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March 29, 2009 2 Comments

Marijuana is a Crutch For the Ridiculously Weak

First of all, before I say anything else – I want you to know that I don’t look down on anyone.  I may have my share of faults, but one thing I can say about myself is that I do not judge others.  I was cut from “live your life and let others live theirs” material.  I do throw my opinions in people’s paths when they’re doing things that could hurt themselves or others, though.  It’s not from an angry, judgmental place, however.  I’m one of those people who truly just wants to help others.

Having said all of that… what are these women thinking?!?!?  Here’s the gist – mothers are smoking marijuana and justifying it as a means of relaxing and unwinding.  One even said she does it to keep from taking out her frustrations on her husband and children.   Are you kidding me?  So, if she doesn’t smoke illegal weed, her husband and children will have to pay for it?

Others claim that it’s how they unwind at the end of the day.  Have they never heard of….

  • Drinking a cup of hot tea
  • Reading a chapter from Dean Koontz’s latest book
  • Baking cookies (something that would actually benefit everyone else)
  • Watching tv
  • Taking a bubble bath
  • Working in a flower garden
  • Working a crossword puzzle
  • Petting a cat
  • Walking a dog
  • Walking without a dog
  • Keeping a journal
  • Watching birds
  • Going for a manicure
  • Shopping therapy
  • Having a latte at Starbucks
  • Photography
  • Solitaire
  • Bowling
  • Taking a nap
  • Going to a chick flick

Countless other women handle stress without turning to drugs – which, let’s be honest, is what marijuana is.  It’s not a therapy any more than getting drunk is.  It’s illegal and it’s a crutch.  An illegal crutch isn’t something anyone should be proud of and it certainly isn’t a legacy they should want to leave for their children.  They might as well wear a t-shirt that says “2 WEAK 2 COPE.”

No one needs anything like marijuana to cope with life.   What they need is more  guts, more backbone, and more respect… respect for themselves, their country and its laws, and their family.  One even acknowledged that being arrested was a risk she knew she was taking.   Wow, to love one’s family that much is totally amazing.  Can you say completely selfish???

I would challenge each of these women (and men, of course) to get rid of their crutch completely for a whole month.  Stand on your own two feet day in and day out.  Whether your crutch is alcohol or marijuana, you’ll never learn to stand on your own until you put it away.  I promise you, something amazing will happen in just a matter of days – you’ll find that you have more strength than you ever thought possible.  Then as you find your legs, something even more remarkable will happen, you’ll get stronger and stronger.

Soon, you’ll be looking at others with their crutches and wondering, “How can they be so weak?  I’m standing on my own!”  This new found strength will be something that no one can ever take from you and the legacy you leave to your children will be that of a very strong individual who didn’t need a crutch to stand.

In the words of Tim Gunn on Project Runway, “Make it work!”

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Addictions, Inspiration, Motivational, Must Reads Tagged: , ,
October 24, 2008 1 Comment

A Thought or Two (Maybe Three) About Setting Yourself Up for Good Mental Fitness

Clear Your Mind of Can't



Clear Your Mind of Can’t Art Print
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I often overhear my husband talking on the phone to people he does business with.  A common theme he points out to people is this:  You either set yourself up to succeed or you set yourself up to fail. I have no idea which of his favorite speakers or authors initially said it, but he firmly believes in its worth. The point is always followed up by examples of setting oneself up to fail (like not listening to details, not putting customers/consumers/buyers first AND last, taking shortcuts, etc.) and examples of setting oneself up to succeed (getting your priorities straight, outworking everyone else, going above and beyond, etc.)

Of course, this same sort of philosophy can spill into other crevices of life as well.  Since we’re most interested in Mental Fitness and Mental Health on this particular blog, we’ll stick with that subject.

 

Ways We Set Ourselves up to Fail OR Ways we Sabotage Our Mental Fitness!

Unhealthy, Poisonous Thoughts - Rightfully at the top of the list.  Whether we use our thoughts to worry about things that haven’t even happened or use them to re-hash and re-live bad experiences, we stab ourselves in the foot with negative, destructive thinking. 

I’ve never understood people who relive bad things.  I overheard a woman tell her husband recently, “I remember when you said blah blah blah… That really hurt!”  He was like, “I said I was sorry.  That was over 20 years ago!”  I wanted to lean over to their table and tell her that if she has to go back 20 years to find something clumsy that came out of her man’s mouth, she should get on her knees and thank God right now! 

Why relive bad things – the first run was enough, right?  I can understand reliving the good moments, it makes you feel good all over again.

Think about it this way, when we engage in thoughts and memories, our psyche experiences it all over again.  How healthy do you think it would be to keep exposing our psyche to bad experiences?  It would think we had the most profoundly miserable life in the world.  Healthy?  Not even close.

How about worry? It makes your psyche a basket case – and, again, that isn’t at all productive for one’s mental fitness.

Let things go.  If you think you’re harming someone else by holding onto them, you are dead wrong.  You’re only harming one person and if you want to see who that is, find the nearest mirror.

I have countless bad traits – from spending money like I have an orchard of money trees to driving like I’m qualifying for the Daytona.  But one thing I actually nailed early in life was this:  You have to let go of the bad as soon as you possibly can.  That’s why I don’t hound my husband with things he said years, months, or even days ago.  Doesn’t matter.  Truth be told, since I never make it a point to dwell on negatives, they disappear from my mind very quickly.  Only things we think about fairly frequently stay with us.

Why do you think things we learned in school disappear so soon after we leave school.  We don’t think about the Mayflower Compact, Spanish verbs, Diagramming sentences, or (for crying out loud) calculus on a regular basis.

If you have negative thoughts or worries lingering in the halls of your mind, chase them out with a broom.  They aren’t helping you set yourself up for good mental fitness or happiness at all. They’re setting you up for gloom, failure, and a sick psyche.

By Becomming Mind Sloths!  -  If we aren’t careful, when we least expect it, an epidemic reaches down and claims us.  It’s the Mind Sloth epidemic and it’ll turn your mind to mush. 

What are the symptoms of this epidemic? 

  1. Frequent television watching and/or internet surfing without balancing the time with frequent reading and mental challenges.
  2. Saying, “I can’t do this so I’m not even going to try!”
  3. Being unable to name the last book you read.
  4. Being unable to carry on a conversation on topics plucked from the daily newspaper.
  5. Being unable to name your daily newspaper!
  6. Being content and comfortable with the knowledge you have at this point.

If you recognize any of these symptoms, there’s hope.  But you have to ACT, no one’s going to do it for you.

  1. Broaden your horizons.  There’s NOTHING wrong with watching television, there’s NOTHING wrong with going online – but they mustn’t become your identity.  If someone thinks of one of these activities when they hear your name, you may need to do a little soul searching.  Read more books, research things that interest you, read the newspaper.
  2. When you come face to face with a challenge, don’t immediately run the other way.  A great sense of pride, self-confidence and accomplishment come with every battle you win.  However, each battle you walk away from weakens your resolve and throws ice water on your self confidence.  You never know what you can do until you try.  You very well may find out you have more knowledge, creativity, and ability lying inside of you than you ever suspected.  When you wake it up, it might just blow your socks off!
  3. Never be content with what you know.  There’s so much to learn – the world’s a huge, fascinatiing place.  The more you learn, the more you realize how much you have left to learn.  Pick a country, an animal, a period of history, an event, an individual – and learn everything you possibly can about them.

By Being Physically Unhealthy. Our physical fitness and health affects our mental fitness and health.  We should strive to be as physically and mentally fit as possible – the two work together brilliantly. 

  1. Get at least 30 minutes of activity daily.  Take walks, clean your house, work in the yard, put on Motown and dance… Whatever you want to do, just get moving.
  2. Eat healthy.  Research shows that the foods that are good for us, physically, are also good for us mentally.  Fish, berries, spinach, oranges, green tea, coffee… they’re all good for us from the tops of our heads to the tips of our toes.
  3. Get plenty of fresh air and natural sunlight.  Go outside and take healthy, long deep breaths several times a day.  It just down-right feels good!  Plus, it benefits the cells of your body and mind greatly.
  4. Avoid the things that are bad for you physically.  Smoking, overeating, inactivity – they’re not just unhealthy for your heart and lungs, your brain doesn’t appreciate them either.  At all!

Are you setting yourself up to be as mentally fit as possible or are you sabotaging and sacrificing your mental health.  I want you to also realize that there’s something else to keep in mind.  It isn’t talked about as much as mental fitness or physical fitness, but it’s every bit as important – and that’s Emotional Fitness.  The things you just read about matter as much to your Emotional Fitness as they do your mental and physical fitness. They all go hand in hand, cell in cell.  When one’s strong, it encourages the others to be as well.  When one’s weak, however, it drags the others down with it. 

If you’re guilty of sabotaging your mental fitness, you might as well say that you’re also sabotaging your physical fitness and your emotional health as well.  Don’t wait for tomorrow to do something about it.  Stop whatever you’re doing right now and give yourself a little pep talk.  You know what things you need to start doing and what things you need to stop doing.  When you pinpoint each, write it down.

Then go over each point and come up with a plan for each.  If a plan eludes you, do a little research – or e-mail me and If I don’t already have some advice in my pocket, I’ll do the research for you.

Make each moment a healthy moment, first, and then make it count double!
~ Joi

Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivational, Must Reads Tagged: , , , , ,
October 18, 2008 Leave a Comment

Why Older is Better – A Collection of Bragging Rights from People Over 50

Apparently, for those of us who aren’t in the big 50′s neighborhood yet, we needn’t fret the view. The following is a list that was published in a really cool book from 2001 titled “Lists to Live By.” It’s a collection of reasons why “Older is Better” by individuals over 50 years old. It seems strange to refer to 50 as older these days, doesn’t it?!

50′s the new 40 after all – and that’s nowhere near old.

Be that as it may, I love the attitude and vibe of this list. It’s crackling with positive energy and that always turns me all the way on.

Why Older is Better

  1. You appreciate one day at a time.
  2. More people open doors for you.
  3. You don’t have to prove yourself.
  4. The simple pleasures seem so much more valuable.
  5. It’s okay to foget.
  6. You can go at your own pace.
  7. You have more stories to tell.
  8. There’s nothing left to learn the hard way.
  9. You have time to volunteer.
  10. You get to be a grandparent.
  11. You get senior discounts.
  12. You’ve seen it all before, even if you don’t remember where!
  13. You can stay up as long as you want.
  14. You discover the value of the things that have been around a while – old friends, old books, old memories, and old songs.
  15. You finally have perspective.
  16. Things take longer, but you have more time to do them.
  17. You have a better chance of shooting your age with your golf score.
  18. You have seen so many prayers answered.
  19. You know that being kind is often more important than being right.
  20. You finally have the time to start a new hobby or read a new book.
  21. You have learned that people are much more important than things.
  22. You don’t have to worry about what to do when you grow up.
  23. You now how important it is to count your blessings.
  24. You can take as many naps as you like.
  25. Heaven is closer.
  26. You have real wisdom to share.
  27. You realize that time is a treasure.
  28. You have learned that great memories come from both hard times and good times.
  29. It’s the perfect time for looking inward, outward, forward, and upward.
  30. You finally realize that what you can’t see lasts longer than what you can.

Make each moment count double!
~ Joi

Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivational, Must Reads, Tough Love! Tagged: , , , , , , ,
September 20, 2008 Leave a Comment

Ten Steps to A Better Memory Are Ten Steps to Decreasing Your Odds of Getting Dementia

Memory of the Time



Memory of the TimeArt Print
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Lately, I’ve noticed that fewer and fewer people are making jokes about “senior moments” or harmless lapses in memory. I’m not so sure that political correctness or sudden cases of sensitivity are the reasons. In fact, I’m 100 percent certain that the increased attention we’re all giving to Alzheimer’s and Dementia is the reason.

I just want to say, “Thank goodness!” for all the atttention. Everytime I see a news story or article about Alzheimer’s or Dementia, I get excited. The more attention we bring to mental health, the better the odds become of defeating the beast once and for all.

Sadly, we haven’t defeated it yet. 5 percent of people aged 65 and older fall victim to Alzheimer’s while a much larger portion over 80 fall victim. So, no, the world doesn’t find “innocent” little lapses in memory to be as funny as we once did.

The good news is therre is a swelling amount of evidence that memory lapses DO NOT necessarily foreshadow dementia. Best of all, the tendency to have lapses in memory can be lessened while REDUCING YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA.

The solution? Mind aerobics!

Below is a 10 Step Memory Workout courtesy of the AARP.

  1. Exercise regularly.  Study after study prove that aerobic activity reduces the loss of brain tissue common with aging.  The brain LOVES the increased oxygen.
  2. Stick to a healthy diet.  Avoid sugar and saturated fat.  Eat lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, spinach, and beets.  The magnesium found in dark green, leafy vegetables appears to help maintain memory.
  3. Learn new things.  Aim for learning something new everyday as well as learning as many new activities as you can.  Embrace stretching your mind and horizons.  Some examples are:  Learn a new language, learn to play the piano, learn to play the guitar, take up a new sport such as tennis, golf, or bowling, learn card games, throw yourself into animal activism, take up bird watching, etc.  Basically, just stimulate your neuron activity by exposing it to something brand new and exciting!
  4. Get enough sleep.  This is one a lot of people overlook, but it’s very important.  Too little sleep impairs concentration as well as hinders your body from repairing itself when needed.  Be certain you’re getting enough sleep!
  5. Get organized.  Searching for missing keys, cellphones, or other personal properties can be frustrating and time-consuming – to say nothing of the blow it deals to your ego.  Designate a particular place for everything.  If you carry your cellphone from room to room, make a certain spot in each room where you’ll ALWAYS place it.  When it turns up missing (and, come on, let’s be honest – it will!), it can only be in a certain number of spots.  When you travel, keep a checklist for medications, vitamins, eyeglasses, toiletries, and so on.
  6. Devise memory strategies.  Make notes or underline key passages to help you remember what you’ve read.  Invent mnemonics formulas to help you remember things.  These memory aids are usually verbal “tricks” to help the individual associate certain facts.  “i before e except after c” is one of the most popular ones, while “In 1942 Columbus sailed the ocean blue” is another one.  When I was homeschooling my daughters, I had a lot of fun coming up with little poems or sentences to help them remember facts that could otherwise be nightmarish.
  7. Socialize.  Carrying on positive conversations with others helps maintain brain function. 
  8. Turn off the tube.  Experts say too much TV can weaken the brain.  However, educational television shows can help you in your quest to learn something new each day.  Animal Planet, The Discovery Channel, and the History Channel all provide great “lessons” in the comfort of your own living room!
  9. Jot down new information.  Writing things down helps transfer the information from short to long-term memory.  That’s why you’ll never see me reading anything without pen and paper nearby.  I learned in elementary school that if you write something down, it’ll stay with you MUCH longer than it will if you don’t.
  10. Solve brainteasers.  Crossword puzzles, card games, and board games (Scrabble, Trivia Pursuit…) improve your memory.  Make it a point to work the puzzles in your newspaper each day.  It’ll become a daily routine that’ll serve you well.  I LOVE the mind games found HERE - I play them every single day and can practically feel the rush my brain gets!  Street of Dreams and Wild Word Garden are probably my two favorites, but if I ever branched out I’m sure I’d discover other great games, too.  Give them a try, I promise you’ll get hooked.  And your brain will thank you for it.

Make each moment count double!

~ Joi

Filed Under: Brain Games, Must Reads Tagged: , , , , , ,
July 31, 2008 Leave a Comment

The Fight Against Alzheimer’s and Dementia Begin in the Kitchen

Dr. Al Sears has an amazing newsletter – it’s actually one of the top three health newsletters online. I strongly urge you to visit the link I just dropped and sign up today. It’ll be the healthiest thing you’ve done in a while.

Dr. Al Sears recently addressed a topic of great interest to all of us: Dementia. He pointed out the fact that most people seem to think there’s simply nothing you can do about this terrible, hideous disease… Pretty much they believe we’re at its mercy.

Dr. Sears believes, as I do, that that’s just this side of hogwash.

He points out a study out of South Korea that found a direct link between the B vitamin, folate deficiency, Alzheimer’s, and age-related dementia. Vitamin B9 is also known as “folic acid,” a different form of B9.

The researchers took 518 people over 65 and monitored them for about two-and-a-half years. Over that time, 45 of them developed dementia, and out of the 45, 34 had Alzheimer’s. The one thing everyone in this group had in common was what the researchers called an “exaggerated” decline in B9 levels compared to the rest of the people in the study.

Meanwhile, those in the study with low levels of B9 had three times the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. This was true even after other factors were taken into account—including age, physical disabilities, alcohol consumption, and weight gain.

So this study would suggest that you can reduce your chance of Alzheimer’s or dementia just by keeping your levels of B9 high. – Al Sears, M.D.

I keep reading about more and more studies linking Dementia to a poor diet, weight problems, and an unimpressive antioxidant intake.

Another very important study of Alzheimer’s Disease addressed the diet and antioxidant intake over a person’s lifetime. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease among those who got enough of the antioxidants vitamin B complex, vitamins C, E, and fish oil was one third of those who did not.

Dr. Sears also details a British study that found a strong link between obesity, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. The researchers of this particular study found that people who are overweight are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as people who stay fit.

Below is the nutritional checklist that we should go by in our fight against Alzheimer’s and dementia – beside each is Dr. Sears’s recommended daily amount:

CoQ10 – 200 mg
Vitamin B12 – 400 mcg
Vitamin B6 – 75 mg
Vitamin C – at least 500 mg minimum, much more is safe (I take 2000 mg per day)
Vitamin E – 400 IU
Folic Acid (B9) – 800 mcg

Folic Acid is a superstar in the health community. Not only is it important in the fight against Alzheimer’s, some studies show that folic acid might help prevent heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. We also know that it helps the body make healthy new cells – that has to be great, right?! Folic Acid can be found in many breakfast cereals, bread, kale, spinach, turnip greens, lettuce, beans, peas, bananas, nuts, asparagus, spaghetti oranges, and broccoli.

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi

Filed Under: Brain Food, Mental Fitness, Must Reads Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
July 30, 2008 Leave a Comment

Taking the Power Away From Fear

Fear- Eleanor Roosevelt


Fear- Eleanor Roosevelt Magnet
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I‘ve been thinking about fear a lot lately.  I came, literally, face to forked tongue with my greatest fear a few days ago.  Thanks be to God we were separated by the glass door in our home office or I may have fainted dead away.  My fear of these things is that profound.

The thing that unsettles me about this fear is that it’s unreasonable.  I’ve never been wronged, in any way, by any reptile.  The only animal that ever got an attitude with me was a Siamese cat who got nasty with everyone.  Yet, cats are the last thing in the world I’m afraid of.

Truth be known, I don’t have any fear whatsoever associated with any animal besides snakes.  I’m not fond of bugs or mice, mind you, but I don’t experience the same head to toe panic that I do when I see a snake.

I’m actually pretty bold with all other animals.  I wrestled a very large, strong pit bull once that was chasing my kittens.  The dog wasn’t hurt one bit (he thought we were playing a game), but one of my ankles hurt for months!

I even went outside one night a few months ago because I saw a coyote in the front yard and wanted to get a closer look.   I’ve done the same with Raccoons, even a family of them. 

Yet, here was this thing on my patio and I froze with fear.  Not only did I NOT go outside while it was lurking, I haven’t been around back since.  See?  There’s that unreasonable-ness I was talking about.  It bothers me because I’m giving this fear power over me.

The more I think about it, the more certain I am that I’ll be taking a nice, long walk in my yard when I get up from here.  I might even sit on the patio for a few minutes – after picking up sticks in the yard. Yay, go girl!

Nay, stop girl.  Let’s forget the whole picking up sticks thing.  I am going to walk around and do so without doing a double take with each stick, shadow and noise, though. Dorothy Thompson once said, “The most destructive element in the human mind is fear.” Eleanor Roosevelt went so far as to say, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”

If I’m not mistaken, I think her words would like me to confront a snake on some level. Lady, please.

Maybe one day I’ll be able to look at one without the hairs on my arms standing on end. Actually I’d like that very much. One step at a time, though. I’m sure Mrs. Roosevelt would understand.

Will my venture into the yard be less bold if I carry the shovel with me?

Make each moment count double,
~Joi

Filed Under: Must Reads, Quotations, Tough Love!
April 29, 2008 Leave a Comment

Choose the Subject of Your Thoughts Carefully

Think PositivelyRemember in high school when you were faced with the task of choosing subjects for the upcoming semester?  If you were planning for college, you were careful to select subjects that would meet your chosen school’s criteria.  If you had a career in business in mind, you chose classes that would prepare you for that road. 

If you went to college, you became even more expereinced in choosing subjects.

The subjects we chose in school determined our degree and shaped our education.  Good selection was of the utmost importance! However, we choose even more important subjects on a daily basis without even truly realizing it.  Yet these very choices determine far more than an education or degree – they determine our character and shape our life. 

I’m talking, of course, about our thoughts.  Our thoughts are often found woefully lacking, which sadly, rubs off onto our character.  Given the fact that our character pretty much determines the life we’ll lead, it’s easy to see why we should start paying A LOT more attention to the thoughts that we allow, and even invite, into our heads.

In a brilliant little book titled Inspiration and Ideals, from 1917, Grenville Kleiser put it this way:

If you once form the habit of selecting and dwelling upon important subjects only, you will have neither time nor inclination for the petty worries that beset so many lives.  Anxiety, irritation, despair, fear and the like, are mental, and therefore must be destroyed mentally.  As you realize the folly of these habits, you will more diligently strive to eliminate them from your life.  They are not only worthless, but a serious handicap in the face for success.  Think constructively, and doubtful and discordant elements will fall away from inanition (starvation).

I love that – starve negativity to death!

Notice how he refers to negative thoughs as “a serious handicap?”  If we were to start thinking of the following thoughts as handicaps, I’m certain we’d work harder to get rid of them:

  • Worries
  • Regrets
  • Guilt
  • Self Doubt
  • Self Ridicule
  • Pointless Daydreams
  • Anger

Let’s vow to start recognizing these negative thoughts the very minute they show up.  Instead of inviting them to kick up their heels and get comfortable, let’s show them the door pronto. After all, if they’re invited in, they’ll invite other unsavory characters over and…well, nothing good will come from any of it.

Just as we’re careful about the people we associate with, we have to be careful about the thoughts we entertain. 

Positive, constructive thoughts will take us places!  Negative, destructive thoughts will take us nowhere.

Positive, constructive thinking will make us.  Negative, destructive thinking will break us.

The choice is ours.

Filed Under: Brain Games, Inspiration, Mental Fitness, Motivational, Must Reads, Positive Affirmations, Quotations, Tough Love! Tagged: , ,
April 9, 2008 Leave a Comment

What’s Your VISION and What Are You Doing to Make it a Reality?

Vision is the Art

Jonathan Swift said, “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” Is that an amazing quote, or what? The longer you think about it, the more amazing it is.

Whether we call them visions, dreams, or aspirations – we all have them. We each picture how we want our life to be and we picture the “us” that’s in it. We have a vision of just who we want to be and we know the things we want to accomplish. No one else can see our visions but us, and that makes them pure gold. If they can’t see them, they can’t tell us that we’re wrong, they can’t get in our way, and they sure can’t take them away from us. They’re ours, all ours!

A sad reality is that sometimes we lose sight of our visions and dreams. We get busy with this thing called life and we lose touch with what it is we actually want from it. Instead, we get way too wrapped up in what it wants from us. Another pitfall is that we often get caught up in other people’s lives instead of our own. We’ll worry about what this person’s doing, where that person’s headed, what she’s thinking, what he’s doing wrong, etc. While it’s all fine and well – and even highly commendable – to be concerned with others, we aren’t doing them or ourselves any favors when we lose ourselves or our visions along the way.

It helps to frequently spend time alone with yourself and your thoughts. I’d even suggest picking a time of the day to do just that. Whether it’s on the way home from the office, while doing dishes, or even while taking a bath/shower at the end of the day. Set aside a period of time to hold yourself accountable. Remind yourself of your visions and dreams – then ask yourself, “What did I do today that brought me one step closer to my vision?” Also, “What did I do today that kept me rooted in place, neither going forward or backward?” Finally, “What did I do today that took me one step away from my vision?”

Knowing that you’ll have to face this line of questioning at the end of the day will keep your eyes focused on your goal during the day.

One more thing about visions. While it sounds incredibly stirring and wonderful to say things like, “Never give up, no matter what your vision is – never, ever give up….” – there’s something to keep in mind. If you’re playing a sport, it’s good to plant yourself firmly in position right? Let’s say you’re playing in a baseball game. You’re playing center field. You know your position when you take the field, right? You don’t go to the left..you don’t go to the right. You know where center is and you head off in that direction. As the pitcher throws the ball, you’re set in your position. But what if the batter doesn’t hit the ball right to you? How foolish would it be to think, “I’m staying put! If I believe in myself enough, I can stretch my arm a good 12 feet and…” And, you’re off the team, that’s what!

You’re a better player than that, though! You reposition yourself according to the flight of the ball and…. And, “Out one!” – that’s what.

Yes, our visions are golden and yes, we should hold them close to us. However, there are certain situations when they may need to be adjusted – according to the flight of life. Take, for instance, the men and women who’ve been told they can’t conceive. They hope, pray, believe, and even envision a miracle pregnancy. While anything is possible (especially if God is on your team), many families would have missed out on the most beautiful thing that ever happened to them if they hadn’t “repositioned” and chosen to adopt. There isn’t an adoptive parent in the world who’ll tell you they had to “settle” – they’ll tell you the absolute truth, they simply had to switch positions to find their precious child. Their “vision” still came true – it simply came from another direction.

Whether you’re able to stand your ground or you have to reposition to get what you want, keep your eyes on the ball. Hold yourself accountable at the end of one day and strive to do better the next. Everything you want from life is just around the corner. The only thing is, it won’t come to you – you have to go get it!

Make each vision count double,
~ Joi

The ridiculously gorgeous
Vision is the Art Art Print (above) is available at AllPosters.com

Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivational, Must Reads, Positive Affirmations, Quotations
March 31, 2008 Leave a Comment

The Bridge You’ll Never Cross

Million Dollar Bridge, Alaska

I was spending a little time alone with Greenville Kleiser last night while my husband was otherwise occupied. Fortunately for all involved, Mr. Kleiser is one of my favorite authors and the time we spend is in the confines of his wonderful books. We met last night in “Inspiration and Ideals” from 1917, and yes…that does make him an older man.

Greenville Kleiser wrote many motivational and inspirational books and self help articles (I’ll be adding these to my Self Help Daily Article’s Section, starting today.) – but one of the best things he ever penned was the following poem, “The Bridge You’ll Never Cross.” I think you’ll love it as much as I do.

It’s a great reminder to deal with things as they happen and not to invite worry or fear into your life. Most things we fret over never even happen!

THE BRIDGE YOU’LL NEVER CROSS

It’s what you think that makes the world
Seem dull or bright to you;
Your mind may color all things gray
Or make them radiant hue.
Be glad today, be true and wise,
Seek gold amid the dross;
Waste neither time nor thought about
The bridge you’ll never cross.

There’s useful work for you to do
With hand and brain and heart;
There’s urgent human service, too,
In which to take your part.
Make every opportunity
A gain and not a loss;
The best is yours, so do not fear
The bridge you’ll never cross.

If life seems drab and difficult
Just face it with a will;
You do not have to work alone
Since God is with you still.
Press on with courage toward the goal,
With Truth your shield emboss;
Be strong, look up, and just ignore
The bridge you’ll never cross.
- Greenville Kleiser

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Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivational, Must Reads, Versification
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