“Life is not a continuum of pleasant choices, but of inevitable problems that call for strength, determination, and hard work.”
- Indian Proverb
A couple of days off from writing due to a water line break at my home. It is interesting that life will some times interrupt your enjoyment. Of course I could bore you with the details but I will try to pass along something that you can learn from.
Late afternoon on Friday the inevitable 'wet' spot in the ground surfaced. One will try to deny the existence of it, hoping that the problem will go away. Many of us have the tendency to face life this way. Ignore it, close your eyes and just maybe it doesn't exist. No such luck this time, out came the shovel to start digging dirt and mud.
Part of me felt while digging that I was back on the farm. Cleaning out hog pens shoveling that which fills most hog pens. A wonderful way to spend an evening but the birght spot being that I found the water line right away. Found the leak, a mad dash to the hardware store and the leak was fixed...for fifteen minutes...another leak sprung.
Murphys Law of course dictated the moment, for where one leak appears there will always be one more. This water pipe was made of plastic and nearly twenty years old, best to replace the entire length down to the water meter. Only 75 feet from house to meter, between two trees and through hard Georgia clay.
The digging would begin the next day with two of my sons working hard on a three inch wide trench. The good news is we only need to dig down about one and a half feet, a small positive in the miserable heat and humidity. I was proud of how they worked and it is the first time I have ever seen someone bend a Pickaxe. But how were we ever going to get through this. The area of tree roots seemed almost unbearable.
“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” - Newt Gingrich
So why not call in a plumber or go rent a trenching machine? Well, I am my father's son and you can save money by putting in some hard work, the money saved is worth much more. It took a lot of thought and self encouragement to continue and complete the trench. A new water pipe, no worries of another leak due to an old pipe. Time with two of my sons watching their hard efforts and physically, it was good exercise for me.
The job finished and the yard landscaped, the feeling of accomplishment was good. The same can be said of anything you do in life. When faced with an obstacle that seems too great to overcome, keep pushing through. You will find it very rewarding on the other side.
“Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.”
- Horace (Ancient Roman Poet. 65 BC-8 BC)
Monday, July 31, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
CAN
Today I would like to pass along a link to an inspirational story of what one person would do for another. A story that tells of the true love a father has for a son.
Each of us know that we would go to great lengths for our children. Each of us have a huge place in our hearts for each of our children. And in this life, our human spirit is to lift those around us.
To show this particular father is not meant to over shadow what you may do in life. It is intended to provide us an example of the many things we can be. There are other great stories of people doing extraordinary things. Taking a step beyond the average is something that is in each of you. Go beyond the average, go beyond the ordinary and make a change in someones life.
Go to YouTube to see the CAN video. The pair call themselves Team Hoyt and you can read more about them on their website. It is a very inspiring video that can help move you to change as well.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Self Acceptance
Self Acceptance - embrace all that you are, who you are and what you are.
“Self-acceptance comes from meeting life's challenges vigorously. Don't numb yourself to your trials and difficulties, nor build mental walls to exclude pain from your life. You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.”
- J. Donald Walters
All of this means that we value ourselves as we are, with all our weaknesses and strengths and regardless of them. Doing so will free yourself to live, to enjoy and grow in spite of the many different frustrations and crises that occur in life.
That being said, it does not mean we should not be setting goals for ourselves. We need to continue to aim for something better than what we are already experiencing. In an article by Steve Pavlina he makes a good point, "now you have to decide how much you want to push things to improve in quality as you progress through life. You can accept your current position as adequate and opt to simply maintain it, or you can strive to achieve something greater."
It is your decision on where you take your life. By accepting who and what you are will enable you to figure out where you want to take your life. Until you do so, it will be very difficult to figure out how to make change. It will also give you piece of mind to make those decisions. Believe in yourself, accept who you are and then position yourself for change.
“Self-acceptance comes from meeting life's challenges vigorously. Don't numb yourself to your trials and difficulties, nor build mental walls to exclude pain from your life. You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.”
- J. Donald Walters
All of this means that we value ourselves as we are, with all our weaknesses and strengths and regardless of them. Doing so will free yourself to live, to enjoy and grow in spite of the many different frustrations and crises that occur in life.
That being said, it does not mean we should not be setting goals for ourselves. We need to continue to aim for something better than what we are already experiencing. In an article by Steve Pavlina he makes a good point, "now you have to decide how much you want to push things to improve in quality as you progress through life. You can accept your current position as adequate and opt to simply maintain it, or you can strive to achieve something greater."
It is your decision on where you take your life. By accepting who and what you are will enable you to figure out where you want to take your life. Until you do so, it will be very difficult to figure out how to make change. It will also give you piece of mind to make those decisions. Believe in yourself, accept who you are and then position yourself for change.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Self Empowerment
Self Empowerment - have the desire to see others succeed because life isn't just about you.
"Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need." - Gillian Anderson
Self-empowerment is the process of taking responsibility for your attitudes, behaviors and actions will work to maximize your effectiveness in all that you do. When you do this, you understand that life isn't just about you.
The definition as expressed in 'YourDictionary.com' describes it as;
1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority.
2. To equip or supply with an ability; enable: "Computers ... empower students to become intellectual explorers" (Edward B. Fiske).
The interesting thing about this is the note they provide with the definition. "Although it is a contemporary buzzword, the word empower is not new, having arisen in the mid-17th century with the legalistic meaning "to invest with authority, authorize." Shortly thereafter it began to be used with an infinitive in a more general way meaning "to enable or permit."
How I use the term in this article is to express that by taking responsibility for your attitudes, behaviors and actions will give you a better perspective on how your life impacts those around you. By acknowledging this, you will go out of your way to see others succeed.
I am sure there will be those that disagree with my use of the term 'self-empowerment' as I've read varying opinions on what it means. Most agree that it means understanding that you have the ability or control over your own life. My belief is that in understanding you have authority over that which you do will place you in a position to help others.
Your life is in control and the success of others should not come as a threat to you. You will be able to take joy in the accomplishment of others, without jealousy and with respect for them.
"Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need." - Gillian Anderson
Self-empowerment is the process of taking responsibility for your attitudes, behaviors and actions will work to maximize your effectiveness in all that you do. When you do this, you understand that life isn't just about you.
The definition as expressed in 'YourDictionary.com' describes it as;
1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority.
2. To equip or supply with an ability; enable: "Computers ... empower students to become intellectual explorers" (Edward B. Fiske).
The interesting thing about this is the note they provide with the definition. "Although it is a contemporary buzzword, the word empower is not new, having arisen in the mid-17th century with the legalistic meaning "to invest with authority, authorize." Shortly thereafter it began to be used with an infinitive in a more general way meaning "to enable or permit."
How I use the term in this article is to express that by taking responsibility for your attitudes, behaviors and actions will give you a better perspective on how your life impacts those around you. By acknowledging this, you will go out of your way to see others succeed.
I am sure there will be those that disagree with my use of the term 'self-empowerment' as I've read varying opinions on what it means. Most agree that it means understanding that you have the ability or control over your own life. My belief is that in understanding you have authority over that which you do will place you in a position to help others.
Your life is in control and the success of others should not come as a threat to you. You will be able to take joy in the accomplishment of others, without jealousy and with respect for them.
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