Return to Top If I Had My Life To Live Over
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back. — Erma Bombeck
Instructions for Life (In 45 Statements)
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
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 dreams.
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. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a person you love to talk to. As you get older, conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a someone who doesn't close their eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. — Unknown
Everyone Needs This List
The most destructive habit: Worry
The greatest joy: Giving
The greatest loss: Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work: Helping others
The ugliest personality trait: Selfishness
The most endangered species: Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource: Young people
The greatest "shot in the arm": Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome: Fear
The most effective sleeping pill: Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease: Excuses
The most powerful force in life: Love
The most dangerous pariah: A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer: The brain
The worst thing to be without: Hope
The deadliest weapon: The tongue
The two most power-filled words: "I Can"
The greatest asset: Faith
The most worthless emotion: Self-pity
The most beautiful attire: A smile
The most prized possession: Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication: Prayer
The most contagious spirit: Enthusiasm
The most important reality in life: God
Everyone needs this list to live by. Share it! — Unknown
Love Along The Way
Walk with awareness, Walk with love,
Walk with awareness, Guided from above.
Every step a prayer, Every step in peace...
Every step in balance, Every step with ease...
Walk gentle and tender, With all of you surrender...
Walk in your power, Softly as a flower.
Walk with the angels, Walk in the light...
Walk with the angels, Fearless through the night...
Every step... Walk gentle...
Give and receive the blessing...
I breathe in what you breathe out...
Remember, Love is connecting us all. — Unknown
Then, plant 4 rows of lettuce;
Let us Obey the Lord, Let us be Loyal,
Let us be true to our Obligations, Let us be unselfish
Finish, with 4 rows of turnip;
Turn up when Needed, Turn up with a Smile,
Turn up with a Vision, Turn up with Determination — Unknown
Cast Out
Dear God, be my redeemer, my internal teacher, my divine physician.
Thank You for your presence in my life.
I surrender to You all I am, all I think, all I feel, and all I have.
I recognize in this moment that Yours is the power to heal and make whole.
You who have the power to work miracles,
You who rule time and space, please take me in Your arms and hold me.
Dear Lord, please lift me up and heal me.
Cast out of my mind all thoughts that are not of You.
Cast out of me all harsh and critical nature.
Cast out of me all violence and all anger.
Cast out of me all demons from my past.
For I would be made new.
I wish to walk so close to You that we might be as one.
I ask for new life, new mind, new body, new spirit.
Dear God, please come into me and release me from this pain. Amen. — Unknown
Give Me, Good Lord
Glorious God, give me grace to amend my life, and to have an eye to my end without begrudging death, which to those who die in you, good Lord, is the gate of a wealthy life.
And give me, good Lord, a humble, lowly, quiet, peaceable, patient, charitable, kind, tender and pitiful mind, in all my works and all my words and all my thoughts, to have a taste of your holy, blessed Spirit.
Give me, good Lord, a full faith, a firm hope, and a fervent charity, a love of you incomparably above the love of myself.
Give me, good Lord, a longing to be with you, not to avoid the calamities of this world, nor so much to attain the joys of heaven, as simply for love of you.
And give me, good Lord, your love and favor, which my love of you, however great it might be, could not deserve were it not for your great goodness.
These things, good Lord, that I pray for, give me your grace to labor for.
Give me, good Lord, the gift of fear: to withdraw from all ill-doing and live quietly in awe of thy eternal majesty.
These are the things for which petition. Grant them for the honor of thy holy name, to which, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, thanksgiving, renown, and lordship for ever and ever. Amen. — Thomas More
Gifts to Live
We beg the all-merciful Father through thee, his only-begotten Son made man for our sake, crucified and glorified for us, to send upon us from his treasure-house the Spirit of sevenfold grace, who rested upon thee in all his fullness:
the spirit of wisdom, enabling us to relish the fruit of the tree of life, which is indeed thyself;
the gift of understanding: to enlighten our perceptions;
the gift of prudence, enabling us to follow in thy footsteps;
the gift of strength: to withstand our adversary's onslaught;
the gift of knowledge: to distinguish good from evil by the light of thy holy teaching;
the gift of piety: to clothe ourselves with charity and mercy;
I want to beg you as much as I can, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek answers that cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to love everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. — Rainer Maria Rilke
Fifteen Childhood Characteristics
(That Sometimes Get Lost In Adults)
1. Seek out things that are fun to do
2. Jump from one interest to another
3. Be curious, eager to try new things
4. Smile and laugh a lot
5. Experience and express emotions freely
6. Be creative and innovative
7. Be physically active
8. Constantly growing mentally and physically
9. Risk often — do not be afraid to keep trying something that you aren't initially good at and don't be afraid to fail
10. Rest when your body tells you to
11. Learn enthusiastically
12. Dream and imagine
13. Believe in the impossible
14. Generally don't worry about things
15. Be passionate — Unknown
I Asked For — God Gave
I asked for Strength… And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom… And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity… And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage… And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love… And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors…And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted… I received everything I needed. — Unknown
Native American Commandments
1. Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.
2. Remain close to the Great Spirit.
3. Show great respect for your fellow beings.
4. Work together for the benefit of all mankind.
5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
6. Do what you know to be right.
7. Look after the well-being of mind and body.
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
9. Be truthful and honest at all times.
10. Take responsibility for your actions.
Maturity
Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction.
Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of the 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 right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so".
Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities; then they do nothing.
Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are the confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that somehow never materialize.
Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which should be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference. — Unknown
Prayer of Life
I bless this day and give thanks for my life.
(repeat 3 times)
I forgive completely all people who have hurt me.
(repeat 3 times)
I ask all people I have hurt to please forgive me.
(repeat 3 times)
I apologize to myself for my wrongs to myself and others.
(repeat 3 times)
I apologize for all my hurts and wrongs to all life forms.
(repeat 3 times)
With this release comes freedom, peace, power and continually renewing life. — Unknown
Promise Yourself
... To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind;
... To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet;
... To make all your friends feel that there is something in them;
... To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true;
... To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;
... To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own;
... To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;
... To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile;
... To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others;
... To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble;
... To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds;
... To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you. — C.D. Larson
Aspects of Life
The adventure of life is to learn.
The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change.
The challenge of life is to overcome.
The essence of life is to care.
The opportunity of life is to serve.
The secret of life is to dare.
The spice of life is to befriend.
The beauty of life is to give. — William Arthur Ward
My Symphony
To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages,
with open heart;
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony. — William Ellery Channing
Prayer after Holy Communion
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.
You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen. — Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
May You Always Have An Angel By Your Side
May you always have an angel by your side
Watching out for you in all the things you do
Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days
Finding ways for your wishes and dreams
to take you to beautiful places
Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun
Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide
May you always have love and comfort and courage
And may you always have an angel by your side
May you always have an angel by your side
Someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
Inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all
In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel, may the miles
be a thousand times more lovely than lonely
May they give you the kind of gifts that never, ever end:
someone wonderful to love and a dear friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you warm
And may you always have an angel by your side — Unknown
Maxims For Life
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
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 dreams.
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 slow but think quick.
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. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a person you love to talk to. As you get older, conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray — there's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a man who doesn't close his eyes when you kiss him.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. — Unknown
On This Day
Mend a quarrel.
Search out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss suspicions, and replace them with trust.
Write a love letter.
Share some treasure.
Give a soft answer.
Encourage youth.
Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.
Keep a promise.
Find the time.
Forego a grudge.
Forgive an enemy.
Listen.
Apologize if you were wrong.
Try to understand.
Flout envy.
Examine your demands on others.
Think first of someone else.
Appreciate, be kind, be gentle.
Laugh a little more.
Deserve confidence.
Take up arms against malice.
Decry complacency.
Express your gratitude.
Worship your God.
Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love.
Speak it again.
Speak it still again.
Speak it still once again. — Unknown
Only What I Need
God seldom, gives me what I want, but gives me what I need.
I ask for wealth, He gives me health.
For love, He gives me seeds. "Go sow the seeds", He seems to say,
And love will grow for you,
And health will be the wealth you need to share the loves you grew."
And when I pray for worldly goods and comforts of a king,
He fills my heart with little joys, For simple, common things; And when I beg for things I see
Of envy to my mind — He guides my steps to happy souls Who are completely blind.
So, now, I just come unto Him In simple, humble prayer And only ask He keep me safe From harm and life's despair.
For He has shown that He will not Reward my prayers of greed.
And will not give me what I want, but only what I need. — Michael Dubina
Lessons That Can Be Learned From A Dog
1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
4. When it's in your best interest, always practice obedience.
5. Enjoy it when someone wants to rub your tummy.
6. Take naps and always stretch before rising.
7. Run, romp, and play daily.
8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
9. Be loyal.
10. Never pretend to be something you're not.
11. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
13. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
14. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
15. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
16. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
17. When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
18. No matter how often you are criticized, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends. — Unknown
Prayer To Practice The Golden Rule
May I be an enemy to no one and the friend of what abides eternally.
May I never quarrel with those nearest me, and be reconciled quickly if I should.
May I never plot evil against others, and if anyone plot evil against me,
may I escape unharmed and without the need to hurt anyone else.
May I love, seek and attain only what is good.
May I desire happiness for all and harbor envy for none.
May I never find joy in the misfortune of one who has wronged me.
May I never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make reparation.
May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent.
May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other.
May I, insofar as I can, give all necessary help to my friends and to all who are in need.
May I never fail a friend in trouble.
May I be able to soften the pain of the grief stricken and give them comforting words.
May I respect myself.
May I always maintain control of my emotions.
May I habituate myself to be gentle, and never be angry with others because of circumstances.
May I never discuss the wicked or what they have done, but know good people and follow in their footsteps. — Eusebius of Caesarea
Excellence
Excellence can be attained if you…
Care more than others think is wise.
Risk more than others think is safe.
Dream more than others think is practical
Expect more than others think is possible. — Unknown
My Wish For You
This is my wish for you:
comfort on difficult days,
smiles when sadness intrudes,
rainbows to follow the clouds,
laughter to kiss your lips,
sunsets to warm your heart,
hugs when spirits sag,
beauty for your eyes to see,
friendships to brighten your being,
faith so you can believe,
patience to accept the truth,
confidence for when you doubt,
courage to know yourself,
love to complete your life. — Unknown
Life's Little Instructions
1. Sing in the shower
2. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated
3. Watch a sunrise at least once a year
4. Leave toilet seat in the down position
5. Never refuse homemade brownies
6. Strive for excellence, not for perfection
7. Plant a tree on your birthday
8. Learn three clean jokes
9. Return borrowed vehicles with gas tank full
10. Compliment three people everyday
11. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them
12. Leave everything a little better than you found it
13. Keep it simple
14. Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures
15. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know
16. Floss your teeth
17. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it
18. Be forgiving of yourself and others
19. Over tip breakfast waitresses
20. Say "Thank You" a lot
21. Say "Please" a lot
22. Avoid negative people
23. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yard
24. Wear polished shoes
25. Remember other peoples' birthdays
27. Commit yourself to constant improvement
28. Carry jumper cables in your trunk
29. Have a firm handshake.
30. Send lots of valentine cards
31. Sign mail "Someone who thinks you're terrific"
32. Look people in the eye
33. Be the first to say "Hello"
34. Use the good silver
35. Return all the things your borrow
36. Make new friends, but cherish the old ones
37. Keep secrets
38. Sing in a choir
39. Plant flowers every spring
40. Have a dog
41. Always accept an outstretched hand
42. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life. — Unknown
An Eschatological Laundry List
1. This is it.
2. There are no hidden meanings.
3. You can't get there from here, and besides there is no place to go.
4. We are already dying, and we'll be dead a long time.
5. Nothing lasts!
6. There is no way of getting all you want.
7. You can't have anything unless you let go of it.
8. You only get to keep what you give away.
9. There is no particular reason why you lost out on some things.
10. The world is not necessarily just. Being good often does not pay off and there's no compensation for misfortune.
11. You have the responsibility to do your best nonetheless.
12. It's a random universe to which we bring meaning.
13. You really don't control anything.
14. You can't make anyone love you.
15. No one is any stronger or any weaker than anyone else.
16. Everyone is, in his own way, vulnerable.
17. There are no great men or women.
18. If you have a hero, look again; you have diminished yourself in some way.
19. Everyone lies, cheats, pretends. (Yes, you too, and most certainly myself.)
20. All evil is potentially vitality in need of transformation.
21. All of you is worth something if you will only own it.
22. Progress is an illusion.
23. Evil can be displaced but never eradicated, as all solutions breed new problems.
24. Yet it is necessary to keep struggling toward solution.
25. Childhood is a nightmare.
26. But it is so very hard to be an on-your-own, take-care-of-yourself- cause-there-is-no-one-else-to-do-it-for-you grown-up.
27. Each of us is ultimately alone.
28. The most important things each person must do for self.
29. Love is not enough, but it sure helps.
30. We have only ourselves, and one another. That may not be much, but that's all there is.
31. How strange, that so often, it all seems worth it.
32. We must live within the ambiguity of partial freedom, partial power, and partial knowledge.
33. All important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient data.
34. Yet we are responsible for everything we do.
35. No excuses will be accepted.
36. You can run, but you can't hide.
37. It is most important to run out of scapegoats.
38. We must learn the power of living with our helplessness.
39. The only victory lies is in surrender to oneself.
40. All of the significant battles are waged within the self.
41. You are free to do whatever you like. You need only face the consequences.
42. What do you know for sure...anyway?
43. Learn to forgive yourself, again and again and again and again. — Sheldon B. Kopp
Principles for Better Living
Keep it simple.
Stop trying to please everybody.
Start pleasing yourself.
Cultivate gratitude.
Carve out an hour a day for solitude.
Don't be afraid of your passion.
Cherish your dreams.
Express love every day.
Keep your house picked up.
Don't over schedule.
If you don't love it, live without it.
Strive for realistic deadlines.
Never make a promise you can't keep.
Allow an extra half hour for everything you do.
Create quiet surroundings at home and at work.
Go to bed at nine o'clock twice a week.
Always carry something interesting to read.
Breathe — deeply and often.
Move — walk, dance, run, find a sport you enjoy.
Drink pure spring water. Lots of it.
Eat only when you are hungry.
If it's not delicious, don't eat it.
Be instead of do.
Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal.
Laugh more often.
Luxuriate in your senses.
Always opt for comfort.
Let Mother Nature nurture.
Don't answer the telephone during dinner.
Stay away from negative people.
Don't squander precious resources: time, creative energy, emotion.
Nurture friendships.
Approach problems as challenges.
Honor your aspirations.
Set achievable goals.
Surrender expectations.
Savor beauty.
Don't worry, be happy.
Remember: happiness is a living emotion.
Exchange security for serenity.
Care for your soul.
Search for your authentic self until you find him/her.
Begin and end each day with prayer, meditation, or reflection. — Unknown
A Creed To Live
Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love. The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you're going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. — Nancye Sims
Philosophy Of Life
Think freely
Practice patience
Smile often
Savor special moments
Make new friends
Rediscover old ones
Tell those that you love that you do
Feel deeply
Discard worry
Forget trouble
Forgive an enemy
Keep a promise
Take a chance
Try something new
Reach out
Have good ideas
Make some mistakes
Learn from them Be crazy
Count your blessings
Observe miracles — make them happen
Pick some daisies
Share them
See a sunrise
Listen to the rain
Look for rainbows
Gaze at the stars
See beauty everywhere
Laugh heartily
Spread joy
Reminisce
Give
Trust
Give in
Slow down
Let someone in
Be soft sometimes
Hope
Grow
Work Hard
Be Wise
Try to understand
Cry when you need to
Trust life
Have Faith
Enjoy wonder
Comfort a friend
Believe in your self — Unknown
Love Takes Time
Love takes time. It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing and crying...
Love never promises instant gratification, only ultimate fulfillment.
Love means believing in someone, in something. It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.
Satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment are by-products of dedicated love. They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves; to whom giving is more important than receiving.
Love is doing everything you can to help others build whatever dreams they have.
Love involves much careful and active listening. It is doing whatever needs to be done, and saving whatever will promote the other's happiness, security, and well-being. Sometimes, love hurts.
Love is on a constant journey to what others need. It must be attentive, caring and open, both to what others say and to what others cannot say.
Love says no with empathy and great compassion.
Love is firm, but when needed it must be tender.
When others have tried and failed, love is the hand in yours in your moments of discouragement and disappointment.
Love is reliable.
Love is a choice and commitment to others' true and lasting happiness. It is dedicated to growth and fulfillment. Love is not selfish.
Love forgives, knowing the intentions are good.
Love does not attach conditions... Genuine love is always a free gift.
Love realizes and accepts that there will be disagreements and disturbing emotions... There may be times when miles lay between, but love is a commitment. It believes, and endures all things.
Love encourages freedom of self. Love shares positive and negative reactions to warm and cold feelings.
Love, intimate love, will never reject others. It is the first to encourage and the last to condemn.
Love is a commitment to growth, happiness, and fulfillment of one another. — Unknown
Questions to Ask Yourself, Regularly Someone once observed that you learn more by the questions you ask than by the answers you give. Call it Socratic learning, if you will, but I find that asking questions of myself helps keep me on track. Here are ten I ask regularly: ~~What am I resisting?
The seeds of growth lie in your resistance to what is new, unfamiliar, or unpleasant. All too often, the very things we resist most are the things that force us to grow the most. So, be attentive to those subtle gut-tightening signals that hint of an opportunity for learning. ~~What is the lesson here?
There's a second step that is needed to reinforce the insight gained by asking the first question. In order to really benefit, we have to actually seek out the lesson, demonstrate that we really want to hear, and be willing to follow the often-subtle guidance that comes. ~~Have I been here before?
Often our most pressing issues are thinly disguised versions of problems we've failed to solve in the past. Different names and faces maybe, but the same underneath, destined not to go away until we meet and resolve them once and for all. If your answer to this question is, yes, then maybe it's time to get to the bottom of the issue and solve it! ~~Am I losing energy to this?
We pay a price for every negative thought we entertain, and it's measured in decreased energy, heightened depression, reduced immune function, and sometimes serious illness. Although you may believe otherwise, we have to reach the place where anger, frustration, worry, and criticism have no place in our experience. Until we do, we are losing energy, diluting our focus, and rendering ourselves vulnerable. ~~Am I holding on to something I need to let go of?
One of the most difficult tasks of this life consists in letting go-of our attachments, of ego, of our need to be right, and ultimately, of this life. You cannot fly unless you are willing to relinquish your firm footing on earth; flying requires that sort of faith, and commitment. The surprising thing is that, when we really let go, we begin to grow. ~~Am I in the present?
Every moment you spend regretting the past or worrying about the future is a moment of the present, lost. Yes, we need to complete the past, wind up our unfinished business, and be attentive to trends that portend of future events, but we can take action only in the present. So, that's where your full attention needs to be, and staying in the present is a full time job. ~~What do I need to do now?
To act or not to act, that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to take action against a sea of troubles and so by doing, prolong them, or to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous inaction and so gain clarity. (Shakespeare would sue for what I've done to Hamlet's timeless prose) Put the question differently: is there a NEED for action now? Often, we act because we're afraid that, if we don't, things will get worse. The truth is that deliberate inaction is action, and it is often a way to allow a cloudy situation to become clear. ~~Who's in control here?
True or false?: It's important to be in control of your life. Control can be a big issue for some people, especially if they feel they don't have it. So, granted, it's perfectly reasonable to want to feel in control. Letting go of the past, staying in the present, and taking action (including no action) are all ways to develop a sense that you are in control. But, let me suggest that there is a step beyond control. It is to recognize that, ultimately, you are NOT in control-that you are always subject to a higher authority. Paradoxically, this recognition and your acknowledgement of it can free you from the need to always be IN control. ~~What is my responsibility here?
Have you noticed how some people have a need to involve others in their problems? If it's your boss, your significant other, or your child, it's normal to conclude that your have to do something. But, that something doesn't mean becoming part of the problem! Your responsibility, in this case, is to maintain a level of detachment that will enable you to see the situation clearly, and this clarity pertains not only to the solution, but to the extent that you should be involved in the problem in the first place. ~~Am I at peace with this?
Do you know when you're at peace with something? Chances are, it's when you can look at an issue, person, or problem and feel no charge, no subtle or sudden surge of emotion. But peace is something more. It's about balance, an inner certainty that you are untouched by it, him, or her. The peace-check is a key element in gaining closure, in ascertaining that the situation is complete. — Unknown
Do's and Don't's of Respect Do:
Begin each day with a promise to respect others
Sit down and talk quietly
Listen carefully to what others say
Look for things to appreciate in others
Give praise out loud for the good you see in others
Tell others they are good, good enough, and lovable
Tell others they are worthwhile and important to you
Speak in a quiet voice even when you disagree
Pass up chances to insult, attack, or criticize
Let others have responsibility for their lives while you take responsibility for yours Don't:
Look for things to criticize
Make fun or laugh at others
Make faces or roll your eyes
Tell others how to run their lives
Insult others
Ignore others
Put people down in front of others
Act superior
Sneer
Tell others they're weird or crazy
Say others are bad, not good enough, or unlovable
Say others don't belong, or you wish they were dead
Call others names like fat, ugly, stupid, or worthless — Unknown
A Prescription for Hope and Freedom Thoughts I can choose to remember ...
1. Learn from my mistakes as well as those of others, and then let them go.
2. Only my own thoughts hurt me and only my own forgiveness sets me free.
3. The purpose of my relationships is to join, not separate.
4. Ask myself the question daily: Am I here to love or am I here to judge?
5. Remind myself that I am a spiritual being.
6. See no value in punishing myself with my thoughts.
7. Be willing to see the light and not the lampshade in others.
8. Be willing to see no shadow in anyone's past, including my own.
9. Remember that forgiveness is the greatest healer of all.
10. See no value in hurting others or myself with either my words or thoughts.
11. I may not be able to control the outside world, but I can control the thoughts in my own mind.
12. There is no enemy, no one is to blame.
13. Staying in the present prevents my getting stuck in the fear of the past or future.
14. Choose to see others as either loving, or as fearful and giving a call for help.
15. Be willing to ask each other for help, rather than attacking each other.
16. The best way to prevent burnout is to let go of all of my judgments.
17. Resist the temptation to gossip and spread rumors.
18. Be willing to be vulnerable.
19. Let go of any need to control others.
20. Others don't have to change in order for me to be happy.
21. Trust that change can ultimately have positive, rather than negative, results.
22. Accept responsibility for my own happiness.
23. Choose peace of mind as my own goal each and every day.
24. Forgiving others and myself totally and with no exceptions, is the key to inner peace, happiness, hope and freedom.
25. Be willing to meet for a short time daily with family, colleagues, or friends with the motivation of focusing on one of these thoughts throughout the day. — Gerald G. Jampolsky and Diane V. Cirincione
