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

Thought 28JAN2010

A MILLION-DOLLAR LESSON
I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on one client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up. The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed it. As he got into the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy. Well! I looked around to see if I was on Candid Camera. Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving. "Obviously you take great pride in your work," I said to the driver. "You must have a story to tell."

He did. "I used to be in Corporate America," he began. "But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough, fast enough, or appreciated enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be. I knew I could never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well." After evaluating his personal assets, he decided to become a cab driver. "Not just a regular taxi hack," he continued, "but a professional cab driver. One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But to be great in my business, I'd have to exceed the customer's expectation. I like the sound of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average.'" Did I tip him big time? You bet. Corporate America's loss is the travelling folks' gain!
Petey Parker - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss, Health Communications, Inc., 1996
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer - Albert Einstein

Thought 27JAN2010

PACO, COME HOME
In a small town in Spain, a man named Jorge had a bitter argument with his young son Paco. The next day Jorge discovered that Paco's bed was empty - he had run away from home. Overcome with remorse, Jorge searched his soul and realized that his son was more important to him than anything else. He wanted to start over. Jorge went to a well-known store in the centre of town and posted a large sign that read, "Paco, come home. I love you. Meet me here tomorrow morning."

The next morning Jorge went to the store, where he found no less than seven young boys named Paco who had also run away from home. They were all answering the call for love, each hoping it was his dad inviting him home with open arms.
Alan Cohen - extracted from 'A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc., 1996
I am a slow worker, but I never walk backwards - Abraham Lincoln

Thought 26JAN2010

THE LITTLE BOY AND THE OLD MAN
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the little old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded. "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
Shel Silverstein - Submitted by Ruth Wiele - extracted from 'a 3rd serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc; 1996
La risa es el mejor remedio / Laughter is the best medicine - Spanish Proverb

Thought 25JAN2010

LET'S START OVER
Some time ago, I had a direct experience of what I describe as "High Performance Customer Service." It occurred on a Saturday, on a cold winter's day in Toronto. The weekend began, as with many other second-family situations, with my children visiting their mother. My wife, Katie and I had a weekend alone. Saturday was an exercise in leisure and tranquillity. We got up late and everything in the day was a pleasurable three or four hours late. After browsing shops and galleries, we arrived at a prominent four-star hotel at around four o'clock in the afternoon, ready for a late lunch. The restaurant staff was most accommodating. Kate ordered a stir-fry of some sort and when it arrived, the real adventure began.

Nestled neatly in Kate's stir-fry was the tip of a finger from a latex glove. I called the waitress. "What is this?" Kate inquired with an appropriate level of indignation. "I'm not sure," replied the waitress as she whisked the plate away to the kitchen. In less than a minute the waitress returned with the maitre d'. "Madame, we have made a dreadful mistake and apologize sincerely." So far so good. "Let us start over," the maitre d' continued. "Remove everything from the table," he instructed the waitress. The waitress proceeded to remove everything - the wine, the cutlery, my food, the tablecloth - everything! "Let us erase the memory," said the maitre d'.

The table was reset, menus presented and new wine and food ordered. We were on our way once again to a fantastic lunch. The maitre d' took a bad service impression and replaced it with an outstanding one. He did not deny the experience, but substituted a higher, richer one in its place. The food was good, the service superlative. This was theater. And the meal was complimentary.
Richard Porter - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss, Health Communications, Inc., 1996
Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance - Samuel Johnson

Thought 22JAN2010

CHILDREN LEARN WITH WHAT THEY LIVE
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy
If children live with jealousy, they learn what envy is
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty
If children live with tolerance. they learn to be patient
If children live with encouragement, they learn to be confident
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves
If children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous
If children live with honesty and fairness, they learn what truth and justice are
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them
If children live with friendliness, they learn that the world is a nice place in which to live
If children live with serenity, they learn to have peace of mind
With what are your children living ???
Dorothy L. Nolte - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc, 1993
En el termino medio esta la virtud / More than enough is too much - Spanish Proverb

Thought 21JAN2010

THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS
There is a wonderful fable about a young orphan girl who had no family and no one to love her. One day, feeling exceptionally sad and lonely, she was walking through a meadow when she noticed a small butterfly caught unmercifully in a thorn bush. The more the butterfly struggled to free itself, the deeper the thorns cut into its fragile body. The young orphan girl carefully released the butterfly from its captivity. Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief. "For your wonderful kindness," the good fairy said to the girl, "I will grant you any wish you would like." The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, "I want to be happy!"

The fairy said, "Very well," and leaned towards her and whispered in her ear. Then the good fairy vanished. As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she. Everyone asked her the secret of her happiness. She would only smile and answer, "The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl." When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbours all rallied around her, afraid that her fabulous secret of happiness would die with her. "Tell us, please," they begged. "Tell us what the good fairy said." The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, "She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, had need of me."
The Speaker's Sourcebook - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
El movimiento se demuestra andando / Actions speak louder than words - Spanish Proverb

Thought 20JAN2010

A TALE OF TWO CITIES
A traveler nearing a great city asked a woman seated by the wayside, "What are the people like in the city?" "How were the people where you came from?" "A terrible lot," the traveler responded. "Mean, untrustworthy, detestable in all respects." "Ah," said the woman. "you'll find them the same in the city ahead."

Scarcely was the first traveler gone when another one stopped and also inquired about the people in the city before him. Again the old woman asked about the people in the place the traveler had left. "They were fine people; honest, industrious and generous to a fault. I was sorry to leave," declared the second traveler. Responded the wise woman: "So you will find them in the city ahead."
The Best of Bits and Pieces - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne & Marci Shimoff, Health Communications, Inc., 1996
El tiempo restaura las heridas / Time heals all wounds - Spanish Proverb

Thought 19JAN2010

RESPECT SKILL
An American was travelling in Afghanistan when his Cadillac stalled. He did everything, but it didn't start. Finally, a mechanic came from the hills riding a donkey. He opened the bonnet and hit the cylinder head six times. He asked the American to start it and it did. The American asked, "How much?" The mechanic said, "$100.00." On being asked to itemize it, the mechanic said, "$0.10 for hitting six times and $99.90 for knowing where to hit." The American paid sheepishly.
extracted from 'Management Thoughts' by Promod Batra, Golden Book Centre Sdn Bhd, reprinted 1995
Bewsa minghajr taghniqa donnha warda minghajr fwieha / A kiss without a hug is like a flower without fragrance - Maltese Proverb

Thought 18JAN2010

HOW TRUE ...
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you're keeping all of these in the Air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it."

WORK EFFICIENTLY DURING OFFICE HOURS AND LEAVE ON TIME. GIVE THE REQUIRED TIME TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS & HAVE PROPER REST.
Speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola) - got this from Atan (Hanapiah) of CELCOM
Activity breeds prosperity - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 15JAN2010

POINTS TO PONDER by Paul Quinnett
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "To travel hopefully is better than to arrive." This could be rewritten for fishermen, "It is better to fish hopefully than to catch fish." Fishing is hope experienced. To be optimistic in a slow bite is to thrive on hope alone. When asked, "How can you fish all day without a bite?" the true fisherman replies, "Hold it! I think I felt something." If the line goes slack, he says, "He'll be back!"

When it comes to the human spirit, hope is all. Without hope, there is no yearning, no desire for a better tomorrow and no belief that the next cast will bring the big strike.
Pavlov's Trout - Extracted from Reader's Digest, November 1995 - Points to Ponder
If skill could be gained by watching, every dog would become a butcher - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 14JAN2010

ALWAYS RETURN YOUR PHONE CALLS
Angela knew that Charlotte, her best friend, was having a rough time. Charlotte was moody and depressed. She was withdrawn around everyone except for Angela. She instigated arguments with her mom and had violent confrontations with her sister. Most of all, Charlotte's bleak and desperate poetry worried Angela. No one was on particularly good speaking terms with Charlotte that summer. For most of her friends, Charlotte had become too difficult. They had no interest in hanging out with someone who was so bleak and in so much paid. Their attempts to "be a friend" were met with angry accusations or depressed indifference.

Angela was the only one who could reach her. Although she would have liked to be outside, Angela spent most of her time inside with her troubled friend. Then a day came when Angela had to move. She was going just across town, but Charlotte would no longer be her neighbour and they would be spending far less time together. The first day in her new neighbourhood, out playing with her new neighbours, Angela wondered how Charlotte was doing. When she got home, shortly before twilight, her mother told her Charlotte had called. Angela went to the phone to return the call. No answer. She left a message on Charlotte's machine. "Hi Charlotte, it's Angela. Call me back."

About half an hour later Charlotte called. "Angela, I have to tell you something. When you called, I was in the basement. I had a gun to my head. I was about to kill myself, but then I heard your voice on the machine upstairs." Angela collapsed into her chair. "When I heard your voice I realized someone loves me and I am so lucky that it is you. I'm going to get help, because I love you, too." Charlotte hung up the phone. Angela went right over to Charlotte's house and they sat on the porch swing and cried.
Anonymous - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
Bil-flus hadd ma jixtri il-genna / You can't buy heaven with money - Maltese Proverb

Thought 13JAN2010

SPEAK THE CUSTOMER'S LANGUAGE
In 1955, when I was office head salesman in Procter & Gamble's Memphis district, I was assigned to spend a day in the field with the district's senior sales rep, Charlie 'Soapy' Asbury. Charlie had been around for over 20 years and was a legend in Mississippi, where he had always lived and worked, It seemed like virtually every retail store owner and retail clerk knew Soapy; these people would wait impatiently from month to month to just hear his tales, his jokes and of course, his spiel lauding P&G's soaps. Young sales reps who were assigned to work with Soapy considered it an honour as well as an invaluable learning experience. That day in the Mississippi Delta country was an eye-opener for me. To my surprise, Soapy did not use any of the proven techniques we had all been taught from the manual. He just walked in and took over a store by sheer force of personality. His arrival at any of these small mom-and-pop stores, which controlled the business in that area (there were no supermarkets in this territory in those days), was equivalent to a movie star making a grand entry. Everyone, including the customers, looked up to Charlie and treated him as somebody special.

One of ,my first stops with Charlie was at a very small store that was typical of the time and place. Out front was an antique gasoline pump; two hound dogs sat on the small porch. Waiting for Charlie inside were the Chinese couple who owned the store. They lived in a room just behind the selling area of this tiny store. And, as I quickly observed, their command of English was limited. The first words out of Soapy's mouth were, "Is you bed soft or hard, Mr Bing?" Without a moment's hesitation, Mr Bing replied, "Bed is hard!" Hearing this, Soapy declared, "Thank you very much, Mr Bing, I'll see you next trip." As soon as we got outside, I asked Soapy what that had been all about. He explained that due to lack of storage space, Mr Bing kept all the cases of his P&G products under his bed in the back room. Therefore, when the bed was hard, he had ample inventory; but when the bed was soft, he needed to reorder from Soapy. Soapy knew everything about his customers.
Lou Pritchett - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte & Tim Clauss, Health Communications, Inc., 1996.
Part with your head, but not with your secret - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 12JAN2010

REMEMBER ME ?
I'm the fellow who goes into a restaurant, sits down patiently and waits while the waitresses do everything but to take my order. I'm the fellow who goes into a department store and stands quietly while the sales clerks finish their little chit-chat. I'm the man who drives into a petrol station and never blows his horn, but waits patiently while the attendant finishes reading his comic book. Yes, you might say I'm a good guy. But do you know who else I am? I'm the fellow who never comes back, and it amuses me to see you spending thousand of ringgit every year to get me back when I was there in the first place .... and all you had to do was to show me a little courtesy.
Source Unknown - found on a little piece of paper on the notice board in my office - when I was still working; many many many many moons ago
Those who know do not talk; those who talk do not know - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 11JAN2010

SHE TOLD ME IT WAS OKAY TO CRY
I saw her last night for the first time in years. She was miserable. She had bleached her hair, trying to hide its true colour, just as her rough front hid her deep unhappiness. She needed to talk, so we went for a walk. While I thought about my future, the college applications that had recently arrived, she thought about her past, the home she had recently left. Then she spoke. She told me about her love - and I saw a dependent relationship with a dominating man. She told me about the drugs - and I saw that they were her escape. She told me about her goals - and I saw unrealistic material dreams. She told me she needed a friend - and I saw hope, because at least I could give her that.

We had met in the second grade. She was missing a tooth, I was missing my friends. I had just moved across the continent to find cold metal swings and cold smirking faces outside the foreboding doors of P.S. 174, my new school. I asked her if I could see her Archie comic book, even though I didn't really like comics, she said yes, even though she didn't really like to share. Maybe we were both looking for a smile. And we found it. We found someone to giggle with late at night, someone to slurp hot chocolate with on the cold winter days when school was cancelled and we would sit together by the bay window, watching the snow endlessly falling. In the summer, at the pool, I got stung by a bee. She held my hand and told me that she was there and that it was okay to cry - so I did. In the fall, we raked the leaves into piles and took turns jumping, never afraid because we knew that the multicoloured bed would break our fall.

Only now, she had fallen and there was no one to catch her. We hadn't spoken in months, we hadn't seen each other in years. I had moved to California, she had moved out of the house. Our experiences were miles apart, making our hearts much farther away from each other that the continent she had just traversed. Through her words I was alienated, but through her eyes I felt her yearning. She needed support in her search for strength and a new start. She needed my friendship now more than ever. So I took her hand and told her that I was there and that it was okay to cry - so she did.
Daphna Renan - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
Open your eyes, not your mouth - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 08JAN2010

YOU ARE JUDGED BY THE WAY YOU SPEAK
Once an old sage sat meditating under a banyan tree. He was blind. A man came up and said : "Hey! old man, did you hear anyone passing this way?" The sage replied, "No, my good man, I did not hear anyone." After a while another man went up to the old sage and asked, "Old man, did you hear anyone going this way?" The sage replied, "Oh yes, a man went by just now and he asked the same question." The man went away. After some time another man came and asked, "Noble sir, did you hear anyone passing this way?"

The old sage replied, "Yes, your Majesty. A soldier went first and then your Chief Minister. Both of them asked the same question." The man was surprised and asked, "Good sir, how do you know that I am a king and that the other two were a soldier and a Chief Minister?" The sage answered. "Your Majesty, I knew them by their manner of speaking. The first man spoke very rudely. The second man was a little more polite, but Your Majesty was the most polite." The king went away astonished at the sage's astuteness.
extracted from 'Management Thoughts' by Promod Batra, Golden Book Centre Sdn Bhd, reprinted 1995
El que nace para medio nunca llega a real / If you don't have what it takes you won't get on in the world - Spanish Proverb

Thought 07JAN2010

MY FIRST KISS, AND THEN SOME
I was a very shy teenager and so was my first boyfriend. We were high school sophomores in a small town. We had been dating for about six months. A lot of sweaty hand-holding, actually watching movies and talking about nothing in particular. We often came close to kissing - we both knew that we wanted to be kissed - but neither of us had the courage to make the first move. Finally, while sitting on my living room couch, he decided to go for it. We talked about the weather (really), then he leaned forward. I put a pillow up to my face to block him! He kissed the pillow. I wanted to be kissed sooooo badly, but I was too nervous to let him get close. So I moved away, down the couch. He moved closer. We talked about the movie (who cared!), he leaned forward again. I blocked him again.

I moved to the end of the couch. He followed, we talked. He leaned ... I stood up! I walked over near the front door and stood there, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed and simply said impatiently. "Well, are you going to kiss me or not?" "Yes", he said. So I stood tall, closed my eyes tight, puckered my lips and faced upwards. I waited ... and waited. (Why wasn't he kissing me?) I opened my eyes, he was coming right at me. I smiled. HE KISSED MY TEETH! I could have died. He left. I wondered if he had told anyone about my clumsy behaviour. Since I was so extremely and painfully shy, I practically hid for the next two years, causing me to never have another date all through high school. As a matter of fact, when I walked down the hallway at school, if I saw him or any other great guy walking towards me, I quickly stepped into the nearest room until he passed. And these were boys I had known since kindergarten.

The first year at college, I went home. I walked into the latest hangout and who do you suppose I see sitting at the bar, but my old kissing partner. I walked over to his bar stool and tapped him on the shoulder. Without hesitation, I took him in my arms, dipped him back over his stool and kissed him with my most assertive kiss.. I sat him up, looked at him victoriously and said, "So there!" He pointed to the lady next to him and said to me, "Mary Jane, I'd like you to meet my wife."
Mary Jane West-Delgado - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
Guests bring good luck with them - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 06JAN2010

COURAGE IN ACTION
A couple of years ago, I witnessed courage that ran chills up and down my spine. At a high school assembly, I had spoken about picking on people and how each of us has the ability to stand up for people instead of putting them down. Afterwards, we had a time when anyone could come out of the bleachers and speak into the microphone. Students could say thank-you to someone who had helped them and some people came up and did just that. A girl thanked some friends who had helped her through family troubles. A boy spoke of some people who had supported him during an emotionally difficult time. Then a senior girl stood up. She stepped over to the microphone, pointed to the sophomore section and challenged her whole school. "Let's stop picking on that boy. Sure, he's different from us, but we are in this thing together. On the inside he's no different from us and needs our acceptance, love, compassion and approval. He needs a friend. Why do we continually brutalize him and put him down? I'm challenging this entire school to lighten up on him and give him a chance!"

All the time she entered, I had my back to the section where the boy sat and I had no idea who he was. But obviously the school knew. I felt almost afraid to look at his section, thinking the boy must be red in the face, wanting to crawl under his seat and hide from the world. But as I glanced back, I saw a boy smiling from ear to ear. His whole body bounced up and down and he raised on fist in the air. His body language said, "Thank you, thank you. Keep telling them. You saved my life today!"
Bill Sanders - extracted from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger, Health Communications, Inc., 1997
Of everything else the newest; of friends, the oldest - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 05JAN2010

THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE
It was June 15 and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me. My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my old friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn't full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas's age, so I asked him, "What was the best time of your life?"

Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, "Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question: "When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life. When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life. When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life. When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life."

"The Second World War came and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life. When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life. When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life." And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life."
Joe Kemp - extracted from 'a 5th portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc., 1998
A knife-wound heals, but a tongue-wound festers - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 04JAN2010

NOTHING COULD STOP THIS MAN
After suffering severe burns on his legs at the age of five, Glenn Cunningham was given up on by doctors who believed he would be a hopeless cripple destined to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. "He will never be able to walk again," they said. "No chance." The doctors examined his legs, but they had no way of looking into Glenn Cunningham's heart. He didn't listen to the doctors and set out to walk again. Lying in bed, his skinny, red legs covered with scar tissue, Glen vowed, "Next week, I'm going to get out of bed. I'm going to walk." And he did just that.

His mother tells of how she used to push back the curtain and look out the window to watch Glenn reach up and take hold of an old plow in the yard. With a hand on each handle, he began to make his gnarled and twisted legs function. And with every step a step of pain, he came closer to walking. Soon he began to trot; before long he was running . When he started to run, he became even more determined. "I always believed that I could walk, and I did. Now I'm going to run faster than anybody has ever run." And did he ever. He became a great miler who, in 1934, set the world's record of 4:06. He was honoured as the outstanding athlete of the century at Madison Square Garden.
Jeff Yalden - extracted from 'A cup of chicken soup for the soul', Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk, Health Communications, Inc., 1996
Arava u susuhan da su vahay a mapsek / No one burns the house of a good man - Ivatan Proverb