Spiritual Processes - beautiful

What a beautifully inspiring message. Thank you Marianne

Learning to dance in the Rain

Learning to Dance in the Rain

The Power of Gratitude

The date was July 16, 2008. It was late in the afternoon and I was sitting in my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I was scheduled to speak that evening for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA). I was a little "down in the dumps." I hadn't gotten to exercise lately because of my traveling schedule and recently I'd experienced some mild bouts of vertigo (that inner ear condition that can cause the room to start spinning.) You got it...speaking and "spinning" are not good partners! My keynote presentation was scheduled for 7:00 P.M., but I had been invited to show up at 6:00 to see a performance they said I'd enjoy. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.

They introduced the young musician. Welcome...Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes. He was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair, and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. There was this aura about him that I really can't explain and the smile...his smile was magic! About ten minutes into Patrick's performance, someone came on the stage and said..."I'd like to share a seven-minute video titled, The Patrick Henry Hughes story." And the lights went dim. Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes, and a tightening of the joints which left him crippled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, "I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd get it." By his second birthday, he was playing requests (You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). His father was ecstatic. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together." Today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His father attends classes with him and he's made nearly all A's, with the exception of 3 B's. He's also a part of the 214-member marching band. You read it right...the marching band! He's a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands. His father rolls and rotates his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick's fans. In order to attend Patrick's classes and every band practice, his father works the graveyard shift at UPS. Patrick said..."My dad's my hero." But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touched my soul. On stage, between songs, he would talk to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, "God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability...the musical gifts I have...the great opportunity to meet new people." When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes. It gave me giant goose bumps! My life was ready to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. I needed a hero, and I found one for the ages. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that night, that smile, that music, but most importantly, that wonderful "attitude of gratitude." I returned to Chicago and shared Patrick's story with my wife, my friends, and our team at Simple Truths. About two weeks later, I received a letter from a friend. He said, "Mac, here is a quote from Vivian Greene that I think you'll love!" "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain!" I thought...that's it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it's not the adversity, but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our lives. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or, can we, with gratitude...learn how to dance in the rain? It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word...gratitude, can change your attitude, and thus your life, forever. Sarah Breathnach said it best... "When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present...we experience heaven on earth."

Les Brown's Success Story - Your life is powered by you

This is the inspiring story of how Les Brown, a completely unknown speaker with no books or national recognition, manifested his dream… even after being told no by the “gatekeeper” of his dream.
If you ever wondered how Les Brown got started, you’ll wonder no more after watching this motivating video. You’ll also realize there’s more than one way to make your dreams come true — even when, and especially when — there seems to be obstacles in the way!
- See more at: http://www.videosmotivational.com/best-clips/success/les-browns-success-story-your-life-is-powered-by-you/?fsid=ad947a6f77741276a14bad3e1e218486#video

This is the inspiring story of how Les Brown, a completely unknown speaker with no books or national recognition, manifested his dream… even after being told no by the “gatekeeper” of his dream.

LAUGHTER is an instant vacation

You know, sometimes life just gets too serious...too busy...and too complicated. We don't mean for it to happen, but we wake up one morning to discover the fun has slipped away. A few years ago a health study determined there are 3 main reasons people can't cope in life:     1. They live in the past.     2. They have a low self-esteem.     3. They can't laugh at themselves. In fact, the study indicated that we need approximately 12 laughs a day to stay healthy!

I heard a story not long ago about a guy who sent flowers to his friend who was opening a new restaurant. When he arrived at the grand opening, he looked for his flowers. Well, when he found them, he saw that he had sent a white wreath that said, "May you rest in peace." He panicked, of course, and called the florist who said, "Bob, I'm not worried about you because as we speak, there's a guy being buried who got a dozen roses that said, "Good luck in your new location!"

Ah yes...life throws us curve balls when we least expect it! And sometimes, just to stay sane, we need to sit back and laugh!

1.	Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your children.
	Sam Levenson
2.	If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel.
	Will Kommen
3.	My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.
	Dave Barry
4.	My doctor is wonderful. Once, when I couldn't afford an operation, he touched up the x-rays.
	Joey Bishop
5.	Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow. When I woke up, my pillow was gone.
	Tommy Cooper
6.	I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on.
	Roseanne Barr
7.	If you love something, set it free. Unless it's chocolate. Never release chocolate.
	Renee Duvall
8.	The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.
	Calvin Trillin
9.	I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.
	Rodney Dangerfield
10.	My husband wanted one of those big-screen TVs for his birthday. So I just moved his chair closer to the one we have already.
	Wendy Liebman
11.	I have an aunt who married so late in life that Medicare picked up 80 percent of the honeymoon.
	Don Reber
12.	My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.
	Henny Youngman
13.	Inside me there's a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate him with four or five cupcakes.
	Bob Thaves
14.	I have enough money to last me the rest of my life—unless I buy something.
	Jackie Mason

Restore your faith in Humanity

Once a month, go to a random drive-thru restaurant and pay for however many tickets have been entered by the time you get to the window.  Don't stick around after you've paid.

Ode to our Teachers

Teachers are mentors and role models to their pupils. They influence young minds and inculcate sound social and moral values through word and deed, within and outside the classroom. They must impart to pupils learning skills, thinking skills and life skills to cope with the future; an attitude of continuous learning and improvement; and a sense of commitment.

LIFE

Do you know people that just seem to be happier in general? Do you say to yourself, "I want to be more like them"? Often, the happiest people in the world don’t have the best of everything…they just make the best of everything!