Gems of Wisdom

The Power of 90 seconds

2006-04-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

The Power of 90 Seconds can transform your life. It can allow you to:

--prevent countless problems
--add additional hours to your day
--maximize your efficiency, while reducing stress
--save hours of time as you make less mistakes
--make smart decisions

Few people truly understand the power of 90 seconds and use
it properly. The results are staggering: unnecessary
stress, problems, hours of lost time, etc.

Did you know, that it takes over 20 times more time or
money to fix the problem than it does to prevent the
problem? Thus, time spent on preventing problems is as
valuable as gold.

Example A:
Your boss comes in and hands you an important document.
Instead of using 90 seconds to file it away, you toss it on
a stack of papers. As usual, it is gone when you want it
three days later. Stress and anxiety builds as the time
slips by while you frantically search for the report. You
could have saved hours by using 90 seconds to file it away.

Example B:
You decide not to write down an appointment in your book because it would have taken too long--90 seconds or less. Because it wasn't written down in your appointment book, you miss the scheduled appointment. This results in a lost customer, distrust, and a talk with your boss. Ninety seconds would have prevented all this.

Example C:
Instead of writing down a list of the things you need--90 seconds--you go straight to the grocery store. You forget an important item. The result: $3 of gas lost, plus 1 hour of time gone forever, because you had to back to the store.

Example D:
You look outside your window and see that your son has left
his bike in back of your car. Instead of spending 90
seconds to move it or telling your son to move it, you
decide to wait and deal with the problem tomorrow. Of
course, you forget and back over his bicycle:

Ninety seconds would have prevented: a half hour changing a tire (plus $40 for a new one) $95.95 for a new bicycle and 10 minutes of lecturing from your boss at work for being late.

Example E:
One afternoon you notice that the rope that secures your
dog to the tree is getting frayed. Just like human nature,
you figure you will replace the old rope with the new rope
from the garage in the next few days. Three days later your
dog breaks loose. Ninety seconds of replacing the rope
would have prevented, 5 hours searching for the dog,
a $50 reward for having him returned, $13 spent on printing
flyers and undue stress.

Get the picture? Every day you will run into situations
where you can use the 'Power of 90 Seconds' to prevent
problems and reduce stress.

To make sure this is clear, let me throw out some specific
examples so you can start using the 'Power of 90 Seconds' today.

--Fill the car up with gas when the tank is only 1/4 full.
Never will you have to waste time and money standing by the side of the road.

--Replace burned out light bulbs, old tires, etc. now,
before someone trips down the steps in the dark, the car
skids on the road, etc.

--Think before you speak. Save embarrassment and a ruined reputation.

--File something away before it gets lost, or the papers
that need to be filed get out of hand.

--Don't put it down. Put it away. You'll avoid clutter from building up.

--Write down your appointments, and things-to-do in one,
consistent place. You'll avoid forgetting something important.

Let me use one last point to illustrate it.
One day I was on the beach by the Great Lakes. For six
hours I played soccer, volleyball, and had a blast.
However, I did not take the time to spend 90 seconds and
apply sun block on my feet. My feet got scorched and I
mean scorched. The result?

Money spent on lotions and creams. Fiery pain for 7 days. Swollen feet. Numerous hours lost while I laid on the couch with my feet on ice. Missed activities, work, and a lack of productivity.
If I had only used 90 Seconds to put sun block on then,
none of this would happened. However, it was a good lesson
and I now continually put the 'Power of 90 Seconds' to work
on a regular basis.

~~~~~ About the author
Arlen Busenitz. Arlen is a freelance writer specializing
in people skills and personal improvement. Free articles
and the 'Secret to Making People Like You' can be found
here: http://www.Magic-People-Skills.com

Live A Life That Matters

2005-08-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

A lot of wisdom here. Food for thought.

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten,
will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will
finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the
tracks you lived, at the end.

It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant

Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built;
not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or
sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to
emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many
will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live
in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom
and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

Source: Unknown

On work and life

2005-07-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

This came in today from a good friend. It really makes a lot
of sense. Read on...

Mr. Narayana Murthy is undoubtedly one of the most famous
persons from Karnataka. He is known not just for building the
biggest IT empire inIndia but also for his simplicity.

Almost every important dignitary visits Infosys campus. He
delivered an interesting speech during an employee session with
another IT company in India .

He is incidentally, one of the top 50 influencial people of Asia
according to an Asiaweek publication and also the new IT Advisor
to theThailand Prime Minister.

Below is an extract of Mr. Narayana Murthy's Speech during
a Mentor Session :

I know people who work 12 hours a day, six days a week, or more.
Some people do so because of a work emergency where the long
hours are only temporary. Other people I know have put in these
hours for years. I don't know if they are working all these hours,
but I do know they are in the office this long. Others put in long
office hours because they are addicted to the workplace.

Whatever the reason for putting in overtime, working long hours
over the long term is harmful to the person and to the organization.
There are things managers can do to change this for everyone's
benefit.

Being in the office long hours, over long periods of time, makes
way for potential errors. My colleagues who are in the office long
hours frequently make mistakes caused by fatigue.Correcting
these mistakes requires their time as well as the time and energy
of others.

I have seen people work Tuesday through Friday to correct
mistakes made after 5 PM on Monday. Another problem is that
people who are in the office long hours are not pleasant company.
They often complain about other people (who aren't working as
hard); they are irritable, or cranky, or even angry. Other people
avoid them.

Such behaviour poses problems, where work goes much better
when people work together instead of avoiding one another.
As Managers, there are things we can do to help people leave
the office.

First and foremost is to set the example and go home ourselves.
I work with a manager who chides people for working long hours.
His words quickly lose their meaning when he sends these
chiding group e-mails with a time-stampof 2 AM, Sunday.

Second is to encourage people to put some balance in their lives.
For instance, here is a guideline I find helpful:

1) Wake up, eat a good breakfast, and go to work.
2) Work hard and smart for eight or nine hours.
3) Go home.
4) Read the books/comics, watch a funny movie, dig in the dirt,
play with your kids, etc.
5) Eat well and sleep well.

This is called recreating. Doing steps 1, 3, 4, and 5 enable step 2.
Working regular hours and recreating daily are simple concepts.
They are hard for some of us because that requires 'personal
change'. They are possible since we all have the power to choose
to do them.

In considering the issue of overtime, I am reminded of my oldest
son. When he was a toddler, if people were visiting the apartment,
he would not fall asleep no matter how long the visit, and no matter
what time of day it was. He would fight off sleep until the visitors left.
It was as if he was afraid that he would miss something. Once our
visitors left, he would go to sleep. By this time, however, he was over
tired and would scream through half the night with nightmares.
He, my wife, and I, all paid the price for his fear of missing out.

Perhaps some people put in such long hours because they don't
want to miss anything when they leave the office. The trouble with
this is that events will never stop happening. That is life !! Things
happen 24 hours a day. Allowing for little rest is not ultimately
practical.

So, take a nap. Things will happen while you're asleep, but you
will have the energy to catch up when you wake. Hence...

"LOVE YOUR JOB, BUT NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR
COMPANY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE
COMPANY STOPS LOVING YOU" -- Narayana Murthy

Age

2005-07-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting way of looking at age.

I'm Sorry - a poem

2005-06-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

When things don't go as expected, the poem below is a source
of consolation.

Dear God, I'm writing to say

I'm sorry
For being angry yesterday
When you seemed to ignore my prayer
And things didn't go my way

First, my car broke down
I was very late for work
But I missed that awful accident
Was that your handiwork?

I found a house I loved
But others got there first
I was angry, then relieved
When I heard the pipes had burst!

Yesterday, I found the perfect dress
But the color was too pale
Today, I found the dress in red
Would you believe, it was on sale!

I know you're watching over me
And I'm feeling truly blessed
For no matter what I pray for
You always know what's best!

I have this circle of E-mail friends,
Who mean the world to me;
Some days I "send" and "send",
At other times, I let them be.

When I see each name download,
And view the message they've sent;
I know they've thought of me that day,
And "well wishes" were their intent.

I am so blessed to have these friends,
With whom I've grown so close;
So this little poem I dedicate to them,
Because to me they are the "Most"!

So to you, my friends, I would like to say,
Thank you for being a part;
Of all my daily contacts,
This comes right from my heart.

God bless you all is my prayer today,
I'm honored to call you "friend";
I pray the Lord will keep you safe,
Until we write again.

God Bless

Source unknown..

Eight Special Gifts

2005-06-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

We've often heard about simple things meaning a lot. Here's a list
of the simple gifts that anyone can give. This lovely piece is taken
from http://www.positivethoughts.com

1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING...

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming,

no planning your response. Just listening.

2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back

and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love

you have for family and friends.

3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift

will say, "I love to laugh with you."

4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...

It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.

A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime,

and may even change a life.

5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...

A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a

super job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make

someone's day.

6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...

There are times when we want nothing better than to be

left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of

solitude to others.

8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to

someone, really it's not that hard to say, "Hello" or

"Thank you."

The Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee

2005-05-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

A good lesson on having the right perspective on life's
priorities.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the
mayonnaise jar....and the coffee....

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some
items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he
picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and
proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students
if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled
into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the
students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into
the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked
once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a
unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under
the table and poured the entire contents into the jar,
effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The
students laughed.

"Now" said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want
you to recognise that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - your family,
your children, your health, your friends and your favourite
passions - things that if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job,
your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the
small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued
"there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you
will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to diner. Play another 18. there will
always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the
coffee represented. The professor smiled.

"I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter
how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple
of cups of coffee with a friend."

Source: Unknown but if you know, please let me know.

Why I Love Mum

2005-05-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

I would dedicate this story to all Mums and those who play the
'Mum' role.

Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, "I'm tired,
and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's
lunches.

Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for
supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels,
filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table
and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of
clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose
button.

She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone
back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.

She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a
towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She
stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted
out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from
hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped
the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She
put both near her purse.

Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night
solution & age fighting moisturiser, brushed and flossed her teeth
and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside,
then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside
lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the
hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing
homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next
day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her
6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and
visualised the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no
one in particular. "I'm going to bed."

And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live
longer...?

CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL..... (and we
can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

Send this to five phenomenal women today...they'll love you for it!
>Then: GO TO BED!

21 Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

2005-05-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Self-Made Millionaires are not smarter or better than you.
They have just discovered these secrets and used them to
become wealthy. You can do it too.

(1) DREAM BIG DREAMS.
Thinking Big will change your life. For a crash course on this
read "The Magic of Thinking Big."

(2) CREATE A SPECIFIC PICTURE OF WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
The more specific you are the more likely you are to get there.

(3) THINK AND ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE OWNER OF A
BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS OF EVERYTHING YOU DO.
Even if you work for someone else, you're attitude will plant
seeds for your independent greatness to grow.

(4) LOVE WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING NOW.
If you don't love it, leave it. By saying no to doing work just for
money you are magnetizing work to you that you can love.

(5) CREATE A MASTERMIND GROUP.
Have a regular meeting with others who are committed to
building great lives. Share what you're up to and support
each other.

(6) ESTABLISH A HEALTHY WORK ETHIC.
Make taking action your best friend.

(7) COMMIT TO CONSTANT NEVER-ENDING IMPROVEMENT.
Every day be searching for how you can learn more.

(8) SEE YOUR WORK AS SERVICE.
Helping others will grow your business.

(9) KNOW YOUR BUSINESS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
That's your job.

(10) PREPARE FOR OPPORTUNITY.
It will knock. Will you be ready?

(11) STAY PHYSICALLY FIT.
Strong minds create strong bodies. Weak bodies are the result
of weak minds. Your physical and mental health are the core of
your success in life.

(12) PRIORITIZE YOUR LIFE.
Do what's most important first.

(13) DELIVER MORE THAN YOUR CUSTOMER EXPECTS.
This builds loyalty and repeat business. It feels good too.

(14) DISCIPLINE YOURSELF.
Fill your life with activities and people that make you grow.
Discard activities that have negative results in your life.

(15) PAY YOURSELF FIRST.
This is the first rule of the wealthy. Put money into savings
before you pay bills. And DON'T touch it.

(16) MAKE TIME TO BE ALONE.
This time is for planning and listening to what's inside you.
Give your creativity time and silence to speak to you.

(17) GO FOR GREATNESS.
Value the best and don't settle for less.

(18) HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.
Know who you are and what you want. Express this with
integrity at all times.

(19) MAKE DECISIONS QUICKLY AND BE SLOW TO CHANGE THEM.

(20) FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
Your mindset is focused on success. You will have success.

(21) BE DETERMINED TO ATTAIN YOUR GOALS.
Tenacious persistence builds confidence which leads to victory.

About The Author
Sopan Greene M.A.
http://www.netmarketingmastery.com/
Grab Your 2 FREE eBooks & a FREE report: "Million Dollar Emails"
"How To Start Your Own Traffic Virus" & "The 13 Deadly Internet
Marketing Mistakes Almost Every Business Is Making..."
mail to: webmaster87-5956@autocontactor.com

10 Easy to follow Tips to help YOU Lose Weight

2005-05-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably all be thin.
Since we are not, here are some tips that successful people use
to lose weight so that others can benefit, too.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 1: DRINK 8-10 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY
Okay, for many people this is a big problem. Water doesn’t taste
all that great generally because water doesn’t really “taste” like
anything. Drinking water 8 to 10 times each day gets easier the
more you actually do it. It is simply a matter of conditioning your
taste buds, and yourself, so that it becomes easier to do. Once you
get started, you will begin to crave water.

To begin with, you should drink a glass of water in the morning
first thing, before you eat. This is probably the easiest glass you
will drink all day and it will help you remember to drink water
all day long. Better yet, why not drink two glasses?

If you really cannot bear the taste of water, try using a water
purifying pitcher or filter. You can also add a few drops of lemon
or lime to your water – but no sugar or sweetener! Ice also helps.
Check out flavored waters on the market, too. Just keep an eye
out for additives.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 2: EAT BREAKFAST
Do not skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed a little earlier so
that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning – do it!
Breakfast is so important to your good health and to weight
control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at
Penn State University, "Your metabolism slows while you sleep,
and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again."

Eating breakfast is not only good for overall weight loss, it will
help you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. You
are more likely to binge on something sweet and in the “bread”
group if you skip breakfast.

You can always keep a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge
or some high-fiber, low starch fruit around. If you plan to eat
fruit at all during the day, breakfast is the perfect time to do it.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 3: EAT AT LEAST 3 MEALS AND 2 SNACKS EACH DAY
This can be one of the hardest adjustments to make. After all,
you are busy! You already have a “full-plate”. When do you
have time to worry about filling your plate with more frequent
meals?

Just like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will
eating more often. This will also help you curb your bad-carb
intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur
regularly throughout the day. Really, it will just take a minimal
investment of planning time at the grocery store and at home
each morning before you head out for the day to make some
healthy food choices and prepare a few healthy snacks and meals.
For suggestions, just see the handy list of snacks and appetizers
listed later.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 4: AVOID WHITE FOODS
This is one easy way to remember what not to eat. If it is made
from sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - just say no.
Remembering this rule of thumb will make it easier to recognize
those rice cakes as an unhealthy high-carb snack.

Always look for colorful fruits and veggies to substitute for the
white ones. Buy broccoli, lettuce, bell peppers, green beans and
peas, brown rice in moderation, leafy greens like kale and
spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes.

These foods are not only colorful they are also high in fiber,
nutrients and important antioxidants. Eating colorful fruits and
vegetables will give your diet variety as well as give you added
health benefits.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 5: EAT YOUR VEGGIES
It is so easy to use a low-carb diet as an excuse for poor nutrition.
Resist this temptation. If the only vegetable you have eaten in
the last 5 years has been the potato, now is a good time to begin
experimenting with other vegetables. This is important for your
overall health and to avoid some nasty side effects of not getting
enough fiber in your diet.

If you try hard enough, you will find vegetables that you enjoy
eating. Experiment with grilling veggies and cooking with real
butter to add flavor. You can also search for new recipes on the
Internet or in cookbooks. Remember, if you are only eating 40
grams of carb a day or less, two cups of plain salad greens
contain only about 5 grams of carbohydrate. You have no
excuse not to eat your veggies.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 6: PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
While more and more restaurants are offering low-carb
friendly menu items, many of them are still not ideal low-carb
fare. There are many recipes for quick and easy meals that you
can prepare yourself at home. Try to do this as often as possible.

If you cook your own foods, you know exactly what the contents
are and you will be able to better control for hidden sugar and
otherwise processed foods.

Another benefit is the cost savings over the long run. Even if you
must go to the grocery store more often, you will save a
significant amount per meal as opposed to eating at restaurants
and fast food establishments.

It will also be easier to maintain your diet with your own favorite
fresh food selections on hand.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 7: INVEST IN A GOOD SET OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS
Having food storage containers of various sizes on hand will
make it so much easier for you to plan your meals and snacks.
When you buy nuts, fruits and vegetables in bulk you can simply
prepare, separate and store them for easy use later.

For instance, you can pre-slice your apples and snack on them
over several days. Simply cut them, rinse them in pineapple or
lemon juice and store. This will make a quick and easy snack for
later.

Fix your lunch and take it with you to work. Better yet, fix your
lunch and 2 snacks for work.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 8: EAT SOME PROTIEN AT EACH MEAL & AS A SNACK
In addition to everything that’s been discussed before, eating
protein helps you burn more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph.D., R.D.,
a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that,

"Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for
your body to breakdown, so you burn more calories getting rid
of them.”

Just think – eating a protein rich snack can help you lose
weight. How about a few slices of turkey or ham or some string
cheese?

Eating protein will also help you feel full so that you are less
likely to crave unhealthy snacks.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 9: DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACK
This will help you get in your 8 to 10 glasses of water each day
but it can also have other benefits. Ever feel hungry after eating a
handful or standard serving of nuts? Try drinking water
afterwards. The water will help you feel full and prevent over-
indulgence.

Drinking water after a snack will also help remove the aftertaste
from your mouth and can help curb your desire for more.

SUCCESS TIP NO. 10: EAT SLOWLY & ENJOY YOUR FOOD
You will feel full and more satisfied if you take the time to savor
your food and chew it slower. Don’t get in the habit of eating
while standing or eating quickly. Sit down and chew.

Eating slower will help you enjoy your food more, pay attention
to what it is you are actually eating and get a better sense of
when you are actually full.

About The Author
Steve Li is the webmaster of http://weightlose.yourbestchoices.com/.
You can read more articles like this by subscribing to his twice-
weekly Newsletter.
Send a blank email to: mailto:weightlose@yourbestchoices.com
and get a free ebook “The Power of Positive Habits” as welcome gift.
stevelkw@hotmail.com

10 Principles of Success

2005-05-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article on success and the principles that
lead to it.

How do we define success? Webster’s dictionary defines success
as “ the attainment of wealth, favor , or eminence.” I think we
would agree that Webster’s definition is quite accurate in terms
of how we look at people that we perceive to be “successful”.

I would like to expand on this thinking with the following
10 Principles of Success

1) Have a Dream- Create a vision for your future, no matter how
big or outrageous your dream is.

2) Develop your Action Plan- Goal setting: Organize your thoughts
and feelings on paper, when you do that they become more real.
Tape these goals to bathroom mirror, or the refrigerator,
somewhere you will see them on a daily basis.

3) Control your Focus- In this day and age of “multi-tasking” you
may find this principle hard to follow. However, you must remain
focused on your goals if you hope to attain success. Don‘t let
yourself get distracted.

4) Seek Guidance- Finding a mentor is of the utmost importance!
Find someone you respect and would like to learn from.

5) Practice Self-Discipline- There will be times when you will be
tested, you need to stay on target, and re-focus on your goals.

6) Be Aggressive- I don’t know of any successful people that sat
around and waited for things to just happen! You need to make
things happen, take the initiative and Go For it.

7) Believe in Yourself- If you don’t who else will? Be confident in
your abilities to turn things around when things don’t look so good.
Your attitude is a little thing that can make a big difference.

8) Be a Pioneer- You will undoubtedly run into people who will
tell you “it can’t be done” ignore them, if you have an idea that
has not been tried before work to make it a reality. Every great
achievement was once considered impossible.

9) Learn to Budget- Put your time, energy and money behind
your plan, but do not forget to budget time for you family! They
are the reason for your success.

10) Love what you Do- No matter what, you must love what you
do in order to live a rich, healthy and successful life.

About The Author
Christian Csatari is an internet marketer and owner of
http://www.inetriches.com/ a website specializing in multiple
streams of income, affiliate programs, ebooks, income opportunities
and the home business tips newsletter for the work at home professional.

The Promise

2005-04-29T01:22:00.000-07:00

My wife called, 'How long will you be poring over that newspaper?
Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?'
I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene.

My only daughter, Sindu, looked frightened. Tears were welling up
in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with Curd
Rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has
just turned eight. She particularly detested Curd Rice. My mother
and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects'
of Curd Rice! I cleared my throat and picked up the bowl.

'Sindu, darling, why don't you take a few mouthful of this Curd Rice?
Just for Dad's sake, dear. And, if you don't, your Mom will shout
at me' I could sense my wife's scowl behind my back.Sindu softened
a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands.

'OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of
this. But, you should...' Sindu hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire
Curd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?

''Oh sure, darling'. 'Promise?''Promise'. I covered the pink soft hand
extended by my daughter with mine, and clinched the deal.'
Ask Mom also to give a similar promise', my daughter insisted.
My wife slapped her hand on Sindu's, muttering 'Promise', without
any emotion. Now I became a bit anxious.

'Sindu dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such
expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now.
OK?'' No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'. Slowly and
painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently
angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child eat
something that she detested. After the ordeal was through, Sindu
came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention
was on her.

'Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!' was her
demand. 'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'A girl child having her
head shaved off? Impossible!'' Never in our family!' my mother
rasped. 'She has been watching too much oftelevision. Our
culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!

''Sindu darling, why don't you ask for something else? We will be
sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head.

''No, Dad. I do not want anything else', Sindu said with finality.
'Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?'
I tried to plead with her.

'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice'.
Sindu was in tears. 'And you promised to grant me whatever
I ask for. Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you
who told me the story of King Harishchandra, and its moral that
we should honor our promises no matter what? 'It was time for
me to call the shots. 'Our promise must be kept. ''Are you out
your mind?' chorused my mother and wife. 'No. If we go back
on our promises, she will never learn to honor her own.

Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled. 'With her head clean-shaven,
Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big and beautiful.
On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight
to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom.
She turned around and waved. I waved back with a smile.

Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, 'Sinduja,
please wait for me! 'What struck me was the hairless head of that
boy. 'May be, that is the in-stuff', I thought. 'Sir, your daughter,
Sinduja is great indeed! 'Without introducing herself, a lady got
out of the car, and continued, 'That boy who is walking along with
your daughter is my son, Harish. He is suffering from ... ... leukemia.'
She paused to muffle her sobs. 'Harish could not attend school
for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side
effects of the chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school
fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates.
''Sinduja visited him last week, and promised him that she will
take care of the teasing issue. But, I never imagined she would
sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son! Sir, you and your
wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.

'I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. 'My little Angel, you are
teaching me how self-less real love is!'

** **Let us remember this story the next time we think that
kids are too young to know anything.

(Source unknown)

The 7 Ups of Life

2005-04-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

Bits of Wisdom

1. Wake Up - Decide to have a good day.

2. Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

3. Shut Up - Say loving things & learn to listen. God gave us two ears
and one mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much
listening as talking.

4. Stand Up - For what you believe in. Stand for something or you
will fall for anything.

5. Look Up - To your God.

6. Reach Up - For something higher.

7. Lift Up - Your Prayers.

Pressure

2005-04-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

Here's another gem of wisdom.

PRESSURE

The venerable raises a glass of water and asks the audience
"How heavy do you think this glass of water is?"

"It depends on how long you hold it"
"If I hold it for a minute, it is Ok."
"If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm"
"If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance"
"It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier
it becomes"

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not
be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier.

"What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while
before holding it up again."

We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be
refreshed and are able to carry on. When you return home from
work, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it into your home.
You can pick it up tomorrow.

Rest.
Meditate.

writer: "unknown"

Set goals that you can measure

2005-04-19T02:25:00.000-07:00

Good advice here. However, author unknown though.

When setting your goals, be sure they're not vague. When they are,
you have no way of knowing exactly what you're striving to reach.
You may have an idea in your head, but the goals that are reached
and celebrated are definite and measurable.

For instance, saying you want to get better at math is vague. But
deciding you want to increase your score on your next math test
from 80% to 85% gives you something to strive for, and something
to easily measure.

Proclaiming you wish to save more money is vague. But setting a
goal to set $10 from your paycheck aside each week in a savings
account is both concrete and measurable. The basic rule of thumb is,
no matter what goal you set, you should be able to attach a numeric
value to it.

Lilies of the Field

2005-04-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is such an inspiring message. Please read to the end.

*** LILLIES OF THE FIELD ****
Commencement speech made by Pulitzer Prize-Winning author,
Anna Quindlen.

"I am a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know.
Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work. You will walk out
of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There
will be hundreds of people doing what you want to do for a living. BUt
you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life.

Your particular life, Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or
your life on a bus, or in a car, or at the computer. Not just the life of
your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank account but
your soul.

People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much
easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is a cold
comfort on a winter night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or
when you've gotten back the test results and they're not so good.

HERE IS MY RESUME!
I'm a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my
profession stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer
consider myself the center of the universe. I show up. I listen. I try
to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make
marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to friends
and they are to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say
to you today, because I would be a cardboard cutout. I would be
rotten, or at best mediocre at my job, if those other things were
not true.

So here's what I wanted to tell you today:
Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion,
the bigger paycheck, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so
very much about these things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon,
or found a lump in your breast?

Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on
a breeze over Seaside heights, a life in which you stop and watch how
a red-tailed hawk circles over the water or the way a baby scowls
with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb
and first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who
love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work.

Pick up the phone. Send an email. Write a letter. Get a life in which
you are generous. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and
that you have no business taking it for granted.

Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around.
Take money you would have spent on beers and give it to charity.
Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister.

All of you want to do well. But if you do not do good too, then doing
well will never be enough.

It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, our minutes.
It is so easy to take for granted the color of our kids' eyes, the way
the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises
again. It is so easy to exist instead of living. I learned to live many
years ago. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today
is the only guarantee you get.

I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of
it back because I believed in it, completely and utterly. And I tried
to do that, in part, by telling others what I learned. By telling them
this:

Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read
in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And
think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it.

Adding a little spice to your life

2005-04-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

The weekend is upon us again. Do you want to add a little spice
to your life?

Before getting married, couples often do things spontaneously,
but marriage, jobs and kids seem to squelch the spontaneity --
and sometimes the romance and fun. Surprise your spouse by
planning a date or activity that they love. Take them out without
telling them where you’re going. It might be golf, bowling, a picnic
or a play. Moments like these can provide a much-needed break
from routine and make your spouse feel special.
Remember, your family first.

If you enjoyed the above, you may want to visit this site
FamilyMinute.net. for more family advice.

Watch your waistline

2005-04-14T02:19:00.000-07:00

Here's something interesting about waistlines.

Watch Your Waistline
Source: HealthDay (HealthDayNews) -- You may have heard
that a high body mass index raises your risks of cardiovascular
disease and diabetes. But research has shown that other body
measurements -- like your waistline -- can also affect disease risk,
the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation says.

So take your tape measure, stand with your feet together, and
measure midway between the bottom of your ribs and the top
of your hipbones. Here's what the numbers show:

If your waist circumference is 36 inches or more, your weight
distribution probably is unhealthy and you're at increased risk for
diabetes and heart disease.

The lower your hip to waist ratio, the better. For example, a woman
with a 30-inch waist and 40-inch hips would have a ratio of .74 and
be at low risk; one with a 41-inch waist and 39-inch hips would have
a ratio of 1.05 and be at increased risk.

For the latest health news & Health-Life Services like tools,
calculators, & a physician locator, go to www.healthday.com.

Laughter, the best medicine

2005-04-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

We're into humour today, so here are a few winning laughs
from Reader's Digest.

AT THE CHECKOUT COUNTER of the discount department store
where I was a cashier, customers frequently asked me under what
circumstances items were returnable. One woman who came through
my line must have been aware of store policy. She pointed to the lacy
red-and-black negligee she was about to purchase. "May I bring this
back if it doesn't work?" she asked.
--Contributed to "All In a Day's Work"

THERE were only two people in line ahead of me at the electronics
store, yet the wait was dragging on forever. Finally the customer
behind me muttered, "Mr. Hare must be on vacation." Only then
did I notice the name tag on the man at the register. It read:
"Mr. Turtle, sales associate."
--Contributed to "Life In These United States"

OUR chiropractor, seeking a new name for his practice, decided to
sponsor a contest and asked his patients to enter. One idea didn't
win, but rightfully earned an honorable mention:
"The Twist and Shout."
--Contributed to "All In a Day's Work"

Why God made Mums

2005-04-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

Now, here's a funny one. Sorry, real source also unknown but
much appreciated nevertheless. Enjoy.

"Why God made mums" answers given by elementary school age
children to the following questions. Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mum just the same like he made me. He just used
bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything
nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly
use string I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mum?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mums
like me.

What kind of little girl was your mum?
1. My mum has always been my mum and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be
pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mum need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get
drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and
YES to chores?

Why did your mum marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mum
eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mum didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such
a dickhead.
2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under
the bed.
3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between mums and dads?
1. Mums work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work
at work.
2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but mums have all the real power
'cause thats who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your
friend's. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without
medicine.

What does your mum do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mum perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind
of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mum, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.
I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mum smarter. Then she would know it was my
sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.

Dare not imagine what the answers will be if the question is "Why
God made dads"

The richest man in Idaho

2005-04-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I wish I know the source of this great story.

During the waning years of the depression in a small Idaho

community, I used to stop by Mr. iller's roadside stand for farm

fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money

were still extremely scarce and bartering was used extensively.

One day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me.

I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but

clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh

green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation

between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ...

sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and

I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not zackley ... but almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and

next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to

help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys

like him in our community, all three are in very poor

circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas,

apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with

their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't

like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of

produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."

I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the

story of this man, the boys, and their bartering. Several years

went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently

I had the occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho

community and while I was there I learned that Mr. Miller had

died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing

my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon

arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of

the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army

uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and

white shirts ... all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling

by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her,

kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on

to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one

by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own

warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the

mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and

mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With

her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you

about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim

"traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind

about color or size ...they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,"

she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the

richest man in Idaho."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased

husband Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our

kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by

the moments that take our breath.

Today ... I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ...
......... A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself
......... An unexpected phone call from an old friend
......... Green stoplights on your way to work
......... The fastest line at the grocery store
......... A good sing-along song on the radio
......... Your keys right where you left them

They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
An hour to appreciate them,
A day to love them,
But an entire life to forget them.

Age

2005-04-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

While the previous post is on treasuring the days, this funny post
is on age. Again, there's no actual known source, so if you know
please let me know. Enjoy...

Age...
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old
is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited
about aging that you think in fractions. How old are you?" "I'm four
and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half,
going on five!

That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back.
You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are
you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna
be 16!

And then the greatest day of your life . . you become 21. Even the
words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21 YESSSS !!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you
sound like bad milk. He TURNED; we had to throw him out.
There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong?
What's changed? You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're
PUSHING 40.

Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it,
you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone. But wait!!! You MAKE it
to 60.

You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30,
PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a
day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you
HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime.

And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards;
I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become
a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and
height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay
"them".

2. Treat your friends like how you want them to treat you. Keep
only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts,
gardening, line dancing, whatever. Never let the brain idle.
" An idle mind is the devil's workshop." and the devil's name is
Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only
person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE
while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family,
friends, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the
next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every
opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day.

1000 marbles

2005-04-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Let me start with this gem. I've read and reread this simply for
the inspiration it gives. Unfortunately, I have no idea as to the
actual source of this beautiful article but if you do, please let me
know so that due credit can be given.

Here goes......

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's
the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe
it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the
first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming
cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What
began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons
that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it.

I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday
morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden
voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the
broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named
"Tom." I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure
they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home
and your Family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should
have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.
Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."

He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that
has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."

And that's when he began to explain his theory of "a thousand
marbles"

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.
The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know,
some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live
about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900
which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has
in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to
the important part."

"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all
this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived
through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking
that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of
them left to enjoy."

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble
they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up
1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large,
clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio.
Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and have
thrown it away"

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more
on the really important things in life. There is nothing like
watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your
priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you
and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning,
I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if
I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with
a little extra time to be with my loved ones......

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time
with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday.
have a good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the
show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments.
I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do
some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went
upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm
taking you and the kids to breakfast."

"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.
"Oh, nothing special," I said. "It has just been a long time
since we spent a Saturday together with the kids.
Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out?
I need to buy some marbles."

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND MAY ALL SATURDAYS
BE SPECIAL AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY HAPPY YEARS
AFTER YOU LOSE ALL YOUR MARBLES.

May God bless you in all you do.

Back...

Gems of Wisdom

2005-04-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

Gems of Wisdom - I chose this title which aptly describes the
stories and anecdotes that friends and family so kindly sent
my way. They have given me much inspiration and moments
of joy and laughter and I am glad to be able to share them with you.

Please feel free to share them with your friends and family by
clicking on the envelope icon below.