Nice article. Makes sense to me! Enjoy!
Ben's first duty as a new pastor was to conduct a funeral service for Albert, a man who had died in his eighties. Since he didn't know the deceased, he invited members of the congregation to say a few kind words about Albert.
No one budged. "Many of you knew Albert for years," Ben prompted them. "Surely someone can say something nice."
After an uncomfortable pause, a voice from the back of the room said, "Well, his brother was worse."
If you died tomorrow, what would people say about you? Would their comments make you proud of the way you lived and the choices you made?
There's an old saying: "If you want to know how to live your life, think about what you'd like people to say about you after you die.and live backwards."
Thinking about the legacy we want to leave can help us keep our priorities straight. When the end is near, it's not likely any of us will say, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office." Unfortunately, many of us only begin to realize the value of the time we have after we've frittered much of it away in shallow ruts going nowhere important.
It's hard to think now what will matter later. But doing so can dramatically improve our chances of living a full and meaningful life with few regrets.
Knowing how we want to be remembered also allows us to make a strategic plan for our lives. How much wiser would our choices be if we had the wisdom and discipline to regularly ask ourselves whether all the things we do and say are taking us where we want to be at the end?
In a sense, we write our eulogies by the choices we make every day.
by Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Friday, March 12, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Great Health Quote!!
"The number one cause and cure of America's health care crisis is right under your nose. It's what you put in your mouth." - F. Matt Brown, MD
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
"The Greatest Advice" by Rick Warren
This is a great piece written by Rick Warren. I hope you enjoy and share with friends and family.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger. Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals. Don't stagnate!
Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. / Mrs. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. / Mrs. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.
Learn a new skill. Find a new friend. Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.
Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life. You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.
It isn't true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger. Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals. Don't stagnate!
Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. / Mrs. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. / Mrs. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.
Learn a new skill. Find a new friend. Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.
Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life. You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.
It isn't true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Understanding the Path to the Podium
Not sure of the author of this piece, but it is brilliant! There is a link below which might be worth checking out. I would have bet my life that "work ethic" would have been higher on the list!! I think they may have confused Dedication/Persistance with Work Ethic. Just my view. Great article!!
A survey of 759 Olympians listed factors that contributed to their success, as well as negative factors that influenced them. Not all of these are strictly personality or character issues, but they do, overall, affect mental performance when striving to achieve a goal?
Top 10 Factors Influencing Olympic Success:
1. Dedication and Persistence (58%): These Olympians were quick to acknowledge the positive influence of their inner drive, desire, persistence, and commitment to achieving their goals; to being the best they could be.
2. Family and Friends (52%): The influence of family and friends was pervasive in the development of these athletes.
3. Coaches (49%): Not surprising, these Olympians identified excellent coaches throughout their development as having a significant influence on their success. As identified by the athletes, coaches provided such things as expertise, encouragement, and motivation.
4. Love of Sport (27%): Many of the Olympians in this study felt that their love of and passion for the sport greatly influenced their success, often providing them with the necessary motivation to
continue training in less than optimal conditions.
5. Training Programs and Facilities (22%): Opportunities and access to good training were critical.
6. Natural Talent (22%): While the athletes exerted a significant influence on their success through their dedication and hard work, natural or God-given talent was also recognized as a critical factor. Olympians
in this study noted that a genetic predisposition played a role in their success.
7. Competitiveness (15%): A strong competitive nature and love of competition was identified as a factor influencing success.
8. Focus (13%): The athletes reported their ability to stay focused on their goals and the task at hand, despite distractions such as significant others or other life roles, as having a significant influence on their success
9. Work Ethic (12%): These Olympians worked for the success they achieved. They reported that hard work and a strong work ethic was a factor that influenced their success.
10. Financial Support (12%)
See "Understanding the Path to the Podium."
http://www.olympic-usa.org/education/coach_spring2003.pdf
A survey of 759 Olympians listed factors that contributed to their success, as well as negative factors that influenced them. Not all of these are strictly personality or character issues, but they do, overall, affect mental performance when striving to achieve a goal?
Top 10 Factors Influencing Olympic Success:
1. Dedication and Persistence (58%): These Olympians were quick to acknowledge the positive influence of their inner drive, desire, persistence, and commitment to achieving their goals; to being the best they could be.
2. Family and Friends (52%): The influence of family and friends was pervasive in the development of these athletes.
3. Coaches (49%): Not surprising, these Olympians identified excellent coaches throughout their development as having a significant influence on their success. As identified by the athletes, coaches provided such things as expertise, encouragement, and motivation.
4. Love of Sport (27%): Many of the Olympians in this study felt that their love of and passion for the sport greatly influenced their success, often providing them with the necessary motivation to
continue training in less than optimal conditions.
5. Training Programs and Facilities (22%): Opportunities and access to good training were critical.
6. Natural Talent (22%): While the athletes exerted a significant influence on their success through their dedication and hard work, natural or God-given talent was also recognized as a critical factor. Olympians
in this study noted that a genetic predisposition played a role in their success.
7. Competitiveness (15%): A strong competitive nature and love of competition was identified as a factor influencing success.
8. Focus (13%): The athletes reported their ability to stay focused on their goals and the task at hand, despite distractions such as significant others or other life roles, as having a significant influence on their success
9. Work Ethic (12%): These Olympians worked for the success they achieved. They reported that hard work and a strong work ethic was a factor that influenced their success.
10. Financial Support (12%)
See "Understanding the Path to the Podium."
http://www.olympic-usa.org/education/coach_spring2003.pdf
Love The Game!
Love the game.
Love the game for the pure joy of accomplishment.
Love the game for everything it can teach you about yourself.
Love the game for the feeling of belonging to a group endeavoring to do its best.
Love the game for being involved in a team whose members can't wait to see you do your best.
Love the game for the challenge of working harder than you ever have at something and then harder than that.
Love the game because it takes all team members to give it life.
Love the game because at its best, the game tradition will include your contributions.
Love the game because you belong to a long line of fine athletes who have loved it.
It is now your legacy.
Love the game so much that you will pass on your love of the game to another athlete who has seen your dedication, your work, your challenges, your triumphs... and then that athlete will, because of you, love the game.
- Author Unknown
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