“Focused intensity over time multiplied by God’s power creates an unstoppable momentum.” – Dave Ramsey

“Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.” ~ Dorothy Thompson

“We are either progressing or retrograding all the while. There is no such thing as remaining stationary in this life.”

~ James Freeman Clarke

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

Regina Brett’s 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett, columnist for The Plain Dealer

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here’s an update:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

As I continue to read John Maxwell’s book, Put Your Dream to the Test, I’m reminded of a quote I read several years ago. Here is today’s Thought for the Day.

I believe every one of us has a unique calling. It’s certainly not something reserved for a chosen few who end up as pastors, priests, or monks. We all fulfill that calling by being excellent as we express our talents and abilities, and our dreams and passions. Anyone can do a job, but a calling is lived out by a person who has tapped into wisdom that goes beyond education and intelligence.

Here is today’s thought for the day. I’m not certain where I heard this, but am almost sure it came from Dave Ramsey.

Diligence is discipline with excellence over an extended period of time.

The following is an excerpt from Friday’s Baptist Press article, “Capitalism’s biblical principles” by Kelly Boggs.

I ran across an anonymous reworking of the 23rd Psalm that sums up the problems inherent in socialism:

“The government is my shepherd:

“I need not work.

“It alloweth me to lie down on a good job;

“It leadeth me beside still factories;

“It destroyeth my initiative.

“It leadeth me in a path of a parasite for politic’s sake;

“Yea though I walk through the valley of laziness and deficit-spending, I will fear no evil, for the government is with me.

“It prepareth an economic Utopia for me, by appropriating the earnings of my own grandchildren.

“It filleth my head with false security;

“My inefficiency runneth over.

“Surely the government should care for me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in a fool’s paradise forever.”

You can read the full article here: “Capitalism’s biblical principles”

Yesterday I received my review copy of John Maxwell’s book, Put Your Dream to the Test.  Just in reading the introduction today, I came across this statement that really made me stop and think. So, here is today’s thought for the day.

“A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.” – John Maxwell

Here is another great quote from Ben’s blog:

Every idea seems like a great idea when you only think it half way through. Once people get half way, they usually begin to give up as they see more problems with the solution than they saw with the original problem. Those who think through things thoroughly don’t end up with a great idea. They end up with a solution.Pet Peeving: Half way there, Mar 2009

You should read the whole article.