ON THE OTHER SIDE

By Michael T. Smith 

Bob joined us just before Christmas of 2010. He was a stray cat living outside the office where Ginny worked. She and her co-workers kept him and the other strays fed. The weather grew cold. Ginny lost her job. "I'm not leaving him!" she said to me.

Bob came home for Christmas.

Four months later, Bob was still with us. We took him to the vet and got him his shots. Soon he will be neutered. In the meantime, because Bob doesn't get along with our cat, he lives in the garage at night and in the yard during the day.

It breaks my heart, because he is a big loving boy. He needs a home. We hope to find him one. If not, he won't be left on his own.

A few weeks after our home became his, Bob disappeared. Our backyard, surrounded by a six foot fence, was empty. We searched and called for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

Bob was gone.

We worried. He wasn't our cat, but we were his foster family, until he had a home, we felt responsible. I went to bed and fretted. Where did he go? The next morning, I found him curled up on a deck chair sleeping. He greeted me. "Meow!" and ran for the

door to get into the garage and his food.

Ginny and I checked the fencing. There were no holes big enough for him to slip through. Where did he go? How did he get away?

The answer came two nights later. Once again the yard was empty. Bob was gone. I called, heard a scratch, and watched him climb over the top of the fence and drop down into the yard.

I was amazed.

Bob explored our yard and faced a wall twelve times higher than he. Did he let it stop him? No! Bob knew there was more in life.

Did Bob let the wall restrict him? No!

Did Bob look around him, see the walls of restraint, sit down and cry? No!

Bob looked at that wall and thought, there has to be more and better. He had faith. Bob took a leap into the future.

I lost my job. Ginny lost hers. A fence of despair surrounds us. We stare at it and want to sit and accept our fate, but know that's not right. We need to follow Bob's example. We need to jump the fence. Bob understood. There are more opportunities on the other side.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael T. Smith is a writer in his spare time and believes in sharing a smile, a wave, a kind word, and a tear. His life experiences have given him a special heart that shows in his writing. He is one of our MDI contributors and his stories appear in newspapers, books: Chicken Soup, Thin Threads, Catholic Digest and online. To read more stories at: http://ourecho.com/biography-353-Michael-Timothy-Smith.shtml#stories Michael can be reached at heartsandhumor@gmail.com

25 Habits Of People Who Are Happy, Healthy & Successful

by KRISTY RAO

1. They don’t hold grudges.

2. They think outside of the box.

3. They go by a routine and make exercise a part of it. It takes practice to develop healthy habits and stick with them. Once you do, your internal foundation will be strong.

4. They have a supportive tribe, thereby not wasting time with negative or toxic people.

5. They don’t care about what other people think. Does a tiger lose sleep over the opinion of sheep?

6. They don’t people please.

7. They see difficult and challenging situations as opportunities for personal growth.

8. They consider handling rejection a skill and are resilient.

9. They make time for themselves. Whether it’s getting eight hours of sleep every night, finding 15 minutes to read the newspaper in peace or an hour to go to the gym, they make it a priority — just like everything else. When you take care of yourself, you have a bigger impact on others.

10. They are spiritual. This doesn't necessarily mean religious. It could mean setting aside time for reflection through yoga or meditation.

11. They practice deep breathing.

12. They know there isn’t such a thing as “having it all,” and they’re happy about that. Wouldn’t the world be a boring place for them otherwise?

13. Fear doesn't hold them back. They're ready to take risks.

14. They know how to say “NO,” and don’t hold back. These people have learned to set boundaries. Plenty of them.

15. They learned a great deal from other people whom they admire. Either they had a great mentor, or they took note of how those they aspired to be like handled various situations.

16. They follow their inner guidance. Not only do they have a vision, but they follow it.

17. They give without expecting anything in return.

18. They aren't pretentious or conceited.

19. Passion is what drives them. They authentically believe in what they're doing.

20. They don't complain.

21. They live by their core values in both their professional and personal lives.

22. They're happy to swim against the tide.

23. They finish what they start.

24. They don't compare themselves to other people.

25. They want you to succeed, too.

CHINESE ADVICE TO 50-YEAR OLDS & OLDER:

Must read and share

WHERE YOUR LIFE STAND HERE ON EARTH

(Translated from the Chinese).

Because none of us have many years to live, and we can't take along anything when we go, so we don't have to be too thrifty... Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don't leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don't want them to become parasites who are waiting for the day you will die!!

Don't worry about what will happen after we are gone, because when we return to dust, we will feel nothing about praises or criticisms. The time to enjoy the worldly life and your hard earned wealth will be over!

Don't worry too much about your children, for children will have their own destiny and should find their own way. Don't be your children's slave. Care for them, love them, give them gifts but also enjoy your money while you can. Life should have more to it than working from the cradle to the grave!!

Don't expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render much help. Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties and wealth. Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but that you have no claims to their money.

50-year old like you, don't trade in your health for wealth by working yourself to an early grave anymore... Because your money may not be able to buy your health...

When to stop making money, and how much is enough ( hundred thousands, million, ten million )?

Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can consume only three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.

So, as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough. You should live happily. Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc., but challenge others for happiness, health, enjoyment, quality of life and longevity...

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may spoil your health. You have to create your own well-being and find your own place of happiness. As long as you are in good mood and good health, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.

One day passes without happiness, you will lose one day.

One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

In good spirit, sickness will cure; in a happy spirit, sickness will cure faster; in high and happy spirits; sickness will never come.

With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life of pleasure.

Above all, learn to cherish the goodness around... and FRIENDS... They all make you feel young and "wanted"... without them you are surely to feel lost!!

Wishing you all the best.

Please share this with all your friends who are 50 plus and those who will be 50 soon

THE SECRET -- WITH A TWIST

by Michael Jordan Segal, MSW 

There is a book and movie called "The Secret" which describes how to find happiness, wealth, good health.. It was, and still is, a phenomenal success. The book describes many well known individuals throughout the ages, documenting their ability to "know the secret."

What is "the secret"? According to the book (as well as to myself) the "secret" is what is referred to as "the Law of Attraction." More simply put, "the way one thinks has a direct relationship to what happens to the individual." If one thinks the situation will be good, it will. If one thinks things will go badly, they will. It does not matter what subject you think about. 

According to "The Law of Attraction" if you truly think and believe there will be a parking spot up close at the mall, there will be one. If you truly think and believe your life will be terrible, it will be. It is more than "the power of positive thinking," but that's a very good beginning.

I often tell the story of when I was hurt. My attitude was very negative. I thought: "Before I was injured I could do 500 things really well; now, because of my physical limitations, I can only do 200 things well." I was constantly dwelling on the 300 things I had lost. However, with time I learned to refocus my thoughts to the 200 things I could still do. That thinking, and my new positive attitude, were so vital for me, as well as vital for everyone else.

Am I saying, "If one believes and thinks positively everything will be great"? Of course not. To borrow a portion of a title from Harold Kushner's best selling book, ".Bad Things Happen to Good People." I realize that sometimes life is not fair: babies unfortunately pass away; innocent people are murdered; hurricanes and earthquakes often devastate cities and kill many people..I could go on and on.

I love the quote: "What happens to you in life is 90%; but how you react to it is an important 10%!" What that means is that one's attitude plays a huge difference.

In my opinion, that's the "twist" of "The Secret." Sure, one's thinking is a huge part of life and finding happiness. However, I did not need Harold Kushner to make me realize "bad things happen to good people," (but thanks). The Holocaust was one of the worst events of history;

the Viet Nam War brought pain to so many; the destruction of the World Trade Center brought anguish and pain to countless millions..All of these events were terrible. But typhoons and hurricanes occur with regularity; tsunamis and cyclones also cause unbelievable pain and wreckage; wars are with us in every generation and result in so much misery; people who do not smoke get lung cancer..All of these things are terrible experiences. There are terribleevents of the pastAND the present,AND they surely will again be part of our future. Unfortunately, they have been and will be part of our lives -- the bad and the good in our lives.

I believe with the right attitude and thinking a person can not only survive, but also thrive, if not here on earth, than in many people's wonderful memories.

And that is a great twist!

©2010 by Michael Jordan Segal, all rights reserved

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Jordan Segal, who defied all odds after being shot in the head, is ahusband, father, social worker, freelanceauthor (including a CD/Download of 12 stories, read withlight background music,entitled POSSIBLE), and inspirational speaker, sharing his recipe for happiness, recovery and success before conferences and businesses. Contact Mike via email atMSegalHope@aol.com or to order his CD, please visitwww.InspirationByMike.com

Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Specific: A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the six "W" questions:

*Who: Who is involved?

*What: What do I want to accomplish?

*Where: Identify a location.

*When: Establish a time frame.

*Which: Identify requirements and constraints.

*Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

EXAMPLE: A general goal would be, "Get in shape." But a specific goal would say, "Join a health club and workout 3 days a week."

Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set.

When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goal.

To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as......

How much? How many?

How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable - When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

You can attain most any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them. When you list your goals you build your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these goals, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

Realistic - To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. A goal can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be. But be sure that every goal represents substantial progress.

A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force. Some of the hardest jobs you ever accomplished actually seem easy simply because they were a labor of love.

Timely - A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 lbs, when do you want to lose it by? "Someday" won't work. But if you anchor it within a time frame, "by May 1st", then you've set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the goal.
Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished. Additional ways to know if your goal is realistic is to determine if you have accomplished anything similar in the past or ask yourself what conditions would have to exist to accomplish this goal.

T can also stand for Tangible - A goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of the senses, that is, taste, touch, smell, sight or hearing.

When your goal is tangible you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus attainable. - DOMINIQUE BROWN

Quote of the day....

Most people are not going after what they want. Even some of the most serious goal seekers and goal setters, they're going after what they think they can get.


~Bob Proctor

Quote of the day....

 Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it's letting go.

 ~Unknown