Thought for the Day: July 20, 2006

“Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.” -- Ralph Marston

What a great day

What a great day this is. There is work to be done, and there are possibilities to be fulfilled.

There are challenges to strengthen you. There is beauty to inspire and delight you.

There are fascinating people with whom to connect and share experiences.

There is a world filled with opportunities for growth and achievement.

There are moments waiting to be filled with the best that you can imagine.

There are interesting pathways that lead from where you are to where you would like to be.

There is a world of useful information at your fingertips.

There are new and unique ideas and concepts being born every minute.

Never before has there been a day like this one you have right now. Choose a fulfilling path to work your way through it, and fill its moments with real, new positive value.

Ralph Marston

The Ten Rules of Chocolate

The following rules are just for fun. Please don't take them seriously. Feel Free to share them with your friends
1. If you have melted chocolate all over your hands, you were eating it too slowly
2. Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices, and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you would like
3. Diet Tip: Eat a chocolate bare before every meal. It will take the edge off your appetite and you will eat less.
4. The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. Solution: eat it in the parking lot
5. If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.
6. It I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? I think they counteract themselves.
7. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, you need to eat more chocolate.
8. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your "to do list" today. That way, you will get at least one thing done.
9. A nice box of chocolate can provide you with your total daily intake of calories in just one piece. Now, isn't that handy.
10. If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top panty hose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. We can't let that happen, can we?
The above rules were developed by a group of my friends on a day when we had nothing better to do. Enjoy but don't take them seriously. The rules really don't work, but they are good for a little chuckle.

As You Think, So You Are

As you think, so you are. Whatever you think you can do, whatever you think you can become, whatever you think you can have, is yours. Unless you doubt it. Your thoughts have the power to become reality, only to the degree they are free from doubt.

Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.

It's a very simple equation. When your goals are strong and highly focused, and your doubts small by comparison, that leads to success. If your doubts are bigger than your goals, watch out!
To conquer doubt, we must act as if there is no doubt. Of what use is it to repeat your goals every morning, then spend the rest of the day living as if they will never be a reality? Doubts are strong and persistent. You can't simply THINK them away -- you must ACT them away.

Follow your goals with action. Act as if you have no doubts. That action will eliminate the doubt, and, as it happens, lead to the fulfillment of your goals.

Action is the key that conquers doubt, and turns dreams into reality. Start walking, and you'll know, without a doubt, that the journey is possible. Because it has just become so. (r.marston)

Thank YOU!

To all "mother's" in our world for the abundance of love and fortune that you share with your families and the greatness that each one of you bring into this world!

Whether a mother yourself, the leader of a group, a pet owner or simply a daughter/son, today is a day to give thanks for those that brought us to this world!

I hope everyone takes the time to celebrate "the moments"- together with your families.

You may be only ONE PERSON in the world, but you may also be the WORLD to one PERSON!!!

Continue to Be the first in all that you do

Be the first to smile. When there is no reason to smile is when a smile is needed the most.

Be the first to forgive. And forever leave the negativity of the past where it belongs, in the past.

Be the first to take action. The sooner you act, the more you will accomplish.

Be the first to say thank you. A grateful attitude will bring more richness into your life.

Be the first to adapt to new and different situations. When you embrace change, you get it working in your favor.

Don't wait any longer for the best that life can be.

Be the first to move forward, and be the one to make it happen (r.marson).