…what the world needs is people who have come alive.

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ― Howard Thurman

Proud to be an American

The day after celebrating the birthday of America with hot dogs, burgers on the grill, family by the pool, parades and fireworks, take a moment to reflect upon these words from Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

This year is your year to shine, to delve into one of many worthy causes. So spend some time today in reflection, reach down inside and discover your ability to achieve your destiny. We are free here in America thanks to others who came before us to create it. Take that freedom and run with it! Give something back to show you have earned that liberty! Set an example for those who come after us.

Remember to smell the flowers!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

You’ve got to know when to fold ‘em

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

When you are feeling like you have been dealt a poor hand, what options do you consider for turning that hand into a better one? Do you toss the entire hand, or draw a few new cards by changing your attitude to create a more positive frame of mind?

Waking up to a beautiful day

Recently a friend mentioned that any day when he wakes up with his face on the right side of the lawn is a good day. We should all appreciate all of our days. Today is a good day! I am counting down the days until my daughter comes for a visit, and in preparation for that, I am cleaning the guest room so she will have a comfortable space. The forthcoming visit makes the task a joyful one.

What is happening in your life to make today a great day?