The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up."
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives.
The wise parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.
Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, ... and those you love, ... today, and everyday...

Do it anyway!

People can be unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind. Think big anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack if you help them. Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you might get criticized. Give the world the best you've got anyway.
Your life is a culmination of your decisions and actions, if your not where you expected to be, make the choice to change, it really is that simple.

If Only One Person

Today I was talking with a friend of mine, we were talking about traveling. How fun it is to travel, to meet new people, to see new sights. He was reminded of a time when he and a bunch of friends were stuck in an airport in Chicago and they went to eat in the Chili's restaurant on the concourse. He travels through Chicago frequently, at least once a year. When they entered the restaurant, the waitress said hello to him directly, using his first name and asked him about his grandchildren. His friends were astonished, and proceeded to poke at him, telling him he must not have a life if the waitress in the Chili's in the Chicago airport knows him!
The same thing has appeared to me as well this year. Twice now i have traveled to hotels in Columbus, where i have found so many of the staff who deal with guests directly knew my name, my car, my preferences in food! The valet, the bell man, the host in the restaurant, the waitresses, they all know me by name. One of the waitresses even remembered that the last time i was there, i was not having the brightest of days. this time she asked me if i am feeling better. of all of the people who come in and out of the hotel, the restaurant, how can it be that i am remembered?
i wonder what it is. i have to believe that what you give is what you get. i find everyone, and i mean everyone, someone i can relate to in some small way. a smile, a small gesture of friendliness. it makes people remember you. some may say i am a bit 'too' friendly, but i don't believe anyone can be too friendly.

if only one person...

did you smile at someone today? did you share any conversation with your waitress or waiter while in a working lunch?

if only one person...

you can touch lives. i promise you, it is so very easy. reach out and make contact. that is all it takes. listen. take an interest. you may learn a lot, about them and about you.

namaste'

Look In The Mirror

Let's be the change we want to see in the world.

Keep Breathing!

Concentrate on your breath. slow and steady and deep. with each exhalation, relax..

what happens when we are in the middle of our day, and we are so overstressed, ten thousand things going through our minds. what to do, what not to forget, what time is it? how can i get all these things done???? Did you forget to breathe?

stop.

breathe.

relax...You will be amazed..

What does Namaste' mean?

The word "Namaste'" is a traditional Indian greeting, usually offered with palms together close to the heart and a slight bow of the head; and it's meaning is " the divine in me honors the divine in you"
Another beautiful translation is:

"I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light and of peace. When you are in that place in you, I am in that place in me. We are one."

My First Blog

Well, what else is there to do on a Sunday afternoon than start my very first blog?
Here I am, world!