Thought 10FEB2010

GETTING THE GARBAGE OUT
When architect Jaime Lerner was appointed mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, in 1973, it was a rapidly growing town of 500,000 with sprawling favelas (slums). The favelas had many problems, not the least of which was garbage that could not be collected because of narrow or non-existence streets. Since trucks could not get in and because the garbage was attracting rodents that could carry disease, Lerner had to come up with a way to get the garbage out. His solution was to pay people for their garbage by placing recycling bins around the favelas and giving the people tokens to the city's transport system for the separated and, therefore, recyclable trash. For organic waste, which was taken by farmers and made into fertilizer for their fields, he gave chits that could be exchanged for food.

It has worked spectacularly. Kids scour the favelas for trash and can spot the difference between polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene bottles. The tokens give the poorer citizens the means to get out of the favelas to where the jobs are, while promoting cleanliness, frugality and the reclaiming and recycling of waste.
Paul Hawken - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss, Health Communications, Inc., 1996.
Nunca llueve a gusto de todos / One man's meat is another man's poison - Spanish Proverb

Thought 10FEB2010

TAKE A STAND
Jackie Robinson made history when he became the first black baseball player to break into the major leagues by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. Branch Rickey, owner of the Dodgers at that time, told Robinson, "It'll be tough. You're going to take abuse you never dreamed of. But if you're willing to try, I'll back you all the way." And Rickey was right. Jackie was abused verbally (not to mention physically by runners coming into second base). Racial slurs from the crowd and members of his own team, as well as from opponents, were standard fare.

One day, Robinson was having it particularly tough. He had booted two ground balls and the boos were cascading over the diamond. In full view of thousands of spectators, Pee Wee Reese, the team captain and Dodger shortstop, walked over and put his arm around Jackie right in the middle of the game. "That may have saved my career," Robinson reflected later. "Pee Wee made me feel that I belonged." Be sure that the employees of your team feel that they belong.
Denis Waitley - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss, Health Communications, Inc., 1996
Ley pareja no es dura / rigurosa / A rule isn't unfair if it applies to everyone - Spanish Proverb

Thought 09FEB2010

SPELLING BEE
In the fourth round of a national spelling bee in Washington, eleven-year-old Rosalie Elliot, a champion from South Carolina, was asked to spell the word avowal. Her soft Southern accent made it difficult for judges to determine if she had used an a or an e as the next to last letter of the word. They deliberated for several minutes and also listened to tape recording playbacks, but still they couldn't determine which letter had been pronounced. Finally the chief judge, John Lloyd, put the question to the only person who knew the answer. He asked Rosalie, "Was the letter an a or an e?"

Rosalie, surrounded by whispering young spellers, knew by now the correct spelling of the word. But without hesitation, she replied that she had misspelled the word and had used an e.

As she walked from the stage, the entire audience stood and applauded her honesty and integrity, including dozens of newspaper reporters covering the event, While Rosalie had not won the contest, she had definitely emerged a winner that day.
God's Little Devotional Book for Students - Honor Books - extracted from 'a 5th portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc., 1998
La compania en la miseria hace a esta mas llevadera / Two in distress makes sorrow less - Spanish Proverb

Thought 08FEB2010

START WITH YOURSELF
These words were written on the tomb of a Bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized : If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and who knows, I may have even changed the world.
Anonymous - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Cranfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc, 1993.
Palabras no sacan sangre / No offense taken when none is meant - Spanish Proverb

Thought 05FEB2010

THE HOME RUN
On June 18th, I went to my little brother's baseball game as I always did. Cory was 12 years old at the time and had been playing baseball for a couple of years. When I saw that he was warming up to be next at bat, I decided to head over to the dugout to give him a few pointers. But when I got there, I simply said, "I love you." In return he asked, "Does this mean you want me to hit a home run?" I smiled and said, "Do your best."

As he walked up to the plate, there was a certain aura about him. He looked so confident and so sure about what he was going to do. One swing was all he took and, wouldn't you know, he hit his first home run! He ran around those bases with such pride - his eyes sparkled and his face was lit up. But what touched my heart the most was when he walked back over to the dugout. He looked over at me with the biggest smile I've ever seen and said, "I love you too, Ter." I don't remember if his team won or lost that game. On that special summer day in June, it simply didn't matter.
Terri Vandermark - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
Los mirones son de piedra / If you want to watch, you'd better keep quiet - Spanish Proverb

Thought 04FEB2010

I'D RATHER
I'd rather be a mother; Than anyone on earth
Bringing up a child or two; Of unpretentious birth
I'd rather nurse a rosy babe; With warm lips on my breast
Than wear a queen's medallion; Above a heart less blest.
I'd rather tuck a little child; All safe and sound in bed
Than twine a chain of diamonds; About my foolish head.
I'd rather wash a smudgy face; With round, bright baby eyes
Than paint the pageantry of fame; Or walk among the wise.
Meredith Gray - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne & Marci Shimoff, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
La comida, a reposar; y la cena a pasear / After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile - Spanish Proverb

Thought 03FEB2010

WHAT'S A GRANDMOTHER
A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own. She likes other people's little girls and boys. A grandfather is a man grandmother. He goes for walks with the boys and they talk about fishing and stuff like that. Grandmothers don't have to do anything except to be there. They're so old that they shouldn't play hard or run. It is enough if they drive us to the market where the pretend horse is and have lots of dimes ready. Or if they take us for walks, they should slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars. They should never say "hurry up."

Usually, grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums off. Grandmothers don't have to be smart, only answer questions like, "Why isn't God married?" and "How come dogs chase cats?" Grandmothers don't talk baby talk like visitors do, because it is hard to understand. When they read to us they don't skip or mind if it is the same story over again. Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if they don't have a television, because they are the only grown-ups who have time.
Source unknown - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne and Marci Shimoff, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
En esta vida caduca el que no trabaja no manduca / No bees, no honey; no work, no money - Spanish Proverb

Thought 02FEB2010

ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Just before opening the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, Walt Disney was touring the ride and felt strangely dissatisfied. In his heart he felt that something was missing, although he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. He gathered as many employees as he could find - including the maintenance and food service personnel - and led them through a kind of sensual "tour de focus." "Does it look right?" he asked. Yes, the costumes and shrubbery were authentic; the buildings had been copied from the New Orleans French Quarter, down to their intricate wrought-iron decorations. They all looked right.

"Does it sound right?" Disney had the latest in audio equipment installed to accurately reproduce the sounds of music, voices, boats and even animals that you'd associate with the Caribbean. Yes, it sounded right. "Does it feel right?" He had controlled the temperature and humidity to exactly that of a sultry New Orleans night. Yes, it felt right. "Does it smell right?" An elaborate, smell-producing system had been created that could combine the smells of Cajun food with gunpowder, moss and brine. Yes, it smelled right. And yet something was still missing. "What is it?" Disney asked.

Finally, one of the young men who had been sweeping the floors said, "Well, Mr Disney, I grew up in the South and what strikes me is that on a summer night like this, there ought to be lightning bugs." Disney's face lit up. That, of course was it! The young man was given a generous bonus and Disney actually had live lightning bugs shipped in until he could figure out a way to imitate them mechanically.
Bryan W Mattimore - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss, Health Communications, Inc., 1996.
Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never, never - in nothing great or small, large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense - Winston Churchill

Thought 01FEB2010

ON THAT NOTE
One year when I was teaching second grade, a new child entered our class mid-year. His name was Daniel and he brought a special light to our class.

Daniel came over me one afternoon at the end of the school day. He said, "Ms Johnson, I have a note for you from my old teacher. It's not on paper though, it's in my head." Daniel leaned over and said, "She wanted me to tell you how lucky you are to have me in your class!"
Krista Lyn Johnson - extracted from 'a 4th course of chicken soup for the soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Hanoch McCarty and Meladee McCarty, Health Communication Inc, 1997
It's when things get rough and you don't quit that success comes - Anonymous

Thought 29JAN2010

THE GOSSIPER
A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbour. Within a few days the whole community knew the story. The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended. Later, the woman responsible for spreading the rumour learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old sage to find out what she could do to repair the damage. "Go to the marketplace." he said, "and purchase a chicken and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers and drop them one by one along the road." Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told.

The next day the wise man said, "Now, go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me." The woman followed the same road, but to her dismay the wind had blown all the feathers away. After searching for hours, she returned with only three in her hand. "You see," said the old sage, "it's easy to drop them, but it's impossible to get them back. So it is with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a rumour, but once you do, you can never completely undo the wrong."
author unknown - submitted by Helen Hazinski - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
Moving on is simple. It's what you leave behind that makes it so difficult - Anonymous