The Guy In The Glass....

"If you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you a champion for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or brother,
Who upon you their judgment will pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please—never mind all the rest!
For he's with you clear up to the end.
And you've passed your most difficult test,
If the guy in the glass is your friend.…

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back, as you pass,
But your final reward will be headache or tears,
If you've cheated the guy in the glass."


Peter Wimbrow

Learning about life from a puzzle....

1-Don’t force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

2-When things aren’t going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

3-Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

4-Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

5-When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).

6-The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook.

7-Variety is the spice of life. It’s the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.

8-Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.

9-Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

10-Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

11-Take time often to celebrate your successes—even little ones.

12-Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can’t be rushed.



Author unknown

The strength of a man....

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's in the width of his arms that encircle you.

The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It's in the gentle words he whispers.

The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy he is with his children.

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected he is at home.

The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches.

The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his heart, that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in being true to one woman.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry.

Author unknown

You Learn ....

After awhile you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises and you begin to accept
your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
burns if you get too much so you plant your
own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn...


Veronica A. Shoffstall

You Have Wings....

You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly!


Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi

Letting Go ....

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring;
It means I can't do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off...
It's the realization that I can't control another...
To let go is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try and change or blame another,
I can only change myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own outcomes.
To let go is not to be protective,
It is to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue,
but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment.
To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and love more.


Author Unknown

Unconditional Love ....

When we love someone in its truest of form, it is a pure love, a love with no conditions. Love out of purity can develop over time or be instantaneous in some situations. When we love or care for someone unconditionally it is because we want to, not because we feel we have to. We don't love that person because of what they do for us.

We don't love them because we want something that they have. We love them because we have a special place reserved in our hearts and in our spirits specifically for them. This love is unshaken because it is based on truth not on convenience.

It doesn't even matter if our love is reciprocated by the person we care for. It doesn't matter f they turn their backs and walk away. It doesn't matter if they choose to say nothing at all, because the love you have for them exists regardless of the circumstance and regardless of the condition.

It is simply based on your strong sense of care for this individual. It is not based on power. It is not based ... It is based on love's purest intentions. When we love someone unconditionally, we love them as they are, as they were, and as they intend to be.

We embrace their past, their present, and their future as a fine intricate detail of who they are. When they speak, we listen to them. When they are still, we stand by their sides. When they need to be left alone, we leave them be, but we continue to love them even when separated by distance. Unconditional love goes beyond just the emotions of love, it develops in the core of our being as it is there where we hold those close to us so dearly.


Meilena Hauslendale