An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."
What a shock!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well. So it is with us.
We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter.
Think about your house.
Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.
The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
The most important thing that parents can teach their children is
how to get along without them.
- Frank A. Clark
People can cry much easier than they can change.
- James Baldwin
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as
good as dead; his eyes are closed.
- Albert Einstein
The expectations of life depend upon diligence;
the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
- Confucius
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, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life".
This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness IS the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time....and remember that time waits for no one.
So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, Until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire from work, until you get married, until you get divorced, Until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination. (I love that line)
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching......
- Unknown
The man who wins may have been counted out several times, but he
didn't hear the referee.
- H. E Jansen
There are those who are so scrupulously afraid of doing wrong
that they seldom venture to do anything.
- Vauvenagrues
To be persuasive, we must be believable.
To be believable, we must be credible.
To be credible, we must be truthful.
- Hellmut Walters
Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all
careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and
countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills
and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your
confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you
to become better or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward;
turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.
- Og Mandino
Give each letter of the alphabet a number, A=1, B=2, and so on. If you add up the letters of the alphabet in the word "Attitude" this is the result (Courtesy of Rita Barber):
| A | = | 1 |
| T | = | 20 |
| T | = | 20 |
| I | = | 9 |
| T | = | 20 |
| U | = | 21 |
| D | = | 4 |
| E | = | 5 |
| 100 |
