Handling Stress

 

Each of the Stress Triggers can throw us into a mental state of anxiety and frustration.  So, what can you do to handle frustrations?

 

F ind the unresolved issue.  All frustrations are the result of an issue you haven’t completed.

 

R evisit the issue and figure out why it wasn’t resolved.  Face the issue.

 

U nderstand the fears you attached to the event.

 

S tay focused on finding a resolution.

 

T ake it at a manageable pace.  Slow down and walk, not run.

 

R efuse to walk away until you have solved the problem.

 

A sk for help if you can’t get it done on your own.  This shows you are serious.

 

T ruth is critical.  Most people aren’t honest about their emotions and frustrations.

 

I nternal discipline is a must.  Many people talk themselves out of finishing.

 

O pen yourself to being challenged.

 

N ever procrastinate.  I repeat . . .  Never procrastinate!  Whatever problems are causing your frustrations; don’t put off your game plan for solving them.  Do it – TODAY!

 

                                                                        (Source:  Richard Flint Seminars)

 

 

                                                             Worry Grid

Can Control                                                               Can’t Control

 

Important

 

 

Important

 

 

Not Important

 

 

Not Important

 

"The more stress there is to be relieved the easier it can be to

relieve it" - Dave Fitzgerald

 

:-) Only 15% of employees are fired for poor performance: 85% are fired for their inability to get along with others. How does it affect employee morale? What's it costing you and the organization?

 

:-) Whether it be the physical effects or the emotional effects, "stress" kills slowly. It either kills the sufferer (the employee) or it kills the bottom-line of the company. The only thing you have control of is how *you* are going to deal with it.

 

Laughter is the opposite of stress. Both are reactions to things not going the way we think they should be going. But in stress we perceive this incongruity as threatening; in humor we do not. Try the exercise below and experience it for yourself.

 

Exercise: Sit in a rigid chair and grab the edges of the chair as tightly as you can. Tense all the muscles in your body, (chest, shoulders, arms, legs, neck and face). Now holding that body tension, LAUGH out loud. Could you maintain that tension in your body and laugh at the same time? NO, you couldn't. You either held tension and didn't laugh or you had  to let go of the tension in order to laugh.

 

*Next time you feel yourself tensing up because of stress, take a laughter break. Just allow yourself to laugh out loud even if for a few seconds because it will break your tension and hopefully help you to re-focus yourself.*

 

 

Coping With Job Stress

 

At a seminar called "Stress and Disease" by Dr. Nickolas Hall, an expert in psychobiology, gave an example of a coping skill for job stress which I would like to share with you.

 

When you have had one of those 'Take This Job And Shove It' days, try this:

 

On your way home after work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by "Q-tip". Be sure that you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the drapes, and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy.

 

Change to very comfortable clothing, such as a sweat suit and lie down on your bed. Open the package containing the thermometer, remove the thermometer, and carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken.

 

Take the written material that accompanies the thermometer and as you read it you will notice in small print the statement that says "every rectal thermometer made by Q-tip is PERSONALLY tested.

 

Now close your eyes and say out loud five times, "I am so glad that I do not work in quality control at the Q-tip company."

 

MORAL: Look for the good things about your workplace and give thanks for things you don't have to do at work.

 

 

"Technological Stress"

 

"I got a calculator and now I can't add without it. I got a spell checker and I can't write without it anymore. I got a blow dryer and now my hair won't dry on its own." - Unknown

 

:-) Is technology stressing you out? Are your communication devices plotting to take over your life?

 

:-) It was only 20 years ago when we didn't have personal computers, fax machines, pagers, cell phones and the Internet in our lives.

 

We think that all these wonderful devices are going to make our lives easier, but I've found they can make our lives even more stressful if we don't manage to set some limits with it all. There needs to be a deliberate act of letting go so you can re-enter the rest of your life otherwise those technical gremlins will continue to nibble away at your life.

 

So the next time you feel your technology starting to take over your life, draw the line with it. Turn off your cell phone, pager, computer, etc.. and lock them in your office back away while telling them to STAY! You'll be exercising your right to turn off everything in a lighthearted way. Don't worry they will still be there when you return.

 

The Best Time of My Life

It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.

My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas’s age, so I asked him, "What was the best time of your life?"

Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, "Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question:

"When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.

"When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.

"When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.

"When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.

"The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.

"When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.

"When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.

"And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life."

By Joe Kemp

from A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

 

 

 

                                  

If I Had My Life to Live Over

 

    I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.   I'd relax. I would limber up.   I would be sillier than I have been this trip.   I would take fewer things seriously.   I would take more chances.   I would take more trips.   I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.   I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans.   I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd    have fewer imaginary ones.    You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly    and sanely hour after hour, day after day.  Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over    again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments.  One after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.  I've been one of those people who never go anywhere  without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.   If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.    If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time. I would go to more dances.   I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.        By Nadine Stair (age 85)           from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul           

 

 

I N S T R U C T I O N S  F O R  L I F E

 

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

 

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

 

3. Follow the three Rs:

 

    Respect for self

 

    Respect for others and

 

    Responsibility for all your actions.

 

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

 

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

 

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

 

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

 

8. Spend some time alone.

 

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

 

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer

 

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

 

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.

 

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

 

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

 

15. Be gentle with the earth.

 

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

 

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other

 

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

 

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

 

Hurry Sickness

 

        Wake-up, Brain ... it's Monday again!

        Brought to you by the Innovation Network

        http://www.thinksmart.com

 

As the "lazy days of summer" (did you have even one of those mythical

days?) come to an end, we begin to gear back up for fall -- school, new

projects, planning for the coming year.  We can almost feel the pace of

our days quickening as the fall air turns crisper.

 

        This might be our last opportunity to think about the cost

        of this increase in tempo ... a cost sometimes known as

        "hurry sickness."  One article by Dr. Ann McGee-Cooper calls

        this phenomenon an epidemic too often resulting in heart

        disease, high blood pressure or depression of the immune

        function.

 

        Dr. Larry Dossey in his book "Space, Time & Medicine,"

        states, "The perceptions of passing time that we observe from

        our external clocks cause our internal clocks to run faster."

 

In our hurry-up world, it sometimes seems like the last thing we have time

to do is take time.  Here's a check list from Dr. McGee-Cooper to see if

you have this thing called "hurry sickness":

 

Do you:

 

        o  typically drive 5 or more miles per hour over the speed limit?

        o  get impatient in meetings when someone goes on a tangent?

        o  find it difficult to respect people who are chronically late?

        o  rush to be the first in line even when it doesn't matter?

        o  view "hanging out" as a waste of time?

        o  often rush or hurry your children or spouse?

 

If you answered "yes" to all or most of those questions, you might want to

spend some time planning some slow time.  You might also look at the lives

of your children ... some studies show that children have as little as 20

minutes a day in unstructured time.  Where do they find time to day dream,

doodle and watch clouds drift across the sky?

 

Recently as I contemplated time, I wrote the following poem which I thought I'd share with you.

 

In the meantime, find some slow time. 

 

Time

 

by Joyce Wycoff

 

        Fifty years and four have

        flown past my door.

        I no longer have time

        to not have time.

 

        I do not have time to zoom past a field of flowers

        glowing orange in the morning sun.

        I do not have time to travel the world seeking

        the wonders to be found in my own backyard.

 

        I do not have time

        to come back later

        Or do it tomorrow

        for tomorrow may never be.

 

        I do not have time

        to not slow down,

        to put off a poem, delay a hug

        or walk past a prayer.

 

        I no longer have time,

        for now, time has me.

 

 

THE PARADOX OF OUR AGE

 

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

 

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

 

We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

 

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

 

We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often.

 

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

 

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

 

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.

 

We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes; but lower morals; more food but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort but less success.

 

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

 

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships.

 

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

 

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.

 

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

 

It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom.

 

How You Can Affect 1 Person

 

Sometimes you just never know what kind on impact you may have on someone's life!


One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

"Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach, but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." There is no beginning or end. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.

 

What It Means To Be Poor

 

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the

country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be.

 

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be

considered a very poor family.

 

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the

trip?"

 

"It was great, Dad."

 

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

 

"Oh Yeah" said the son.

 

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

 

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a

pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that

has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars

at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a

small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our

sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

 

 We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to

protect us, they have friends to protect them."

 

With this the boy's father was speechless.

 

Then his son added, "Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are."

 

Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have.

 

What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is

all based on one's perspective.

 

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for all the bounty

we have, instead of worrying about wanting more.

 

Take joy in all you have, especially your friends.

 

LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART, ACCORDING TO A NEW UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER STUDY

 

Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a new study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, was presented at the American Heart Association's 73rd Scientific Sessions on November 15 in New Orleans. The researchers found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. "The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it
comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D., F.A.C.C., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack," says Dr. Miller who is also an associate professor
of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

 

Try this

 

A  fun "personality check". You really do need to draw the pig for

it to work though. Have fun. It'll lighten your day!!!!

     

Try this.  Don't cheat.........it's interesting!

On a blank piece of paper draw a pig.  Then scroll down and read

the interpretation of your pig!!   Draw your pig first!  and don't

look at the next part until you are done!  It won't be fun if you look

 

Go get a piece of paper and draw a pig.

 

The pig serves as a useful test of the personality traits of the person who drew it.

 

If the pig is drawn:

   

*Toward the top of the paper, you are positive and optimistic.

 *Toward the middle, you are a realist.

 *Toward the bottom, you are a pessimist and have a tendency to behave negatively.

 *Facing left, you believe in tradition, are friendly, and remember

 dates.  (birthdays, <etc.)

     

 *Facing right, you are innovative and active, but don't have a

  strong sense of family, nor do you remember dates.

 *Facing front ,(looking at you) you are direct, enjoy playing

  devil's advocate, and neither fear nor avoid discussions.

 *With many details, you are analytical, cautious, and distrustful.

 *With few details, you are emotional and naive, you care  little

  for details and are a risk taker.

 *With less than four legs showing, you are insecure or are living

  through a period of major change.

 *With four legs showing, you are secure, stubborn, and stick to your ideals.

 *The size of the ears indicates how good a listener you are.  The bigger, the better.

 *The length of the tail indicates the quality of your sex life!!!!

  And again, more is better!!!!!

 *OK , who didn't draw a tail?

 

Find out how old you really are

 

http://www.realage.com/index.asp?memberId=&refer=&raprog

 

 

 

The Station by Robert J. Hastings

 

Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire continent.  We're traveling by train, and from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossing, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flat lands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls.

 

But uppermost in our minds is our final destination - for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the station with bells ringing, flags waving and bands playing.

 

And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true.  So restlessly, we pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

 

“Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!"  we promise ourselves. "When we're 18.. win that promotion...put the last kid through college...

buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz ...pay off the mortgage ...have a nest egg for retirement."  From that day on, we will all live happily ever after.

 

Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all.  The journey is the joy.

 

The station is all illusion - it constantly outdistances us.

 

DANCE LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING

 

On a philosophical note...(this is good to remember)

 

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.  After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with.  We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.  We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we >get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

 

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.  If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

 

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza.  He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten

through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

 

 

FIVE GREAT LESSONS Life Teaches You...

1 ~  Most Important Lesson

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times.  She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?  I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and  say 'hello'." "I've never forgotten that lesson.  I also learned her name was Dorothy.

 

Second Important Lesson  ~  Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm.  Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.  Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.  A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a console color TV was delivered to his home. A   special note

was attached.  It read:  "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.  The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away.  God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."  Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

 

Third Important Lesson  ~  Always remember those who serve you

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table.  A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.  "Fifty

cents," replied the waitress.  The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.  By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.  "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied." The little boy again counted his coins.  "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.  The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked  away.  The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies -You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

 

Fourth Important Lesson  ~  The Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway.  Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.  Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear. But none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

 

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.

 

After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.  After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse laying in the road where the boulder had been.

 

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand.  Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

 

Fifth Important Lesson  ~  Giving When it Counts

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease.  Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

 

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

 

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes,  I'll do it if it will save her.."   As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

 

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he wasgoing to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. You see understanding and attitude, after all, is everything.

 

 

Making a Living

 

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

 

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.

 

"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

 

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"

 

"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.

 

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

 

The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.

 

The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.

 

"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.

 

The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"

 

Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"

 

The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

 

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said..."And what do you think I'm doing right now ?"

 

 

 

Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you
remember." (Oscar Levant

 

Rules of Life


Sometimes we just need to remember WHAT the Rules of Life really are....

1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.

 

2. You need only two tools. WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40.  If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape.

 

3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship "I apologize" and "You are right."

 

4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

 

5. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.

 

6. The only really good advice that your mother ever gave you was, "Go! You might meet somebody!"

 

7. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her--believe them.

 

8. Learn to pick your battles; ask yourself, 'Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?'

 

9. Never pass up an opportunity to pee.

 

10. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!

 

11. Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you.

 

12. Work is go