"No act of kindness, no matter how small,is ever wasted."
- Aesop
***
Howard was a poor student who was forced to sell goods door to door in order to put himself through school. One day while selling goods, Howard felt especially fatigued, tired and hungry. He thought if he could get something to eat, he would then have enough energy to complete his sales route for the day. The problem was Howard only had one dime in his pocket. Howard decided that he would politely ask his next sales prospect for some food. After knocking on the door, Howard was greeted by a lovely young woman, immediately he lost his nerve to ask for food.
Instead of asking for food, Howard asked for a glass of water. The woman recognizing Howard’s condition bought him a tall glass of milk instead. Howard gratefully accepted the milk and asked the woman, "How much do I owe you?"
The woman responded, "You don't owe me anything. My mother taught us to never to accept pay for a kindness." Howard replied, "Then I thank you from my heart." After leaving the house, Howard felt a renewed sense of energy, both physically and spiritually. For earlier, Howard had thought about giving up and quitting school.
Years later, the young woman became seriously ill. The doctors in her home town, never having seen such a case before, referred her to hospital specialists in a large metropolitan area. After an initial consultation, hospital doctors requested that Dr. Howard Kelly review the patient’s records and case. After reviewing the patient’s records, Dr. Kelly recognized the name and home town of the patient. He thought to himself, could this really be the lady that was so kind to me when I was down and out and ready to quit school. When Dr. Kelly walked into the patient’s room, he knew it was her. After leaving the patient’s room, Dr. Kelly decided that this case would receive his special attention. He was determined that this woman would live.
Dr. Kelly did give special attention to the case and after an arduous battle, the woman recovered. Dr. Kelly demanded that the business office send the woman’s bill to him to for approval. After reviewing the bill, Dr. Kelley wrote a small note on the bill and requested that the bill be hand-delivered to the patient. Upon receiving the bill, the woman opened it with trepidation. Because of her long hospital stay, she feared she would never have the means to pay the bill. After quickly scanning the bill, her eyes were drawn to a hand written note signed by Dr. Howard Kelly. The note read: "PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK..."
What random act of kindness will you engage in today? All too often, we fail to understand the impact that a smile can be to a stranger, what some spare change can mean to the needy, or how a helping hand can uplift someone requiring assistance. Simple, random acts of kindness can have a significant impact in the lives of others. Most often you will never know the degree of impact. In the case of the young woman, unbeknownst to her, her kindness had a significant impact on Dr. Kelley’s life and hers. Why don’t we engage in random acts of kindness more often? Because we get so caught up in our own world that we fail to recognize when and where kindness should be extended, or we believe that we just don’t have time to extend it.
When you extend kindness with no expectation of something in return, you invoke the power of the reciprocity principle. Simply put, “you get what you give.” When you extend kindness, kindness will be extended to you. The principle of reciprocity is not time bound. It may take years for an act of kindness to return to you. It will return, believe me! Remember, a glass of milk helped save a women’s life.
I urge you to be more cognizant of those around you. For if you do, you will see plenty of people who can benefit from a kind word or deed, and ultimately, the world will be a much kinder place to live.
Dr. Howard Kelly was a distinguished physician who, in 1895, founded the Johns Hopkins Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins University
***
Its your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Anyway
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
***
There appears to be some disagreement as to who authored "Anyway." Some believe that the verses were written by Dr. Keith Kent and were titled, The Paradoxical Commandments. Whereas, others believe that Mother Theresa is responsible for the writing. Sources say the verses where written on the wall in her bedroom in Calcutta, India.
Regardless of who penned the verses, the verses remind us to do the right thing anyway. At times, life can be difficult, contentious, and upsetting. When we do the right thing anyway, we are sure to find peace and happiness along the way. Remember, you cannot control the thoughts or feelings of anyone other than yourself. Don't let others discourage you, distract you or dissuade you from doing the right thing. Since the verses were found to have been written on the bedroom wall of a woman who has been beautified and is regarded as blessed, we all should take heed, anyway!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
***
There appears to be some disagreement as to who authored "Anyway." Some believe that the verses were written by Dr. Keith Kent and were titled, The Paradoxical Commandments. Whereas, others believe that Mother Theresa is responsible for the writing. Sources say the verses where written on the wall in her bedroom in Calcutta, India.
Regardless of who penned the verses, the verses remind us to do the right thing anyway. At times, life can be difficult, contentious, and upsetting. When we do the right thing anyway, we are sure to find peace and happiness along the way. Remember, you cannot control the thoughts or feelings of anyone other than yourself. Don't let others discourage you, distract you or dissuade you from doing the right thing. Since the verses were found to have been written on the bedroom wall of a woman who has been beautified and is regarded as blessed, we all should take heed, anyway!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
Friday, September 17, 2010
"Just Do it"
“The greatest danger in life is permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important things.”
~ Charles Hummel
***
Awhile ago I had read the following story. The story is somber. Although the story is contrary to my usual motivational and inspirational publishings, the message is quite compelling and provides one of life’s most important lessons.
The story is written by Anne Wells:
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.
"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie."
He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite: silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.
"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician.
His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment. Then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion.
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. Now, I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that this is a special occasion.
Every day is a special occasion. Each day is a gift! it is gift because you have one more day to share a laugh and your love with your family and friends; it is a gift because you have one more day to enjoy the beauty of nature; it is a gift because you have one more day to use the talents that God has bestowed in you; it is a gift because you have one more day to help someone in need. The list can go on and on.
I urge you to stop taking people and things for granted. Don’t put things off. If you need to tell somebody you love them, tell them! If you need to tell someone you are sorry, tell them. If you need to spend more time with your family, make more time! If you need to take a vacation, take it! If you need to pray more, pray more! I urge you whatever it is, get going, get busy and in the words of Nike, Inc., “Just Do it.”
***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD
~ Charles Hummel
***
Awhile ago I had read the following story. The story is somber. Although the story is contrary to my usual motivational and inspirational publishings, the message is quite compelling and provides one of life’s most important lessons.
The story is written by Anne Wells:
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.
"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie."
He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite: silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.
"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician.
His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment. Then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion.
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. Now, I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that this is a special occasion.
Every day is a special occasion. Each day is a gift! it is gift because you have one more day to share a laugh and your love with your family and friends; it is a gift because you have one more day to enjoy the beauty of nature; it is a gift because you have one more day to use the talents that God has bestowed in you; it is a gift because you have one more day to help someone in need. The list can go on and on.
I urge you to stop taking people and things for granted. Don’t put things off. If you need to tell somebody you love them, tell them! If you need to tell someone you are sorry, tell them. If you need to spend more time with your family, make more time! If you need to take a vacation, take it! If you need to pray more, pray more! I urge you whatever it is, get going, get busy and in the words of Nike, Inc., “Just Do it.”
***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Getting Ahead: 212 Style
"It's never crowded along the extra mile."
~Wayne Dyer
***
A little extra effort goes a long way. If you want to attract success into your life, then you will have to give in order to get. The giving is in the form of extra effort. Remember, successful people are those who are working while everybody else is sleeping. Now, I don't mean that in literal sense. But, I do mean that successful people put forth the extra effort while others are not willing to do so.
You may have heard of the 212 philosophy. The 212 philosophy is based on the scientific principle of energy. Energy is the driving force of the universe. The 212 philosophy describes how a natural scientific law can be applied in our lives. The basis of the philosophy derives from the boiling point of water. At 211 degrees, water is just very hot water. But, by raising the temperature by just one degree, water boils and when water boils, steam is produced. When you produce steam, you have taken something that was very hot to something that has enough energy to power machines. Think of that, that one extra degree makes all the difference in the world. That one extra degree produces steam; steam that can power a locomotive.
The 212 philosophy reminds us that by consistently giving that little extra effort we can go from ordinary to extraordinary. The philosophy tell us that a little extra effort consistently applied can make all the difference in the world. There is no easy way, shortcut, or fast track to-the-top. It takes effort! And those that get to-the-top and stay at the top, are those that realize it was the extra effort that got them there, and it is the extra effort that will keep them there.
Think of the possibilities and opportunities that await you if you are willing to give a little bit more effort than you are giving now. If you are struggling with your current situation, if you are not where you want to be, don't look to blame others; blame yourself. Your results are in direct proportion to your effort. If you want to change your current situation, embrace the 212 philosophy.
Remember, the philosophy it is based on the natural laws of energy; laws which are fixed in nature and cannot be altered. I urge you to consistently give that little extra effort. Live the 212 philosophy. If you do, nature will see to it that you are rewarded exponentially.
***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD
~Wayne Dyer
***
A little extra effort goes a long way. If you want to attract success into your life, then you will have to give in order to get. The giving is in the form of extra effort. Remember, successful people are those who are working while everybody else is sleeping. Now, I don't mean that in literal sense. But, I do mean that successful people put forth the extra effort while others are not willing to do so.
You may have heard of the 212 philosophy. The 212 philosophy is based on the scientific principle of energy. Energy is the driving force of the universe. The 212 philosophy describes how a natural scientific law can be applied in our lives. The basis of the philosophy derives from the boiling point of water. At 211 degrees, water is just very hot water. But, by raising the temperature by just one degree, water boils and when water boils, steam is produced. When you produce steam, you have taken something that was very hot to something that has enough energy to power machines. Think of that, that one extra degree makes all the difference in the world. That one extra degree produces steam; steam that can power a locomotive.
The 212 philosophy reminds us that by consistently giving that little extra effort we can go from ordinary to extraordinary. The philosophy tell us that a little extra effort consistently applied can make all the difference in the world. There is no easy way, shortcut, or fast track to-the-top. It takes effort! And those that get to-the-top and stay at the top, are those that realize it was the extra effort that got them there, and it is the extra effort that will keep them there.
Think of the possibilities and opportunities that await you if you are willing to give a little bit more effort than you are giving now. If you are struggling with your current situation, if you are not where you want to be, don't look to blame others; blame yourself. Your results are in direct proportion to your effort. If you want to change your current situation, embrace the 212 philosophy.
Remember, the philosophy it is based on the natural laws of energy; laws which are fixed in nature and cannot be altered. I urge you to consistently give that little extra effort. Live the 212 philosophy. If you do, nature will see to it that you are rewarded exponentially.
***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Grandmotherly Advice
"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be."
-- Grandma Moses
***
Grandma Moses did not begin painting until late in her life. Having lived on a farm all of her life, she took up painting when the manual labor of the farm life became too difficult for her. She held her first exhibition was she was 78 years old. Her first paintings sold for $2 to $3. In 2006, Grandma Moses’ Sugaring Off portrait sold for $1.2 million. Grandma Moses died at the age of 101 in 1961
Grandma Moses is right; "Life is what we make of it." It does not matter if you are young or old, for age can only be defined by a number; whereas, life is defined solely by what you put into it. Take heed of the example set by Grandma Moses: it is never too late to fulfill your potential. Remember the potential is there, it always has been, it is just up to you to grasp it!
Happy Birthday! Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma Moses)
7 September 1860 - 13 December 1961
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
-- Grandma Moses
***
Grandma Moses did not begin painting until late in her life. Having lived on a farm all of her life, she took up painting when the manual labor of the farm life became too difficult for her. She held her first exhibition was she was 78 years old. Her first paintings sold for $2 to $3. In 2006, Grandma Moses’ Sugaring Off portrait sold for $1.2 million. Grandma Moses died at the age of 101 in 1961
Grandma Moses is right; "Life is what we make of it." It does not matter if you are young or old, for age can only be defined by a number; whereas, life is defined solely by what you put into it. Take heed of the example set by Grandma Moses: it is never too late to fulfill your potential. Remember the potential is there, it always has been, it is just up to you to grasp it!
Happy Birthday! Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma Moses)
7 September 1860 - 13 December 1961
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
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