Life Is A Postage Stamp

Choose to be a forever stamp or a holiday stamp.
Before you wrinkle your nose, squint your eyes or furrow your brow deciding that I've lost my mind, consider the function of a postage stamp. Unless you are a philatelist, the only function of a postage stamp is to stick to the envelope or package.

This requires endurance. This tiny piece of Life is a adhesive backed paper must remain so solidly affixed that it survives Postage Stamp the shuffling and friction against other pieces of mail in the postman's bag or truck, close encounters in various mail rooms as it gets sorted and rerouted and back out for delivery. Consider the obstacles and near brushes with death encountered by this tiny little rectangle of paper.

Forever stamps retain their usefulness even after postage rates increase. Holiday stamps have a fixed value and are most frequently used only for Christmas cards and other holiday mail.Relate your decisions and resolutions to the sticking power of a postage stamp. How determined are you to stick to your goals and resolutions until you reach your destination?

The persistence of a holiday stamp means that you give up before the holiday ends. A holiday stamp looks festive, appealing and appropriate for a few weeks before it starts resembling stale cut out sugar cookies. Whether your new goal was to lose weight, launch a physical fitness program or establish a new business, it absolutely requires more than a casual effort for a few weeks. What are you willing to do to achieve your goal?

Persistence, consistent forward motion and sticking to the goal until it became a reality. Success does not always go to the swiftest, the strongest, the richest or someone from the lucky gene pool. Success is awarded to the last man standing. Hang in there long enough with forward motion and determination; success will yield to you. The next time you hit a speed bump on your success path just remember the postage stamp. Choose to be a holiday stamp or a forever stamp. Success is rarely if ever an accident or a lucky break. Success is a decision followed by consistent and persistent action.

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The Firts Step

No journey begins without a first step. No action takes place without a small beginning. Human life begins with one little cell division. Giant trees begin with a sprout from a small seed. If the first small actions would not take place, everything would come to a halt.

Do you have a dream? Do you have something that you want to do; something you have a passion for? Why haven't you done it? The reasons may be many but the main reason is that you have not taken that first step. We can
fantasize about how things could be different if only . . . . We can pretend that they are different. But they will not really be different
until we take that first step. Our achievements will not happen just by thinking it so.

Stand up! Take a big breath. Stretch out the mind and body. Lift one foot . . . . there that's it. Now move it forward. Now put it down. A step!
Progress! You are ahead of where you were. Take that first step, though you are uncertain, fearful, and unsteady. The boldness of that first step will make the next steps easier. "Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." Take that first small step and you are on you way to realizing your dreams.

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Maintaining Self Discipline in the Office

All of us, at sometime or the other, have to do a job that we don’t like. It’s a universal truth and will remain an eternal requirement.
In this environment, self discipline becomes the key to success.
There are many things in life that we like to do but should not - eating junk food, sitting late at offices even when it is not required, browsing the net without a purpose, all these add up to make a person unproductive and inefficient in the long run.
Hence, discipline becomes a must, especially in an office atmosphere. It could initially be just ‘external’, like a boss guiding, directing and
controlling an employee. However, in the long run, external discipline should become internal discipline.

The following are some tips on how to self discipline yourself in the office:

1. Plan your day in advance
Most employees in office do not have a purpose. Neither do they have an idea of what they are supposed to achieve when they leave their homes. It is more of a routine for them to travel to and from office. They hardly have any enthusiasm. To avoid all this, an employee needs to, before leaving the office itself, plan his next day. A good time-table will help tackle not only such regular activities as mailing, report preparation, calls etc but also special activities like presentations and meetings which need to be looked at in detail. Keep one hour extra in your plan to accommodate unexpected events.

2. Do not be impulsive
Most problems happen when one becomes impulsive, especially when faced with a new or unexpected work. For instance, if you are doing a particular work and someone calls up or comes up to you for a different task, do not jump at the new project immediately. Slow down. Complete the work in hand first before you take up the new task. Your original plan for the day is more important. In fact, you should keep track of what you have planned for the day on the hour, every hour.

3. Be proactive
Stepen Covey, in his book ‘7 habits of highly effective people’ says that being proactive is the most important habit of a successful person. So do not wait for problems to crop up; find solutions even before they arrive. The more you get into the habit of ‘right thinking’ the more focused and sharp you will become.

Remember, discipline is not an inborn thing - it needs to be cultivated. We may fail many times but just don’t give up, it is important to get up and keep going.

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Goals

Only a small percentage of us ever set goals.
The reasons we don't, are many;
It takes too much time - if we set them then we have to do them, we don't know how, we will be disappointed if we fail to reach them.
Disappointment if the goal is not reached - is probably a major reason of not setting goals or of setting them too low. Our fear of failure - That inhibiting fear that prevents most of us from soaring like the eagles. But some do soar like eagles. They have set their goals based on their values and vision and they set them high, and they never quit in their journey.

What if the goal is not met? What if we have to make adjustments along the way? What if we realize that the goal needs to be changed? So what? If we aim high, very high, then the process of achieving the goal will bring a great deal of learning and growth, and part of that learning and growth may be in knowing our true selves better. We can gain an appreciation for who we are and what we value. And in the process we achieve a level that we would not have achieved without aiming high.

Who knows, when we "shoot for the moon" we may just land there, or if we miss we will surely "land among the stars. Allen Schmeltz

Your role in achieving your goal must be giving your all. Involve yourself whole: with your heart, your mind and your soul. Victoria Holtz

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Sandbox Wisdom

Tom Asacker has rewritten the rules on leadership and service. This book is a wonderful tale of life lessons, learned through a child’s eyes. Reading Sandbox Wisdom will bring out the child in you. You’ll find yourself “playing” to win! A terrific theme for any organization to encourage creativity and great service.

Give people a fact or an idea and you enlighten their minds; tell them a story and you touch their souls. –Hasidic proverb.
Sandbox Wisdom is a fun, refreshing and quite possibly a life altering read. In this highly engaging story.
The book’s author explains, “Sandbox Wisdom is a way for you to reconnect to those simple, yet powerful human “truths” that you once knew instinctively, but may have long since forgotten.”

Tom, through simple truths and a beautiful story, does a remarkable job demonstrating how the importance of human connections is what life and business are all about. Providing common sense wisdom through the eyes of a child, he shows how we can revitalize our work, our relationships, and our lives.

Fun, Laughter, and Enthusiasm...We should strive to keep that childlike spirit in our work and our play. When we grow up we take ourselves way too seriously, and sometimes we become a heart attack waiting to happen.

No Limit Thinking...As children we believe that we might become president, a great artist or a great explorer. But as adults we begin to put fences around those dreams.

No Inhibitions...Children speak from the heart, and as adults we should strive to do more of that.

Read People and Situations...Children can see past the trappings of material success and see into the core of people. As we grow older we begin to label people, and as the saying goes, "labeling is disabling."

Creativity and Imagination...A great philosopher once observed, "Genius is childhood recaptured at will." The imagination and creativity we had at five too often begins to fade at fifteen.

If you wish to rekindle your attitude or you wish to re-ignite your team's passion for great customer service, here's some good advice...practice Sandbox Wisdom.

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How to be Successful

Every day, we fight the fight.
Every day we play the game.
Every day we expect good things.
Every day we want to do our best.

So what's the secret?
Where's the answer?

Well here it is.There isn't one.

No matter how long you live, all you can do is improve upon the mistakes and reap the success. That's it.
That's your job. So instead of searching for the magic waters, live for now. Wake up with that smile, that energy, that goal, and strive on. It might not happen or work today, so what. Guess what, it probably didn't for the next person either.

So you take what you have, and try again. Because every day is another chance, another opportunity. There will always be a next time. Remember that.
"Can't" is an excuse and giving up is not an option. So get out of your comfort zone and get something done. Nobody can make you do it but YOU! Not this quote or anything else you read. It's you.

So find that personal motivation. Make it happen.

Because the magic potion is somewhere very few people look " WITH-IN YOU! Curt Bachman

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit! Conrad Hilton

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Grabbing the right Opportunity

Is success in business a matter of ‘luck’ or ‘self effort’? It’s a question often asked, especially by those who are struggling to build their companies.
There’s this saying about success being 99 % hard work and 1 % luck. But, remember, you will never get lucky till you put in the best of your efforts. Only then would opportunity knock.

You might have heard the adage that talks of opportunity not knocking twice, but here’s another interesting one for you: “When opportunity knocks, either we are out or sleeping in!”.
Still, we have to understand that it is not only about the opportunity itself but about the ‘right’ opportunity at that. So how does one recognise this so called right opportunity?
Here are some steps to follow:

NOTHING BUT THE BEST
Usually, people who are learning the tricks of the trade feel every opportunity is the best opportunity. It is simply not true. You will have to struggle for a few years and put in your best efforts before you get the ‘knack’ to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, and even the simply ‘better’ from the very ‘best’.

LEARN TO SAY ‘NO’
It’s quite a temptation to say yes to every event that ‘seems’ to be an opportunity. When an opportunity comes- stay clam. Think through it: Is it a profitable venture? Plan a strategy and then decide to capitalise on the same.

JUMP INTO IT
Once you thought through it: Jump into the field right away. Do not think too much after this stage. Just go out and perform your best. You never know if such a chance will come again.

People only see the successful part of a businessman; they never recognise the hardships that he has gone thinking to become successful.

Ray Kroc, the founder of Mc Donald’s, was once asked in an interview, “Sir, you were very lucky! You became an overnight success”. Ray remarked, “Yes, that is true. But you do not know how long the night was…!”

After having put your time, energy and efforts to build your dreams, do not quit when success is just right round the corner.

As Swami Vivekananda proclaimed “Awake, arise, Stop not till thy goal is reached”

And for all this, remember, it’s all a matter of timing.

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The Winning Weapon

Think before they think, that is the rule of warfare. Even in the game of chess, every move of the opponent is studied, analysed and carefully thought upon before making any move. If you are the first to move, have a plan.
And it is this plan that needs to be protected from praying eyes. It goes without saying that, for this, business men should be alert. While taking up new projects or while executing projects in hand, a high level of secrecy should be maintained.

What you are doing, what you are thinking, and all your moves should not be known to others. One needs to create an aura of secrecy around him self to move ahead, before the rest.
A golden rule to remember in business is that there is a big difference between planning and execution. Make your plan perfect, then execute without delay. There is no point planning when the time has come to execute.
But let’s fact it keeping secrets is a tough thing to do. However, there are some tips that can help one:
Postpone;
Whenever you feel like disclosing a plan to someone, remember to postpone the same.
Give yourself at least a day. Once you have done that, you will improve your self control. By practicing this, you will slowly but surely get the confidence to keep things to yourself. Also, learn to observe silence at least half an hour every day to help your thought power rule over your talkative nature.
Execute and then speak;
Do not speak and then execute. It should be the other way round. The biggest danger in revealing your plans is that you give the opponent an added advantage to think before you.
Think ahead;
On achieving success in any endeavor, we feel like talking about the same to others. Rather, we feel like bragging! The best way to avoid this is to start new projects immediately. Always keep yourself busy with newer plans.

“The only way to keep yourself productive is by having at least a month’s work in front of you”. Swami Shivananda

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The Buzzard, The Bat and The Bumblebee

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place If it is placed on the floor
or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but
persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that
all we have to do is look up.
"Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but Faith looks up!"

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Good Planning

A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows."
This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him.

A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace.
The young man slept soundly.
The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements.
The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.
The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows."
Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace.

“Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true.”

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Mootivation, Manipulation and Leadership

Something to SMILE about: encouragement and inspiration for Life’s ups and downs.
Zig Zaglar

Motivation occurs when you persuade others to take an action in their own best interests.
Manipulation is persuading others to take an action that is primarily for your benefit.
Leadership is the ability to persuade someone to do what you wanted him to do because he wanted to do it.
Result? Productivity declines.

Motivation
- performance improves, productivity increases and both parties win. A fair-weather friend is always there when he needs you.
Result? Win – Win

Manipulation
- self-destructs the individual doing the manipulating. Words gets out on manipulators. Result? People grow less and less likely to respond in a positive manner to their manipulation.
- persuading or even subtly coercing people to do something so that you win they lose. Result? Forced compliance.
- victory is temporary and the price is prohibitive. With the motivator, everybody wins; with the manipulator only the manipulator wins. Result? Win – Lose

Manipulators are losers who produce resentment and discord.
Become a motivator, lead your people, and don’t manipulate them.

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ABC of Success

A Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.
B Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
C Change yourself & your work will seem different.
D Doing what's right is not the problem. It is knowing what is right.
E Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
F Following happiness is like chasing the wind or clutching the shadow.
G Good health & good sense are two great blessings.
H Hatred is self-punishment.
I It takes time to save time, better late than never.
J Just do it.
K Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.
L Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.
M Make it happen.
N Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what's right.
O Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.
P People stumble not on mountains but on small stones.
Q Quest for success is never ending, keeping walking.
R Reading is to the mind what exercise is to body.
S Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
T The best feelings are those that have no words to describe them.
U Until you try, you don't know what you can't do or can do.
V Visualize what you want to be.
W Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
X X-ray all your problems, you will have the solutions.
Y You are different, why act like copy.

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One Miracle

"Boy, I could really use a miracle right now!"
he said.
I was having breakfast at a local restaurant
when I overheard two men talking.
I thought about how many times I've said that. It then lead me to this question:
"What if God gave me one miracle?"

Not one that I asked for, but one that was given to me to do what I wanted.
One miracle that could change the world.
One miracle that could save lives.
One miracle that could bring joy into the lives of people all around me.
One miracle that could comfort the sick, heal a broken heart, empower others to rise above their own challenges.
One miracle that could...go ahead name it.

What if you woke up one day and this revelation came to you that you held the power of using one miracle to impact the world in such a unique way as to leave a lasting and forever impression?

Think about the weight of that idea. Think about what it would be like to know that you held that power and you had to decide what you were going to do with it.
Think about what it would be like if others knew you had that miracle at hand. Would you feel a sense of urgency to do something with it or would
you just sit by and wait until the opportunities faded or your time ran out?

What about your obligation to God?

Above all else, beyond what others might expect, don't you think that if God gave you that miracle that you would make it a priority in your life to use it in such a way as to please Him?
Well, my friend, this isn't some foolish idea. This isn't some ethical question in a college course. It is indeed reality.

YOU are that miracle created, born with great expectations and given unto the world as the miracle of life. You are capable of all those things and obligated by faith to use this miracle.
Wake up to this reality. Step up to the challenge.
Live up to expectations.
BE MIRACLE!!!

by Bob Perks

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Principles of Being Successful

Success is the Journey, not the Destination

Defining Success:
Profession… Business or Career
Relationships… Family and Friends
Wealth… Money and Finances
Health… Diet and Exercise
Enjoyment… Recreation and Fun
Inner Spirit… Faith and Spiritual
Community… Social and Cultural
Personal Development… Education and Growth

Be Responsible
Develop a “Sense of Urgency”
Have a Vision
Have Clarity
Make Decisions
Make Decisions
Be Teachable
Set Goals
Prioritize
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Learn Time Management
Learn Organizational Skills
Act As If
Take Action
Use Your W.I.T.S
Be a Risk Taker
Be Curious
Be Confident
Find a Mentor
Be Creative… Imaginative
Be Passionate
Love What You Do
Create Your Own Self Image
Remember Your Past
Embrace Conflict for Growth
Commit to Improvement
Create a Winning Environment
Learn From Failures
Learn to Forgive
Give Back
Show Gratitude
Be Persistent
Operate From Spirit, Not Ego
Learn to Listen
Surround Yourself With Successful People
Be Part of a Team
Learn to Network
Have Integrity
Learn to Communicate
Be Humble
Be Honest and Credible
Leave Nothing Undone
Complete the Past – Embrace the Future
Let It Go
Embrace Change
Don’t Listen to Self Negatives
Develop New Habits
Learn to Earn
Be a Problem Solver
Believe in Self Reliance
Have Self Respect
Have the Power of Self Understanding
Develop a Work Ethic
Enjoy Humor
Think Big
Embrace Diversity
Keep Motivated
Achieve Success !!!

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Charging the Human Battery

In a perfect world, we hear something once, record it in our brain and never have to hear it again. Well, as far as we can tell, the world is far from perfect. We all occasionally have doubts, fears and disappointments in life. During those times, we need “shots of inspiration” to reinforce, to encourage, and to motivate.

That’s what Charging the Human Battery is all about...many ways to motivate yourself! One of the great challenges in life is to get inside our own heads, and truly understand what makes us tick.

Just remember...people are like sticks of dynamite; the power’s on the inside but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit. It is our hope that as you read there will be many “a-ha moments” to light your fuse, and keep it lit, through good times and bad. But here’s the key... keep it close and read it often. Because as Zig Ziglar said, “People often tell me that motivation doesn’t last, and I tell them bathing doesn’t either, that’s why I recommend it daily!”

Think about that. One choice, just one, can change your life forever. Simply put, your life today is what your choices have made it, but with new choices, you can change directions this very moment. For me, that idea alone is highly motivational because it offers tremendous hope, regardless of circumstances, for a better tomorrow.

Your life-changing choice may be to switch careers, to leave an abusive relationship, to go back to school, to stop drinking, to adopt a child, to start a business, to lose weight, to start a charity...to name a few. If you have the courage to do so, you could make any one of those choices, or others, today. And you would change your life.

Sometimes it’s a different kind of choice. It can be to not quit, to not give up in the face of adversity. We’ve all been there.

So never forget that you are only one choice away from changing your life. Do you have the courage to make it?

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Spread your Wings and Fly.....

Look to the horizon, spread your wings, and fly...

The nest of young eagles hung on every word as the Master Eagle described his exploits. This was an important day for the eaglets. They were preparing for their first solo flight from the nest. It was the confidence builder many of them needed to fulfill their destiny.

"How far can I travel?" asked one of the eaglets. "How far can you see?" responded the Master Eagle.
"How high can I fly?" quizzed the young eaglet. "How far can you stretch your wings?" asked the old eagle.
"How long can I fly?" the eaglet persisted. "How far is the horizon?" the mentor rebounded.
"How much should I dream?" asked the eaglet. "How much can you dream?" smiled the older, wiser eagle.
"How much can I achieve?" the young eagle continued. "How much can you believe?" the old eagle challenged.

Frustrated by the banter, the young eagle demanded, "Why don't you answer my questions?"
"I did."
"Yes. But you answered them with questions."
"I answered them the best I could."
"But you're the Master Eagle. You're supposed to know everything. If you can't answer these questions, who can?"
"You." The old wise eagle reassured.
"Me? How?" the young eagle was confused.

"No one can tell you how high to fly or how much to dream. It's different for each eagle. Only God and you know how far you'll go. No one on this earth knows your potential or what's in your heart. You alone will answer that. The only thing that limits you is the edge of your imagination."

The young eagle puzzled by this asked, "What should I do?"
"Look to the horizon, spread your wings, and fly."
“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”

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How to be Successful

We can all learn success by following the successful knowledge, habits, behaviors and attributes of other people. Chances are that if we learn to act like those who we view as successful, we will have that opportunity to be just as successful. This is an educational experience.



Step 1.
Learn from successful people…
No matter how intelligent we are or how much education we receive, it’s impossible for anyone to learn everything they need to know to be successful by starting from scratch on each aspect. If you want to be successful, your best method is to find someone who has attained the vision you want to attain, and then do what they have done. If they are truly successful; education, personal development and professional development have been instrumental in acquiring their success. Research their lives and find what educational steps they completed that have resulted in them attaining what you want to attain. Do what they have done. Make that educational investment in yourself and your vision.

Step 2.
You can learn from failures…
Failing is part of the learning process. Don’t be afraid to fail. All successful people have failed at some time throughout their life. The only time failure is truly a failure is when nothing is learned from the experience. When you make a venture into some element of personal/professional development, you may not be as successful as you wish on your first attempt. Don’t give up if you don’t feel successful the first time. Continue the experience and gain the education you need from every experience. Learn from your failures and the failures of others.

Step 3.
Find a mentor…
Now that you’ve decided that you can learn by watching successful people and realize that failure is really an educational tool, take the next step. Use one or several of these “models” as your mentors. The beauty is… they never have to know....your parents, your teachers, your peers and your supervisors. The benefits that you receive by having mentors will be monumental and move you closer to and quicker to achieving your vision, goals and objectives. Mentors will help you to become successful.

You have the education, skill or behavior that you’ve learned, but now it needs to become a habit. Good habits aren’t always easy to learn and any habit is usually created after 21 days of demonstrating the skills, behavior or knowledge.

Use mirroring and mentoring to create your new educational success habit. It may take some time, but it will be worth the investment and it will put you on the road to attaining your visions.

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Miracle of Miracles

Recently, for the first time in 5 years I simply went out back, put my cane down, and started walking. I made it 42 yards.
Today I walked 5 miles.
My medical team had said this would be impossible. My brain could no longer send the signals for walking because those nerves in my spinal cord had been destroyed. Though certainly unintentional, my doctors did take something very important away from me: hope.

A while back, a psychologist pal of mine urged me to try to help myself. I was angry. I said, "They're four of Boston's leading neurologists. They all said I'd never get better."
"They could have been wrong."
"They said there's nothing I can do! No rehabilitation. No physical therapy. I'm not putting any effort into trying to walk and then be miserable when I fail."

"Trying is never failure."

I'd get steaming mad at people like her. What did they know? They came out in droves. I heard various things I should try: a soy-based diet, massage, Yoga, acupuncture, positive thinking. All of these well-meaning non-experts believed that traditional medical doctors do not know everything about human potential.
However, there was a common denominator in my friends' advice. And that was the word, "Try."
What made me finally try? The answer is simpler than I'd have ever imagined. That day I tried walking on my own, I had simply said to myself, "Why not?"

When I walk I have a Frankenstein-style gait. I get embarrassed so I explain. I met a gal who said, "Stop excusing yourself. Walk proud!" She's just one of the many who've taught me that if I open my heart to acceptance, the world is filled with support teams.
I've also resolved to open my obstinate mind and really listen to others, experts or not. This not only fosters my own sometimes-frail belief in my abilities; it fosters faith in miracles.

One morning my husband, Bob, said there was a huge present for me in our driveway. He had researched "bicycles for disabled people." It was a 300 pound cycle for two. The seats were side by side. He could pedal while I sat by him and enjoyed the outdoors again.

Um . . . did I mention it came assembled with a set of pedals for me too?

Now, hundreds of miles later, after exhaustive hours of pedaling along beautiful bike trails, I only wish that we owned stock in Ben-Gay.
Bob needs a tube a day to keep up with me.
Last week he repeated, "There's a huge present in our driveway." He led me outside. "Voila!" he said. "Oh no," I moaned. Bob dubbed it "The One-Woman Dynamo Power Bike."
"Sweetheart? You know I can't bike on my own."
He laughed sweetly. "I know. And you can't walk either. Then why does the pedometer I bought you have 74 miles on it?"
And so, I made a now often repeated declaration that I am praying others will say to themselves as well. "Yes. I can."

Think I love my bike? You bet. Think I love Bob? Of course. Think I love life again after cloistering myself in a self imposed no-can-do closet? You have to ask?

How do we find hope when hope seems impossible? Do we simply believe in our hearts, our minds and our very souls that we can beat the odds?

Yes.

Christopher Reeve said, "When we have hope, we discover powers within ourselves we may have never known. Once we choose hope, everything is possible."

His immutable words still ring in my heart and I so hope they will in everyone else's. "And you don't have be a 'Superman' to do it."

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Accepting Responsibility

Most people dread accepting responsibility. That’s just a fact of life, and we can see it in operation every day. Yes, we can see avoidance of responsibility all the time in both our personal and professional lives. And here’s something else we can see just as often: We can see that most people aren’t as successful as they wish they were. Do you see there is a connection between these two very common phenomena?

It’s in your best interest to take responsibility for everything you do. But that’s only the beginning. Many times it’s even best to take responsibility for the mistakes of others, especially when you’re in a managerial or leadership role.

Accepting responsibility is one of the highest forms of human maturity. A willingness to be accountable, to put yourself on the line, is really the defining characteristic of adulthood. Jim Rohn

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Change Begin With Choice

Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish, we can start a new activity. Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change.

We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month or next year. We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform.

And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause.

As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves."

We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today.

Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And, if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice, for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life - If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

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