Never let go
Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.
He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
Please pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through.
Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they got them. Also, it is co important that we are not selfish to receive the blessings of these messages without forwarding them to someone else. Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them too enough to not let them go.
The Journey
From where I started to where I am today
The journey has been long & tiring
from nothing to some thing I am today
It’s not been an easy journey.
Tried with luck; Tried with hard work
Tried with destiny too
But nothing worked for me.
It’s not been an easy journey.
Found love but lost love too
Found friends but lost them too
Found money, even lost that one too
But the journey continued
Today I stand facing the world
It’s beckoning me to start all over again
While I miss my love
With whom I could start the journey again
I called up my love to join me again
In the journey of life that never concludes
Loser!! She called me
The lesson of journey never concludes.
I want to move on without my love
Even without my friends & money
As life moves on; I move on with it
To a journey that never concludes
Walking alone on this path
With guts and determination
I want to continue the journey again
A journey where people would remember me
As the man who won million hearts
Of carrots eggs and beans
Of carrots eggs and beans
A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so
hard for her. She didn't how she was going to make it and wanted to give
up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that just as
one problem was solved a new one arose. Her father, a chef, took her to
the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high
fire. Soon the pots came to a boil.
In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he
placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a
word. The daughter waited impatiently, wondering what he was doing.
After about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and
placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a
bowl.
Turning to her he asked: "Darling, what do you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. He brought her closer and
asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the
shell, she
observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.
She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked: "What does
it mean Father?" He explained that each of them had faced the same
adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being
subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg
had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid
interior.
But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became
hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique however. After they were
in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you," he
asked his
daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are
you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
How about you? Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and
adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Are you
the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart? Were you a fluid
spirit,
but after a death, a breakup, a divorce, or a layoff have you become
hardened and stiff? Your shell looks the same, but are you bitter and
tough with a stiff spirit and heart? Or are you like the coffee bean?
Let there be spaces
Ive seen a lot of blogs on love. Most of the blogs, in fact, deal with love. In one meaning of the word, or the other. There are those that express love from a singular point of view, there are those that celebrate love with gay abandon.( pun?what pun) Love is a hot and sizzling topic indeed. Never goes out of fashion.
You even have a whole day dedicated to love. Valentines day, of course. And who better to extol the virtues of love than the makers of maudlin cards. Commercialisation. But really, can you find fault with it? When there is a demand, some one definitely will step up to fill that need.
Theres nothing wrong with falling in love. Nothing very difficult either. The trouble is maintenance. Unfortunately love does not come with free service and warranty, or unlimited mileage for two years. Take it or leave it. Most people prefer to take it.The breakdowns..they come later. We’ll handle them as and when they pop up.
I haven’t seen a single blog that says.. respect the personal space of ur partner, or even something that comes remotely close. Initially you cant ever have enuff of each other. Later on u complain about ur partner getting under your skin or on to your nerves.
Heres a little something that every person who is in love, or is planning to join the bandwagon, should read. It’s a poem by Khalil Gibran. If u love a person, it goes without saying that you must essentially have an equal measure of respect too for him or her. When respect joins hands with love, you learn to accept a person with all his/.her faults.Give each other space…coz sometimes love means …..letting go!
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
THREE LITTLE WORDS CAN MAKE HELL OF A DIFFERENCE IN ONE'S LIFE
There are many things that we can do to perk up and strengthen our interpersonal relationships. Yet the most effective involves the saying of just three words. When spoken or conveyed, these statements have the power to forge new friendships, deepen old ones and restore relationships that have cooled. The following three-word phrases can enrich every relationship.
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>I'll Be There: If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase "I'll be there." Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.
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>I Miss You: Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other "I miss you." This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how ecstatic you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."
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>I Respect You: Respect is another way of showing love. Respect conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become close friends. This applies to all inter-personal relationships.
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>Maybe You're Right: This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to "maybe your right" is the humility of admitting, "Maybe I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is cement the other person's point of view. They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner.
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>Please Forgive Me: Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
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>I Thank You: Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.
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>Count On Me: A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating you can "count on me."
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>Let Me Help: The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in and help.
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>I Understand You: People become closer and enjoy each other more if they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know in so many little ways that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. This applies to any relationship.
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>I Love You: Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person's deepest emotional needs; the need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your family, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words. "I love you."
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>And how about "God Bless You?"
After a While
After a while you learn the subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and
Company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head
Up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult,
Not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure . . .
That you really are strong,
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and you learn . . .
One More Day...
Each time we say goodbye there are hand squeezes, smiles and knowing looks. Because each time we say goodbye we know it could be for the last time. We don’t talk about it and haven’t since that sad day in the hospital after he learned that his throat cancer could not be cured and would soon take his life. But there is an awareness with each other that goes beyond any eloquent words or exaggerated gestures. I know, he knows and together we know. I know we only have whatever we have right now and for that I am thankful. It doesn’t seem like much but since it’s all I have I cherish every little opportunity so that when all that’s left is memories they will be real. I no longer take for granted his nods and sighs so that I’ll feel their warmth when all warmth is gone. My father and I share a moment together each day as the clock ticks by and time marches on to the end of his life. The doctors don’t know if he’ll have six months or six hours. They have dashed our hopes and magnified our fears with facts that I wish I never knew. With kind and gentle words they explained that they had failed. They are not to blame, for they fought alongside of us with determination and a valiant effort to beat the odds. They are not to blame for the crippling prognosis that we now face. And face it we do, with courage we thought we had but never had to test. My father has been a strong, independent man and I have reeled from the news that anything could stop his indomitable spirit. Although his lifestyle can probably be blamed for his suffering now, it doesn’t matter anymore. In my childish way, him dying just wasn’t something I really thought would happen. He has shaped his life like a piece of pliable clay – always making the most of whatever he had and providing for his brood to the fullest. He has always stood up to be counted when it meant something to him and still does. He never stood on the sidelines of life as I often admonish myself not to do. And he still doesn’t. Incapacitated as he is, he still exerts his opinions, leadership and direction as frequently as possible. It’s hard for those of us caring for him to slip anything past him. In spite of the prospects, my father is a living example of how to live your life. He only buckles under when there is too much fuss made around him. He resents sympathy and sad faces that have an appearance of a death watch. For him, there is work to be done, messages to be relayed, business to put in order and endless instructions to everyone capable of carrying out a task. As children we read the lists posted on the fridge with instructions for what might otherwise have been a lazy summer afternoon. Today, unable to use his voice, he uses pen and paper to once again keep the every day operation of his life in order. Strong as he is at times, the future is predestined and time does march on. At times I ponder how I will deal with the upcoming events which are both predictable and yet unpredictable as life always is. I contemplate losing this very special person in my life and I wonder why it has taken a serious illness to make me realize what I have. What about the other people I hold dear and whose loss would be devastating – my husband, my son, my mother, my siblings, friends etc? Perhaps a seemingly healthy and happy young person gives me the impression that life is timeless and there’s always tomorrow. Or maybe it’s the unrealistic belief that since something tragic is already in progress I may be immune to a second, or worse, a third sad event. So now I face what, at times, seems to be the harshest test of all. Besides the loss of an important figure in my life, losing my father will be the first break in our family chain. With all of his eight children, my mother and seventeen grandchildren still living we have avoided the inevitable. It makes me stop and think how lucky I have been to have reached my forties with my immediate family still intact. It is clear to me that what I have is what I have – and all I have. I have today and I have it to share with those I love. It may be a sobering fact to some and even to others a pessimistic attitude, but to me it’s a cause for celebration. Another day of sunshine or rain, green grass or fresh snow, babies crying or children laughing, flowers blooming or blossoms fading. Whatever it is, I have it now and this is really all any of us have. I am so grateful to have this day – one more day - with my father, my mother and everyone else I love. I am so fortunate to be able to give and receive, to share and be shared with, to love and be loved … one more day. Afterword:
At my father’s last check up in February 2000 his doctors cannot find any trace of cancer. He celebrated is 78th birthday on October 6, 1999 and 50th wedding anniversary on November 25, 1999. He lives a busy and only slightly restricted life with my mother at their home in Hornby, Ontario. His eighteenth grandchild turned two years old in May 2000.
'What did I do to deserve this"
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me". Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mum!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mum, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies, "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He\'ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
I hope your day is a "piece of cake!"
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance……
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"How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mum!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mum, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies, "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
I hope your day is a "piece of cake!"
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance……
Wow!
Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.
All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.
But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!"
I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.
Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?"
One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.
No matter what the situation, a fascinated "Wow!" will always beat a frustrated "Oh, no."
So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a "Wow!" experience. The "Wow!" response always works.
M...
She knew it wouldn't work. How many times had she tried to get through to him and he had stared straight ahead, not seeing. John was a kid - her kid, and he was autistic. It wasn't that he was ill or even extraordinarily deficient. It was just that he was in his own world far, far away from the noise of the ordinary world. She'd often wondered if he may have developed a genetic predisposition for being a recluse like his mother, someone who prefers quiet to crowds. But blame of any kind wasn't going to change him. On this day she had decided that it was the right time to try to make him see her. "John?" she questioned yet another time. A blink. Was that a grateful show of emotion? A true reward for all the caring she felt and showed him on a minute-by-minute basis? Could be, or could not be. Could be, or could not be. This fragment played itself through her wondering mind every day. Something had happened, 'though, yesterday. John had said "M.." The beginning of something, something which connotated a hand-holding, nurturing something. An "M" for "Magic" to her ears: an "M" for "Mom." And this is why today, she had made up her mind to see his world, so he'd see her.
She sat with him at the beach. They both stared out at the water on a hot, July mid-afternoon day, unseeingly. She talked on and on and on, determined. "Tomorrow, your grandma is coming to visit. Do you want to wear your new watch that she gave you for your birthday?" Nothing. Just dreamy, far-away eyes, which could not pretend what they were not. "You know, I was thinking we could go see that new Walt Disney movie tonight." Breath flowed in and out of John's body as if health was abundant in the boy, 'though it was clear reason was lacking. "You know I love you John, you know this..." She trailed off. It was hopeless. She couldn't enter his world, and he couldn't enter hers. They were destined to never know each other. She felt guilty about her resignation, which brought love into her heart for her son. She got up from the towel and kneeled in front of John. "John, I know you came into this world a little different from most. But you're my kid, and you're special to me. Very special." Nothing. She sat and faced the water in full resignation, with a sigh of sorrow to prove it. She watched the parents playing on the shoreline with their kids and their "Boogie Boards" or protectfully watching their kids jump waves. "I feel the same longing they do. I just want to love and be loved," the mother said. "Why can't I have what they have? Don't I deserve it more than they do?" She spoke selfishly for once, in the luxury of knowing her son couldn't hear. She kept looking straight ahead, suddenly lost in her own thoughts. The vision of the ocean blurred in a strange way because of the day's heat, and she focused on the dunes of Welfleet which were clear and white across the bay. All sounds seemed to cease during this reverie of thoughts about her son, and her mind grew peaceful. She didn't hear the parents shouting to their kids to get better grips or be careful anymore. She was in her own world. And that's when two miracles happened. First, she realized in that personal silence, so apart from everything else, that that was the world her son was in. This meant that he could be aware of her sitting next to him, as she presently was. This meant that he could even know sometimes of her care and proclamations of love toward him. The second miracle was an answer to the first. She looked over at John, who sat with the same distant look on his face, but with tears streaming down both eyes. From his mouth, came a syllable. "M.." This time she was sure what it meant.
Faith.........
The fields were parched and brown from lack of rain, and the crops lay wilting from thirst. People were anxious and irritable as they searched thesky for any sign of relief. Days turned into arid weeks. No rain came.
The ministers of the local churches called for an hour of prayer on the town square the following Saturday. They requested that everyone bring an object of faith for inspiration.
At high noon on the appointed Saturday the townspeople turned out en-masse filling the square with anxious faces and hopeful hearts. The ministers were touched to see the variety of objects clutched in prayerful hands - holy books, crosses, and rosaries.
When the hour ended, as if on magical command, a soft rain began to fall.
Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured objects high in gratitude and praise.
From the middle of the crowd one faith symbol seemed to overshadow all the others: A small nine-year-old child had brought an umbrella. When you do something in life, have complete faith that you will definitely succeed.
Never do anything with half-mind.
FAITH is a great foundation to build your life......
How to Keep Going Even When the Going Gets Tough
Times of India article
[ SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2004 12:00:51 AM ]
Every now and then we may find ourselves faced with a challenge - finishing a creative project, growing a business, moving through a job or life transition, evolving to the next level in a career.
Each of us, at some point find can ourselves stuck and wondering when we will get through to the other side of a challenge. Here are a few ways for you to keep going even when the going gets tough!
Have fun. Yes, this is a simple, yet powerful, suggestion. When was the last time you had fun? When was the last time you had a good solid laugh? Oftentimes, when we are working on a project that is really important to us and that has a deadline, we somehow misplace our sense of humour.
Things take on a serious tone because we are so focused on moving forward.
Take a moment to have fun and to laugh. You may find that keeping things light will help you reconnect to the big picture and you'll find yourself moving forward on your journey.
Connect with your community. Tap into other like-minded and positive people and be ready for a shift in perspective. Make calls, write to an old friend, create an advisory board or an R&D team for yourself and project. There is no reason to do everything alone all the time.
If you are feeling drained, now might be a good time to connect with your community and people that care about you.
Indulge yourself. Try being extra kind to yourself those times you are stuck. Try giving yourself a reward or bribe! Take yourself to a movie in the middle of the day.
Call in sick to work for the day so you can pamper yourself and recharge your batteries. Schedule a massage. Sometimes a change in environment or a different activity is just the thing you need to jumpstart yourself.
Start a victory log. Anytime you receive praise, put it somewhere or in a book you create specifically for this purpose.
Everyone needs a little 'pick me up' every now and then and reading about your accomplishments and how people have praised you and your work is guaranteed to make you feel better.
Make an accomplishment list for yourself. You have accomplished lots in your life and work. When was the last time you took the time to acknowledge yourself?
Take a moment to make a list of the things you are most proud of accomplishing in your life. This simple gesture and reflection may give you that extra boost of energy you need to move through your current challenge.
Try an attitude of gratitude. Take a moment to see what is going well about the project you are working on.
See what is in your life, rather than focusing on what is missing or lacking. This can be like a breath of fresh air when we are concentrated on getting a task completed.
Break down an overwhelming project into bite-sized pieces. Select one action on a daily basis that moves you forward. The Great American Novel gets written, one page at a time.
Pick something that you can do in a specific time frame that has a definitive beginning, middle and end.
There is immense satisfaction in taking action that creates a direct result. And when we are working on a long-term project, simple linear actions can give us the sense of forward momentum we may need.
Do something for someone else. Random acts of kindness can not only help others, but can help you too. The key here is to give with an open hand and heart and not out of a sense of duty or 'should'.
In being of service to others, we gain perspective on the difficulties we may currently be experiencing.
Focus on the process, not the end result. You'll have a marvellous future if you live well in today. What would like to create in your today?
And one of my favourite ways of getting unstuck comes from the comedian Milton Berle: If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
Because everyone can use a little inspiration now and then, here are some examples of people who kept on going, even when the going was tough. And many of us have benefited from what they created with their gifts and talents:
The Beatles were turned down by ten recording companies before Capitol took them on as clients. They kept knocking on doors until the right one opened. Their music has now touched billions of lives.
Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old, and didn't read until he was seven. His teacher described him as 'mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams.' Einstein reshaped our perception of how the Universe operates.
Before he was elected to the presidency, Abraham Lincoln lost nine public elections, declared bankruptcy twice, and weathered a nervous breakdown and the death of a fiance. He is quoting as saying: 'You cannot fail unless you quit.'
Babe Ruth, famous for setting a home run record, also holds the record for strikeouts.
Harrison Ford played a bellboy in his first Columbia picture, 1966's Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, and a studio executive told him, "You ain't got it, kid," the 'it' being star quality. Ford laughs at the story now.
In the 1950's, one of the best ways struggling new talent could start on the road to fame and fortune was to appear on a nationally televised program called the Ted Mack Amateur Hour.
A singer from Tennessee tried out for the show, but failed the audition. Today few people under 50 remember the Ted Mack Amateur Hour or any of the 'winners' of the audition the singer failed, but every year the legend of the young man from Tennessee, Elvis Presley, grows.
Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none of them worked out, his assistant complained, "All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing."
Edison replied confidently, "Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb."
Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for his lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
The popular Chicken Soup for the Soul book was rejected by 140 publishers. One publisher said 'yes' and the successful Chicken Soup series was born.
Words are very Powerful
There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there, A verbal wound can be worse than physical one."
