Net Miles Of Smiles

A customer at Morris’ Gourmet Grocery marveled at the proprietor’s quick wit and intelligence.

“Tell me, Morris, what makes you so smart?”

“I wouldn’t share my secret with just anyone,” Morris replies, lowering his voice so the other shoppers won’t hear, “But since you’re a good and faithful customer, I’ll let you in it. Fish heads, you eat enough of them, you’ll be positively brilliant.”

“You sell them here?” the customer asks.

“Only $4 apiece,” says Morris.

The customer buys three. A week later, he’s back in the store complaining that the fish heads were disgusting and he isn’t any smarter.

“You didn’t eat enough,” says Morris.

The customer goes home with 20 more fish heads. Two weeks later, he’s back and this time he’s really angry.

“Hey, Morris,” he says, “You’re selling me fish heads for $4 a piece when I just found out I can buy the whole fish for $2… You’re ripping me off!”

“You see?” says Morris. “You’re smarter already.”

Comments (0) Aug 04 2008

Lessons to learn from the hare and the tortoise

Author Unknown

Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster. They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed o­n a route and started off the race. The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he’d sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep. The tortoise plodding o­n overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ. The hare woke up and realized that he’d lost the race. The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race.

This is the version of the story that we’ve all grown up with….!

But then recently, someone told me a more interesting version of this
story. It continues…

The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching. He realized that he’d lost the race o­nly because he had been overconfident, careless and lax. If he had not taken things for granted, there’s no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles.

The moral of the story???

Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady.

If you have two people in your organisation, o­ne slow, methodical and reliable, and the other fast and still reliable at what he does, the fast and reliable chap will consistently climb the organisational ladder faster than the slow, methodical chap.

It’s good to be slow and steady; but it’s better to be fast and reliable. But the story doesn’t end here. The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there’s no way he can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted. He thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but o­n a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a couple of kilometres o­n the other side of the river.

The hare sat there wondering what to do. In the meantime the tortoise
trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued
walking and finished the race.

The moral of the story?

First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency.

In an organisation, if you are a good speaker, make sure you create opportunities to give presentations that enable the senior management to notice you. If your strength is analysis, make sure you do some sort of research, make a report and send it upstairs. Working to your strengths will not o­nly get you noticed, but will also create opportunities for growth and advancement.

The story still hasn’t ended.

The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends
and they did some thinking together. Both realized that the last race
could have been run much better. So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time.

They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare o­n his back. O­n the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they’d felt earlier.

The moral of the story?

It’s good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you’re able to work in a team and harness each other’s core competencies, you’ll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you’ll do poorly and someone else does well.

Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership. There are more lessons to be learnt from this story.

Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The
hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure.
The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard
as he could. In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort. Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different. And sometimes it is appropriate to do both.
The hare and the tortoise also learnt another vital lesson. When we stop
competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.

To sum up, the story of the hare and tortoise teaches us many things.

Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and
steady; work to your competencies; pooling resources and working as a
team will always beat individual performers; never give up when faced
with failure; and finally, compete against the situation - not against a rival.
———————————————-
Winners Never Quit … Quitters Never Win
———————————————-

Always ask God to give you what you deserve…
Not what you desire…
Your desires may be a few,
But you deserve a lot…..

Comments (0) Aug 04 2008

By: Kathy Whirity

The lyrics to the old song kept replaying in my mind: “We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun, but the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time.”

Bill and I were taking our evening walk. The weather was predictably hot and muggy for this July night. Children were out and about; playing ball, some riding bikes, others racing by on motorized scooters, and older teens hung out on corners enjoying the summer night and each other’s company.

As we walked we noticed another sign of summer — chalk outlines of hopscotch decorating front sidewalks. The sounds of summer could be heard in the laughter of these happy children. With school out and summer vacation in full swing, they had a lot to celebrate.

Before we knew it we reached our destination, my sister-in-law, Marie’s house. It was there we heard some shocking news. A young man from our Mt. Greenwood community had died as a result of being hit by an alleged drunk driver. I say alleged because he refused a breathalyzer test even though those at the scene distinctly smelled the strong odor of alcohol.

This is happening far too frequently — the grievous irresponsibility of overindulgence by imbibed individuals is killing and maiming our innocent children.

Alcohol is the evil culprit that sacrifices the safety of our kids as they play outside, in what should be safe surroundings. Drunk drivers strip our society of its security to let kid be kids and enjoy their time outdoors.

You never think it can happen to you. But then it hits home. A boy from the neighborhood gets killed; a great kid who went to school with my nieces. Suddenly, it puts a face to this nightmare epidemic.

The 4th of July is a day meant to celebrate America’s freedom. On the way home from fire works festivities that night we noticed a group of people, standing in a circle, lit candles in hand. It took me less than a second to realize that this was not a gathering of people celebrating the 4th of July. This was a quiet memorial for Andrew — the victim of a drunk driver. A thought came to me as I saw them all obviously comforting each other in prayer. Let freedom ring but let justice be served by those who choose to drink and drive, and kill.

There’s a pall in the summertime air in this community. The sound of children’s laughter is still carried on the warm summer breeze, but for parents the harsh reality has hit home. Once again it’s the innocent victim who succumbs to the deadly choice of a drunk driver who carelessly gets behind the wheel, turning his vehicle into a weapon of death and destruction. And, as is usually the case, he walks away unscathed, truly the biggest travesty of all.

Andrew was just a few blocks away from his house when he was struck. His father was by his side within minutes of the accident. What this greiving father wanted more than anything was to hug his son and tell him how much he loved him. Sadly, he never got the chance — Andrew never regained consciousness, and died two days later at Christ Hospital.

Our laws, all too often, seem to accommodate the criminal. When our children are senselessly dying at the hands of drunk drivers, society, as a whole, should demand better from our politicians, for this is insanity.

I cannot help but to think of Andrew as that old song continues to play in my head: “We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun, but the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time.”

Young Andrew didn’t run out of time, it was cruelly taken from him. There will will be no more seasons in the sun for a young man described as giving, caring, kind and outgoing.

All his dad wanted was to hug his son and tell him he loved him. In his shoes, is that not what any of us would’ve wanted? We never know what awaits our kids when they head out the door. We try to appease ourselves with thoughts that something like this will never happen to us. Then we hear this tragic news and we’re not so sure.

Don’t forget to hug your kids today — right this minute! Tell them you love them until they’re sick of hearing it and then tell them some more.

Let your words cover them like a verbal security blanket of assurance — wherever they go — for their sake and for your own sense of security, just in case there comes a day when you may not have the chance.

(c) 2005 Kathy Whirity

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Habit is most difficult to defeat. If you delete the
first letter, it does not change “a bit” Delete
another and you still have a “bit” left. Take off
still another and the whole of it remains. But
if you take off another, it is wholly used up.
Goes to prove if you want to get rid of a habit,
you must throw it off altogether. –Mandel

Comments (0) Aug 04 2008

For God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten Son

That whosoever believeth in Him

Should not perish

but have everlasting life.

~John 3:16~

Comments (0) Aug 04 2008

–Whitney Hopler

There’s no shortage of troubling circumstances in life that can make you feel anxious and depressed. Whether you’re anxious about the future or depressed about the past, your negative emotions will prevent you from living the healthy life God wants you to enjoy right now.

Here’s how you can overcome anxiety and depression:

Give up the illusion of control. Understand that both anxiety and depression stem from attempts to control either the future (through worrying) or the past (by trying to change what has already happened). Realize that all such attempts are futile and a complete waste of your time and energy. Acknowledge that only God has the power to control the future and bring transformation out of what happened in the past.

Let your emotions lead you to ask questions. Realize that negative emotions are meant to alert you to danger. Rather than ignoring the anxiety and depression you feel, face your feelings and ask: “What’s going on?”, “How do I feel about it?” and “Do I want to change?”

Turn worries into prayers. Whenever an anxious thought enters your mind, decide that instead of worrying about it, you’ll pray about it. Pray as often as you think about whatever is troubling you. Know that, unlike worry, prayer actually accomplishes something positive.

Discipline your mind. Pay attention to what you’re choosing to think about. Rather than dwelling on your troubles, decide to think about what’s true, good, right, pure, beautiful, and praiseworthy. Read and meditate on Scripture often to saturate your mind with the right kinds of thoughts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to renew your mind every day.

Don’t blame illness when the problem is poor choices. Know that most of the anxiety or depression people experience isn’t due to mental illness in the medical sense, but is due instead to emotional pain caused by poor choices they’ve made. Be honest with yourself about what choices you may have made that have contributed to your anxiety or depression. Consider such potential causes as: broken and conflicted relationships; unspoken, unfulfilled, or unrealistic expectations of life; guilt over not doing what you should do; disobedience; lack of exercise; poor diet or overeating; too much television; not accepting responsibility; prolonged sleep loss; faulty reasoning; emptiness and loneliness; lack of meaning and purpose; alienation and separation; buildup of various stressful events; the death of a loved one; the inability to adjust to and accept hurtful experiences; the unwillingness to let go of the past and forgive others; and a low self-image or high standards of perfection. Pray for the courage you need to face your problems instead of running from them. Know that once you take responsibility for your own attitudes and actions, you’ll start to grow in maturity, which will lead to healing.

Exercise discernment when considering medication. Don’t just take medication for your anxiety or depression without considering alternatives. Understand that you don’t need medication unless you have a chemical imbalance in your brain, which is a relatively rare condition. Know that drugs can have serious side effects, and that they never provide a magic cure. Pray for the wisdom to discern emotional distress from a true medical condition.

Consider what circumstances may be causing your feelings. Ask yourself whether or not your anxiety or depression is tied to some circumstance in your life, such as: losing your job, recently retiring, experiencing financial losses, being involved in an accident, committing some criminal act, being violated by some criminal act, having marital problems, facing an important decision, having troubles with in-laws, having your home or possessions destroyed by a natural disaster, having a conflict you need to deal with but are afraid to face, or losing a loved one through a broken relationship or a death. Recognize how any of these events may have contributed to your feelings. In prayer, give your troubling circumstances to God and trust Him to handle them according to what’s best.

Check out physical symptoms that may be tied to your feelings. Ask yourself whether or not your anxiety or depression is tied to some symptoms, like: trouble sleeping, difficulty breathing, stomach disorders, diarrhea or constipation, headaches, twitching, or shaking. Be sure to visit a doctor to check out any of these symptoms.

Let go of what you can’t change, and change what you can. Recognize the difference between what you can’t change (facts of life in our fallen world) and what you can (problems you can solve). Stop trying to change what’s beyond your control; instead, pray about it all and trust it to God. But do whatever you can to solve problems in your life. If you’re worried about a lack of money to pay your bills, cut back on unnecessary purchases and work harder to bring in extra income. If you’re anxious about the quality of your relationship with someone, work to become more loving and giving, and devote more time and energy to that relationship. Direct your energy away from anxiety and depression and toward solutions to your problems. Don’t just think about it or talk about it; actually take action toward solutions and enjoy seeing the progress you make.

Look for the meaning in your suffering. Ask God to show you how you can grow as a person from your suffering, and how you can use what you’ve learned to help others who are suffering in similar ways. Ask yourself: “How do I feel about what is happening to me?”, “How can I get some help?”, “How can I learn from this?”, “How can I make positive changes in my situation?” and “How can I change my attitude?”

Pray for the right perspective. Ask God to give you His perspective on the relationships and situations in your life that are troubling you. Correct your vision so you can see them with accuracy. Know that doing so will help you to think straight, which will lead to better choices, and then to a better life.

Forget about suicide. If you’re thinking about committing suicide, talk with someone you trust right away and get those thoughts out of your mind. Realize that, if you were to commit suicide, it would cause great harm to everyone who loves you. Know that God offers you real hope. Turn to Him and trust that your life will get better.

Make time for rest and relaxation. Be sure to get plenty of sleep each night, since sleep heals the emotional and physical stress that can cause anxiety and depression. Remember that, according to many studies, at least seven hours of sleep each night is best. Practice deep breathing to help reduce tension. Exercise regularly; doing so will release hormones in your body that help your mood. Regularly engage in some activities that relax you, such as: watching a movie, reading a book, talking with friends, listening to music, taking a leisurely walk, going on a picnic, soaking in a hot tub or warm bath, playing sports, sitting in the sun, taking a nap, reading and meditating on the Bible, and writing to family and friends.

Change the way you talk to yourself. Reclaim your mind from negative thoughts you regularly tell yourself, and start talking to yourself through your thoughts in positive ways. Whenever a negative thought enters your mind, shock yourself into stopping it (such as yelling out loud or in your mind, or snapping a large rubber band that you wear around your wrist). Then replace each negative thought with a positive thought. Or, write your negative thoughts down as they occur to you, and refuse to think about them until a brief, designated time each day. Know that as you change your thoughts, your feelings will also change. Pay attention to your appearance and make an effort to look good; when you look better, you’ll feel better about yourself. Set goals for where you would like to be in your thinking, emotions, and behavior in the next three months, year, and five years. Stop procrastinating about things you have to do; once you finish them, you’ll feel better about yourself. Learn how to face the pain you’ll inevitably encounter in our fallen world, and grow through it. Believe that, with God’s help, you can make significant progress.

Tap into the power of forgiveness. Realize that your anxiety or depression may be caused in part by guilt over something you did that was wrong, or something you didn’t do that you should have done. If so, seek forgiveness from God and the people you’ve hurt. Take responsibility for your own thoughts, words, and behaviors. Express regret and remorse for them. Repent by deciding to go in a completely different direction in the future. Make restitution for all damages incurred, as best as you can. Enjoy the clear conscience of knowing you’ve done your best. Then reconcile with the people you’ve hurt if they’re still alive and willing to restore their relationships with you.

Draw strength from Scripture. Read, study, and meditate on the Bible every day. Let its truths refresh your soul, and remind you of God’s great love for you and unlimited power to help you.

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Be Wonderfully Blessed My Friends….!
(G.L.Y.A.S.D.I.)……God Loves YOU And So Do I…. !!!

Comments (0) Aug 04 2008

Always give without remembering and
always receive without forgetting.
~ Brian Tracy

Comments (0) Aug 04 2008