The Dali Lama's Instructions for Life

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Always follow the three Rs:
Respect for self,
Respect for others
Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes the best that could ever happen.

Learn the rules so you break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone every day.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year go someplace you've never been.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Hey everyone, perhaps you can think of someone to whom you can forward this poem:

Today I Saw a Butterfly

Today I saw a butterfly,
as it floated in the air;
Its wings were spread in splendor,
Unaware that I was there.

It was such a thing of beauty,
It was a sight to see;
It was the perfect masterpiece,
Full of grace and majesty.

I found myself thinking,
to what can this compare?
And then, of course, I thought of you,
And I wished that you were there.

God sure was extra careful,
When He formed and fashioned you;
You too, became a masterpiece,
Yet God is still not through.

He's daily making changes,
that other folks can't see;
You're already true perfection,
At least you are to me.

~ Author Unknown ~

Be Happy Right Now

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married,
have a baby, then another, get a new job, get a new house.
Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough
and we'll be more content when they are.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than
right now! If not now, when?
Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have and
treasure it more because you shared it with someone special,
special enough to spend your time with...
And remember that time waits for no one!

So, stop waiting...
...until your car or home is paid off
...until you get a new car or a new job
...until you go back to school
...until you lose ten pounds
...until you gain ten pounds
...until you finish school
...until you get married
...until you get a divorce
...until you have kids
...until your kids leave the house
...until you retire
...until summer
...until fall
...until winter
...until spring
...until you die!

There is no better time than right now to be happy...

Choose To Be Happy TODAY!
--author unknown

Dear Readers, perhaps you can think of someone to send this poem:

Through All Of Life's Changes
We'll Always Be Friends

Together, we have seen many changes in our lives
and the world since we first became friends.
But somehow, even with all that has happened,
our friendship hasn't changed, except to grow stronger.

Feeling close to another is such a special feeling
and adds so much to life ... no wonder your friendship means so much to me.
When I stop to think about it, the closeness we share is right up there with the things I value most in life. Just being together always means the start of good times...thought-provoking times ... and even provoking times!
(But isn't that the way it should be?)

If we couldn't talk things over and make things right,
we never would have made it through these changing
times, remaining the good friends we are.

There aren't many people I could say this to, but I
can say to you -- if there's ever anything I can do
to boost you up or help you out or get you through,
I'll be there. And if you simply want me to be
with you to share a joyful moment...
nothing could make me happier.

We've been through so many changes -- some of them
for the good. Others have been difficult. But through
it all we've known we could always
count on each other.

That's why I feel so good about the times we'll share
in days to come ... positive about life and all the
happiness it can hold. And I truly know in my
heart, through all of life's changes,
we'll always be friends.

--author unknown

Mrs. Thompson and Teddy

Her name was Mrs. Thompson and his was 'Teddy'.

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.

But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners ... he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class".

By now, Mrs Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.

Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs.Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer - The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs Thompson did.

And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs.Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

Warm someone's heart today ... pass this along. Please remember that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will have the opportunity to touch and/or change a person's outlook. And please try to do it in a positive way.

"Friends lift us to our feet ."
--author unknown

To Get On In Life

Tell me how to get on in life,
said the kettle.

Take panes,
said the window.

Never be led,
said the pencil.

Do a driving business,
said the hammer.

Aspire to great things,
said the nutmeg grater.

Make light of everything,
said the fire.

Make much of small things,
said the microscope.

Never do anything offhand,
said the glove.

Just reflect,
said the mirror.

Be sharp,
said the knife.

Find a good thing and stick to it,
said the glue.

And that's why the kettle sings as she works,
and works as she sings.
~ Primatutu ~

please read all

See It Through

When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.

When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you,
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.

If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.

You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!

--Edgar A. Guest

A Box of Friendship

To make a box of friendship:
To ensure that it is strong,
First a layer of respect
On the bottom does belong.

Then to the sides attach,
In the corners where they meet,
Several anchors full of trust
And devoid of all deceit.

The depth of friendship can be measured
By the sides of four,
So make them all a larger cut
And the box will hold much more.

Now fill it up with courtesy,
Honor and esteem,
Understanding, sympathy,
And passion for a dream.

Add to that your honesty,
Emotions, joy and love,
And since they're so important,
Place them up above.

But leave the box wide open
So all can see inside -
To learn what makes a friendship work
From the box you built with pride!
--author unknown


___________________________
TODAYâS INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:

"You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back at where you've been and a pattern seems to emerge. And if you project forward from that pattern, then sometimes you can come up with something."

~ Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence

Smile

Smile because someone out there is thinking about you.

Smile because someone out there has done a good deed.

Smile because someone was born.

Smile because somewhere in the world there are stars out in the sky to wish upon.

Smile because music plays sweetly.

Smile always because it's contagious!

~ Author Unknown ~
_______________________________________________________________________


TODAYâS INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:

"Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is - and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other."

~ Mother Teresa