Tuesday, December 25, 2018

2018-52 - Sprit of Christmas...

What is the spirit of Christmas, you ask?  Let me give you the answer in a true story...

On a cold day in December, feeling especially warm in my heart for no other reason than it was the holiday season, I walked through the store sporting a big grin on my face.

Though most people were far too busy going about their business to notice me, one elderly gentleman in a wheelchair brought his eyes up to meet mine as we neared each other traveling opposite directions.  He slowed in passing just long enough to speak to me.

"Now that's a Christmas smile if I ever saw one," he said.

My lips stretched to their limit in response, and I thanked him for the compliment.  Then we went our separate ways. But, as I thought about the man and how sweetly he'd touched me, I realized something simply wonderful!  In that brief, passing interaction we'd exchanged heartfelt gifts!

And that, my friend, is the spirit of Christmas.

~ Richelle E. Goodrich (Smile Anyway)



For it is in giving that we receive.

~ Francis of Assisi

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

2018-51 - Making Mistakes...

A famous research scientist once spoke about why he thought he was able to be so much more creative than the average person?


He responded that, in his opinion, it all came from an experience when he was a kid. He had been trying to remove a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his grip and it fell, spilling all over the floor!


When his mother entered, instead of yelling at him, she said, “Wow, what a wonderful mess you have made! Well, the damage is done. Would you like to get down and play in the milk before we clean it up?"


Indeed, he did. After a few minutes, his mother said, "You know, whenever you make a mess, you have to clean it and restore everything to its proper order. We could use a sponge, or a mop. Which do you prefer?" He chose the sponge and together they cleaned up the spilled milk.


His mother then said, "You know, what we have here is a failed experiment in how to effectively carry a big milk bottle with two tiny hands. Let's go out in the back yard and fill the bottle with water and see if you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it." The little boy learned that if he grasped the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands, he could carry it without dropping it. What a wonderful lesson!


The scientist then remarked that it was at that moment that he knew he didn't need to be afraid to make mistakes. Instead, he learned that mistakes were just opportunities for learning something new, which is, after all, what scientific experiments are all about. Even if the experiment doesn't work, we usually learn something valuable from it.


~ Author Unknown





“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”


~ James Joyce


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

2018-50 - The Three Dolls

A sage once presented a prince with a set of three small dolls. The prince was not amused. "Am I a girl that you give me dolls?", He asked.

"This is a gift for a future king," Said the sage. "If you look carefully, you'll see a hole in the ear of each doll." The sage then handed him a piece of string. "Pass it through each doll", He said.

Intrigued, the prince picked up the first doll and put the string into the ear. It came out from the other ear. "This is one type of person," said the sage, "whatever you tell him, comes out from the other ear. He doesn't retain anything."

The prince put the string into the second doll. It came out from the mouth. "This is the second type of person," said the sage, "whatever you tell him, he tells everybody else."

The prince picked up the third doll and repeated the process. The string did not come out. "This is the third type of person," said the sage, "whatever you tell him is locked up within him. It never comes out."

The sage then handed him a fourth doll. When the prince put the string into the doll, it came out from the other ear.

"Do it again." - Said the sage.

The prince repeated the process. This time the string came out from the mouth. When he put the string in a third time, it did not come out at all.

"This is the best type of person," said the sage. "To be trustworthy, a man must know when not to listen, when to remain silent and when to speak out."

~ Author Unknown



Trustful people are the pure at heart.
~ Criss Jami

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

2018-49 - Lesson from the Hedgehogs…

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold.

The hedgehogs, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others.
This way they were able to survive.

~ Author Unknown



Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.

Anthony J. D'Angelo


Tuesday, November 27, 2018

2018-48 - True understanding...

A martial arts student was about to receive his hard-earned Black Belt.

"You have one more test to pass", the master told the student. "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?", asked the master. "Why, the end of my journey", said the student. "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year." said the master.

After 1 year, the student came back & was asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" "A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art", the young man responded. Still unsatisfied the master said, "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."

A year later the student was again asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" This time he answered, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the beginning, the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work, and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard."

"You are now ready to receive the Black Belt and BEGIN your work." said the master.

~ Author Unknown



Any fool can know. The point is to understand.

~ Albert Einstein

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

2018-47 - Assumptions in Life...

A policeman was heading home after a long, hard day on patrol. He had dealt with a whole succession of difficult people, and a mountain of frustrating paperwork. All he wanted at this point was to kick back, unwind, enjoy some peace and quiet, and maybe watch a few innings of baseball on TV.

But, as he neared home, he was startled by a vehicle that came careening around a sharp curve and narrowly missed his squad car. As the car passed within a few inches of him, the other driver shouted "Pig!"

The police officer was suddenly energized. He slammed on brakes, all set to turn his squad car around and head off in hot pursuit. But as he rounded the curve... he ran head-on into a large pig that was standing in the middle of the road!

It's a lesson we learn early in life if we're lucky: don't assume! 

No matter how confident we are in our understanding of the issue. No matter how certain of another's reasoning or motives. No matter how obvious the point may be to us. 

~ Capt J David Atwater, CHC, USN



Ask questions; don’t make assumptions.

~ Angela Ahrendts

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

2018-46 - The Missing Watch...

There once was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded.

Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, "Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough."

So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.

The boy replied, "I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction."

~ Author Unknown



"A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind."

~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

2018-45 - The Strength of Group Work...

Once a US president went out to see the situation of the city.

Somewhere a group of soldiers was trying to lift a large branch of a tree from their way. The Corporal was standing by their side instructing them to work harder, but they were unable to move it.

A stranger was riding on his horse and he observed what was going on. He said to the Corporal, "If you help them they will be able to move it. Why don't you help them?" The Corporal replied, "That is not my job, I am the Corporal. It is their work, they should do it."

The stranger did not hesitate a moment, he immediately dismounted from his horse, and helped the group of the soldiers to move the log. This additional strength helped them to move the log. After moving it, the stranger mounted his horse and said to the Corporal, "Next time you need to move something heavy and you need help, call for the Commander-In-Chief." and went his way.

It was then that the men realized that the stranger was none other than George Washington the first President of the United States, the Commander-In-Chief of the army.

~ Author Unknown



If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.

~ Booker T Washington

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

2018-44 - Keep moving...

A college class was graduating on a hot and humid day.

As the graduates walked across the platform and received their diplomas from the president of the college, he smiled, shook their hands, and said loudly, "Congratulations!" Then, in a much lower voice, one that was firm and could be heard only by the graduates, he would say, "Keep moving."

He was only trying to keep the line moving across the stage, but his words were good advice for a lifetime: "Keep moving." After every achievement growing up, graduation, marriage, job promotion, even retirement the best advice is, "Keep moving. Don't stop. Don't stagnate."

There is more to life than you have found thus far. This is not the end; it is only the beginning. "Keep moving."

When we approach life with this attitude, we look forward to the future.

~ LCDR Michael L Schutz, CHC, USN



Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

~ Albert Einstein

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

2018-43 - A lesson in self confidence...

Henry was once called upon to recite in front of the class. He had hardly begun when the teacher interrupted with an emphatic, "No!" He started over and again the teacher thundered, "No!" Humiliated, Henry sat down.

The next boy rose to recite and had just begun when the teacher shouted, "No!" This student, however, kept on with the recitation until he completed it. As he sat down, the teacher replied, "Very good!"

Henry was irritated. "I recited just as he did," he complained to the teacher. 

But the instructor replied, "It is not enough to know your lesson, you must be sure. When you allowed me to stop you, it meant that you were uncertain. If the world says, 'No!' it is your business to say, 'Yes!' and prove it.

The world will say, 'No!' in a thousand ways. And each 'No!' you hear has the potential to erode your confidence bit by bit until you quit all together.

Though the world says, 'No!' to you today, you should be determined to say, 'Yes!' and prove it!"

~ Author Unknown



Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right.

~ Henry Ford

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

2018-42 - Keep exceeding your level...

Bruce had me up to three miles a day, really at a good pace. We'd run the three miles in twenty-one or twenty-two minutes.

Then, one day, he said "We're going to go for five. When we get to three, we'll shift gears, it's only two more."

I said "Okay". Into the fourth mile I'm okay for three or four minutes, and then I really begin to give out. I'm tired, my heart's pounding, and so I say to him, "Bruce if I run any more I'm liable to have a heart attack and die."

He said, "Then die." It made me so mad that I went the full five miles. Later I asked him, "Why did you say that?"

He said, "Because you might as well be dead. If you always put limits on what you can do, it'll spread over into the rest of your life. It'll spread into your work, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level."

~ Bruce Lee, John Little
(The Art of Expressing the Human Body)



The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible. 

~ Arthur C Clarke

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

2018-41 - The Sage...

Once a man asked Confucius, "What kind of sage are you that you can say that Hui excels you in straight-forwardness? That in clarifying things Tuan is superior to you? That Chung is more courageous than you? And that Chuan is more dignified than you?"

In his eagerness to get a reply, the man moved to the edge of the mat and said, "If these things are true, then why are these four men your disciples?"

Confucius answered, "Hui knows how to be straight-forward, but he does not know how to be flexible. Tuan knows how to clarify things, but he does not know how to give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. Chuan knows how to be dignified, but he does not know how to be unassuming. And Chung knows how to be courageous, but he does not know how to be cautious. That is why these four men are glad to study under me."

~ Author Unknown



A bird that cannot open and close it's wings cannot fly.

~   Author Unknown

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

2018-40 - Dandelions...

I took great pride in my lawn. I mowed regularly, setup a sprinkler system, trimmed the bushes... but I could never get rid of my dandelions. I tried everything, from wet burning to weed-killer, fighting with every means in my power... but all to nought.

One fine day, my neighbour saw me struggling, and gave me a bit of advice, "I suggest you learn to love them." he said.

Learning to love them was no easy task for me. I began talking to them each day. Cordial. Friendly. They maintained a sullen silence. They were smarting from the war I had waged against them, and were suspicious of my motives.

But the day came when they smiled. And relaxed. And we started to be friends.

My lawn, of course, was ruined. But how attractive my garden became.  

~ Author Unknown



Embrace those parts of yourself that you've skilfully avoided until now. That's your true adventure.

~  Gina Greenlee, Postcards and Pearls

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

2018-39 - Label Makers...

Buddha once pointed to a flower and asked each of his disciples to say something about it.

One disciple stood up and began describing the flower, the stem, the colour of the petals, the way the stamen shook in the slight breeze.

Another disciple stood up and sang a sonnet about the beauty of the flower.

Each of the disciples tried to outdo one another in depth and erudition.

After all the disciples had spent their energy deciphering labels for the flower, it was Mahakashyap's turn.

Mahakashyap, smiled, and held his tongue... Only he had seen the flower!!

Buddha smiled benevolently, and said, "The one who knows, does not say. The one who says, does not know."

~ Author Unknown



Knowing it and seeing it are two different things.

~ Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

2018-38 - Attitude of Generosity...

Someone asked Bill Gates, "Is there any person richer than you?"

He said, yes, only one. Many years ago, I had gone to New York airport. I read a newspapers and wanted to buy it. But I didn't have change. So I abandoned the idea, but suddenly, a young boy called me and told me, "This newspaper for you." I said, "I don't have change." He said, "No problem, I give you free."

After 3 months, I returned there. Coincidentally, the same thing happened again and that same boy gave me another free newspaper. I said, I can't accept it. This time he said, "I give you from my profit."

After 19 years, I had been rich and I decided to find that boy. I found him after one and half month's search. I asked him, do you know me? He said, "Yes, you're famous Bill Gates."

I said, "You gave me free newspaper 2 times many years ago. Now, I want to compensate for it. I am going to give you everything that you want." The young man replied, "You can't compensate for it!"

I said, why? He said, "Because I gave you when I was poor. You want to give me when you are rich. So, how do you compensate?"

Bill Gates said, "I think that young man is richer than me."

~ Author Unknown



The real attitude of giving is when you lack...

~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

2018-37 - Love in Action…

One night a man came to our house and told me, "There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days." I took some food and I went.

When I finally came to the family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother.

She divided it in two, and went out, carrying half the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her, "Where did you go?" She gave me this simple answer, "To my neighbours - they are hungry also."

I was not surprised that she gave – because poor people are generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves we have no time for others.

~ Mother Teresa



Your ability to see will never broaden when you only see yourself.

~ Shannon L Alder

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

2018-36 - A Lesson in Heart...

My little 10-year-old daughter, Sarah was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in 'field day' - that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events.

Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down - but before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I won two of the races!"

I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start... some kind of physical advantage.

But again, before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start... my advantage was I had to try harder!"

~ Author Unknown



The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph. Self-realization demands very great struggle.

~ Swami Sivananda

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

2018-35 - The Indispensable Man

Sometime when you're feeling important;
Sometime when your ego 's in bloom;
Sometime when you take it for granted,
You're the best qualified in the room:
Sometime when you feel that your going,
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions,
And see how they humble your soul.

Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that's remaining,
Is a measure of how much you'll be missed.
You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you'll find that in no time,
It looks quite the same as before. 

The moral of this quaint example,
Is to do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself but remember,
There's no indispensable man.

~ Saxon White Kessinger



“A belief in one’s own indispensability, is the bane of all succession planning.”

~ Jayesh Talpade

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

2018-34 - How does a nation become great?

Pick a leader who will make their citizens proud. One who will stir the hearts of the people, so that the sons and daughters of a given nation strive to emulate their leader's greatness.

Only then will a nation be truly great, when a leader inspires and produces citizens worthy of becoming future leaders, honourable decision makers and peacemakers. And in these times, a great leader must be extremely brave. Their leadership must be steered only by their conscience, not by anything else.

Pick a peacemaker. One who unites, not divides. Pick a leader who chooses diplomacy over war. An honest broker in foreign relations. A leader with integrity, one who says what they mean, keeps their word and does not lie to their people. Pick a leader who is strong and confident, yet humble.

So… pick a leader who will make their citizens proud. Only then will a nation be truly great.

~ Author Unknown



Quiet diplomacy is far more effective than public posturing.

~ Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

2018-33 - Growing deep and strong!

One day, my mother and I were working together in the garden where we were transplanting plants for the third time. Grown from seed in a small container, the plants had been transferred to a larger container; then transplanted into the garden. Now, because I was moving, we were transplanting them once again.

Inexperienced as a gardener, I turned to my green-thumbed mother. "Isn't this bad for them?" I asked, as we dug them up and shook the dirt from the roots. "Won't it hurt these plants, being uprooted and transplanted so many times?"

"Oh", my mother replied. "Transplanting doesn't hurt them. In fact, it's good for the ones that survive. That's how their roots grow strong. Their roots will grow deep, and they will make strong plants".

Often, I've felt uprooted and turned upside down. Sometimes I've endured the change willingly, sometimes reluctantly, but that's when I remember my mother's words: "That's how the roots grow deep and strong".

~ Chaplain Lisa Bohannon



Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: it is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. 

Thomas Carlyle

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

2018-32 - Encouragement...

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they showed potential talent.


Rossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few, he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a kind man, and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man. The visitor was disappointed, but seemed to expect Rossetti’s judgment.


He then apologized for taking up Rossetti’s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings – these done by a young art student? Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed.


“These,” he said, “oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future if he will work hard and stick to it.”


Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. “Who is this fine young artist?” he asked. “Your son?” “No,” said the old man sadly. “It is me – 40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then! For you see, I got discouraged and gave up – too soon.”


~ Author Unknown




A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.

~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

2018-31 - The Touchstone

When the great library of Alexandria burned, one book was saved. It was not a valuable book; and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for a few coppers. Between its pages he found something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum on which was written the secret of the “Touchstone”!

The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold. So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles.

When he felt a pebble that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold – Throw it into the sea. Pick up another.

The days stretched into weeks. One day, however, about mid-afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.

So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it’s easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand and it’s just as easy to throw it away.

~ Author Unknown



Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

~ Thomas Edison

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

2018-30 - How many times...

Steven Spielberg was rejected 3 times by the University of Southern California, after which he dropped out to become a Director.

The founder of pandora.com approached 300 investors before he got his funding.

Richard Branson launched 400 companies before he founded one ‘out of this world’, i.e. Virgin Galactic.

Col Saunders, founder of KFC, was turned down 1009 times when trying to sell his fried chicken recipe.

Sylvester Stallone was rejected 1500 times when he tried selling his script and himself as the film ‘Rocky’.

James Dyson created 5126 failed prototypes of the vacuum cleaner before getting it right.

Thomas Alva Edison created 10000 failed prototypes of the electric bulb, before finally succeeding.

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU TRY?

~ Author Unknown



Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
~ Colin Powell

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

2018-29 - Choices...

“What happens if your choice is misguided?” I ask, softly.

Miss Moore takes a pear from the bowl and offers us the grapes to devour. “You must try to correct it.”

“But what if it’s too late? What if you can’t?”

Miss Moore paints the thinnest sliver of shadow along the bottom of the apple, bringing it fully to life.

“Then you must find a way to live with it. The way I define happiness is being the creator of your experience, choosing to take pleasure in what you have, right now, regardless of the circumstances, while being the best you that you can be.”

~ Author Unknown



Choices determine character.
~ Brandon Mull

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

2018-28 - Attitude...

Once, Major Sir Michael Parker, an impresario for royal events with an expertise in pyrotechnics, held an exhibition where the Queen was to be the guest of honour.

When his entire collection of munitions suddenly exploded as the show began, he was totally devastated. He sadly rushed over and said to the Queen, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong."

"Oh good, what fun!" she replied with a smile.

On hearing this, he put his best foot forward and went on to put on what he claimed as a ‘damned good show, by jove!’

When asked later, why he continued doing what he did that day, he replied, "The leader's Attitude is like a thermostat for the place she works. If her attitude is good, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the environment is easy to work in. But if her attitude is bad, the temperature is insufferable."

~ Author Unknown



A healthy attitude is contagious. Be a carrier.

~ Tom Stoppard

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

2018-27 - Comfort Zone...

Once upon a time a king was once gifted two beautiful falcons. The two falcons belonged to a different climate. The king ordered the head of the bird trainer to provide all the facilities to the falcons. The head trainer took the birds and provided everything to help the birds adapt to their climate.

One day the king wanted to see the falcons fly, and was astonished when one of the falcons flew to great heights and at a very high speeds. The king enquired about the other falcon. The bird trainer stated with regret that the other falcon did not move and just sat on the branch. He had tried everything he could do and still he failed to make this bird move. The king consoled him and told the trainer that he would bring in an old man who knew about falcons.

When he arrived, he was taken to the sanctuary and told that he would be visited the next day to see if there was any change.

The next day, the king was very surprised to see the other falcon fly like the first one to great heights in rapid speed. When the king asked what he had done to make the bird fly in a day. The old man simply replied, 'I just cut down the branch of the tree where the falcon used to sit.'

~ Author Unknown



Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone.

~ Shannon L Alder

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

2018-26 - Love

Do not assume that you know what love is, until you learn what respect is. And do not assume that you're a good person, if you don't know what empathy is.

Until you can love yourself, and feel compassion for the suffering of another person, you will not be able to love anyone.

You can feel love but you can't love.

To feel and to do is not the same.

You can choose to feel love and share hate, or feel love and share compassion. Same feeling, different behavior.

~ Robin Sacredfire



How you treat yourself sets the standard for how others will treat you.

~ Steve Maraboli

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

2018-25 - Advice...

Terry one day asked me “How did you make it to the top?”

I thought a while before responding “Don't look over your shoulder or let fear and anxiety rule you. Go for broke. Let passion blaze your trail. Look ahead and pursue the dream that fits who you are as a person and a manager.”

Later in the day when I met him again, I added “Learn what you can, but don't get bogged down.
Learn enough, then trust your gut and act. Be bold - or crazy - enough not to hold back. And, when the game is over, regardless of the score, you'll revel in what you've done.”

~  Edward M Hallowell



Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start.

~ Simon Sinek

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

2018-24 - Dad's...

I've watched my dad move our family from extreme poverty to extreme wealth and then everywhere in between.

Never once did I see or hear him be anything but a cheerleader for the accomplishments of others. It didn't matter if he was down or up in life, he wanted everybody around him to succeed. I've even watched him praise the very people that have tried to destroy him over the years and then very publicly wish them success and happiness.

He taught me the enthusiasm that should always come at the success of others. He constantly taught me that when others succeed, it gives us all more opportunity to succeed.

~  Dan Pearce



Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.

~   Garrison Keillor

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

2018-23 - Eye of the beholder...


It seems like everyone these days is putting on a mask to feel beautiful, trying to fit into some pre-established norms of how we should look.

This isn't only painful, it's ignorant. Saying like we know, better than nature does, what is beautiful and what is not is like a two-year-old lecturing an old man about patience. Nature has been creating beauty for millennia and you are part of that creation process. Stop the madness. Stop fighting who you are. Let the mask fall.

It'll be strange at first, yes. But, over time, you'll see beyond the temporary discomfort of stepping outside social norms and learn to see the beauty you were born with. You'll see beauty that will take your breath away, like a sunset. That's how beautiful you are - like a sunset, like a forest, like a million fireflies on a calm warm night lighting up the sky.

Go find that brilliant beauty within every single part of you. Remove that cloak that's been pulled over your eyes and see yourself for who you really are.

~ Sayo Masuda



Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

2018-22- Kindness…

When I was a nursemaid at the home of the landowners, a nun who happened to pass once gave me something square and white. Timidly I licked it and discovered that it was sweet and delicious.

I realize now that it must have been a sugar cube; but still, more than twenty years later, I remember clearly the joy I felt then.

It's not just children; everyone seems to be deeply touched by unexpected joy brought to them by others and is unable to forget it.

To do something kind for another is never a bad feeling; it fosters a spirit of caring for other people. And who knows, after a hundred years, human beings may even learn to cooperate with one another...

~ Sayo Masuda



“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”

~ Plato

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

2018-21 - Achieve it…

People always ask me, "So, what does it take to reach out and touch your dreams?"

To them I always say, "Are you hungry? Is there a fire that burns you up inside? How bad do you want it? How bad do you need it? Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming with that one thing on your mind?"

"Cause if you want it all, you've got to lay it all out on the line!"

~ Tim McGraw



“When it comes to fighting for your dreams, be a dragon. Breathe fire.”

~ Richelle E Goodrich

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

2018-20 - Work...

You know how when you step on court your coach is like "go go go!"? And all throughout you just keep telling yourself to hit harder and harder and keep at it?


You know how much you treasure those five-minute timeouts? You know how good you feel at the end of a session? You know how you're glad you''re tired? No pills, no shots, just plain energy.


I want to work like that. Whether I have to write ten thousand words or send five hundred emails, brainstorm for hours at a time, I want to have that energy. To keep fighting. To know it's all worth it.


~ Thisuri Wanniarachchi




Happiness lies in the joy of achievement, and in the thrill of effort.

~ Franklin D Roosevelt


Tuesday, May 8, 2018

2018-19 - Power of observation...

Sophia was asked to speak to the students of a local medical school.

"Sophia, what do we need to be better doctors?" the students asked.

"Doctors," Sophia said, "need strong stomachs and a strong powers of observation." Then she opened a canister. The putrid smell quickly moved through the classroom. Sophia stuck a finger in the jar, pulled it up, and then licked it. She passed the jar around encouraging each doctor in training to do the same. Each did, and though many felt nauseas, no one got sick.

"You all have very strong stomachs," she said. "But your power of observation needs some work."

"What do you mean?" they asked. "We did just what you did."

"There is one difference," she replied. "The finger I dipped in the jar was not the finger I licked."

~ David W Jones (For the Love of Sophia)



You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.

~ Richard Branson

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

2018-18 - Change...

Then it hit me like a hammer... change doesn't require me to leave my life behind and start anew. I'm not required to quit my job, move across the world, sell all my belongings, or start a new extravagant hobby.

I can... but I don't have to.

Change can be as simple as appreciating the joyful tune of a singing bird, the delicate shape of a soaring snowflake, or the pleasant hope of a sprouting sapling.

I could make change as simple, or as complex, as I pleased.

~ Avina Celeste



We are the change that we seek.

~ Barack Obama

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

2018-17 - Take your best shot...

"Take a look around," the instructor had advised.

"Ask yourself if there's anyone else who is better qualified to do the job. Not in the entire galaxy, but right there, at that point in time."

"If the answer is 'yes', ask them to accept command, and do everything you can to support them."

"If the answer is 'no', which it will be ninety-nine percent of the time, then take your best shot... That's all any of us can do."

~ William C Dietz (Halo: The Flood))



"People differ, not only in their ability to do, but also in their 'will' to do."

~ Dr Paul Hersey