Your Autobiography

Portia Nelson reports that she has written her autobiography in just
five short chapters. It goes like this:

CHAPTER ONE
I walk down the street.
There’s a hole in the sidewalk.
It is a very deep hole.
I fall in… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

CHAPTER TWO
I walk down the same street.
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in… again.
I can’t believe I’m in the same place, but it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

CHAPTER THREE
I walk down the same street.
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit, but my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

CHAPTER FOUR
I walk down the same street.
There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

CHAPTER FIVE
I walk down another street.

What a marvelous progression from… a helpless victim of life
to… a victim of self to… taking responsibility to…
self-discipline to… making better choices!
We have all been helpless victims. We’ve all taken a fall. But
some people have chosen to be victors. If you were to write your
autobiography, how would it end?

By Steve Goodier, Publisher Life Support Systems

Determination (a number of years)

A number of years ago in Elkhart, Kansas, two brothers had a job at the local school. Early each morning their job was to start a fire in the potbellied stove in the classroom. One cold morning, the brothers cleaned out the stove and loaded it with firewood. Grabbing a can of kerosense, one of them doused the wood and lit the fire. The explosion rocked the old building. The fire killed the older brother and badly burned the legs of the other boy. It was later discovered that the kerosene can had accidentally been filled with gasoline.

The doctor attending the injured boy recommended amputating the young boy’s legs. The parents were devastated. They had already lost one son, and now their other son was to lose his legs. But they did not lose their faith. They asked the doctor for a postponement of the amputation. The doctor consented. Each day they asked the doctor for a delay, praying that their son’s legs would somehow heal and he would become well again. For two months, the parents and the doctor debated on whether to amputate. They used this time to instil in the boy the belief that he would someday walk again.

They never amputated the boys legs, but when the bandages were finally removed, it was discovered that his right leg was almost three inches shorter than the other. The toes on his left foot were almost completely burned off. Yet the boy was fiercely determined. Though in excruciating pain, he forced himself to exercise daily and finally took a few painful steps. Slowly recovering, this young man finally threw away his crutches and began to walk almost normally. Soon he was running.

This determined young man kept running and running and running — and those legs that came so close to being amputated carried him to a world record in the mile run. His name? Glenn Cunningham, who was known as the “Worlds Fastest Human Being,” and was named athlete of the century at Madison Square Garden.

Author Unknown

One Step At A Time

It is often difficult to imagine yourself reaching a great achievement. You look at someone who has built a massive fortune, or created a magnificent work of art, or achieved a prominent leadership role, and you have trouble identifying with that person.

When you look at any great achievement, usually you can see only the end result. That’s because the splendor of such an achievement overshadows all the little details which went into creating it. Yet the real substance of achievement is in the day-to-day details.

The person who builds a highly successful business does it mostly by doing the kinds of things with which you’re already quite familiar — talking on the phone, writing letters, paying the bills, buying new toner for the copying machine. The greatness in the achievement comes not from any supernatural skill or special advantage, but from persistence and commitment.

Great achievements are built day by day, step by step, by people just like you. Greatness comes from ordinary actions, focused on a specific objective, followed with steadfastness and resolve. Almost anything is possible when you are committed to pursuing it one step at a time. — Ralph Marston

Bathtub, The

by Michael T. Powers

This last Wednesday night I wanted to take a nice hot bath and read a book that was loaned to me called: “Reaching the Summit,” by Pat Summitt. (The University of Tennessee’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach) I was tired and a little stressed, and all I wanted to do was lie in the hottest water I could stand and read away. The problem with this little “getaway” for me was the fact that “Aqua Boy” lives in our house in the form of Caleb. There is not a bath that is taken in our neighborhood that “Little Marine Man” doesn’t know about. When he realized what I was going to do he started asking to take one too. Of course I said no. “Oh Pleazzzzzzzzzzzze Daddy?” ” Caleb I said no.” “But I wannnnnaaa!” After a couple of hundred no’s I told him that I would think about it. Then I put my finger on my cheek and tapped it a bit (To show that I was thinking) and then said no. I probably shouldn’t have done this, but hey, we parents can have a little sarcastic fun right? The problem was that mommy saw me do this. Not good. You don’t mess with the head of my wife’s offspring. Now I knew I was in trouble. Well, I climbed into the bathtub and turned on the water. AHHHHHHHHH!! This was going to be relaxing…. Suddenly there was our version of “The Water Boy.” He had asked Kristi if he could take a bath with me after I was done. She told him to go ask Daddy. So there he was. Big old puppy dog eyes that still had tears in them. “Daddy, can I take a bath with you when you are done?”

I knew I was trapped. “OK.” I said. “When Daddy is done you can come in here with me.”

His eyes lit up and he said, “That’ll be great!”

I went back to my book. The next time I looked up he had taken all his clothes off and had plopped himself up on the toilet. He wasn’t in a comfortable sitting position either. He had his feet on the seat and he was squatting down like a catcher. I looked at my naked son and asked him, “What are you doing?”

“I’m waiting for you to be done.”

“Caleb. When I am done I will call for you and then you can come in. OK?”

“OK, Daddy.”

Back to my book.

Once again I hear him come into the bathroom. This time he’s carrying his toy fishing pole that he got for Christmas from his Aunt Jana.

“What are you doing, Caleb?”

“I’m just watching you.”

“Caleb you need to leave until I call you.”

He pulled up his little stool that we keep in the bathroom to help him reach the sink when he is brushing his teeth. He promptly plopped his naked buttocks down on it.

“Caleb, you can’t come in until I am done.”

“I know Daddy. I’ll just sit here and wait until you are done.”

There he sat like Opie from the Andy Griffith show, with his fishing pole and his really bad hair cut from this last week, that makes his ears stick out…

Back to my book.

In the mean time my wife was sitting out in the kitchen listening to all of this…. grinning…..

By now it was really hard to concentrate on my book. I had only twenty minutes before I had to get ready for work, and I was really looking forward to relaxing….

I tried to concentrate on the words…..

PLOP!

I looked down in the water to see a great big plastic Fisher Price hook, connected to a colorful Fisher Price Fishing Pole, connected to the little hands of my bare son.

“Caleb. You can’t go fishing in the bathtub right now. Daddy is trying to take his bath.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” (Caleb always apologizes in threes.)

Instead of leaving he just sat there on his stool.

I tried to read but it was getting harder and harder.

“Caleb. What are you doing now.”

“I’m just gonna sit here and wait for you to get done.”

I tried to read one last time, but I couldn’t.

He just sat there next to the bathtub just staring at me with those big brown “doe” eyes. His new fishing pole over his shoulder…

What could I do? He broke me down. Minute by minute he slowly and methodically broke me down and reduced me to emotional mush. My son is not a very patient three year old. I guess not many are. But I couldn’t believe how patient he was being. He wasn’t crying and whining like he usually would in this situation….

My heart went out to him. “Caleb. Do you want to come in the bathtub now?”

“That would be great!” (One of his favorite sayings)

“OK. Come on in.”

We had a great twenty minutes of splashing, and fishing, and being kids together.

I had wanted so bad to relax and read my book. Almost wanted it too bad. I almost missed out on a good time with my boy. When I was driving to work that night I thought about how many times I have told him no. “I’m too busy.” “Maybe tomorrow.” Not right now, Caleb. I have a video to do.”

I’m getting better. I am realizing how special your kids’ early years are and how fast they go by. So many times, even when I take the time to spend with my wife and kids, there is something inside of me which keeps saying, “Do you realize how much time you are taking doing this? Do you know how much video editing you could accomplish right now?”

I’m learning to relax. I’m learning to enjoy my free time. I’m learning to take more free time. And thanks to a wonderfully patient wife and three year old, the voice inside me is diminishing to a whisper. Sometimes I can’t even hear it. Hopefully I will block it out totally in the near future. Hopefully I will begin to hear:

“Michael. Do you realize the time you are investing in your son right now?”

“Do you realize that you are honoring your wife and building a closer relationship together?”

“Do you realize that twenty years from now it won’t matter that you didn’t get that work done as quickly as you wanted?”

“Do you realize that your sons, daughters, and wife have become the most important to you?”

I am a ways off…… But Lord willing, that day will come.

Thanks for listening…..

Michael

I am happily married to my high school sweetheart and have two boys: Caleb (3 years old) and Connor (10 months.) I own a video production business and like to write in my “spare” time. When my children get older I want to pass along to them a collection of stories about their lives growing up and I find that through the writing of these stories I learn more about myself and my priorities in life…..

Copyright

Excerpts from a talk by Lou Holtz

-The minute you get rid of all your excuses….. is the minute you start to win! Stop blaming anyone but yourself.
-The greatest obligation we have is our attitude towards our self.
1.Do Right – when your heart tells you to do wrong. Have the discipline.
2.Whatever we do, we need to do to the best of our ability. Maintain high standards.

OBLIGATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES VS RIGHTS & PRIVILEGES!

-People are always trying to lower the standard.
-Caring about people is not just about letting them do anything they want.
3.Are we committed to Excellence?
-Everybody needs to feel needed & important. Be committed to other people!

Powerful Message

BUZZARD: If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and it is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of it’s ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is it’s habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. BAT: The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. BUMBLEBEE: A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE: In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not ever realizing that all they have to do is look up. God is there with love in his heart for you…just look up.

Inspiring Words

Do not undermine your worth by
Comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different
That each of us is special.

Do not set your goals by what
Other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Do not take for granted the things
Closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
For without them, life is meaningless.

Do not let your life slip through your fingers
By living in the past nor for the future.

By living your life one day at a time,
You live all the days of your life.

Do not give up when you
Still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the
Moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread that
Binds us to each other.

Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances
That we learn how to be brave.

Do not shut love out of your life by
Saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive
Love is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love
Is to hold it too tightly;

In addition, the best way to keep
Love is to give it wings.
Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams I
s to be without hope;
To be without hope
Is to be without purpose.

Do not run through life
So fast that you forget
Not only where you have been,
But also where you are going.
Life is not a race,
But a journey to be savored
Each step of the way.

Author Unknown

Don’t Abandon Your Dreams

There were once 2 brothers who lived on the 80th level. On coming home one day, they realized to their dismay that the lifts were not working and that they have to climb the stairs home.

After struggling to the 20th level, panting and tired, they decided to abandon their bags and come back for them the next day. They left their bags then and climbed on. When they have struggled to the 40th level, the younger brother started to grumble and both of them began to quarrel. They continued to climb the flights of steps, quarreling all the way to the 60th floor.

They then realized that they have only 20 levels more to climb and decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace. They silently climbed on and reached their home at long last. Each stood calmly before the door and waited for the other to open the door.

And they realized that the key was in their bags which was left on the 20th floor This story is reflecting on our life…many of us live under the expectations of our parents, teachers and friends when young. We seldom get to do the things that we really like and love and are under so much pressure and stress so that by the age of 20, we get tired and decided to dump this load.

Being free of the stress and pressure, we work enthusiastically and dream ambitious wishes.

But by the time we reach 40 years old, we start to lose our vision and dreams. We began to feel unsatisfied and start to complain and criticize. We live life as a misery as we are never satisfied. Reaching 60, we realize that we have little left for complaining anymore, and we began to walk the final episode in peace and calmness.

We think that there is nothing left to disappoint us, only to realize that we could not rest in peace because we have an unfulfilled dream, a dream we abandoned 60 years ago. So what is your dream? Follow your dreams, so that you will not live with regrets.

Author Unknown

Hope (when we are just too tired)

When we are just too tired
To move another inch.
When the path becomes so steep
That every step makes us flinch.

When we have worked real hard
But still the prize isn

Why Hath Thou Forsaken Me?

The Mississippi River was flooding its banks and the waters were rising around Clem’s house. The waters had gotten to the level of the front porch where Clem was standing. A man in a rowboat came by and called to Clem, “Hop in and I’ll take you to high ground.”

Clem replied, “No, my God will save me!”

The river continued to rise to the second story windows and Clem, looking out, saw a powerboat come up. The man in the powerboat called to Clem, “Hop in and I’ll take you to high ground.”

Clem replied, “No, my God will save me!”

The river had now risen to the roof of the house. Clem was sitting on the ridge at the top of the house, with the waters swirling around his feet. He saw a helicoptor fly over and the people inside yelled over a bull horn, “Grab the rope and climb in and we’ll take you to high ground.”

Clem replied, “No, my God will save me!”

The river continued to rise and finally it engulfed the house and Clem was drowned. The next thing he knew, Clem was standing before his God. In anger, he asked God, “I put my trust in you. Why have you forsaken me?”

And his God replied, “What do you want from me? I sent you a rowboat, a powerboat, and a helicopter!”

(adapted from Reader’s Digest)

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