I hope you will receive a
fortnightly dose of motivation, inspiration, laughter and thought-provoking
quotes. If you find yourself bogged down in our competitive, stressful work
world, take a few minutes to read and then think about the positive messages
you will receive.
1. Inspirational
Quotes
2. A Heavenly
Smell
3. Wild Trivia
4. Metaphor - The
Station By Robert Hastings
5. Ken
Warren- Keep moving when the
going gets tough
6.
7. Motivational
8.
Personal
No trees were
destroyed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of
electrons were significantly inconvenienced
1. Inspirational Quotes
YOU ARE
You are strong... when
you take your grief and teach it to smile.
You are brave... when
you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.
You are happy... when
you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.
You are loving... when
your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.
You are wise... when
you know the limits of your wisdom.
You are true... when
you admit there are times you fool yourself.
You are alive... when
tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.
You are growing... when
you know what you are but not what you will become.
You are free... when
you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.
You are honourable...
when you find your honour is to honour others.
You are generous...
when you can take as sweetly as you can give.
You are humble... when
you do not know how humble you are.
You are thoughtful...
when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.
You are merciful...
when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.
You are beautiful...
when you don't need a mirror to tell you.
You are rich... when
you never need more than what you have.
You are you... when you
are at peace with who you are not.
Author Unknown, as seen
in Morning Coffee
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥
Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely
believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevidently come to pass
Nothing great will ever be achieved without great
men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so
Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water, after
enlightenment chop wood carry water
Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. -
Albert Einstein
There is
a story about Albert Einstein's view of human existence. Asked to pose the most vital question facing
humanity, he replied, "Is the Universe friendly? It's possible that the Universe knows what
it's doing and means you no harm. If you
merely consider that possibility, and keep it in mind, you create a space for
it to be realized in your conscious life experience. You might be surprised to discover that you
actually inhabit a friendly universe. To
presume otherwise is, as we have seen, harmful to your health and dangerous to
your survival."
*********************************************************************
From Inner
"The
problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and
thinking that having problems is a problem." - Theodore Rubin
Our
lives really begin to change when we learn to shift our perspective on
‘problems.’
From the
spiritual perspective, problems offer our best path to growth. Like it or not,
pain gets our attention. Pain also challenges the ego's perception that it is
in complete control of life. This opens the door for soul’s guidance.
If we
want to be rid of the pain, we must do the work that leads us to greater
consciousness. Paradoxically, we can only get rid of the pain by moving through
it.
The next
time you feel “poor me,” stop and ask, “What needs to change? What does my soul
want me to learn?”
“No one
can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a
brand new ending.” - Source Unknown
Create a
clear growth path for yourself. Discover how to be more authentic and how to
live more of your potential. Explore what it takes to change and grow. Become
clear about your own spirituality. Clarify your next growth steps!
2. A Heavenly Smell -
I am so
glad that I have a nose at this time of the year. With spring here in the
mountains of my home the world is alive with thousands of wonderful smells. The
Dogwood, Cherry, and Apple trees are all in full blossom and blessing the world
with their scents. The Rhododendron bushes are full of sweet smelling purple
flowers as well. Fantastic fragrances are everywhere.
Dandelions,
sunflowers, and garden flowers are all airing their aromas while hundreds of
butterflies dance among them. It is such a wondrous delight to my nose, heart,
and soul to be outside during these glorious Spring days. It isn’t just the
outside that brings delight to my nose, however. I also love the smell of
coffee in the morning, the scent of my wife’s perfume, and the delicious aroma
of a home cooked meal.
I rejoice in the
smell of freshly washed clothes, a new baby’s hair, sweet apple pie, and all
the fantastic scents that God gives us everyday. I think the one scent I enjoy
most of all, though, is the scent of a well lived life. Just as certain things
in this life can "smell bad" to the mind, heart, and soul other
things can "smell so good" to them as well. Nothing smells quite as
good to the heart as a loving act given freely and happily. Nothing smells
quite as good to the soul as a spirit of joy shared unconditionally with
everyone everywhere. Nothing smells quite so good to the mind as the knowledge
that we are doing what we were meant to do and living the way we were meant to
live.
God didn’t put
us here to stink up the world with our lives. God instead put us here to bless the
world with the fragrance of our love, joy, and oneness with Him. May you always
share the sweet scent of love with the world then. May you always bring a
Heavenly smell to your life.
3.
Trivia
The truth behind more old wives' tales
by Rosalind Ryan, Femail.Co.Uk
You may dismiss old wives' tales as
unscientific nonsense, but there is an increasing amount of evidence to show
that there is some truth in these sayings.
Carrots can help you see in the dark
This is another old wives' tale that
has it roots in truth. Carrots are rich in certain nutrients that have been shown to have a
positive effect on eye health.
Catherine
Collins, chief dietician for St George's Hospital in London, says, 'Carrots
contain lutein which helps protect against the degeneration of the eyes as you
get older.The highest concentration of lutein in the body is found in the eye
fluid, so eating carrots would give your eyes an immediate boost.'
This may be why
the idea that carrots can improve night-vision began. If ancient societies only
had access to seasonal fruits and vegetables, they would only have been able to
eat carrots at certain times of the year. But if they noticed a marked
improvement in their eyesight as soon as they started eating carrots - thanks
to the raised lutein levels - this would explain how the rumour began.
Carrots also
contain vitamin A, which helps protect the eyes by absorbing the light energy
that passes into the eye. Increased levels of vitamin A allow your eyes to
absorb more energy and become more sensitive in dim light, helping you see more
effectively at night.
In modern times
we have to be extra careful if we want to eat raw carrots. A
government study conducted in 1995 found that some carrot skins contained 25
times the accepted levels of pesticides. To minimise the risk of consuming
these chemicals, the Ministry of Agriculture now advises us to peel, top and
tail carrots before eating them.
Use vinegar as a disinfectant -Many of
us remember the line from the nursery rhyme 'Jack and Jill'; after falling down
and breaking his crown, Jack's head was wrapped in vinegar and brown paper.
This is because vinegar has traditionally been used as a disinfectant. The chemicals in vinegar that give it
its sharp taste also cause body tissues to contract and so help slow blood
flow. This would help Jack - and anyone else - avoid infection as the vinegar
would help heal the wound.
During the Plague
in England in the mid-1660s, vinegar was also used to disinfect money.
Tradesmen used to leave bowls of water and vinegar for customers to place their
money in when paying for their shopping. It was thought the mixture would kill
off the 'hidden' disease.
Vinegar is still
used to this day as an effective disinfectant. A mixture of one part
bicarbonate of soda, one part organic liquid-soap solution and one part vinegar
makes an ideal natural alternative to modern household cleaning fluids. Pouring
vinegar into the toilet, leaving overnight and then scrubbing with baking soda
in the morning is also recommended as a highly efficient disinfectant.
You mix apple cider vinegar and honey (to
taste). If you have trouble sleeping,
you're supposed to take a teaspoon. If you're not asleep 1/2 hour later, you're
supposed to take another teaspoon. I've had to do this a few times and never
had to take more than two teaspoons before I was asleep. Sounds weird, I know - but it works.
I was tossing and turning the other night due to
stressing out over a class I'm taking in college. I kept trying hard to fall asleep because I
had to be up by 5 to get ready for work. I was getting cranky and decided to
get up and clean the whole house!
My son was still up (
Mosquito repellent - Take one vitamin B complex
twice a day starting in March; this will cause your pores to exude a scent that
repels mosquitoes.
'Kiss it better' - Dulcie Lewis, an
expert in traditional folk remedies, believes that when a mother says this, she
is unwittingly taking part in age-old belief that does have some basis in
scientific fact. She says, 'Human saliva contains a natural healing chemical
called lysozyme. Lysozyme helps break down the cell walls of certain bacteria,
stopping the spread of infection.' Kissing a cut or graze could therefore help
protect your child as your saliva could stop the growth of any dangerous
bacteria. However, experts would not now advise kissing or licking a cut
because of the risk infection to the kisser. Common infections like thrush can
lower the level of lysozyme in your saliva so you may not be fully protected if
you do kiss your child's injuries.
Dog saliva was
considered just as effective as a human's, but not many people these days would
allow their family pet to lick a septic cut!
******************************************************************
Start the Day with a Lemon Drink – my Gran did
this for as long as I can remember!
Drink fresh-made lemonade (juice of half a lemon
in eight ounces of warm water) with a teaspoon or so of organic maple syrup in
the morning after awakening. Also, if you're feeling punchy, add a few squirts
of
Doing so replaces electrolytes on a hot day and
warms you up on a cool day. Adding a dash of cayenne pepper for a cheap taste
thrill also clears sinuses and wards off colds. Taking the drink every a.m.
helps to speed up removal of toxins after fasting all night. It'll also help
move the bowels.
******************************************************************
Rust Problems - To keep tools from rusting in the toolbox, just drop a
couple of charcoal briquettes to keep the moisture out.
Odd items in a car
tool kit
My wife had offered to clean out my car boot. She
began lifting everything out so that see could highlight the rubbish than I
invariably accumulate. She eventually arrived at my car tool kit.
“OK! What are you doing with a pair of ladies tights?”
“I will use those as a temporary fan belt should the one on the car break”
“Why a potato?
“If my wipers pack in, I can rub the rear & front screen with the surface
of a cut potato and it will keep the water off for about 20 minutes, giving
time to find a service station.”
And the wire coat hanger?
“This has 2 uses – If my exhaust comes loose you can jam the hanger into the
chassis and use the hook as a temporary hanger OR if you lose your aerial, you
can cut off the twisted bit and stick the remaining bit into the aerial socket
and form a diamond with the remainder.”
“Right, is this egg meant to be here?”
“Yes! If you introduce it into the radiator water, as it slowly poaches, it
seals up small leaks”.
“And the packet of chewing gum?”
“Is for larger leaks, but you have to chew it for a while”.
“Why the ladies glossy magazine?”
“To roll up and use as a funnel should you run out of fuel or oil”.
“Right! What on earth is a bicycle pump useful for?”
“If your water is low and you can only find a shallow water source, then you
can fill up the radiator, slowly mind you”.
“Why 2 worn foot mats?”
“I find that in icy or snowy weather, if you are having trouble getting grip
then a mat under each driving wheel very often gives you that little bit of
grip to get started and you will notice that they each have a anchor rope and
hook so that I don’t need to stop until the road surface improves”.
“Now I’ve got you “she said her eyes gleaning, “A long carved wooden tent peg?”
“Thanks, I’ve been wondering where that had got to. It’s out of the tent bag.”
She returned a few minutes later. “May I borrow your radiator top-up thing;
I’ve a puncture in my bike’s front tire.”
(They may seen strange items, but all of them have been used by very close
friends or me over the years but some could now be out of date)
************************************************************************
Worship by Cultivating Nine Fields
Worship is not a matter of making an obeisance to
a god. It is a matter of achieving godlike qualities in yourself. This is done through
the cultivation of nine areas:
Diet should be moderate, healthy, and of living
foods. If you want to be sustained, eat things that themselves sustained life. Learn
to use herbs, for they heal and maintain health.
Be moderate in your clothing; wear natural fibres.
What you wear is an expression of your state of mind.
Recitation includes prayer, song, chanting, and
finally, the practice of silence. What you say becomes reality.
Stretch, move, and exercise every day. The
universe moves; so too should the energy within your body.
Meditate every day, once in the morning and once
in the evening, if possible. Only then will you attain tranquillity and triumph
over your dilemmas.
Be creative. Thus we contribute, and thus we
elevate our souls.
Acquire a good education. Treasure what you learn,
and preserve it so that it may be passed on to others. Never be selfish with
what you know.
Above all, be compassionate. This is a stand
against all evil, and it opens your spirit.
Excerpted from "365 Tao: Daily
Meditations" by Deng Ming-Dao Copyright 1992 Deng Ming-Dao Published by
HarperSanFrancisco (ISBN 0-06-250223-9)
Submitted by
******************************************************************
A Bathroom Tip -My husband and I were married when
we were almost 30, so we had a little different way of looking at things that
younger-marrieds. I liked, as a female,
the seat down on the toilet. I know this
is a battle that rages in most homes - but not ours - not any more.
I felt that since I wanted my husband to lift the
seat, I should be willing to do my part - so, we now always have our lids as
well as our seats down on our toilets.
I figure it's now almost equal work for both of
us. It cuts down on stuff falling in (I
am known as clumsy) and with the unseen spray of waste that flies up each time
the toilet is flushed stopped at the lid, we cut down on that mess as
well.
I know this may sound different - but ask your
family if this wouldn't be easier than the male vs. female battles. This would
be more sanitary for anything that is lying around within spraying range as
well. I haven't heard of anyone else doing this simple deed - but perhaps it's
not something one discusses at parties (although I'm not too sure about that -
everything else seems to be 'open-season' these days). Anyway, it's just something to think about. Sharyn
W.
Neil Eskelin's Daily Jump Start
You’ll never be able to
eliminate busybodies who love to spread the latest rumor on the grapevine. So
instead of being harmed by the process, learn to make it work on your behalf.
Here are five ways to make that happen:
1. Brag about your boss
behind his back. Before the day is over, someone will say, “You’ll never
believe what (your name) says about you!”
2. Drop an occasional
positive nugget of information about yourself. For example, if a customer sends
you a glowing letter of commendation, let one or two key people read it.
They’ll pass on the word.
3. Never pass on a
negative rumor. You don’t want your name to be associated with harmful gossip.
4. Avoid uttering a
phrase you don’t want attributed to you.
5. Don’t become
defensive when someone says something negative about you. Counter it by a
friendly conversation with the “source,” and calmly tell others the truth.
– Neil Eskelin
From
While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make
clockwise circles. Now, while doing
this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand.
Your foot will change direction and there's nothing you can do about
it!
4. Metaphor
The Station By Robert Hastings
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see
ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are travelling by train.
Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of
children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of
smoke pouring out from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of
flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city sky lines
and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a
certain day, at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be
playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come
true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a complete jigsaw
puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering -
waiting, waiting for the station.
''When we reach the station that will be it!" we cry.
''When I'm 18".
"When I buy a new 380 SL Mercedes Benz!"
"When I put the last kid through college."
''When I have paid off the mortgage!"
''When I get a promotion." "When I reach the age
of retirement. I shall live happily ever after!”.
Sooner or later we must realise there is no station, no one
place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station
is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
''Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when
coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day, which the Lord hath made; we
will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive
men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and
fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead,
climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more
rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go
along. The station will come soon enough.
5. Ken Warren- Keep
moving when the going gets tough
I sometimes think we are privileged when we see our children's moments of
personal growth
For as long as I can remember bikes
have been part of my life, he starts
At the age of 10, Mitch decided that
he could ride a bike home from his school, Bokarina, next to his Dad’s place of
work at
Do you remember that hot Wednesday
last September with the storms and north-Westerly winds, 37 degrees…
“Come on Mitch, we've got to keep
moving”, I said
We rode on to the Surf Club at
Maroochydore
The wind was blowing harder and more
from the West, so it was really tough going along the riverbank for a 29
kilogram boy on a 15 kilogram bicycle
"What do you want to do?” I asked
Few parents have the privilege of
seeing their child grow up
Seek out your significant moments by
spending some time and looking for them
Ken Warren, BA, M Soc Sc, CPC, M
Contact details: Ken Warren and Associates
Level One
7 The Esplanade
Corner of
Cotton Tree
Telephone: (07) 5443 7626
Facsimile: (07)
5443 7447
6.
Living a Long Life - A man goes to a natural
health physician and says, "I want to live very long. What should I
do?"
"Wise decision," the doctor replies.
"Let's see, do you smoke?"
"Yes. Half a pack a day."
"Starting now, no more smoking."
The man agrees.
The doctor then asks, "Do you drink?"
"Doc, not much, just a bit of wine with my
meals, and a beer or two every once in a while."
"Starting now, you drink only water. No
exceptions."
The man is a bit upset but also agrees.
The doctor asks, "How do you eat?"
"Oh, well, you know, Doc, normal stuff."
"Starting now you are going on a very strict
diet. You are going to eat only raw vegetables, with no dressing, and non-fat
cottage cheese."
The man is now worried. "Doc, is all this
really necessary?"
"Do you want to live long?"
"Yes."
"Well then, it's absolutely necessary. And
don't even think of breaking the diet."
The man is appalled. "Doc, are you sure I'm going
to live longer this way?"
"I have no idea, but however long you live, I
assure you it's going to seem like an eternity."
********************************************************
A
frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller
The frog says, "Miss Whack, I'd like to get a £30,000 loan to take
a holiday
Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name
Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some
collateral
The frog says, "Sure
She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit
Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow £30,000, and he
wants to use this as collateral
The bank manager looks back at her and says
"It's a knickknack, Patty Whack
****************************************************
Two attorneys went into a diner and ordered two
drinks. Then they produced sandwiches from their briefcases and started to
eat.
The owner became quite concerned and marched over
and told them, "You can't eat your own sandwiches in here!"
The attorneys looked at each other, shrugged their
shoulders, and then exchanged sandwiches.
****************************************************
A friend of mine works in a busy office where a
computer going down causes quite an inconvenience. Recently one of the
computers not only crashed, it made a noise that sounded like a heart monitor.
"This computer has flat-lined!" a co-worker called out with mock
horror.
"Does anyone here know how to do
mouse-to-mouse?"
7. Motivational
Label
or Love?
by Max Lucado
Recently we took our kids on a vacation to a
historical city. While going on a tour through an old house, we followed a
family from
They didn’t tell me they were from
I had them all figured out. The kid was probably
on drugs. The parents were going through a midlife crisis. They were rich and
miserable and in need of counselling. Good thing I was nearby in case they
wanted spiritual counsel.
After a few moments they introduced themselves. I
was right; they were from
When I told them my name, they were flabbergasted.
“We can’t believe it!” they said. “We've read your books. We use them in our
Sunday school class in church. I tried to get over to hear you when you spoke
in our area, but that was our family night and...”
Sunday school? Church? Family night? Oh, boy. I’d
made a mistake. A big mistake. I’d applied the label before examining the
contents.
We've all used labels. We stick them on jars and
manila folders, so we’ll know what’s inside. We also stick them on people for
the same reason.
Never mind that the man is a beggar in need of
help. Never mind that the man has spent his life in a dark cave. Never mind
that the man seated in front of them is in earshot of their voices. Let’s talk
about his sin. How could they be so harsh? So insensitive? So... blind!
The answer? (You may not like it.) It’s easier to
talk about a person than to help a person. It’s easier to debate homo-sexuality
than to be a friend to a gay person. It’s easier to discuss divorce than to
help the divorced. It’s easier to argue abortion than to support an orphanage.
It’s easier to complain about the welfare system than to help the poor. It’s
easier to label than to love.
Is that to say we should be unconcerned for
doctrine or lax in a desire for holiness? Absolutely not. That is to say there
is something wrong with applying the label before examining the contents.
It’s easier to label than to love.
Max Lucado, “A Gentle Thunder,” Copyright ©1995 as
seen in firstIMPRESSIONS
8. PERSONAL
Well
hello, and doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun. Many things have happened
since the last newsletter.
I had
a great birthday party, how brilliant it was to be surrounded by so many
wonderful people. Each one in their own way has significantly contributed to my
life and taught me so much. Which made
me think of one of my favourite sayings -
People come into your life for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime.
When you know which one it is for a person, you will know what to do for
that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to
provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or
spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are!