A BOX OF KISSES

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,"Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

THE SANDS OF FORGIVENESS

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.
The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. .....Author Unknown

THE TROUBLE TREE

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied." I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."
He paused. "Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Author Unknown

DISCOVERING NEW OCEANS

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.-- George Washington Carver

TWENTY DOLLARS

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are stillpriceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by ...WHO WE ARE. You are special - don't ever forget it.".......Author, Unknown

COURAGE

Courage is not only gifted to the few brave ones, It is something that lies within you, Where you can draw upon its strength and power, In times of crisis, fears and decisions.

Courage is not something mysterious or unattainable, It is something that you can exercise in your daily life choices, You can let it bring to you untraveled paths, And make you more conscious and aware of your life.

Courage does not have to roar to be heard, It does not mean being totally fearless and being invincible, It could mean taking actions, taking risks, taking a stand, Standing up for yourself, standing by your choices, And sticking to your dreams when others jeered.

Courage could be the will to live in spite of the struggles, In spite of your fears and phobias, in spite of what others said, In spite of criticisms and disapproval, in spite of mistakes and failures, In spite of everything that stands between you and your dreams.

Courage could mean trying over and over again when you failed, Admitting that you are sorry when you are in the wrong, Saying I love you when your love is angry, Having a baby when the idea of being a parent scared you, Listening to your heart when others called you a fool, Following your dreams even when others discouraged you, And staying true to yourself when others want you in another way.

Hold steadfast to your dreams, your heart and yourself, And courage will not abandon you, But follows you whenever you choose to go............Fion Lim, 2006

ADOPTING LOVE

I was sitting in a bus behind a mother and a little girl who seemed to be in a bad mood. The mother had blond hair and the little girl was Asian.

You don´t love me! the litte girl said angrily. Of course I do, honey! The mother kissed her on the cheek. Why ever would you doubt that?

The kids at school said that because I am adopted, you can´t love me like a real mother! The mother looked the little girl in the eyes and said: You know there is only one difference between you being born to me and being adopted. You know what that is?

The girl was quiet for a while and then asked in a sulky voice, what?

Being adopted only means that instead of you growing in my tummy you grew in my heart.

..........Author, Unknown

ALL I EVER LEARNED FROM A DOG

1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4. When it's in your best interest, always practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

6. Take naps and always stretch before rising.

7. Run, romp, and play daily.

8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

9. Be loyal.

10. Never pretend to be something you're not.

11. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

13. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

14. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

15. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

16. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

17. When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

18. No matter how often you are criticized, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends................Source, Unknown

INFINITE DIVERSITY IN INFINITE COMBINATIONS

"IDIC"-Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations represents a Vulcan belief that beauty, growth and progress all result from the union of the "Unlike." Concord, as well as Discord requires the presence of at least two different notes. The Brotherhood of Man is an ideal based upon learning to delight in our essential differences as well as learning to recognize our similarities..................................... Gene Roddenberry, 1968

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

DESIDERATA, Latin for "Things To Be Desired"...........Max Ehrmann, 1927

DANCE LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we're 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'll certainly be happy when they're 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 with...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, 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're off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you're born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination...............Crystal Boyd, 1997

"FRIENDS"

Friends are never earned. They're a gift from the loving God. And they're precious beyond human valuation. But you dare not take them for granted or they'll drift away like smoke, and the warmth of their caring will vanish like the chill of the endless nights.

Most of my friends are unknowns. And they probably won't rate an obituary, unless they live and die in small towns, where nothing much ever happens. But a few of my friends are big people. They've made the world ring with laughter down to it gaseous burning core.

They're famous, sensitive, talented, and their names are household words. Yet they're no more precious in God's eyes, or in mine, than those wonderful nobodys who live and die in small towns.

Who is your friend? He's someone who warms you with a nod, or with the unspoken word in hard times when you're hurting beyond words. Who is your friend? She's someone who holds you to her breast, and sighs softly into your hair when no other medicine can stop the pain.

A friend is someone who clinks his glass against yours, or answers the phone at three in the morning when you're lost; and with a few words of encouragement and concern, makes you realize you're are'nt really lost at all.

Friends come in both sexes, and in all shapes and sizes. The most important thing they have in common, is the ability to share with you your most sky splitting joys, or your deepest most awesome sorrows, for they are your "FRIENDS." ...........Glen Campbell, Dick Bowman

THERE IS A SILVER LINING!!

When I was growing up, my parents taught me to be cheerful and optimistic, and that, Yes, there is a "Silver Lining" in every cloud. I have carried this philosophy with me from childhood to adulthood and this eternal "optimism" has served me well.

In this current state of economic affairs, where there seems to be joblessness and hopelessness at every turn, it may seem difficult to "see" that Silver Lining we search for so urgently!! In this blog of a continuing series of many posts, I will attempt to share and clarify ways in which we can all strive to be the Very Best We Can Be, to Nurture and Support One another, and Survive and Prosper in this world we all share with each other.

In starting, I wish to thank and dedicate this blog to my wife of 36 years, Carol Masae (Iwane) Zanon and my two sons, Ken Zanon (30) and Marty Zanon (26). You have provided clarity, stability and focus to my life, and I am forever grateful.

"YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD".....Mahatma Ghandi