillian on
this topic.

"Is it true," asked the reporter, "that your son doesn't lie? Can
you tell me he has never told a lie?"

"Well, I reckon he might have told a little white lie now and then,"
replied Miss Lillian.

The reporter spotted the opening. "I thought you said he didn't
lie!" she exclaimed. "Are you telling me that white lies aren't as
bad as black lies? Just what do you mean by a white lie?"

"Well," drawled Miss Lillian, "do you remember when you came in this
morning and I told you how nice you looked and how glad I was to see
you...?"

Those people who care about strong and principled inner lives leave
an important mark on the world. They actually live from the inside
out. Their inner convictions guide their actions. Their inner
principles govern their lives. It's like roots which are sunk deep
into lasting values and sustain the tree through whatever hard times
may come along.

What does it mean to have good roots? I think it means to be strong
enough and healthy enough to do whatever you truly want to do. It
means to be strong enough, at least most of the time, to give your
best to the world.

I would like to have roots that grow deep and strong. I would like a
system of roots that could give me:

- enough strength to forgive those who hurt me;
- enough confidence to overcome any amount of fear;
- enough courage to accept whatever obstacles life throws my
way;
- enough compassion to love even the unlovable;
- enough faith that nothing can shatter my peace of mind.

If I grow good roots, I don't need to worry about the leafage.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

TURN ... AND COME ROUND RIGHT IN LIFE

Cute puppies toy set for sale - “A puppy plays with every pup he meets, but an old dog has few associates”

Not long ago a commercial airliner, whose pilot was new to New York,
landed at JFK Airport. He steered the jet onto a taxiway and
stopped. Then slowly he began turning. First he nosed the aircraft
to the right. Then to the left. Then he turned the plane completely
around.

Finally, over the public-address system, a confused voice asked,
"Does anyone know where Gate 25 is?" Do you think that if he just
turned around enough times he would come out right?

Deciding to turn, though, is something we often have to do if we are
to live fully and live well. For each of us knows what it is to head
the wrong direction in life; and we also know how relieved we feel
to turn around again.

Do you remember the old Shaker hymn, written by Joseph Brackett, Jr.
over 150 years ago?

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right.

It's amazing how many times I turn in a day. I turn up to things I
want to attend and turn down others. I turn in at the end of the day
and turn over all night long. And when things are not right, I can
always turn them around.

Actually, turning is one of the most hopeful words I know.

When I'm not right, I can turn in a new direction. By turning, I do
something about the course I've taken. I may not be able to change
what I've already done; and I may not be able to fully escape those
unpleasant consequences of past choices. But I need not continue in
the same, destructive path. I can turn. I can find my way again.

Turning around is allowed in this life. In fact, it's necessary.
Especially after mistakes and failures. And that's like hope for me.
Like the song says, "'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to
be." But when we don't find ourselves where we ought to be, "by
turning, turning we come round right."

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

LOVE AND TIME FOR LIFE

Propeller wind toy for sale - “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

Writer Gary Jennings said this: "Love and time, those are the only
two things in all the world and all of life, that cannot be bought,
but only spent."

I love that. And HOW I spend my love and time is what it is all
about.

My work and interests require me to spend probably an inordinate
amount of time in front of my computer. At least according to my
wife Bev.

She and I were talking one day about death and funerals and what to
do with each other's remains. I asked. "What will you do with my
body? Burial? Cremation?"

She answered, "I think I'll just have you stuffed and propped up in
your chair by the computer. That way when I walk through the room I
won't even notice that you're gone."

I got the point - too much computer time. And how I spend my time
and my love is all important.

The question I ask myself is this: "Do I generously and freely give
love and time away - and especially to those closest to me?"

Charles Francis Adams was the United States ambassador to Great
Britain during the Lincoln administration. He had the habit of
keeping a daily diary. He also taught his son Brooks the value of
journaling his activities in a diary.

One memorable day, eight-year-old Brooks recorded, "Went fishing
with my father, the most glorious day of my life." It must have been
a glorious day, for the next forty years Brooks repeatedly mentioned
it in his diary. It became a life-long memory.

His father also wrote about the fishing trip. His own diary on that
pivotal day for his son reads, "Went fishing with my son; a day
wasted."

He didn't get it. That one single day he generously and freely gave
love and time away to Brooks may have been the one of the most
important days of his son's life. Did he feel that, as a United
States ambassador, his time was too valuable to be "wasted" with his
children? History seems to show that a fishing trip with his son
paid huge dividends in Brooks' life.

I only hope I will spend love and time so well.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

A BETTER WAY TO LIVE IN LIFE

Crown pineapples for sale - “We must wake ourselves up! Or somebody else will take our place, and bear our cross, and thereby rob us of our crown.”

Did you know...?

That Joan of Arc was only seventeen when she was riding at the head
of the army that liberated France from the English?

That church reformer John Calvin was twenty-six when he published
his "Institutes" ?

That poet John Keats died when he was twenty-six?

That Shelley was thirty when he was drowned, but not before he left
English literature his classic "Odes"?

That Sir Isaac Newton had largely discovered the working of the law
of gravitation when he was twenty-three?

That Henry Clay, the "great compromiser, " was sent to the United
States Senate at twenty-nine and was Speaker of the House of
Representatives at thirty-four?

That Raphael painted his most important pictures between twenty-five
and thirty?

That Mozart only lived to be thirty-five years old?

Maybe I'm just a late bloomer.

When I was a young man I wanted to make things happen. After a few
years I realized I would have to content myself with watching most
things happen.

Unfortunately, these days I usually have no idea what is happening.

Of course, most of us will never paint a masterpiece, write a
classic or discover an important scientific principle. But why
should we? We're each cut from a unique pattern.

Dick Van Dyke once told the story of a woman taking her nephew to
her Catholic church. She whispered to him as they approached the
pew: "Can you genuflect?"

"No," he said, "but I can somersault!"

I wonder if he showed her.right then and there. I can almost see him
rolling down the aisle in a joyous celebration of the thing he CAN
do, with no regard for genuflecting. the thing he cannot do.

Some people waste lives obsessing on that thing they cannot do,
wishing they were more competent. And some measure the value of
their abilities against those of others, wishing they could
contribute in a bigger and better way.

You and I may never be a Mozart, a Raphael or a John Keats. But
there are things you CAN do to bring beauty or joy or happiness to
your world. Find them. Do them. Celebrate them. Rejoice in them.

I can hardly think of a better way to live.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

BLOWING OUT YOUR GUILT IN LIFE

Exotic tropical fruits on sale - “I'm an ocean, because I'm really deep. If you search deep enough you can find rare exotic treasures.”

I read of a New Jersey artist who capitalized on people's need to
let go of the past by selling them "guilt kits." Each kit contained
ten disposable brown paper bags and a set of instructions which
said, "Place bag securely over your mouth, take a deep breath and
blow the guilt out. Dispose of bag immediately. " Amazingly, about
2,500 kits sold at $2.50 each. But perhaps not so amazing when you
think of the guilt many of us carry around.

Of course, guilt serves its purpose. More than once I made a better
decision so that I could look myself in the mirror without blushing.
And the kits probably also serve a purpose - if nothing else, to
remind us to get rid of those unnecessary and destructive feelings
we seem to have so much trouble shaking.

But if blowing in a bag doesn't do it for you, then you might try
another man's method. He hired a friend to go into therapy for him.
He says he always hires other people to carry his baggage.

And if that doesn't work, here are a few simple steps that that
should get at the problem:

First, if you make a mistake, resolve to try never to repeat it. The
whole function of guilt is to change behavior.

We underrate our mistakes as effective learning devises. When
possible, welcome your mistake, learn from it and decide to do
things differently next time.

Second, seek forgiveness from any others who were affected. If
possible, make amends.

In Ernest Hemingway's short story "The Capitol of the World," a
Spanish father decides to reconcile with his son who has run away.
Now remorseful, the father takes out a newspaper ad in El Liberal:
"Paco, meet me at Hotel Montana noon Tuesday. All is forgiven." When
the father goes to the square he is surprised to find eight hundred
young men named Paco waiting for their fathers. We can't
underestimate the need for reconciliation and wholeness.

Finally, forgive yourself. No purpose is served in continuing to
whip yourself over past events you can do nothing about. And how
will you truly learn to love when there is one person in your life
you refuse to completely forgive?

If you follow these steps, you can rid yourself of unnecessary
guilt. You will find that you are happier and healthier - and you
can save all those brown paper bags for lunch.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

ONE SIMPLE QUESTION IN LIFE

Open air morning market - “Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.”

I once read that an ordinance in one of America's major cities
forbids "walking about aimlessly, with no apparent purpose,
lingering, hanging around, lagging behind, idly spending time,
delaying, sauntering and moving slowly about."

I can't tell you how disturbed I felt. Some of my best days are
spent like that.

But then, I don't want my whole life to be basically described as
having "no apparent purpose...lagging behind...idly spending
time...delaying" and generally moving about aimlessly. On the other
hand, neither do I want to take myself too seriously. An occasional
day spent doing next to nothing sounds perfectly fine.

My problem is that I am usually busy. I schedule tightly and work
long hours. I plan my time and make lists.

But it would be a mistake to believe that, just because I am doing
many things, I am necessarily doing the right things. Or, perhaps,
the BEST things. At least if I'm busy, I want to stay busy at things
that matter.

News commentator Dan Rather asked himself a vital question several
times a day. Largely because of this one question, he became one of
America's leading journalists. Rather wrote the question on three
slips of paper. He kept one in his billfold, one in his pocket, and
one on his desk. The all-important question he constantly asked
himself was "Is what you are doing now helping the broadcast?"

If the answer was yes, then he continued with his work, project or
idea. If the answer was no, then he stopped what he was doing and
put his efforts into something else. He discovered early on that if
he did not focus his time, he would end up in a job where he was
under-utilized and dissatisfied.

What if you were to ask yourself a focusing question several times a
day? Your question might relate to work, or perhaps to another area
of your life that is important to you - family, relationships,
personal development, spirituality. .

You might ask yourself if what you're doing now is helping you
succeed. Or if what you're doing now is helping you to be a better
parent or a better person. You decide. The point is this: one simple
question can focus and transform your life.

Try writing the question you choose on small slips of paper or on
the back of a business card. Carry it with you. Post it on your
desk. You might even affix it to a conspicuous spot inside your car.

Then read it several times a day. That one question will help you
choose activities that contribute toward your best self. And if you
are busy, at least you will be busy doing the right things - things
that matter.

Then, if you decide to spend an occasional day walking about
aimlessly, with no apparent purpose, lingering, hanging around,
lagging behind, idly spending time, delaying, sauntering and moving
slowly about, why not? The down time will probably do you good.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

JUST IN TIME FOR LIFE

"Talap" fruits for sale - “Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust.”

Novelist Vicki Baum once said, "You don't get ulcers from what you
eat. You get them from what's eating you." And what's eating us much
of the time is worry. It eats us from the inside out.

I wish I could always be like former baseball player Mickey Rivers.
He philosophized, "Ain't no sense worrying about things you got
control over, because if you got control over them, ain't no sense
worrying. And there ain't no sense worrying about things you got no
control over either, because if you got no control them, ain't no
sense worrying."

Maybe that makes sense, I'm just not sure. But even if it does, I'll
likely wind up worried anyway. Which is why I like this story
related by inspirational Dutch author and holocaust survivor Corrie
ten Boom.

Corrie learned a powerful lesson as a little girl. Having
encountered the lifeless body of a baby, she realized that people
she loved would someday die, too. She thought about the fact that
her father and mother and sister Betsie could quite possibly pass on
before she does. The thought frightened and worried her.

One night her father came in to tuck her into bed. Corrie burst into
tears and sobbed, "I need you. You can't die. You can't!"

Her father sat on the edge of the narrow bed and spoke tenderly to
his daughter. "Corrie," he said gently, "when you and I go to
Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?"

She sniffed a few times and considered the question. "Why, just
before I get on the train," she answered.

"Exactly," he continued. Then he gave her assurance that was to last
a lifetime. "When the time comes that some of us have to die, you
will look into your heart and find the strength you need - just in
time."

Some years later Corrie and her family, arrested for sheltering Jews
and members of the Dutch resistance, were sent to Nazi concentration
camps. She, indeed, experienced the deaths of her parents and
sister, as well as numerous friends. She endured hardships that she
could never have imagined as a young child. But the words of her
father stayed with her and proved to be true. "You will look into
your heart and find the strength you need - just in time." She
always did. Regardless of the suffering or hardship she encountered,
when she looked inside her heart she found the strength she needed -
just in time.

If you worry and fret, or if you feel anxious about your future, you
may find Corrie's experience helpful. And if that thing you dread
should ever arrive, then you need only look inside your heart. The
strength you need can be found there - just in time.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

A VERY HUMAN THING TO DO FOR LIFE

Yellow ripe bananas for sale - “Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”

Someone made the statement: "To err is dysfunctional, to forgive
co-dependent." Sometimes I think I operate that way - afraid to err
and slow to forgive.

Of course, we've all heard Alexander Pope's famous assertion that to
err is human, to forgive, divine. But I don't agree. I think that to
forgive is one of the most human things we can do.

A number of years ago, Hildegard Goss-Mayr of the "International
Fellowship of Reconciliation" told this true story. In the midst of
tragic fighting in Lebanon in the 1970s, a Christian seminary
student was walking from one village to the next when he was
ambushed by an armed Druze guerrilla fighter. The Druze ordered his
captive down a mountain trail where he was to be shot.

But an amazing thing happened. The seminarian, who had received
military training, was able to surprise his captor and disarm him.
Now, the table was turned, and it was the Druze who was ordered down
the trail.

As they walked, however, the student of theology began to reflect on
what was happening. Recalling the words of his scripture, "Love your
enemies," "do good to those who hate you," "turn the other cheek,"
he found he could go no farther. He threw the gun into the bushes,
told the Druze he was free to go and turned back up the hill.

Minutes later, he heard footsteps running behind him as he walked.
"Is this the end after all?" he wondered. Perhaps the young man had
retrieved his weapon and meant to finish him off. But he continued
on, never glancing back, until his enemy reached him, only to grab
him in an embrace and pour out thanks for sparing his life.

That was a very human thing he did - foregoing the impulse to strike
back. It took a strong spirit. Yet every time we decide not to get
back at somebody who hurts us, we exercise one of our greatest
powers - the power to choose a better way.

Somebody else put it better than I can: "Life is too short for drama
and petty things, so, kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and
forgive quickly." It's one of the most powerful and human things to
do.

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Lifesigns Life Quotes

PLAYING IT SAFE IN LIFE

Fresh banana leaves for sale - “Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.”

A young reporter wanted to get a feel for agriculture, so he called
upon a farmer and said, "How's your wheat coming along?"

The farmer replied, "I didn't plant any."

"Really?" asked the reporter. "I thought this was supposed to be
wheat country."

"Some say it is," came the reply. "But I was afraid we might not see
enough rain this year."

"Well, what about your corn. How is it doing?" the young man
inquired.

"Didn't plant corn this year. I was afraid of corn blight."

"Alfalfa?"

"Nope. Afraid the price might drop."

"Well, then," asked the reporter, "what did you plant?"

"Nothin'," the farmer said. "I just played it safe."

Here is a couple who REALLY played it safe:

The bride, white of hair, is stooped over her cane,
Her footsteps - uncertain - need guiding,
While down the opposite church aisle
With a wan, toothless smile
The bridegroom in wheelchair comes riding.

Now who is this elderly couple, thus wed?
Well, you'll find when you've closely explored it
That here is that rare,
Most conservative pair
Who waited 'til they could afford it!

Do you like playing it safe? If so, I found a Web site you just
might love: Dull Men's Club. No excitement there. You'll never have
to leave your comfort zone. The Dull Men's Club, found at
http://www.dullmensclub.com, is a place in cyberspace for guys who
feel "born to be mild" and enjoy adventure of such activities as
watching grass grow and paint dry. I think dull women will like it,
too.

But, as most of you know, some of best things in life can only be
found after we cast aside a bit of caution. I learned that lesson
playing baseball as a child. Ninety feet never seems so long as when
you're trying to steal second base. And more than once I was thrown
out trying to steal, but what a feeling those times I slid in
safely. Joy. Exhilaration. The downside was worth it.

There is a life lesson here: you can't steal second base unless you
run away from first. In some things, it is all or nothing. Run flat
out or stay back, for there is no changing your mind.

Sometimes it takes courage to do what you've never done and go where
you've never been. It's like stealing second base - whatever huge
decision looms before you, your best solution will likely be made
from the side of courage, rather than fear.

If you have any regrets 20 or 30 years from now, what will they be
about? I don't think mine will be about the things I did. I think
they will be more about the things I could have done, but was afraid
to try. Those times I was afraid to take a chance because I might be
rejected or thought to be silly. Those times I was afraid to do
something new - make a change - because I was afraid I might fail.

Canadian Claude Thomas Bissell is credited with saying something
profound about living life fully. He said,

"Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible."

You can't always play it safe if you want to LIVE.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

ONE DAY IN LIFE

Fresh "Kangkung" green vegetables for sale - “If you refuse to be made straight when you are green, you will not be made straight when you are dry”

In Turin, Italy, an anonymous citizen wrote the tax office enclosing
10,000 Lira in the envelope and explained he had cheated on his
income tax. He said it caused him to lose his appetite. Then he
added, "If my appetite doesn't improve I'll send the rest."

It sounds like an easy weight loss program, but I don't think it
could work for me. Guilt doesn't keep me from eating. It has kept me
awake more than once, however.

William Wirt Winchester's widow Sarah built a bizarre mansion in San
Jose, California, to assuage her feelings of remorse. It is a house
built over a 38-year period at a cost of over five million dollars.
The 160 room house has stairways that lead to blank walls, corridors
that lead to un-openable doors, 13 bathrooms, 13 stair steps, 13
lights to a chandelier, 13 windows to a room.strange.

Her husband was the son of Oliver Fisher Winchester, manufacturer of
the famous Winchester repeating rifle. The house is referred to as
the "guilt house," and was conceived as a never-ending building
project to provide a home for spirits of those killed by Winchester
rifles. Instead of addressing her grief and remorse in more
therapeutic ways, Sarah's project occupied the rest of her life.

The late Erma Bombeck called guilt "the gift that keeps on giving."
(She also said she came from a family of pioneers - said her mother
invented guilt in 1936.) And it CAN be a gift that keeps on giving
when it isn't laid to rest. It can keep on giving problems to
everyone it touches - emotional, physical and spiritual. It seems
that if we don't find a way to deal with it, guilt may deal with us
in some frightening ways.

Do you have unresolved guilt? I'm not talking about "good" guilt,
the feelings of shame or remorse that keep us from doing something
incredibly stupid or hurtful. I mean unnecessary guilt. Over-anxiety
and self-loathing about that which can no longer be changed.

If so, it may help to remember that:

+ In one day you can recognize where your feelings of guilt come
from.
+ In one day you can decide to make necessary amends to those you
may have hurt.
+ In one day you can decide to ask for forgiveness from others.
+ In one day you can exercise your spiritual power and choose to be
at one with God and the universe.
+ In one day you can decide to be gentler with yourself and allow
yourself to experience the healing balm of acceptance.
+ In one day you can resolve to learn from the past and not repeat
your behavior.
+ In one day you can choose to do something constructive with that
guilt, and then continue every day until it is only a memory.

And best of all, that one day can be today.

From Lifesupport

Lifesigns Life Quotes

A CHILD WITHIN US FOR LIFE

Exotic fresh vegetables for sale - “Human beings, vegetables, or comic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player”

It was an annual winter tradition. Every year we packed the children
into our family car and spent the day at "The North Pole at Pike's
Peak," a year-round Christmas resort not far away. And each year
they took turns on Santa's lap while we snapped pictures.

This wasn't any ordinary Santa, either. Maybe it was the real beard.
Or maybe it was the twinkle in his eye when he talked to the kids.
He came as close to the genuine Santa as anyone I can imagine. The
kindly old man worked as Santa Claus at the resort all year round
and, for our family at least, he was just about the real thing.

One year, after we finished with pictures, I said to him, "You must
really love children."

"Yes, I do," he said. "And adults, too. Many adults want to sit with
Santa for a picture!"

"Do you really have adults visit Santa?" I asked in amazement.

"Oh, yes," he replied. "As a matter of fact, one day 14 of the first
20 people who came to visit Santa were adults. All of us have a
child inside of us. It's a terrible thing when you lose that."

I think I know what he meant. Children are enthusiastic. They've not
forgotten how to have fun. And they still feel awe and wonder and
excitement.

"It's a terrible thing when you lose that," he said. I don't think
he meant that we are to be childish and immature - just childlike.
There is a difference.

To be childlike is to be fun-loving and ready to get lost in the
present. To be childlike is to be more innocent and trusting.
Quicker to embrace life and love. To be childlike is to not yet be
jaded by the world or too cynical about people. Those who are
childlike laugh easily and often. They know there is plenty about
this universe they may not understand, and that is okay. In fact,
mystery is good. It fills them with awe.

My children eventually grew up and quit visiting Santa. A few years
later I learned that he passed away. As it turns out, even an
almost-real Santa doesn't live forever. I had the honor of speaking
at his funeral service and remembered him that day as a man who
always kept his childlike sense of enthusiasm, love and joy. He was
one of the youngest people I knew.

I only hope I'm that young when I'm that old.

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