What do you think life is? Hope you benefit from following stories of life and find the answer of where you want to go from now …or let me know if your heart is make of stone ….. Actually all these were from many mails that I received over the years, I collected those I like, if you and me are of the same taste, probably you will appreciate the effort or else you’ll just crown me as ‘garbage collector’, either way I’m not hurt.

FAQ: Why is it so messy here?

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A Froggie Story

There's a story about some frogs that taught me a valuable lesson about life. The story goes: A group of frogs were traveling through the woods two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, saying that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed of what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did not you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. This story teaches two lessons. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through difficult times. A destructive word to someone who is down, can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. Words are so powerful, its sometime hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Keep this in mind, and always be careful and think about what you have to say.

The Old Man and The Orphan

There once was an old man who lived in South Korea. After the war, times were hard and life wasn't easy. His occupation was that of a metal collector (the lowest job possible at that time). He would search garbage can after garbage can, looking for scraps of metal which he could sell to the government. He earned $10 and spent only $5 to buy food. He lived in a hut which he built on the mountain side and was a very lonely person. He lived a sad life for his face was severely scarred from a fire which killed his family. No one would look at him because he was so grotesquely scarred and because of this he kept very quiet and avoided people when he could. His main goal in life was to save enough money to fix his face so that he could live a normal life. Now there was an orphan who lived in the streets every day. His parents left him when he was only nine and because of malnutrition the boy lost his sight. Every day the boy begged for food but the people beat him and he couldn't even run away because he was blind. The old man saw the broken hearted boy and felt sympathy for him and took him home. There he fed him, clothed him, and treated him like his own beloved son. The boy was joyful and was so grateful to this person who treated him like a loving father. Years passed and one day he said, "I'm sorry for being so useless. I wish my eyes become better so I could help you work. You must be so beautiful and wonderful because you took care of someone like me. Maybe one day I could see your wonderful face." The old man became silent being too moved to say anything. The next day he went to the hospital with the boy and asked the doctor privately how much it would cost for the surgery to heal his face. The doctor told him around $1,000. He asked again how much it would be to heal the young boy's sight. The doctor said $1,500 will do. He had saved up for 10 years and had around a little more than $1,500. He went up to the young boy and said, "After you receive your sight I can't be with you, yet I shall always think of you. I want you to be happy and live a good life". After these words he paid the doctor and the tired man left knowing he could never truly reveal himself to the one he loved so dearly. After the surgery the boy could see again. He was filled with joy and wondered why he couldn't see the one he loved so dearly. He left and started looking for a job and soon found one at a restaurant. He became a waiter there and worked fulltime earning a good amount. The next day the old man came looking for metals to collect. He started searching around the garbage can of the restaurant when the manager came to tell him to leave because he was scaring the customers. The boy soon came to his side threatening the old man to leave also. The metal collector looked at the boy and he smiled a warm smile at the boy and left not wanting the boy to see him cry his happy tears. Later at the restaurant, the manager said to the boy, "What an ugly man!" The boy's reply was, "I know, I hope I never see him again"

.

We live life as what they are....

Why allow what we see from the outside

To destroy what's truly deep within???

POEM OF ENCOURAGEMENT

If someone should hurt you

and say a thing unkind,

Remember what I write to you,

and keep these thoughts in mind.

For everyone that makes you cry,

there are three to make you smile,

And a smile will last for a long, long time,

but a tear just a little while.

Don't let someone who hates the world

cause you to hate it too,

Behind the clouds is a Golden sun,

and a sky that's full of Blue.

If someone said a thing that's cruel,

don't let it get to you,

Your achievements are greatly numbered,

and your faults are very few.

So if a certain person should act a certain way,

Think of those who Love You.

And Don't let it spoil your day!~

--

Good, better, best

Never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best.

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As long as we have memories

yesterday remains.

As long as we have hope

tomorrow awaits.

As long as we have friendship

today is beautiful.

Risks

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out to another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying.To hope is to risk despair.

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow o live. Chained by his certitudes, he is slave; he has forfeited his freedom. Only a person who risks is free.

The Cocoon

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.

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Sometimes ..

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be but when you lock eyes with them, you know that every moment they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never

realized your potential, strength, will power or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothy paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless -- the people you meet affect your life.

The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whomever you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life and then go out and live it.

Wait

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with.

We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or

home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, And dance like no one's watching.

BUS

You know, love is just like someone waiting for a bus. When the bus come, you look at it and you said to yourself "eeee...so full.... cannot sit down one". So you said to yourself,"I'll wait for the next one". So you let the bus go and waited for the second bus.

Then the second bus came, you looked at it you said ,"eeee...this bus so old...surely very uncomfortable one." so you let the bus go and decided to wait for the next bus.

After awhile,another bus came it's not crowded not old but you said,"eeee... no air-con one... and the weather is so warm, better wait for the next one " so again you let the bus go and decided to wait for the next bus.

Then the sky started to get dark as it is getting late. You panicked and jump on to the next on coming bus. It is not until much later that you found out that you had boarded on to the wrong bus! So you wasted your time and money waiting for what you want!

Even if an aircon bus came can you ensure that the aircon bus won't break down or whether will the aircon be too cold for you?

So people...(mostly gals but guys too!) wanting to get what you want is not wrong. But it wouldn’t hurt to give other people a chance right? If you found that the "bus" doesn't suit you just press the red button and get off the bus!

But wait...i am sure all of you have this experienced before. You saw a bus coming (the bus you want of course) you flagged it and the driver act blur by pretending not seeing you and zoomed pass you!

The bottom line is being loved is like waiting for a bus whether you want to get on the bus and give the bus a chance depends totally on you.

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THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

1. I can please only one person per day.

2) Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid doing altogether.

3. Everyone has a right to be stupid.

4) On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.

5) Please, Lord, let me prove that winning the lottery won't spoil me.

6) Young at Heart. Slightly Older in Other Places.

7) The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.

8) I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.

9) If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?

10) It is much easier to apologize than to ask permission.

11. Do unto others, then run.....................

THE WORLD IS FULL OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS LIKE ME

I had a marvellous mother who loved me, sacrificed for me and helped me in every way possible. In all of my growing up, through college and eventually marriage, my mother was always at my side. And when I needed help with my little ones, she was there for me. Today, we buried that wonderful woman. Can you imagine how I felt when I returned from the services and found this poem in her desk drawer?

THE TIME IS NOW

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are ever going to love me Love me now while I can know

The sweet and tender feelings Which from true affection flow Love me now while I am living Do not wait until I am gone And then have it chiselled in marble Sweet words on ice cold stone If you have tender thoughts of me Please tell me now If you wait until I am sleeping Never will be death between us And I won't hear you then So if you love me, even a little bit Let me know while I am living So that I can treasure it Now she is gone and I am sick with guilt because I never told her what she meant to me. Worse yet, I did not treat her as she deserved to be treated. I found time for everyone and everything but I never made time for her. It would have been easy to drop in for a cup of tea and a hug but my friends came first. Would any of them have done for me what my mother did? I know the answer. When I called mom on the phone, I was always in a hurry. I feel ashamed when I think of the times I cut her off. I remember too, the times I could have included her and didn't. Our children loved Grandma from the times they were babies. They often turn to her for comfort and advice. She understood them. I realise now that I was too critical, too short-tempered, too stingy with praise. Grandma gave them unconditional love. The world is filled with sons and daughters like me. I hope they see themselves in this letter and profit from it. It's too late for me and I am sick with regrets.

*** If this has blessed you, PLEASE PASS IT ON ***

I HAVE LEARNT THAT...

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do

I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get further in life.

I've learned that no matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I've learned that the paradigm we live in is not all that is offered to us.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

I've learned no matter how fast or how far you go, you can't outrun God.

I've learned no matter how far away I've been, God will always welcome me back.

I've learned love is not for me to keep, but to pass on to the next person I see.

I've learnt that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learnt that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care too much about it.

I've learnt that you can do something in an instant that will make you regret for life.

I've learnt that it takes years to build up trust, And only seconds to destroy it.

I've learnt that you should always leave loved ones with loving words, it may be the last time you see them.

I've learnt that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learnt that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.

I've learnt that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you at all

I've learnt that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learnt that no matter how good a friend someone is, they may disappoint you. Forgive them.

I've learnt that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learnt that just because two people argue, It doesn't mean they don't love each other. Similarly, just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learnt that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learnt that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. For it could change your life forever.

I've learnt that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.

I've learnt that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learnt that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I’ve learnt that I still have a lot to learn. Our Difference Is Knowledge.

remember .... there will always be someone who love u n care 4 u

we need one another...

Bob Butler lost his legs in a 1965 land mine explosion in Vietnam. He returned home a war hero. Twenty years later, he proved once again that heroism comes from the heart. Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby house. He began rolling his wheelchair toward the house but the dense shrubbery wouldn't allow him access to the back door. So he got

out of his chair and started to crawl through the dirt and bushes. I had to get there, he said. It didn't matter how much it hurt.

When Butler arrived at the pool there was a three-year-old girl named Stephanie Hanes lying at the bottom. She had been born without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. Her mother stood over her baby screaming frantically. Butler dove to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. Her face was blue, she had no pulse and was not breathing. Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department.

She was told the paramedics were already out on a call. Helplessly, she sobbed and hugged Butler's shoulder. As Butler continued with his CPR, he calmly reassured her. Don't worry, he said. I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. I am now her lungs.

Together we can make it. Seconds later the little girl coughed, regained consciousness, and began to cry. As they hugged and rejoiced together the mother asked Butler how he knew it would be okay. The truth is I didn't know, he told her.

But when my legs were blown off in the war, I was all alone in a field. No one was there to help except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into her village, she whispered in broken English, It okay.

You can live. I be your legs. Together we make it. Her kind words brought hope to my soul and I wanted to do the same for Stephanie.

There are simply those times when we cannot stand alone. There are those times when we need someone to be our legs, our arms, our friend.

Author Unknown

Making a friend takes a Moment

Keeping a friend takes a Lifetime...

The most beautiful things in this world

cannot be touched or even seen.

They must be felt with the heart.

24 Things To Remember...

1. Your presence is a present to the world.

2. You're unique and one of a kind.

3. Your life can be what you want it to be.

4. Take the days just one at a time.

5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.

6. You'll make it through whatever comes along.

7. Within you are so many answers.

8. Understand, have courage, be strong.

9. Don't put limits on yourself.

10. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.

11. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.

12. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

13. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.

14. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.

15. Don't take things too seriously.

16. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

17. Remember that a little love goes a long way.

18. Remember that a lot goes forever.

19. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.

20. Life's treasures are people -- together.

21. Realize that nothing is ever too late.

22. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

23. Have health and hope and happiness.

24. Take the time to wish upon a star.

... And don't ever forget --

for even a day --

how very special you are.

Author: Collin McCarty

To love

To love is like playing the piano. First, you must learn to play by the rules. Then, you must forget the rules and play from your heart.

As long as we have memories, yesterday remains, as long as we have hope, tomorrow awaits. As long as we have friendship, each day is never a waste.

There are some things that we never want to let go of... people we never want to leave behind, but keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world. Its the beginning of new life.

Sometimes, it is good to be "alone".... but that doesn't make us lonely.

It is not a matter of being present "with" someone, it is a matter of being present "to" someone.

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but leave footprints in your heart.

The greatest regrets in our lives are the risks we did not take. If you think something will make you happy, go for it. Remember that you pass this way only once!

Heart breaks will last as long as you want and cut deep as you allow them to go; the challenge is not how to survive heart breaks but to learn from them.

True love doesn't have a happy ending. That's because true love doesn't have an ending. A heart truly in love never loses hope but always believes in the promise of love, no matter how long the time and how far the distance.

We are never given dreams without also being given the power to make them come true.

Learning to be alone need not be lonely; it means you're ready to be with someone else.

A casual friend will say, "Hi, hello!" A close friend adds, "How are you doing?"

But a true friend further asks, "What can I do to help?"

Lots of people will want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

God never closes a door without opening a window. He always gives us something better when He takes something away.

As I look back on my past, I remember the tears I cried, the jokes I laughed at, the things I missed and lost, but there's one thing I'll never regret: its the day you became my friend.

Love has its own time, season and own reasons! You can't ask it to stay, you can only embrace it as it comes and be glad that for a moment in your life it was yours!

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?"

Unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way.

The recipe of friendship

1 cup of sharing

2 cups of caring

1 cup of forgiveness and hugs of tenderness

Mix all these together...to make friends forever.

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

To discover new oceans, you should lose sight of the shore. Happiness is like perfume, you can't pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

In relationships, thank God when you're hurting or crying. There you are given the chance to measure the importance of the relationship of the person and of yourself ...then you grow.

Friends are like stars. You can't always see them, but you know they are there. Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.

Life is like a box of Choconuts, you'll never know if its crushed or not.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At Twice the Price

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

A man was on the side of the road with a large birdcage. A boy noticed that the cage was full of birds of many kinds. "Where did you get those birds?" he asked.

"Oh, all over the place," the man replied. "I lure them with crumbs, pretend I'm their friend then when they are close, I net them and shove them into my cage."

"And what are you going to do with them now?"

The man grinned, "I'm going to prod them with sticks, and get them really mad so they fight and kill each other. Those that survive, I will kill. None will escape."

The boy looked steadily at the man. What made him do such things? He looked into the cruel, hard eyes. Then he looked at the birds, defenseless, without hope. "Can I buy those birds?" the boy asked.

The man hid a smile, aware that he could be on to a good thing if he played his cards right. "Well," he said hesitantly, "The cage is pretty expensive, and I spent a lot of time collecting these birds,

I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll let you have the lot, birds, cage and all for ten pounds and that jacket you're wearing."

The boy paused, ten pounds was all he had, and the jacket was new and very special, in fact it was his prized possession. Slowly, he took out the ten pounds and handed it over, then even more slowly he took off his jacket, gave it one last look then handed that over too.

"Thank you very much," the man said. "What are you going to do with all these birds now?" The man stood watching in disbelief, a muffled utterance escaping his lips as the child opened the door to release the birds.

Looking up into the eyes of the hardened man, the small child commented in response, "Hate holds on, while Love lets go."

Contributed by: Antonio

Keep Going

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As every one of us sometimes learns

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won, had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Author Unknown

Contributed by: Brandee

The Root of Anger

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anger is the result of expectations gone unfulfilled. It is revealing to ask one's self, "What is the root of the problem? Is it based on some fear that has not yet been discussed? What personal problems, for example, might be causing a situation to heat up?" If you're angry, ask yourself why. What is it that you expected that hasn't happened?

The trick for our own anger is to have no 'expectations' per se, but instead to gain an understanding of the people involved, who they are, and what might be their perspectives.

It is also often helpful to remember that everyone is being themselves perfectly at all times. From a place of desire to help --

a place of compassion for another fellow human -- amazing things can be accomplished. I refer to this as "moving mountains," literally and figuratively.

We can discuss many rules for what to do and what not to do in the face of anger, as Bruce has done so well above. Still, anger gone unexpressed is a dangerous time bomb awaiting its trigger.

Expression is required for anger, as for all feelings. To do otherwise is to not live.

What does the word "express" mean to you? To me, it means to "push out." A situation involving anger demands respect of the person, their feelings or a given situation. To "respect" someone or something is to have a good look at it, again and again, giving it our full and undivided attention - ''not just'' *appearing* to do so. People can always tell when you're really not present in the moment.

Unfortunately, expression can be put off and therefore can become explosive and raging, but it can also be reasoned and thoughtful.

Often, that is what those who are angry really want -- an audience.

Sometimes, it is a matter of taking a little heat while we allow others to express their perspective of the truth. If you find things escalating in a situation, don't respond. Just watch and give your attention fully. Listen. Try to understand. Try to see what is sometimes *not* said.

When you do say something in response, be sure that your voice is quieter than the other angry person's was just a moment ago. Keep moving things back toward calmness. This method works marvelously to indicate you are listening, while calming down the situation.

Always try to lead the discussion again toward civility.

Don't raise your voice above someone else's unless you are willing to take the risk of escalation, and I suggest you do so only as an act, rather than a reaction. It is a choice, and it brings certain risks. However, it can be useful at times to get someone to realize you are unwilling to accept abuse.

Listen with a truly caring attitude and open heart and you will find the risk of another person getting angry to the point of violence is greatly reduced.

Sometimes all we need is a listener, whether what we have to say is "nice to hear" or not. This being said though, I never encourage anyone to take abuse.

For those of you who may be in a situation that is bordering on or is abusive, please hear this. Don't accept the unacceptable. There is always another alternative and solution than to take abuse - ever.

When you accept the unacceptable, you begin to die and you only allow the abusive behavior to be perpetuated. This is bad for the abuser and yourself.

Choose life. Choose love. Leave behind death and fear. You deserve the best. Know this and care for yourself - be kind to you first and foremost. Then you can be kind and good to all others. Turning it around a bit, "Love yourself as you would love your neighbor."

Written by: Geoffrey (Jeff) Nickerson

FRIENDS!

Horror gripped the heart of the world war 1 soldier, as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle.

Caught in a trench with continous gunfires whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the "no man's land" between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.

"You can go," said the lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away."

The lieutenant's didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.

Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder and bring him back to their company's trench. as the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench,the officer checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend.

I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend isdead and you are mortally wounded."

"It was worth it, though , sir ," said the soldier.

"How do you mean, worth it ?" responded the lieuteuant. "Your friend is dead"

"YES, Sir" the private answered. "but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say,"

JIM........, I KNEW YOU'D COME."

take sometime to think about the story then stroll down

Many times in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not, really depends on how u look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not regret not doing it later in your life...

"May each and everyone of you be blessed with the company of true friends."

"A true friend is one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out."

A Beautiful Story

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg. It had been a year since Susan, 34, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. And all she had to cling to was her husband, Mark. Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there?

She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan, and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized the arrangement wasn't working. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But she was still so fragile, so angry - how would she react? Just as he predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!", she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I am going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.

Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus-riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love.

She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and

Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself.

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying the fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure do envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and again asked, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine- looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you as you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

A weary mother returned from the store,

Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.

Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,

Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,

T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!

It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.

I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,

"Where is your little brother right now?"

She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,

She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.

He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!

For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved

About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,

She condemned his actions and total lack of care.

The more she scolded, the madder she got,

Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.

When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.

The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.

It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,

With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.

A reminder to her, and indeed to all,

Take time to read the handwriting on the wall

Story

An old couple was married for 50 years and their children and friends decide to have a celebration for their Golden Anniversary.

During that night they had a big party with many friends and relatives.

After the party, they were both glad and happy to return to their quiet home. During the party, they were both busy with the many guest and both did not have a good dinner.

So they decide to have some supper before retiring. They went to the kitchen for some coffee, bread and butter. The man took the new loaf of bread, opened it and promptly gave his wife the heel of the loaf,

or what we call the top/skin of the loaf.

Upon receiving the bread, the wife was suddenly filled with anger and burst out saying, "For fifty years, you have been very inconsiderate by giving me the heel of the loaf !!"

The man was caught by his wife's outburst but when she finished her complain, the man quietly said, "But honey, that was my favourite!!"

The moral of the story :

The acts of concern/love/affection by some have very much became part of them and are performed naturally without any delibration. Although the aim is the same, people have many different way/actions of expressing their concern/love for their love ones.

Therefore, before one jump to conclusion on the actions of their spouse or anyone, they should reflect on why the other person is doing that particular thing !!

This story is for nobel dream (not fantasy)

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

"That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

"He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.'

"The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?'

"The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'

"The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.'

"Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, `You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.'"

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week." When the teacher was leaving, he said, `Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.'"

Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.

By Jack Canfield from Chicken Soup for the Soul

Copyright 1993 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Sharing

My dear friends,

I have a dear friend who share this with me, now I'd like to Share this with you...

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and Introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied

"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good Education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St.Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia.

What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

1. Work like you don't need the money.

2. Love like you've never been hurt.

3. Dance like nobody's watching.

------------------------------------------------

Sweet Memories..

Remember the first day of the first year of the first time in your life you started your journey to getting old,

Remember the first guy/gal who caught your eye,....

that same guy/gal who you still remember as your first college crush,

Remember those first friends you shared your fears with, ........ who soon became acquaintances,

Remember those neighbours and classmates, who ended up becoming your closest friends, Remember holding back the tears on those days when you just wanted to be home again, to feel SAFE again.

Remember those drunken nights when the times you shared with your friends will forever hold a place in your memory and your heart.

Remember those bonding nights, when you never felt closer to a certain person, and how that closeness creates ties that never die.

Remember how you never realized the importance of family, until you didn't see them everyday.

Remember telling friends the deepest secrets of your life, and knowing they'd remain secrets.

Remember the craziness of the dorm, getting sudden bursts of energy and looking for people, even total strangers, to harass.

Remember that dream guy/gal, you thought about so much, who when s/he finally opened his/her mouth, changed your opinion of him/her forever.

Remember how that guy/girl you once lived for soon became a joke and an excuse for you and your friends to laugh at yourself.

Remember to never lose touch with those friends you've made here, because you have all changed and grown enormously together, and that is something very sacred to be shared.

Remember you are only here for a short while, time flies before you realize it, so make it last, make it memorable, make it the best time of your life, the best memories that you can carry with you for the rest of your days,

Remember to love the ones you love, life isn't forever.

The Face Of An Angel

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Many years ago, when my children were ages 10 and 6, I went through a very trying time. I had just left my husband of 7 years, to escape abuse. I managed to get a job with a nursing home as an aide for the elderly

and moved in with a "friend" to share living expenses. One afternoon, after work, I picked my girls up from the sitter, and we went to the fair for the afternoon. It was quite late, when we returned home, and the house was completely dark. I went to unlock the door, and discovered that my key wouldn't go in the lock but halfway. I kept trying for a few minutes, while my oldest daughter went to get a flashlight from the car. When she returned with it, we found that somehow the lock had been "stuffed" with sunflower seed shells. So we went around to the front door and tried to open it, with the same results. Thinking that one of the neighborhood children had been up to no-good, I didn't really give it much consideration.

I went around the house trying to find a window that might have been left open enough for me to boost my 10 year old through. No luck. All was locked up tight. So I returned to the back door, and broke out a pane of glass and reached in and unlocked the door. Not wanting the girls to pick up any of the glass in their shoes and track it into the house, I told them to sit on the porch for a minute while I swept up the glass. I grabbed the broom and dustpan from behind the door and started sweeping up the glass.

I heard a car pull into the driveway, and looked out to see two policemen walking up to the door. They inquired what I was doing, and why I had broken into the house. I explained the matter to them, and showed them the door locks. They then asked me for proof that I lived at that address, so I asked them to wait a minute, while I went to get my rent receipt and identification from inside the house. I then, for the first time, opened the door leading into the house itself.

Oh my, but I will never forget the shock of that moment. The house was empty! Other than a few things remaining on the back porch, everything was gone! I went through the house looking in each room in complete disbelief. In a daze, I want back outside where the officers were waiting and informed them that there was nothing left.

At this point, they were not buying any of my story. I could tell from their actions and tone of voice that they thought I was breaking into an empty house for some place to sleep.

I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of the owner of the house, or her phone number. After several minutes, of sitting on the steps in shock, I remembered the neighbor across the street was a good friend of the owners, and told that to the police officers. I asked if I could go ask her for the number, and they informed me that the incident call had originated from that address. I walked over with one of the officers, while the other stayed with my girls.

The neighbor was able to provide the owner's name and phone number, so the officers made the call. The owner was quite shocked to hear my story. As it turned out, my "friend" had been going through an eviction process through the courts when I moved in with her, and had lost the case. She had been ordered by the court to vacate the premises by 10 am on that date. The court order had been issued the same day I had paid her 1/2 of the rent and a deposit of $300.00.

The owner was very kind and understanding, but there was nothing she could do. The house had been rented already and the people were to move in the following weekend. She didn't press charges against me for breaking and entering and told me not to worry about replacing the pane of glass I had broken, since she had some extra panes from a previous time.

The officers let me go, and I went to gather my girls into the car. They were both exhausted and cold. Also, very frightened, because they thought their mamma was going to go to jail. I put them in the car and laid them on the back seat, covering them with my coat. They fell asleep almost instantly.

I got into the car, and drove away. I didn't go far though, before I had to pull over as the tears took control. I couldn't believe it!! Everything we owned was gone. I had used up all our money moving in and paying my "friend" our share of costs. I had about $11.00 to my name. And payday was three days away. I knew very few people in town, as we had just moved there recently.

I realized that I was exhausted myself and had to be to work at 6 am the next morning, so I drove to the city park and curled up in the front seat to sleep. Needless to say, I overslept, and called into work to apprise them of my situation. My supervisor was very understanding, but the best she could do was to see if payroll could issue my wages early. I went to sit back in the car with the girls until enough time had passed to call back. I was talking to the girls, explaining our situation to them, so that they wouldn't be afraid. During this time, there was a "street person" with a shopping cart, sort of lingering near by, looking in the garbage cans for aluminum cans, bottles, and any other item that might bring him some cash.

I hadn't paid much attention to him, as I was used to "seeing" these people without really seeing them. They were just part of the back ground.

After 45 minutes or so had passed, I tried calling my supervisor to find out what the verdict was, with no results. So, I decided to go get the girls something to eat for breakfast. We grabbed some bread, lunchmeat and chips, and returned to the park-for a "picnic."

When we got there, and while I was again trying to call work, I noticed that the "hobo" wasn't alone. He was with a small group of others "like" him, and they were passing a hat amongst themselves.

I, again, had no luck with my call, so the girls and I grabbed our bag of groceries and headed over to a picnic table. We set our things down on the table and Tami, (my 6 year old) told me she needed to use the bathroom. So we walked to the restrooms--just a few feet from where we were. We cleaned

up a little bit and returned to the table.

On the way back, I tried the phone again. This time, I had success. I reached my supervisor and was informed that I could pick up my check at 1 PM that afternoon. Such a relief!!!

We sat down at the table, and I was busy setting up out little "picnic," when I heard a voice saying, "Ma'am, please excuse the intrusion, but...well..., I couldn't help but overhear the situation you are in, and well....., me and the fella's took up a collection for you and your little girls. It's not very much, but maybe it'll help a little."

I looked up at this man,-- dirty, needing a shave, and smelling a bit "ripe"--and saw the face of an angel. I started crying. (Bawling...to be truthful)

The man tried to hand me something like $30.00, probably a small fortune to him and his friends. I folded his hand back over the money, and just hugged him as tight as I could. I told him, "Thank you very much for your more than generous offer, but we are going to be just fine." He didn't believe me at first, but I convinced him that it was okay.

Later, that afternoon, I picked up my paycheck and rented a room for the week, to give me and my girls a little time to work our situation out. Then I went to the market and bought the makings for a barbecue, and off to that little park we went. It didn't take us very long to find those gentlemen and invite them to join us for lunch, which they did. I had a wonderful afternoon that day, sitting there with those old "bums," singing songs while they drummed on the aluminum park table, and just talking to them. They had some of the most entertaining stories I've ever listened to, and they shared the dreams they once had. They shared of themselves...from the heart.

As long as I live, I will never forget that day, when God showed me what true generosity and giving meant. When he showed me LOVE comes from the most unexpected places, in the most unlikely way. Those old men will live in my heart and memories forever, as the richest people I ever knew, because they had enough love to share with a mother and her two daughters who would have never given them the time of day.

That was the day, I saw the face of an angel, and forever changed the way I view others.

TODAY: Needless Worry

A story worth dusting off is about a man who bragged: "I only worry about two things -- whether I am sick or well. If I'm well I've got nothing to worry about! And if I'm sick I've only got two things to worry about -- whether I get better, or whether I die. If I get better I've got nothing to worry about! And if I die I've only got two things to worry about -- whether I go to heaven or hell. If I go to heaven I've got nothing to worry about. And if I go to hell I'll be so busy greeting my friends I won't have time to worry! So why worry? Regardless of how you feel about his view of life after life, he makes a good point about worry. There is really no room for needless concern about the future. I like what Ralph Waldo Emerson said about worry:

"Some of your hurts you have cured,

And the sharpest you still have survived,

But what torments of grief you endured

From evil that never arrived!"

It is true that most people worry needlessly at times - especially about things that will probably never happen. What needless worries do you need to release today?

One

One song can spark a moment

One flower can wake the dream

One tree can start a forest

One bird can herald spring

One smile begins a friendship

One handclasp lifts a soul

One star can guide a ship at sea

One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness

One laugh will conquer gloom

One step must start each journey

One word must start each prayer

One hope will raise our spirits

One touch can show you care

One voice can speak with wisdom

One heart can know what's true

One life can make the difference

You see, it's up to you!!

(Author Unknown)

MUM

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. You thanked her by wailing like a banshee.

When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by crying all night long.

When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You thanked her by running away when she called.

When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.

When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.

When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.

When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school. You thanked her by screaming, "I'M NOT GOING!"

When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball. You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.

When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream. You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons. You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.

When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another. You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies.

You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.

You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.

Those teenage years :

When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming. You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.

When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp. You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.

When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug. You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16, she taught you how to driver her car. You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17, she was expecting an important call. You thanked her by being on the phone all night.

When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation. You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

Growing old and gray:

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus,

carried your bags. You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of your friends.

When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone. You thanked her by saying, "It's none of your business."

When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future. You thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you."

When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation. You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.

When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment. You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.

When you were 24, she met your fiance and asked about your plans for the future. You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh-ther, please!"

When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how deeply she loved you. You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.

When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby. You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now."

When you were 40, she called to remind you of a relative's birthday. You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now."

When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her. You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children.

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder. "Rock me baby, rock me all night long."

"The hand who rocks the cradle...may rock the world". Let us take a moment of the time just to pay tribute/show appreciation to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their mother. There's no substitute for

her. Cherished every single moment. Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our thoughts, she is still your mother!!! She

will be there for you...to listen to your woes, your braggings, your frustrations, etc. Ask yourself.....have you put aside enough time for her, to listen to her "blues" of working in the kitchen, her tiredness??? Be

tactful, loving and still show her due respect though you may have a different view from hers. Once gone, only fond memories of the past and also regrets will be left.

**DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE THINGS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART. CLING TO THEM AS

U WOULD YOUR LIFE, FOR WITHOUT THEM, LIFE IS MEANINGLESS*

Interview with god

I dreamed I had an interview with God. "Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview Me?"

"If you have the time," I said. God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything;

what questions do you have in mind to ask me?"

"What surprises you most about mankind?"

God answered:

"That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.

That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.

That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future.

That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived..."

God's hands took mine and we were silent for while and then I asked...

"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"

God replied with a smile:

"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved.

To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives.

To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.

All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison basis!

To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them.

To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings.

To learn that money can buy everything but happiness.

To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different.

To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them... and likes them anyway.

To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others,

but that they have to forgive themselves."

I sat there for a while enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for his time

and for all that He has done for me and my family, and He replied, "Anytime. I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer."

People will forget what you said.

People will forget what you did...

but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Failure doesn't mean u are a failure

It means u have not yet succeeded

Failure doesn't mean u have accomplished nothing

It means u have learned something

Failure doesn't mean u have been a fool

It means u had a lot of faith

Failure doesn't mean u have been disgraced

It means u were willing to try

Failure doesn't mean u don't have it

It means u have to do something in a different way

Failure doesn't mean u are inferior

It means u are not perfect

Failure doesn't mean u' ve wasted ur life

It means u have reasons to start afresh

Failure doesn't mean u should give up

It means u must try harder

Live a balance lifestyle

Long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much area as he like, then the Emperor would give him the area of land as much as he had covered. Sure enough the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, beating the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point he had covered a very substantial area and he got very tired and was dying. Then he said to himself, "Why did I pushed myself so hard to cover so much area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself".

The above "story" is similar with the journey of our life. We push very hard everyday to make more money, power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with family and appreciating the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we want to do.

One day when we think back, we will say we don't really need that much but then we cannot turn back the clock for what we have missed. So guys take it easy, do what you want to do and appreciate the nature.

Live is fragile, do not take life for granted. Live a balance lifestyle -enjoy life!

Money

Even though money is not everything....................However....

Money can buy house but not home.

Money can buy bed but not sleep.

Money can buy clock but not time.

Money can buy book but not knowledge.

Money can buy food but not appetite.

Money can buy position but not respect.

Money can buy blood but not life.

Money can buy people but not friends.

Money can buy medicine but not health.

Money can buy sex but not love.

Money can buy insurance but not safety.

But you see, money is still not everything ???!!!???!!!

The Ultimate Test

John Blanchard stood up from the bench straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose.

His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City.

He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II.

During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like.

When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.

I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell You what happened: A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers.

Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably, I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell.

She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her.

This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

I have no time !

Once there were a group of man - a young hot-blood guy and a big number of old folks, doing timber job in a jungle (chopping down trees).

This young chap is very hard working ... he continue to

work through the break time and complained that those old

folks were wasting times ...having to break few times a

day to drink & chat.

As times goes by ... this young guy notice that even

though he work thru break time and hardly take rest .... those old folks are just chopping the same amount of tree as he did and sometimes did more than he did .... as if those old folks work thru the break time as he did.

So he decided to work harder the next day

....unfortunately the results even worse !

One day .... one of the old folk invited him for a drink

during their break time. That young guy refused and said

he has no extra time to spend! Then the old man smile to

him and said "It was just a waste of effort to keep chopping tree without re-sharpening your knife. Sooner or later you will give up or you have too much energy to spend and exhausted later."

Suddenly the young man realised that actually during break times while those old folks were having a chat .... they were also re-sharpening their knife at the same time ! And that's how they can chop faster than him and spend less time !

The old man said "What we need is efficiency - making use

of our skill and ability intelligently. Only then we can

have more times to do other things or have a break !

Otherwise you will keep saying ... I have no time ! "

#########################################################

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought, this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we, as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

If you think this story has touched you in any way, please send this to everyone you know.

Here is an Angel sent to watch over you. In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over.

An Angel wrote:

Many people will walk in and out or your life,

but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head,

To handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

Great minds discuss ideas;

Average minds discuss events;

Small minds discuss people.

God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into it's nest.

He who loses money, loses much;

He who loses a friend, loses more;

He who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are acts of nature,

but beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.

You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it.

Friends, you and me..you brought another friend...and then there were 3....we started our group....Our circle of friends......and like that circle.......there is no beginning........there is no end.

Keep this going. E-mail all your friends this message.

E-mail all those friends you never met.

Those you have.....................

And those you've lost along the way.

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

LoVe is to be given freely without

expecting any returns .... sorta sacrifice

.....where you place yourself second

to the person you love ......

******* luv yurself and each other ***************

Little Jeremy

Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal

illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still, his

parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him

to St. Theresa's Elementary School.

At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to

learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He

would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times,

he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the

darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his

teacher.

One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St.Teresa's for a

consultation. As the Forresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris

said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to

him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why,

there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!"

Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. "Miss

Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a

terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We

know he really likes it here."

Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the

window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to

sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal

illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class.

She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction.

Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why waste any more

time trying?

As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she said

aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with

that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy."

From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank

stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind

him. "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole

class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris's face turned red.

She stammered, "Wh-Why, that's very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your

seat."

Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter.

Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new

life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg.

"Now," she said to them "I want you to take this home and bring it back

tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Miss Miller!" the children responded enthusiastically - all except

for Jeremy. He just listened intently, his eyes never left her face. He

did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said

about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment?

Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and

waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had

to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the

next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they

placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After

they completed their Math lesson, it was time to open the eggs.

In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a

sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know

that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arms.

"That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out.

The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris

held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and turns into a

beautiful butterfly. Yes, that is new life, too" Little Judy smiled

proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."

Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too,

showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My Daddy

helped me!", he beamed.

Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely

it must be Jeremy's, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her

instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because

she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and

reached for another. Suddenly Jeremy spoke up.

"Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris

replied, "But Jeremy - your egg is empty!" He looked into her eyes and

said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty too!"

Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, "Do you know

why the tomb was empty?" "Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed

and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!" The recess bell rang.

While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried.

The cold inside her melted completely away.

Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects

at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them

empty.

EIGHT GIFTS THAT DO NOT COST A SEN

THE GIFT OF LISTENING...

But you must REALLY listen.

No interrupting, no daydreaming,

no planning your response.

Just listening.

THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and Handholds.

Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...

Clip cartoons.

Share articles and funny stories.

Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...

It can be a simple

"Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...

A simple and sincere,

"You look great in red," "You did a super job"

or "That was a wonderful meal"

can make someone's day.

THE GIFT OF A FAVOUR...

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone.

Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...

The easiest way to feel good is

to extend a kind word to someone,

really it's not that hard to say,

Hello or Thank You.

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.

They make you smile and courage you to succeed. They lend an ear,

They share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

****** ACT OF LOVE *****

An old couple was married for 50 years and their children and friends decide to have a celebration for their Golden anniversary. That night, they had a big party with many friends and relatives. After the party, they were both glad to return to their quiet home. During the party, they were both busy with their many guests and both did not have a good dinner. So they decided to have some supper before retiring. They went to the kitchen for some coffee, bread and butter. The old man took a new loaf of bread, cut it and promptly gave his wife the heel of the loaf. Upon receiving the bread, the wife was suddenly filled with anger and burst out, saying, "For 50 years, you have been giving me the heel of the loaf, you have been so inconsiderate!!" The old man was caught by surprise but when she finished, he quietly said, " But honey, that was my favourite!!" Moral of the story - acts of love / concern are sometimes so much a part of a person that they are performed without any deliberation; therefore before jumping into any conclusion on the part of such an action, one should reflect why the other person is doing it.

****** THE GIFT ******

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months, he had admired a beautiful sports car and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As graduation day approached, the young man watched for signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study and told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said," With all your money, you gave me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible behind. Many years passed and the young man became very successful. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family. One day, he realised that his father was growing very old and thought perhaps he should go and see him as he had not seen his father since that graduation day. Before, he could make the necessary arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and had willed all his possessions to his son. He was required to go home and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opend the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7 : 11, 'And, if ye being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car which he had desired. On the tag, was the date of his graduation and the words 'Paid in Full'. For how many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we would expect?

****** A Story to Live By *********

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, 'is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion." He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion." I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought abouth them on the plane returning to California from the midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about the things that she had done without realising that they were special. I'm still thinking about his words and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognise these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good China and crystal for every special event, such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I like it. My theory is if I become prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing grip on my vocabulary. If it is worth seeing, or hearing or doing, I want to see or hear or do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she would'nt be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologise and mend fences for past sqabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favourite food. I'm guessing I'll never know. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with - someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God. If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you. If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it would take right now to forward this to a few people, would it be the first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?

THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME by George Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleared up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

So I love you madly, Mommy

Here's something different for a change... touching...

Hi friends,

I wonder if any of you ever have the feeling that life is bad, real bad, and you wish you were in another situation. I admit. I did pretty often. I find life make things difficult for me, work sucks, life sucks, everything seem to go wrong... it was not until recently that I totally changed my views about life.

After a conversation with one of my friends. He told me despite taking 2 jobs, he brings back barely above 1k per month, he is happy as he is. I wonder how he can be as happy as he is considering he has to skimp his life with the low pay to support a pair of old parents, in-laws, a life, 2 daughters and the many bills of a household. He explained that it was through one incident that he saw in india...that happened a few years ago when he was really feeling low and touring india after a major setback.

He said that right in front of his very eyes, he saw an indian mother chop off her child's right hand with a chopper. The helplessness in the mother's eyes, the scream of pain from the innocent 4 year old child haunted him until today. You may ask why did the mother do so, has the child been naughty, has the child's hand been infected??

No, it was done for two simple words - - - to beg. The desperate mother deliberately caused the child to be handicapped so that the child can go out to the streets to beg. I cannot accept how this could happen, but it really did, just in another part of the world which I don't see.

Taken a back by the scene, he dropped a piece of bread he was eating half-way. and almost instantly, a flock of 5 or 6 children swamped towards this small piece of bread which was covered with sand, robbing bits from one another. The natural reaction of hunger.

Stricken by the happenings, he instructed his guide to drive him to the nearest bakery. He arrived at two bakeries and bought every single loaf of bread he found

in the bakeries. The owner was dumbfounded but willingly sold everything. He spent less than $100 to obtain about 400 loaves of bread (this is less than $0.25 per loaf) and spent another $100 to get daily necessities. Off he went in the truck full of bread into the streets. As he distributed the bread and necessities to the children mostly handicapped) and a few adults, he received cheers and bows from these unfortunate.

For the first time in his life he wondered how people can give up their dignity for a loaf of bread which cost less than $0.25. He began to ask himself how fortunate he is. How fortunate he has to be able to have a complete body, have a job, have a family, have the chance to complain what food is nice and what isn't, have the chance to be clothed, have the many things that these people in front of him are deprived of...now i begin to think and feel it, too.

Was my life really that bad?

Perhaps... No i should not feel bad at all... what about you?

Maybe the next time you think you are, think about the child who lost one hand to beg on the streets.

Be happy and heathy. As I always say : many things in life are free.

Take advantage of it . Look at the people around you. When was the last time that you really shake his hand or look into her face?

THE STORY OF LIFE

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger. *But when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way. *

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. *Everything happens for a reason. *

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. *Even the bad experiences can be learned from. *

In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things. *Make every day count. *

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. *Most importantly - if you LOVE someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. *

And learn a lesson in life each day that you live. THAT'S THE STORY OF LIFE

Cost of Anger

Do you sometimes get so angry and you do things that you regret later? Well, let me share with you a true story, which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, and hammered the little boy's hands into pulps punishment.

When the father calmed done, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hand. When the boy woke up from the surgery and saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my finger going to grow back?"

The father went home and committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time you see someone spill milk at a dinner table or hear a baby crying. Think first before you lose your patient with someone you love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones and hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But actions we take while in a rage will haunts us forever. The cost of anger has no limit.

Pause and ponder. Think before we act. Be patient. Be understanding and be loving.

IN LIFE, YOU ARE EITHER HAPPY OR THERE IS REGRET. BY BEING PROACTIVE, THOUGHTFUL, BEING CONSCIOUS OF OUR MOTIVES, AND HAVING THE COURAGE OF ACTION, WE CAN BE HAPPY MORE AND KEEP REGRETS TO SHORT VISITS.

MEMO FROM GOD:

To : YOU
Date : TODAY
From : THE BOSS
Subject : YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

I am God.

Today I will be handling all of your problems.
Please remember that I do not need your help.
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you
cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.
Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box.
It will be addressed in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold on to it.

If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair.
There are people in this world for whom driving is an
unheard of priviledge.

Should you have a bad day at work;
Think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad;
Think of the person who has never known what it's like
to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend;
Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve
hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away
from assistance;
Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity
to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror;
Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she
had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what
is life all about, asking what is my purpose?
Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long
enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's
bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities;
Remember, things could be worse. You could be them!!!!

Should you decide to send this to a friend; You might
brighten someone's day!

Family

I ran into a stranger as he passed by.

"Oh, excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too; I wasn't even watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said good-bye.

But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal, My daughter stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked her down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

She walked away, her little heart broken.

I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,

God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,

But the children you love, you seem to abuse.

Look on the kitchen floor, You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers she brought for you.

She picked them herself, pink, yellow and blue.

She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise,

And you never saw the tears in her eyes."

By this time, I felt very small And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by her bed;

"Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"

She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.

I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today;

I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."

She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."

I said, "Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

Are you aware that: If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us

in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the lost for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family - an unwise investment indeed. So what is behind the story?

You know what is the full word of family?

FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER, (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Cost of Love

A very sweet and touching article extracted from the issue of Business Week

Jan'98 written by a mother about her kid which goes like this:

My little girl came up to me in the kitchen one evening while I was

preparing dinner. She handed me a piece of paper she had been writing on.

After drying my hands on the towel, I read it, and this is what it said:

For washing the car $5.00

For making my own bed this week $1.00

Going to the provision shop $0.50

Playing with little sister $0.25

Taking out the rubbish $1.00

Getting a good report card $5.00

And for sweeping the common corridor $2.00

--------

Total $14.75

======

I looked at her standing there expecting payment. A thousand memories

flashed through my mind. So I picked up the pen and turning the paper

over,this is what I wrote:

For 9 months I carried you, growing inside me No Charge

For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you No Charge

For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose No Charge

---------------

When you add it all up, the full cost of my love No Charge

===============

Well, when she finished reading, she had great big tears in her eyes. She looked at me and said, "Mummy, I love you." Then she took the pen and in great big letters, she wrote ..."PAID IN FULL".

WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP, THE COST OF REAL LOVE IS NO CHARGE!

Moral of the story:-

Sometimes, we tend to take things for granted, expecting them to be there

all the time, even to the extent of using it to our advantage. However,

time does fly, things and environments change, reality is harsh and cruel. When we realise that something that we lost and is irredeemable, only then we

realise it is so precious and priceless. By the time, it might be already too late.

So do treasure every little beautiful thing in our life. Our parents, spouse, siblings, children, friends, etc.

At least, they can still leave us with fond memories if we treasure them.

Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair.

I envied her - she seemed so gay - and wished I were as fair.

When suddenly she arose to leave,

I saw the cruel braces as she hobbled down the aisle;

a victim of polio was she. But as she passed-a smile!

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two straight feet.

And then I stopped to buy some sweets.

The lad who sold them had such charm.

I talked with him. He said to me,

"It's nice to talk with folks like you.

You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two eyes.

Then walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play.

It seemed he knew not what to do. I stopped a moment, then I said,

"Why don't you join the others, dear?"

He looked ahead without a word and then I knew.......he could not hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two ears.