Inspiration Comes From Natural Beauty Too

Words To Live By

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass -- it's about learning to dance in the rain!  - Author Unknown

This was sent to me in an e-mail and it really touched me.  I hope it inspires you!

I showered and shaved............... I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat............... In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes...

I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began : 'Our Father'.............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.

They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.

The shoe man said............... A quiet 'Amen.'

I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?

'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor..

Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters......... His hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering...... And what I threw in was steep.

I watched as the shoe man reached..... Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me............ To tears, and that's no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man.... For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.

We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow................ And wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer......... I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark.... And his hair was truly a mess.

But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie............. I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'

There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.

'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.

'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''

'I know that my appearance............'Is not like all the rest.

'But I really do try.................'To always look my best..'

'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.

'But by the time I get here..........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'

My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.

As he continued to apologize........... For daring to sit so near

He said, 'When I get here..............'I know I must look a sight.

'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said.......'And taught me, in part;

'That the best of any man................'Is what is found in his heart.'

The rest, I thought,....................... This shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul

Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will.  Remember, everyone needs a friend.

In These Turbulent Times

Yesterday I was thinking just how hard it is for me to remain focused, upbeat and inspired... at times.  I thought about all of the news headlines I had read that day and about all the terrible news stories I saw on TV and I thought "wow, man, the world is in chaos."  And I guess to some degree, it is.


Lately...and by lately, I mean over the last 10 years or so, we've been inundated with negativity.  No sooner does news break about a new plan to help the poor, or a new plan to reduce the deficit and right there in the reader comment section, you see people posting things like "this will never work" or "yet another plan that will fail."  Well, yeah, with attitudes like that, how can anything succeed?


I think there is a new epidemic sweeping the planet and it's name is negativity.  Negativity is an insidious "disease" and I've found that once someone lets it get hold of them, it grows and takes over the whole body -- before the person realizes it, their whole outlook is dark and foreboding.  And... people pick up on that.


I've quoted Dr. Norman Vincent Peale many times and there's a reason why -- he was right!  Positive thinking cannot solve all the ills of the world, but it's a start.  Accomplishing something usually means having a passion and a drive -- usually, it means you are focused on something and, dare I say it...you are inspired!


So no matter how hard it is, I believe the key to success in life is to try and see the positive through all the negative and to try to be as motivated, upbeat and inspired as you possibly can.  Give it a try. 

Don't Touch That Bird!

Skylar Capo, an 11-year old girl from Fredricksburg VA thought she was being a humanitarian.  She is an “aspiring Veterinarian and when she saw her family Cat about to eat a baby Woodpecker in her Father’s backyard, she raced to save the bird.

"I've just always loved animals, I couldn't stand to watch it be eaten," said Skylar Capo

Skylar searched for the baby Woodpecker's mother, but couldn’t find it, so she and her Mother, Alison Capo, agreed to take it home. "She was just going to take care of it for a day or two, make sure it was safe and uninjured, and then she was going to let it go," said Alison Capo.

On the way home, they stopped at a Lowes in Fredericksburg and they brought the bird inside because of the heat. That's when they were confronted by another shopper who said she worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

"She was really nervous. She was shaking. Then she pulled out a badge," said Capo.

The problem…apparently, is that the Woodpecker is a protected species under the Federal Migratory Bird Act.  Thus, the logic goes (the law apparently) it is illegal to “take or transport” a baby woodpecker.  The Capo family says they had no idea.

So, nervous about being confronted by the long arm of the law for saving a baby bird, as soon as the Capo family got home, they opened the cage, the bird flew away, and they reported that fact to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"They said that's great, that's exactly what we want to see," said Capo. "We thought that we had done everything that we could possibly do."

But, about two weeks later, that same woman from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed up at Capo's front door. This time, Capo says the woman was accompanied by a state trooper.  Capo refused to accept a citation, but was later mailed a notice to appear in U.S. District Court for unlawfully taking a migratory bird.  She's also been slapped with a $535 fine.

"I feel harassed and I feel angry," said Capo.  "Kids should be able to save a baby bird and not end up going home crying because their mom has to pay $535. I just think that's crazy," said Skylar.

If convicted, Capo could face up to a year behind bars.  Which Capo though?  Alison the mother, or poor 11-year old Skylar!

This is a very concerning story and it relates to an article I recently read, which said that there are now so many federal laws on the books, the average citizen could be breaking laws without even realizing it. I mean who among us would think that saving a baby Woodpecker would be a crime?  And we wonder why people are so depressed and feel totally de-motivated?

Negativity Is Becoming More Of A Problem

During the heated debate and rhetoric over the debt ceiling increase "negotiations," it was pretty clear that this was more than just political wrangling.  It was very evident that negativity and unbridled anger played a major role in the debate.  Why?


Opposing views and philosophies between political parties is nothing new; neither is the fact that sometimes, politicians get heated and are at drastic odds with each other.  This time though, something was different.  The whole nation seemed divided in three:  Republicans on one side, Democrats on the other and Tea Party members jumping in the middle.


Now that a debt ceiling increase deal seems at the ready, you'd think people would be relieved, but they're not.  There is so much negativity and so many naysayers, it's enough to drain the energy and inspiration out of anyone.  Some Democrats are furious with Republicans and their own party (and particularly with Barack Obama it seems), many Republicans are furious with John Bohner and many within Republican leadership.  The Tea Party, it seems, will never be happy.


Looking at some political discussion groups and news sites this morning, it was disappointing to see that added into the mix of unhappy, negative people, are political and "economic" pundits -- they out of all seem almost gleeful to spread more doom and gloom. 


What happened to trying to see the bright side?  Where is the positive thinking and hope?


Folks, no matter what, it's imperative that you don't let all this negativity get to you.  Yes, it seems to be everywhere you turn, but if you recognize it for what it really is, you may find you actually feel bad for all of these doom and gloomers...just maybe  ;)   Stay positive, stay focused and always strive to be motivated and inspired.  In other words... don't let them get you down! 

Quotes To Ponder

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale had some very wise words to share.  Regardless of your particular religious beliefs, they really are very valuable:

When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

Drop the idea that you are Atlas carrying the world on your shoulders. The world would go on even without you. Don't take yourself so seriously.

Those who are fired with an enthusiastic idea and who allow it to take hold and dominate their thoughts find that new worlds open for them. As long as enthusiasm holds out, so will new opportunities.

It is of practical value to learn to like yourself. Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship.

Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible.

Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will.

Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.

Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful.

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

A positive mental attitude is a belief that things are going to turn out well, and that you can overcome any kind of trouble or difficulty.

The tests of life are not meant to break you, but to make you.

Live your life and forget your age.

If there is no fun in it, something is wrong with all you are doing.

Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.

Are You Normal?

Are you normal?  Am I?  That all depends on the definition of normal..but what is the definition of "normal?"  Maybe it doesn't matter, because if you're happy, perhaps that is all that counts when trying to figure out if you're "normal."

Reader's Digest, one of the best publications in the world, recently published this on their website:

Are You Normal? Take the “Normal Bar” Survey

What do we mean when we say “normal”? Welcome to the Normal Bar, a new survey that might actually help us answer this question. The Normal Bar probes the feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of people who participate in the survey.  It aims to define a “new normal” standard based on what real people share about their experiences. Seventeen different content areas, including family, sexuality, money, and happiness, are open to users who, after they finish their survey, can see where they fall on a “normal bar,” based on their answers.

“I’m not an advocate for being normal. But we are interested in what it looks like,” says Chrisanna Northrup, who developed the survey—the findings of which will be published in a book next year—with Dr. Pepper Schwartz, the author of several bestselling books on relationships and sexuality, and sociologist Dr. James Witte, director of the Center for Social Science Research at George Mason University.
Here’s how it works: Users are first asked general questions about their age, employment, and relationship status. Their responses to these core questions shape their path through the rest of the survey.

Next, users can choose specific surveys that pose incisive questions; the variety of topics includes Communication, Romance, Daily Life, Addiction, and others. You may take as many surveys as you wish, and will be given a personalized link if you choose to respond to the surveys in separate sittings.

Reader’s Digest has chosen to focus surveys on Friends and Family, Sex, and Happiness. The results of these surveys may be featured in our magazine or on readersdigest.com. Northrup and her colleagues will also use the results to illuminate larger, more general trends about how we live today, very likely calling into question the very concept of “normal.”

Take the survey HERE and see how your “normal” compares to others’.



The above is courtesy of Reader's Digest.

Who Can Turn the World On With Their Smile?

Borrowing from the theme song to the Mary Tyler Moore show, who can turn the world on with their smile?

The answer?  Everyone.   That may seem sappy or even unrealistic, but in actual fact, studies have shown that smiles have an incredible impact on the self and others.

I'm certainly not saying that a smile can make everything better or that a smile is even easy to muster sometimes -- but, try it.  Try thinking of something good in life.  Think about something that makes you happy and almost without your knowledge, you'll find yourself smiling.

So maybe try to turn the world on with you smile!  :)