Quote of the day:
“You can think, talk and act yourself into dullness or into monotony or into unhappiness. Or by the same process you can build up inspiration, excitement and surging depth of joy.” – Norman Vincent Peale Think about it: There was once a university professor who sprinkled his lectures with personal reflections that invariably began with, “As I was walking in my garden, it occurred to me that…” Over and over he passed on to his students thoughts that his garden had inspired. One day he invited two of his most promising students to visit him at home, and over a cup of coffee the students asked to see his garden. To their amazement it was only a narrow strip, barely wider than the walkway, with the house on one side and a high wall on the other. “Is this really the garden where you have all those inspiring thoughts, Doctor?” one of the students asked. “Yes,” came the professor’s reply. “But it’s so small!” protested the student. “Ah, yes,” said the professor, a twinkle in his eye as he gestured toward the sky, “but look how high it is!” It’s not really the place but the attitude that is important for inspiration.
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Quote of the day:
“Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favors only the prepared mind." – Louis Pasteur Think about it: He was no scholar, and his classmates teased him. Rather than read, the kid really preferred running around with an 8mm camera, shooting homemade movies of wrecks of his Lionel train set (which he showed to friends for a small fee). In his sophomore year of high school, he dropped out. But when his parents persuaded him to return, he was mistakenly placed in a learning disabled class. He lasted one month. Only when the family moved to another town did he land in a more suitable high school, where he eventually graduated. After being denied entrance into a traditional filmmaking school, Steven Spielberg enrolled in English at California State College at Long Beach. Then in 1965, he recalls, in one of those unanticipated moments, his life took a complete turn. Visiting Universal Studios, he met Chuck Silvers, an executive in the editorial department. Silvers liked the kid who made 8mm films and invited him back sometime to visit. He appeared the next day. Without a job or security clearance, Spielberg (dressed in a dark suit and tie, carrying his father’s briefcase with nothing inside but “a sandwich and candy bars”) strode confidently up to the guard at the gate of Universal and gave him a casual wave. The guard waved back. He was in. “For the entire summer,” Spielberg remembers, “I dressed in my suit and hung out with the directors and writers [including Silvers, who knew the kid wasn’t a studio employee, but winked at the deception]. I even found an office that wasn’t being used, and became a squatter. I bought some plastic tiles and put my name in the building directory: Steven Spielberg, Room 23C.” It paid off for everyone. Ten years later, the 28-year-old Spielberg directed Jaws, which took in $470 million, then the highest-grossing movie of all time. Dozens of films and awards have followed because Steven Spielberg knew what his teachers didn’t—talent is in the eyes of the filmmaker. – by Fran Lostys, adapted Take a lesson from this story: Don’t wait for your opportunity but prepare. Be prepared when opportunity knocks. Quote of the day:
“There aren't any great men. There are just great challenges that ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet.”-- William F. Halsey Think about it: The story is told of Genghis Khan (the great Mongol warrior who conquered more than twice as much land as any other person in history), and how he led his men to a victory over all odds. During one of the Mongols’ campaigns, an enemy army several times their size was waiting for them on the other side of a mountain pass. That pass was the only way to get through the otherwise extremely treacherous mountains. It was a well-planned trap. So what did Genghis do? He gathered his elite and sent them OVER the mountain. Yes, the way that couldn’t be traveled, and which the enemy did not even consider as an option. In the freezing cold, with low visibility and the danger of being sighted always before them, these dedicated men made it over the top and came down the other side. Did they get to the bottom and set up camp, satisfying their hunger and soothing their tired muscles? No, they went straight into battle, leading the charge, and the enemy was thrown into confusion, shocked to see the impossible done. The struggle over the mountain and into battle served more than one purpose: If we stretch further than we feel comfortable stretching wonderful things are possible. I’m sure none of those warriors were eager to face the cold and inhospitable mountain, but they did. So can we. Also, when we reach a goal, don’t stop there’s often more to achieve just around the corner. Yes, it disconcerted the enemy, but more than that, it made those warriors realize what they were capable of. Don’t you think their confidence and morale soared from then on? Can you imagine the stories they told? They gained vision for the future. Let’s share that vision and those tales of glory in order to uplift others. Maybe they will face a similar struggle, or perhaps theirs will be completely different. Either way, let’s think on our experiences and share them for the benefit of others! Quote of the day:
“Every calling is great when greatly pursued.”-- William Danforth Think about it: Pudgy and shy, Ben Saunders was the last kid in his class picked for any sports team. “Football, hockey, tennis, cricket—anything with a round ball, I was useless,” he says now with a laugh. But back then he was the object of jokes and ridiculed in school gym classes in England’s rural Devon County. It was a mountain bike he received for his 15th birthday that changed him. At first, the teen went biking alone in a nearby forest. Then he began to pedal along with a runner friend. Gradually, Saunders set his mind on building up his body, increasing his speed, strength, and endurance. At age 18, he ran his first marathon. The following year, he met John Ridgway, who became famous in the 1960s for rowing an open boat across the Atlantic Ocean. Saunders was hired as an instructor at Ridgway’s School of Adventure in Scotland, where he learned about the older man’s cold-water exploits. Intrigued, Saunders read all he could about Arctic explorers and North Pole expeditions, then decided that this would be his future. Treks to the Pole aren’t the usual holidays for British country boys, and those who didn’t dismiss his dream as fantasy probably doubted he had what it takes. “John Ridgway was one of the few people who didn’t say, ‘You’re completely nuts,’” Saunders says. In 2001, after becoming a proficient skier, Saunders embarked on his first long distance expedition toward the North Pole. It took incredible stamina. He suffered frostbite, had a close encounter with a polar bear and pushed his body to the limit, hauling his supply-laden sledge up and over jagged ice ridges. Saunders has since become the youngest person to ski solo to the North Pole, and he’s skied more of the Arctic by himself than any other Briton. His old playmates would not believe the transformation. Later, Saunders, at 27, headed south to trek from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, a 1,800-mile journey that had never been completed on skis.-- By Lisa Miller Fields What changed his life? Books and friends who had faith in him and encouragement. You too can follow your dreams. Find those who can support your efforts and while you are at it find someone you can be that encouragement to as well. Quote of the day:
"Your potential lies ahead of you—whether you’re 8, 18, 48, or 80. You still have room to improve yourself. You can become better tomorrow than you are today."—John C. Maxwell Think about it: We all have regrets but it’s better to live in the present than think about the past as John C. Maxwell retells in the allegory that his friend shared with him. A significant hindrance to living life in the present is regret. It saps people’s energy and leaves little that enables them to do anything positive. My friend Dwight Bain emailed me something called “The City of Regret” that tells the whole story: I had not really planned to take a trip this year, yet I found myself packing anyway. And off I went, dreading it. I was on another guilt trip. I booked my reservation on Wish I Had airlines. I didn’t check my bags—everyone carries their baggage on this airline. I had to drag it for what seemed like miles in the Regret City airport. And I could see that people from all over the world were there with me, limping along under the weight of bags they had packed themselves. I caught a cab to Last Resort Hotel, the driver taking the whole trip backward, looking over his shoulder. And there I found the ballroom where my event would be held: the Annual Pity Party. As I checked in, I saw that all my old colleagues were on the guest list: The Done family—Woulda, Coulda, and Shoulda. Both of the Opportunities—Missed and Lost. All the Yesterdays—there were too many to count, but all would have sad stories to share. Shattered Dreams and Broken Promises would be there, too, along with their friends Don’t Blame Me and Couldn’t Help It. And of course, hours and hours of entertainment would be provided by that renowned storyteller, It’s Their Fault. As I prepared to settle in for a really long night, I realized that one person had the power to send all those people home and break up the party: me. All I had to do was return to the present and welcome the new day! If you have found yourself getting on a flight to the City of Regret, recognize that it’s a trip you book yourself, and you can cancel it at any time—without penalty or fee. But you’re the only one who can.—John C. Maxwell in his book Failing Forward (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2000). No matter what our age is let’s look to future with eyes full of potential and stay away from the City of Regret. Quote of the day:
"Do not judge by appearances, a rich heart may be under a poor coat.” – Swedish proverb Think about it: In 1502, in Florence, Italy, there was a large block of marble given to a church in Santa Maria. The church immediately hired who they thought was a professional to sculpt this enormously huge piece of rock. Soon after commencing this great task the man drilled a hole right at the bottom, destroying this magnificent piece of marble. So the church decided just to drape a huge sheet over it, not knowing what else to do, since it had been damaged beyond recognition and repair. A certain man named Michelangelo caught word of this large stone and how it had been destroyed, so out of curiosity he went to check it out and thought, “Hey, I think I can do something here.” After a time he began work and sculpted; and what was once thought to be a lost cause became one of the greatest statues of the biblical character of David ever built. Many people today feel like a gigantic slab of marble—perhaps battered and bruised, perhaps lacking substance, perhaps someone who has been discarded by certain people. However, if you can see beyond the flaws and see the potential you could help create a master piece in that person’s life. Quote of the day:
"Make the choice to talk more about your blessings than your problems and more good things will come your way when you do.” – Author Unknown Think about this: Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player, was dying of a blood infection, which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. From the world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed, “Why does God have to select you for such a bad disease?” To this Arthur replied, “The world over, 50,000,000 children start playing tennis every year, 5,000,000 learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5,000 reach the great slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 reach the semifinals, 2 to the finals. When I was holding the cup, I never asked God, ‘Why me?’ So today in pain I should not be asking God, ‘Why me?’ either.” What a great attitude to have about his misfortune. Instead of bemoaning it he was thankful for his blessings. What sort of attitude do you have toward your misfortunes? Quote of the day:
“What was hard to bear is sweet to remember.”-- Portuguese proverb Think about it: The world’s largest theme-based shopping mall in Dubai is centered around the life of the world traveler Ibn Batutta. This adventurous Moroccan began his journey in his early twenties and kept on the move for 29 years, traveling by foot and camel some 75,000 miles (120,700 km), which was three times the distance that Marco Polo traveled. He lived by the motto, “never, if possible, cover any road a second time.” Like all life journeys, his too was fraught with hardships. He had more than most of his share of troubles to overcome, such as being attacked by bandits, almost drowning in a sinking ship, and escaping from a dungeon and the executioner’s sword in the service of his captor, a ruthless Sumatran king. He was almost lost in the vast Saharan desert where he wrote of the difficulty of finding the way where there was “no visible road or track in these parts, nothing but sand blown here and there by the wind.” In some places he went, the population was ravaged by the effects of the Black Death*, where thousands died each day. (*The Black Death or bubonic plague was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350.) Yet, despite the hardships he encountered, he returned to his home safely and wrote about his experiences. Today, about 700 years later, they remind us of the many wonders that await discovery, and yes, that all troubles have an end. Quote of the day:
"Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!” – Author Unknown Think about it: Every day, we should get into the habit of acknowledging our efforts, and the efforts of colleagues, to move our goals forward. That’s a lot harder to do than it sounds. We are always tempted to focus more on what is going wrong and less on what is going right. For example, let’s take a look at the following mathematical formulas. What do we notice? 2+2 = 4 3+1 = 7 4+5 = 9 We probably said, “the middle one is wrong.” We didn’t say “two of them are right.” All of us are well trained to focus on what’s wrong and try to fix it, but doing that alone prevents us from seeing progress where it exists. If every day all we do is focus on the things that went wrong we will cut ourselves off from progress. Instead, we should take time every day to recognize the two thirds of actions that went right. When we celebrate those actions as progress, we will be able to sustain passion even when things don’t go exactly as planned—which most likely will be a normal state of affairs. This is a good principle to remember for the New Year. Quote of the day:
“People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives.” —Stedman Graham Reflection: Some say life is a struggle. If it is, every problem we face leads us to one of two choices. Either we choose to be victorious, or we choose to be a victim. Either we choose to be responsible for the life we create, or we shirk our responsibility by blaming others for our failures and unhappiness. Those who choose to be victorious don’t find life to be a struggle. They find it to be exhilarating. They don’t encounter problems; they merely face things they wish to change. When they find something blocking their way, they look for a way to get around it, or to overcome it. In a word, they look for, and find, solutions. On the other hand, those who choose to be victims are experts at looking for excuses. They almost delight in finding others to blame for their self-inflicted misery. Here are two real-life examples: Carl is in his fifties and claims he wishes to recover from a long string of failures. To this end, he enrolled in a college course to update his skills. One day, when the instructor was writing on the blackboard, he shouted from the back of the room, “Write larger! I can’t read what you’re writing.” Carl was miffed when the instructor ignored his pleas. A few weeks later, he complained to his classmates, “I’m afraid I’ll have to drop out of this course. I have bad eyes and our teacher writes too small. How can I take notes and learn the material? Our instructor doesn’t seem to care about my disability.” “Why don’t you come to class early so you can get a seat in the front of the room?” suggested a classmate. “Because the bus in my area runs only once an hour. If I took the earlier bus, I would arrive much too early.” replied Carl. “Get a pair of glasses.” another classmate advised. “I have a pair,” said Carl, “but they are not very helpful.” Exasperated, another classmate asked, “Well then, why don’t you get a pair of opera glasses?” Carl had an answer for that too: “I can’t afford opera glasses. I can barely afford to pay the bus fare to get here.” Carl had an answer for every question. Although he could never find solutions for whatever was troubling him, he was proficient in finding excuses for his inaction. He was convinced he had certain “disabilities” that warranted special treatment. The world should conform to his “special needs,” he reasoned. Kyle Maynard is an entirely different breed. Born with stumps in the place of arms and legs, he believed it was his responsibility to adapt to the world rather than demanding the world change for him. Despite the enormous obstacles facing Kyle, his lack of arms and legs did not prevent him from learning how to write and type. Neither did it prevent him from becoming a defensive lineman on a football team, a university student, and a top wrestler. You can add to his list of accomplishments author, world traveler, and motivational speaker. “No Excuses” is the title of Kyle’s book (Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2005), and it points out the difference between him and Carl. Kyle realizes that making excuses holds us back, while assuming responsibility moves us forward. He understands that responsibility is empowering, and the more of it we take on, the more we will be, do, and have what we want. Which are you a problem solver or a victim? |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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