Beautifully Spoken (added: August 2006)

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Dance Like No One's Watching (added: Jan. 2005)

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.  One of my favorite quotes comes from Dr. Marc Barsouna. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life".

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

So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school,
until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds,
until you have kids, until your kids leave the house,
until you start work, until you retire,
until you get married, until you get divorced,
until Friday night, until Sunday morning,
until you get a new car or home,
until your car or home is paid off,
until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter,
until you are off welfare,
until the first or fifteenth,
until your song comes on,
until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up,
until you die, until you are born again
to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thought for the day:

Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching!

The Big Difference between Winner and Loser (added: Oct. 2004)

(1) A Winner makes mistakes and says: I was wrong
But a Loser says: it wasn’t my fault.
(2) A Winner credits his good luck for winning even though it wasn’t luck
But a Loser credits his bad luck for losing, but it wasn’t about luck.
(3) A Winner works harder than a looser and has more time
But a Loser is always too busy too busy saying a failure.
(4) A Winner goes through a problem and a loser goes around.
(5) A Winner shows his sorry by making up for it
But a Loser says his sorry but he does the same thing next time.
(6) A Winner knows what to fight for and what to compromise on
But a Loser compromise on what he should not and fights for what isn’t worth fighting for.
(7) A Winner says I am good, but not as good as I ought to be.
But a Loser looks down at those who have not yet achieved the position he has.
(8) A Winner respects those who are superior to him and to him and tries to learn from them; But a Loser resents those who are superior to him and tries to find fault.
(9) A Winner is responsible for more than his job
But a Loser says, I only work here
(10) A Winner says “There ought to be a better way of doing it”
But a Loser says why change it, that’s the way it has always been done.

One of life little ironies is the fact that when you finally master a tough job, you make it look easy...

The Cautious Man (Dec. 2003)
There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played.
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.

And when he one day passed away,
His insurance was denied.
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never died.

Don't Quit (Dec. 2003)

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

Inspiration (Oct. 2003)

This place where you are.... this place where you
stand.... is where you must start. From here you can
go in any direction and to any destination... and it
is not possible now to start from anywhere else.