Grab A New Attitude - Grab The Brass Ring

Courtesy of the "Tom Burhyte Page" at
www.gco.com/eldridge/ eldridge_merry_go_round.html

Ever sit around thinking about how your life could be different. Going round and round in your mind, like sitting on a merry-go-round.

Maybe daydreaming at work regarding how much you may not like what it is you do.

Maybe sitting in traffic between your place of work and home wondering if your well used vehicle couldn't be replaced by a new one.

Maybe at home watching television on that 25" envisioning what it would be like to have a large screen version with surround sound.

Maybe just wishing you had more meaning or purpose in your life.

Daydreaming, wondering and envisioning is good. Everyone should have dreams and goals for a better life. But you wonder how can I ever achieve them? How am I going to grasp that 'brass ring'?

Stop and think about the merry-go-round. Around and around and around and around in circles with the same music. As an amusement ride, I love them for the memories it brings back growing up. For the simplicity of the ride, for the safety of the ride. What can go wrong in a round the circle ride. I had always wondered why the 'brass ring' was there. It hit me years ago that it is there to add a bit of excitement to the ride.

For those that dared to, they could reach out in an attempt to grab it. Maybe earn a free ride or a prize. Many wouldn't try, simply content to hold on tight to go around and around and around. The ones that did keep trying to grab the brass ring eventually succeeded. They had the courage to overcome fear and reach out. What then was left? To move on to another more exciting ride. To take a chance at something different. To move on from the same thing over and over, around and around, again and again.

Get out there and make a move. Sitting still, not changing the way you do things results in just that - nothing changes. Another year goes by, around in a circle on the merry-go-round watching the brass ring pass you by.

Don't wait - reach out and make a change in your life. Reach for the brass ring, do something to help someone else, move your attitude to a higher plateau. Start moving and change will occur.

Lessons In Life Through Tragedy

Pablito - Gabrielle - Nicia - Pablo

At times I like to use this forum to help others in times of need. Doing so usually means that something sad has occurred. It is hopefully offset by my other words of inspiration. So please understand that not only can we learn from tragedy, but can help others during these times of heart break.

Members of our church were involved in a traffic accident on Christmas Eve. A suspected drunk driver ran a stop light, killing the family's 9-year old son. Pablito Medrano had a smile like many other young boys. A smile that he will now share with others gone before him.

Why do I write of this? To serve a reminder of the effects of drunk driving on others. Not to preach against the 'sins of drink' but to say that the choices YOU make can effect OTHERS. These choices can have a positive effect while others can have tragic effects.

What can you do? First, you can read the news article as reference to what I've stated here. It appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/gwinnett/1205/29metfatal.html

Second, there is more to the story. The folks impacted are Nicia and Pablo Medrano, members of my church - Christian City Church (www.christiancitychurch.com). Additionally, Pablito's mother, Karla Navarro is most certainly grief stricken by this news.

Pablo's son, Pablito was in a coma for a few days but unfortunately died. The father Pablo, has internal bruising & Nicia has a broken leg. Their baby daughter Gabrielle is OK. Nicia has said each day gets a little easier. Pablo’s place of employment has kindly given him extra time off, but we assume that is without pay. Nicia is pretty much bedridden but is happy to be back in her own home again. To add to this story, an aunt who had come into town for the funeral and to help take care of baby Gabrielle, was on her way home. She got ten minutes down the road before someone ran a red light and slammed into HER car! She was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and will be there for a week.

Third and lastly, what things can you do if you wish.

1. Pray for the family; for a quick recovery, for comfort, for strength.
2. We are coordinating through my church the following effort.

• help at their home with the baby
• meals brought to their home
• financial help

As this is a weblog, locally the church is working to get help at their home, with the meals and with financial help. But some of the things you can do online...do you know any businesses in the Atlanta area that could help with meals or food items. You could make some contacts if you do. Also, financial support always helps and is greatly appreciated.

If you would like to help in some fashion, please contact Penni by means of email at our church: PenniH@christiancitychurch.com.

As does life, death teaches us lessons about what we can do for others.

"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way." - Unknown Author

Persistence In Humor

From the folks at http://www.despair.com/, check out their webpage some time.

There is so much that can be concluded from this particular picture. But what ever you do, do try to be persistent and when something doesn't work out, stop and rethink. Then set another goal and go after it. Persistence does pay off if you want it to... and in those cases in which it doesn't..."it's over, Man. Let her go." Get over it and move on to the next one.

Persistence to Make Changes

We are in our second day of the year and the fog of day one is starting to fade. You can take a bit more time to start planning those changes for this coming year. But don't procrastinate, think of one thing you can do. May be its getting up and leaving for work ten minutes earlier. It will result in a more relaxed drive to work and you will have a better start to your day.

This is a year for change and you are just beginning. Think long term, think of doing thing in small increments and see your success in each of them. In the book I referred to a couple of days ago - "Healthy, Wealthy and Wise - 52 Life Changing Lessons for the 21st Century - is a chapter on persistence. If you want to make change, you will have to be persistent.

Ms. Waggener says, "whatever you are trying to accomplish in your life, you must keep going. Your goals are worthwhile. They deserve committed, unwavering action. They require put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other sort of dogged movement. They require persistence.

With your new attitude and courage to change, persistence will become easier as you see the rewards of achieving your goals. Stand strong, make a change and do it now. John Quincy Adams said, "patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." Make 2006 your year and start now.