The gift of signs of affection…
Be generous with your hugs, kisses and
gentle squeezes of the hand. Let these
tiny actions demonstrate the love inside of you.

The gift of a note…
It can be as simple as “I Love You” or
as creative as a sonnet. Put your notes
where they will surprise your loved ones.

The gift of laughter…
Just cut out a cartoon, save a clever article.
Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

The gift of compliment…
A simple “You look good in blue” or “Good supper”
can be of greatest value to those who
may feel they are being taken for granted.

The gift of a favor…
Help with the dishes, run an errand, etc.

The gift of leaving alone…
There are times in our lives when we
want nothing better than to be left alone.
Become more sensitive to those times and give solitude.

The gift of a cheerful disposition…
Try to be cheerful around those you love.

The gift of a game…
Offer to play your loved one’s favorite game.
Even if you lose, you’ll be a winner.

Pedro Arrupe (1907-1991);

In dreams and in love
there are no impossibilities.
~ Janos Arnay ~

The question isn’t who is going to let me;
it’s who is going to stop me.
~ Ayn Rand ~

If you aren’t going all the way,
why go at all?
~ Joe Namath ~

If you cannot do great things yourself,
remember that you may do small things in a great way.
~ Swamy Chinmayananda ~

When you can’t seem to be a shining example,
at least twinkle a little!

A–Accept
Accept others for who they are and for the choices they’ve made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

B–Break Away
Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.

C–Create
Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.

D–Decide
Decide that you’ll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.

E–Explore
Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you’ll learn more about yourself.

F–Forgive
Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

G–Grow
Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.

H–Hope
Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.

I–Ignore
Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.

J–Journey
Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you’ll grow.

K–Know
Know that no matter how bad things seem, they’ll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.

L–Love
Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there’s room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there’s room for endless happiness.

M–Manage
Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you’ll suffer less stress and worry. Then you’ll be able to focus on the important things in life.

N–Notice
Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

O–Open
Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there’s still much to be thankful for.

P–Play
Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.

Q–Question
Ask many questions, because you’re here to learn.

R–Relax
Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.

S–Share
Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

T–Try
Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish.

U–Use
Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that’s wasted has no value. Talent that’s used will bring unexpected rewards.

V–Value
Value the friends and family members who’ve supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.

W–Work
Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.

X–X-Ray
Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you’ll see the goodness and beauty within.

Y–Yield
Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you’ll find success at the end of the road.

Z–Zoom
Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.

“Alphabet of Happiness,” written and designed by Bobette Bryan, 2000

1. Open Up.
Be honest, open and candid (tempered with kindness).

2. Stand Up.
For your friends, whether they are there or not.

3. Put Up.
Give your friend the freedom to be imperfect (like you!).

4. Speak Up.
Say what you feel; be generous with sincere (public/private) praise.

5. Show Up.
Be there; do what you say you’ll do.

6. Make Up.
Don’t hold a grudge; be the first to say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

7. Re-Up.
Take inventory and re-commit yourself to the friendship often.

Pass this on to all your friends…

- Author Unknown

One thing nice about God, the more you think of Him the more closer He stays besides you. If you forget Him, He follows behind you and if you fall, He will carry you.

* * * * * * * *

God hides from us the things that we are not yet ready to receive. That is why when we try to get it ourselves, we end up with the 2nd best. Just pray and wait.

* * * * * * * *

When we get hurt, it is one way God is telling us that not all that’s painful is bad or wrong. We get hurt so we’d never hurt others the way we were hurt.

Be good, and you’ll never regret it.
Be bad, and you’ll never forget it.

If mistaken, be first to confess it.
If right, be the last to express it.
If wrong, then be quick to redress it.
If it’s slander, be sure to suppress it.

Be kind, but let no one suspect it.
Be wise, but let no one detect it.
Be fair, for your friends will expect it.
Be swift, or perhaps you’ll neglect it.

If it’s borrowed, be quick to repay it.
If it’s loaned, make excuse to delay it.

Be selfish, and no one will miss you.
Be a fool, and the demons will hiss you.
Be yourself, and the God will kiss you.

* To close your book of complaints and to open the Book of praise?

* To stop looking for friendship and start being friendly?

* To ignore what life owes you and think about what YOU owe life?

* To believe others are quite as sincere as you and to treat them with respect?

* To cease looking for someone to help you and to devote yourself to helping others?

o for hearing before judging.

o for forgiving your enemies.

o for being candid and frank.

o for helping a fallen brother.

o for being honest in business.

o for thinking before speaking.

o for being loyal to your church.

o for standing by your principles.

o for closing your ears to gossip.

o for bridling a slanderous tongue.

o for harboring only pure thoughts.

o for sympathizing with the afflicted.

o for being courteous and kind to all.

Author Unknown

Let us review what others have said about listening and sharing:

“To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it.”
–Churton Collins

“They that will not be counseled cannot be helped. If you do not hear reason, she will rap you on the knuckles.”
–Benjamin Franklin

“Don’t give your advice before you are called upon.”
–Erasmus

“If a man’s faith is unstable and his peace of mind troubled, his knowledge will not be perfect.”
–Buddhist Proverb

“Let no man presume to give advice to others that he has not first lived successfully himself.”
–Anonymous

“People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be – not what you nag them to be.”
–S.N. Parker

“An open mind, like an open window, should be screened to keep the bugs out.”
–Virginia Hutchinson

“Philosophy is a purely personal matter. A genuine philosopher’s credo is the outcome of a single complex personality; it cannot be transferred. No two persons, if sincere, can have the same philosophy.”
–Havelock Ellis