#27 - Who Should I Listen To?

Listen to your heart. Live your life entirely according to what your heart tells you is the right way to live. If you feel like crying, cry. It you feel overwhelmed with joy, sing. If you feel love towards someone, express it.

We need to define our priorities – the values, endeavours and dreams that guide us – and build our worlds around those things. It is not enough just to get through the day. We need to make every day a platform for accomplishing what we want out of life. We must take responsibility for ourselves and the world we live in so that we can live with ourselves and the world around us. Joanna Smith Bers

If you are sleeping, sleep well. If you are playing, play well. If you are working, give it your best. H. W. Prentis, Jr.

At the end of your life you will find that the things you thought were the big things were actually the little things, and that all those things you thought were the little unimportant things were actually the big, important ones. Unknown

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#26 - How Much Should I Give?

Remember that the hand that gives is the hand that gathers, and that giving to others starts the receiving process. The more you give to others, the more you will ultimately receive yourself.

Life is like a play; it's not the length but the excellence of acting that matters. Seneca

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#25 - What is Most Important in Life?

Most important in life is what you give to it; not what you get from it. Life is about helping others and blessing the world by the way you live.

Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But, we are all eligible for life's small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four pound bass. A full moon. Cold beer.

Don't fret about getting life's grand awards. Enjoy its tiny delights. There are plenty for all of us. United Technologies Corporation.

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#24 - How do I Become Wealthy?

Stop wishing that you made more money and ask yourself how you can help more people to get what they want. Think about it! Tim Hortons is not successful because they know how to make coffee and donuts. Many other people make coffee and donuts too.

They are successful because they help many people get what they want – a convenient supply of fresh coffee and donuts!

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#23 - What is Happiness?

Happiness does not come when you achieve certain things; it comes when you think certain thoughts. Fulfillment in life does not come from collecting more things; it comes from feeling more love.

Do not forget how to live with decency and love. Do not loose sight of the things that truly count. Do not forget that life's little pleasures, like the magic of a child's laugh or the glory of a sunrise, are life's most important ones.

You must become the change you most wish to see in your life. Gandhi

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#22 - What is Leadership?

Leadership is, in many ways, about taking the high road and making the tough choice – no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel. The tougher you are with yourself, the easier life will be on you.

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. Elijah Wood

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#21 - What Makes Us Human?

What makes us human, is the power each and every one of us has to choose our response to a specific situation. No matter who you are and no matter what your background is, you still have the power to choose how you process the events of your life.

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. Helen Keller

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#20 - Who Needs Love?

We all need more love in our lives. This world would be a far better place with more love. Loving relationships form the foundation of a life greatly lived.

Everything you do as you live out your days must speak of love. Leo Tolstoy

The name of the game is not to sacrifice yourself for work and have nothing left for the people you truly love. Change the rule. No! Break all the rules and realize that the whole idea is to work for the sake of living rather than live for the sake of working.

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#19 - Why Am I Here?

There is a grand purpose to EVERY life. We are all here to live heroic lives and make a difference in the world, in our own unique way. To achieve this, we have to do what we know to do the best way we know to do it.

We were put on earth for one purpose and that is to make it a better place. If the earth, as a result of our having been on it, is a better place than it was before we came, then we have achieved our destiny. General James Doolittle, US Air Force

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. William Penn

Your intellect and your heart tell you that the meaning of life is to serve the force that sent you into the world. Then life becomes a joy. Leo Tolstoy

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#18 - Good Morning Blessings!

This morning when I awakened
And saw the sun above,
I softly said, "Good morning, Lord,
Bless everyone I love."

Right away I thought of you
And said a loving prayer,
That He would bless you specially,
And keep you free from care.

I thought of all the happiness
A day could hold in store,
I wished it all for you because
No one deserves it more.

I felt so warm and good inside,
My heart was all aglow.
I know God heard my prayers for you.
He hears them all, you know.

You are the recipient of this blessing.
Be the source of blessing to someone you know.

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#17 - Choosing A Profession

Many people would readily agree that all professions, from doctors and priests to caretakers and undertakers are important to society. Yet, society would obviously do quite well without professions like crooks, gangsters, bandits and burglars – just to name a few.

It is no secret that some professions are deemed to be more honorable that others. Notwithstanding that, some of us are simply not "cut out" for certain professions. For example, those who feel faint at the sight of blood are probably not suited to be surgeons. Those who have difficulty dealing with death may not want to be coroners, undertakers or funeral directors.

Similarly, people who suffer from vertigo would not be good pilots or astronauts. While many of us would not choose to be a police officer or soldier because of the inherent risks; there are those who would not to become sailors or deep sea divers because they cannot swim.

How does one choose a profession? More importantly, what does one look for when choosing a profession? Conventional wisdom suggests that we need to find our passion and go for it! As you already know, your passion is that which you are naturally good at and enjoy doing. It is usually, though not always, recognizable at an early stage in life.

For example, some children are "gifted" artists; others are "born" swimmers. We have also heard of those who like to work with their hands or build things while others have a knack for working with numbers.

How does one measure success from one profession to another? Sadly, the pay scale is one of the many ways we rank professions or determine its value to society. In reality, that is a floored measure because garbage collectors are regarded as being at the bottom of the barrel yet all the great cities would ground to a screeching halt if they did not collect the garbage.

Can we measure success by the amount of money we make or by our power, fame or wealth? If that is so, then politicians, singers, movie stars and Hollywood folks must be in the right profession? If yes, why are there so many stories about divorce and adultery being rampant among those professions?

If not money, does success in a profession bring happiness? Unfortunately no! Society is filled with "successful" people who are still searching for happiness.

With some concern, I noticed that some singers who enjoyed phenomenal fame and success died relatively young – Bob Marley 36 years old, Elvis Presley 42, Michael Jackson 51. Reports are that many of them misused various drugs to the point of becoming dependent or addicted. If these are correct, where is the relationship between success and happiness?

On the other hand, there are comedians, those who brought happiness to other people – they made people laugh. Henry “Henny” Youngman lived to 92, Jack Benny lived to 80, Red Skelton to 84, Milton Berle to 94 while Bob Hope and George Burns lived to 100 years. Did they find their passion? You bet!

#16 - If You Must Drive

If you must drive then for God's sake …

Don’t speed
Don’t drink alcohol
Don’t smoke marijuana
Don’t use illicit drugs
Don’t drive when you are tired or sleepy

These actions cause accidents and accidents take precious lives. Life is the greatest of all the gifts bestowed on us by our Heavenly Father. Without it, nothing else matters. Respect God's greatest gift to humanity!

#15 - Thank You Lord

Thank You Lord for the ability to …

• Hear your sweet voice in the words of loved ones, the singing birds, the mighty winds and melodious music.
• Feel your love in the presence of family and friends.
• See your goodness in the many gifts you bestow on us every day.
• Smell your presence in the air we breathe and in the flowers that adorn our paths.
• Taste your mercy in the life-giving foods you give us from your heavenly bounty.

#14 - My God is God

My God is Jesus.
My God is God.
He is my brother.
My God is God.

My God is wonderful.
My God is God.
He is so merciful.
My God is God.

My God is lovable.
My God is God.
He is dependable.
My God is God.

My God is caring.
My God is God.
He is all-powerful.
My God is God.

My God is right here.
My God is God.
He is eternal.
My God is God.

Stephen Ramjewan Sep06, 2011

#13 - Access to Information

Is there another "new world" emerging silently in the stratosphere or somewhere between the troposphere and the mesosphere? Or, is it just the "old world" that is more accessible in this information era where we now (2011) have instant access to information that would have been difficult or even impossible to find previously.

Why do I get this feeling?

When I went to school in the late 1950s and 1960s, there were seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Antarctica. Now, I know that there were some recent "earth shaking" events - like the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami off the Pacific coast of Tohoku in Japan - but nothing catalysmic enough to affect those continental boundaries.

However, thanks to the Internet and my beloved Wikipedia, we can now read about Eurasia being a single continent comprising of the traditional continents of Europe and Asia. There goes my trust in the academic system. This supercontinent, reportedly covers about about 10.6% of the Earth's surface and is part of the yet larger landmass of Afro-Eurasia, whereby Eurasia is joined to Africa.

We also have Australasia - sometimes used as a term for Australia and New Zealand together - being a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. Another region of Oceania is Polynesia, a large group of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean.

Is this now as clear as mud to you too? If yes, please consider sharing your views on this or any other topic that may have been confuffled because of the instant access to too much information.

#12 - Creating a Successful Financial Plan

A Financial Plan That Works ...

1. Work for money – as much as possible.
2. Transfer 10% of your monthly earnings to your savings account – every month.
3. Buy the things you need – not the things you want.
4. Pay your bills before the due date – avoid paying interest charges.
5. Live within your means and you will enjoy life to the fullest!

This financial plan is working for many people around the world. It will work for you too – if you follow every step faithfully!

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#11 - Your Destiny

Many people, especially people of color and those who were born into poverty, seem to find it very difficult to see themselves as winners. This is particularly true of people who move from the country of their birth to another country.

If you or someone you know – a child, a sibling, a friend – fall into this category, you need to remember that the God who created your destiny is not limited by social, cultural or other boundaries. He made this world and everything in it.

Some of us had the good fortune to read books like John Howard Griffin’s “Black Like Me” or The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander's Memoir titled "Go to School, You're a Little Black Boy." Lincoln M. Alexander went on to become Canada’s first black Member of Parliament and the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. In 1995, the Ontario Provincial Police provincial headquarters in Orillia was named after him and is now known as the Lincoln M. Alexander building.

What does this do for me you ask? If nothing else, it confirms Archie Moore’s ABC – Any Body Can! The all important question is one that was asked by Les Brown, a well-known motivational speaker, “Are you willing to do what it takes to be successful?”

If you are one of those people who feel that people like us are not high achievers in this world, you need to give your head a shake. Then, go to the Archives of Ontario and read about people like Dr. Daniel Hill, the first Director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Or, go to the world of sports and read about some of the greatest players of all times: Michael Jordon and Shaquille “Shaq” O'Neal, Basket Ball; Tiger Woods, Golf and Haile Gebrselassie, long-distance runner.

If that is not enough, swing by the world of movies and read about Will Smith or Danny Glover or Queen Latifa or Sidney Poitier just to name a few. In the world of music you have Louis Armstrong, the world-renowned trumpet player or Michael Jackson, the King of Pop and Bob Marley known around the world for his reggae music. Stop by the TV networks and you’ll find personalities like Oprah Winfrey and Ian Hanomansing.

There are also countless success stories in other fields – doctors, lawyers, teachers, priests, engineers, etc. etc. Last but not least, we have the beloved President Barack Obama in our own lifetime holding the biggest job in the biggest country in the world today.

This impressive list does not even begin to scratch the surface of success stories among people of color or those who were born in poverty or those who left their home country behind. This is only a proverbial drop in the ocean; the full list of success stories would be miles long.

Be reminded too that there never will be a single place on the earth where one must go to enjoy success. In fact, history tells us that people from all walks of life are enjoying unparalleled success in small town and large cities around the world. You can too!

What’s my point? I trust that this will help you to remember that your future does not depend on anyone out there. You future was already created by God. All you have to do is go out and claim it. Joel Osteen said it best, “Two thousand years ago, your big brother died and left you an inheritance; you have to go out and claim it. The Holy Bible is the will.”

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#10 - Life Sucks

Never, ever say that again! If you ever feel that life sucks, stop whatever you are doing, give your head a shake and go to the nearest library. Get a copy of Night, Dawn, The Accident by Eli Wiesel. Read it and then take a moment to write to me. If

you still feel that life sucks, read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl or Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and then write to me.

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#09 - Throwing Away Good Food

Are you paying money for good food and then throwing it out? No! Why would I or any other sane human being do such a silly thing? Exactly my concern. Let us consider some of the facts or at the very least, the ways this could possibly happen.

Items fall off the shopping cart and get squashed or dirty.

Items get damaged in the bag or in the car on the way home.

The kids leave part of their meal on the plate.

The kids use things (cold cuts, cheese, milk, juice) and leave them on the kitchen counter.

We cut off the ends - cheese, bread, fruits.

We cooked too much for the family.

At home, we take more than we could eat.

At the restaurant, we get more than we could eat or get items we don't like e.g. veggies.

No one eats the left over from the fridge.

Items remain too long in the cupboard or the refrigerator.

Occasionally, we have a power outage and the contents of the freezer and the refrigerator goes in the garbage.

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#08 - Books Worth Reading

So many books worth reading, so little time! These words should be indelibly etched on every heart and emblazoned in every home, in every school and on billboards across the land.

Why? Because reading builds your ability to handle words with fluency and imagination. Reading is undoubtedly the most rewarding activity for any active mind and ... there are so many books just waiting to be read. Literally waiting to take us by the hand on mystical journeys to far away places. Patiently waiting to introduce us to the great men and women who walked the earth throughout the ages.

What did they have to say about reading?

• One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time. Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996)
• The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest men of past centuries. Rene Descartes, philosopher and mathematician (1596-1650)

And, what did they say about books?

• It was books that connected me with all the people who have ever been alive. James Baldwin, writer (1924-1987)
• It is chiefly through books that we interact with superior minds. William Ellery Channing, clergyman and writer (1780-1842)

As the years go by, I realize more and more how important it is to invest time (not spend time) reading good books. Two of my favorite authors are Og Mandino and Robin Sharma. Other great authors include Zig Ziggler and Les Brown.

In 1970, I read Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz. It was the first book I read after high school. Thirty-four years later -- November 2004, I read it again. The story of Nicky Cruz is as relevant today as it was back then.

His answer to the problem was love and faith in God. Ironically, it is still the answer today. His most poignant message was this; "God's grace can take hold of a man in an instant and transform a sinner into a saint."

Since then, I've read many good books; some are listed below, in alphabetical order, for easy reference:

• Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
• Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
• Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
• Second Thoughts by Mort Crim
• See You At The Top by Zig Ziggler
• Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• Lincoln the Unknown by Dale Carnegie
• Live Your Dreams by Les Brown
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Night, Dawn, The Accident by Eli Wiesel
• Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
• Return to Laughter by Elenore Smith Bowen
• Stories from the Vinyl Café by Stuart McLean
• The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
• The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
• Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
• Unconditional Love by John Powell, S.J.

Many of these are probably at your local library just waiting to be read! If not, you may buy them from your local bookstore.

The Internet made it very easy for us to access the written works of "superior minds" and "the finest men and women of past centuries." We are privileged to be alive today, to experience the excitement of the Information Age.

This is undoubtedly the most exciting time in the history of the world and we, both you and me, have been chosen to be part of it. Let's participate with gusto!

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#07 - Famous Last Words

Think carefully before you write or speak! The passage of time has the uncanny ability of proving you right or wrong! Consider these statements, reportedly made by leading minds of yesteryear ...

Inventions have long since reached their limit, and I see no hope for further development. Julius Frontinus (highly respected engineer in Rome, 1st century A.D.)

Everything that can be invented has been invented. C. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899

A man has been arrested in New York for attempting to extort funds from ignorant and superstitious people by exhibiting a device which he says will convey the human voice any distance over metallic wires so that it will be heard by the listener at the other end. He calls this instrument a telephone. Well-informed people know that it is impossible to transmit the human voice over wires. News item in an 1868 New York paper

This telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. This device is inherently of no value to us. Western Union, 1876

Radio has no future. Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. X-rays will prove to be a hoax. William Thomson, Lord Kelvin English scientist, 1899

Who the hell wants to hear actors talk? H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

I'm just glad it will be Clark Gable who falls on his face, not Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in Gone With The Wind.

We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out. Decca Records, 1962 (rejecting the Beatles)

I think there is a world market for maybe 5 computers. Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons. Popular Mechanics, 1949

But what is it good for?" commenting on the microchip. Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968

There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. Ken Olson, president, chairman, founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

640K of RAM ought to be enough for anybody. Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, 1981

The super computer is technologically impossible. It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required. Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University

I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year. The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will. Albert Einstein, 1932

There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom. Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1923

The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular? In response to urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s. David Sarnoff' Associates (president of RCA)

Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction. Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872

The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon. Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873

Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau. Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929

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 Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. Smith went on to found Federal Express.

A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make. Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies

If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can't do this. Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M "Post-It" Notepads.

Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy." Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil, 1859

I don't know what use any one could find for a machine that would make copies of documents. It certainly couldn't be a feasible business by itself. The head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox

Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value. Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre, France

And last but not least... There will never be a bigger plane built. Boeing engineer after the first flight of the 247; a twin engine plane that carried ten people.

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#06 - The Word of God

Many of us wholeheartedly agree that the Word of God is as relevant today as it was when it was written. Yet, for some unknown reason, we have never read it from cover to cover. "Are we going to do something about that today?"

You may already know that the Bible is the most wonderful book that was ever written. It actually consists of 73 different books; 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. It is said that the first word of the New Testament was written by St. Matthew about 42 A.D. and the last word was written, 55 years later, by St. John.

Paul's letters are the oldest Christian documents we have. The first of them was written within 25 years of Jesus' death, and the last may have been written before any of the gospels. These letters are also the largest collection of writings by any one person in the New Testament.

The finest piece of reading is said to be in Acts 26 and the shortest verse is John 11:35, "Jesus wept." The Bible gives us spiritual nourishment for the soul and parts of it are read at each Mass for our help and edification. We "speak" to Him when we pray but we "hear" Him when we read His Word!

"The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11

Dear God, I believe that you speak with your children.
Speak to me Lord and I'll do my best to follow Your Word.

Over the years, many authors created inspiring works with words ... the infamous Desiderata is one. My favorite is the words of the hymn "You are Near" (based on Psalm 139).

O God, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.

Where can I run from your love?
If I climb to the heavens you are there;
if I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea,
still I'd find you there.

It is no secret that words are powerful tools for everyday life. They can be used to praise the worthy, teach the ignorant, cheer the unhappy, warm the lonely, encourage the defeated, uplift the despondent, calm the angry and goad the quitter. They could also be used to say important things like "I love you".

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#05 - The Last Words of Jesus

The authors of the four gospels each have different accounts of the last words spoken by Jesus before His death on the Cross.

"E'lo.i, E'lo.i, le.ma' sa.bach'tha.ni?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
"E'li, E'li, le.ma' sa.bach'tha.ni?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Luke 46:46
"It is finished." John 19:30

To fully comprehend that moment, we must prayerfully contemplate all four accounts. We must also consider what happened prior to that moment.

According to Luke: One of the criminals who was hanged there kept deriding Him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"

But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:39-43

After listening to these words for many, many years, I realized that Jesus did not respond to the blasphemous thief. To me, this is very powerful! It says that we too, could follow Jesus' example and refuse to respond when others taunt us with their words or actions. It is imperative that we understand that refusing to respond to aggressive behavior is not weakness!

In Peter's first letter, he said of Christ's suffering, "When He was abused, He did not return abuse; when He suffered, He did not threaten; but He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:23

In the letter to the Romans, Paul said, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Romans 12:14,17,19

This tells us that it is OK to leave things in God's hands! It is OK to choose not to respond for these are the marks of a true Christian! It is also very important that we do not mistake people's honesty and integrity for cowardice.

The second revelation during that faithful Easter Season came from the "good" thief. In spite of his current situation, he was able to win the Heart of Jesus.

How? By acknowledging his wrongdoing and taking a stand! He chose to do something about the unjust remarks that the other thief was making. Then, he expressed his faith with these immortal words, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

In return, the forgiving Jesus offered him the gift of all gifts when He said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Are we standing up for those who are being persecuted by others? Are we using our words to create peace and win the Heart of Jesus when we speak with others?

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#04 - God's Love

This came to me by email and I would like to share it with you.

No one falls in love by choice, it is by Chance.
No one stays in love by chance, it is by Work.
And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by Choice.

If you love this man please share this post with your friends.

He did something for you, now do something for Him. Spread his word, and you'll be rewarded. How?

Matthew 10:32 reads, "Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven."

God is going to shift things around for you tonight and let things work in your favor. If you believe this, share this with the people you want to bless. You must have unwavering faith. God bless you!

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#03 - Choosing Friends and Associates

Choose your friends and associates carefully. If you hang around gripers and groaners, you'll end up doing a lot of griping and groaning. If you hang around losers, you'll end up losing ... more often than not.

If at all possible, get connected to one or two good, decent, value-driven, success-oriented, results-proven individuals. Spend time with them. Learn from them. If you can't get connected to them, you can still model yourself after them. After all, there's no need to learn the hard way. Learn from someone who has an IMAGE you'd like and has already figured out the right way to do things. Follow their example.

According to business philosopher Jim Rohn, "You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question, is that okay?"

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#02 - The Family Structure

Traditionally, the family structure consists of a married couple; mother and father with their progeny. But, as we all know, it does not stop there. In fact, it did not even start there.

We all have ancestors -- parents, grand parents, great grand parents and so on. Our great grand parents also had their parents, grand parents, etc. The lineage goes backwards though the ages and hopefully, will continue into the future as each generation produce their descendants.

This brings us to one of the important roles of the family -- procreation. Many of us revere the role, and rightfully so, while others tend to consider it as inconsequential. The introductory paragraphs already confirmed that it is anything but inconsequential.

Without procreation, there will be no future! This alone accentuates the value of the family structure, which is by no means simple.

The norm is for every family member to be the product of two different family structures. This rationale introduces maternal and paternal lineages, each with their own relationship to other family structures.

Likewise, every family member who wishes to participate in the normal process of creating the future is required to join with another family structure to do so. This puts each and every one of us in the middle of very complex maze of relationships.

How do we participate? Historically, men foraged for food; they did the hunting and gathering. In more contemporary parlance, they went out to work and brought home the bacon -- they did the laborious work. In that picture, women stayed at home, made the babies and cooked the bacon.

That is a gross understatement because the women who stayed at home were involved in something much more important that gathering and hunting. They were actually creating and nurturing the future generation. In many cultures, these roles have changed significantly and are expected to continue changing. The future of humankind depends on it!

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The family is the nucleus of civilization. William J. Durant, American Historian, Essayist (1885-1981)

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Observation: Men of previous generations were either very lucky or very smart. They were allowed to sit around, enjoy life and live like the king of the castle while the women did all the household chores.

Women of previous generations were "one person" production lines. They produced the meals and the children while tending the crops and searching for new wives to keep their husbands happy. I know. That was a long time ago!

Interestingly, in spite of that unequal division of labor and responsibility, many of the women outlived the men by a significant margin and continue to do so today.

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#01 - How to Stop Procrastinating

I recently received an email indicating that my senior manager’s new blog was available. In it he offered to give away five free copies of three different books to any staff who wanted one. All we had to do was write a comment and indicate our interest in receiving one of the books. There was one that I wanted.

I immediately scrolled down and realized that no one had yet responded. Thinking that I had all the time in the world to respond, I casually typed my comment. As I was about to submit it, I felt a little uneasy about being the first person to request a "free" book from the boss and decided to wait for a while.

When I finally hit the submit button the refreshed page indicated that fourteen other employees had indicated their interest while I procrastinated. I narrowly missed a great opportunity because of procrastination.

Many people have found themselves wondering how to stop procrastinating. Some people tackle their to-do list with gusto while others feel overwhelmed by approaching or missed deadlines. The latter passively fall further behind. Fortunately, there is a solution – it is commonly known as, “Action”. Follow these simple time-tested tips and take charge of your life today.

1. Be honest! Don’t say things like, “I am not procrastinating; I am busy doing other things.”
2. Stop thinking. Start doing. Start with a simple to-do list – you don’t want to forget the important things. It will also remind you that you do have things to do.
3. Don’t make mountains out of molehills – you have what it takes to complete those tasks. Most tasks are easier than they appear to be. If a task threatens to consume your mentally energy, do it as soon as possible. Get rid of it!
4. Experience some successes; do the easy tasks first – a shorter to-do list is less intimidating. Cross out tasks as you complete them and occasionally remake the list.
5. Focus on the important tasks – you don’t want to miss deadlines.
6. Have a positive mental attitude – don’t let negative thoughts steal your joy. Think of the benefits of completing each task and the resulting freedom to do what you really want to do.
7. Don’t let perfectionism stand in your way – in most cases “good enough” now is better than “perfect” later.
8. Ask for help – use whatever resources are available to you.
9. Finish what you start – don’t start a task and leave it undone. Incomplete tasks remain on your to-do list and result in unnecessary clutter.
10. Finally, do the things you want to do – you deserve to have some fun too. It is easy to have fun when all the important tasks are done.

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In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. Theodore Roosevelt

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One of the common causes of procrastination is when we opt to do the things we want to do before the things we have or ought to do. Too many futile hours are wasted in front of the TV or computer. If you start your day by doing all the things you “have” to do, you will have lots of time to do the things you “want” to do.

When you procrastinate you lower your self-esteem and send signals back to yourself that you are a lame and indecisive person. You don’t need that!

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