Think about it: Each day choose ...

to live by choice, not chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to excel, not compete.

Choose self-esteem over self-pity.
Choose to listen to your inner voice,
not the random opinions of others.
Each choice you make
defines your future.

Choose to be happy!

Think about it: Be that ONE today

One tree can start a forest.
One smile can begin a friendship;
One hand can lift a soul;
One word can frame the goal;
One candle can wipe out darkness;
One laugh can conquer gloom;
One hope can raise your spirits;
One touch can show you care;
One life can make the difference,
BE THAT ONE TODAY.

[Unknown]

One day you’ll realize ...

One day you’ll realize there are too many dishes in your cupboard.
One day you’ll notice there are too many rooms in your house.
One day you’ll find yourself keeping the TV on just to fill the silence.
One day you’ll realize you have to make an effort to fill your days.
And then you’ll remember when twenty-four hours weren’t enough to get everything done,
when you locked yourself in the bathroom just to find a moment of silence,
when dirty dishes and glasses piled up in the sink,
when the whole house was full of life - your children’s lives.
And you’ll remember how much you wished for time to pass quickly,
for your little ones to grow up and become independent.
The days won’t always be so chaotic and messy:
silence will return, and so will free time.
And then you’ll miss all that chaos,
which was nothing more than life at its most beautiful.

[Unknown]

Think about it: Being a parent is a constant work-in-progress

You will teach them to fly,

but they will not fly your flight.
You will teach them to dream,

but they will not dream your dream.
You will teach them to live,

but they will not live your life.
Nevertheless,

in every flight,

in every life,

in every dream,

the print of the way you taught them,

will remain ...
[Mother Teresa] 

I choose to be happy!

I will no longer allow the
negative things in my life
to spoil all of the
good things I have!

-Thank you, Rosetta-

Ralph Waldo Emerson: "This is my wish for you ...

Comfort on difficult days,

smiles when sadness intrudes,

rainbows to follow the clouds,

laughter to kiss your lips,

sunsets to warm your heart,

hugs when spirits sag,

beauty for your eyes to see,

friendships to brighten your being,

faith so that you can believe,

confidence for when you doubt,

courage to know yourself,

patience to accept the truth,

love to complete your life.”

Life is a short journey ...

You work 8 hours to live 4.
You work 6 days to enjoy 1.
You work 8 hours to eat in 15 minutes.
You work 8 hours of sleep 5.
You work all year just to take a week or two vacation.
You work all your life to retire in old age.
And contemplate only your last breaths.
Eventually you realize that life is nothing but a parody of yourself practicing your own oblivion.
We have become so accustomed to material and social slavery that we no longer see the chains. 
Life is a short journey, live it!

[Thank you, Rosetta]

Cows don’t give you milk

Cows don’t give you milk. You have to work for it. 

A father used to say to his children when they were young: When you all reach the age of 12 I will tell you the secret of life. One day when the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what was the secret of life. The father replied that he was going to tell him, but that he should not reveal it to his brothers. 

The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk. "What are you saying?" Asked the boy incredulously. As you hear it, son: The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4 in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket and do the work yourself. 

That is the secret of life, the cow does not give milk. You milk her or you don't get milk. 

There is this generation that thinks that cows GIVE milk. That things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if "I wish, I ask ...  I obtain." "They have been accustomed to get whatever they want the easy way ... But no, life is not a matter of wishing, asking and obtaining. The things that one receives are the effort of what one does. Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration." So, share with your children from a young age the secret of life, so they don't grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces is going to give them everything they need in life. 

Remember “Cows don't give milk; you have to work for it."

 
[Author Unknown]

Don’t wait for tomorrow

Life is filled with joy and hardship. 

This is a great truth, so make sure every day you spend time doing one thing that brings you joy and a smile to your face.

Today choose to do one thing that will bring you laughter and peace in your heart.

Don't wait until everything in your life is sorted out, and then you will relax and enjoy your day. No! Find moments of fun and happiness now. Don’t wait for tomorrow.

The reality and truth that “no one is guaranteed tomorrow” is etched in my consciousness.

The way you live life is changed forever when you realize the ordinary moments of life are an extraordinary gift.

(The average life expectancy is 78 years, while the retirement age is 65. We work for 50 years to maybe enjoy 11. Start enjoying life now. No one is guaranteed tomorrow.

[Unknown]

Life is a short journey ...

"You work 8 hours to live 4 hours.

You work 5 or 6 days to enjoy 1 or 2 days.

ou work 8 hours and eat in 15 minutes.

You work 8 hours on sleep of 5 hours.

You work all year just to take a week or two vacation.

You work all your life to retire in old age.

And contemplate only your last breaths.

Eventually you realize that life is nothing but a parody of yourself practicing your own oblivion. We have become so accustomed to material and social slavery that we no longer see the chains." 

Life is a short journey, live it!

Life is an opportunity ...

Enjoy every moment of life

Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of life.

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Nova Scotia back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late.

I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played "Amazing Grace", the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head was hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen anything like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently, I'm still lost ... it's a man thing.

It is not where you are ...

Sometimes ... just sometimes ...

Without the bread of life ...

What are you doing ...

Raising kids was my choice

During your lifetime ...

The value of life ...

You just get stronger ...