Points to Ponder

"This art of resting the mind and the power of 

dismissing from it all care and worry is probably 

one of the secrets of energy in our great men."

                                                                                                         — Captain J. A. Hadfield: Author

Think about......

I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things. If you simply didn't give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you.

~Harrison Ford

THE VIEW

by Tania Kinzinger

I write this with a cup of hot chocolate (+ a hint of Bailey's) by my side, the girls at school, my notebook resting on my lap and the challenge of sharing this last year before me. As I look out my living room window, heavily faded grays, browns, and whites, reflect back. Only the boldness of red from ribbons on Christmas wreathes and on the coats of Nutcracker soldiers' stands out. It looks arctic outside. The white that covers the ground is both ice and snow and the high today will be 10°.

If I believe what I see, there is little life. There is hardly movement. There is no warmth. The trees are bare, the lake frozen, and the wind still. It is quiet in my home and I am reminded of the barrenness of this season. Winter has come and I am in the middle of it. In these moments, my heart stirs. Sadness wants to come in. Quiet begins to engulf me. Worry tries to trickle into my thoughts. My eyes tell me coldness is all there is. It has conquered towering trees and froze expansive waters and land. My eyes tell me this is life or rather, this is how life is defeated.

So I close my eyes. My heart longs for more. My heart has always longed for more. "God, show me what I cannot see." With a richer desire, I openmy eyes. Some of the same images appear but my stirred heart now notices the sled trail on the lawn where just the night before I pulled Shaelah and Sofia up a small self-made hill. I can see the run over snow angels and places where Sofie picked icicles off and enjoyed nature's popsicles. I see Shaelah's boot prints and become aware that they are closer to my size than they are to a child's.

As I look further out, the frozen lake and shoreline remind me of this year's road trips and our mini vacations in search of the perfect pool or beach. Spring break took us to Arizona where the girls discovered the small flags attached to pool lounge chairs, pool side service, and Shirley Temple drinks. Memories of our days at Lake Holiday or North Avenue beach this summer return. These girls are fish in water and connoisseurs of sandcastle tools. I can clearly see in my mind the mounds of shells they have collected over time and realize they have saved a piece of every beach we have ever been to together.

It now begins to snow. I kid you not. God's timing is perfect. As snow begins to cover the ground more, I remember our road trip to Sparta, Missouri. Gratitude overwhelms me when I think of profound friendships that would take the girls and I so far. I smile at the memory of standing in untouched nature, watching a mare and her colt galloping through open acreages and feeling the earth move beneath us. Seeing a beautiful strong mare leading her own, captures the heart of a mother. It took my breath away.

Tears are welling up in my eyes now as my heart feels like the luckiest woman in the world. I realize that the life the girls and I live is a good one. We are healthy, happy, loved and love. When the girls crawl into bed with me, I know that I have everything I need right beside me. God has always taken care of us. Always.

My take away this year? "Do not believe solely in what the eyes see." There is great abundance in life and we are blessed beyond what the economy, our businesses, and our trials try to tell us. If we still ourselves long enough to close our eyes, our hearts tell us that there are only a few things in life that have meaning for eternity and bring lasting fulfillment. Look for those things and life becomes alive again and again and again!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tania Kinzinger is a single mom of 2 joyful young girls ages 9 and 8. Myhusband and dad of the girls left about 3 years ago and it has been a journey back to finding purpose and life ever since. I write to feel whole again and in doing so, I find a strength I never knew I had. You can reach Tania at tania@strengthof10.com

The Green thing....

from a facebook post. author not named....




Checking out at the supermarket recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. I apologized and explained, “We didn’t have this green thing back in my earlier days“.


The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations“.


She was right about one thing–our generation didn’t have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then? After some reflection and soul-searching on “Our” day, here’s what I remembered we did have….


Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.


We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.


Back then, we washed the baby’s nappies because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts — wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn’t have the green thing back in our day.


Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Wales. In the kitchen, we blended & stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.


Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she’s right. We didn’t have the green thing back then.


We drank from a water fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the green thing back then.


Back then, people took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.


But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?

Some Days

Some days i want to live
some days i wish it’s over
some days i long to see
some days i wait to die;

some days i think i am fine
some days i believe i have a problem
some days i am strong
some days i am weak;

some days i am closer to truth
some days it seems far far away
some days i think i understand
some days i am just lost;

some days i just wish
everything would disappear
some days i just hope
you could be near;

some days i have a feeling
one day everything
will be alright
and that day is closer
than ever;

Great Goals Make You Stretch!

by Fran Briggs

I met my alternate self three months shy of my 40th birthday as I struggled with clinically-diagnosed depression. During this same period, I was challenged, immensely by the debilitating effects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and being rendered permanently partially disabled as the result of being involved in two car accidents in six days (neither of which was I at fault).

I recall an incredible sense of emptiness and a daunting feeling of being completely overwhelmed; especially when trying to figure out which pills went with what "ills." I was unable to return to the vocation I loved. That hurt more than my pain. Most of my time was spent in bed where I eventually became 48 pounds "over-fat."

When dreams and reasons for living are wiped out by the greatest, of the least unexpected, most people priorities typically change. My priorities? Well, they just disappeared. I was defeated physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and knocking on "Financially's" door. Making the bed was not a priority; it simply went unmade. And when it came down to paying the bills, many went unpaid.

One day I was moved enough to actually cultivate the emotion of being "fed up!" During this awakening, I made the decision to reclaim complete responsibility for my life. And I did. 37 months post accident's, I went to work on my mind, body, and spirit. I studied, and applied everything that would enhance these areas. It wasn't long before I was 51 pounds lighter, and at least 52 times brighter.

Following my "awakening" I set goals to become an author, speaker, consultant, and educator. I quickly established myself in each discipline and began to promote and practice life-altering strategies. My approach was innovative, strategic, fun, proven and desired-results focused. Paramount to enhancing my personal energy level was to identify, outline and writing down my physical goals.

Returning to playing competitive softball, being the team's starting short stop and winning the league championship were my top three goals. I promised myself I would return to play softball at a competitive level if it killed me. It almost did! Playing softball on several teams simultaneously left me limping around with a blue, pain-alleviating ointment. I had soreness in muscles I never even knew existed! Nevertheless, by season's end I had accomplished all of my goals. I figured, if I could overcome all of myphysical, spiritual and psychological ailments, discovered how to run faster; jump higher; throw farther; look younger, stay up longer - manifest twice as much energy than I did when I was a "starting" NCAA athlete half myage - anyone else can do the "undoable," too! Whatever the "undoable," may be.

As I continued following a disciplined program to attain goals in every area of my life, something just short of magical happened. My personality sparked with a resurgence of charisma, confidence and boldness. Mymuscles grew stronger, my energy increased and the fat melted off mybody. Taking part in an activity not only became easier, but quite enjoyable. Suddenly, I was living life as I had designed.

Great goals make you stretch. They absolutely can take you well beyond anything you could possibly imagine! The most important part of setting great goals is not the goals themselves, but the person you become in the stretch.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fran Briggs is a motivational speaker, author, success coach, and founder of The Fran Briggs Companies, an organization which helps individuals and groups take their human potential beyond the max. She is also the creator of "Get Sponsored! e-Course and Teleseminars." Fran can be reached atfranbriggs@aol.com For additional information, please visithttp://franbriggs.com

Listen

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!

~ Kalidasa 

A Time For Every Matter

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

A WINDOW TO LOOK THROUGH

by Brian G. Jett ©-1999

She watches through her window, her little girl at play. Memories flood back to her childhood, of her yesterdays

As she tucks her gift into bed, and kisses her precious face
She says a prayer of protection, "Lord keep my child safe."

And as days turn months into years, she sees her little girl grow
She begins to realize that a time will come, the time when she must let go

Suddenly she hears a gentle voice-- saying, "No greater love is this,
Than what you've done for your little girl, go seal it with a kiss."

"Honey I want to kiss your face, but I know I can't by phone
While looking through your bedroom window, I began to feel alone."

"So many days through this very window, I'd watch you laugh and play
And I can almost see you tucked in bed, on those nights we'd talk and pray."

"Mom," her daughter uttered, "There's something I want to say...
You may not know how many times, I saw you watch me play."

"That window that you're looking through, is the same one God looked in
He saw you by my bed each night, when you'd tenderly tuck me in."

"So mom please don't feel all alone, you know I'll always be there...
Just like God is with you now, no matter the time, or place or where."

Her mother paused and then replied, "Sweetheart I know you're right...
You're grown, married and have a child, that you now tuck in at night."

"Mom, I better go now, I have some things I better do."
Her mom replied, "I know it dear, you've got a window to look through."


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As an author Brian Jett has written a host of songs and composed many lite jazz guitar compositions. Brian is currently writing and arranging gospel, country, RnB, and other instrumental jazz tunes including old hymns brought to a smooth jazz life with his soulful style that continues to grow as he does.

Brian G. Jett’s is also well known among authors associated with his ability to form inspirational, thought-provoking quotations which now number over 700 - published world wide in a multitude of books, assays, scholastic missives, and Internet sources. His writings can be found in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” best selling series of books, “The Washington Post”, “Wisdom Magazine”, “Venice Gulf Coast Magazine”, “Nothing To Fear” by the late Larry Burkett, KentuckyPetz Magazine, and a host of other publications.

His desire is to continue to inspire by word and by soulful guitar artistry developed mostly by ear and from “...playing what I hear…”

You can sample his music herehttp://www.reverbnation.com/brianjett or reach him at bgjett [@] gmail.com

IMPORTANT STUFF

by Sandra Abell

I'm usually an upbeat, happy person, so I've been perplexed these past few days by a feeling of free-floating depression. Everything in my life is great, so why am I feeling physically lethargic, mentally fuzzy and sad?

As I pondered this situation, I realized that this is the time of year when mymother died. Eight years ago, on Sept. 27, the loving, wonderful woman who had always been my rock, let go and moved on. She was 91 years old, had lived a good life and was ready. But I wasn't, and still am not. I've gone on with my life, but not a day passes when I don't think of something I forgot to ask her, wish we could laugh together or I could receive her wise counsel on a troubling matter.

Even though I miss her every day, I'm usually able to enjoy my life and function just fine. However, each year around this time my subconscious reminds my body that it's a time of grief, and I feel "down" for a week or so.

Once I identify what's going on, I can relax, be gentle with myself, and get on with things. Still, it's disconcerting until I remember that I'm reliving mygrief over having an empty space where my mother should be. What always amazes me is that my subconscious and body remember, even when myconscious mind is focused elsewhere.

So this month I'm reflecting on my mother, and all the people who were physically in my life and are now in my heart. I'm also reflecting on how incredible the human mind/body connection is, and how grateful I am that they help remind me of the important stuff.

How about you?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandra Abell, MS, LPC, ACC Sandy is a business and life coach, and owner of Inside Jobs Coaching Company. She is certified by the International Coach Federation, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, author, educator, and speaker. She specializes in working with executives, business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs and people in transition. Sandy publishes a free monthly newsletter entitled Focusing On Your Success, and has written several books, including Leadership and Management Skills for New Supervisors, and Self-Esteem, An Inside Job. She concentrates on helping people improve their business, accomplish goals and maximize potential in every aspect of their lives.  Her website is: www.insidejobscoach.com

The Star of Hope

Oh Infinite Star Giver
I now ask for wisdom and courage
to follow these stars
for their names are many
and my heart is fearful...

They shine on me wherever I go:
The Star of Hope
The Star of Mercy and Compassion
The Star of Justice and Peace
The Star of Tenderness and Love
The Star of Suffering
The Star of Joy
And every time I feel the shine

I am called
to follow it
to sing it
to live it.

~ Macrina Wiederkehr 

Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

~ Mother Teresa 

Take Control of You

By Michael T. Smith

Mum tucked me in. "Mum, is it really going to snow?" She pulled the blankets up to my chin and kissed my cheek.

"That's what the weatherman said."

"Will they cancel school?"

"It depends. If we get twelve inches like he said, they probably will."

"Great! I don't want to go to school. I want to play in the snow."

"Now, Michael! Don't go getting your hopes up. You could be disappointed."

"But the weatherman said ."

"Michael, storms are unpredictable." She patted my hand. "Go to sleep and we'll see what the morning brings."

She closed the door. The room grew dark. Outside, the wind howled. Sleet and ice clattered against the window. I heard mum walk to the kitchen. It was safe. I rolled out of bed, crept to the window, and pulled the blinds back. Snow swirled beneath the streetlight and spun in circles over the pavement like the sands in a desert. My heart rate increased - no school tomorrow!

"Michael, are you in bed?" Mum called out.

"Yes, Mum!" I ran back to my bed and pulled the covers up to my chin. How did she know?

"You better be!"

"I am, Mum! You can come and see."

"Go to sleep!" "

Yes, Mum!" I curled beneath the blankets. The wind howled. I was warm and safe in my cocoon. Mum and Dad chatted and watched a TV. I listened to the wind and wished for a day off to play in the snow.

*********************

"Michael!" Mum shook my shoulder. "Michael, it's time to get up - time for school."

"School?" I rolled over and stared up at her. "Mum?"

"I'm sorry, Michael. The snow missed us. It turned to rain. The schools are open."

"No snow?"

"Michael, you'll be late."

"But the snow ."

"There's no snow, Michael. Get up and brush your teeth."

I groaned and rolled out of bed. At the sink, I held my toothbrush and looked at myself in the mirror. My reflection mimicked the sickness and disappointment I felt. The school loomed - a prison for kids without a snow day. On each side of the street, the remaining snow melted and created tiny rivers of muddy water. I watched them come together into bigger streams. Brown dirt eddied where the water paused in hollows before it flowed into the ocean. Images of ships floundering in the currents flashed through my mind. The school bell rang and jolted me to reality. My dream of a day off melted like the snow in the heavy rain.

The school day lasted forever. The teacher's words went unheard. I sat atmy desk and wallowed in self-pity. I kept thinking. "How could this happen? The weatherman said it would snow. Everything is ruined."

"Psst!" I turned to my right. My friend Justin stared at me. I glanced at myteacher. Her back was to us.

"What?" I whispered.

"Want to play after school?"

I shook my head. "There's no snow."

"So? The brook behind the school is full of water, and it's running fast. We could play with our boats. We'll fill them with our plastic men and see if they can make it through the rough waters. We can drop rocks at them and pretend we're pirates firing cannonballs at them."

"Who's talking back there?" Justin and I jumped and looked forward. "Are you boys talking?" Our teacher glared at us.

"No, Mrs. Henneberry!" we said in unison. She turned back to the blackboard. "See you after school." I whispered to Justin. The bell rang. Justin and I rushed out the door and had the time of our lives.

Pirates raided boats in the rough waters of the stream. Our ships sank in the murky water. Two boys laughed and played until their mother's called them for supper. The sorrow I felt that morning was gone.

Snuggled under my blankets that night, I smiled and thought, "What a great day!"

The lost snow day is many years behind me, but its lesson is fresh. The day began with disappointment. A wish, a dream was gone. Over the years, I've looked at my reflection in the mirror in the morning and felt that same hurt. There were lottery tickets that didn't win the money I desperately needed. "Why didn't I win?" I'd whine. I'd wished and hoped for it. Why didn't it happen?

There were times when I didn't want to get out of bed, because there was nothing to get up for. The job I'd had ended the day before. Why did it have to happen to me? My first wife passed away. I looked in the mirror the next day and felt that same "no snow day" emptiness. "Why did this have to happen? All the dreams we had for the future are gone."

In each case, the circumstances were out of my hands. It did no good to wallow in self-pity. I had to get out of bed, face the day, and make the best of my situation. If I hadn't, I would never have found a new job. If I hadn't forced my way through the grief of losing my wife, I would never have found new love. If school would have been cancelled, I would have missed on a great time with my friends.

When your day doesn't start the way you hoped it would, you need to take control of the one thing I have control over - you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael lives in Idaho with his beautiful wife Ginny. Michael writes inspirational stories in his spare time and works full time in the telecommunications industry. Michael can be reached at mtsmith@cableone.net

 

To read more of Michael's stories, go to http://ourecho.com/biography-353-Michael-Timothy-Smith.shtml#stories

Thoughts to ponder...

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

~ Eric Hoffer

Doubt & Faith

Doubt is most often the source of our powerlessness.

To doubt is to be faithless, to be without hope or belief.
When we doubt, our self-talk sounds like this: 'I don't think I can. I don't think I will.'

To doubt is to have faith in the worst possible outcome.
It is to believe in the perverseness of the universe, that even if I do well, something I don't know about will get in the way, sabotage me, or get me in the end.

~Blaine Lee