MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by
telling them the difference they each made. She called each student to the
front of the class, one at a time. First she told each of them how they had
made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with
a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, "Who I Am Makes a
Difference." Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see
what kind of impact recognition would have on a community.

She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go
out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on
the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a
week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company
and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue
ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said,
"We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out,
find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra
blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this
acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me
what happened.

Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been
noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down
and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The
boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would
accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put
it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took
the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As
he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you do me a favor? Would
you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The
young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we
want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects
people.

That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He
said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office
and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave
me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a
creative genius. Then he put this blue ribbon that says 'Who I Am Makes A
Difference' on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and
asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I
started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought
about you. I want to honor you. My days are really hectic and when I come
home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for
not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess,
but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know
that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most
important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His
whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "I
was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you
loved me. Now I know you care. This is the happiest day I've known."

The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch but made
sure to let all his employees know that they made a difference. The junior
executive helped several other young people with career planning and never
forgot to let them know that they made a difference it his life...one being
the bosses son. And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable
lesson.

Who you are DOES make a difference.

Remember that!

I give you a blue ribbon.

TWENTY TRUTHS TO REMEMBER

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be
still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your
precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just
hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure
to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals
and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the
turtle -- it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your
character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others
think you are.

7 Way To Reduce Stress

Our surroundings directly affect our health and wellness: consider that we spend 40 or more hours on the job weekly. Creating an inspiring environment for wellbeing in our working space is crucial to living a long and meaningful life.

Inner Peace on the Job: 7 Ways to Minimize Stress
Although it is not possible to eliminate stress completely, there are some things we can do to reduce it. Here are effective ways to reduce stress in your day.

1. Slow down and be in the present. It is natural to believe that the harder you work, the more you will get done. However, though it may seem paradoxical, if you work at a slow and steady pace with full awareness, you will most likely turn out better work with fewer mistakes - and feel better while doing it!

2. Set boundaries. Are you the go-to person for every favor and question that is needed in your workplace? Learn to respectfully set your boundaries and say no. Also, take a look at your calendar and make sure you are not over-scheduling yourself after work. Write in one night a week for yourself, and treat yourself to a tai chi or meditation class, a bath, or just an evening curled up with a good book.

3. Remember to breathe deeply all day. Most people who are under a lot of stress or tension breathe shallowly, up in the throat area. When you breathe deeply into your lungs, you are naturally bringing in more oxygen and activating energy in your body.Try this to remember to breathe: set your intention to take 10 deep breaths once every hour. (If necessary, set a timer to help you remember.) It will only take a minute, but the rewards will be tenfold.

4. Bring nature inside. As much as possible, let natural light and fresh air permeate your workspace. Surround yourself with the inspiring colors of beautiful flowers, which have a powerful influence on a person's mind-set. A beautiful bouquet can lift a less-than-lovely mood and even eliminate stress. In fact, one study showed that people who sat next to an arrangement of colorful flowers were able to relax more during a five-minute typing assignment than those who sat near foliage-only plants.5. Give yourself a time-out. Take the breaks that are given to you. In this high-paced world, people often work through their breaks, claiming they have too much work to do - this will lead to serious repercussions in the future. Remember that you are a human, not a machine. Even a machine needs downtime for maintenance! Try taking a 15-minute powernap on your lunch break. If you only have five minutes to spare, just close your eyes. Even this brief rest can
reduce stress and help you relax.

6. Meditation brings relaxation. Meditation gives your body a rest and produces slower brain waves that are similar to sleep, effectively combating tension. Regular practice of meditation, tai chi, or yoga can help you slow down and bring peace, not only in your job, but also in your life. To learn more about how to use meditation to decrease stress, click here.

7. Perk up naturally!
Skip the second latte, which stimulates your central nervous system, makes your mind race, and adds to your stress. Instead, try these simple and natural pick-me-ups: • Take a tea break. Instead of coffee, go for teas that gently boost your energy, such as ginseng, eucalyptus, or ginger.• Find ways to keep moving all day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Drink a glass of water from the water cooler every hour. Park your car a few blocks away from where you're going. Not only will this perk up your energy, it will also improve your mood.

• If it's a nice day outside, eat lunch outdoors or just take a walk around the block. The fresh air and the break from routine will be an invigorating addition to your workday.• Get sustainable energy with snacks. Eat a snack at mid-morning and another one at mid-afternoon consisting of nuts, seeds, fruits, or protein-rich foods like humus made from beans will help you sustain your energy and prevent low blood sugar from setting in.

I hope you find the ways to minimize stress in your work environment! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

BEST FRIEND

Last night you and your best friend had a fight. You decide not to talk to
her the next day.

She smiles at you. You grind your teeth at her.

She tells her friends nice things about you. You spread bad rumors about
her.

She tries to come and talk to you. But you push her aside.

She thinks you are a great friend. You think she is a terrible friend.

She writes nice notes to you, telling you about the best times you shared
together. You write about all the bad times you can remember experiencing
together.

Deep down you know she's sorry. But all you have is hate.

The next day you find a note. It reads:

Dear ------------ -,

I tried to tell you yesterday, but you didn't let me speak,
I tried to tell you good things, but you were afraid to hear them.
I tried to smile at you, to take away the hate.
But now it's time to tell you, even though it's a bit late. That I am
dying.

I have a bad condition and it is getting worse. I'm sorry to have to tell
you that I won't be able to see you today. I wrote this to you today in the
hospital.
My time is up.
I'm sorry I should have told you sooner. I'm really sorry about our
argument; you are such a great friend.
I promise I shall watch over you,

Lots of love

------------ -

You run to the hospital to tell her you are sorry,

But only her mum is left.

Her hand clasped over her face.

And she was crying. Down on her knees she prays, for her daughter to come
back.

You are too late.

You wish you told her sorry sooner and got to say goodbye.

All friends have their ups and downs, and sometimes you need to say
sorry... Don't wait for the other person to do it first.

Because you never know what could happen.

BRING THOSE BABIES TO CHURCH

My heart goes out to the parents of small children. I know first hand the
kind of problems they face. Training up a toddler in the way he should go
is a constant job, a continuous battle, seven-day-a- week task, not to
mention an awesome responsibility. After six days of their whining chorus
at home and three hours of embarrassment while shopping, the last thing some
young mothers want to face is an hour of agony and humiliation at church.
Many young mothers have asked herself, "Why do I keep bringing them to
church?" As she enters the auditorium she utters a silent prayer that the
kids will be good and the sermon short. The service begins. While mother is
picking up toys, drying eyes, wiping noses, swatting, scolding, trying to
sing, listen, and pray, the toddler is pouring juice on her dress. To the
toddler, church is an exciting adventure. Songbooks are a challenge to
take, stuffed toys make great missiles to launch over four or five rows, and
the collection plate would make a great hat. Young parents take heart! Let
me assure you of this:

1. Your children do not disturb others nearly as much as you think they do.

2. If people without children are determined to sit at the back of the
church, then they deserve any distraction they get.

3. Most people really do understand your plight and remember back to the
days when their children were infants and toddlers.

4. Remember that you are both wanted and needed in the worship service.

5. Have faith that the hand, which now hurls crayons, will one day spread
the seeds of the Kingdom.

This May

ROAD TO SUCCESS

The road to success is not straight.
There is a CURVE called FAILURE
A LOOP called CONFUSION
SPEED BUMPS called FRIENDS
RED LIGHTS called ENEMIES
CAUTION LIGHTS called FAMILY
You will have FLATS called JOBS
BUT
If you have a SPARE called DETERMINATION
An ENGINE called PERSEVERANCE
INSURANCE called FAITH
A DRIVER called JESUS
YOU WILL MAKE IT TO A PLACE CALLED SUCCESS.

-- Author Unknown

* * *
LIFE SPAN EXPLAINED

On the first day, God created the dog and said:
'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or
walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years
and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed..
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a
twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time
to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under
the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this,
I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty
years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said:
'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty
years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the
forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog
gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy
ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our
family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the
grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark
at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as
a public service.

Never Alone

NEVER ALONE

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His
dad takes him into the forest..blindfolded ...and leaves him....alone.

He is required to sit on a stump the whole night...and not take off the
blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He
cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night..he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into
his own manhood.

The boy was terrified... could hear all kinds of noise...Beasts were all
around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass
and earth... And it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing
the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.

Finally, after a horrific night..the sun appeared and he removed his
blindfold. It was then that he saw his father..sitting on the stump next to
him...at watch... the entire night.

We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting
us...He is sitting on the stump beside us.

All we have to do is reach out to Him.