Somewhere over the rainbow



And also listen to this amazing voice:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

The 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 lying 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.

The frogs and the tower



There once was a bunch of tiny frogs...
... who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants...
The race began...
Honestly, no-one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
"They will NEVER make it to the top".
"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one...
... Except for those who in a fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher...
The crowd continued to yell
"It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up...
...But ONE continued higher and higher and higher...
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end, everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how the one who succeeded had found the strength to reach the goal?
It turned out...
That the winner was deaf.

The little wave



The story is abut a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He's enjoying the wind and the fresh air – until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore. “My God, this terrible”,the wave says. “Look what's going to happen to me!”
Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him: “Why do you look so sad?” The first wave says: “You don't understand! We're all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn't it terrible?”
The second wave says: “No, you don't understand. You're not a wave, you're part of the ocean.”

Triple Filter Test


In ancient Greece, 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 your friend?”




“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”
“Triple filter?”
“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 ...”
“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…”
“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 …”
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”

How do we measure success? (2)



We believe that some of the surest conditions of success might include: 

  • To be able to act with complete honesty and integrity;
  • To be both content with oneself and have others be content with you;
  • To be able to be peaceful and stable when all around you are in crisis or chaos;
  • To value who you are more than what you have;
  • To accept full responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, words and actions;
  • To be able to see the past weaknesses or mistakes of others but chose to focus on their inherent goodness and future potential;
  • To put your best thoughts and words into action without delay;
  • To be able to let go of the past;
  • To value wisdom more than knowledge;
  • To give everything you have in a worthwhile way;
  • To give without the desire for something in return.



Mike George (Is Success More?)

Follow Your Dream



Follow your dream.
Take one step at a time and don't settle for less,
Just continue to climb.
Follow your dream.
If you stumble, don't stop and lose sight of your goal
Press to the top.
For only on top can we see the whole view,
Can we see what we've done and what we can do;
Can we then have the vision to seek something new,
Press on.
Follow your dream



Amanda Bradley

Footprints in the Sand


One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson

How do we measure success?



How do we measure success?  To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, a redeemed social condition, or a job well done; to know even one other life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let me arise



Let me arise
Let me arise and open the gate,
to breathe the wild warm air of the heath,
And to let in Love, and to let out Hate,
And anger at living and scorn of Fate,
To let in Life, and to let out Death.


- Violet Fane

Why Not You?




Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?
Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?
Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?
Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?
Today, for many the burden of self doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?
Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?
Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?
Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?
Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?
Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?
Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?
Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?
Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?
Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, & so much more. Why not you?
Today is a new day!
Many will seize this day.
Many will live it to the fullest.
Why not you? 



By Steve Maraboli

I wish you...


        I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
Unknown

Can you install Love?

Customer Service: Can you install Love?

Customer: I can do that. I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready to install now. What do I do first?

Service: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart'

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

Service: What programs are running?

Customer: Let me see' I have Pasthurt.exe, Lowesteem.exe, Grudge.exe and Resentment.com running right now.

Service: No problem. 

The Chicken and The Eagle Story

The winner and the loser



The Winner is always part of the answer;
The Loser is always part of the problem.
The Winner always has a program;
The Loser always has an excuse.
The Winner says, "Let me do it for you";
The Loser says, "That is not my job."
The Winner sees an answer for every problem;
The Loser sees a problem for every answer.
The Winner says, "It may be difficult but it is possible";
The Loser says, "It may be possible but it is too difficult."
When a Winner makes a mistake, he says, "I was wrong";
When a Loser makes a mistake, he says, "It wasn't my fault."
A Winner makes commitments;
A Loser makes promises.
Winners have dreams;
Losers have schemes.
Winners say, "I must do something";
Losers say, "Something must be done."
Winners are a part of the team;
Losers are apart from the team.
Winners see the gain;
Losers see the pain.
Winners see possibilities;
Losers see problems.
Winners believe in win-win;
Losers believe for them to win someone has to lose.
Winners see the potential;
Losers see the past.
Winners are like a thermostat;
Losers are like thermometers.
Winners choose what they say;
Losers say what they choose.
Winners use hard arguments but soft words;
Losers use soft arguments but hard words.
Winners stand firm on values but compromise on petty things;
Losers stand firm on petty things but compromise on values.
Winners follow the philosophy of empathy: "Don't do to others what you would not want them to do to you";
Losers follow the philosophy, "Do it to others before they do it to you."
Winners make it happen;
Losers let it happen.
Winners plan and prepare to win.
The key word is preparation.

Anyway


People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway!
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway!
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway!
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway!
Honesty and frankness makes you vulnerable.
Be honest anyway!
The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down
by the smallest men with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway!
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway!
People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway!
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
               Give the world the best you’ve got anyway!
               Mother Teresa

If you don't believe this lie is true...

One bright morning in the middle of night,
Two dead boys rose to fight.  
Back to back they faced each other, 
Drew their swords and shot one another.  
A deaf policeman heard the noise, 
and saved the lives of the two dead boys.  
If you don't believe this lie is true, 
ask the blind man, he saw it too. 
~Author Unknown

The Echo of Life

A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy trips and feeling a sharp pain he screams ‘Ahhhhhhhhh’. Surprised he hears a voice coming from the mountain, ‘Ahhhhhhhhh’!



Filled with curiosity, he screams: ‘Who are you?’, but the only answer he receives is ‘who are you?’ This makes him angry, so he screams: You are a coward!’, and the voice answers ‘You are a coward!’

He looks at his father, asking, ‘Dad, what is going on?’

‘Son,’ the man replies, ‘pay attention!’ then he screams, ‘I admire you!’. The voice answers ‘I admire you’. The father shouts, ‘You are wonderful!’, and the voice answers: ‘You are wonderful!’

Then the father explains, ‘People call this ‘ECHO’, but truly it is ‘LIFE’! Life always gives you back what you give out! Life is a mirror of your actions. If you want more love, give more love! If you want understanding, give understanding and respect. If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect! This rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives.?

Life always gives you back what you give out. Your life is not a coincidence, but a mirror of your own doings.



Unknown

Who Tells the Best Story?

A clergyman was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age.

The group surrounded a dog. Concerned lest the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked "What are you doing with that dog?"

One of the boys replied, "This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we've decided that whichever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog." 








Of course, the reverend was taken aback. "You boys shouldn't be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning, "Don't you boys know it's a sin to lie," and ending with, "Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie."

There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the reverend was beginning to think he'd gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, "All right, give him the dog."

Poem of Life


Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord

The Boy and the Apple tree

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow…he loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by…the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

 
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me” the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more” the boy replied.

“I want toys. I need money to buy them.” “Sorry, but I do not have money… but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money.” The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited “Come and play with me” the tree said. “I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?” “ Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.” So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!” the tree said. “I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?said the man. "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.” So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the man returned after many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you …” the tree said. "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied. "No more trunk for you to climb on” “I am too old for that now” the man said. "I really cannot give you anything... the only thing left is my dying roots” the tree said with tears. "I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years” the man replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me and rest.” The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears…


Stone and Flower

"You have hardened", said the flower, bending her petals downward toward the half stone at her roots. "These rains should have softened you, made you more fertile and receptive to the seeds of the fields; but no. You have accumulated minerals and have become more silent and full of calcium. Why do you stay here? Why do you resist the brook that gives us water?"

The stone said nothing.

 
A number of clouds passed by, the sun set and the night arrived with an immense bronze-coloured freckled moon with acne scars upon her worn face and in this manner reflected down upon the silent stone which still had not fallen asleep. The flower, by now, had tucked-in her petals and slept profoundly, and at this time the stone began to answer:

"I stay here because your roots have made me yours. I stay here because it is no longer about my feeling the earth rather because I have become part of that which functions as a support of your stem which resists the wind and the rain. Everything changes, my sweet flower", said the stone, "but I stay here because love is that microscopic space between your feet and my salted skin. You would only be able to feel it if destiny were ever to separate the two of us."


The moon followed the fade of the stars. Dawn gave a yawn as the sun began to burn its horizon on the lower lip of the mouth of a new day. The flower awoke and extended her beautiful petals. "Good morning", she said, "I dreamt that you were singing to me. How foolish of me, don't you think?"


The stone said nothing.

Unknown Author 

Has Anyone Told You?



Stability


“Most people think they have to control everything around them. And we all do that to a certain extent. But what can you really control in a world where everything is so increasingly unpredictable and changing? If your attention is focused on controlling things around you, you will loose your focus on what is really important for you, and will be wasting your time and energy. But if your attention is focused on your own sense of purpose, on what you know you have to do, then you will always be able to find your way, even amidst the most challenging circumstances.”      
B. Bacon, Oxford Leadership Academy

The Art of Living Each Day


Each day is a lifetme in miniature.
To awaken each morning is to be born again, to fall asleep at night is to die to the day.
In between waking and sleeping are the golden hours of the day. What we cannot do for a lifetime we can do for a daytime.
Anyone can hold their temper for a day and guard the words they speak.
Anyone can carry his burden heroically for one day.
Anyone can strive to be happy for a day and to spread happiness around.
Anyone can radiate love for a day.
Anyone can rise above fear for a day and meet each new situation with courage.
Anyone can be kind and thoughtful and considerate for a day.
Anyone can endeavor to learn something new each day and mark some growth.
The supreme art of living is to strive to live each day well.
When we fail and fall short, let us forgive ourselves and consider the words of Emerson: "Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you will begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered by your old nonsense."
Live a day at a time and remember that tomorrow is another today. 

By Wilferd A. Peterson

Are you Gossiping?


Gossip is the greatest abuse of time and energy. Everyone adds on his or her own personal bias, interpretation, and bitterness. We used to play a children's game where we all sat in a circle and one person would whisper a sentence to the next person. By the time it was repeated again to the first person, the sentence was completely different! Gossip is based on the same principle.
People who spend their time finding fault or gossiping about others, are certainly not the kind of people you want as friends. Those who gossip to you may also gossip about you. If you can't say anything positive about someone, don't say anything.
Nothing productive is ever achieved as a result of spreading, or listening to gossip. Don't waste your time! You can make more productive use of it.  

By Catherine Pulsifer

7 Lessons For Your Life and Business

 
1. Focus.
Tennis players focus intensely and specifically on what they're doing at the moment. Their mind isn't drifting off to other things. They know that being focused is essential to success and you can't take your eye off the ball. Although their focus is more intense than you usually need in an average day, when you take your eye off the ball too often, you could easily find yourself slipping behind and not staying ahead of the game.
2. They respond fully rather than react.
Responding means that you're ready, you're prepared and not likely to be caught out unexpectedly. Responding comes from being grounded and allows you to choose what to do next, whereas reacting is a knee jerk response. Reacting means you fight fires, you're constantly running behind and battling with the unexpected, rather than making choices that fully contribute to what you truly want.
3. They know what they're aiming for; where they're heading.
You need to be clear about your aims or you could end up all over the place. Tennis players make a conscious choice to place a shot. They don't just hit the ball and hope. You need to make conscious choices about where you want to be and ensure that every action moves you forward in the direction you want to go.
4. They see the connection between the bigger picture and the next step.
You need to know what the bigger picture is like for you and at the same time be willing to focus on the moment and take the next step forward. Tennis players know that every shot and every point counts, even if it's early on in the game. You need to make every action you take count and continue to build on it.
5. They're mentally and emotionally strong.
They don't allow doubt, lack of self-belief, frustration, upsets or negative self-talk to get in their way. They're willing to do what it takes to be strong mentally and emotionally. When you allow your emotions and mental chit-chat to affect you, you're not so likely to perform at your best. As human beings, emotions play a big part in our lives. I'm not suggesting you deny or suppress your emotions, but just discover for yourself what it takes for you to handle your emotions and stay balanced.
6. Flexibility.
Tennis players need to be flexible in their approach to each game. Each opponent is different, has different strengths and weaknesses, so they need to be flexible to change. If they lacked flexibility they wouldn't be able to adapt to different situations and come out winning. When you're flexible, you're willing to consider the best approach for each particular situation.
7. Clarity.
They are clear about all the components that go together to make their game successful. Lack of clarity holds you back, keeps you in fear and doubt and can result in you taking lots of actions but which are all over the place.


Life is a game and your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to play fully.

Wimbledon by Wendy Hearn 

I create my life



The Heart is the Field,
Self-discipline is the Fencing.
Exclusion of worldliness is the Weeding,
Ardent application is the Tilling.
Holy thought is the Seed, 
Fervor is the Crop,
Ecstasy is the Harvest. 
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Beauty and Love




Whenever Beauty looks,
Love is also there;


Whenever beauty shows a rosy cheek 
Love lights Her fire from that flame.


When beauty dwells in the dark folds of night
Love comes and finds a heart entangled in tresses.


Beauty and Love are as body and soul.
Beauty is the mine, Love is the diamond.
They have together


since the beginning of time-
Side by side, step by step.