A Thought for Today

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. 

-William James, psychologist and philosopher (1842-1910) 

Forgiveness

Unconditional forgiveness is the path to your own inner peace.
- jlh

The key to forgiveness is to forgive from the heart -- not from the mind.
- Sheri Rosenthal

Forgiveness does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future.
- Paul Boese

We are most like God when we forgive.
- Anonymous

Thought for Today

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. 

-William James, psychologist and philosopher (1842-1910) 

Progress...

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."

-Frank Zappa 

Thought for Today

Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it, it is what the client or customer gets out of it. 

-Peter Drucker

Thought for Today

"Wise sayings often fall on barren ground; but a kind word is never thrown away."

Sir Arthur Helps 

A Thought for Today

Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose.

~Lyndon B. Johnson

To React or Respond?

Suddenly, a cockroach flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. I wondered if this was the cockroaches response to all the glory that was spoken about it! 

She started screaming out of fear. With panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group got cranky to what was happening. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach to another lady in the group. 

Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behaviour of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed and threw it out with his fingers. 

Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behaviour? If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos. 

It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies. 

I realised even in my case then, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss that disturbs me, but its my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me. Its not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me. More than the problem, its my reaction to the problem that hurts me. 

The Take-Away : The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.

We should not react in life, we should always respond. 

Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always intellectual

Happiness is...

"Whatever is not yours, abandon it. When you have abandoned it, that will lead
to your welfare and happiness." 

- Buddha

Heart-Beat

The goal of life is
to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe,
to match your nature with Nature.
- Joseph Campbell

Enough Attempts

You win some, and you lose some, but if you make enough attempts, you will succeed. Have you made enough attempts? Results will show.

Who am I

The physicists say that I am a mathematician & the mathematicians say that I am a physicist. I'm a completely isolated man. 

-Albert Einstein

Fathers Day - Story Time

Happy Fathers Day from MyDailyInsights

 

MY FRIDAY STORY

 

WHEN DAD WAS COMING HOME

By Catherine Terry Ashton

One of my earliest childhood memories was that of waiting outside our house for my Dad to come home from work in the evening. We had a long gravel driveway leading to the side of our house and on that same side yard stood a big tree. The tree had some low limbs that we could climb even when we were young - 4 or 5 years old.

My brother, Bob, and I would wait for our Dad by climbing up and sitting in a branch of that tree until we could see Dad's car start to pull into our driveway and hear the sound of the gravel beneath the wheels. When that time came, we would jump down from our tree branch as fast as we could and run over to Dad's car. We couldn't wait for him to get out of his car!

I still remember the excitement I felt each night anticipating Dad pulling into our driveway, then getting out of the car and giving us, first, his big signature grin and then, quickly after, scooping us up in his arms for the coming home hug. I was so, so happy to get that hug from Dad, I think I probably would have camped out forever - or at least since breakfast time - to receive that warm, loving hug!

When he gave that hug, I could feel how much he loved us in his strong yet gentle, confident and secure embrace. I am so grateful to my Dad for this wonderful memory of his coming home from work. He had several familiar games and rituals he would always play with Bob and me that magically said, "I love you," "You are special to me," "You are my joy," and "Now this is our time together."

When Dad became ill just a few years after that and couldn't communicate his love for us in words or even hugs any longer, I still had those memories of his "coming home from work to be with us" scenes to draw upon for confidence and the continued assurance of his love.

It has now been nearly twenty-five years since my Dad has passed away, yet the memories of him from my early childhood continue to be a marvelous source of inspiration to me. I remember the great times we had together when I was young; his vibrant smile, the silliness of his jokes, and the playful humor of his rituals.

But of all the fond memories Bob and I have of our time with Dad, the "waiting for him to come home for the evening hug" is to me, the best one of all. And when I think of my Dad coming home, I can still remember the beaming grin he would give us, his long arms smoothly stretching out to hold us, and the feel of his tender hug as he lifted us up off the ground.

Each time I think of it, it's as if my Dad was here with me once more, and I can feel his love inside of me all over again.

Thank you, Dad. I love you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Terry Ashton is a small business owner and teacher. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys spending time with family and friends, learning with kids of all ages, and exploring outdoors. She believes that love, play, and a sense of wonder are what we need most, all the way through life.  She can be reached at cltashton@gmail.com

To live and love.

Take the time...to live and love.

God bless!

   Her hair was up in a pony tail,
   her favorite dress tied with a bow.
   Today was Daddy's Day at school,
   and she couldn't wait to go.
  
   But her mommy tried to tell her,
   that she probably should stay home.
   Why the kids might not understand,
   if she went to school alone.
  
   But she was not afraid;
   she knew just what to say.
   What to tell her classmates
   of why he wasn't there today.
  
   But still her mother worried,
   for her to face this day alone.
   And that was why once again,
   she tried to keep her daughter home.
  
   But the little girl went to school
   eager to tell them all.
   About a dad she never sees
   a dad who never calls.
  
   There were daddies along the wall in back,
   for everyone to meet.
   Children squirming impatiently,
   anxious in their seats
   
   One by one the teacher called
   a student from the class.
   To introduce their daddy,
   as seconds slowly passed.
 
   At last the teacher called her name,
   every child turned to stare.
   Each of them was searching,
   a man who wasn't there.
  
   "Where's her daddy at?"
   she heard a boy call out.
   "She probably doesn't have one,"
   another student dared to shout.
  
   And from somewhere near the back,
   she heard a daddy say,
   "Looks like another deadbeat dad,
   too busy to waste his day."
  
   The words did not offend her,
   as she smiled up at her Mom.
   And looked back at her teacher,
   who told her to go on.
  
   And with hands behind her back,
   slowly she began to speak.
   And out from the mouth of a child,
   came words incredibly unique.
  
   "My Daddy couldn't be here,
   because he lives so far away.
   But I know he wishes he could be,
   since this is such a special day.
  
   And though you cannot meet him,
   I wanted you to know.
   All about my daddy,
   and how much he loves me so.
  
   He loved to tell me stories
   he taught me to ride my bike.
   He surprised me with pink roses,
   and taught me to fly a kite.
   
   We used to share fudge sundaes,
   and ice cream in a cone.
   And though you cannot see him.
   I'm not standing here alone.
  
   "Cause my daddy's always with me,
   even though we are apart
   I know because he told me,
   he'll forever be in my heart"
  
   With that, her little hand reached up,
   and lay across her chest.
   Feeling her own heartbeat,
   beneath her favorite dress.
  
   And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
   her mother stood in tears.
   Proudly watching her daughter,
   who was wise beyond her years.
  
   For she stood up for the love
   of a man not in her life.
   Doing what was best for her,
   doing what was right.
  
   And when she dropped her hand back down,
   staring straight into the crowd.
   She finished with a voice so soft,
   but its message clear and loud.
  
   "I love my daddy very much,
   he's my shining star.
   And if he could, he'd be here,
   but heaven's just too far.
  
   You see he was a policeman
   and died just this past year
   When airplanes hit the towers
   and taught Americans to fear.
   
   But sometimes when I close my eyes,
   it's like he never went away."
   And then she closed her eyes,
   and saw him there that day.
  
   And to her mothers amazement,
   she witnessed with surprise.
   A room full of daddies and children,
   all starting to close their eyes.
  
   Who knows what they saw before them,
   who knows what they felt inside.
   Perhaps for merely a second,
   they saw him at her side.
  
   "I know you're with me Daddy,"
   to the silence she called out.
   And what happened next made believers,
   of those once filled with doubt.
  
   Not one in that room could explain it,
   for each of their eyes had been closed.
   But there on the desk beside her,
   was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
  
   And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
   by the love of her shining star.
   And given the gift of believing,
   that heaven is never too far.
  
   They say it takes a minute to find a special
   person, an hour to appreciate them,
   a day to love them, but then an entire
   life to forget them.
  
   Send this to the people you'll never forget and
   remember to send it also to the person that sent
   it to you. It's a short message to let them know
   that you'll never forget them.
  
   If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're
   in a hurry and that you've forgotten your
   friends.
  
   Take the time...to live and love.
   Until eternity. God bless

 

 

Thought for Today

I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. 

-Galileo Galilei, physicist and astronomer (1564-1642) 

Luggage for a short Voyage

If life be short, then moderate your worldly cares and projects; do not cumber yourselves with too much provision for a short voyage.

Thought for Today

"Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more."

-Anthony Robbins

Intention

"What makes something good or bad, right or wrong, moral or immoral, is the
intention behind the thought or act."

Shri. P. Rajagopalachari, President, Shri Ram Chandra Mission

Thought for Today

You will find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.

~Lydia M. Child 

A Thought for Today

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives. 

-William C. Dement, professor of psychiatry (b. 1928) 

A Thought for Today

Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others. 

-Fyodor Dostoevsky, novelist (1821-1881)

Three Stages....

There are three stages in the work of God: Impossible; Difficult; Done.

- Hudson Taylor

Thought for the day

That's why many fail; because they don't get started. They don't go. They don't overcome inertia. They don't begin.

-W. Clement Stone

Types of Mankind

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.
- Benjamin Franklin

Thought for Today

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
-Muhammad Ali

A Thought for Today

A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.
-Benjamin Franklin

A Thought for Today

"Throughout the centuries, there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision."

-Ayn Rand 

In control.....

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

~Dr. Seuss

Thought for Today

"The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react."

- George Bernard 

A Thought for Today

The liar's punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else. 

-George Bernard Shaw, writer, Nobel laureate (1856-1950)