Letting go...

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring.
It means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off.
It's the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands, but in God's.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another.
It's to make the most possible out of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but care about.

To "let go" is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being, as we all sin.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, fuss, or argue;
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past,
but to live for today and grow for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

Beginning today

Beginning today, I will no longer worry about yesterday.
It is in the past and the past will never change.
Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning today, I will no longer worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.
But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first making the most of today.

Beginning today, I will look in the mirror
and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time with
and someone I would like to get to know better.

Beginning today, I will cherish each moment of my life.
I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and
I will unselfishly share this gift with others.
I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.

Beginning today, I will take a moment to step off the beaten path
and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.
I will face challenges with courage and determination.
I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for growth and self-improvement.

Beginning today, I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image,
my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning today, I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.
Regardless of what has gone before,
I believe there is hope for a brighter and better future.

Beginning today, I will open my mind and my heart.
I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people.
I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else:
perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.
But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning today, I am responsible for my own happiness
and I will do things that make me happy . . .
admire the beautiful wonders of nature,
listen to my favorite music, pet a kitten or a puppy,
soak in a bubble bath . . .
Pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

Beginning today, I will learn something new;
I will try something different;
I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer.
I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.
I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.

Beginning today. And every day.

Things I learned from Noah's Ark...

One: Don't miss the boat.
Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Six: Build your future on high ground.
Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

I Believe

I Believe...
A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.
A Death Certificate shows that we died.
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat.
Relax, and read this slowly.

I Believe...
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 love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe....That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for the rest of your life.

I Believe....That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe....
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs
to be done,regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and still have a great time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
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 Believe....
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 Believe....
That it isn't always enough,
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes,you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

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

I Believe...
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 Believe...
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life
are taken away from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to
all of the people that you believe in...I just did!

'The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.'

Do You Know It All

By Byron Pulsifer, © 2008

There is an odd anomaly here on this planet, and it isn't the fact that the earth has been recently struck by a meteor from a distant galaxy. Nor is it that the notion that you can't teach old dogs new tricks.

The real anomaly is that old dogs don't necessarily want to learn new tricks, or they don't want to learn some new tricks because those that are doing the teaching were once their students. Some of this attitude may be one of self-confidence, or it may be that we have forgotten that "we don't know it all", and never will.

Maybe, there is also the question mark whether some of us can muster enough brain cells to learn some new tricks.

What all of this really says, however, is that we should always be open to learn, and to use that parlance often used in corporate worlds, we have to engage in continuous learning. These words, though, are sometimes easier to say than to allow us to openly grasp them with vigour. Is it that we have forgotten how to learn, or is it simply that we think that age and life experience allows us to somehow skip over this aspect of life?

Sometimes, familiarity breeds the notion that we can carry on as we always have. Or, often we assume that skills and knowledge once tested on a daily or weekly basis by an uninviting environment, need not be tested any longer because of more friendly atmospheres or more forgiving colleagues. The real truth, of course, is that there is no final plateau one reaches that gives one the leg up, so to speak, on anyone else or on any given situation or challenge.

Life continues to evolve every second; our knowledge needs to be caressed, re-built, added to, and multiplied less we find ourselves slipping further down the slope that sees us less than adequate, less than needed, or less than valued. As life evolves so should we on a continuous basis.

Age and Happiness

By Catherine Pulsifer © 2008

Age and happiness, do the two go together?

I know some very unhappy 75-year-old people, and I know some very happy ones as well. In the same vein, there are a lot of 25-year-old people who are very unhappy with their lives, and others who couldn't be happier.

The difference is not in age, but in their attitude towards life.

When I was younger, my mother had a saying she used when I was feeling disappointed, sad, or dissatisfied. She would say: "There are others who are a lot worse off than you." I can now appreciate how true that saying is.

No matter what happens in my life, and no matter how old I am, happiness in life does come down to your attitude towards it.

I recently was reading a book that reflected the thoughts of people who have achieved happiness in their life and the common theme with all of these people is their attitude. They always had a goal, they always looked for the good in every situation, and they always had more they wanted to achieve.

So no matter what your age, young or old, remember it is not your age,
but your attitude towards life that will bring happiness.

Always remember age is only a date and you determine your own fate.

What We Believe

by Catherine Pulsifer

Many successes can be attributed to those who dream. Dreaming is a gift where you can
see things not as they are, but as they could be.

People who never dream, or never set goals, let life go by day by day letting others determine their destiny.

Without dreams, you don’t set goals; you are forced to accept what you have today.

As children, we had lots of dreams. When we get older, some of us lose our dreams and our ambitions, and are content to accept mediocrity.

Everything that has ever been accomplished, every skyscraper, every bridge, every invention, every medical breakthrough, all started with a dream!

Food for Thought:

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." by Edgar Allan Poe

"The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score." by Bill Copeland

"That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." by Abraham Lincoln

"Sometimes, people use age as a convenient excuse. 'I'm to old too start something new', or, 'I couldn't learn that at my age.' Other people, though, go on to achieve their greatest accomplishments in life in later years." by Catherine Pulsifer

Self-Confidence: Believe In Yourself

by Byron Pulsifer © 2007

"When a man has put a limit on what he will do, he has put a limit on what he can do."
Charles M. Schwab

As a child, we are not limited by preconceptions. Children attempt to do what they want without being burdened by the concept of failure.

Adults tend to suppress their imagination, and are too quick to give up their dreams. Don't let the child in you disappear - imagine, dream, and believe in yourself. With determination and belief, you will be surprised at what you accomplish.

"When you develop yourself to the point where your belief in yourself is so strong that you know you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, your future will be unlimited." by Brian Tracy

Imagine what you could accomplish if there was no such thing as failure. Have you ever met someone who succeeds no matter what they attempt? These people use their imagination; they don't let failure stop them. They keep moving forward learning as they go, full of determination on their way to reach success.

"An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men." by Dr. Thomas Fuller

Your accomplishments will give you satisfaction and enhance your self-confidence. A person with a strong sense of self-confidence is happier with their life because they believe in themselves!

"There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do." by Henry Ford

Do's and Don'ts

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.
Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough and know better.
Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr./Mrs. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won.
Only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy (or a cat!)

Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.
It is true that life does not get easier with age. It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in your God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!

Coping with Stress

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and restbefore holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

• Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the
  statue.
  
• Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
  them.
  
• Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the
  middle of it.
  
• Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their
  maker.
  
• If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
  
• If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was
  probably worth it.
  
• It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to
  others.
  
• Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you
  won't have a leg to stand on.
  
• Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
  
• Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
  
• The second mouse gets the cheese.
  
• When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
  
• Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
  
• You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the
  world to one person.
  
• Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once .
  
• We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty
  and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different
  colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
  
• A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.