Golden Quotes & Stories

Some of the world's greatest teachers are storytellers. We can study books for facts, look at numbers and listen to advice - and the message may still get lost. However, when we experience something through a metaphor or story, we often remember the details that bring the tale alive in our minds - and in the process come to understand a message or meaning that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The following are stories that we have collected for the purposes of inspiration. Whether you're feeling low and need a lift, or you're the CEO of a major corporation and require an inspirational anecdote to begin a meeting, you're sure to find a nugget or two of gold among these gems.

1. Food For Thought "Which Parts Of Your Pot Need Stirring?"
2. Quotes
3. Namaste!
4. Every Person's Bill of Rights
5. It Couldn't Be Done
6. Who You Are Makes A Difference
7. "The Starfish"
8. The Rainbow Connection
9. Symptoms Of Inner Peace
10. ~~The Creation Of Self Love~~
11. What is a Soulful Workplace? A Soulful Workplace is a place where . . .
12. Recognize The Cores Of Greatness
13. Global Success Demands Training, Innovation, Technology
14. Employee Training
15. Competition in the Global Economy
16. Keeping the Technology Edge
17. Things Spirit has Taught Me
18. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
19. The Lesson
20. Great Insights to Brighten Your Day
21. Attitude Is Everything . . .
22. Have Patience
23. Rainbow Meditation
24. "The Most Caring Child"
25. "Two Nickels and Five Pennies"
26. "Barney"
27. "Discouraged?"
28. "A Lesson In Heart"
29. A Powerful Parable
30. Spending Time With God
31. Desert Animals
32. Dance Like No One is Watching
33. Shaking Things Up: Banana Blender Surprise
34. All the Good Things:
35. Right Now
36. A Native American Elder Once Described His Own Inner Struggles in This Manner:
37. Adoption Creed
38. The Butterfly
39. All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Noah's Ark
40. "I Believe We Cannot Get It Wrong"
41. The Old Grandfather's Table
42. Take A Few Minutes and Read These and Think About Them Without Going On to the Next On . . . It Does Make You Feel Good . . .
43. Full Box of Kisses
44. Slow Dance
45. My Special List
46. Angels, Once in a While
47. Time
48. Beauty Tips
49. The Rose
50. Special High Intensity Training

Food For Thought "Which Parts Of Your Pot Need Stirring?"

This essay is about a level of application of our methodologies that, frankly, few people have tasted yet. And it's so immediately and easily available, with such potential value to the quality of your life, I am moved to remind you about it.

What if you could rest assured that all the parts of your pot that need stirring, are getting stirred?

Let me explain. You have many levels of expression, interest, and focus in your life, in addition to the hundreds of basic things you have to be responsible for; day-to-day that can add tremendous richness and depth to your life experience. At least, when you put your attention on them. Your kids, your network of friends, your love of cooking, your coin collection, and your golf swing. Your investments, your travel itch, your crazy thinking. Your favorite quotes, your personal affirmations, your penchant for Mozart, and your dreams of the future.

These, or probably dozens of similar things that hold some form of potential fascination and meaning for you, are out there, right now, waiting for you to come to the table, to play. All you have to do is engage. And you can do that in a few seconds. But if you're like me, you forget.

I forget to focus on my friends. I forget to think about giving random presents. I forget, believe it or not, about having fun. I forget about what I could do, given my position and influence, with a few added thoughts to what I could do with our office staff next week. I forget about a zillion things that would be way cool to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon. And, yes, I forget to dream.

So I put reminders in my personal management system, and I see them in my weekly review.

Few people I know yet really grasp the power of the basic weekly review. This is black-belt personal management for the 21st-century person - consistently clearing your head, identifying outcomes and actions, organizing and updating lists, to maintain a clear head and proactive frame of mind. And even fewer have tasted beyond black belt (oh yes, first degree black belt is only the beginning!) - really working their checklists.

Get the habit of the weekly review. Then plug in to that review lists and triggers about the things that really make it worthwhile.

Quotes

"Man is not the creature of circumstances. Circumstances are the creatures of men." - Disraeli

"Life is a series of inspired follies. The difficulty is to find them to do. Never lose a chance: it doesn't come every day." - George Bernard Shaw

Fulminating about a problem yields few answers but lots of stress. Teach yourself to think in terms of solutions rather than problems. Think winning, not whining. We have enough global whining. Lance Secretan

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein

"Where there is hope there is life, where there is life there is possibility and where there is possibility change can occur." Jesse Jackson

I love these words that were in a message you sent to someone:
May the long-time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.

Life is change, growth is optional. Choose wisely."

We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore. Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens, American Writer, 1835_1910)

If it isn't fun, don't do it.

"We experience what we believe. If we don't believe that we experience what we believe, then we don't, which still means the first statement is true." Harry Palmer

"Positive thinking is the popular term. However, we do not mean sitting around mouthing a lot of cheerful platitudes, such as, "everything is going to be all right." The fact is, everything will not be all right until you achieve a consciousness of all-rightness. Much so-called positive thinking is little more than wishful thinking, voicing a lot of Pollyanna words that you really don't believe. It is a matter of synchronizing your self in mind with the flow of the Infinite. The ideal, of course, is to think the kind of thoughts that lead to the kind of conditions that you want to see manifest in your life." Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics

Those who wish to sing will always find a song. --- Spanish proverb

Once you REALLY Get that YOU create your life, THEN the Fun REALLY begins.- Julia S. Pierce

Whatever you can do, or dream that you can, begin it. Boldness has Power and Magic in It - Goethe

Namaste!

I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides.
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where, if you are in that place in you.
And I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

Every Person's Bill of Rights

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't", but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin

On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing,
That couldn't be done and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took of his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin
Just take off your coat and go to it.
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

- Edgar A. Guest

Who You Are Makes A Difference

A teacher in New York decided to honour each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made.

Using a process developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student to the front of the class, one at a time.

First she told them how the student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."

Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community.

She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony.

Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honoured whom and report back to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honoured him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt.

Then he gave him two extra ribbons, and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out, find somebody to honour, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened."

Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said," Well, sure."

The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said,

"Would you do me a favour? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honouring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."

That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a creative genius."

Then he put this blue ribbon that says "Who I Am Makes A Difference" on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honour.

As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honour with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honour you.

"My days are really hectic and when I come home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me.

Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook.

He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I don't need to."

----Helice Bridges - received via the internet

"The Starfish"

Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."

There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.

We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.

--Author Unknown

The Rainbow Connection

Once upon a time the colours of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important. The most useful.
The favourite.

GREEN said:

"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

BLUE interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.

The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

YELLOW chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world.
The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the colour of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins.
Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and paw paws. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

RED could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the colour of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the colour of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

PURPLE rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the colour of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the colour of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colours went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority.
Their quarrelling became louder and louder.
Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly.
The colours crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamour, rain began to speak: "You foolish colours, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me." Doing as they were told, the colours united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of colour as a reminder that you can all live in peace.
The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain-washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

In my search for the Rainbows end,
I found, not GOLD, but you my friend.

- - Unknown

Symptoms Of Inner Peace

Watch for signs of Peace! The hearts of a great many have already been EXPOSED to it, and it seems likely that we could find our society experiencing it in EPIDEMIC proportions.
Some signs and symptoms of inner peace.

• Tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fear based on past experiences.
• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
• Loss of interest in judging other people.
• Loss of interest in judging self.
• Loss of interest in conflict.
• Loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
• Loss of ability to worry (a very serious symptom).
• Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
• Contented feelings of connectedness with others and with nature.
• Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes from the heart.
• Increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
• ncreased susceptibility to love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

If you have all or even most of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition may be TOO FAR ADVANCED to turn back. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting several of these symptoms, remain exposed AT YOUR OWN RISK. This condition of Inner Peace is likely well into its infectious stage. Be FOREWARNED.

~~The Creation Of Self Love~~

The more one loves self
the more one trusts self.

The more one trusts self
the more one trusts others.

The more one trusts others
the more one attracts others that can be trusted.

The more one attracts others that one can trust
the more one begins to love others.

The more one begins to love others
the more one attracts others that can love.

The more one attracts others that can love
the more one loves self.

The more one loves self
the more one trusts self ...

Sharon Gleason

What is a Soulful Workplace? A Soulful Workplace is a place where . . .

1. We ask the right QUESTIONS.
2. We each honor our deepest VALUES.
3. We tell the whole TRUTH, in everything that we do.
4. We keep our PROMISES, even the smallest ones
5. We maintain a state of GRACE: At the end of our workday, we will have made peace with everyone.
6. We have banished fear and competition. We PLAY TO WIN in our work and personal life.
7. We LOVE the people with whom we work.
8. Our work is FUN.
9. Work is a JOYful part of our lives.
10. Our work richly REWARDS our souls.
11. Our physical working environment is a SOULSPACE that inspires our souls.
12. We are KIND to our competitors.
13. When we WIN, we create no losers.
14. We have all the INFORMATION and authority we need to do our work well.
15. TRUST is widespread throughout our organization.
16. Bureaucracy and hierarchy have been replaced with good JUDGMENT.
17. We use all our CREATIVE potential.
18. Ten percent of payroll is invested in personal development and LEARNING for all employees.
19. Ten percent of our time is invested in COMMUNITY involvement and service.
20. The PROFITS we earn make our Souls proud.

We learn to trust someone because they can be consistently relied on to tell the truth. When they lie, they betray us and betrayal is no foundation for a great team. We simply cannot achieve superior performance, individually, or in teams, through untruthfulness.

We have become human doings instead of human beings.

Lance Secretan is a management consultant, lecturer, and businessman, as well as author of Reclaiming Higher Ground: Creating Organizations That Inspire The Soul (1997, McGraw_Hill). Secretan can be reached at his Web site, www.secretan.com.

Recognize The Cores Of Greatness
By Lance Secretan

We need to work on people's strengths instead of carping about their weaknesses. Leaders have long been urged to "concentrate on core competencies." Tom Peters and Bob Waterman told us that successful companies in search of excellence "stick to their knitting," and management gurus since have put their own spin on this notion.

The theory of core competencies is logical: If we focus on what we do best, we will get better at it. The corollary is that corporations should stop practicing recognized weaknesses. Corporate strategists have heeded this call and guided organizations to higher performance, and corporate leaders have paid attention. The result a boom in subcontracting, outsourcing, and forging strategic alliances with others whose strengths complement our weaknesses.

But there is a paradox at work here. If it works so well with organizations, and if we buy into core competency so completely, why don't we apply the same principle to people within the organization?

When I used to run Manpower Limited, we had a franchisee named John Harold. To this day I have not met his equal as a marketer. He was absolutely brilliant. But if he was the Leonardo da Vinci of sales and marketing, he was the Rube Goldberg of administration, he couldn't submit a form to save his life, let alone complete it accurately. I would visit his operations in a trance about his sales and rhapsodize about his commercial achievements, and then say something like, "John, I haven't had a sales summary from you for 18 months. Would you please start sending them?" He would assure me he would, then I would go home ,and nothing different would happen. My visits started to take on a similar pattern: ecstasy over his sales; despair about his forms.

Once after applauding another sales performance that set a stratospheric standard for the rest of the company to follow, I gamely asked him if he would consider sending a monthly summary once a quarter. He agreed, again nothing different happened.

I was the CEO and I was supposed to be the teacher and coach, but I began to realize it was John Harold who was giving the lessons. Finally, I got it. I went down to his office one day and said, "John, whenever I visit you, I always compliment you on your brilliant sales performance and then I bitch about your sales summary. I am here to promise you that the last time I did this was the last time I will ever do so. I have hired someone on my payroll to complete your monthly summaries for you. I will never nag you again about your sales summaries. Now, how can I help you with your sales?" We never looked back.

Whatever gave me the idea that I could turn one of the finest marketers I had ever met in my entire life into at best a mediocre form filer? Why would I want to? Why was I so arrogant? Why would I try to reduce him to a corporate multi-competencies clone? Here was a one-of-a-kind genius and I was about to squander his gifts and destroy his motivation.

Psychologist James Loehr has helped to train, among others, tennis great Martina Navratilova. Loehr has studied what the best tennis players do when they take a 20-second break between points during a match. Loehr discovered that mediocre players use that time to react to the previous point scolding themselves after a missed point, for example. The best players, Loehr found, spend their time preparing for the next point, relaxing, energizing themselves, planning their strategy, and tuning their minds. In other words, losers work on weaknesses and high achievers work on strengths.

Marcel Proust said, "The real voyage of discovery comes not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." We need to work on people's strengths instead of carping about their weaknesses. We must learn to build on the core competencies of people, knowing there are other ways to take care of the rest. We need to know that the principle of focusing on our core competencies is as sound for individuals as it is for organizations. This is a key to motivating people, nourishing their souls and inspiring them to greatness.

Lance Secretan is a management consultant, lecturer, and businessman, as well as author of Reclaiming Higher Ground: Creating Organizations That Inspire The Soul (1997, McGraw_Hill). Secretan can be reached at his Web site, www.secretan.com.

Global Success Demands Training, Innovation, Technology
By Jerry Jasinowski

General George C. Marshall said, "The real leader displays his quality in his triumphs over adversity, however great it may be." These words are as true for the business world as they are for military service. But what, specifically, must a business leader in today's economy do to enable his or her firm to succeed?

One of the best ways is to identify the hurdles that must be cleared in order to be competitive. The most significant of these hurdles include the need for well-trained employees; maintaining the ability to compete in the global economy; and retaining a strong technological edge.

Employee Training

When Harry Featherstone became CEO of the Orrville, Ohio based Will Burt Co. in 1985; product rejects at the plant were running as high as 35%. Featherstone had each worker tested for math and reading proficiency and began to offer a course on basic blueprint reading. This grew into a full-fledged mini MBA program, from which, as of 1995, 170 of Will Burt's 330 employees have graduated.

Quality at Will Burt went up dramatically. In 1995 there were only about 3.4 rejections per million parts manufactured. Payroll errors went from 33% to .04%.

Employee turnover, likewise, dropped from 35% in 1986 to a mere 1% in 1994. And profits soared.

Training is an investment, but the money saved by not helping workers to keep abreast of new technologies is money ill used. Investing in people is an investment in success.

Competition in the Global Economy
The Cannondale Corp., Bethel, Conn., sold its first bike in 1983 but was struggling with sales overseas. So Cannondale jettisoned the conventional approach as it sought to deepen its penetration of the Japanese market. By avoiding wholesale distributors going directly to dealers and retailers and by entering bike races and hiring professional bicycle racers as company spokespersons Cannondale was able to increase sales in Japan to the point that Japanese sales accounted for 5% of overall sales in 1995.

As of 1995, Cannondale was selling in 62 countries. Its secret? Innovation. Try new approaches and dare to take calculated risks.

Too many companies are afraid of the international marketplace. But as Willie Sutton found with banks, exporting is where the money is. Going global in an era of virtually nonexistent inflation and high employment is the best way to realize significant growth.

Keeping the Technology Edge

At Badger Meter Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., continuous flow manufacturing has become the norm for all product lines. This process is dependent on such high tech wonders as flexible machining cells and flexible moulding cells that are linked to the assembly test and pack area. Over the past decade, this process has enabled Badger Meter to reduce the time it takes to fill an order from one month to one day. The company's growth rate 10% annually over the last three years.

The use of advanced technology has altered fundamentally the way Badger Meter operates, just as high tech processes have changed the face of manufacturing across America. In a 1994 survey of manufacturing companies, 85% of respondents said they were using computer aided design (CAD) technology to develop their products. And as computers, robots, and other technical tools become even more sophisticated, companies and their workers can become all the more productive and innovative.

Some argue that such advances hurt the workforce. The buggy manufacturers at the advent of the automotive era also could have made this argument. Technological changes invariably require organizational change. But they also bring higher compensation to workers and greater market share for companies willing to use the best of what the high tech economy offers.

In his fine book, The Leadership Factor (1988, Free Press), Harvard Business School professor John P. Kotter writes that "just as leadership in the government and the military becomes more important in war than in peacetime, leadership in business becomes more important when warfare breaks out in the economic sphere. Increased competitive intensity has created just that kind of warfare."

That's a lesson today's successful small and medium size business leaders are taking to heart more and more as they engage in the competitive global economy.

Jerry J. Jasinowski is president of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), founded in 1895 to advance a pro-manufacturing, pro-growth policy agenda. NAM currently has 14,000 members who represent all industrial sectors.

People are inspired to do what they do well by the love they feel for what they do (Mastery), by the people they do it with (Chemistry), and by their reasons for doing it (Delivery).

Things Spirit Has Taught Me

We do our best to take our direction from Spirit! Over the years we have learned much from her wisdom. She has been a great teacher. Here are some of the things I have learned from her:

• Be happy.
• Experience the pure ecstasy of fresh air and the wind in your face.
• Be in the moment when going for a joyride.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Never pass up the opportunity to explore new areas.
• Run, romp and play daily.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• You know what? I'm happy with what I've got - no need to take me shopping. oLeave room in your schedule for regular naps and stretch before rising.
• Walk around in a circle three times before settling down.
• If you are uncomfortable, just go to another place that feels better.
• When you are no longer the center of attention, find a comfortable spot to lie down.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
• If it itches, scratch it.
• A stick is not just a stick - if you play with me and make it fun, it will be a joyful thing.
• When meeting new friends for the first time, be tactile - show them you are glad. oGive people lots of attention and welcome their affection. Welcome their strokes. oWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them as if you haven't seen them for years _ even if they only left five minutes ago.
• Practice vulnerability, humility and obedience - it is usually in your best interest. oAlways be ready to learn something new. The rewards can be handsome. oWhen it feels right, make lots of noise.
• Make sure your bite is always less than your bark.
• Avoid biting when a simple stare or growl will do.
• Forgiveness is a wonderful thing - don't hold grudges for more than two minutes.
• Don't keep hidden agendas.
• No matter how often you are scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout.run right back and make friends. Hold no grudges.
• When someone is unwell, sit beside them and comfort them.
• Offer protection to others; help them to feel safe.
• Be loyal.
• Let's take care of each other. If someone I don't approve of approaches, I will protect you.
• Will you please do the same?
• I will comfort you. No matter what happens to you, I'll be there.
• With regard to hugs - just ask. If I want one, I will ask; if you want one, do the same.
• Always pre-rinse dishes. If you do not know how to, just let me know and I will give you lessons.
• Directness is a wonderful thing. If you want something, just make your desire very clear.
• On the other hand, begging is a good device on occasion, and simpering will work well if it is not done too often.
• Just say it: If you told me each time you thought "I love you", I would love you more.
• Speaking of love - just give it unconditionally.
• Let others know when they are invading your boundaries.
• When you make a mistake (farting for example) just carry on like nothing happened (or make it cute) and everyone will think you are lovable.
• If you stare at someone long enough, eventually, you'll get what you want.
• If you want something, like a peanut for example, just sit near it until someone gives you one.
• If you really want something - drool.
• I need a lot of sleep and when I'm ready, anywhere will do.
• Respect your elders.
• Don't go out without ID.
• Know who you are - don't pretend to be something you are not.
• Subdue your ego. If we decide to make each other look silly, let's agree we won't hurt each other.
• If you ever feel angry, there are three words of advice: get over it.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close to them and gently be their friend.
• When you are happy, let people know - dance around and wag your entire body.
• Be sure you can run backwards as fast as you can run forwards.
• Remember the Law of Dog Karma: What you give is what you get.
• Help your friend become as good a person as you think they are.

Lance Secretan is a management consultant, lecturer, and businessman, as well as author of Reclaiming Higher Ground: Creating Organizations That Inspire The Soul (1997, McGraw_Hill). Secretan can be reached at his Web site, www.secretan.com.

"Twinkle,Twinkle, Little Star"

(Thanks to Einiyah ben-Elyon for forwarding this beautiful story) Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.

Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. And the audience was mesmerized.

The Lesson

Whatever our situation in life and history -- however outrageous, however desperate, whatever dry spell of the spirit, whatever dark night of the soul -- God is whispering deep within our beings, "Don't quit. Keep playing. You are not alone. Together we will transform the broken patterns into a masterwork of My creative art. Together, we will mesmerize the world with our song of peace."

--Author Unknown

Great Insights to Brighten Your Day

I've learned that the road to success and the road to happiness are two lanes of the same highway. And the toll you must pay is simply being true to yourself. Age 40

I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 39

I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 46

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. Age 82

I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. Age 24

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. Age 65

I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. Age 50

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53

I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his need to cast blame on others. Age 46

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62

I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I've seen several. Age 73

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. Age 64

I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures. Age 29

I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there. Age 29

I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49

I've learned that you can make someone's day by simply sending them a little card. Age 44

I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. Age 13

I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 52

I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. Age 66

I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, try to improve your marriage. Age 61

I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. Age 58

I've learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72

I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night". Age 7

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it. Age 41

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch--holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 85

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92

titude Is Everything.........
(By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz)

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say... '[I] have two choices today. [I] can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood.

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry.

"She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Have Patience

If at any time, anyone struggles with unanswered questions that disrupt serenity, I offer the following reflection:

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.
Don't search for the answers that could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

---Rainer Maria Rilke

Rainbow Meditation

There is a rainbow meditation that helps you to forgive those that you feel have hurt you. You imagine going thru a deep forest, that's friendly and you are comfortable in. You notice a bright light at the end of the path and when you get to it you see that you are in a meadow and that touching the ground is a Huge rainbow, with each of the colours of the rainbow big enough for you to stand in them. You go to the first one, which is red, and as you step in you see everything outside of the rainbow has a red hue to it, like infrared film. As the light comes over you imagine that all of your survival needs have been met, you have all the material things that you want and need and let the abundance of the universe fill you up, think of the things that you want and see them coming in to your hands or around you in the red stream of light. When you feel filled to the brim you step in to the next wave of light, which is orange.

As the orange light comes over you and you see the trees and grass outside of it thru and orange light you remember all of those that you have loved, the relationships and lovers that you have in your life. Imagine the ones that you didn't have closure with or who you still think about or wish were still in your life in front of you and tell them whatever it is that you have always wanted to. And then imagine them saying everything to you that you have always wanted to hear them say. Whatever it is, an apology, a vow of undying love, praise, whatever, imagine the ideal conversation and have it with them. When you are done release them with all the love you ever felt for them and then step in to the yellow stream of light.

As the yellow light embraces you feel all of the emotions that you have wanted to feel. Feel the yellow light transforming your fears and other limiting emotions, like anger and hurt and self doubt, until they are filled with golden light, totally transformed and all you feel is love to the depth of your being. When you are comfortable then step in to the next been which is green.

See all the people of your life standing all around you both inside and outside of the green beam. Notice who is inside and who is outside the green light and maybe even notice yourself standing there. Know that everyone who has ever been in your life came to you out of the attraction of your love. Know that whatever those in you did or didn't do they did out of love, maybe not how you would have expressed it but they did the best they knew how to do at the time. Rejoice in the love from those that you feel sure of and rejoice in the light of forgiveness for those that you still feel rejection or anger for. Say to each of them that you forgive them and yourself and wish them only peace and joy and unlimited love.

Feel the green of the light embracing your heart and filling your entire being with the love of the universe and then send it on to them. Imagine what it would feel like to never feel hurt or anger or fear again to know that all are doing their best as well as yourself and pass that feeling on to the others around you. If you feel that you can't forgive some at this point in time that's ok, talk to them about it and imagine their response, as you would like it. IF there are some that you can't face yet, don't worry about it imagine them stepping away and disappearing into a fine lovely mist. When you are complete, step into the next stream of light, which is blue.

The blue light fills you with confidence and you may notice that your position shifts slightly as your shoulders go back and your head lifts. Speak the truth of who you truly are in all of your glory. Look outside and see that all is seen thru a blue lens. See if there are any people who are standing outside of the blue light and tell them the truth of who you really are and want to become. State your intentions to the universe in a proud and strong voice. Feel the acceptance and applause of the universe filling you with glee and homecoming. When you are finished step in to the next been of light, which is purple.

The purple light fills you with understanding for all that is, was and will be. Think of a situation that you have never understood and hear the replies from the universe. Look thru the purple light and see the energy of all things coming together in halos of white light. Go thru all of the memories of things that you always wondered about and hear the answers from the universe, know that what ever first comes in to your mind is the truth as long as it is uplifting and blameless for all parties involved. Know the perfection of the universe and your place in it. Revel in the glory of all that you are. If you are feeling ill or not at see with certain parts of your body or life, give those away to the purple stream and know that they are healed, know and feel that all is truly well and perfect in your world and will only continue to get better and better. When you are done step in to the next stream of light that you didn't even notice that was there at first, for it is all the colours mixed together, white, clear light.

As you step in to the white light you notice clarity of all things around you that you never noticed before. You can see farther than you ever imagined possible and can see all things in it. The eagle flying high above you, you can see each feather moving in the air, the particles that make up the dirt beneath your feet are almost separate and you can feel their individuality. You notice the insects and the animals all around you and can feel their joy and contentment as they go about their day and you can see each hair, each feather and their wings with perfect vision. The iridescence of the wings astound you with their beauty. The people who have been in your life and have yet to join you are all around you and you can see past their personalities to their souls and know that only Love is real. That all things are made from the love of the universe and this love fills you until you feel you might explode into a billion pieces of the glory of it all. All the animals joint the circle around you as the people come together with you at it's center. You notice as now capped mountain in the distance and hear a brook gurgling on it's way to the sea. The trees seem to lift their branches higher and the grass and meadow flowers stand taller. Slowly the people in your life and the animals start circling around you, the love and purity of the universe growing stronger and stronger until you are filled with every cell, every thought every deed past and present and future with love and the joy is intoxicating. You do feel as if you have burst into a billion particles and merge with all that is there to be with, even the air and the water, you become all things and all things become a part of you.

When you come back to yourself, notice the lightness of your heart and every part of you. A squirrel scampers up a tree and as deer comes on to the path that led you here, in joy you run up to it and it slowly turns its head and you follow it back to where you began but changed forever in joy and love and peace, knowing that all is one and you are everything. The deer may lead you to other knowing or you may notice that you are back in your body and slowly open your eyes and notice your surroundings. Take a minute to get your bearings and notice the lightness in your body, heart and mind.

I've used this meditation to reconcile with my dad after we didn't speak for almost 2 years and it worked like magic. As you go thru your days and something comes up you can just imagine the light coming over you that would help most and do that part of the exercise. The rainbow goes up the chakras clearing away old beliefs and pains. I hope this helps.

Love ya _ Juls

"The Most Caring Child"

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, "Nothing, just helped him cry."

"Two Nickels and Five Pennies"

When an ice cream sundae cost much less, a boy entered a coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired.

Some people were now waiting for a table, and the waitress was impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she said angrily. The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream." The waitress brought the ice cream and walked away. The boy finished, paid the cashier, and departed. When the waitress came back, she swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies-- her tip.

"Barney"

A four year old was at the paediatrician for a check up. As the doctor looked down her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heartbeat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?" "Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "God is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."

"Discouraged?"

As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped to watch a local Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-baseline, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile. "Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."

"A Lesson In Heart"

A lesson in "heart" is my little 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, who 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 get a word out, she said, "Daddy, I won two of the races!" I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." Ahh. 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!"

A Powerful Parable

A wise woman was traveling in the mountains and she found a precious stone in a stream.

The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him.

She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune.

He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said.

"I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.

Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

Spending Time With God

There was once a little boy who wanted to meet God.

He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase.

He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him the biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "you know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I have ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman also radiant with joy, returned to her home.

Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." But before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Desert Animals

You are in a desert. You have with you the following five animals:
A lion, a cow, a horse, a sheep, and a monkey.
To escape the desert you are going to have to get rid of one of your animals.
Which one do you drop? (You can use whatever logic you like BUT keep track of which animal is discarded when!)

You have 4 animals left.
The desert is burning up! It goes on for miles. Sand is everywhere.
You realize, to get out, you are going to have drop another animal.
Which do you drop?

You have 3 animals left.
Walk, walk, walk.
Hot, hot, hot.
Disaster! The Oasis that you were looking for is dried up! You have no choice but to drop another animal.

You have 2 animals left.
Ok, it's a long hot walk. You can see the edge of the desert way on the horizon.
Unfortunately, you can only leave the desert with ONE animal. Which one do you drop and which one do you keep?

Before looking at the answers, make sure you know which animal you dropped in what order.

These answers are based on Japanese Archetypes.
The desert represents a hardship.

The animals represent . . .
Lion = Pride
Monkey = Your Children
Sheep = friendship
Cow = Basic Needs
Horse = Your Passion.

So, in the face of hardship, you will sacrifice each of these things in turn. Your last animal represents that thing which you cling to at the expense of all others.
Find this interesting??

Dance Like No One is Watching

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.

After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nice car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favourite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza.

He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life.

But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.

Then life would begin.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time . . .and remember that time waits for no one . .

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy . . . Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

--Author Unknown

Shaking Things Up: Banana Blender Surprise
By Doug McBride

When I was in high school there was a local hang-out that was the 60s version of the malt shop. They served organic fruit juices, healthy sandwiches, smoothies, and something called a Banana Blender Surprise. The BBS (not Bulletin Board Service) was a constantly changing concoction of fruit, fruit juice and various herbs and powders that were supposed to give you greater health, vigor, and enhance your appeal to the opposite sex. You never knew what would be in it, or what you would get out of it. That's a lot like our industry and our jobs.

Recently, I spent time with a vendor of support products. They were remarking how the support industry was rapidly integrating with the training side of the business. At ITTA's annual conference, Strategies for Success 96, the buzz was about rapid delivery of smaller and smaller bits of training. Some of the ITTA member companies were announcing their entry into more traditional support related fields. And, many of the courses delivered by the training companies now include modules on various support products.

The biggest obstacle to the on-going consolidation, change, and convergence of our businesses is changing the minds and the mind-sets of the players. We no longer have the luxury of defending our turf. The fact is that what you see as your turf today may be washed away tomorrow, not by the forces of competition, but by the inexorable forces of change. It would be like worrying about the competing store down the street, while a hurricane ran through your town.

So what can you do to grow and profit from this constant change?

Here are some simple rules:

Know what your job is today, and do it well;

Take some time every day to spot a trend in your industry, business or company that is pointing the way toward your duties in the next year;

Be positive. The changes we are experiencing always lead to opportunity;

Be creative. Figure out how to facilitate changes and let your co-workers know your ideas;

Be patient. Good ideas take time to implement. That way they get better with more input;

Forget who owns the idea, especially if it was yours. Every one knows who the leaders are;

and Keep a personal journal. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much has been done, changed, and become better.

Over the next three and a half years, by the year 2000, the Support and Training industries are slated to more than double in size. You are part of it today.

Will you be there, happier, more productive, better paid and more involved?

Only if you learn to be part of the change. Otherwise you will place your order for the Banana Blender Surprise and have no idea what it contains. Reprinted with permission of Service News, Copyright 1996 United Publications August 1996, www.servicesnews.com A recent study at Harvard University revealed that most of the effectiveness of any worker at any job is attitude and people skills. Knowledge of the task had less relationship to long term success than working well with others.

A CEO of a large local utility told me he used to spend 15% of his time on leadership and other process issues and 85% on tasks. Now the proportions are reversed. Why? Because times of radical change require close attention to the people in a system.

In fact, the people ARE the system. Values are not add-ons. Values are intrinsic to effectiveness in the long term.

People, Leadership, Values. Isn't this the heart of training and development?

John Cooney, john.cooney@fmr.com

All the Good Things
by: Sister Helen P. Mrosia

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful. Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving - "Thank you for correcting me, Sister!" I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.

One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice-teacher's mistake. I looked at him and said, "If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!"

It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, "Mark is talking again." I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room.

As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, "Thank you for correcting me, Sister."

At the end of the year I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instructions in the "new math," he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in the third.

One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves - and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, "Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend."

That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" I heard whispered. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone!" "I didn't know others liked me so much!"

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter.

The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.

That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home,Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip - the weather, my experiences in general. There was a slight lull in the conversation.

Mother gave Dad a side-ways glance and simply says, "Dad?" My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. "The Eklunds called last night," he began. "Really?" I said. "I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is."

Dad responded quietly. "Mark was killed in Vietnam," he said. "The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend."

To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark. I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before.

Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was,Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me.

The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral?

It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water.

I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who had acted as pallbearer came up to me. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. "Mark talked about you a lot," he said. After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that" Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime!

Right Now

somebody is very proud of you.
somebody is thinking of you.
somebody is caring about you.
somebody misses you.
somebody wants to talk to you.
somebody wants to be with you.
somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
somebody is thankful for your support.
somebody wants to hold your hand.
somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
somebody wants you to be happy.
somebody wants you to find him/her.
somebody is celebrating your successes.
somebody wants to give you a gift.
somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
somebody hopes you're not too cold, or too hot
somebody wants to hug you.
somebody loves you.
somebody admires your strength.
somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.
somebody wants to go out with you & have a lot of fun.
somebody thinks the world of you.
somebody wants to protect you.
somebody would do anything for you.
somebody wants to be forgiven.
somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.
somebody wants to laugh with you.
somebody remembers you & wishes you were there.
somebody is praising God for you.
somebody needs to know your love is unconditional.
somebody values your advice.
somebody wants to tell you how much they care.
somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
somebody wants to hold you in their arms.
somebody wants YOU to hold them in your arms.
somebody treasures your spirit.
somebody wishes they could STOP time because of you
somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
somebody can't wait to see you.
somebody loves you for who you are
somebody loves the way you make them feel.
somebody wants to be with you.
somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
somebody's glad that you're his/her friend.
somebody wants to be your friend.
somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.
somebody is wishing that you noticed him/her.
somebody wants to get to know you better.
somebody wants to be near you.
somebody misses your advice/guidance.
somebody has faith in you.
somebody trusts you.
somebody needs you to send them this letter
somebody needs your support.
somebody needs you to have faith in them.
somebody will cry when they read this.
somebody needs you to let them be your friend.
somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.

A Native American Elder Once Described His Own Inner Struggles in This Manner:

"Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil.
The other dog is good.
The mean dog fights the good dog all the time.
When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, "The one I feed the most".

Adoption Creed

Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone,
but still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
you didn't grow under my heart,
but in it!

in appreciation of the journey
they made to spend this life with me -
neverending love to my precious ones,

Alyce

The Butterfly,

One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon. A man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had got as far as it could and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly, he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly.

I asked for Strength......... And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom......... And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity......... And God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage......... And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love........ And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors......... And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted...yet I received everything I needed.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Noah's Ark

Don't miss the boat.
Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.
Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
Don't listen to critics; just get on with what has to be done.
Build your future on high ground.
For safety's sake travel in pairs.
Two heads are better than one.
Speed isn't always an advantage; the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
When you're stressed, float awhile.
Remember that amateurs built the Ark; professionals built the Titanic.
Remember that woodpeckers inside are a larger threat than the storm outside.
No matter the storm, when you're one with God there's a rainbow waiting

"I Believe We Cannot Get It Wrong"

Or you could quote Picasso, who loved mistakes, because he believed that, without them, there would be no growth. They were, in his opinion, the tools with which to learn (or change your mind, as Abe would say). They were the stuff of creating, what made him passionately seek for what he wanted to achieve. He didn't believe he could get it wrong, because he (emphatically) stated his belief that everything (predominantly mistakes) leads to what you really want.

This quote and contrast go hand in hand. Contrast serves us by giving us the opportunity to make new decisions. If we make a decision, and we don't like the outcome, no big deal. We are still free to make another decision, the outcome of which will please us more. That's why we can't get it wrong.

This quote is also related to the fact that "the joy is in the journey."

It's a process to come to a decision which makes our hearts sing, and, when we manifest whatever excites us, then we just get to start over again. So, no big deal, we're never going to get it done, because there are going to be new desires erupting over and over again. So, why worry? How could we get it wrong, when we can't ever get it done, anyway?

The Old Grandfather's Table

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

"We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for Papa and Mama to eat their food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let's be wise builders.

An interesting perspective. . .

Take A Few Minutes and Read These and Think About Them Without Going On to the Next One . . . It Does Make You Feel Good . . .

Falling in love.
Laughing so hard your face hurts.
A hot shower.
No lines at the Super Wal-Mart.
A special glance.
Getting mail.
Taking a drive on a pretty road.
Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
Hot towels out of the dryer.
Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
Chocolate milkshake.
A long distance phone call.
A bubble bath.
Giggling.
A good conversation.
The beach.
Finding a$20 bill in your coat from last winter.
Laughing at yourself.
Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
Running through sprinklers.
Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
Laughing at an inside joke.
Friends.
Falling in love for the first time.
Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
Your first kiss.
Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
Playing with a new puppy.
Late night talks with your roommate that keep you from sleeping.
Having someone play with your hair.
Sweet dreams.
Hot chocolate.
Road trips with friends.
Swinging on swings.
Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love.
Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog.
Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.
Going to a really good concert.
Getting butterflies in your stomach every time you see that one person.
Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
Winning a really competitive game.
Making chocolate chip cookies!
Having your friends send you homemade cookies!
Spending time with close friends!
Holding hands with someone you care about.
Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
Discovering that love is unconditional and stronger than time.
Riding the best roller coasters over and over.
Hugging the person you love.
Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.
Watching the sunrise.
Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day........

A Full Box of Kisses

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said,

"This is for you, Daddy."

He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness. It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family or your spirituality. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Slow Dance

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

My Special List

I have a list of folks I know...
all written in a book,
And every now and then.
I go and take a look.
That is when I realize
these names... they are a part,
not of the book they're written in...
but taken from the heart.
For each Name stands for someone...
who has crossed my path sometime,
and in that meeting they have become...
the reason and the rhyme.
Although it sounds fantastic...
for me to make this claim,
I really am composed...
of each remembered name.
Although you're not aware...
of any special link,
just knowing you, has shaped my life...
more than you could think.
So please don't think my greeting...
as just a mere routine,
your name was not...
forgotten in between.
For when I send a greeting...
that is addressed to you,
it is because you're on the list...
of folks I'm indebted to.
So whether I have known you...
for many days or few,
in some ways you have a part...
in shaping things I do.
I am but a total...
of many folks I've met,
you are a friend I would prefer...
never to forget.
Thank you for being my friend!

Angels, Once in a While

In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave 15 dollars a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress. I loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck.

The kids stayed, crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince whomever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when and the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel. When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added another strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.

One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana? I wondered. I made a deal with the owner of the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boy's pants and soon they would be too far-gone to repair. On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. These were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.

When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning I hurried to the car. I was hoping the kids wouldn't wake up before I managed to get home and get the presents from the basement and place them under the tree. (We had cut down a small cedar tree by the side of the road down by the dump.) It was still dark and I couldn't see much, but there appeared to be some dark shadows in the car-or was that just a trick of the night?

Something certainly looked different, but it was hard to tell what. When I reached the car I peered warily into one of the side windows. Then my jaw dropped in amazement. My old battered Chevy was full-full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, scrambled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was a whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes: There were candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries.

There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was a whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll. As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December.

And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.

I BELIEVE IN ANGELS! They live next door, around the corner, work in your office, patrol your neighborhood, call you at midnight to hear you laugh and listen to you cry, teach your children, and you see them everyday without even knowing it!.

Time

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!!!! Each of us as such a bank.

Its name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you.

Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow." You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!

The clock is running.

Make the most of today.

To realise the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realise the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realise the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realise the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realise the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realise the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realise the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

And remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!!

Beauty Tips

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise,
Walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed,revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
Never throw out anybody.
Remember, If you ever need a helping hand,you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands,one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows,
And the beauty of a woman with passing years-only grows!

The Rose

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell.

With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II.

During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like.

When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.

I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:

A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably, I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl.

A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible; her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle.

I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment.

"I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"

The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son, she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive.

"Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "And I will tell you who you are."

Special High Intensity Training (S.H.I.T.)

In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well trained through our program of SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (S.H.I.T.).

We are trying to give employees more S.H.I.T. than anyone else. If you feel that you do not receive your share of S.H.I.T. on the job, please see your manager. You will be immediately placed at the top of the S.H.I.T. list, and our managers are especially skilled at seeing that you get all the S.H.I.T. you can handle.

Employees who don't take their S.H.I.T. will be placed in DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEE EVALUATION PROGRAMS (D.E.E.P S.H.I.T.). Those who fail to take D.E.E.P S.H.I.T. seriously will have to go to EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TRAINING (E.A.T. S.H.I.T.).

Since our managers took S.H.I.T. before they were promoted, they don't have to do S.H.I.T. anymore, and are all full of S.H.I.T. already. If you are full of S.H.I.T., you may be interested in a job training of others.

We can add your name to our BASIC UNDERSTANDING LECTURE LIST (B.U.L.L. S.H.I.T.). Those who are full of B.U.L.L. S.H.I.T. will get the S.H.I.T. jobs, and can apply for promotion to DIRECTOR OF INTENSITY PROGRAMMING (D.I.P. S.H.I.T.).

If you have further questions, please direct them to our HEAD OF TRAINING, SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (H.O.T. S.H.I.T.).

If you have been inspired by a story, book, music, site,or person, please send it to us.