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Aunt_Bob
| Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 9:01 am
((( Lori )))
((( Spygirl ))) ((( Wargod )))
((( Rudy ))) ((( DJG )))
((( Lance )))
 POSITION: Mom, Mama, Mother, Mommy JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required. RESPONSIBILITIES: For the rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have the ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility. POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis. WAGES AND COMPENSATION: You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more. BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right
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Aunt_Bob
| Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 10:01 am
"Wednesday's Graffiti"

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Aunt_Bob
| Thursday, November 21, 2002 - 9:58 am
.. IT'S GOOD TO BE THE WOMAN .. We got off the Titanic first. We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses. Taxis stop for us. We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing. No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival The Speedo. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves. If we forget to shave, no one has to know. We can congratulate our team-mate without ever touching her rear. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there. We have the ability to dress ourselves. We can talk to people of the opposite sex without having to picture them naked. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we're aware that we look like an idiot. There are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems. We'll never regret piercing our ears. We can fully assess a person just by looking at their shoes. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence, because they aren't listening anyway.
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Ruditoo
| Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 6:21 pm
Hugs Aunt Bob, as usual you have given us a great funny one and true !!!
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Jmm
| Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 9:56 pm
At this time of Thanksgiving, we all need to remember the many things we have to be thankful for. This list came from a dear friend and I feel it is appropriate now. I am Thanful for...... ...the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends. ...the taxes I pay because it means that I am employed. ...the clothes that fit a little to snug because it means I have enough to eat. ...all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech. ...the lady behind me that sings off key because it means I can hear. ..my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine. ...the spot I find on the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking. ...the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are near by. ...weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive. ...a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home. ...my huge heating bill because it means I am warm. ...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive. To All, Have a great day!!
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Heyltslori
| Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 10:50 am
Those are some great reminders. Thanks for sharing Jmm.
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Aunt_Bob
| Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 4:02 pm
*(it looses so very much quality during posting...it's a real shame)
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Aunt_Bob
| Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 2:09 pm
*Wednesday's Graffiti*

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Sukii1
| Friday, December 06, 2002 - 3:19 pm
You know, I don't come here very often anymore, but by chance stopped by and saw the post Sage made on Oct 29, called Awakening. I just wanted to tell Sage that that was an awesome post, and I've since pasted it into an email or two for my bestfriend. Thanks for posting that.
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Ruditoo
| Sunday, December 08, 2002 - 5:18 pm
Sage, I made a copy(my first successful attempt) of your Oct 29th the Awakening message and gave it to my sister,who was with me today (I hadn't seen her for sometime). I felt it could help her when she is alone. That she might find some relief. Thank you so much for caring & taking the time to post it.
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Twiggyish
| Sunday, December 08, 2002 - 7:48 pm
I also thought the Awakening message was wonderful. I love the philosophy.
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Dahli
| Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 1:10 pm
I agree, I printed the Awakening message and mounted it in a frame for my office wall.... along with this one The True Nature of a Heart is seen it its response to the unattractive "Tell Me Whom You Love And I Will Tell You Who You Are" They both get a lot of looks and I'm sure give folks something to think about...
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Jmm
| Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 8:08 pm
Ok guys, it's time for another tear-jerker so get your tissues ready. SANTA Snowflakes softly falling, Upon your window they play Your blankets snug around you, Into sleep you drift away. I bend to gently kiss you, when I see that on the floor there's a letter, neatly written I wonder who it's for. I quietly unfold it making sure you're still asleep, It's a Christmas list for Santa one my heart will always keep. It started just as always with the toys seen on TV, A new watch for your father and a winter coat for me. But as my eyes read on I could see that deep inside there were many things you wished for that your loving heart would hide. You asked if your friend Molly could have another Dad; It seems her father hits her and it makes you very sad. Then you asked dear Santa if the neighbors down the street Could find a job, that they might have some food, and clothes, and heat. You saw a family on the news whose house had blown away, "Dear Santa, send them just one thing, a place where they can stay." "And Santa, those four cookies that I left you for a treat, Could you take them to the children who have nothing else to eat." "Do you know that little bear I have the one I love so dear? I'm leaving it for you to take to Africa this year". "And as you fly your reindeer on this night of Jesus' birth, Could your magic bring to everyone goodwill and peace on earth". "There's one last thing before you go, so grateful I would be, If you'd smile at Baby Jesus in the manger by our tree." I pulled the letter close to me' I felt it melt my heart. Those tiny hands had written what no other could impart. "And a little child shall lead them," was whispered in my ear As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve while Santa Claus was here.
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Grannyg
| Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 8:57 pm
That was absolutely beautiful!! I copied it and sent it to everyone in my address book. Thanks, Jackie for the reminder of how truly blessed we are!!
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Lancecrossfire
| Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 9:11 pm
Thank you very much JMM--very much.
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Ruditoo
| Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 3:42 pm
Thank you Jmm,thank you for sharing and your tender heart that touched mine.
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Sia
| Friday, December 27, 2002 - 1:01 pm
Wow, Jmm. That's very special. It made me cry.
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Aunt_Bob
| Friday, January 17, 2003 - 9:42 pm
What they really mean...(the men, of course ) "I'm going fishing." Really means... "I'm going to drink myself dangerously stupid, and stand by a stream with a stick in my hand, while the fish swim by in complete safety." "Let's take your car." Really means.... "Mine is full of beer cans, burger wrappers and completely out of gas." "Woman driver." Really means.... "Someone who doesn't speed, tailgate, swear, make obscene gestures and has a better driving record than me." "I don't care what color you paint the kitchen." Really means.... "As long as it's not blue, green, pink, red, yellow, lavender, gray, mauve, black, turquoise or any other color besides white." "It's a guy thing." Really means.... "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical." "Can I help with dinner?" Really means.... "Why isn't it already on the table?" "Uh huh," "Sure, honey," or "Yes, dear." Really mean.... Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response like Pavlov's dog drooling. "Good idea." Really means.... "It'll never work. And I'll spend the rest of the day gloating." "Have you lost weight?" Really means.... "I've just spent our last $30 on a cordless drill." "My wife doesn't understand me." Really means.... "She's heard all my stories before, and is tired of them." "It would take too long to explain." Really means.... "I have no idea how it works." "I'm getting more exercise lately." Really means.... "The batteries in the remote are dead." "I got a lot done." Really means.... "I found 'Waldo' in almost every picture." "We're going to be late." Really means.... "Now I have a legitimate excuse to drive like a maniac." "You cook just like my mother used to." Really means.... "She used the smoke detector as a meal timer, too." "Take a break, honey, you're working too hard." Really means.... "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner." "That's interesting, dear." Really means.... "Are you still talking?" "Honey, we don't need material things to prove our love." Really means.... "I forgot our anniversary again." "You expect too much of me." Really means.... "You want me to stay awake." "It's a really good movie." Really means.... "It's got guns, knives, fast cars, and Heather Locklear." "That's women's work." Really means.... "It's difficult, dirty, and thankless." "Will you marry me?" Really means.... "Both my roommates have moved out, I can't find the washer, and there is no more peanut butter." "Go ask your mother." Really means.... "I am incapable of making a decision." "You know how bad my memory is." Really means.... "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop', the address of the first girl I ever kissed and the Vehicle Identification Numbers of every car I've ever owned, but I forgot your birthday." "Football is a man's game." Really means.... "Women are generally too smart to play it." "Oh, don't fuss. I just cut myself, it's no big deal." Really means.... "I have actually severed a limb, but will bleed to death before I admit I'm hurt." "I do help around the house." Really means.... "I once put a dirty towel in the laundry basket." "Hey, I've got my reasons for what I'm doing." Really means.... "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon." "I can't find it." Really means.... "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so I'm completely clueless."
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Aunt_Bob
| Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 3:14 pm

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Cjr
| Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 11:37 am
I received this today and thought it was beautiful. I wanted to share it here. The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength." And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God." And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the Mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks. She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. She's the place you came from, your first home. She's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you . . . Not time, not space . . . not even death!
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Lizadee
| Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 1:12 pm
Cjr, that was beautiful very nice as you see I lost my mother to cancer this past Sept.
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Sia
| Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 8:01 pm
I'm sure I've seen this at TVCH before--probably even in this thread--but it bears repeating:

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Zachsmom
| Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 9:54 pm
I may not have a real name, but you know who I am. I can't do a quadratic equation, but I can tell you how to get to Sesame Street. My prayers are often frantic and generally specific. "Lord, please help my child throw up in the bucket and not on the wall." I know you know me. I wash my child's face with spit and my thumb. Pick at the dirt behind his ears. I have eyes in the back of my head and a nose that can sniff doggy doo-doo on a sneakered foot fifty yards away. I have ears that can hear Oreo cookies being eaten underneath the covers by a child who is supposedly asleep. Once upon a time I had a stomach that didn't fall to the floor. Once, I had hips that didn't serve as a baby saddle and a shelf for grocery bags. Once, I could even take a bath. Alone. All by myself. Don't tell anyone, but I live for bedtime. I yearn for the sounds of a child's slumber. I long for my own head to hit the pillow. I pine for (yawn) ... zzzzz. You know me. I'm the one who willingly suffered through morning sickness, swollen ankles, uncontrollable crying jags, and overwhelming desires for lemon meringue pie and out-of-season blackberries. Not to mention pushing a bowling ball through a part of my body a bowling ball doesn't normally fit. I'm the one frightened voices call for in the middle of the night. I'm the one who changes wet sheets at three in the morning, rocks a nightmare-stricken preschooler back to sleep at four, then gets up at five to let the dog out. I'm the one who, despite an utterly selfish nature and a propensity toward evil (in addition to an inadequacy in and of myself and a definite lack of experience), God chose as caretaker, teacher, and nurturer for a totally dependent little sinner. Who am I? I am a cooker of oatmeal and cleaner of soap scum. A taxi driver, spider killer, purchaser of folders with pockets and prongs, pencil finder, and dental appointment maker. Loudest cheerleader and most fervent pray-er, encourager of dreams and holder of hands. I am a tear wiper and boo-boo kisser, the toothbrushing gestapo and an example of faith. You know who I am. I am a mother.
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Sia
| Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 10:06 pm
Zachsmom, I LOVE that!!! Thanks for sharing that with us!!
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Ruditoo
| Friday, May 16, 2003 - 4:21 am
Zachsmom,you really pulled at the ole heart strings. I'm now sitting here weeping and wishing with all my heart I had those days again,not for the first time.... I'm glad I found it,thank you for shareing .... after a bizarr Mother's Day and a pretty rough day today, thank goodness this isn't paper and ink or you wouldn't be able to read this. fab
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Ruditoo
| Monday, May 19, 2003 - 8:58 am
Aunt Bob,the Feb.26 newspaper clip is to cute. I've gone back to it several times just for a good ROTF. I always look forward your Wensday YAB post. p.s.Hugs for turning me on to that thread.
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Bronxie
| Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - 5:53 pm
Once I was young, and now I'm old, Once I was pretty, now I don't recognize myself Once I had friends, now they're all dead, Once I had a career, Now, a lot of time, Once I had children, now they have children, Once I had a husband, now he awaits me in Heaven, Once I had success, now I'm shy, Once I had a home, now a two-room flat, Once I had tomorrows, now just yesterdays, Once I was a woman, now an agng widow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * So, listen to me children - While I nod and slightly wink, You better stop and smell that rose, It's later than you think. So keep on with that loven', Each and every day, Cause no matter how you fight it, It will not go away. And don't you shed no tears for me, I still have lots to say, I'll keep on posting on this Board, And thank God every day.
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Ruditoo
| Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 4:50 am
Bronwie,that was very dear. Thank you for taking the time to share it with us. I came here this morning hoping to find that this very special thread had been picked up again. It' one of my favorite' and I miss it.
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Ruditoo
| Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 4:53 am
Aunt_Bob turned me on to this thread. I will always be grateful. FF fab
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Sage
Member
09-07-2000
| Friday, January 30, 2004 - 5:01 pm
I am posting this again at the request of Zules. I hope it helps whoever needs it right now. It was a really big help to me when I left my fiance last October, and read it over and over again. AWAKENING A time comes in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of the "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are, and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the processs a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear, where you should shop, and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are, what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with, and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is a power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love, and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms, just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely. You look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up". You also stop working so hard at putting off your feelings, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK... And that it's your right to want things and ask for things that you want... And that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity, and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch... and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect. And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn that, for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve... and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perserverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time... FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes - bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean, running water, a soft, warm bed, a long, hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possiblity. Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can. AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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Zules
Member
08-21-2000
| Monday, February 02, 2004 - 2:24 pm
No matter what is happening in one's life, wisdom can be gained from this. Thanks so much Sage for posting it again.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 3:06 pm
What can say more than this rich praise -- that you alone are you? Shakespeare
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Zules
Member
08-21-2000
| Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 10:31 am
Color, wonderful - I love Ol' Will! One of my faves: This above all - To thine own self be true. ~ Shakespeare
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