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Health, Disease and Spirituality
A Conversation with Michael Bernard Beckwith
Interview by Matt Laughlin

(Click here for the interview)

Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center, and founder and president of the University of Transformational Studies and Leadership located at the Los Angeles headquarters of the Agape Movement. As co-founder and president of the Association for Global New Thought (AGNT), convener of the Synthesis Dialogues, he sits on panels every other year with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His trans-religious spiritual community has a local membership of thousands, with hundreds of thousands of friends worldwide, as well as regional and international affiliates.

Agape’s humanitarian programs feed the homeless, support individuals who are incarcerated, and partnership with other non-profit agencies active in children’s schools, with youth at risk, and those that advocate the preservation of the earth’s resources. Agape’s global humanitarian programs support orphanages, schools, libraries, clinics, homes for unwed mothers, and partnered with AGNT in the construction of an Eco Village for the Sarvodaya Foundation founded by Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Beckwith is an international speaker and teacher of meditation, affirmative prayer, and is the originator of the Life Visioning Process. He is the author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Purpose, Inspirations of the Heart, Forty Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, and A Manifesto of Peace. He has appeared in the film and book The Secret, and has been a guest on The Ophra Show and Larry King Live.

(Click here for the interview)

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Patience is a Skill

Someone once said that anger is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die. Impatience is similarly ridiculous.

You’re in a rush, a salesperson is moving in slow motion, and you’re ready to kill. The problem is, the person you’re torturing is your own pitiful self: Your nerves are shredding, stress hormones are streaking through your body, and your heart’s racing with scenarios of the tragedies that will ensue from being late.

And you’re not accomplishing a thing. Your frenzy is useless. You’re trying to squirm out of the present into the future: Good luck with that. You are irrevocably and inescapably stuck in the moment—your feet are tied to it; you are a spoke in time’s wheel.

Writhe and holler as much as you want, you’re not going anywhere. You are here. Immobile behind the customer with the endless questions, on the street with a tantrum-throwing child, at dinner with your husband who’s telling that story yet again while you almost expire of lethal boredom.
There is an antidote, however, and its very name—patience—makes me ache with boredom. It speaks of self-control, restraint, delayed gratification. What is less fun? Impulsivity, intensity, drama—now we’re talking!

But after years of twisting and burning in the fires of impatience, I’ve come to appreciate patience as the supreme medicine. Apply patience, and frustration goes away, outrage cools, peace is yours. 

The revelation for me was that patience is a skill, not an inherited trait I happened not to inherit. It leads to relaxation, not self-harnessing. It gives you the freedom to have a pleasant time even when the traffic gods are playing with you. It converts the helpless rage of impatience into a delicious sense of spaciousness. See for yourself:

1. First thing: Just stop. Catch the mind ranting that you shouldn’t be in this situation—because you are. Give up the fight. You’ve lost the battle, but not the war.

2. Settle into the moment. You might feel your body ease down, yielding to gravity (wise move). Your shoulders and belly relax, your jaw too.

3. Go into your body with your mind’s eye and find out how you know you’re impatient. Are you tight, tense, breathing shallowly, clenching, jiggling? Where exactly? Focus on those sensations as closely as you can. Touch them with your mind.

4. See if you can open any tightness, breathe into any clenching. With a really ornery knot, give up trying to fix it and see if you can welcome it, make room for it.

Once your brain cools down, your powers of reason return. You thank God for cell phones and call to say you’ll be late. You figure out how you can make up the minutes or hours lost to traffic. You understand your husband is telling the story again because he’s nervous, and that kind of touches you. And really, it’s all going to be okay.

When you give up the fight, you get time. Time stretches. You sink into the moment, and it seems infinite. You have all the time in the world.

—Amy Gross, Oprah.com

---

“I don’t know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do
many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to
forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes—it is inevitable.
But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, ‘well, if I’d
known better I’d have done better,’ that’s all.

So you say to people who you think you may have injured, ‘I’m sorry,’ and then you
say to yourself, ‘I’m sorry.’ If we all hold on to the mistake, we can’t see our own glory
in the mirror because we have the mistake between our faces and the mirror;
we can’t see what we’re capable of being. You can ask forgiveness of others,
but in the end the real forgiveness is in one’s own self.

 

---

Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this! Bill Gates recently gave
a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school.
He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings has created a generation of kids
with no concept of reality and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1
Life is not fair—get used to it! 

Rule 2
The world won't care about your self-esteem.
The world will expect you to accomplish something
BEFORE you feel good about yourself. 

Rule 3
You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school.
You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. 

Rule 4
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. 

Rule 5
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a
different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. 

Rule 6
If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault,
so don't whine about your mistakes,  learn from them. 

Rule 7
Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now.
They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you
talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the
parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. 

Rule 8
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT.
In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as
MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer.
This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. 

Rule 9
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers
are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. 

Rule 10
Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have
to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. 

Rule 11
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

---

Walking

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty.
She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the heck she is.
—Ellen Degeneres

Just for laughs. Have a great day.

---

Extraordinary Mothers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“I’ve heard claims that we can wish our way to perfect, permanent wellness, but I haven’t seen any proof of that. Sickness and death are part of life. But you can optimize your life through lifestyle choices—how you live, eat, emote, and think—determines your health. To prevent disease, you may have to change how you live.”

—Brian Carter

---

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen.
Just listen.
Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention...
A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect the most well-intentioned words.

—Rachel Naomi Remen

---

Foresight

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”
—Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
—Thomas Watson (1874-1956), Chairman of IBM, in 1943

“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to
earn better than a ‘C’, the idea must be feasible.”
—A Yale University management professor, in response to student Fred Smith’s paper proposing reliable
overnight delivery service (Smith went on to found Fed Ex)

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.”
—Bill Gates, on the notion that 640 KB (kilobytes) would be enough memory for the average computer, 1981.

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”
—Decca Recording Company, rejecting the Beatles, in 1962

“Do you think stomach ulcers could be caused by infections?”
—Barry Marshall, posing the question to a colleague at the University of Western Australia, 1979. Twenty six years later (2005), Barry Marshall was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering that a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori causes most cases of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. He reversed decades of medical doctrine which held that ulcers were caused by stress, spicy foods, and too much acid.  

---

WILL POWER

Perhaps you think the dog above may be imitating the man.....

...or merely entertaining a group of students.

Now have a closer look. What is the message here?

This dog receives respect... warm welcomes everywhere....

...and pats on his shoulder. He is stand-alone.

The doors are only open to those who believe in themselves
and have the will power to rise above life’s challenges.

---

Louise Hay’s Four Daily Affirmations

1. All is well.

2. Everything is working out for my highest good.

3. Out of this experience only good will come.

4. I am safe.

—Excerpt from Louise Hay’s book and DVD, “You Can Heal Your Life”

---

A Pebble

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

— James W. Foley

---

When you’re really present, you are
out of reaction, and into a state of creation.

Being in the moment enables you to see
what is within your ability to create.

—Stacey Robyn

---

Stressed?
Treat yourself well, choose natural stress relief.

Natural ways for relieving stress have been used successfully for many years. There are almost as many ways to deal naturally with stress as there are all those things that cause us to feel stressed to begin with.

We’ve all heard about the bad things stress can do to our health. It’s important for us to have as many resources as possible to help us cope and feel better.

Best choices for natural stress relief
When you’re first feeling stressed, close your eyes and breathe, slowly, in through your nose out through your mouth. Focus on your breathing, really think about it how it feels. I have found if I can just refocus my thoughts I relax and feel better. Or try focusing on an object, you know like they teach in child birth classes, focus and breathe. Try it.

Focus on the present moment versus living in the future or dwelling on the past. This is a hard one, but well worth it.

What has worked for me is to simplify by having less stuff. It is an ongoing thing for me but I am taking a good look at everything around my  house and deciding if I really need it or love it.

I’m learning to let things go. Maybe someone else can use or appreciate it. Buying less also helps. I’ve been putting more thought in to my purchases and trying to buy high quality things I really love or need. I have found this has helped me on many levels. I spend less, enjoy my purchases more and don’t have as many things lying around.

I feel less cluttered. It feels good. And it actually helps the messes feel not so bad. How? Well I have found that I have the habit of dumping all my stuff in one place, my kitchen counters. But with less clutter throughout the house, clutter on the counter is manageable and doesn’t seem to bother me as much. I have other areas where I can look and see simplicity.

Value yourself and your health and make a commitment to find something that works for you. Maybe one small idea will work.

—Natural Living For Women

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ATTITUDE

There once was a woman who woke up
one morning, looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. 
“Well,” she said, “I think I’ll braid my hair today.”
So she did and she had a wonderful day. 

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
“Hmm,” she said,
“I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.” 
So she did and she had a grand day. 

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed 
that she had only one hair on her head. 
“Well,” she said, “today I’m going
to wear my hair in a pony tail.”
So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, 
looked in the mirror and noticed 
that there wasn’t a single hair on her head.
“YAY!” she exclaimed.
“I don’t have to fix my hair today!”
 
Attitude is huge.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly...
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass...
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

---

Seven Steps to Happiness

You can make yourself happier—and this doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next hour, check off as many of the following items as possible. Each of these accomplishments will lift your mood, as will the mere fact that you’ve tackled and achieved some concrete goals.

Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal. To the contrary. Studies show that happier people are more sociable, likeable, healthy, and productive—and they’re more inclined to help other people.
So in working to boost your own happiness, you’re benefiting others as well.

Feel happier yet?

—The Happiness Project 

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“If you don’t take care of your body where are you going to live?”

—Lendon Smith, MD

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Chasing Two Rabbits

A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question. “I’d like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts. In addition to learning from you, I would like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you think of this idea?”

“The hunter who chases two rabbits,” answered the master,
“catches neither one.”

---

Everybody Was Sure

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody would not do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

---

Two Days We Should Not Worry
Author Unknown

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

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed;
we cannot erase a single word we said.
Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow
with all its possible adversities, its burdens,
its large promise and its poor performance;
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise,
either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow,
for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today.
Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens of those
two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad,
it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday
and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.

---

A Jar of Rocks

A while back I was reading about an expert on subject of time management. One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget. After I share it with you, you’ll never forget it either.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.”

Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”
Everyone in the class said, “Yes.”

Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered.

“Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

The title of this letter is The “Big Rocks” of Life. What are the big rocks in your life? A project that YOU want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.

So, tonight or in the morning when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the “big rocks” in my life or business? Then, put those in your jar.

—Contributed by Ken Fussichen

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Six Dollar Haircuts

This is a true story about a third generation barber in a small community in the Midwest. The shop had been handed down from his grandfather and developed not just a hair salon but more of a community center where the farmers and families would come in not only to get their hair done, but enjoy the coffee and donut bar and spend time with their neighbors sharing the news of their farms and families. This shop had grown to include 10 stylists who cut all the men’s hair and all the women’s hair in the community.

The owner’s son came home from graduate school over spring break, to find his father depressed and reclusive. Finally getting his father to share what the problem was, the father confided that there was a new, national chain that had been moving across the country, bringing in cheap hair salons into all of the different communities and driving everyone out of business. And so, even though the community had loved all of the work that he had done, the perms and the haircuts and the styles over the years, right down the street opened up this new shop. It offered six dollar haircuts. Person after person had left to go to the new low cost shop.

The father told his son, “There is absolutely NO way I can compete with $6.00 haircuts. So much of my clientele has now gone to the new shop that I have no choice but to close our shop. After three generations, we are going bankrupt. I can’t pay the stylists or the overhead anymore,” he despondently said with his hands covering his face so his son would not see the tears rolling out of his eyes.

The son said, “You know, this last semester I took a ‘science of success’ program that was offered for extra credit in my marketing class. One thing I learned was something that Einstein said. He said that ‘The significant problems we face can never be solved at the level of thinking of the problem.’ So, Dad, we have to find another way to think about this. We’ve got to find another way to see this. Another one of the strategies I learned may help us.”

So the son left the room and brought back a notebook and a pen. He told the Dad about “Masterminding”, a strategy introduced in the 1930's by Napoleon Hill who had been commissioned by Andrew Carnegie to study the patterns of extremely successful people.

“Here’s what we do. We let ourselves think of any idea that comes to mind and we write it down. No editing. We get a flow of ideas for 15-20 minutes and try to get as many as possible. No idea is off limits. Let’s go.”

The father said, “Well, the only idea I’ve got is..close the shop!” The son said, “Well, you’re right that IS an idea.” He wrote it down. Then the son said, “Ok, let's keep going.” Before long the son and the father started getting a flow of ideas and writing down every one of them, even every crazy thing that came to mind. When they finished, one of the ideas absolutely jumped off the page and they looked at each other in astonishment and said, “This just might work!” The son left the next day to go back to college.

The father implemented the idea. Within 6 weeks, not only had his drop in clientele completely returned, but the number of customers was now 11% higher than ever in the history of the shop. Do you know what the idea was that turned sure failure into a new course of increasing success?

The idea was: Place a BIG sign on top of the shop that read,

”WE FIX SIX DOLLAR HAIRCUTS!!”

This story has meant a great deal to me particularly when I am tempted to think that the problem is “out there” in the land of circumstances. Any time I think the problem is “out there”, THAT THOUGHT is the problem. As Einstein said, “The significant problems we face can not be solved at the level of the problem.” Learning to think in a new way brings Freedom and Power.

—Mary Manin Morrissey

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Symptoms of Inner Peace

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

• A tendency to think and act spontaneously
rather than on fears based on past experiences.

• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

• A loss of interest in judging other people.

• A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

• A loss of interest in conflict.

• A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)

• Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

• Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

• Frequent attacks of smiling.

• An increasing tendency to let things happen
rather than make them happen.

• An increased susceptibility to the love extended
by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

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RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Take twelve whole months.

Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate, and jealousy.
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.

Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or thirty-one
different parts, but don't make up the whole batch at once.
Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.

Mix well into each day one part of faith, one part of
patience, one part of courage, and one part of work.

Add to each day one part of hope, faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.
Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation, and one good deed.

Season the whole with a dash of good spirits, a sprinkle of fun,
a pinch of play, and a cupful of good humor.

Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy, garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness.

You're bound to have a happy new year.

— Author Unknown

---

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings
but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more,
but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller
families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little,
watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not
life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble
crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not
inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom,
but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more
information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce,
fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything
from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time
when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe,
because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it
doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones,
but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from
deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share
the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

—George Carlin

---

I’ve learned.... That the best classroom in the
world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I’ve learned.... That when you’re
in love, it shows.

I’ve learned.... That just one person saying to
me, "You’ve made my day!" makes my day.

I’ve learned.... That having a child fall asleep
in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings
in the world.

I’ve learned.... That being kind is more
important than being right.

I’ve learned.... That you should never say no to
a gift from a child.

I’ve learned.... That I can always pray for
someone when I don’t have the strength to help
him in some other way.

I’ve learned.... That no matter how serious your
life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend
to act goofy with.

I’ve learned.... That sometimes all a person
needs is a hand to hold and a heart to
understand.

I’ve learned.... That simple walks with my father
around the block on summer nights when I was a
child did wonders for me as an adult.

I’ve learned.... That life is like a roll of
toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the
faster it goes.

I’ve learned.... That we should be glad God
doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

I’ve learned.... That money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve learned.... That it’s those small daily
happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve learned... That under everyone’s hard shell
is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned.... That to ignore the facts does
not change the facts.

I’ve learned.... That when you plan to get even
with someone, you are only letting that person
continue to hurt you.

I’ve learned.... That love, not time, heals all
wounds.

I’ve learned.... That the easiest way for me to
grow as a person is to surround myself with
people smarter than I am.

I’ve learned.... That everyone you meet deserves
to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned.... That no one is perfect until you
fall in love with them.

I’ve learned.. That life is tough, but I’m
tougher.

I’ve learned.... That opportunities are never
lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve learned.... That when you harbor bitterness,
happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned.... That I wish I could have told my
Mom that I love her one more time before she
passed away.

I’ve learned.... That one should keep his words
both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may
have to eat them.

I’ve learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive
way to improve your looks.

I’ve learned.... That when your newly born
grandchild holds your little finger in his little
fist, that you’re hooked for life.

I’ve learned.... That everyone wants to live on
top of the mountain, but all the happiness and
growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve learned.... That the less time I have to
work with, the more things I get done.

—Andy Rooney

---

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

—Maya Angelou 

---

Once there was an old man who was very poor but content and happy. 
All he had in the world were a small parcel of land, his humble cottage, and old horse and able son. 
One night, the horse ran away.  When the old man’s neighbors heard of this, they came as a group
to give their condolences and said to him: “This is indeed a great misfortune.” 
But the old man replied, “Maybe,” and smiled. 

The neighbors were surprised and thought him to be a bit strange
as they departed. The next night the old man heard a great racket outside his cottage.
His horse had returned, but not alone.  It had returned with several other young wild horses
and led them straight into the old man’s corral. 

The next day, the neighbors returned.  This time, they were very joyous and
said to the old man: “Surely, good fortune smiles upon you from heaven.” 
The old man smiled as before and again replied, Maybe.”  

His neighbors thought him ungrateful and perhaps a little disturbed and muttered
amongst themselves as they left.  Soon it became time to tame the wild horses and the old man’s
son tried to mount one to begin the process.  He was immediately thrown and broke his leg. 

The neighbors, upon hearing of this and being a genuinely concerned neighborly group,
once again returned as a group to the old man’s home to offer their condolences. 
Once again, in spite of the hardship this would undoubtedly bear upon the old man,
he merely smiled and said, “Maybe.” 

This time the neighbors left in disgust, thinking the old man to be a fool, or perhaps senile. 
The next day, however, conscription soldiers poured through the village,
forcing all the young men to join them.  The local lord was going off to war and these young men
were to be his pawns.  When these soldiers came to the old man’s cottage, they found the son to
be unable to walk and therefore of no use as a soldier.  They left him behind. 

Soon, the neighbors came to the old man again, some weeping because their sons
had been taken, perhaps never to return.  They saw that the old man’s son was still in his bed,
his leg with a splint and bandaged.  They said to the old man: “You are indeed a lucky man.” 
The old man smiled gently and said only, “Maybe.”

The neighbors stood quietly for some time.  Gradually, they too began to smile and
nod their heads.  And as they departed, they too could be heard saying to one another: “Maybe.”

---

The Magic Of Love

Love is like magic
And it always will be.
For love still remains
Life's sweet mystery!!
Love works in ways
That are wondrous and strange
And there's nothing in life
That love cannot change!!
Love can transform
The most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor
And sweetness and grace.
Love is unselfish,
Understanding and kind,
For it sees with its heart
And not with its mind!!
Love is the answer
That everyone seeks...
Love is the language,
That every heart speaks.
Love can't be bought,
It is priceless and free,
Love, like pure magic,
Is life's sweet mystery!!

—Helen Steiner Rice

---

An elderly Hungarian woman had two large pots, each hung on the
ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house,
the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing
home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,
and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to
the woman one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in
my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your
side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?”

“That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your
side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.”

“For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would
not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that
make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

---

“Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the
advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved.
The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory.”

—Susan B. Anthony

---

Sandcastles

Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.

A little boy is on the beach. On his knees he scoops and packs
the sand with plastic shovels into a bright red bucket. Then he upends the bucket on the surface and
lifts it. And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.

All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries.
Popsicle sticks will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.

Big city. Busy streets. Rumbling traffic.

A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments.
He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers. Numbers are
juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made.

All his life he will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future.
Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges. An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles. They have much in common. They shape granules into grandeurs.
They see nothing and make something. They are diligent and determined. And for both the tide
will rise and the end will come.

Yet that is where the similarities cease.
For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it. Watch the boy as the dusk approaches.

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap.
There is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised.
And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles.
He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home.

The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified.
He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from the walls he
has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide.

"It's my castle," he defies.

The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs...

And I don't know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn.
Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart. When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud.
Salute the process of life and go home.

---

The Real Meaning Of Peace

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist
who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists
tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there
were only two he really liked, and he had to choose
between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a
perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it.
Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect
picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too.
But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky,
from which rain fell and in which lightning played.
Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall.
This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a
tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had
built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water,
sat the mother bird on her nest—in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?
The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where
there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those
things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

Author Unknown

---

The Triple Filter Test

In ancient Greece, scholar and intellectual, Socrates was
reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said,
"Do you know what I just heard about one of your friends?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied.

"Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test.
It's called the Triple Filter Test." "Triple filter?" asked the man.
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might
be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say.
That's why I call it the triple filter test.

The first filter is Truth.
Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and wanted to tell it to you"

"All right," said Socrates. " So you don't really know if it's true or not.

Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness.
Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"No, on the contrary, it is bad "

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him,
but you're not certain it's true.

You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of Usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really." Replied the man.

"Well," concluded Socrates, If what you want to tell me is not true,
not good, nor even useful, why tell me at all?"

Unknown author

---

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong.
Because someday in life you will have been all of those.”

— George Washington Carver

---

What nourishes me is not food alone. It does appease my hunger and
restore my energy. What feeds me is the love displayed by those who are willing
to prepare a meal for me. The love that goes into the preparation is tasted in
every bite. Their desire and intention alter the food and make its effects transcend
mere nutritive and caloric values.

What nourished us all are relationships, love, joy, and all the good feelings
we are capable of experiencing. We need to be touched physically and
emotionally to be nourished. The untouched child does not thrive;
the touched child fed the same amount as an untouched one gains
weight 50 percent faster.

We need to designate touch and love as essential vitamins and minerals
for our survival. They need to be a part of the diet pyramid. Without them,
what enters us does not become metabolized and used to create life.
Learn to ingest what you need. Each person’s diet may vary.
Find your unique form of nourishment.

—Dr. Bernie S. Siegel

---

A Carrot, Egg and Coffee Beans

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things
were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and
wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.
It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each
on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first she placed carrots,
in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans.
She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and
placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she
ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to
feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

She then asked her to take an egg and break it.
After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked. "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--
boiling water--but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior.
But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however.
After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door,
how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity,
do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other
trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the
inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water,
the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases
the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst,
you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

---

The Starfish

A vacationing businessman was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy.
Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were
sure to die before the tide turned. The boy walking slowly along the shore and
occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean.

The businessman, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense,
walked up to the little boy and said, “I have been watching what you are doing, son.
You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many starfish
are dying on every beach each day?

Surely, such an industrious and kind hearted boy
such as yourself could find something better to do with your time.
Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?”

The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at the starfish by his feet.
He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed in back into the ocean,
he said, “it makes a difference to that one.”

---

Erase the Blackboard

My mind is a blackboard.
My thoughts are the chalk.
My wisdom is the eraser.

If I fail to use the eraser,
it is only a matter of time
until the blackboard becomes illegible.

—Dr. Ron Watson

---

HOW POOR ARE WE?

One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm
purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a
very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“Very good Dad!” replied his son.“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.
“Yeah!” said his son.

And what did you learn?”

The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard,
they have a whole horizon.” When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, “Thank you, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!”

Our outlook on life depends on the way you look at things.
What others may think as riches, others may want. The most important things in life
are your friends, family, health, good humour and a positive attitude towards life.
If you have these then you have everything!

---

“Don't just do something ... Sit there!”

—Sylvia Boorstein

---

Start With Yourself

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world
would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to
change only my country. But, it too seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me,
but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize if l had only changed
myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better
my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

from Chicken Soup for the Soul

---

Calming the Monkey-Mind

Our thoughts can be like a thousand monkeys in a tree, swinging by their tails,
arms, and legs from branch to branch, grabbing at each other and then whisking away.
Monkey-thoughts especially love to dwell on fleas, those things that bug or irritate us –
picking, scratching, and biting at our minds until our feelings fester. It doesn’t have to be so.
We are in charge of our thoughts.

Because learning to be in charge of our minds is one of the most difficult and
frustrating tasks we have, it is tempting to give up and remain at the mercy of
limiting and fearful thoughts. It takes courage to persevere in taming our minds,
but it is essential for our well-being. We need to believe with our whole hearts
and minds that we can control what we think, and then practice that
knowledge with diligence and patience.

So when we notice our monkey-mind concentrating on fleas, we can distract it
with thoughts of bananas, love, or thankfulness. If the branch our thoughts are
swinging from is perilous to our peace of mind, we can choose to jump to
another more soothing one. We can decide what we allow our mind to
concentrate on, but we need to be gentle with ourselves as we calm our monkey-mind,
because doing so is a life-long process.

I am in charge of my mind.
I choose to think healing, loving,
and thankful thoughts.
I have the power to create peaceful thoughts
even in stressful situations.

---

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer
tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed
to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit
his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of
the animal, he would shake it off and step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up
over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a
step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the
deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!

Shake it off and take a step up.

---

Finding Meaning in Pain

We do not seek meaning, serenity, or answers when our life is stable and peaceful. 
We accept our good fortune and don't question our beliefs. 
But when life blesses us with afflictions, diseases, death or loss, the search begins.
 
Pain is the unwanted gift that defines and protects us. 
You would literally lose parts of your body, and ultimately your life, if you were numb
to all experiences. Yet our society promotes numbness in so many ways.
 
The bitter pill of grief and pain is what starts the search for serenity. 
Taste the bitterness of life and feel the discomfort.  Accept and learn from your pain,
and it will lead you to a place of meaning and wisdom.
 
Our afflictions are not imposed by the Divine.
Rather, they lead us to the Divine more often than our joys do.
Do not resist the bitter pills in your life;
know that they will lead you to a greater awareness.

—Dr. Bernie S. Siegel

---

A Simple Smile

A smile is the light in your window that tells others
that there is a caring, sharing person inside.

Life is short but a smile takes barely a second.

Every tear has a smile behind it.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

A good neighbor is a fellow who smiles at you over
the back fence, but doesn't climb over it.

If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours.

A smile starts on the lips, A grin spreads to the eyes,

A chuckle comes from the belly; But a good laugh bursts
forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.

Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.

Too often we underestimate the power of a smile,
which have the potential to turn a life around.

Smiles are the language of love.

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress,
and grows brave by reflection.

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.

All people smile in the same language.

Children smile on the average 400 times per day;
Adults:15 times per day.
Ever wonder why?

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

If I thought that a smile of mine, might linger
the whole day through and lighten some heart with a heavier part,
I'd not withhold it -- Would you?

Smile because we all this beautiful gift to offer.

If you look closely, even your animals smile when they’re happy.

Smile, not because it costs you or not,
but because you can make someone smile and make their day.

---

There I Grow Again

Don't Worry
If you have problems

Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I know.

But the only people I am aware of who don't have troubles
are gathered in little neighborhoods.

Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries.

If you're breathing, you have difficulties.

It's the way of life. And believe it or not, most of your
problems may actually be good for you.

Let me explain.

Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching
some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia.

Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef.

On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question.

"I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless,
while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful," a traveler observed. "Why is this?"

The guide gave an interesting answer: "The coral around the lagoon
side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early.

The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind,
waves, storms - surges of power.

It has to fight for survival every day of it's life. As it is challenged
and tested it changes and adapts.

It grows healthy. It grows strong.
And it reproduces."

Then he added this telling note:
"That's the way it is with every living organism."

That is how it is with people.

Challenged and tested, we come alive.
Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow.

Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger.

Mental and emotional stress can produce
tough-mindedness and resiliency.

Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness.

So, you have problems - no problem.
Just tell yourself, "There I grow again."

---

AN EARTH WORTH SAVING

---

Don't Change the World

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country.
One day, he went on a trip to some distant areas of his country. After he had returned to his
palace, he complained that his feet were very painful.

It was the first time that he had gone for such a long trip, and the roads that he had traveled on
were very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire
country with leather. Definitely, this would need thousands of cows' skin,
and would cost a huge amount of money.

Then one of his wise servant dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that
unnecessary amount of money? Why don't you just cut a little piece of leather
to cover your feet?"

The king was surprised, but he later agreed to this suggestion and had shoes made for himself.

There is actually a valuable lesson of life in this story:
To make this world a happy place to live,
you better change yourself – your heart; and not the world.

---

An Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway.
Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.
Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear,
but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.
Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move
the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining,
he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse
laying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a
note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the
boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand.
 
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

---

Always Remember Those Who Serve

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much
less, a ten year old boy entered a hotel 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?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket
and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table
and the waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the
table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream,
paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she
wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were
two nickels and five pennies. You see, he didn’t choose the sundae because
he wanted to have enough money to leave her a tip.

—Author Unknown

---

Do you remember love?

A short film by James Jacobson

"I wrote this poem as a tribute to Maui, my tiny Maltese terrier,
who is alive and well at 98 (14 in human years).

Maui has been an inspiration for me over the course of her short life.
She has taught me the meaning of true unconditional love,
and I will be grateful to her forever."  — James Jacobson

Click Here for Movie.

Movie will open in a separate window

---

A Walk In The Mountains
Author Unknown

A son and his father were walking in the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."

And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"

Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.

It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
Your life is not a coincidence.
It's a reflection of you!

---

Fern and Bamboo

One day I decided to quit...quit my job, my relationship,
my spirituality...I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have a talk with Mother Nature.

“Mother”, I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
Her answer surprised me... "Look around", she said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern
 grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit," she said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was
seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle. Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. Please do not quit on yourself. Don't compare yourself to others," she said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come. You will rise high!"

“How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?”, she asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes,” she said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see things a little differently. Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness. Bad days give you experiences. Both are essential to life. Keep going.

Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong, sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble, success keeps you glowing, but only you keeps you going! Try not to undermine your worth by comparing yourself to others. It is the differences among us that make us so special.

---

Whale Beauty from British Columbia

---

Are Your Potatoes Heavy?

A wise teacher once told each of her tenth grade students to bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to school. For every person they refused to forgive, they had to choose a potato, write the person's name on it, write the date on it, and put it in the plastic bag.

In time, many of the students' plastic bags were quite heavy.

They were then told to carry the potatoes with them everywhere they went for one week.

They were instructed to put the bag next to their bed at night, on the car seat while traveling,

and next to their desk at school.

The students soon learned that the bag was quite a burden.

The hassle of lugging around the heavy potatoes helped them recognize the mental

weight they carried by not forgiving others. 

This is a great metaphor for the price we pay for focusing on grudges and the

heavy negativity that is attached. Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person,

yet it is clearly beneficial to the the forgiver.

---

a simple smile

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindnesses of a friend
And wrote him a thank you letter.

The friend was so pleased with the thank you
That he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
Bet the whole thing on a hunch.

The next day she picked up her winnings,
And gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he’d had nothing to eat.

After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room.
He didn't know at that moment that he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy.

And took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fire.

The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked till he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm.

One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn’t cost a cent.

---

Installing Love

Tech Support: Yes, how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I’ve decided to install Love.
Can you guide me though the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I’m not very technical, but I think I’m ready.
What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart.
Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now.
Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer: Let’s see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge
and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your
current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but
it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override
Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem.
However, you’ve got to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment.
They prevent Love from being properly installed.
You have to turn them off.

Customer: I don’t know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness.
Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and
Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program.
You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already.
It says, “Error. Program not run on external components”
What should I do?

Tech Support: Don’t worry. It means that the Love program is set up to
run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart.
In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to
Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files:
Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the “My Heart” directory. The system
will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming.
Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and
empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never
comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is
playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying
themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually
everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running.
One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it
and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share
it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you!

—Author Unknown

---

diamonds, gold rings, and pearls and precious gems in his display window.

One day a very poor, humble man stood in the street gazing at

the beautiful jewellery. He stood there for a long time, just looking,

then walked into the shop and thanked the jeweller.

“Thank you so much for allowing me to admire these wonderful gems,” he said.

“Why should you thank me?” the jeweler asked, “I’m not giving them to you.”

The poor man said, “Oh, I’m very content just admiring them.

After all, admiring jewellery is the only reason for having it,

no matter how rich you are. You know, really, the only difference

between me and a rich man is that he has all the worries about

his jewels being stolen, while I have only the

pleasure of enjoying their beauty.”

 

—Author Unknown

---

Limping puppy

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale".
Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough,
a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign.

"How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.
The store owner replied, " Anywhere from $30 to $50."
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change.
"I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"

The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady,
who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.
One puppy was lagging considerably behind.
Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said,
"What's wrong with that little dog?"

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy
and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp.
It would always be lame. The little boy became excited.
"That is the little puppy that I want to buy."
The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog.
If you reallly want him, I'll give him to you."

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes,
pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth
every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price.
In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog.
He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."

To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal
a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace.
He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself,
and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

—Victor and Diane Chew

---

The ruler of a prosperous kingdom sends for one of his messengers.
When he arrives the King tells him to go out and find the worst thing in the
entire world, and bring it back within a few days.

The messenger departs, and returns days later, empty-handed.

Puzzled, the Kings asks, “What have you discovered? I don't see anything.”
The messenger says, “Right here, Your Majesty,” and sticks out his tongue.
Bewildered the King asks the young man to explain.

The messenger says, “My tongue is the worst thing in the world.
My tongue can do many horrible things. My tongue speaks evil and tells lies.
I can overindulge with my tongue which leaves me feeling tired and sick,
and I can say things that hurt other people. My tongue is the worst thing in the world.”

Pleased, the King then commands the messenger to go out
and find him the best thing in the entire world.

The messenger leaves hurriedly, and once again he comes back
days later with nothing in his hands. “Where is it?” the King shouts out.

Again, the messenger sticks out his tongue.

“Show me,” the Kings says. “How can it be?”
The messenger replies, “My tongue is the best thing in the world,

my tongue is a messenger of love. Only with my tongue can

I express the overwhelming beauty of poetry.
My tongue teaches me refinement in tastes and guides me to

choose foods that will nourish my body.”

The King is well satisfied, and he appoints the messenger to
become foremost among his personal advisors.

—Author Unknown

---

Abundance is a State of Mind

A rich man was fishing next to his mansion on a lake, when a poor man, using
only a stick and a string, sat down about fifty yards away.
Within an hour, the poor man caught two fish and went home.

This same scene was repeated day after day for two years,
until finally the rich man approached the poor man and
said, “I’ve been watching you and considering your situation. If I were you,
I’d fish a couple more hours each day and sell the additional fish in the marketplace.
After six months, you could earn enough money to buy a small boat and new
fishing equipment. Soon you could earn enough money to start a real business.
Then you could hire other people to fish for you,
and then you could do anything you wanted for as long as you wanted.”

The poor man thought about this for a moment and then
replied, “To tell you the truth, sir, that is exactly how I am living my life now.”

—Excerpt from “The Ten Commitments” by David Simon, MD

---

Learning & Patience

A young man wanted to become a great swordsman, but his father
said he wasn’t quick enough and could never learn. So the young man went to the famous
swordsman Master Banzo, and asked to become his pupil.

“How long will it take me to become a master?” he asked.
“Suppose I became your servant, to be with you every minute;
how long?”

“Ten years,” said Banzo.

“My father is getting old. Before ten years have passed I will have to return
home to take care of him. Suppose I work twice as hard; how long will it take me?”

“Thirty years,” said Banzo.

“How is that?” asked the young man. “First you say ten years. Then when I offer to
work twice as hard, you say it will take three times as long. Let me make myself clear:
I will work unceasingly: no hardship will be too much. How long will it take?”

“Seventy years” said Banzo.
“A pupil in such a hurry learns slowly.”

---

Quotes Gathered Along the Way

Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head;
to handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
if he betrays you twice, it is your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events;
small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much;
he who loses a friend, loses much more;
he who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
but beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

—Unknown Authors

---

The Things I’ve Learned
by Maya Angelou

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way
he/she handles these three things:
a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

“I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,
you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.”

“I’ve learned that making a “living” is not
the same thing as “making a life.”

“I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.”

“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 some things back.”

“I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart,
I usually make the right decision.”

“I’ve learned that even when I have pains,
I don’t have to be one.”

“I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.”

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.”

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

---

The Stonecutter

There was once a stonecutter, who was dissatisfied with himself and with his
position in life. One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house, and through
the open gateway, saw many fine possessions and important visitors. “How
powerful that merchant must be!” thought the stonecutter. He became very
envious, and wished that he could be like the merchant. Then he would no longer
have to live the life of a mere stonecutter.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries
and power than he had ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less wealthy
than himself. But soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair,
accompanied by attendants, and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no
matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. “How powerful that
official is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a high official!”

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan
chair, feared and hated by the people all around, who had to bow down before him
as he passed. It was a hot summer day, and the official felt very uncomfortable
in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky,
unaffected by his presence. “How powerful the sun is!” he thought. “I wish that
I could be the sun!”

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields,
cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and
the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. “How
powerful that storm cloud is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a cloud!”

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by
everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force,
and realized that it was the wind. “How powerful it is!” he thought. “I wish
that I could be the wind!”

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees,
hated and feared by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against
something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it—a
huge, towering stone. “How powerful that stone is!” he thought. “I wish that I
could be a stone!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a stone!”

Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he
stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid
rock, and felt himself being changed. “What could be more powerful than I, the
stone?” he thought.

He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter.

—from “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjiman Hoff

---

Just a Fly in My Tea

“On this particular afternoon a fly fell into my tea. This was, of course, a minor occurrence.
After a year in India I considered myself to be unperturbed by insects—by ants in the sugar bin,
spiders in the cupboard, and even scorpions in my shoes in the morning. Still, as I lifted my cup,
I must have registered, by my facial expression, or a small grunt, the presence of the fly.
Choegyal Rinpoche, the eighteen-year-old tulku leaned forward in sympathy and consternation.

“What is the matter?”

“Oh, nothing,” I said. “It’s nothing—just a fly in my tea.” I laughed lightly to convey my acceptance and
composure. I did not want him to suppose that mere insects were a problem for me; after all,
I was a seaseoned India-wallah, relatively free of Western phobias and attachments to modern sanitation.

Choegyal crooned softly, in apparent commiseration with my plight,
“Oh, oh, a fly in the tea.”

“It’s no problem,” I reiterated, smiling at him reassuringly. But he continued to focus great concern
on my cup. Rising from his chair, he leaned over and inserted his finger into my tea.
With great care he lifted out the offending fly—and then exited from the room. The conversation
at the table resumed. I was eager to secure an agreement on plans to secure
the high-altitude wool he desired for the carpet production.

When Choegyal Rinpoche reentered the cottage he was beaming. “He is going to be all right,”
he told me quietly. He explained how he had placed the fly on the leaf of a branch of a bush by the door,
where his wings could dry. And the fly was still alive, because he began fanning his wings,
and we could confidently expect him to take flight soon...

That is what I remember of that afternoon—not the agreements we reached or plans we devised,
but Choegyal’s report that the fly would live. And I recall, too, the laughter in my heart.
I could not, truth to tell, share Choegyal’s dimensions of compassion, but the pleasure in his face revealed
how much I was missing by not extending my self-concern to all beings, even to flies.
Yet the very notion that it was possible gave me boundless delight.”

— Joanna Macy

---

There was once a wise woman traveling in the mountains

who found a precious stone in a stream.

The next day she met another traveler who was hungry,
and she opened her bag to share her food.
The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked if she might
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 only a few

days later he came back to return the stone to the woman who had given it to him.

“I've been thinking,” he said,“I know how valuable the stone is,
but I'm giving it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.

I want you to give me what you have within you that enabled

you to give me the stone.”

—Author Unknown

---

There once was a little boy who had a very bad temper.
His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost
his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven six nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number
of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled. He discovered it was
easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now
pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell
his father all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
He said, "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.
The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, you will
leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one."

—Author Unknown

---

Struggle a Little—Then Fly!

By Author Unknown

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly, that he brought home.
One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours. It struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther.

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. He continued to watch the butterfly, he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and the body would contract. Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
It was never able to fly.

The man acted with well-intentioned kindness but he didn’t understand the consequences. The restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get through the tiny opening, were nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been and we could never fly.

So the next time you are faced with and obstacle, a challenge, or a problem, remember the butterfly.

Struggle a little-then fly!

---

Two Wolves
Cherokee Wisdom

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson
about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,
false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness,
benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then
asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

---

Difficulties and problems are the greatest academy in which the
Universe tempers and nurtures the disposition of a person.
Not everyone is admitted to this academy.
Those to whom the Universe gives these opportunities for growth are
the lucky ones. If we do not seek to refine ourselves and benefit
our true nature, then we will have let the universe down.

—Anonymous

---

Name or Body?

Which is closer, your name or your body?
Which is more, your body or your possessions?
Which is more destructive, gain or loss?
Extreme fondness means great expense,
and abundant possessions mean much loss.
If you know when you have enough,
you will not be disgraced.
If you know when to stop,
you will not be endangered.
It is possible thereby to live long.

Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu
Translated by Thomas Cleary

 

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