Thoughts while driving my son to school:

Morning, Kid. You look pretty sharp
in your Cub Scout gear,
not as fat as your old man
when he was a Cub. I don't think my hair
was ever as long until I went away to college,
but I think I'd recognize you
any way by what you are:
a little shaggy around the ears,
scuffed around the toes,
wrinkles in the knees...
We get used to one another...

Now that you're eight I notice I don't
see a whole lot of you anymore.
On Columbus Day you left at nine in the morning.
I saw you for 42 seconds at lunch and
you reappeared for supper at five.
I miss you, but I know you've got
serious business to take care of.
Certainly as serious as, if not more important
than, the things the other commuters
on the road are doing.

You've got to grow up and out and
that's more important than clipping coupons,
arranging stock options or selling people short.
You've got to learn what you are able to do
and what you aren't - and you've got to learn
how to deal with that.
You've got to learn about people and
how they behave when they
don't feel good about themselves -
like the bullies who hang out at the bike rack
and hassle the smaller kids.

Yeah, you'll even have to learn
how to pretend that name-calling doesn't hurt.
It'll always hurt, but you'll have to
put up a front or
they'll call you worse names next time.
I only hope you remember how it feels -
in case you ever decide to
rank a kid who's smaller than you.

When was the last time I told you
I was proud of you?
I guess if I can't remember,
I've got work to do.
I remember the last time I yelled at you -
told you we'd be late if you didn't hurry -
but, on balance, as Nixon used to say,
I haven't given you as many pats as yells.

1. Your presence is a present to the world.
2. You're unique and one of a kind.
3. Your life can be what you want it to be.
4. Take the days just one at a time.
5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6. You'll make it through whatever comes along.
7. Within you are so many answers.
8. Understand, have courage, be strong.
9. Don't put limits on yourself.
10. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
11. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
12. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
13. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
14. The longer one carries a problem,
the heavier it gets.
15. Don't take things too seriously.
16. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
17. Remember that a little love goes a long way.
18. Remember that a lot goes forever.
19. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
20. Life's treasures are people -- together.
21. Realize that nothing is ever too late.
22. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
23. Have health and hope and happiness.
24. Take the time to wish upon a star. ...
And don't ever forget --
for even a day --
how very special you are.
(unknown)

A Friend is someone we
turn to when our spirits need a lift.

A friend is someone we
treasure. For our friendship is a gift.

A friend is someone who
fills our lives with beauty, joy, and grace,
makes the world that we live in,
a better and happier place.
Thanks for being my friend.
(unknown)

To Achieve Your Dreams, Remember Your A-Z's
A-void negative sources, people, things and habits.
B-elieve in yourself.
C-onsider things from every angle.
D-on't give up and don't give in.
E-njoy live today: yesterday is gone and
---tomorrow may never come.
F-amily and Friends are hidden treasures.
---Seek them and enjoy their riches.
G-ive more than you planned to give.
H-ang on to your dreams.
I-gnore those who try to discourage you.
J-ust do it!
K-eep on trying, no matter how hard it seems.
---It will get better.
L-ove yourself first and foremost.
M-ake it happen.
N-ever lie, cheat or steal.
---Always strike a fair deal.
O-pen your eyes and see things as they really are.
P-ractice makes perfect.
Q-uitters never win and winners never quit.
R-ead, study and learn about everything important in life.
S-top procrastination.
T-ake control of your own destiny.
U-nderstand yourself in order to better understand others.
V-isualize it.
W-ant it more than anything.
X-ccelerate your efforts.
Y-ou are unique of all of Nature's creations.
---Nothing can replace you.
Z-ero in on your target, and go for it!
(unknown)

There was a little boy with a bad temper.
His father gave him a bag of nails and
told him that every time he lost his temper,
to hammer a nail in the back fence.
The first day the boy had driven
37 nails into the fence.

Then it gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper
than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy
didn't lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it and the father
suggested that the boy now
pull out one nail for each day
that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was
finally able to tell his father that
all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and
led him to the fence. He said,
"You have done well, my son,
but look at the holes in the fence.
The fence will never be the same.
When you say things in anger,
they leave a scar just like this one.

You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say
"I'm sorry", the wound is still there.

A little boy invited his mother to
attend his elementary school’s first
teacher-parent conference.
To the little boy’s dismay, she said she would go.
This would be the first time that his classmates
and teacher met his mother and
he was embarrassed by her appearance.

Although she was a beautiful woman,
there was a severe scar that covered
nearly the entire right side of her face.
The boy never wanted to talk about
why or how she got the scar.

At the conference, the people were impressed
by the kindness and natural beauty of his mother
despite the scar, but the little boy was
still embarrassed and hid himself from everyone.
He did, however, get within earshot of a
conversation between his mother and his teacher,
and heard them speaking.

"How did you get the scar on your face?"
the teacher asked.

The mother replied, "When my son was a baby,
he was in a room that caught on fire.
Everyone was too afraid to go in
because the fire was out of control, so I went in.
As I was running toward his crib,
I saw a beam coming down and
I placed myself over him trying to shield him.
I was knocked unconscious but fortunately,
a fireman came in and saved both of us."

She touched the burned side of her face.
"This scar will be permanent, but to this day,
I have never regretted doing what I did."

At this point, the little boy came out
running towards his mother with tears in his eyes.
He hugged her and felt an overwhelming sense
of the sacrifice that his mother had made for him.
He held her hand tightly for the rest of the day.
(Lih Yuh uo)

I remember a time when each day was long,
When the world was a playground and my life a song,
And I fluttered through years with barely a care,
Ignoring the future and what waited there.

School was intriguing and filled with delights.
I played away daytimes and dreamed away nights.
My parents assured me I had nothing to fear,
And that no matter what happened,
they'd always be there.

Little I knew of a world outside home,
Where tragedy, sorrow and murder could roam.
All I saw were blue skies, rainbows and stars.
I looked past destruction of buildings and cars.
As a child, my biggest concern was just me;
I had to be happy, I had to be free.

And if I was content, I would not shed a tear,
And no matter what happened, I still would be here.

But as I grow up, darkness starts to set in;
My bright world has turned into concrete and tin.
I now see the violence I looked past before;
My friends start to die and my heart hits the floor.
Deadly diseases claim people I love,
There are landfills below me, pollution above.

I often think back to when life was a game.
But no matter what happens, it can't be the same.
There are days when I just want to break down and howl,
To give up completely, to throw in the towel,
But I hold my head high and I push my way through.
I have too much to give and so much to do.

And I make a vow that, though it'll be hard,
I'll go on with a smile and play every card.
I'll give all I can, help others and love.
No matter what happens, life will bloom again,
And the strength I don't have will come from above.

So come, take my hand, and through darkness we will sail
If we all join together, we never can fail.
We'll remember to care, remember to feel,
And no matter what happens, our world we will heal.
(Alison Mary Forbes
from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II)