LOCKED AWAY AND HIDDEN

I must say it is one of the intriging things about us human beings. We aspire to earn and to save all the "good" and the "beautiful" things in this material world and then we hide them away in lock boxes, safes, holes in teh ground or any other place where we think these items will be "safe". I've heard of folks who buy a 50,000 diamond bracelet, stow it away in a safe and then buy a "cheap" duplicate to wear out in public.We take our rare gold and silver coins and lock them away for a "rainy" day while using our "plain" old paper dollars in the "real" world. And Im afraid we also at times hide our greatest assets(love, a friendly smile, hugs, a sense of caring, compassion etc) while using in the real world our tired old grumpy selves. I think its about time we pulled all those "beautiful" assets just mentioned out of their hiding and begin to share them with not only those we love but with everyone we meet. I'd love to hear any of your thoughts on this subject. Remember to be good to yourself and even better to those you meet everyday. A kind word, a warm hug, a smile, a pat on the back to someone you happen to cross paths with will do much greater good in this world than you realize. Take care my dear friends. Hugs to all of you.

AN OLDIE RETIRED

Well, I finally did it. I broke down and bought me a new playstation2 game machine. My philosophy is If ya got a good horse ride it but don't break it down. I'm not one to change things too much if all is working well. I know I am more than just a little behind on all the new technology but what the heck. Way back in 1988 I was in a beautiful relationship with a wonderful lady who had 2 darling little girls when I met her. I absolutely adored and still do those 2 girls. They were so beautiful and I loved them with all my heart. And I'm so thankful that today they both are grown and married with families of their own. And even tho I dont get to see them very often since they both live in another state I do keep in touch.Anyway back in 1988 I bought them a Ninento 8bit game console.I remember we had so much fun trying to save the Princess in the Mario Bros. game. As a matter of fact I played it more than they did.So at the time I bought another one of the consoles to have a t my house. Well after my relationship with the girls mother came to an end and I had no one to play Mario with me I kept the game console and bought some sports games to play on it. It served me well during the years I was a "bachelor" again and I kept it even after I met and married my sweet wife in 1995. All these years she would ask me why I didnt get a newer game machine and I always said I was gonna get a new one some day. But the years kept racing by and still I kept the old game and played it quite often. I would even pull out the old Mario Bros game every once in a while and save the Princess just for old times sake. And I never failed to think about those 2 wonderful "little" girls Rina and Renee while I was playing that particuliar game. I suppose that hundred dollars I spent on the original Ninento was one of the best investments I have ever made. As I put in away in a box with all the games the other night it was kinda like burying an old friend. And I do reckon that one of these days I will get it out and play some more just to remember all the good times of the past.And it still works as good as it did on the day I bought it. And yeah, I admit the new Playstation and the games are a lot better graphics and more real but I can only hope I get half as much fun from it as I did my Nintendo. And I sometimes wonder what the girls ever did with the one I bought them.Just call me a dinosaur if you want but sometimes I wonder if newer is really better than a golden oldie.Happy gaming to all of you.

A PEACEFUL MIND

I truly believe that above all else in this life a peaceful mind has to be one of the most important assets that we acquire. I know that one has to have love good health money and a few other things to be quite satisified but all of these without a peaceful mind still leaves a gaping hole in our lives and I think we will find ourselves unhappy. I'd much rather be a poor man ,alone, sick, and hungary but have a peaceful mind than to have all of the aforementioned without the peace. Each of us must find the key that opens our lives to finding the peace of mind we deserve and need to be happy and fulfilled. I will share with you a piece I ran across the other day. It says "Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes withyour value as a human being. You are a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that. Unconditional self-acceptance is the core of a peaceful mind."
May you all have a most wonderful weekend filled with much love joy fun and above all else peace of mind!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You can make more friends in a month by being interested in them than in ten years by trying to get them interested in you.
Charles L. Allen--Roads to Radiant Living

THE FENCE

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him to hammer a nail in the back fence every time he lost his temper. The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. 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. His 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 that all the nails were gone. The father led his son to the fence. "You have done well son, but look at the holes in the fence," he said. "When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like the nail holes. You can put a knife in a person 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 just as bad as a physical one."
So heres hoping that your "fences" are intact and without any holes. Bless your hearts!

SAIL ON DOWN THE LINE

If our lives here are like a ship on the ocean then its probably time we set our course for greater and higher destinations. I know from experience that a lot of us tend to get mired down in a routine and find ourselves altho not unhappy just a wee bit restless. Atleast I find myself feeling this way from time to time. And even though I really like where I am in this life at the present moment I have no doubt that there are still places I need to go and things I need to get done. I love the quote from William Shedd that says;"A ship in a safe harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is for." I agree with that wholeheartedly so Heaven help me get up off my lazy rear in the future, get out of my little ruts and set my course to a larger part of the ocean. My hope is that all of your particuliar journeys will be filled with much excitement, much love, joy, and much learning. May this present moment be your most fulfiling one ever!

A SIMPLE THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If there is no wind, row!

IT AIN'T WHATCA EAT, IT'S THE WAY HOW YA CHEW IT

HI folks. I sure hope all of you beautiful people are enjoying this very moment right now and that things in your life are going the way you had envisioned. But just in case some things may be a little worrisome or not quite going the way you would like I thought I'd put this entry in for ya. I know from my own personal experience that oft times things get really screwed up (never my fault of course--Ha! You outta know better than that cause I can at times really screw up badly!) and it is at those times when we wonder why we even bother and try to get things going. Just seems like its one thing after another that goes wrong and robs us of being happy and content. Well as the title of this entry states it ain't alwas what happens to us as much as it is our reaction to it. We all have to "eat" stuff at times that doesn't go down real good. But Ive found out that if I "chew" it really good I can always find something positive from the experience. And yes, I have to chew things sometimes for days or longer before the "positive" comes into my mind. I really do hope that you are well satisified with things in your life at this moment and I hope that is always the case. But when things do go wrong just remember "It ain't what ya eat, its the way how you chew it." Take care friends and remember to be good to yourself and even better to those you love. And while you are at it why not do something nice for a stranger? Bless your hearts. I love ya all.

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE

When one looks at all the so called "problems" of this world it sure can seem a daunting task if we as individuals can really make a difference. But too many times good intentioned folks will just shake their heads and do nothing because of the magnitude of the problems. You, know as well as I do that we can make a difference even if it is just a simple thing we do. All of us have a unique talent to give to this world if only we will. My favorite story concerning doing small things to help is one I read about years ago.Famous Amos( the cookie king) was walking along the beach early one morning and saw a young boy picking up starfish that had been washed up on the shore and tossing them back into the ocean. The shore was covered with thousands of these starfish. Amos caught up with the young boy and asked him what he was doing. He said Im throwing these starfish back in the water before the sun kills all of them. Amos asked him if he really thought he was making a difference just throwing a few of them back in the water because there was no way he could throw all of them back. The boy picked up a starfish, tossed it into the waters and said " I dont know but it sure did make a difference to that one." And the lesson here is for us to do what we can when we can to help as many people as possible. I will use the quote from Anita Roddick to end todays entry."If you think you're too small to make a difference, you haven't been in bed with a mosquito."

NEVER GIVE UP

When everything around you is going crazy, when no one understands you, when you are just about ready to give up, then remind yourself to never never give up. Good things are always just around the next corner. Did you know that after Fred Astaire's first screen test in 1933 a memo from the MGM testing director said,"Cant act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little." Good thing he didnt give up huh? Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.
Did you know that a relatively unsuccessful marketer of resturant equipment named Ray Kroc didnt sell his first hamburger until he was 52 yrs old? At a time in his life when many are considering retirement he built McDonald's from a handful of hamburger stands into the world's largest food chain. Good thing he didnt give up on being successful.
When his older brother was killed during WW11, this man first withdrew into a shell and almost gave up. He then began to listen to the radio to ease his pain. Soon he was dreaming about hosting his own radio show. That led Dick Clark to start American Bandstand.
Did you know that Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper for lacking ideas? He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
And Finally author Richard Bach had his manuscript for a book rejected by several hundred editors before he found one to publish Jonathon Livingstone Seagull(My personal favorite book of all time). A movie of the book followed as did several more great books by Mr Bach. Im so glad he didnt give up.
One more thing Id like to add and this is my own personal experience. After many many failed attempts at finding the one woman of my dreams at the age of 42 we finally found each other. That was in 1994 and we have been blissfully married since May of 1995. And to think I had almost gi ven up on even looking for my soulmate! So whatever your dreams and no matter the past results or what anybody tells you I say hold on tight to your dreams and dont ever gi ve up! Bless your hearts. I love you all.

THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Hello folks. Today I thought I would share with you some quotes I came across in a little booklet called Good Stuff. Hope you like them and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with lots of love peace and joy.

There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day.--Alexander Woollcott

Hate is like acid. It can damage the vessel in which it is stored as well as destroy the object on which it is poured.--Ann Landers

The best thing to do behind a friend's back is to pat it.--Ruth Brillhart

There are two types of people-those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am," and those who come in and say"Ah, there you are."--Frederick Collins

It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top.--Anon

Only those who risk going too far will ever know how far they can go.--Anon

A smile is contagious; be a carrier.--Anon

KEEP THE FAITH

Faith:1. unquestioning belief, especially in religion 2 particular religion3 loyalty. This is the definition given us by Webster's New World Dictionary. But to me the definitions just dont quite go far enough. I feel faith is something we all use every moment of our lives whether we are aware of it or not. And the funny thing about having faith is that we as humans oft times misdirect our faith and bring untold misery into our experiences. For example what exactly is worry? We all seem to worry way too much. I would define worry as faith that has been misdirected. Our thoughts are very powerful things but we tend to give more power to the negative ones than the positive ones. We worry what tomorrow will bring instead of just having faith that all of our needs will be easily met. And what our thoughts are is what our experiences will be in the future. So why dont more of us use our thoughts and our faith to envision all the good things that this life will abundantly give us if we so desire it.I have heard friends of mine say things like I never get a break, I have to work really hard just to make ends meet, I dont really have any dependable friends, I never win anything etc etc. And as sure as the sun will burn tomorrow that is what they keep getting inot their experiences. And if I tell them to change their thinking and to have faith that things will work out they look at me as if Ive gone plumb loco! They have told me they dont possess any faith---hogwash--- everybody has faith in something. How many times do you jump into your car and crank up the engine and go on your merry way without ever doubting the car will start and get you to your destination? Well, that is faith my friend no matter what you may call it. So I truly believe we all have inside of us a faith that is unceasingly strong if only we look for it, nurture it, and allow it to work so called miracles in our everyday lives.My wish for each of you is that you quickly discover the inherent power that lies within and begin to use it to fulfill all your dreams quickly.I know from experience that there are times when our faith grows weak and all seems to go awry. Why Ive had times in my life when I have had to really work to pull myself back up from the deepest corners of despair and literally crawl back to that place of inner solitude and knowing that always sets me free once again. In those times of grief and heartbreak try to remember things will get better--you will survive-- and always try to keep the faith.And if by any reason you ever feel that no one cares about you or understands you feel free to contact me. I will always care I promise. Take care my friends and remember to do something nice for someone for no reason-you will be surprised just how good that makes you feel-- and remember to be good to yourself and even better to those you love."hugs" to all of you. I leave you with the following quotation from Christian D Larson's book The Pathway of Roses

"When there is anything you truly wish for, do not stand passively hoping that something may happen to make your wish come true; go out and make that wish come true; have the faith that you can, believe in the power that God (Spirit) has given you and God will give you more"

EXPECT THE BEST

Just how hard is it to expect the best of everything to happen to us? I dont think it should be that hard but it does seem to be for most of us anyway. And the opposite is also true that we can more easily expect the worst of things to happen. And this being the case then of course the worst does occur. Im really amazed at how easily some people get into the habit of expecting everything to go against them. And then if things only go half wrong they seem to be disappointed as if life is treating them unfairly. After all they did invest much time and effort into thinking and worrying about the worst of things happening. I wonder if its because we as humans have just become too complacent with running our own lives and find it much easier to just blame others or bad luck or whatever else we can so we dont have to own up to the fact that we alone are responsiblile for what direction our lives are taking. That is not to say that things will always go our way but we do have the final choice as to how we will deal with things when they do go wrong. I believe if we could change our mindset to believe in expecting the best we would soon see a big change in our lives. But we must be willing to put forth the effort to change our thinking and we must face things as they come and do whatever we can to make things better. Just thinking positive only goes so far, we must back that thinking with action and that is where a lot of us get derailed. Many times we fail to do anything for fear of being wrong. And doing nothing equates to our lives continuing to be like a ship without an anchor. Maybe we should try to become more conscious of our everyday thoughts and if we see a negative one replace it with a positive one. Let us all expect the best today, do what we can for ourselves and for others and then see what tomorrow brings into our lives. I wish you all good luck in this endeavour and hope you quickly see the changes in your life you want to see. I will leave you with the following quotes.....

When you do not succeed, when no one seems to care for your service, or for your talents, there are two things to do: do your best and love much.
Christian D. Larson,The Pathway of Roses

We should EXPECT THE BEST, and so live that the best may become a part of our experience.
The Science of Mind

BEING SUCCESSFUL

Just what would you define success as? I have found that most of us have our very own unique definition of what success is. Sadly( I think) too many of us define success as how much money and material possessions we have amassed. Now I believe there is nothing wrong with having lots of money and fine beautiful homes and other things that make this life comfortable but to define success only in this way is a mistake I do believe. As I take a look at my own personal life I can see how my definition of success has changed from time to time. As a younger man I guess the material things and money meant a lot more to me than they do now. And I tended to think success was how I matched up to others. After years of trying to keep my ego in check I finally found out it didnt matter how others perceived me and my own self worth wasnt to be measured in what things I had.And that was a good thing because Ive never really had lots of fine "stuff". Until I married my sweet wife I lived in apartments and old houses. I drove old cars but did manage to own a Harley motorcycle. Luckily for me my wife to be never judged me by what I had in material possessions but she was able to look into my heart and see the love within. Over the years I had defined success as being the best person I could possibily be. Im still working on that but at least I am content with my rate of "success". Now I tell people I consider myself a success if I wake up breathing in the morning.A vey simple view for a very simple guy! Now I dont know how you define success for yourself and I sure dont want to try and tell ya how to do it, Im only saying put some thought into it and you may be surprised to find that you are already successful and just didnt know it. Anyway I wish for all of you the success you truly are searching for and may it arrive at this very moment. I will leave you with the following quotes from Science of Mind and its founder Ernest Holmes. May God bless you and yours now and forever."Hugs"

"The thing that stands between you and the greater good is a thing of thought and nothing else. It is not Reality that you must change, but your mental reaction to It.
Ernest Holmes--This Thing Called You

Declare your freedom. Know that no matter what others may say, think or do, you are a success now, and nothing can hinder you from accomplishing your good.
Science of Mind

HAPPY JULY 4TH

My wish for all of you is that you and yours have a very safe fun filled and joyful holiday weekend!

YOU ARE UNIQUE

If life made you out of Itself.... and if you are an individual just a little different from all other individuals who ever lived, then Life not only created you as an independent being, It also implanted a unique something within you.

Ernest Holmes, This Thing Called You