Imagination was given to us to compensate for what we are not; a sense of humor was given to us to console us for what we are. - Mark McGinnis

Bring Out the Angel in You

Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can.

- John Wesley

The man of conviction endowed with virtue, glory, & wealth: wherever he goes he is honored. - Dhammapada, 21, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

THE FOUNDATION of EVERYTHING...

I believe in justice and truth, without which there would be no basis for human hope. - His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Surprise, Surprise.

Every single one of your votes in the polls have meant so much. They are great indicators of how people have changed values, incorporated other values and changed with the times.

Typically, when I first generated the poll I took a bet with myself of what I thought the outcome would be. I lost that bet. For example, when the poll asked what activity would revive or refresh you--you answered music/art, aerobic sports, meditation, cooking and romance equally! Nobody said "taking classes or dancing." What a surprise. Years ago everyone might have said 'romance," right off the bat. Then, I suspect as woman got more into yoga and Pilates--one would think aerobics and other highly-charged sports. The votes were all evenly balanced! 

Extraordinary people...

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

—Robertson Davies.

Re: Poll on SUCCESS

Apparently the poll identifying the reason for success have enlarged the topic into a full-fledged debate. The scope of the question have now incorporated other aspects which should be considered:

Are the requirements for "SUCCESS" mostly attributable to:

1. Genes
2. Vision
3. Opportunity
4. Timing
5. Luck
6. Purpose
7. Potential

• It will be so interesting to find out what you think. If you have another factor to consider please write and tell me to include it.
  

WISE WORDS FROM A DISABLED SOURCE

"When you come to the end of your rope,

tie a knot and hang on."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

Aldous Huxley

"People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most

 insignificant success is achieved."

Anne Sullivan -Educator of the deaf and blind.

The Very Sweet Smell of SUCCESS

• "I would be glad to worship success if I could find her." 

          (Mason Cooley (b. 1927), U.S. aphorist. City Aphorisms, Seventh Selection, New York (1990).) 

From A Friend With Enlightenment...

There is a community of the spirit.
Join it and feel the delight
of walking in the noisy street
and being the noise.

Drink all your passion
and be a disgrace.

Close both eyes to see
with the other eye.

Open your hands,
if you want to be held.

Sit down in this circle.

Quit acting like a wolf, and feel
the shepherd's love filling you.

Be empty of worrying.
Think of who created thought!

Why do you stay in the prison
when the door is so wide open?

Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking.
Live in Silence.

Flow down and down in always
widening rings of being.


-Rumi

Humor Is the Best Medicine

Humor seems to be my secret weapon. Truth be told--for years I told (true) stories and levied one-liners that seem to have people guffawing, stamping their feet, wiping tears away. I have an Aunt who when she hears my voice--starts to laugh --before I say anything more than "hello." I love to hear people laugh.

I wanted to be a stand-up comic. Now maybe because of my wheelchair... I am actually a "sit-down one.

From Where I Sit