A Letter from Heaven

When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not here to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you,
And each time you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.

When tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
for every time you think of me,
I'm right there in your heart.

- from www. Facebook.com/Daveswords of wisdom

To Change Human Lives

Time passes. Circumstances change. Conditions vary. Unaltered is the divine command to succor the weak and lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. Each of us has the charge to be not a doubter, but a doer; not a leaner, but a lifter. But our complacency tree has many branches, and each spring more buds come into bloom. Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart.

Some point the accusing finger at the sinner or the unfortunate and in derision say, “He has brought his condition upon himself.” Others exclaim, “Oh, he will never change. He has always been a bad one.” A few see beyond the outward appearance and recognize the true worth of a human soul. When they do, miracles occur. The downtrodden, the discouraged, the helpless become “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” True love can alter human lives and change human nature.

- Thomas S. Monson

The Power Of Attitude

The Power Of Attitude Movie:

I love this quote by Henry Ford, ”Whether you think you can, or think you can't …you're right.”

The Olympic Creed

On this last day of the London 2012 Olympics, I borrow from my thoughts on a previous post on this blog, written February 21, 2010:

The Olympic Creed
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." 

As in the Olympics, so in life.

It is awe provoking to watch the Olympic athletes and witness their excellence in physical performance. When you think of all the training and experience that goes into their efforts, it is truly amazing. Their experience usually includes a lot of falling or crashing, getting injured, getting down, getting up, rehabilitating, and re-conditioning, as well as the many heartbreaks of not quite achieving what they wanted, when they wanted, or how they wanted. But the good ones keep going, keep trying, and ultimately achieve glory - whether through a medal or the through the shear victory of accomplishing a goal, finishing and doing their best.

Some famous Olympic athletes have achieved their highest attainment and glory after having overcome a serious setback or injury, or while they are still in the mode of returning to their best form. Others achieve the top honors after a long period of having expended the greatest training efforts of their lives.

The Olympic athletes are in the pursuit of the great Olympian ideals: Citius, Altius and Fortius, which translated from Latin mean Swifter, Higher and Stronger.

We are not all, nor can we all, be Olympic level athletes. But we all can take inspiration from these Olympic ideals and the heroes that have applied them so well in their lives. We can be heroes in our own right by overcoming our trials and achieving the swiftest, the highest and the strongest within us.

Zig Ziglar: The Ultimate Motivational Man

Zig Ziglar has been in the business of motivational speaking since 1970, with an emphasis on Christian values.  He has spoken to and motivated millions on how to be successful in both life and business.

Here are some of his great quotes:

A goal properly set is halfway reached.

A lot of people quit looking for work as soon as they find a job.

Every choice you make has an end result. Every obnoxious act is a cry for help.

Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.

Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.

I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life.

You can't truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles.

If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.

If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.

If you don't see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.

If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere.

If you learn from defeat, you haven't really lost.

If you treat your wife like a thoroughbred, you'll never end up with a nag.

If you want to reach a goal, you must "see the reaching" in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal.

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.

It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.

Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little worlds.

Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood that they are on the same side.

Money won't make you happy... but everybody wants to find out for themselves.

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.

Remember that failure is an event, not a person.

Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.

Success is dependent upon the glands - sweat glands.

Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.

The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.

When you are tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you.

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.

You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.

You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself.

You cannot tailor-make the situations in life but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations.

You do not pay the price of success, you enjoy the price of success.

You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.

Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.

Zig Ziglar: I'm Outt'a Gas

Chances are phenomenal that at least one time in your life, while driving, your car has run out of gasoline. When it happened, you undoubtedly were a little frustrated, since things like that always happen at the "worst possible time."

Question: Have you ever deliberately run out of gas, or do you keep your eye on the gas gauge? Chances are good that you take precautions to make certain you don't run out of gas. Another question: If you had to drive from coast to coast, would you try to make it non-stop? Obviously, you would stop and fill up as you go.

I'm leading up to a point: Motivation is the fuel necessary to keep the human engine running. We must be motivated by need, desire, excitement or something that gets us into action. What many people do not realize is that we need to fuel that motivation with encouragement by reading good books, attending inspirational seminars and listening to inspiring messages while we're in our cars.

Regularly, someone will tell me that when they get "a little bit down," they plug in a tape and it invariably gives them that lift they need. My question is always, "Why would you wait until you get 'down'? Why not make it a way of life, so that as you drive, you automatically plug in some words of encouragement?"

It's easier to stay "up" than it is to get "up." Additionally, motivation is most beneficial when we are already inspired and "high." Then, when we fuel the motivational engine, we will come up with more creative ideas. So keep your motivational tank full, and I'll see you at the top!

- Zig Ziglar

Things Worth Believing In

I went to the funeral of a former co-worker today and was inspired. It's amazing what you can learn about the life of someone who you thought you knew - realizing you only knew a small dimension of their character and life. 

On the back cover of the printed funeral program was his picture with an excerpt from his journal.  Some great words to share:

"If you want to believe in something, believe in it.  Sometimes the things that may or may not be truth are the things we need to believe in most:

• That people are basically good,
• That there is honor, courage, and virtue in everything,
• That power and money mean nothing,
• That good triumphs over evil,
• That love never dies.

I believe in those things because those are the things worth believing in."

- Richard Bradford