... Recommend this page to a friend. Eighteen Things That Took Me Fifty Years to Learn Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings." There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. You should not confuse your career with your life. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command...Very often, that individual is crazy. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Never lick a steak knife. Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie. The most powerful force in the universe is gossip. You will never find anybody giving a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above average drivers. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. Your friends love you anyway. EQUALITY On the surface, we each appear different - each with different skills and talents, which make us 'individuals'. Some are more creative, some more analytical, some are more intellectual, and so on. Each person has his or her own particular quality, which makes him or her unique. When we are looking at these external qualities, we cannot say that everyone is equal. Quite the opposite - what makes a person special and unique is those 'personal qualities', which each person possesses, in different measure. This only applies, however, to our external makeup. Each of us possesses another quality, one that surpasses any of our 'individual' qualities. Each of us is created in the image of G-d. Each of us possesses a soul which is an 'actual part of G-d', as unlimited as G-d himself is. Our soul is our real being. When we shed the outer layers, the soul is what remains at our core and essence. In this regard, each of us is equal. How can somebody be higher or lower than somebody else when we are dealing with spirituality, with infinite qualities? It is good to be aware of our revealed qualities and to use our talents for good purposes. We must not forget, however, that there is something higher, something more esoteric which drives each and every one of us. In particular, when we feel tempted to look down on somebody else because of his or her apparent 'station in life', we must remember that really each of us is equal. FOOTPRINTS ON THE HEART Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts And we are never, ever the same. A FRIEND … I'm really not for this "gushy" stuff, but I do like the alphabet thing. (A)ccepts you as you are. (B)elieves in "you". (C)alls you just to say "Hi." (D)oesn't give up on you. (E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts). (F)orgives your mistakes. (G)ives unconditionally. (H)elps you. (I)nvites you over. (J)ust to "be" with you. (K)eeps you close at heart. (L)oves you for who you are. (M)akes a difference in your life. (N)ever Judges. (O)ffer support. (P)icks you up. (Q)uiets your fears. (R)aises your spirits. (S)ays nice things about you. (T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it. (U)nderstands you. (V)alues you. (W)alks beside you. (X)-plains thing you don't understand. (Y)ells when you won't listen and, (Z)aps you back to reality. HAPPINESS A LA BEN FRANKLIN There are two ways of being happy: We may either diminish our wants or augment our means - either will do - the result in the same; and it is for each man to decide for himself, and do that which happens to be the easiest. If you are idle or sick or poor, however hard it may be to diminish your wants, it will be harder to augment your means. If you are active and prosperous, and/or young and in good health, it may be easier for you to augment your means, than it may be to diminish your wants. But if you are wise, you will do both at the same time, young or old, rich or poor, sick or well; and if you are very wise you will do both in such a way as to augment the general happiness of society. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor. HOW CHILDREN LEARN If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient, If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance, and friendship, He learns to find love in the world. I BELIEVE IN YOU Believe in yourself To the depth of your being Nourish the talents Your spirit is freeing Know in your heart When the going gets slow That your faith in yourself Will continue to grow Don't forfeit ambition When others may doubt It's your life to live You must live it throughout Learn from your errors Don't dwell in the past Never withdraw From a world that is vast Believe in yourself Find the best that is you Let your spirit prevail Steer a course that is true IF I COULD If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you, And share with you it's beauty, On the days you're feeling blue. If I could build a mountain, You could call your very own, A place to find serenity, A place to be alone. If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea, But all these things I'm finding, Are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain, Or catch a rainbow's place, But let me do what I do best, And put a smile upon your face. IF THE WORLD WERE 100 PEOPLE There would be: 57 Asians 21 Europeans 14 from North and South America 8 Africans 52 would be female 48 would be male 70 would be nonwhite, 30 white 59% of the entire world's wealth would belong to only 6 people and all 6 would be citizens of the United States 80 would live in substandard housing 70 would be unable to read 50 would suffer from malnutrition 1 would be near death 1 would be near birth Only 1 would have a college education 99 of them will not see this message, because only 1 would have a computer. When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance, and understanding becomes glaringly apparent. So we return to ... Menu ... or to the ... Next Page ... and why not?