Think what a remarkable, unduplicatable, and miraculous thing it is to be you! Of all the people who have come and gone on the earth, since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU!
No one who has ever lived or is to come has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows and opportunities.
No one’s hair grows exactly the way yours does. No one’s finger prints are like yours. No one has the same combination of secret inside jokes and family expressions that you know.
The few people who laugh at all the same things you do, don’t sneeze the way you do. No one prays about exactly the same concerns as you do. No one is loved by the same combination of people that love you – NO ONE!
No one before, no one to come. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!
Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren’t meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else.
You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now.
If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind.
Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it!
No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person.
No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being.
Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself away!
See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it inform you and nudge you and inspire you! YOU ARE UNIQUE!
Author Unknown
I learned a ton from Jack Canfield in his “DVD- Discover Your SOUL Purpose” course. If you see a bit of DVD- Discover Your SOUL Purpose in your future check him out, he really is a good teacher. ==> http://justclicknow.ca/15fIXKa
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Year’s later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:
“Paid in full with one glass of milk”
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.
I learned a ton from Jack Canfield in his “CD- The Success Principles: 30 Day Audio” course. If you see a bit of CD- The Success Principles: 30 Day Audio Course in your future check him out, he really is a good teacher. ==> http://justclicknow.ca/105RsrC
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Lessons from 9/11, the annoying little things:
As you might know, the head of a major company survived the tragedy of “9/11” in New York because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One’s car wouldn’t start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn’t get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn’t get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am stuck in traffic…
– miss an elevator…
– turn back to answer a ringing telephone…
– all the little things that annoy me…
– I think to myself…
this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
The next time your morning seems to be going wrong,
– the children are slow getting dressed,
– you can’t seem to find the car keys,
– you hit every traffic light…
– don’t get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things – and may you remember and appreciate their possible purpose.
Story submitted by Kranti Gaurav
Author Unknown
I learned a ton from Jack Canfield in his “CD- Maximum Confidence Audio” course. If you see a bit of CD- Maximum Confidence Audio Course in your future check him out, he really is a good teacher. ==> http://justclicknow.ca/ZTKQdF
“If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. There’s no satisfaction in doing anything halfway!”
My father preached those wise words of wisdom to me from the time I was old enough to grasp their meaning.
And, Dad was right! For me, a job well done brings happiness like nothing else and typically comes after
triumphing over a major challenge that generates joy in the lives of those I love.
When my husband, Jerry, and I were given one days notice that his children, Leisa and Chuck, were arriving the following afternoon to live with us, I was dumbstruck, felt completely inept, and was shaking in my boots. I was overwhelmed with fear and knew those youngsters felt the same way, surely even more so. Why would a Mother choose to devastate her children’s lives at a moment’s notice?
To this day, none of us have an answer. We took custody rapidly so she could never again “toy” with their lives. Leisa and Chuck came to us broken, confused, and anxious about life in a new city, new schools, and without old friends to confide in. Worse yet, a step-mother!
When the most difficult challenge of my life was unexpectedly tossed my way, I said a prayer and gave it my all. On day one, I assured both children they would always be cared for in safe surroundings and that I would never try to take their mother’s place. Also, that my utmost hope was to earn their trust and become a friend that they could come to in times of trouble.
Chuck, at nine years of age, had his father available for male conversations. Leisa, at 12 years of age, definitely needed a woman with whom she could easily converse for she was about to be faced with rampaging hormones and a barrage of questions, many of them personal in nature.
Positive results did not come quickly and time crept by at half speed. We all struggled. One day, one week, and one year at a time. We shed tears, had bouts of anger, and dealt with a gamut of emotions like the peaks and dips of a seemingly endless roller coaster ride. Bad days would remind me of every story I’d heard or read about situations like ours and the many marriages that didn’t survive!
That’s when determination would suddenly grab hold; I’d grit my teeth, re-adjust my attitude and continue to battle the predicament thrust upon the four of us. And, on my most frustrating days, Dad’s words echoed a stern reminder of doing the job right! Given time, lots of time, it happened. Eventually true love did grow! I can’t put a finger on the precise moment, but gradually love was felt lingering in the air, and little by little tension skedaddled right out the front door.
I’m reminded of a sick, scraggly, withered plant that is surely to die. But, with continued watering, moving it to differently lighted locations, you are astounded to envision what appears to be a minute hint of green. Within a few days a single shiny leaf begins to appear. You see there is hope, you don’t give up, and in due time the plant is lush, green, and heavy with glorious blossoms!
The day Leisa informed me I was never to use the word “step” again, more than made up for all the daunting days of years gone by. Her exact words, “You are my mom!” She was a grown woman with children of her own when that time came and possibly the long wait made those words even more cherished. It is said, “Good things come to those who wait.” I’m a believer!
Chuck and I always had an unusual and comical way of communicating and I still jokingly refer to myself as Your Wicked Step-mother. Not long ago I referred to myself in that manner as regards Leisa. He stopped me dead in my tracks, “That phrase is reserved for me and me alone!” He and I may be the only ones that know what he was really saying, which was, “I love you.”
Even though the journey was thorny, it’s rewarding when two now- grown children mainly recall only the good times. Often they remind me of events I’ve long since forgotten; we laugh and relive those times again. Mealtime had been more important to Leisa and Chuck than I had ever fathomed. To this day, it’s a rare visit that their favorite recipes don’t sneak into our conversations.
Recently, I flew to Leisa’s for a week’s visit. Several days before my departure, she called wondering if I could find time to bake Pumpkin Bread. Her request was added to my already staggering “to do” list! I baked, froze two large loaves, and placed them in my carry-on bag. When I plopped them down on her kitchen counter Leisa squealed with delight. My reward was a tight bear hug and “thank you” muttered from a mouth already stuffed full.
While blended families do not always thrive, thankfully ours did. It took tremendous effort from all of us; the end result being a home filled with love. That’s what I call happiness than can never be outshined.
Kathy and husband Jerry reside in Plano, Texas with two fur babies, Hank and Samantha. Kathy contributes to magazines, ezines, anthologies, Chicken Soup for the Soul and writes a weekly column entitled Heart of Texas. Kathy can be reached at Lnstrlady@aol.com.
I learned a ton from Jack Canfield in his “CD- BTS Home Study” course. If you see a bit of CD- BTS Home Study Course in your future check him out, he really is a good teacher. ==> http://justclicknow.ca/142wj4U
Shared By Carla
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We had our lovely little girl, Foxie, for 14 years. She came to live with us strictly by accident. I came home from doing some chores one afternoon to discover a cardboard box. It was closed up, with the endflaps wedged shut. My old dog, Regal, was barking at it and I went to see what it was. Well, inside was a wet, woebegone, bedraggles little black and brown puppy. That puppy soon became our Foxie lady. Every day of her life, after she was ours, was filled with love for her. She was in our hearts to stay forever.
However, there came the time when we finally had to say our sad goodbyes to her happy (but graying) face. Her health had deteriorated and the vet sadly said it was time. And so we said goodbye.
But to my way of thinking, a home is not a home without a dog in it. So two days after our farewell, I was at the local Humane Society talking to the animals to the animals there who needed to be loved as badly as I needed to give love. One little guy in the corner kennel caught my eye. He was in there alone, and very depressed acting. He obviously wasn’t happy with his surroundings. Stooping down to talk to him I thought to myself – this little guy doesn’t meet your criteria Lillian Ann. I’d set out to find a short hair dog, a female, a small dog, and an older dog. This fellow was none of that.
The card his previous owner had filled out stated he was untrainable, not house broken, aggressive, a nipper and biter, and had been kept in the bathroom all day while owners worked, walked twice a day and lived in an apartment. After reading all this negativity, I thought to myself, there’s nothing here that time and training won’t cure. We discovered he was a border collie mix, 4 1/2 months old. He came home with us.
He was already named Gary, so we just kept his name, thinking he had enough adjustment to make without worrying about a new name. As soon as he learned that the door in the kitchen led to the garage which led outside, he was housebroken – about 60 minutes time. He ran and played in the backyard until I thought he was going to faint. He chased balls, toys, lizards and squirrels along the top of the fence. He was enrolled in puppy kindergarten, and socialized, socialized, socialized. He was taught that good puppies don’t bite and nip hands, feet and ankles when they play. Chew toys, Kongs, and stuffed puppy toys are great fun to chew, and when you play and chew them, you get clicks and treats.
One year later, my little mischievous puppy has turned into a marvelously well behaved dog. He’s a real eager beaver when it come to learning new things. We go to the dog park and he runs and plays with his friends for two hours every evening.
He’s a very special boy, and he has a very special in his Mom and Dad’s heart. We still miss our Foxie girl, we still love our Foxie girl, just as we still miss and love all our other dogs before her. Gary has not filled the empty spot she left. He’s done something, better, more important. He’s created his own spot in our hearts. He’s accepted the love we have to offer and give us more love and pleasure every day we have him with us. He is truly love in a big golden, fur wrapped, red tongue, brown eyed package.
Thanks to Lillian Mount for sharing Gary and Foxie’s story for demonstrating just “What Can we Learn From Our Pets?”
I learned a ton from Frank Deardurff in his “Web Page Secret Revealed” course. If you see a bit of Web Page Secret Revealed in your future check him out, he really is a good teacher. ==> http://justclicknow.ca/15UZaGH