Today is Day 3 of my re-birth. [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img] We are exited here at home.

Epona, thanks for the great example. And, once again, proof that we have something in common.

Over ten years ago, I was challenged to describe my main Governing Values. After months of thinking, and writing, and starting over, I was able to glean them down to a handful. the most personal, and most dear to me, was the last, the fifth.

I will live each day as if it were my last.

Carpé Diem, baby. [img]graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

This leads us to today's thoughts. :D

Day Three: The Power of Choice

The quotation I used above was by an author named Og (Augustine) Mandino. He's a legend in the sales industry, even though we was never a salesperson. His books on sales are all about making yourself a better person. I'll quote him a lot in these discussions.

One of my favorite passages of his is his dissertation of Man's greatest strength, our Power of Choice. It stretched my mind.

Imagine yourself as an elderly woman, tired after a long day of work. Your legs hurt, so you gratefully rest in a semi-comfortable seat. The driver of the bus asks you to stand, unfairly demanding you to give up your seat. knowing the consequences of your actions, you refuse. And you, Rosa Parks, step into history.

Ms Parks did not know the floodgates she opened. She just made a decision that she would stand up (or sit, in this case) for herself. She changed a nation. Just by her single, simple choice.

Tomorrow, life will happen. People will be nice, or cruel. Drivers will cut you off, or let you into traffic. Your boss will smile at you, or glare. You cannot control them, or their actions.

You can control yourself, and your actions, through the choices you make NOW.

CHOOSE to love, rather than hate.
CHOOSE to laugh, rather than cry.
CHOOSE to create, rather than destroy.
CHOOSE to persevere, rather than quit.
CHOOSE to praise, rather than gossip.
CHOOSE to heal, rather than wound.
CHOOSE to give, rather than steal.
CHOOSE to act, rather than procrastinate.
CHOOSE to grow, rather than rot.
CHOOSE to pray, rather than curse.
CHOOSE to live, rather than die.

Use wisely, your power of choice.

With respects, and credit, to Mr Mandino, I thank you for your attention.

Tomorrow: Making Peace With Our Imperfections [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] see you here.

[ 07-10-2002, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: RudeDawg ]

i liked this thread.. very uplifting....

I thought that you might enjoy this quote by Ghandi. I really like it and have been trying to live by it ever since I first read it.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
-Gandhi

Kind of a rehash I know but I think the last part is often understated.
Nice thread Rudedawg. Keep up the good work.

DeSoya

Rudy I read your thread the other day and decided that I indeed could use more positive thinking in my life. Ive been trying to be positive. The only problems is I have 7 kids in the house. Im constantly having to tell one or another of them "No". Still, I shall perservere and see how things go.

Ditto!!! :D

That is true... so true in fact.. as my teacher used to say...

"Love is the highest form of choice" :D

Great quote! You're right, the second half of that is often overlooked, but it makes a hyuuuge difference. I'll add it to my personal journal. [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img]

Earthdog, great to see you here!

Saying "No" to a child is NOT negative thinking. (Is that phrased correctly? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] )

Think about what you are really saying. Your beloved child reaches toward a hot skillet that you just pulled off of the stove. You respond, "Darling, because I love you, I need to remind you that things get hot while sitting over a flame. If you touch it, you will get burned, and feel pain. I want to avoid that scenario, so NO touching hot objects, OK? I love you." Of course, due to a lack of time in this case (no child would wait that long before completing an action.) we shorten the sentence to "No." :D

It's a lot about the intent of a thought. You are trying to guide you child, trying to protect them. Especially at an early age, we need counsel, and guidelines. We need rules, and parents to enforce rules.

The same continues as adults. We may not like driving the speed limit, or stopping at the traffic lights, but we forget that they were put into place for the safety of everyone on the road.

Earthdog, in today's society, where the norm is for people to let their children run rampant, I believe, IMHO, that you loving enough to say "No" is actually very positive. [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img]

Day Four : Making Peace With Our Imperfections

We are all imperfect. That is a fact of life. If you believe in the Bible, it's written there for us. If you don't, it's easy to see in the actions of ourselves and those around us. Everyone makes mistakes, misjudgments, and miscalculations.

The power we have, is deciding how we will react to our imperfections.

If you know a perfectionist, you will notice that they are rarely at peace. Why? The world is not perfect, and never will be. People are not perfect, and never will be. These things go against a perfectionist's preferred state, and therefore, make things uncomfortable for them.

I'm not saying that we should not strive for perfection. I think excellence in our lives is an attainable goal.

What I'm thinking about is forgiving ourselves for the imperfections in our lives. Giving ourselves permission to make mistakes. Using these mistakes to learn and grow.

We are imperfect. We can use this as a springboard towards achievement. :D

once again, another good post for day number four. and, i sure do believe in the Bible, and you gotta be off if you can't tell how nasty the world and *We* all are. but, i digress.

<font color = lightgreen>Don't forget that it is okay to laugh at your imperfections. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]

It is the striving itself that is the goal, not the goal. This may seem strange, but suppose you actually reached the goal--what next? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

RudeDawg, if you keep the journey up long enough you will find that you can leave even philosophy behind, as the journey becomes your daily life. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img] </font>