"As you make your way in the world, it's good to know that there's some
man who cares about you and thinks that you are the greatest, most
beautiful thing. That will take you a long way." --Gayle King, "O's" Editor
at Large, in "Al Roker's Big Shoes: In Celebration of Dads and
Fatherhood" (Hyperion)

It's never too late to start over.

"Dreams blossom little by littl;e, like the opening of a flower."
--Geneienne Bondy

"Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends."
--Cindy Lew

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it saps today of its strength."
--author unknown

"Do not make your boast about the next day, for you do not know what a day will give birth to."
--Proverbs 27:1

Just for today, do something nice for someone--do it anonymously--do it just because you can.

Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward;they may be beat,but they may start a winning game."
--Goethe

TODAY'S QUOTE

"Perseverence is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.
-Walter Elliot"

Dear Readers:
Here's another quote to make up for my absence.



ANGER

"Always write angry letters to your enemies. Never mail them."

James Fallows reminds us that nothing good comes from throwing harsh
words at people, even when we need to express those words. Say what you
must, but don't make other people even angrier at you.

BTW, his advice applies double to email!

"I don’t want ups and downs. I want ups and ups and ups." Lucy Van Pelt,
PEANUTS by Charles Schulz

As much as we want life to be full of "ups" the truth is, sometimes life gets us down. I’ve known some people who were so low they could play racquetball on the curb. They were really down!

What causes life to get us down?

#1 People Do Dumb Things

I know, I know, that surprises you, doesn’t it!

A man driving down a country road came to a sign that read, "Road Closed-Do Not Enter." The road ahead looked good, and being an experienced traveler, he ignored the sign and pressed on. Five miles later he came to a washed-out bridge and had to retrace his route. Reaching the reversed side of the warning sign, he read: "Welcome Back, Stupid!"

Yes, people do dumb things that get us down. But, more often than not, it is the dumb things we do that really get us down!

#2 People Have Lousy Attitudes

The Seven Dwarfs had a great life. They worked in a diamond mine, whistled while they worked, and lived with a beautiful woman ... but one of them was Grumpy! There is always a grumpy around somewhere!

A cashier was annoyed by people who always asked her the time. In disgust she bought a clock and set it by the cash register. Then people asked her, "Is that clock right?"

It is easy to get down when you work with a grumpy person! I once had an office assistant who wouldn’t answer the phone. When I asked why, she responded, "Why should I? Nine out of ten times it is for you."

The attitudes of people around us can be grumpy, irritating, obnoxious, overbearing, over-critical, super-sensitive, self-absorbed, and self-centered. And when they are, they can get us down.

#3 The Negative is Always Highlighted

Have you ever been pulled over by a policeman who wanted to compliment you on your driving? Do you remember the last time that a positive happening was the lead story on the nightly news? What percentage of the newspaper do you think is devoted to your encouragement? When was the last time you were in a group of people where the conversation lasted for more than fifteen minutes before it turned negative?

The truth is, we live in a negative world ... it is all around us ... and it is the focus of most of the people we know. All that negativity compounds and gets us down.

#4 Changes Can Be Difficult

Most of us don’t like change ... even if it is for the better.

The standard typewriter keyboard is an example. The most frequently used keys are located as far apart as possible to slow down typing speed. Keys on the machines of the 1800’s jammed if the typist was too fast. About fifty years ago, a keyboard called the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard was developed with the most frequently used keys in the home row. The right had does more work (56%) than the left and tests show that typists greatly increase their speed (up to five times) with no increase in errors. Yet, we continue to labor with a keyboard designed to be inefficient. Why? Because change is difficult.

Lucy told Charlie brown, "I’d like to change the whole world, Charlie Brown." And Charlie Brown said, "Where would you start?"Lucy said, "I’d start with you!"

Change is difficult. Yet the world is changing at speeds we cannot even comprehend. That may be why we are down.