I Wish You Enough

By Bob Perks

I never really thought that I'd spend as much time in airports as I do. I don't know why. I always wanted to be famous and that would mean lots of travel. But I'm not famous, yet I do see more than my share of airports.

I love them and I hate them. I love them because of the people I get to watch. But they are also the same reason why I hate airports. It all comes down to "hello" and "goodbye."I must have mentioned this a few times while writing my stories for you.

I have great difficulties with saying goodbye. Even as I write this I am experiencing that pounding sensation in my heart. If I am watching such a scene in a movie I am affected so much that I need to sit up and take a few deep breaths. So when faced with a challenge in my life I have been known to go to our local airport and watch people say goodbye. I figure nothing that is happening to me at the time could be as bad as having to say goodbye.

Watching people cling to each other, crying, and holding each other in that last embrace makes me appreciate what I have even more. Seeing them finally pull apart, extending their arms until the tips of their fingers are the last to let go, is an image that stays forefront in my mind throughout the day.

On one of my recent business trips, when I arrived at the counter to check in, the woman said, "How are you today?" I replied, "I am missing my wife already and I haven't even said goodbye."

She then looked at my ticket and began to ask, "How long will you...Oh, my God. You will only be gone three days!" We all laughed. My problem was I still had to say goodbye. But I learn from goodbye moments, too.

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy."

They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?" I asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more."When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."
He then began to sob and walked away.

My friends, I wish you enough!

Wooden's Pyramid

John Wooden's Pyramid of Success

Seven Ways To Solve a Problem

By Norman Vincent Peale

1.Remember (Psalm 73:24): “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel.”Ask God for guidance and follow it when it comes. Believe that God will guide you.

2.Don’t panic or you will not be able to think clearly. First, get quiet. How do you do that? Pray to God and relax in faith. Then keep relaxed and calm.

3.Don’t be overwhelmed or make the problem bigger than it is. Simply apply common sense.

4.Don’t spend time on regrets. Don’t ask “Why did I ever get into this?” Begin where you are.

5.Seek a solution, not for the whole problem, but for one step. Take it a step at a time. As you do so, pray continually.

6.Ask yourself what is right and avoid the wrong, for no wrong thing ever turns out right.

7.Never give up. Keep at it. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep thinking until the answer comes. Remember, the darkest hour is often just before the dawn.

How to Let Go of Your Fear

By Norman Vincent Peale

Here are four tried and true methods for overcoming the haunting fear of what might happen:

1.Let go and let God. Worry is a spasmodic clutching by the mind of an obsessive fear idea. To counteract it, insert in the mind the thought that you can leave your concerns with God. By a deliberate mental act, take charge of the fear spasm. Order your mind to release its frantic hold on the obsessive anxiety thought. In a word, let go and let God.

2.Remind yourself of one great fact and affirm it constantly: “God loves me and those whom I love. He is now taking care of us all.”

3.Having left your fears with God, affirm His watchful care, and go about your daily life confidently.

4.Every day, morning and night, thank God for his loving kindness. Believe and affirm the things for which you are thanking Him. The daily practice of the above techniques will condition your mind, finally, to let go of the haunting fear of what might happen.

The Blind Boy

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way."

What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind.

Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story:

Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.

When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.

Great men say, "Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness! In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience."

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling!

And even more beautiful, is knowing that you are the reason behind it!

25 Unexpected Ways to Make Someone’s Day

By Todd Smith

Do you remember the last time you received an unexpected call, text or email from someone who intentionally said something complimentary to you? How did it make you feel? Did it brighten your mood? Did it bring a smile to your face? What impression did this person make on you?

When I consider the different types of impressions we make on people, there are very few more powerful then when you do something unexpectedly to show people they are important to you. It could be a simple text message telling a friend how much you value the friendship or a short email to a co-worker complimenting him or her on the way he or she handled a difficult situation at the office today.

Results of Kind Words

When you take your time to surprise people with acts of kindness or love, you will make them feel noticed, valued, and appreciated. You will bring a smile to their faces and joy to their hearts. It will enhance their self-esteem and strengthen their self-confidence. It will renew their energy and put a bounce in their step. It will draw them closer to you and you to them and create an extraordinary bond in your relationship. You will benefit also because there is joy in unselfish acts when you give of yourself, your time, and your resources.

Ideas to Inspire You to Action

Here are 25 unexpected things you can do to show people they are special in your eyes.

1. Do your children’s chores for the day.

2. Drop a hand-written card in the mail to give someone an encouraging word.

3. Give your spouse or significant other a gift on your next date night.

4. Shovel snow for an older couple down the street.

5. Call a friend going through a difficult period to show your support.

6. Send a client something special that made you think of him or her.

7. Send a gift basket or bouquet of flowers to the hotel room of a friend who is on a long road trip.

8. Invite a friend to dinner and plan an evening with his/her interest in mind.

9. If you are a parent, plan a special day with your kids, but don’t tell them.

10. Offer to take a co-worker (who is not close to you) to lunch and buy it.

11. Plan a company or department meeting, surprising everyone with a party to show your appreciation for their hard work.

12. Pay the toll for the person following you and tell the gate attendant to communicate your brief message.

13. Stop by the hospital to visit a friend.

14. Cut the grass for a neighbor who is overwhelmed at work.

15. Take dinner over to a family suffering from financial hardship.

16. Stay late and help a co-worker finish an important project.

17. Call and invite an old friend to have coffee or tea.

18. Buy your friend sitting at another table in the restaurant a drink or dessert.

19. Go to the funeral of your friend or co-worker who has lost a loved one.

20. Look someone in the eye and share how proud you are of him or her.

21. Express appreciation for ordinary and routine tasks done well.

22. Praise someone for evidence portrayed by inner qualities—patience, fairness, integrity, gentleness, cooperation.

23. Say an encouraging word to your boss, teacher, coach, pastor or priest. Leaders are lonely.

24. Offer to run an errand for an overworked friend.

25. Thank people who serve you—waitperson, janitor, receptionist.

These are just a few of the many little things we can do to brighten someone’s day and create a unique connection. Not only will these acts make the person feel good, but they will make you feel good, too.

Act Now

I want to challenge you to look for situations when you can show your interest in others by doing something unanticipated. When you think of something, do it without hesitation and make someone’s day.

I also want to encourage you to start this practice this very minute. Who do you love that you have not communicated with recently? Call, email or text and let them know you love them. Will you do it? Will you do it now? Please come back and tell me below about your experience.

Every time you show a genuine interest in the lives of others by committing an unexpected act of kindness, you are telling them that who they are and what they do is significant.

6 Tips To Show Appreciation

1. Be genuine about your praise and don’t expect anything in return for being nice.

2. Be very specific with your words and use the person’s name whenever possible. This makes it more meaningful. For example, “ Bill, thanks for making us feel so welcome when we arrived at the hotel. It was the perfect start to our vacation.”

3. Demonstrating eye contact and positive body language goes hand in hand with the words you choose.

4. Think of special ways to show your gratitude. For example, buy flowers or do something special for your spouse that you know he or she would love. You don’t have to spend a lot of money for the thank you to have value.

5. Send a hand written thank you card or note of appreciation. Most people don’t take the time to do this simple act.

6. If the praise or appreciation relates to a specific act or circumstance, give it as soon after the event as possible to have the most impact.

Importance of Eye Contact

The Fundamentals of Eye Contact

By Todd Smith

Eye contact is a non-verbal communication that can have profound influence on your social and professional interactions. In general, eye contact demonstrates interest and confidence. But it’s not that simple. When is your gaze considered too long? How do you make eye contact when you are speaking with more than one person? If someone doesn’t make eye contact with you, what conclusions do you draw about that person?

Looking at people and meeting their eyes is vital to your professional success. Let’s consider several situations that demand effective eye contact.

Speaking with One Person

When you are involved in a conversation with one person, there will be opportunities for you to talk and others for you to listen.

When you are listening to someone, I believe you should maintain 100% eye contact with this person. I don’t stare at people. I just meet their eyes in a manner that indicates a sincere interest in what they are saying.

If you get a sense that someone is feeling uncomfortable with your eye contact (because they often look down or away during the conversation) I recommend that you occasionally break the eye contact for a one to two seconds. This should put the person at ease and make for a more productive conversation.

I vividly recall a painful lesson I learned years ago. After completing a sales training for two hundred people, a woman came to the podium, introduced herself and commented on the presentation. As she was talking, I occasionally looked at the other people waiting to speak with me. She then paused and said, “Do you not have an interest in what I am saying?” Ouch! That one really hurt!

Since that time I have always been conscious about maintaining 100% eye contact with people when there are distractions that could draw my eyes away from them. Because of this uncomfortable experience, I never look away from the person who is talking to me, unless someone interrupts me. And even then, as soon as possible I return my eyes and attention back to the person to whom I was originally talking.

When you are the person talking, it’s acceptable to occasionally look away in order to collect your thoughts. If there are distractions in the room, you must make certain to maintain your focus and eye contact on the person who is listening to you.

Speaking To More Than One Person

When you are taking part in conversation with a group of two or more people, additional challenges are presented.

When you are with a group and a member of the group is talking, you should give this person your full attention by making 100% eye contact. Have you ever talked to a group of people and wondered who was really listening? The reason you felt that way was because people weren’t making eye contact with you. How did that make you feel? When you make eye contact with people who are talking, they will know you are listening, sense your respect and appreciate your undivided attention.

If you don’t look at the person talking, they WILL notice. Not only will they notice, but also they will feel disconnected from you and perhaps even worse, sense a lack of respect.

As the Golden Rule so appropriately states, “do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” If you want people to listen to you when you talk, then be sure you are listening to them when they talk.

The most challenging part of making eye contact in a group setting takes place when you are the one speaking. It is imperative that you share your eye contact equally with everyone in the group. This action demonstrates that each person is important to you. It also communicates to them that you understand the importance of including them in the conversation.

This lesson not only applies to your business meetings but to your social interactions as well. If you don’t share your eye contact with everyone, it’s likely that someone will feel left out of the conversation and may feel inclined to start a new one with someone else in the group.

Let me give you a personal example of what happens when you don’t make equal eye contact when speaking with more than one person. My wife had been shopping for a new car and asked me to join her to look at a specific one that she was interested in buying. As the salesman talked to us, he spent 90% of his time looking at me and only 10% at my wife. After about two minutes into the conversation, I knew my wife would never buy her car from this salesman. Turns out I was right. When we left the dealership, she told me that she felt excluded from the conversation and that he was rude and disrespectful. His lack of eye contact cost him the sale!

Starting today, when talking with more than one person, challenge yourself to share eye contact equally with each person in the group. It takes practice, but like anything you practice, repetition will make it more natural.

Your eyes send messages. Establishing and maintaining eye contact with people demonstrates confidence, respect, and genuine interest.

What is Hope?

"Hope works in these ways: it looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst; it discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot; it regards problems, large or small, as opportunities; it pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit; it "lights the candle" instead of "cursing the darkness.""
-- Anonymous

Take The Plunge

"Watch me dive off the high board, Dad," my ten-year-old son called out. I looked up to the ten-foot-high diving board and waited as he stood at the edge, stooped over, arms extended. He had jumped off the high board many times before, but now his nerve seemed to falter as he contemplated streaking through the air headfirst.

The swimming pool was vacated, so he could take his time. "You can do it, Robby," I encouraged. But he couldn't. Not that evening. For 20 minutes he attempted to muster the courage to make the plunge, and he finally gave up when the pool closed for the night.

"I feel disappointed in myself," Robby said on the way home. "I feel terrible. I know I can do it, though. I know I can."

He persuaded me to take him swimming again the next evening. Like the night before, we happened to be the only swimmers. "I'm going to do it this time," he said emphatically. "Watch me!"

He climbed the ladder and walked to the end of the board as I watched. Again I encouraged him. Again he hesitated. As the previous night, his nerve failed. It seemed that he would never conquer his fear and leap.

The lifeguards on duty helped me cheer him on. "You can do it, Robby," we all exhorted. "Just do it! Don't think about it. Just do it!"

For 30 minutes we encouraged him. For 30 minutes he started and stopped, he leaned and straightened and fought the fear that held him back.

And then it happened. He extended his arms, bent over the edge and fell headfirst into the water! He emerged to the sounds of laughter and congratulations. He did it! He finally did it! And before he went home, he did it three more times.

Robby learned something about facing his fear that evening. But he learned something else, too. He learned that some things can't be done with less than full commitment. A chasm cannot be leaped in two small jumps and a dive cannot be made a little at a time. Sometimes you just have to do it.

This Is True Love

It was a busy morning, about 8:30am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry, as he had an appointment at 9:00am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while because she is a victim of Alzheimer's disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him for five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arm and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Remember that the small deeds that we do in life really matter.

I Was Never Promised

I know as I sit here, I was never promised an easy life.

I was never promised happiness or comfortability.

I was never promised a roof over my head or food to eat on a daily basis.

I was never promised that my family or I would be healthy and I was never promised that I would develop friendships that I hold dearly.

I was never promised that today would be free and that I would have to exchange a day of my life
for it.

I was never promised that I will make a better tomorrow and with the utmost humility, make a difference in many people's lives.

I was never promised clothing to wear on a daily basis and a washing machine and dryer to clean and dry them.

I was never promised a direction in life and I certainly was not afforded a road map to get to where I belong.

I was never promised the luxury of an automobile or the money to put gas in it.

I was never promised that I would live in a modest home and fill it with the essentials to make a house
, a home.

I was never promised, but I do promise, to never take for granted the things
that have been so graciously given to me in my life...

I will give thanks on a daily basis for everything and everyone I touch and that touches me.

I, as I sit here writing this to you, I know in a blink of an eye, that all of these things that I have can be gone.

Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude...

By Rich Barnes

Paid In Full

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he shouted at his father and said "with all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.

Many years passed and the young man had become very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father now was getting old, and thought perhaps he should go see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.

His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had wanted. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

Just 300

*True story - Names have been changed.

Last week at work, a dear friend of my boss dropped by and related this story…

His company had been toiling and negotiating on an offer for months. It had become the obsession of his office. They finally had a realistic proposal and he was sitting across from his customer.

“Thanks, Dave,” he said, “but we’ll have to pass this year.”

He was devastated. How could he face his employees? The loss of this million dollar deal would result in layoffs. His stomach initially tied in knots over presenting the bid, was now wrenched tighter. He simply could not understand how the client could afford to refuse their offer. He dreaded returning to the office.

Pulling into a truck stop he ordered coffee before returning to the office. His waitress was friendly, although slightly distracted. As she poured the coffee and he nonchalantly said hello and asked how she was. He fully expected the traditional Southern response, “fine…and you?”

“Oh, I’ve been better,” she began. “My husband abandoned me and the kids after Katrina. Left us stranded here and this is the only job I could find. It ain’t too bad mind you. The boss lets me work around my kids so they ain’t at home alone. But yesterday someone stole my purse. It had everything in it, birth certificates, shot records, social security cards, everything I had evacuated with. And every penny we had, $300.00 was in there. Now I don’t so much mind they took the money, it’s just money, but all those important papers. I need those for the kids and their schooling. I don’t even know if I can get new papers with New Orleans being in such a mess.”

He bobbed his head with feigning interest in her conversation. He wanted to interrupt her and point out that she had only lost $300.00. He had just lost millions. Before he could reply, she turned to another table.

Sipping the warmth, he thought about their dilemmas. Both of them had been dealt a raw deal, but self-pity made him feel that somehow his loss was greater. Proportionally though, their losses were probably equal.

As he drank his coffee he flipped his cell phone and attempted to scan emails. No reception. Shutting it, he sank into the comfort of the red plastic padded dining booth and stared aimlessly. His daze was interpreted by the newly familiar voice.

“They found it!” She squealed with delight. “They found my purse! All our important papers were still there. We’re gonna be alright!”

Everyone in the truck stop applauded.

She came to refresh his coffee; he declined the offer and congratulated her good fortune. She was gracious and told him to have a nice day as he took his ticket and headed for the cash register.

“She’s still out $300.00,” the Holy Spirit whispered.

“Okay,” he acknowledged. “I’ll leave a $20.00. That’s a 1000% tip.”

“She’s still out $300.00,” came the Voice again.

“All right,” he moaned, “I’ve got $50.00 in my wallet. I’ll leave that.”

“She lost $300.00,” repeated the Voice.

“Look, God,” he began. “I just lost a million dollar deal. Have a little sympathy for me!”

“She lost $300.00,” the Voice insisted.

“All right, all right,” he grudgingly relented. Taking out his American Express he paid for the coffee and wrote in a $300.00 tip. Walking through the parking lot to his car, he tried his cell phone again, still no tower. He got in his car and headed for the office trying to think of a diplomatic way to break the bad news

Opening the door to his office, his secretary practically leapt from her desk to greet him.

“Mr. Smith,” she bubbled, “You’ll never guess who just called!”

“Do I have to?” he asked.

“Oh no sir, I was just so excited I couldn’t help myself” she beamed. “Mr. Jones called right after you left. He tried getting you on your cell, but he said he couldn’t reach you. Must have been in a dead zone, right sir?”

She inhaled and continued at lightening speed, “Anyway he said he went over the figures you gave him with his sales and production staff after your meeting. They decided to double the order. Can you believe it! Doubled the order! Our price was just too good to pass. They have faxed over the signed contracts! Isn’t that fantastic? The contracts are on your desk.”

Stunned, he looked at his secretary in utter disbelief, “He said what?”

She slowly repeated the telephone conversation. He could not believe it. He walked into the office to examine the faxed contracts for himself. He noted the time on the fax and the American Express receipt. They were the same.

What is Excellence?

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
-Aristotle

The Optimist Creed

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 of 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 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, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Child Development

"If a child is given love, he becomes loving...If he's helped when he needs help, he becomes helpful. And if he has been truly valued at home...he grows up secure enough to look beyond himself to the welfare of others"

- Dr. Joyce Brothers

Tightrope Walker

“There was a world-famous tightrope walker, who had reached the age where he wanted to retire. But before he retired he wanted to do something spectacular, something no one else had ever done. So he decided he was going to stretch a tightrope across Niagara Falls and walk across that rope. “As you know, at Niagara Falls the wind blow quite hard, and if the spray from the falls got on the rope it could become very slick. They advertised his walk on television, newspaper, and on the radio.

The moment of truth came, and there were thousands of people who came to see him. No one had ever done this before, and as the tightrope walker steps onto the platform and balances himself on the rope, the whole crowd starts to cheer, yell and scream. He gets about halfway across, carrying his long, long pole in his hands, when he slips and almost falls. The crowd is petrified. They think he is going to fall but he regains his balance and makes it across. The crowd erupts. They have never seen anything like it. “He had done the impossible, and now he turns around to go back. The crowd screams, ‘Oh no, he’s not going back again.’ Sure enough, he picks up his pole and starts back. About three-quarters of the way, he again slips and almost falls. The crowd is again somewhat petrified, but he regains his balance and they clap, but not as much.

Now he gets a wheelbarrow, and the crowd says, ‘Oh, no, surely he’s not going to try to push that wheelbarrow across.’ About a quarter of the way over he slips but regains his balance, and boy, oh boy, the crowd erupts again. Wow! He’d done something no else had ever done. “So he turns around and puts the wheelbarrow back on the rope and the crowd yells, ‘You’re not going to do that again, are you?’ And he says, ‘Do you believe that I could put somebody in the wheelbarrow and roll it across?’ The crowd says, ‘We believe, we believe.’ And he points to this one guy and says, ‘Alright – you first!’ “

This is the difference between belief and trust. It’s easy to believe, but the trust to sit in that wheelbarrow is quite a different thing.

The Six C’s of Character

As you consider your goals, I hope you’ll think about working on your
character. After all, the best road to a better life is to be a better person, and
all of us can be better.

One of the best ways to do this is to focus on the Six C’s of Character:
conscience, courage, consideration, compassion, confidence, and control.

First, be a person of conscience. Listen to the inner voice that helps you
know right from wrong and urges you to do what is good and noble.

Second, be courageous. Confront the challenges and choices of your life
forthrightly. Make the tough decisions that need to be made and, above all,
maintain your integrity by doing what you know to be right even when it costs
more than you want to pay.

Third, be considerate. Be more deliberative, thoughtful, and attentive as to
how your words and actions will affect others, and reflect on your character.
Think ahead so you can avoid undesirable and undesired consequences.

Fourth, be compassionate. Demonstrate a genuine concern for the well being
of others. Be kinder and more charitable. Strive to understand more and
judge less.

Fifth, be confident in your capacity to overcome whatever difficulties come
your way with integrity and dignity. Don’t underestimate your resiliency.
Resolve to persist until you prevail.

Sixth, be in control of your emotions, appetites, and urges that tempt you
to compromise your principles or sacrifice long-term goals for short-term
indulgences.

Remember, your character is your destiny.

-- Michael Josephson

SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP

SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!

Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

Value of Things

To realize
The value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an ! ! accident.

To realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.

Time waits For no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.

Two Words

I saw a movie last night, and in it was a statement about two words. They are the two simple words, "if" and "what"...

These two words by themselves are very innocent and really can be implemented in many sentences and questions, but if you put them together, it forms a very powerful question...

What If??

This question is the very question that can and will bring you back to a certain instance in your life where you made a choice. A choice that you may not be happy with today and often think about why you did it, but discovered you settled on it because of one of two reasons...

You settled on that decision because it was the easier path to travel at that specific moment in your life, or you did not think that you could take the other choice because of fear of failure or what other people would think.

Now, years later you think about that one specific choice or choices you have made in you life and your mind and thoughts start to take aim at your decision...

You have an inner battle with yourself and contemplate if you had that decision again, what would you do?

What would your life be like today??

Would it be totally different?

Would you be where you are right now, in the exact space sitting and reading this??

Here again lies the very important question...

What if you had that decision to make again??

What would you do??

Would you take the other path because of what you know now, or would you think it would be too late in time to go down the other path all together??

Your mind will probably and inevitably tell you not to do it...Not to do it because you are comfortable in life and doing something different may bring you down a path of uncomfortableness and anxiety may set in.

But is that not how we grow stronger and learn things about ourselves by doing or trying things we never thought possible? Pushing one's self to the limit and going beyond our normal comfort zone!!!!!

In life, there is an old cliche' that I know... It is "Where there is a will, there is a way".

I truly believe if you want something bad enough, you can do it and achieve it. You can correct the mistakes of your decisions from the past, and go out and find happiness in the right decision for your future.

It is never too late do anything in life...

You are on this earth for the time period of a blink of an eye in respect to time overall. Everyday we have to make decisions and have choices thrown at us that could hinder our forward motion or even change the course of our lives all together.

When entering into a decision, make sure it is the right one. Make sure that you play out your answer a year from now, or even ten or twenty years from now.

But if you find yourself in that position of wondering "What if", then usually you have made the wrong decision to begin with, and must correct it so you can live in peace not only now, but for your future as well...


--- Copyright © 2010 Rich Barnes

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE IN DEVELOPING A "TEAM"

Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, understood the power of love to bring out people’s best and make an impact on their lives. He said, “There are a lot of coaches with good ball clubs who know the fundamentals and have plenty of discipline but still don’t win the game. Then you come to the third ingredient: If you’re going to play together as a team, you’ve got to care for one another. You’ve got to love each other. Each player has to be thinking about the next guy.”

From "Becoming a Person of Influence" by John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan

DISCIPLINE: WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING

"Discipline is what you do when no ones else is looking! It’s being considerate of the other person. Having good personal habits—you are polite, on time, and take care of business with pride. We must be disciplined as individuals first, and then as a team."

From "The Winners Manual" by Jim Tressel

THE IMPORTANCE OF INFLUENTIAL THOUGHTS

From Rick Warren:

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

The Bible says our thoughts influence our lives. For instance --

My interpretation influences my situation -- It's not what happens to me that matters as much as how I choose to see it. The way I react will determine whether the circumstance makes me better or bitter. I can view everything as an obstacle or an opportunity for growth - a stumbling block or a stepping stone.

My beliefs influence my behavior -- We always act according to our beliefs, even when those ideas are false. For instance, as a child, if you believed a shadow in your bedroom at night was a monster, your body reacted in fear (adrenaline and jitters) even though it wasn't true. That's why it's so important to make sure you are operating on true information! Your convictions about yourself, about life, and about God influence your conduct.

My self-talk influences my self-esteem - We constantly talk to ourselves. Do you run yourself down with your self-talk? Stop doing that: "As he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV).

The Thinker

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch that you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost,
For out in the world we find that success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind;
If you think you are out-classed, you are.
You have got to think high to rise;
You have got to be sure of yourself before you can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

EVERYTHING HAS ITS PRICE

We get what we pay for in this world. If I settle for a cheap suit instead of a custom tailored one, it won’t cost me as much, but neither will it wear as well. This is just as true when we set our goals in life. What are we willing to settle for? If we set our sights high, it will cost us more in effort and time than if we are content with less. The important thing is to know how much effort we need to expend. There’s no sense even buying a ticket, much less running to catch the train, until we know where we want to go.

One Day At A Time

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is
YESTERDAY,

With its mistakes and cares,

Its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word said.

YESTERDAY IS GONE!

The other day we should not worry about is
TOMORROW,

With its possible burdens its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does we have no stake in tomorrow,

FOR TOMORROW IS YET UNBORN.

This leaves only one day,
TODAY!

Any man can fight the battle of just one day.
It is only when you and I have the burdens in those two awful eternities,
YESTERDAY and TOMORROW,
That we break down.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

The Story of the Geese

Next year, when you see geese flying along in a “V” formation, heading south for the winter, think about what science has learned about why the geese fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an updraft for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock flies 71% farther than if each bird were to fly on its own. Perhaps people who want to go in the same direction should cooperate just like the geese.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance involved with trying to go it alone. The goose then quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the clock. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will work with others who want to go in the same direction. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back to the wing and another goose flies on the point. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for the benefit of the entire team. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

When a goose weakens or is wounded by gunshot and falls out of formation, two geese follow their teammate down to provide protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it can fly again or until it dies. Only then do the geese take off again to catch up with the group. If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other in that way.

The Secret of Happiness

by Steve Brunkhorst

The old man shuffled slowly into the restaurant. With head tilted, and shoulders bent forward, he leaned on his trusty cane with each unhurried step.

His tattered cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and warm personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that sparkled like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips held in a tight, steady smile.

He stopped, turned with his whole body, and winked at a little girl seated by the door. She flashed a big grin right back at him. A young waitress named Mary watched him shuffle toward a table by the window.

Mary ran over to him, and said, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair."
Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she scooted the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it.

In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss. And bless you for your kind gestures."

"You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "And my name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything at all in the mean time, just wave at me!"

After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change from his ticket. He left it lay. She helped him up from his chair, and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door.

Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!"
He turned with his whole body, winked a smile, and nodded a thank you. "You are very kind." he said softly.

When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted. Under his plate she found a business card and a note scribbled on a napkin. Under the napkin was a one hundred dollar bill.

The note on the napkin read...

"Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you."

The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees had ever seen him in person.

Author's Note: This story is based on actual events experienced by a friend from St. Paul, Minnesota. The note is the exact wording on the napkin that she has kept in her scrap book for fifteen years.

The Importance Of Reading

By Damian Sofsian

It is a well-known fact that when there were no televisions or computers, reading was a primary leisure activity. People would spend hours reading books and travel to lands far away-in their minds. The only tragedy is that, with time, people have lost their skill and passion to read. There are many other exciting and thrilling options available, aside from books. And that is a shame because reading offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary and word power. It is advisable to indulge in at least half an hour of reading a day to keep abreast of the various styles of writing and new vocabulary.

It is observed that children and teenagers who love reading have comparatively higher IQs. They are more creative and do better in school and college. It is recommended that parents to inculcate the importance of reading to their children in the early years. Reading is said to significantly help in developing vocabulary, and reading aloud helps to build a strong emotional bond between parents and children. The children who start reading from an early age are observed to have good language skills, and they grasp the variances in phonics much better.

Reading helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes. Reading is an activity that involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader. It is an indulgence that enhances the knowledge acquired, consistently. The habit of reading also helps readers to decipher new words and phrases that they come across in everyday conversations. The habit can become a healthy addiction and adds to the information available on various topics. It helps us to stay in-touch with contemporary writers as well as those from the days of yore and makes us sensitive to global issues.

You Reap What You Sow

“Good morning,” said the woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled.

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling - her even, white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone."

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked.

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!"

Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this? Is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.

"Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

“I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so - I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered."

She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee."

How to Be a Champion

By Grantland Rice

You wonder how they do it,
You look to see the knack,
You watch the foot in action,
Or the shoulder or the back.
But when you spot the answer
Where the higher glamours lurk,
You’ll find in moving higher
Up the laurel-covered spire,
That most of it is practice
And the rest of it is work.

Motivating Teenagers

I was reading the this morning about Bob Ladouceur, Head Football Coach at De La Salle High School on how he motivates his football players and teenagers in general. He outlines eight things to remember when motivating teenagers:

1. I've discovered as my age increases, my IQ decreases. In other words, the older I get, the more I realize how little I know - But that is OK. This is the first step of self-awareness.

2. Teenagers need trustworthy adults in their lives to guide them - other than their parents. When I was a young coach, I used to have parents come to me and ask if I would talk to their sons about - getting a haircut; taking more time on homework - among other things. They used to say, "They'll listen to you." I used to think "What's wrong with those parents? This is their job, not mine." Then my daughter turn 16 and I realized exactly what they were requesting. Parents need help, so do kids.

3. Remember Father Flanagan from Boys Town? He said, "There's no such thing as a bad kid." I believe he was right. There is no such thing as a bad kid. But there are kids who make bad choices, choose bad behavior, and sometimes are victim of bad parenting.

4. Teenagers are not lazy. When they have no direction, no passion or goals then the symptom is a lack of motivation.

5. Whatever we (as adults) want and need - Teenagers want and need also.

6. Teenagers pay more attention to the messenger than they do the message. So if you're the messenger then live the message.

7. Believe in a higher power. Personally, I am not smart enough or good enough to shepherd myself through life's journey. And what I found out is that the journey is not an outward journey but completely and absolutely an inward journey.

8. Everybody wants to be a success. I've never heard anyone say I want to be a failure. One person may have one idea of success, another person may have another idea of success, but everyone wants to be whatever it is their idea of success may be.

We measure our success by how well we have embraced the spirit and essence of those intangibles.

Success to us is understanding that where preparation meets opportunity - greatness can be achieved. Preparation for us is long, tedious and difficult and the windows of opportunity are brief, short and intense. I know for a fact that nobody - at least our opponents - out work us. We prepare well and when ready, we welcome, not fear our opportunities. Hard work is the cornerstone upon which all achievement emanates.

Lou Holtz - 10 Keys to Excellence

1. The Power of Attitude:

The attitude you choose to assume toward life and everything it brings you will determine whether you realize your aspirations. What you are capable of achieving is determined by your talent and ability. What you attempt to do is determined by your motivation. How well you do something is determined by your attitude.

2. Tackle Adversity:

You are going to be knocked down. I have been on top and I have been on the bottom. To achieve success, you are going to have to solve problems. If you react positively to them, you will be stronger than ever. If you react to setbacks more quickly and positively, you gain a distinct advantage. I have never encountered a person who achieved anything worthwhile that did not require overcoming obstacles.

3. Have a Sense of Purpose:

Understand what you are trying to do. Stay completely focused on your primary purpose. Do not get sidetracked. Give a first rate performance every day.

4. Make Sacrifices:

You can not be successful without making sacrifices. Most losing organizations are overpopulated with people who constantly complain about life and their difficulties. They will drain your enthusiasm and energy. Take pride in making sacrifices and having self - discipline.

5. Adapt or Die:

Things are always changing, so embrace the fact that your life and career are always in transition. Yes, you will achieve goals, but do not fall into the trap of not thinking you do not need to go further. Even when you reach the top, remember to stay focused on the fundamentals.

6. Chase Your Dreams:

All great accomplishments start with a dream. Dreams fuel your enthusiasm and your vision. They will give you the burning desire to get up and achieve.

7. Nurture Your Self-Image:

A positive self-image grows out of having strong character. To be trustworthy, committed to excellence and to show care for others are the underpinnings of a successful person.

8. Foster Trust:

Relationships are based on trust. Many people have ruined tremendous opportunity because they did not have the discipline and decency to do what is right. Continually ask yourself, Is this the right thing to do? Do what you feel is right regardless of peer pressure or personal desires. Success and confidence will follow close behind.

9. Commit to Excellence:

Do everything to the best of your ability. Everyone wants to be associated with people who set and maintain high standards. When you lower your standards, you only invite mediocrity.

10. Handle With Care:

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

10 Essential Rules For Slowing Down & Enjoying Life More

It's an irony of our modern lives that while technology is continually invented that saves us time, we use that time to do more and more things, and so our lives are more fast-paced and hectic than ever.

Life moves at such a fast pace that it seems to pass us by before we can really enjoy it.

However, it doesn't have to be this way. Let's rebel against a hectic lifestyle and slow down to enjoy life.

A slower paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you're doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you're talking to or spending time with - instead of always being connected to a Blackberry or iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks or e-mails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them.

Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness.

Here's how to do it.

1. Do less. It's hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. Instead, make the conscious choice to do less. Focus on what's important, what really needs to be done, and let go of the rest. Put space between tasks and appointments, so you can move through your days at a more leisurely pace.

2. Be present. It's not enough to just slow down - you need to actually be mindful of whatever you're doing at the moment. That means, when you find yourself thinking about something you need to do, or something that's already happened, or something that might happen...gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Focus on what's going on right now. On your actions, on your environment, on others around you. This takes practice but is essential.

3. Disconnect. Don't always be connected. If you carry around an iPhone or Blackberry or other mobile device, shut it off. Better yet, learn to leave it behind if possible. If you work on a computer most of the day, have times when you disconnect so you can focus on other things. Being connected all the time means we're subject to interruptions, we're constantly stressed about information coming in, we are at the mercy of the demands of others. It's hard to slow down when you're always checking new messages coming in.

4. Focus on People. Too often we spend time with friends and family, or meet with colleagues, and we're not really there with them. We talk to them but are distracted by devices. We are there, but our minds are on other things we need to do. We listen, but we're really thinking about ourselves and what we want to say. None of us are immune to this, but with conscious effort you can shut off the outside world and just be present with the person you're with. This means that just a little time spent with your family and friends can go a long way - a much more effective use of your time, by the way. It means we really connect with people rather than just meeting with them.

5. Appreciate nature. Many of us are shut in our homes and offices and cars and trains most of the time, and rarely do we get the chance to go outside. And often even when people are outside, they are talking on their cell phones. Instead, take the time to go outside and really observe nature, take a deep breath of fresh air, enjoy the serenity of water and greenery. Exercise outdoors when you can, or find other outdoor activities to enjoy such as nature walks, hiking, swimming, etc. Feel the sensations of water and wind and earth against your skin. Try to do this daily - by yourself or with loved ones.

6. Eat slower. Instead of cramming food down your throat as quickly as possible - leading to overeating and a lack of enjoyment of our food - learn to eat slowly. Be mindful of each bite. Appreciate the flavors and textures. Eating slowly has the double benefit of making you fuller on less food and making the food taste better. I suggest learning to eat more real food as well, with some great spices (instead of fat and salt and sugar and frying for flavor).

7. Drive slower. Speedy driving is a pretty prevalent habit in our fast-paced world, but it's also responsible for a lot of traffic accidents, stress and wasted fuel. Instead, make it a habit to slow down when you drive. Appreciate your surroundings. Make it a peaceful time to contemplate your life, and the things you're passing. Driving will be more enjoyable, and much safer. You'll use less fuel too.

8. Find pleasure in anything. This is related to being present, but taking it a step farther. Whatever you're doing, be fully present...and also appreciate every aspect of it, and find the enjoyable aspects. For example, when washing dishes, instead of rushing through it as a boring chore to be finished quickly, really feel the sensations of the water, the suds, the dishes. It can really be an enjoyable task if you learn to see it that way. The same applies to other chores - washing the car, sweeping, dusting, laundry - and anything you do, actually. Life can be so much more enjoyable if you learn this simple habit.

9. Single - Task. The opposite of multi-tasking. Focus on one thing at a time. When you feel the urge to switch to other tasks, pause, breathe, and pull yourself back.

10. Breathe. When you find yourself speeding up and stressing out, pause, and take a deep breath. Take a couple more. Really feel the air coming into your body, and feel the stress going out. By fully focusing on each breath, you bring yourself back to the present, and slow yourself down. It's also nice to take a deep breath or two - do it now and see what I mean :)

How to Spot a Winner

From a book by Paul Meyer called "Developing Winning Behavior".

There are quite a few people who have learned to dress professionally and "talk the talk" of a winner but they haven't chosen to "walk the walk". If you know the signs to look for, you will be able to tell whether you're dealing with a genuine winner or merely spending time with a loser who has learned to "fake" it.

Right out of the gate I'm always looking for THREE signs that indicate whether I'm dealing with someone who has the winner mentality. It doesn't mean they have accomplished all their desires or goals but i can tell rather quickly if they are on their way.

1. Winners are willing to accept responsibility for their life and behavior: Winners admit their mistakes and are willing to learn from them. Losers blame other people or circumstances for whatever happens to them.

2. Winners are willing to play the price to get the job done: Winners get on with whatever needs to be done to accomplish the job at hand or to reach the goals they have set for themselves. Losers talk a great deal about what they are going to do but never get around to doing it.

3. Winners make a personal commitment to themselves and others: Winners mean it when they say, "You can count on me." They do what they say they'll do when they say they'll do it. Losers make idle promises and offer excuses for failing to deliver.

WHAT SEPARATES A WINNER FROM A LOSER?

The two things that control your life are your ATTITUDES and your BEHAVIORS and YOU get to choose both of them. While you may have some negative attitudes and behaviors at the moment, it is YOU who decides whether to keep them or to start the process of change.

When you master both your attitudes and your behaviors, you can pretty much control the destiny of your life. Winners choose to take the necessary steps to re-program themselves to have a positive mindset and to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals. Winners are willing to PAY THE PRICE!

Losers are lazy and choose to keep their negative attitudes and behaviors, accepting anything that happens as fate rather than the result of their own choices while using all their energy to complain about being victimized by other people and circumstances.

WHY YOU MAY NOT BE WINNING.

If you believe your attitudes and behaviors are generally positive but if you are not winning in life, you might want to consider the following:

* You may have not set high enough goals. When people are not challenging themselves to be the best they can be, they become bored, disappointed and negative. Winners have a well-written plan that is broken down that can be measured and monitored.

* You may be allowing obstacles on the way to your goals to derail and defeat you. There will always be obstacles no matter what you are trying to accomplish. I've learned to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning, as stepping stones to the next level.

* You may be concentrating on your problems and not your power. Winners know they have weaknesses, but they appreciate their abilities far more. They keep doing whatever is necessary to learn, grow, and improve their skills.

Winners have an electric, enthusiastic vibration about them. They refuse negative mindsets, concentrate on their strengths; are committed to grow and improve, and never compromise their principles. You can count on them; they keep their word. They take personal responsibility for their choices. They are willing to pay the price.

The bottom line is you just can't fake being a winner, because a winner is easy to spot! SO......

ARE YOU A WINNER?????