Thought of the Week 2009-1-22
“You are what you speak. A reactive person says, ‘I can’t.’ A proactive person says, ‘I choose.’”
– Stephen Covey
This is an era of choice. We have to choose our attitude. Making the choice to have a positive outlook I believe actually changes the outcomes of my current situations. Even if I cannot change my surroundings, my issues, my present circumstances, or my problems, I can change:
1 – My perspective
2 – My attitude
3 – My world view
4 – My thoughts
5 – My beliefs
6 – My activities
Even if I cannot change the things that are truly unchangeable, at least I can change ME!
I believe that as long as something is gained from every or any experience, it can be seen as something good. So, choose to gain something.
1 – Gain learning
2 – Gain insight
3 – Gain Wisdom
4 – Gain will
5 – Gain relationships
Gain something and even if you are in the midst of losing, you walk away with more than you left. We overvalue stuff it seems and undervalue the human experience and the creation of character.
Ok, one last thing… I believe that it is more valuable to gain character and experience than anything man made on the earth. If that is true, then the man or woman that walks away having lost the shirt off their back, yet at the same time learning valuable lessons, then that person is truly richer barebacked than the man or woman that kept their shirt, yet learned nothing!
“Instead of wallowing in my misery, I just made some changes.” – Stephanie Mills
Just some thoughts to keep us smiling while we grow. And by the way, this is one last thought I leave us with. I don’t think the seed ever thinks it feels great to break through the tough earth, yet without that breakthrough, there would be no growth, no plant, no foliage, no FRUIT!
Read this snippet from CharityFocus(dot)org:
Inspiration of the Day:
A year to the day after she buried her son, Joanie Halgrim rode in a minivan down a rocky dirt road not far from the airport in Nairobi, Kenya. The van stopped in the midst of some bleak gray apartment blocks. In a week’s time, thanks to her son’s final request, one of those buildings would become home to orphan children, a place where they would sleep in new bunk beds. At 14, Joanie’s son John Halgrim was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. When Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteer Sue Fenger came to visit, she was taken aback by his sole request. “I want to open an orphanage in Africa,” he told the wish-granter. That was not what Fenger expected. Wishes like going to a movie premiere or meeting the president usually can be granted. But this? “John, that’s a really big wish,” she said. “I’m not sure Make-A-Wish can do a wish like that. Do you have a second wish?” But he had made up his mind. “Nope,” he said, “that’s my only wish.” [ more ]
A year to the day after she buried her son, Joanie Halgrim rode in a minivan down a rocky dirt road not far from the airport in Nairobi, Kenya. The van stopped in the midst of some bleak gray apartment blocks. In a week’s time, thanks to her son’s final request, one of those buildings would become home to orphan children, a place where they would sleep in new bunk beds. At 14, Joanie’s son John Halgrim was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. When Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteer Sue Fenger came to visit, she was taken aback by his sole request. “I want to open an orphanage in Africa,” he told the wish-granter. That was not what Fenger expected. Wishes like going to a movie premiere or meeting the president usually can be granted. But this? “John, that’s a really big wish,” she said. “I’m not sure Make-A-Wish can do a wish like that. Do you have a second wish?” But he had made up his mind. “Nope,” he said, “that’s my only wish.” [ more ]
A last wish that is changing lives! Wow! Now that’s a breakthrough that could have never come without some cost and loss.
Just thoughts!
Have a great week!
d
Dustin Hedrick
Operations Manager
Burt Associates, Incorporated
6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 900
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone 301-770-9880 x10
Fax 301-770-9885
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