Wise Words.

Be kinder than necessary 'cause everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

What I've Learned- I think this is from Andy Rooney

This post came from one of those chain emails that keep getting circulated. They said it was from Any Rooney but you can never be sure about these things. This is really good...

I've Learned.....

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you..
I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

My Website

Hi, Please check out my website. I sell beautiful handmade rosary beads and jewelry. www.blessedtreasures.com

Great Words by Mother Teresa

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

More quotes

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.- Will Rogers

The only difference between a weed and a flower is a judgment. - Wayne Dyer

First we form habits, then they form us.- Rob Gilbert

Goals too clearly defined can become blinders.- Mary Catherine Bateson

There are three ways you can get to the top of a tree: sit on an acorn; make friends with a bird; climb it. - Unknown

This kinda sums it up.

Ability is what you're capable of. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. - Lou Holtz

Daliai Lama's 18 Rules for Living

These are the Dalai Lama’s 18 rules for living- there is alot of wisdom in these words:
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs:
Respect for self
Respect for others
Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

A Few Wise Words by Abraham Lincoln

A FEW WISE WORDS. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves. ~~~Abraham Lincoln

Think Carefully about this

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."--Randy Pausch

Go to You Tube and Search on the last lecture. This man is amazing.

Dreams

"We've got to have a dream if we are going to make a dream come true." -Denis Waitley

Bubba Jo's Sayings about Friends

1) Birds of a feather flock together.
2) You are known by the company you keep.
3) An acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.

How to sound intelligent

Do you want to sound intelligent, powerful, polished, articulate and confident? Of course you do! Voice coach Carol Fleming, Ph.D. gave me some great insights based on her years of study and working with thousands of clients.
TO SOUND MORE INTELLIGENT: Speak just a bit slower to allow yourself to select your most appropriate vocabulary and to give the impression of thoughtfulness.
TO SOUND MORE POWERFUL: Use short, simple declarative sentences. You say what you mean and you mean what you say. Cut out any useless connectors, adjectives and adverbs, especially superlatives.
TO SOUND MORE POLISHED: Never answer a question with a blunt 'yes' or 'no.' Append a short phrase of clarification. For example, "No, I did not see it." "Yes, I know Mary."
TO SOUND MORE ARTICULATE: Make a special effort to pronounce the final sound in a word and use its energy to carry over to the following word. Pay special attention to final 't' and 'ng.'
TO SOUND MORE CONFIDENT: Carry your body up. Hold your head as if you had a crown on it. Don't let your arms and legs have side to side motion when you move. Keep your elbows and knees close to the midline of your body.

21 Suggestions for Success

21 Suggestions for Success ......By H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

Is your Jar Full?

When things in your life seem almost to much to handle, when 24 hours in aday are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar......and the beer.
A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in frontof him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large andempty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He thenasked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.So the Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into thejar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areasbetween the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar wasfull. They agreed it was.The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Ofcourse, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jarwas full. The students responded with an unanimous "Yes."The Professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table andpoured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the emptyspace between the sand. The students laughed."Now," said the Professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you torecognize that this jar represents your life.The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, yourhealth, your friends, your favorite passions - things that if everythingelse was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff.""If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued, "there is no roomfor the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend allyour time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for thethings that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that arecritical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to getmedical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Therewill always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care ofthe golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities.The rest is just sand."When he had finished, there was a profound silence. Then one of thestudents raised her hand and with a puzzled expression, inquired what thebeer represented.The Professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that nomatter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple ofbeers."

I found this on the Internet by Eric Zorn

I found this on the internet. Since I'm turning 50 this year too, it's like a ditto to me. He is very good.

« Originally posted: January 3, 2008
50 things I've learned in 50 years, a partial list in no particular order
I’m turning 50 next week. So I thought I’d take the opportunity here to list 50 things I’ve learned in 50 years—truths gleaned from experience and the words of others that guide, inspire and sometimes haunt me:
1. It’s better to sing off key than not to sing at all.
2. Promptness shows respect.
3. You can’t avoid offending people from time to time. When you don’t mean it, apologize. When you do mean it, accept the consequences.
4. The first person to use the expression “Get a life!” in any dispute is the loser.
5. The medium is not the message. Those who issue blanket condemnations of any form of communication—be it TV, tabloids, text messages or blogs—simply aren’t paying attention.
6. The most valuable thing to have is a good reputation, and it’s neither hard nor expensive to acquire one: Be fair. Be honest. Be trustworthy. Be generous. Respect others.
7. Prejudice and bigotry is hard-wired into us. You can’t overcome it until you acknowledge it.
8. Don’t be bothered when people don’t share your tastes in music, sports, literature, food and fashion. Be glad. You’d never get tickets to anything otherwise.
9. Cough syrup doesn’t work.
10. Empathy is the greatest virtue. From it, all virtues flow. Without it, all virtues are an act.
11. The Golden Rule is the greatest moral truth. If you don’t believe in it, at least try to fake it.
12. Keeping perspective is the greatest key to happiness. From a distance, even a bumpy road looks smooth.
13. You can’t win arguing with police officers or referees, but every so often you can fight City Hall.
14. It’s not “political correctness” that dictates that we try not to insult others’ beliefs and identities. It’s common decency.
15. It may not feel like it, but it’s good luck when you have people at home and at work who aren’t afraid to tell you when you’re wrong.
16. It’s 10 times easier to fall in love than to stay in love. And no matter what the sad songs say about romance, broken hearts do mend.
17. Don’t waste your breath proclaiming what’s really important to you. How you spend your time says it all.
18. Keeping an open mind is as big a challenge as you get older as keeping a consistent waistline.
19. It’s never a shame when you admit you don’t know something, and often a shame when you assume that you do.
20. Wounds heal faster under bandages than they do in the open air.
21. Fear of failure is a ticket to mediocrity. If you’re not failing from time to time, you’re not pushing yourself. And if you’re not pushing yourself, you’re coasting.
22. Anyone who judges you by the kind of car you drive or shoes you wear isn’t someone worth impressing.
23. Grudges are poison. The only antidote is to let them go.
24. If you’re in a conversation and you’re not asking questions, then it’s not a conversation, it’s a monologue.
25. In everyday life, most “talent” is simply hard work in disguise.
26. Great parents can have rotten kids and rotten parents can have great kids. But even though biology plays a huge role in destiny, that’s no excuse to give up or stop trying.
27. Four things that most people think are lame but really are a lot of fun: barn dancing, charades, volleyball and sing-alongs.
28. Two cheap, easy self-improvement projects: Develop a strong handshake and start smiling when you answer the phone.
29. When something that costs less than $200 breaks and it’s not under warranty and you can’t fix it yourself in half an hour, it’s almost certainly more cost-effective to throw it out.
30. Most folk remedies are nonsense, but zinc really does zap colds.
31. Physical attraction is nice, but shared values and a shared sense of humor are the real keys to lasting love.
32. To keep dental visits regular, schedule your next appointment on your way out from your last appointment.
33. The 10-minute jump start is the best way to get going on a big task you’ve been avoiding. Set a timer and begin, promising yourself that you’ll quit after 10 minutes and do something else. The momentum will carry you forward.
34. Laundry day is much easier when all your socks are the same and you don’t have to sort them.
35. Candor is overrated. It’s hard to unsay what you’ve said in anger and almost impossible to take back what you’ve written.
36. Goals that you keep to yourself are just castles on the beach. If you’re determined to achieve something, tell people about it and ask them to help you stick with it.
37. Mental illness is as real as diabetes, arthritis or any other disease, and no more disgraceful. It’s the stigma that’s disgraceful.
38. In crisis or conflict, always think and act strategically. Take time to figure out what the “winning” outcome is for you, then work toward it.
39. All the stuff you have lying around that you’ll never want, need, wear or look at again? It just makes it harder to find what you do want, need or intend to wear. File it, donate it or throw it out.
40. Exercise does not take time. Exercise creates time.
41. Almost no one stretches, flosses or gives compliments often enough.
42. It pays to keep handy a list that includes a trusted plumber, electrician, locksmith, appliance repair specialist and heating contractor. When you really need one is no time to start looking.
43. The store-brand jelly, cereal, paper goods, baking supplies and pharmacy products are good enough.
44. When you mess up, ’fess up. It’s the fastest way, if there is one, to forgiveness.
45. When you’re not the worst-dressed person at a social event, you have nothing to worry about.
46. Be truthful or be quiet. Lies are hard to keep track of.
47. Your education isn’t complete until you’ve learned to take a hint.
48. There’s a good reason to be secretive about your age. People tend to assume things when they know how old you are. “Oh, he’s turning 50,” they might say, for example, “probably full of cranky self-lacerating aphorisms that he thinks qualify as wisdom.” (See "Bored, Tubby, Mild," an animated editorial cartoon along these lines)
49. Whatever your passion, pursue it as though your days were numbered. Because they are.
50. Readers love lists. You got to the bottom of this one, didn’t you?

Chinese Proverb

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Quote

"It's never too late to become the person you might have been." - George Elliot

Nice Quote

"We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our worst enemies." - Roderick Thorp

Something Nice

"What lies behind us, and what lies beforeus are small matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sisters

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. Don't forget your Sisters, she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do. What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile! But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned: THIS SAYS IT ALL: Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end. BUT......... Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life; will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

Crayons

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.

Kindness

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Accomplishments

"There's a very positive relationship between people's ability to accomplish any task and the time they're willing to spend on it." - Joyce Brothers

God

A Wise person once said this:

I would rather I live my life as if there was a God, then die and find out there isn't, than to live my life as if there was no God, and then die and find out there was!

$20

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by:holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE. You are special - Don't EVER forget it."

The Farmer and The Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
Well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he
quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's nei ghbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less.

NOW -
Enough of that crap . The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
They buried him in the well.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you!

Let Your Friends Know You Love Them

One day a woman's mother died, and on that clear, cold morning, in
the warmth of their bedroom, the daughter was struck with the pain of
learning that sometimes there isn't anymore.

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to
chat, no more "just one minute."Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, or say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when
it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage ..
and old cars .. and children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what. Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close!
Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you
love them?

I was thinking... I could die today, tomorrow or
next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed,
friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.
Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think
they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three
little words and a smile can do.

Women's Strengths.

Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have the compassion and ideas. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Beauty Tips by Audrey Hepburn

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one
at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will
discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself,
and the other for helping others.

A Beautiful Story by Robert Hastings

Please check out this link for a beautiful story:

http://www.storybin.com/wisdom/wisdom104.shtml

Things I'd Wish I'd Known Sooner by Mary Hunt

1. Integrity always matters. Integrity is simply doing what you promised you would do. It is telling the truth and doing the truth. It is doing the right thing even if no one would know that you did the wrong thing. Integrity is accepting the blame when you have made a mistake. Integrity always matters because it matters to God. Integrity keeps you the kind of person you want to live with. And that's important because you have to live with yourself your entire life.
2. More money will not fix everything. Until you know how to handle a small amount of money well, lots of money will only create bigger problems. Remember to never keep it all (give some away) and never spend it all (save some for the future). Then you will never be broke.
3. Save early, save often. There exists in the universe a simple principle with a big payoff. It is called compounding interest. When you place money in a savings account, you earn interest. Then that interest earns interest, or compounds, which makes your money grow much more rapidly. Start saving money now, so it has many years to compound. That is the way to build wealth.
4. A sense of humor is a valuable asset. Laugh at yourself and you'll never run out of material. Laugh with others. Some people can't see the humor in their situations, so just make sure they are laughing first or you could hurt their feelings. Laugh often. Laughter is good for your health because it releases tension and stress. It can make your life much more enjoyable.
5. There's a difference between authority and responsibility. Authority usually refers to your power over people. People who crave authority usually lose it. Responsibility usually refers to your pledge to people. Those willing to assume responsibility usually get it. Most people crave authority and avoid responsibility. If you've got a great sense of responsibility, don't ever lose it.
6. A little encouragement goes a long way. Maybe its only a few words or a small act of kindness, but that small effort can really encourage another person. It might not seem like much to you, but it can be meaningful to the other person. Whenever you encourage others, you are showing that you have care and concern for them.

Take Your Time

Take Your Time

Take time to work, it is the price of success.

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to play, it is the secret of youth.

Take time to read, it is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to look around, it is the shortcut to unselfishness.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

Take time to dream, it is the highest way to the stars.

Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.

Take time to pray, it is the way to heaven.

~~Epiphany~~From Father Frank in St. Rita's Bulletin, January 5, 1992.

The Last Time

The Last Time

Good friends are like special treasures. The enrich one’s life immeasurable, and I believe it’s important to let them know this.

One day I started thinking about how I would have reacted were I to have known that something I was doing was to be the last time I’d ever do it. How would I have played that last stickball game, taken the last roller skate ride down the street, played football and baseball and boxball, raced my friends to the corner and back, ate that orange fudgesicles, sledded down the hill, raced the bike into Upper Darby, chased the girls across the schoolyard, eaten a double order of French fries with gravy on them, gone to a Saturday matinee with my friends, and all the hundreds of other things that are gone from our lives before we even realize it.

Carry it a step further. What about all the things I do now that one day will also be for the last time? And what about all those special people in our lives who leave us before we get the opportunity to tell them exactly how we feel about them? God, I wish I had told so many of my aunts and uncles how much I truly loved them.

If we know it was to be the last time for anything or anyone, we would live our lives with much more fervor, determination and will, and with much more love and appreciation for those around us. I decided that even if I had neglected to do it in the past. I could make certain not to continue making the same mistake in my future.

~~David Brenner from “Soft Pretzels with Mustard”

Maturity

Maturity

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence.

Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of long-term gain.

Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks.

Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat without complaint or collapse.

Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say “I was wrong.” And, when you’re right, you need not say, “I told you so.”

Maturity is making a decision and following through. The immature spends their lives exploring endless possibilities and then doing nothing.

Maturity means dependability, keeping one’s word and coming through in a crisis. The immature are master of the alibi. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions.

And- based on the Serenity Prayer, Maturity is the art of living in peace with what we cannot change, the courage to change what we know should be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference.

~~Ann Landers

What is Class

Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident, and it can handle whatever comes along.

Class has a sense of humor. It knows that a good laugh is the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations.

Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes.

Class knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices and minor inconveniences.

Class bespeaks an aristocracy unrelated to ancestors or money. Sme extremely wealthy people have no class at all, while others who are struggling to make ends meet are loaded with it.

Class is real. You can't fake it.

Class is comfortable in its own skin. It never puts on airs.

Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is already up and need not attempt to look better by making others look worse.

Class can "walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch. Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class because he is comfortable with himself.

If you have class, you've got it made. If yuou don't have class, no matter what else you have, it won't make up for it.

~~~Ann Landers

100 Little Things I've Learned in Life So Far from Dear Abby

1) Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2) Marry a man you love to talk to. As you get older, conversation will be one of the principal elements of your relationship.

3) Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4) When you say, "I love you," mean it.

5) When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

6) Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7) Believe in love at first sight.

8) Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

9) Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely

10) In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

11) Don't judge people by their relatives.

12) Talk slowly but think quickly.

13) When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

14) Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

15) Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

16) When you lose, don't lose the lesson

17) Remember the three most important R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

18) Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19) When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

20) Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

21) Spend some time alone. Constant socializing can be draining.

22) A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

23) Be accepting of everyone, never discriminate. You should accept people for who they are not who you want them to be!

24) All people are not created equally. There will always be people who are prettier than you, and there will always be those that you are prettier than. There will always be those that have more than you, and there will always be those you will have more than. But that does not mean that those with "less" should be treated as lesser, and that those with more should be treated any better.

25) Always be yourself, never change for anyone. If a person is not willing to accept you for who you are then it is their loss.

26) What is life worth living if you don't take risks ever now and then. However, be cautious about it - because with every action comes a consequence. Always remember, life is a precious thing, the unfortunate part is we are only gifted with one. Live every moment as if it is your last, you never know when it maybe.

27) Everything happens for a reason. You may not see it right away, but in time you will come to realize that it was for the best. Just like Garth Brooks says “Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers.”

28) Why give up on something you want, you mustn't want it that badly if you are so quick to retreat.

29) With every mistake in life comes an equally important lesson. Study history, both yours and the world's. Learn from the mistakes of the past so that you don't make them.

30) Follow your heart, but be smart about it, your heart likes to play tricks.

31) Nobody's perfect, that includes you and the person you like. Admit when you're wrong, it will earn you forgiveness and respect. If you think someone is "out of your league" it is because you make them that way, unless they make themself that way in which case you deserve better than that.

32) Be picky about your battles because the "ghosts of war" always come back to haunt you.

33) When someone talks listen, don't just be waiting for your turn to talk.

34) People lie for many reasons, don't belieive everything you hear. Investigate further before you pass judgment on the situation.

35) Never act on impulse, take time to weigh your options.

36) When given a secret, keep it a secret. Tell one person and you tell them all. Someone told you because they trust you, don't ruin that trust. Once trust is broken, it is very hard to mend.

37) Romance and love are sacred, keep them that way.

38) Know when to be serious, but remember to have fun too. You'll experience many situations in life where you must know how to distribute two opposites to make them balance out.

39) A true friend is there when you need them, so as a true friend you should be there when they are in need.

40) Don't be afraid to make your own decisions, just because it isn’t the popular decision doesn't mean it is not the right one.

41) Don't ruin good things with bad decisions.

42) Beware of greed, it can destroy anything, and it will if you let it.

43) Make the best out of every situation, complaining only makes it worse.

44) Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

45) Always finish what you start. If you leave something unfinished, you have just wasted time on the part of it that you did complete.

46) Time is more valuable than money, especially when you use it correctly. Another thing, money is infinite while time is limited.

47) Never assume, take some time to differentiate fact from opinion.

48) Be patient, sometimes things take a lot time and effort.

49) Trust is something you must have for the people who are close to you in life. Without trust you'll lose everyone because of your suspicions.

50) It can always get worse. Don't believe me? Visit a children’s trama unit or go stay in a third world nation for a while.

51) Some things are better left undisturbed, so don't mess with them.

52) Always have a backup plan, in case something goes wrong.

53) Never forget where you came from, it is your family, friends and teachers that helped get you where you are now.

54) Always take some time out of your busy schedule to spend with those you love. You never know when it maybe to late.

55) Never leave a conversation end in anger, you may not get another chance to say sorry.

56) Make peace with your enemies, it'll save a lot of things. If peace cannot be achieved, defeat them in the least costly way.

57) When you can't figure something out try looking from a different view. If something really puzzles you, try thinking outside the box. Often times you are to close to the situation to see the answer.

58) Ask questions. The only dumb question is the one that goes unasked. If you need help, don't wait to ask for it.

59) True wealth and beauty come from the inside. The richest person is the person who cares the most - not the person with lots of money.

60) Lend a helping hand whenever possible, you'll need help someday too.

61) Be a friend to everyone you meet, it could save someone’s life.

62) Know when enough is enough, be persistent not annoying.

63) Beware of the easy route in life. The hard route is more often than not the safer route, while the easy route brings nothing but trouble.

64) Always think nothing is impossible just highly improbable.

65) Forgive but never forget. Everyone makes mistakes so be willing to forgive them, but don't get used. If you forget then the same things will happen time and time again. Think, "Get me once shame on you, get me twice shame on me."

66) Things happen based on the past not based on luck, so always make the wise decision. There is no such thing as luck, you create your own "luck."

67) Take and enjoy what is given to you, never complain about something you recieve for nothing. The most vaulable things in life are free.

68) Always look for every possibility in a situation. Double meanings and multiple solutions have their perks and purgatories.

69) Don’t swear or use profanity. It just shows how limited your vocabulary is and makes you look like a tramp.

70) Always wear a good moisturizer after 30.

71) Have faith. Go to church. Believe in God but lock your car.

72) Call your mom.

73) Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

74) Read more books, and watch less tv.

75) In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

76) Don't let your mouth get ahead of your head.

77) Open your mind to change, but don't let new ideas dilute your principles.

78) Live an honorable life. When you get older, you'll be glad you did.

79) When you don't know what to do, pray. You'll be surprised at how much it will help you decide.

80) A loving atmosphere in your home is important. It will also help keep your children from needing therapy.

81) Judge succcess by what you had to give up to get it.

82) Rember that not getting what you want may be the best thing that never happened to you.

83) Generally there are two choices for bridges, crossing them or burning them.

84) You will make twice as many friends being interested in them than you will make trying to get them interested in you.

85) God provided the face, you provide the expression.

86) The best way to destroy an enemy is to make a friend.

87) We judge ourselves by what we are capable of doing, but other jude us by what we have already done.

88) What you are - is God's gift to you. What you become- is your gift to God.

89) When you talk, you can only say something you know. When you listen, yuou may learn something new.

90) It's not good to talk about your troubles. 80% of the people who hear them don't care and th other 20% are glad you have them.

91) Life is so much simplier when you tell the truth.

92) Character counts. Family matters.

93) The most boring word in any language is "I".

94) If you wait to have kids until you can afford them, you probably never will.

95) The race isn't always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.

96) We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.

97) Shoot for the moon and the worst you can do is land on a star.

98) Every job you perform is a portrait of yourself. Autograph your work with excellence.

99) Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

100) Mother always knows best.

Great Quotes by Great Ladies!

Show me who your friends are and I'll show you what you are - Bubba Jo

What goes around comes around - Flossy Grubach

Pretty girls are a dime a dozen but only one in a thousand has class -Leona Gentile

Inside every older person is a younger person -- wondering what the hell happened.-Cora Harvey Armstrong

Let your conscience by your guide - Bubba Jo

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy. -Helen Hayes (at 73)

I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows.-Janette Barber

Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.-Lily Tomlin

A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who never owned a car.-Carrie Snow

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry with your girlfriends.-Laurie Kuslansky

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being, hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.-Erma Bombeck

Old age ain't no place for sissies.-Bette Davis

A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't.-Rhonda Handsome

The phrase "working mother" is redundant.-Jane Sellman

Every time I close the door on reality it comes in through the windows.-Jennifer Unlimited

Whatever women must do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.-Charlotte Whitton

Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.-Caryn Leschen

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.-Jennifer Unlimited

What you permit- you promote. - your Mom


If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.-Catherine

When I was young, I was put in a school for retarded kids for two years before they realized I actually had a hearing loss. And they called ME slow!-Kathy Buckley

I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb . and I'm also not blonde.-Dolly Parton

If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.-Sue Grafton

I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on.-Roseanne Barr

When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. - Elayne Boosler

Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.-Maryon Pearson

In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man- if you want anything done, ask a woman.-Margaret Thatcher

I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.-Gloria Steinem

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house.-Zsa Zsa Gabor

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.-Eleanor Roosevelt

Why buy the cow when you can get the mild for free - Leona Gentile

Flowers - Bubba Jo

To Realize...

TO REALIZE

To realize the value of a sister… ask someone who doesn't have one.

To realize the value of ten years…ask a newly divorced couple.

To realize the value of four years…ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year…ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of nine months…ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize the value of one month…ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week….ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute…ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second…ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond…ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

To realize the value of a friend…lose one.

Time waits for no one…Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

Bill Gates's Rules

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair -- get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.? Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually Have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

George Carlin's Wisdom.

George Carlin's Views on Aging :

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . . . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!


HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets,keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Quotes To Live By

Quotes To Live By:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." – Aristotle

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.'' - William James

How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees." - William Shakespeare

"Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win." - Jonathan Kozol

"Silence is one of the great arts of conversation." - Cicero

"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience - well, that comes from poor judgment." - A.A. Milne

"Before you can do something you must first be something." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." - Benjamin Franklin

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Always be a little kinder than necessary." - James M. Barrie

The beginning of my blog.

To my lovely daughters... This is a new blog for me to share some words of wisdom with you. I wish for you all the best that life can bring. I love you more than anything in the world. I hope you heed some of this advice .....enjoy reading.

Love, Mom.