STRENGTH AND COURAGE....

It takes strength to be firm. It takes courage to be gentle. It takes strength to stand guard.It takes courage to let down your guard.It takes strength to conquerIt takes courage to surrender.It takes strength to be certain. It takes courage to have doubt. It takes strength to fit in.It takes courage to stand out.It takes strength to feel a friend's pain. It takes courage to feel your own pain. It takes strength to hide feelings. It takes courage to show them.It takes strength to endure abuse. It takes courage to stop it.It takes strength to stand alone. It takes courage to lean on another. It takes strength to love.It takes courage to be loved. It takes strength to survive. It takes courage to live.

THE COMFORT ZONE....

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail. The same four walls and busywork where really more like jail. I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before, but stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor. I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much. I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such. I claimed to be so busy with the things inside my zone, But deep inside I longed for something special of my own. I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win. I held my breath, I stepped outside and let the change begin. I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before, I kissed my comfort zone good-bye and closed and locked the door. If you're in comfort zone, afraid to venture out, remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt. A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true. Reach for your future with a smile, success is there for you!

BEGINNING TODAY....

Beginning today I will no longer worry about yesterday. It is in the past and the past will never change. Only I can change by choosing to do so.
Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it. But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first making the most of today.

Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration. This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better. Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life.I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly share this gift with others. I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.

Beginning today I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to revel in the mysteries I encounter. I will face challenges with courage and determination.I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for growth and self-improvement.

Beginning today I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time. Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image, my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

Beginning today I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.Regardless of what has gone before, I believe there is hope for a brighter and better future.
Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart.I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people. I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else: perfection does not exist in an imperfect world. But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning today I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do things that make me happy, admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my favorite music, pet a kitten, soak in a bubble bath, pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.
Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try something different; I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer. I will change what I can and the rest I will let go. I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be. Beginning today. And every day.

Just a thought, but as I often think of you and realize how much Allah loves you, sometimes I think we need to also love ourselves through His eyes. Wassalam.

DARE TO DREAM....

Sitting down with only my thoughts... I started to realize where I was and what I was finally doing. Thoughts of "I'm not good enough to be here" started floating around my head. As much as I tried, I could not get this thought out of my head the whole time I was sitting with my other counterparts in silence. Seeing their faces, their concentration, their anguish, I finally glanced down my lane. At the start and the end of this lane were two walls. In between the two walls was water. And in the water was my DREAM. What came next was my realization. A dream is based on your reality, your strengths and your weaknesses. If my dream was above the ground then I just made the foundations to make it concrete, a reality. "I'm here aren't I?" - I said to myself. I saw the race of my life. I wasn't placed anywhere, but just to be here was my dream. People often thought that I couldn't do it and I wouldn't do it. So when I got here, the best feeling I had was when I figured out that "I was good enough, not only because I made the time but mainly because I never gave up; I gave my dream a shot. "An aim, a dream, a focus; never think you have set your goals too high. You will just have the bigger challenge of achieving it.

SECRET WORTH SHARING....

If there is someone who you look up to and admire, tell him or her. It's very important. It may be really easy for you to tell this person, or it could be very hard. I know from personal experience that even if you talk to this person all of the time and feel very comfortable with this person, it can be very hard to tell them that they've been your role model. But no matter how hard it is or how nervous and uncomfortable it can be, it is totally worth it.

I recently told someone how much I looked up to her and admired her. I hadn't ever told anyone. I was the only one who knew what an incredible difference she had made in my life. I didn't think that it would be very hard for me to tell her, because I talk to her all of the time and consider her not only my role model, but also my friend. I knew that sometimes when I try to tell a person something important, I often stumble through my words and end up leaving something out. This was so important to me that I wanted to have a back-up plan; so I wrote her a letter. I went to her house to tell her, but didn't anticipate having to use the letter. I tried to talk, but the words just wouldn't come out, so I handed her the letter and told her I hoped that it explained what I was trying to say.

It did, but while she was reading it I was sitting there in her living room, watching the clock tick and staring at the walls. I was really nervous about what she'd say. It was a very long and awkward five minutes. When she got through reading it, she thanked me and told me that she'd never had any idea that I felt that way. Before I left, she gave me a big hug and thanked me again.

No matter how hard it was for me to tell her, I've not regretted it for a second. I am so glad that I finally told her how I felt. I actually feel a lot more relaxed and comfortable around her now. And I also feel like I can be more open with her about my feelings and that I can go to her if I ever have a problem that I need to talk about. So, if there is someone who you admire and look up to, tell him or her. If you put it off, then you never know when "later" may turn out to be too late.

It is so rewarding to tell them how much they mean to you. And I can almost guarantee you that it will be as, if not more, rewarding to them to know that they've made a difference in your life. But if you don't tell them, they may never know that they were such an influence to you. One of the worst things to live your life wondering is, "What if?"

THE INVITATION....

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive. It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children. It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back. It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

THERE'S A REASON WHY....

There's a reason why the light appeared and space and time was born. There's a reason why the planets, stars and galaxies were formed. There's a reason why the earth gave birth to creatures big and small. There's a reason why We humans stood the greatest of them all. There's a reason why we asked ourselves, what, why, when and how? There's a reason why we live our lives the way we live it now.

There's a reason why we're not the same, but unique in every way. There's a reason why we all have dreams of being the best, one-day. There's a reason why we usually smile, though sometimes we may wail. There's a reason why we reach our goals, there's a reason why we fail. There's a reason why when things go wrong we join our hands in prayer. There's a reason why God answers them, with aid that comes our way.

There's a reason why Some people say "You're wrong and I am right". There's a reason why A friendship breaks and why the nations fight. There's a reason why we have to leave and bid our friends' goodbye, there's a reason why that child is born, there's a reason why we die. There's a reason why these things will be, the way it was meant to be. It's a plan that began, when the light appeared, and will be for all eternity.

MAN'S LIFE....

Every man's life is a beautiful masterpiece tapestry woven in different colored threads. Each and every pattern is made up of events that a person encounters everyday. These experiences enrich a person's life. The happy moments, the moments of kindness, his unselfish acts, his moments of triumph and joy are all woven in silver and gold thread.

These threads make a man's life pattern strong. But man often tends to ruin his life's pattern with ugly spots. These are his wrong deeds, his selfish acts and moments of weakness. These threads make a man's life pattern weak. And often it is with these weak threads, that we weave our life's strong pattern, spoiling a beautiful life pattern that sometimes we cannot repair. Thus the tissue of life we can weave, good or bad, remembering that we always reap what we weave.

PORTRAIT OF A FRIEND....

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts, or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will search for answer. I can't change your past with all its heartache and pain,or the future with its untold stories. But I can be there now when you need me to care. I can't keep your feet from stumbling. I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall. Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine.

Yet, I can share in your laughter. Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge. I can only support you, encourage you, and help you when you ask. I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship, from your values, from me. I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you. I can't give you boundaries, which I have determined for you. But I can give you the room to change, room to grow, room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking or hurting. But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces and put them back in place. I can't tell you who you are. I can only love you and be your friend.

LIFES ADVICE....

In three words I can sum up everything that I learned about life, "It goes on." When the going gets tough, make yourself realize that no matter what your problem is, someone is and always will be fighting a harder battle. Tears don't help problems and whining won't make things better. Have faith but understand that faith makes things possible, not easier. Have hope but understand without doing anything nothing gets done.Be there when people need you, because in order to have friends you must first be one. Make the impossible, possible. Never give up! You only fail when you fail to try. Keep an open mind; you never know what you may learn. Never compromise your standards for anyone, do it for you.
Remember that laughter makes the world go round. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose, see through the problem to find the solution. Don't make promises that you can't keep. Keep in mind, those who gossip to you will gossip about you. Say only what you mean, and don't believe everything that you hear because some day the story will be about you.Everyday is a gift, even if it sucks. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone that you love them, because you never know what tomorrow has in store for you. Give people a second chance, because no one is perfect. Love all that you can, give all that you have, smile away your days, and dream away your nights. Life, what a wonderful thing!

There have been times in my short life where I had to overcome certain obstacles, just as everyone must. Some which happened by chance and others because I was reckless with my life. I won't deny the fact that I thought I was invincible and could easily overcome anything. I was foolish in my thinking; life is sometimes going to be difficult. If life were a smoothly paved road then there would be no excitement, no thrill of just being alive.
The roadblocks in life are going to make things difficult and alter our daily lives but when someone overcomes these obstacles there is triumph. In this triumph, strength and courage builds to take on life.
I know I have a lot more to learn and experience but I have already learned the importance of loving the low points in life just as I love the high ones. I have already begun to triumph and I can't wait for the thrill to continue this journey we call life.

WALK....

I enjoy taking a walk. It is a great way to exercise, a wonderful way to see things at a slower pace, and an opportunity to meet people. Often, during a walk, meeting people is nothing more than a smile and a quick "Hi", but the reactions are as wide, and some as barren, as the Arctic. The older the passer-by, the more likely the response, but rarely a smile. Many have pain and suffering written cruelly across their face, where the years have etched it in deep, few remembering how to use the muscles required to turn up the corners of their mouths.

Men and attractive young ladies are the least to respond. Most never even wanting eyes to meet, scared and resentful of this unsolicited approach. Children have no time to respond, and didn't their mother always tell them not to talk to strangers? Hey, I am not one of the ones that they were warned about, but they don't know that. Then there are those that can't keep their eyes off their shoes. I am not sure whether they are afraid they are going to trip over that crack in the sidewalk or if they are waiting for their laces to untie, all by themselves.

Others have that straight ahead out-of-focus look, staring at some far off point on the horizon, not wanting to exert the effort of looking to the side. But for the few that do respond, their eyes light up, a broad smile breaks across their face and they respond with a warm "Hi". Normally, these are the ones who have a lighter step, a lilt to their walk.

They are the ones who enjoy observing their surroundings, drinking in all that nature has provided them. They have life and don't mind sharing it. I don't think this is something that is graced upon people at birth, but rather they discover it at some point along life's path. Next time some stranger walks by you and says "Hi", respond to them. You never know, it might be me.

A BROKEN HEART....

We have all had are hearts broken at least once in our lives. There has been that one person that we have loved with all our heart and has not returned that love. When you wake up to that reality you feel like your world has shattered. You feel like you will never love that way again.

He or she is all you think of and becomes your world. You ask yourself why is this happening to me? Am I not good enough? What's wrong with me? Then, as time goes by, you get the answers to your questions. You begin to realize that it all happened for a reason. You realize the he/she is not the one for you. The more you analyze the person you begin to see the differences. You realize that you don't know that person like you thought you did and they don't know you.

Then comes the understanding that you deserve someone who will love, cherish, appreciate you and never take you for granted. Once you reach this point, the pain of never having him starts to minimize. It becomes a learning experience. You learn more about yourself. You learn to recognize the qualities you do want in a person. You learn that you will love again and even stronger.

When two people love each other mutually and give to each other freely that love grows and matures. If it were not for the experience of our broken heart and those lessons we learned along the way we would not be the loving, understanding people we become. All past hurts teach us and mold us in becoming better people, which give us the tools to create successful relationships. If you are experiencing a broken heart just remember even though you have been hurt and disappointed, love will come again just HOPE and see!

STRANGERS....

Who are these people whom we call strangers? Are they people whom we do not know, or are they people whom we have yet to know, or are they people who just fill in the voids of our daily life like extras in a movie show?

I believe there are no strangers in this world.. Just friends whom you have yet to meet... the vast number of people to whom we have yet to reach out to. Well to think about it.. none of the friends we have are friends by default. All the friends we have were strangers once.

This reminds me of an incident that took place a long time back when I was studying my first year architectural degree. I was doing my model then made out of cardboards. And being a first timer in doing my model without any formal training, I overlooked the fact that I had to bring in my own cardboard. The final essembly of our project took place at the university hall where all the lecturers and teachers monitored our every movement.
Well... I had to settle for a low-quality paper that was being prepared. I was extremely demoralized. Out of the blue, a guy slid a sheet of hi-quality cardboard paper on my desk and said, "I have an extra one, I believe you could use it".

I did not expect that from a stranger and I did not ask him for help... and that cardboard doesn't come cheap! Before I could even thank him, he rushed back to his seat. I wanted so much to express my gratitude, but he was long gone before I could finish my so called structural paper element of a building. I did not know him.. and he did not know me, but what he did then secured me the grade to enter my second year.

It isn't just a piece of paper.... it isn't! It has been almost 12 years now and that incident is safely archived in a corner of my mind. Was he a stranger? I don't think so.... He was just another wonderful soul I never got to know.

IT DEPENDS ON WHOSE HANDS IT IS....

A golf ball in my hands is worth about $19. A golf ball in Tiger Woods hands is worth about $33 million.It depends whose hands it's in. A softball in my hands is worth about $6. A softball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million. It depends whose hands it's in. A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship.

It depends whose hands it's in. A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea. It depends whose hands it's in. A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy. A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon. It depends whose hands it's in. Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse, nails in a carpenter's hands will produce shelter. It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because....... it depends whose hands it's in.

THE LOCKED BOX....

My hearts been frozen for many years and so I cried so many tears. I find within my heart of stone, the fear of being left alone. I try to find within myself, how did my heart get on that shelf? To see within that little box it seems to hold so many locks. I need to find so many keys so I can learn to set it free. Then one day I met a friend who said this heartache has to end. And so I took the box off the shelf to learn the lessons within myself, to find within the heart of stone. It's alright to be alone. It's okay to cry those tears for I have shed so many fears!

LIFE IS A JOURNEY....

Life is a journey filled with lessons, hardships, heartaches, joys, celebrations and special moments that will ultimately lead us to our destination, our purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth; in fact, throughout our travels, we will encounter many challenges.Some of these challenges will test our courage, strengths, weaknesses, and faith. Along the way, we may stumble upon obstacles that will come between the paths that we are destined to take.

In order to follow the right path, we must overcome these obstacles. Sometimes these obstacles are really blessings in disguise, only we don't realize that at the time. Along our journey we will be confronted with many situations, some will be filled with joy, and some will be filled with heartache. How we react to what we are faced with determines what kind of outcome the rest of our journey through life will be like. When things don't always go our way, we have two choices in dealing with the situations. We can focus on the fact that things didn't go how we had hoped they would and let life pass us by, or two, we can make the best out of the situation and know that these are only temporary setbacks and find the lessons that are to be learned.

Time stops for no one, and if we allow ourselves to focus on the negative we might miss out on some really amazing things that life has to offer. We can't go back to the past, we can only take the lessons that we have learned and the experiences that we have gained from it and move on. It is because of the heartaches, as well as the hardships, that in the end help to make us a stronger person. The people that we meet on our journey, are people that we are destined to meet. Everybody comes into our lives for some reason or another and we don't always know their purpose until it is too late. They all play some kind of role. Some may stay for a lifetime; others may only stay for a short while. It is often the people who stay for only a short time that end up making a lasting impression not only in our lives, but in our hearts as well.

Although we may not realize it at the time, they will make a difference and change our lives in a way we never could imagine. To think that one person can have such a profound affect on your life forever is truly a blessing. It is because of these encounters that we learn some of life's best lessons and sometimes we even learn a little bit about ourselves. People will come and go into our lives quickly, but sometimes we are lucky to meet that one special person that will stay in our hearts forever no matter what. Even though we may not always end up being with that person and they may not always stay in our life for as long as we like, the lessons that we have learned from them and the experiences that we have gained from meeting that person, will stay with us forever.

It's these things that will give us strength to continue on with our journey. We know that we can always look back on those times of our past and know that because of that one individual, we are who we are and we can remember the wonderful moments that we have shared with that person. Memories are priceless treasures that we can cherish forever in our hearts. They also enables us to continue on with our journey for whatever life has in store for us. Sometimes all it takes is one special person to help us look inside ourselves and find a whole different person that we never knew existed. Our eyes are suddenly opened to a world we never knew existed- a world where time is so precious and moments never seem to last long enough.

Throughout this adventure, people will give you advice and insights on how to live your life but when it all comes down to it, you must always do what you feel is right. Always follow your heart, and most importantly never have any regrets. Don't hold anything back. Say what you want to say, and do what you want to do, because sometimes we don't get a second chance to say or do what we should have the first time around. It is often said that what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. It all depends on how one defines the word "strong" It can have different meanings to different people. In this sense, "stronger" means looking back at the person you were and comparing it to the person you have become today. It also means looking deep into your soul and realizing that the person you are today couldn't exist if it weren't for the things that have happened in the past or for the people that you have met.

Everything that happens in our life happens for a reason and sometimes that means we must face heartaches in order to experience joy.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASNT LOOKING....

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

TO BELIEVE....

To believe... is to know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen and dreams really do come true.
To believe... is to see Angels dancing among the clouds, to know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon.
It is to know the value of a nurturing heart, the innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love.
It is to find the strength and courage that lies within us. When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.
It is to know we are not alone, that life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.
To believe... is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, and all our hopes and dreams are within reach. If only we believe.

POWER IN COMMITMENT....

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

JUST LOVE....

A good relationship is not a game that we play or an ego trip we take. It is about love and two people. Loving someone can give us the greatest joy we can ever know but it can also hurt us more that we can ever believe. If we love someone we should be ready to experience not only happiness but heartache as well. That's the reward and risk that it takes. Unless we are willing to experience it, we will never really know what it's like to love and be loved.

Sharing love is probably the most valuable and meaningful experience a person can ever have. And there is a difference between being in love with someone and loving someone. It's the difference between a love that's fickle, wild and short-lived and a love that's tender, passionate and lasting. The first is easy. The second, the one that really matters to us all, takes work - because it's about keeping the relationship.

Loving someone takes efforts. We have to be able to communicate with each other. Nobody can read anyone else's mind. We always presume that our partner knows what we think and feel. Maybe in time we might be able to predict or sense each other's thoughts but it's never perfect and it takes time to develop. Getting the chance to love and be loved by someone is a blessing. Respect him/her for who he/she is and not what you want him/her to be No one is perfect. It's true love that closes the gap of imperfectness to form a smooth surface of acceptance for each other.
True love sees and accepts a person for who he/she is. It is also true love that makes a person change for the better. Although the power of true love is undeniable, a relationship needs commitment too.

What is love without commitment from each other anyway? It's like principles and values. Everyone has them but they only mean as much as we are willing to stand for them. The same goes for our commitments to relationships and to the person we love. "Love is like an antique vase. It's hard to find, hard to get, yet easy to break. "Every day, everywhere...people fall in love. But just how many of these relationships are self-sacrificing love, and not just relationships which are formed only for the intense feeling of falling in love? I know hundreds of friends who say the magical words "I love you"...but more often than not, the truth is just - I am IN love with you.

There is a difference between being in love with someone and loving someone. If a person says he/she is in love with you, he/she means that he/she likes you for who you are now and he/she fell in love with you because of the present you. This kind of love is temporary and will only last as long as the fairytale lasts. When fairy godmother comes in at night to whirl us back in reality, we see the heartache of such a relationship. But if a person says he/she loves you, he/she means that he/she loves you unconditionally for who you are now, who you were in the past and who you are might be in the future.

When he/she says he/she loves you and really means it, you have to ask yourself if you love him/her too or if you are only in love with the idea of being in love. It is very hard to see the difference through logical thinking. I wish you all the best on your journey in search of your soul-mate.

LIVING AND GIVING....

Whatever you give away today, or think or say or do will multiply about tenfold and then return to you. It may not come immediately, nor from the obvious source but the law applies unfailingly, through some invisible force.

Whatever you feel about another, be it love or hate or passion will surely bounce right back to you in some clear (or secret) fashion If you speak about some person, a word of praise or two, soon, tens of other people will speak kind words of you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul, not secrets of the brain. Kind ones bring us happiness; petty ones, untold pain. Giving works as surely as reflections in a mirror. If hate you send, hate you'll get back, but loving brings love nearer. Remember, as you start this day and duty crowds your mind, that kindness comes so quickly back to those who first are kind. Let that thought and this one direct us through each day.

The only things we ever keep are the things we give away.

A REASON, A SEASON, A LIFETIME....

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE....

"Now I see why powerful people often wear sunglasses - the spotlight blinds them to reality. They suffer from a delusion that power means something (it doesn't). They suffer from the misconception that titles make a difference (they don't). They are under the impression that earthly authority will make a heavenly difference (it won't).

Can I prove my point? Take this quiz.

Name the ten wealthiest people in the world. Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners. Name the last ten winners of the Miss America contest. Name eight people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. How about the last ten Academy Award winners for best picture or the last decade's worth of World Series winners?
How did you do? I didn't do well either. With the exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well.

Surprising how quickly we forget, isn't it? And what I've mentioned above are no second-rate achievements. These are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
Think of three people you enjoy spending time with. Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile. Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time. List a few teachers who have aided your journey through school. Name half-a-dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier? It was for me, too. The lesson? The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern."

AFTER A WHILE....

After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't mean security, and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.

You begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child and learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in midflight.

After a while, you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers and you learn that you really can endure...That you really are strong and you really do have worth and you learn and learn...With every goodbye, you learn.

WORDS TO LIVE BY....

Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. I

t may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

Never buy a car you can't push.

Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you don't have a leg to stand on.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

The early worm gets eaten by the bird, so sleep late.

When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.

Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them? If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons:some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought about you today....

FOREVER YOUNG....

Youth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind, it is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, vigour of the emotions, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over love of ease. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years; people grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair - these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust. Whether seventy or sixteen, there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars and star like things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events, the unfailing childlike appetite for what next, and the joy and the game of life. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear, as young as your hope, as old as your despair. So long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power from the earth, from man and from the Infinite, so long you are young.

When the wires are all down and all the innermost core of your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then you are grown old indeed believe, trust and take care of your soul.

ONE....

One song can spark a moment, one flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest, one bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship, one handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea, one word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation, one sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness, one laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey, one word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits, one touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom, one heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference, that one person is you!

CONTROL OF YOUR HEART....

A wise and understanding heart does not repay a hurt with a hurt. In doing so, the heart is diminished. Fissures form. Love leaks out. Every pain given in return for one received, changes the contents of the heart. It is no longer defined by love, wisdom and understanding. It is redefined by the bearers of hurt and hate, pain and prejudice, meanness and madness, sorrow and sadness. You give away control of your very own heart.

The despair of being hurt is healed by overcoming it, not clinging to the hurt and inflicting more of it on the world. When darkness is added to darkness, no one can see, no one can love. Everyone loses.

Love is not always warm and fuzzy. Sometimes it's the integrity we hold on to when we're tempted to strike back. Sometimes it's the honour that keeps us from exchanging the valuable contents of our heart for the harsh satisfaction of lashing back.

No, the way of love is not always easy, but when night falls, dawn is assured. The integrity and honour of a wise and understanding heart, rises with the sun of a new day. Because we have asked for understanding to discern judgment. We all have been given a wise and understanding heart. So use it wisely....

FRIENDSHIP - ART OR MAGIC....

To learn and master the art of friendship you need to practice hanging out - MAYBE, learn to reach out to people and invest time on a regular basis, so as to maintain these valuable relationships. I personally never really had the interest in forming the sort of friendships as such. This style I guess didn't really fit me. I felt burdened by the sense of duty it appeared to involve. I looked for other qualities in friendships. I needed to discover for myself my own definition of what true friendship entailed.

Today I have a few very close friends. Although I have maintained most of these friendships for many years, they still inspire a sense of awe within me. They contain an essence not readily explainable, a 'something' which I can only call magic... This magic has to do with the opening and sharing of my heart on a deeper level. It has to do with the absolute knowing, that in a moment of need, my friend will be there and provide for me exactly what I need, at that time as I will for them.

It has to do with trusting as well as being honest and vulnerable. It is about moments when I see my friend as he or she is, and they see me exactly as I am. It is about mirroring our true self to each other. On the social scale of friendship, I tend to be somewhat lousy. I regularly forget birthdays, rarely invite people to my home, and almost never take time off for vacations with my family, let alone with friends.

Therefore the friends I have, tend to be the sort of people that can pick up on a conversation as if we had met only yesterday, when in fact it may have been more than a year since we last had contact. These are the people I can call in the middle of the night when weighed down by doubt and fear, or during those times when I feel somewhat lost.

These are the people that will board a plane at a moment's notice, to be with me in my worst moments as well as in my best ones. These are the people that confront me with all my 'blind spots' and when I react adversely, they hug me and let me know I'm ok. These are the people with whom I have been able to make a contribution in a way that allows them to grow and live a more fulfilling life. I guess friendship for me is a conscious quest for love in the relationship rather than control. It is about caring and being there for each other. I once heard a definition of a friend: "A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway." I like that...

OBITUARY OF COMMON SENSE....

Today, we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the Millennium.

No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools; hospitals, homes, factories and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.

For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in from rain, the early bird gets the worm and life isn't always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and its okay to come in second.

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language and new math.

But his health declined when he became infected with the "if-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing competitions.

He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking professions and enlightened auditors. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance; when a teen was suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch; when a teacher was fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student.

Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as religion became a conflict among others, house of worship became house of businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and judges stuck their noses in everything from boy scouts to professional sports.

As the end neared, ‘Common Sense’ drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments, regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, low-flow toilets, smart guns, the nurturing of prohibition laws and mandatory air bags.

Finally, when told that the homeowners restricted exterior furniture only to that which enhanced property values, he breathed his last.

‘Common sense’ was preceded in death by his parents ‘Truth and Trust’; his wife, ‘Discretion’; his daughter – ‘Responsibility’ and his son ‘Reason’. His three stepbrothers survive him: ‘Rights, Tolerance and Whiner’.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. So lets make our common sense work for us.

HELP....

So far today, Im doing all right.

I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self indulgent.

I have not whined, complained, cursed or eaten any chocolate. I have charged nothing on my credit card.

But I will be getting out of bed in a minute and I think that I will really need your help then....

TIME & MONEY....

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do? Draw out every cent? Of course !! Each of us has such a bank. It's name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today!!!

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a pre-mature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. Time waits for no one. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift, that's why its called the present....

FOR YOU MOM....

On mother's day:-

I would like to say thank-you, for teaching me to find the courage and strength to dance to my own brand of music.
To say thank-you, for showing me that each and everyone of us are a miracle of God each destined to leave our own unique footprints in this journey called life.
To say thank-you, for encouraging me to see the invisible in order to do the impossible.
To say thank-you, for always loving me unconditionally, even when I least deserved it.
To say thank-you, for showing me daily the value of family and friendship, loyalty and love
To say thank-you, for believing in me when I no longer believed in myself.
To say thank-you, for all the examples of goodness in body and soul.
To say thank-you, for all the sacrifices, heartache, loneliness, tears, and frustrations that you so selflessly endured since the day I was born, I can only close my eyes and say thank-you in my prayers, and hope that you know you are everything to me....

HEARTS OF HEARTS....

Many people are afraid to forgive because they feel they must remember the wrong or they will not learn from it. The opposite is true. Through forgiveness, the wrong is released from its emotional stranglehold on us so that we can learn from it. Through the power and intelligence of the heart, the release of forgiveness brings expanded intelligence to work with the situation more effectively.

We've all heard the voice of our heart before, whether we followed it or not. As we learn more about the heart and find that we can trust its contributions to our awareness, a new and more rewarding life experience will emerge for individuals. It's worth considering. After all, a life without heart just isn't that much fun.

So lets make it fun, treat life like a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. I name each one of them - work, family, health, friends, and spirit - which I keep all of them in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends, and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.

Therefore in the midst of life's hopes and cares, of apprehensions and of disquietude, regard every day that dawns upon you as if it was to be your last; then super-added hours, to the enjoyment of which you had not looked forward, will prove an acceptable boon. Any one person can make an effort to contact a deeper part of him- or herself, balance his or her emotions, and deflect the momentum. The more we learn to maintain the poise and balance and refrain from adding to the incoherence around, it will help to counterbalance the frequency of life..... For now, don't cry because its over, smile because it happened....

TIME REDEEMED....

Let us detach ourselves from things trifling and insignificant, and give ourselves up to the study of things worthy our nature and capacity. We all value our possessions, and much more ought we to estimate our time.

How many words and actions are capable of being taken by two handles, are patient of two interpretations, a good interpretation and a bad one? We are unmerciful when without necessity we are judges of evil thoughts, when we suspect meanness, littleness, untruthfulness, not to speak of worse surmising, in others.

Make ourselves nests of pleasant thoughts, bright fancies, and faithful sayings: treasure-houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb nor poverty take away from you-houses built without hands for your souls to live in.

Every noble act of devotion to truth, every pure life unstained with evil, every word of pity, every instance of forgiving, and goodness, helps us to a better faith in that divine and eternal goodness which has no variableness or shadow of turning. Injustice to you is not an awful thing like injustice in you.

I TIRED TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN TODAY....

Metaphorically speaking:- I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt overwhelmed, so I had to turn back.

I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall, and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place. I was ready to climb the mountain today. But it was so hot outside, I thought I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow's attempt. I was about to climb the mountain today. But I had so many other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of much more important tasks. I washed my car, read a book and watched TV.

Today the mountain will just have to wait. I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in it's majestic beauty, I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even bother trying. I have forgotten about climbing the mountain today; until a friend came by and asked me what I was up to lately. I told him I was thinking about climbing that mountain some day. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish this task. Finally, he said, "I just got back from climbing the mountain.

For the longest time I told myself I was trying to climb the mountain but never made any progress. I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could.

One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn't make an attempt at this dream all my dreams will eventually die." "The next morning, I started my climb." He continued, "It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace.

When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed "stop!" I focused on my goal never letting it out of sight, and I kept moving forward. At times, I was ready to quit, but I knew I had come too far.

Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain today!" and tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. So what will I be doing tomorrow? "I have another mountain to climb."

SOUL SLAP....

Maybe its that one eye-opener that everyone needs. Or two, maybe even three to create knowledge like life from a tree. Trials and tribulations stick like bad habits and set backs. Time and time again you could be trying to raise up, but still laying flat on that back.

Mind elevation, soul revelation, maybe even a little spiritual experimentation, makes it possible to live with some gratification in this tired life's predictions.

Love, patience and faith will be my soul's embodiment, helping me to eliminate some of this world's decoy. It will be just that to turn this soul slap into a soul revolution, filling me up with a new kind of joy.

TO LET GO & BELIEVE....

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else. It is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I can't control another. It is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. It is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. It is not to try to change or blame another, it's to make the most of myself. It is not to care for, but to care about. It is not to fix, but to be supportive. It is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. It is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.

To let go is not to be protective, it's to permit another to face reality. It is not to criticize, or regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can do. To let go is to fear less, and to love more.

To believe... is to know that every day is a new beginning. It is to trust that miracles happen and dreams really do come true.

To believe... is to see Angels dancing among the clouds, to know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon.

It is to know the value of a nurturing heart, the innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love. It is to find the strength and courage that lies within us. When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.

It is to know we are not alone, that life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it. To believe... is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, and all our hopes and dreams are within reach. If only we can let go and believe.

IN THE MEANTIME....

For: Strictly beautiful....

There is always something to do, some place to be, something to see, someone to be. A mountain to climb, a path to take, a journey to make.

The future always holds a promise. A goal, a dream, something that gives us hope, something that helps us cope. The moon and stars eternally wait. And of course, there is always heavens gate.

But if you live your life waiting for something to come around, you will miss the special moments and the people that surround. Heaven will always wait. So "in the meantime", keep your focus in the present state.

Enjoy the struggle, share with others and realize that we are all brothers and sisters .Open your eyes, clear your mind, be no longer blind.

Soon you will learn to love the daily grind. Life is short, enjoy all of your hours. Along the path, take time to smell the flowers. Judgment day will surely come but in the meantime, march to your own drum.

We will all be together again, sometime, someplace, somehow. Until that day, live your life in the now. So, when times are tough and the road ahead seems rough, remind yourself to relish the climb because life is lived "in the meantime"

A BIT OF WISDOM....

During a trying time in my life I have received much comfort from friends and the input from fellow bloggers. I would like to submit a bit of wisdom of my own. It results from my life experiences thus far.

- Do not look in books for instructions on how to live your life. By doing so you will only end up following someone else's road. Look only inside yourself. You must trust your own voice, think with your own mind, follow your own heart, and believe in your own dreams. Only you know what you need or what is good for you. You can only survive and succeed when you are true to yourself and not to the opinions of others. -

- Do not look at life through the eyes of someone else, do not end up second-guessing your own thoughts and feelings in the false believe that others are automatically wiser than you are. Trust yourself, listen to your heart, chart your own course, be your own North Star and be what the Great Spirit intended you to be - one of a kind. -

THE HERE N NOW....

The critical time for accomplishing anything is in the here and now. Every day is a day to dare to do my best. Each day provides opportunity for self-improvement/self-renewal. Today's accomplishments, not yesterday's or tomorrow's, produce the most satisfaction as what I accomplish today can give me an immediate feeling of self confidence and direction.

The critical time for accomplishing anything is in the here and now, today. The most important ingredient in future performance is present performance. The most difficult tasks are consummated, not by a single explosive burst of energy or effort, but by consistent daily application of the best I have within me.

Practice is an opportunity to improve my skills. Approach each practice with enthusiasm, as nothing great has ever been accomplished without it. I challenge myself mentally as well as physically and I will start to enjoy the price of success rather than pay for failure. I desire... the "want to be" is the extra which enables me to take whatever ability I have and utilize it to the maximum. Total effort gives me a special kind of victory... especially victory over myself for I will make this the best day and the best practice ever.

TRY AND DO.....

Begin the do's and lay down the try's. Wake up to realize, or sleep with memorized lies of how you lived truly alive.

Please wake!

Just wake and see..... with a keen eye trained to see beyond the horizon of what you are truly meant to be. No more dreams of an unrelenting battle within. When you rise, the truth and knowledge will begin. Subtle yet absolute, those changes will infuse with the darkness that held on to you.Your reality will drift, leaving a knowledge and lesson from a teacher unknown
The answer is here! It's the spin-tingling truth. Lay down the try's and begin the do's.

FOOTPRINTS....

My history goes along way with her.... Though she is far from sight she will always be near at heart. During our lives we have left footprint all over, some where sad but most where the best memories anyone can ask for.

She has craved her footprints in my heart as well as my family. It was a big thing, and the word 'family' itself is a big six letter word when your in a relationship. These are my pass and also my future, because no matter in which direction my life leads me, she will always be my family.

I had a dream about her lastnight. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with her. In that dream and across the sky flashed scenes from our life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonged to me, the other of her's.

After the last scene of our lives flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of our lives, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. HERS!

This troubled her, so she asked me. "You said once you will follow me for all times, you would walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed you the most, you would leave me.”

I replied, “Know that I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” So know now that I will also be there for you eventhough we are far from sight, I will always be there for you eventhough there is no battle to fight.

LOVE SECRETS....

Secrets of a blissful romance on how I live my life that determines what kind of love I experienced... Ask yourself, If you don't try how will you know?
Remember how precious your loved one is. You never know if today is the last day you'll see them. Don't do something you'd regret if you never got a chance to see them again to make amends.

Being romantic means something different to everyone. To me it means being high spirited, completely carefree in love and willing to take the risk of truly loving someone with all your heart. Meaning: don't let embarrassment or shyness get in the way of showing your affection!
Hope is the motto for a romantic. Even if things don't work out perfectly today, who says it won't when the time is right? Don't give up without a worthy fight!

Love the one you're with. Why compromise what could possibly be a great relationship by not focusing on who you're with now. If you're not happy with it, leave. Otherwise, give your partner 100%. You'll find your attention will not go unreturned!
"Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities." What is the ideal relationship to you? Decide to make your relationship as close to this model as possible. Whenever you feel the relationship falling, pull out that paper and remind yourself what you need to do to get it to your ideal state.

Know that you are your own best counsel. Practice doing what you know is best for you today. By second guessing yourself, you're making yourself your own worst enemy. Be the best you can be. If you don't think you're good at something, practice until you are! If this involves the subject of romance, learn as much as you can about being romantic and then DO those things! There is no excuse for not knowing OR doing!
Ponder the words, "Any time not spent in love is wasted." "People tend to question when you start something and worry about the ending; they forget that its the middle that counts the most." Know who you are. Take the time to write down who you are and what you like. Don't write down what you'd like to be or who you think other people want you to be... only who you actually are. I think that in today's world a lot of people forget to just be themselves and be okay with it. So, today be okay with who you are! Enjoy life! For one day, smile wherever you go. Pick flowers in the garden. Instead of arguing, kiss and make up. Do something spontaneous. What's the point of working so hard if you don't take at least a few minutes to really enjoy it?
Sometimes... a heart cannot afford to be... just friends!

Be there for your love, emotionally and physically (if possible). The comfort and bond you feel with someone you know is just there for you, cannot be matched. So, leave a note or take a few moments out of your day to let your sweetheart or other loved one know that you are there for them.
"Love is like evergreens; they go through the roughest times but never fade." Love isn't a one way street. It is something that needs to be maintained. If you find yourself falling out of love it's not because it doesn't exist between you anymore. It is because it isn't being created anymore. Make the time to follow the definition of romance. Make your partner feel loved!
"How long does youth last? So long as we are loved."

Sometimes we forget how valuable our significant other is. We get caught up in our day to day lives and our relationships end up suffering. Make some time to let your partner know how much you appreciate them being in your life. Even if it's just a quick note!
"To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart." Remember, before you react to any situation think with your heart first. Really try to understand the motivation behind the other person's behavior. More often than not, there is some other situation you are unaware of that has prompted an attack. Try this tip and watch how upsets in your daily life decrease!
"Love cannot grow without passion." and "It takes two to make a realtionship a success and only one a failure."

THE CALLING....

I encountered my pass to today, I saw her and we spoke, eventhough it was just for a moment everything seems right until she had to go and put down the phone. Her last words was 'I love you'.... YES! we are still very much in love - only separated by sight.

I am blessed to have her in my life. So if you find someone else in love with you and the love is returned, feel honored that love came and called at your door. But if the feeling is not mutual for either party, gently refuse the gift you cannot return. Do not take advantage. Do not cause pain. How you deal with love is how you deal with you and all our hearts feel the same pains and joys even if our lives and ways are different.

If you fall in love with someone, he or she falls in love with you and then love chooses to leave, do not try to reclaim it or to assess blame, let it go. There is a reason and there is a meaning. You will know in time. Remember that we don't choose love. Love chooses us. All you can really do is accept it for all its mystery. When it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Give it back to the person who brought it alive in you. Give it to others who deem it poor in spirit. Give it to the world around you in any way you can. There is where many lovers go wrong. Having been so long without love, they understand love only as a need. They see their hearts as empty places that will be filled by love and they begin to look at love as something that flows to them rather than from them.

The first blush of new love is filled to overflowing, but as their love cools, they revert to seeing their love as need. They cease to be someone who generates love and instead become someone who seeks love. They forget that the secret of love is that it is a gift and that it can be made to grow only by giving it away. Remember this and keep it to your heart. Love has its own time, its own seasons and its own reason for coming and going. You cannot bribe it or coerce it, or reason it into saying. You can only embrace it when it arrives and give it away when it comes to you.But if it chooses to leave from your heart or from the heart of the other, there is nothing you can do and there is nothing you should do. Love always has been and always will be a mystery. Be glad that it came to live for a moment in your life.

IF YOU KEEP YOUR HEART OPEN, IT WILL COME AGAIN.

FUTURE HOLDS....

I realize there comes a time in a person's life that they must take total responsibility for all that the future brings. Yes, Allah is a partner in my life and my future - and tends to partner in a more obvious way with those that have a plan and the motivation to take the first step to make their dreams come true. He has given me the imagination and freedom to create my life and my future all by myself, or by following every slight intention of what he would want for me, or in partnership with him as I listen and as He gives me the desires of my heart.

So if you want to see the future, take a good look at the goals and plans you have written down and read, habits you have completed, and attitudes you have displayed - TODAY. The future you want begins with the today you are experiencing - NOW

You build your life from the ground up, Crawling, walking, finally, running. Everything in life is broken down in phases and steps. The first one is the most essential, for it decides your direction. When you trip and fall, crawl till you can walk, walk until you can run. Never forget to stop, look back, down, and forward to make sure you're going in the right direction because I know no matter how steep the mountain is, Allah will climb it with me...

FEEDING THE SOUL....

We eat right, we work out, our minds are finely tuned, but how many of us consider the nourishment of our souls? We are body-mind spirit. They cannot exist separately.
If we do not nurture our complete self, we die at some level. We begin to wither with a feeling of emptiness. A vague, persistent feeling that "something is missing." A feeling of being dead inside.

We go about our daily lives, we smile, we manage....and inside, where no one can hear, we wail. Very little in our culture is deeply meaningful, feeding our soul, taking us deeper than our shallow, homogenized living. Indeed, living in any other way but the narrowly-prescribed cultural mode is considered strange and suspect, even if pain and suffering are a dominant part of that mode.

Yet we are meant to be joyful creatures, feeling our innate aliveness and our connectedness to the universe surroundings. Of the Earth dwellers, we alone have been gifted with consciousness and free will. But how tragically we waste our precious moments.

TIME COMES.....

A time comes in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.

Like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon.

You come to terms with the fact that he or she is not Cinderella or Prince Charming and that in the real world there aren't always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace & contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should sleep with, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings into a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love.... and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms... just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely...You look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 8 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up."

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK.... and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want...and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch... and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn, that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve... and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help.You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time... FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people.

On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about, a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever to settle for less than your heart's desire. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can....

YOU.....

Our lives has moved on, and all I want is for us to be friends, the best of friends if possible, friends that confide in each other, friends that understand one another. No one knows me like you do and I would like to think no one knows you like I do. We have to accept that there are many things that depart, the ones that have the most pain and grief to me is losing you who is dearest to my heart.

We all have our own lives now and I know the world is filled with curved and winding paths but the ones that are straight and narrow will never last. Hate me if you must but just so you know that you and you alone are the key to my grace. The times when I failed and disappoint you, I can only say Im sorry. I keep it aside and just so you know the silence beauty of you I keep inside.

All I wanted you to know is that I love you so dearly, though we have separate lives now I realize that two people can love each other even when they are not together, I realized how much it means to be loved and give love. It is the greatest gift on earth and it lasts beyond life because you never forget your one true love.

LIFE'S STRENGTH....

There was a time when I never called on anyone for help, even at the most desperate moment. I always believed strength was something I had to build within myself. Besides that, I did not want to expose my weaknesses to anyone.

I carried loads of debris, nicely zip locked and systematically filed into my haversack. Although it weighed me down, I had this false feeling of having full control of my life and a proportionate strength to endure and overcome. It took some tough lessons to understand that sometimes the greatest of strength is not only found within but in people who care for you; people who grab you by your collar and rip the haversack off your shoulders. Strength - it is not just about giving a helping hand, but to seek one when you must.

Life's strength can be so difficult but then, it can also be so simple. Difficult in as much as there is pain and disappointment in any life, but simple in how even the bleakest life can capture some rays of beauty and pleasure. No matter how disappointing or painful life is, I have always been able to find something uplifting in the midst of it all. I can remember times in my past, of being depressed because I'd lost some of the most inspiring people in my life that I never dreamed of having move on and grow out of my life, beloved friends, relatives and love ones.

Waking up each day, not knowing what I was getting myself into when I set my foot out the door, I took another step towards the future. But above all this, I sometimes cry inside, selfishly wanting something new and something different to happen, or something to go just the way I had planned. But I know that I can't hold back on the rest of my life forever. I have to come back into the world and face the reality that I have to move on and take with me only memories, and strive to do and dig deeper into what is ahead. Because with each day that you wake, not knowing what is going to happen, you attempt to pull through yet again, one more day of life.

But when life starts to drag me down, I start to think, vividly recapturing the feeling of having been blessed. Blessed with so many people and things in my everyday life; blessed with the gift of living and the power that I have to indulge in whatever my heart's set on, free to make my own decisions and be able to withstand the consequences. I find that the smallest and simplest things in life help lift my spirits and get me to my feet again when I am overloaded with life.

Something as simple as the sound and smell of rain or the halo around the moon made by ice crystals on exceptionally cold and clear nights sitting by myself, wondering what my future holds for me, made me look beyond the pain I held inside from the past. Crickets chirping on a warm night or the invasion of tiny frogs croaking in the distance and then disappearing into the night, dark skies filled with glowing stars or the moon brightly shining out the window, the smile from an unacquainted stranger or sunrise at dawn greeting me with a new day, just the living of my life is all the incentive I need.

The being of creation is enough to suspend any of life's endeavors. I know that I can reach beyond people into something more, something that I can relate to in my heart, the feeling of happiness, because I will only get to live once. I will only get to feel what life is for a given period of time, time that Allah has set for me. Even with the knowledge that I will someday die, perhaps even suffer in it, I cannot begrudge the world its favor to me to have felt the pleasures of living and the thought of have been loved by many.

From the sense that we are all led to find Allah in our own ways, we make our peace with the great things that are given to us. Even for those of us that might think it will all to go back into nothingness because we are so little, have started and give up on all that we've began. Life's so short, yet we live it like we have forever.

NO PAIN JUST PROGRESS....

As Lao-Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." So what if that first step is a little painful? You see, if you want to accomplish something, there are two kinds of pain you might encounter, the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.Whenever you take that first step toward a new goal, you often experience the pain of discipline, the pain of hard work, the pain of sacrifice, as you single-mindedly pursue your dream.

On the other hand, if you don't go after your dreams, you might experience an even greater type of pain, the pain of staying stuck, which eventually turns into the pain of regret. Remember, regret for the things we did can be tempered by time, it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. When you're really ready to make a change in your life, you'll find that the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

The great thing about discipline is if you discipline yourself on a daily basis, eventually something "magical" will happen, almost without you realizing it-one day, the discipline will turn into desire. A runner who "makes" herself run on a daily basis, one day gets up "wanting" to run. The same holds true for writing, public speaking, or anything else. So today, start that project, make that call, do what you need to do to begin. Here's a guarantee - If you work through a little pain, you'll see a little progress.

THE HEART....

The heart, it is a very fragile thing. The feelings we have because of it we cannot control. The feeling of when we are in love and that icky feeling when we have had our heart broken. Some people are scared to let their heart out and for that reason, they never find love. Other people give their heart to anyone and for that reason they get hurt repeatedly. So is there a happy medium? There must be because look at all the happy couples in love. In today's world it seems as if there are more couples fighting than in love, but look around. Love is everywhere; we just have to find it.

It isn't the size of your house as such that matters so much at all. It's the gentle hand and its loving touch, that make it great or small. The friends who come and depart within the hour or day will judge not by the style you show, but rather by the size of your heart. It isn't the size of your head so much, it isn't the wealth you found, that will make you happy - it's how you touch the lives that are all around. Making money is not hard and know this - to live life well is an art. How people love you, how they regard, Is all in the size of your heart.

FAITH, DOUBT & TIME....

Doubt sees the obstacles. Faith sees the way.Doubt sees the darkest night. Faith sees the day.Doubt dreads to take a step. Faith soars on high. Doubt questions "Who believes"? Faith answers "I".

Time is a certainty that we don't have the faintest idea what we're doing at all, which can be a very frightening prospect in a world, in a world where the boundaries of nations and the balance of nature can change over night. Except that the years that we have spent, had given us the foundation to face that future.

We haven't just learned facts and figures, logic and reasoning skills, but we have learned the value of friendship, loyalty, & love which will not be diminished just because we may not end up together. The memories that we have shared will not go away simply because we do. So even if the future does not always meet our expectations or the fates are cruel to us at times, no one can ever take away this moment. From me, from you, from any of us. No one can ever take away this moment in time.

SUNRISE - SUNSET AGAIN....

Some of life's most profound lessons can be learned in the most unexpected places if we only took the time to look around us and see with our hearts as well as our eyes. During my weekend absent, I took the opportunity to watch the sunrise and sunset. Simple action yet profound conclusion.

The colors change as that large orb peeped over the horizon and then bloomed in all its glory, making it impossible to look directly into its blinding rays. The memory of that sunrise followed me throughout the weekend. We take it for granted the beauty in the frontier. It was a panoramic wonder and a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

However, the best was yet to come in the form of the afterglow. As the brilliant, vibrant colors of the sunset began to fade into the most beautiful pastels, mingling and blending into every imaginable color, I realized we are given the greatest gift's, if only we remember to appreciate it, to me it was - a view of life from beginning to ending~ and beyond.

And so I realized. Life begins at sunrise. Life lived out, no matter how many years on this earth, is a mere blink of the eye compared to eternity. During the course of that lifetime many changes take place. Sometimes the sun is completely obscured by the storm clouds of life; however, no matter how hard the storms may rage, or how dark the world may become around us, the sun is still shining. It is only temporarily hidden from our view. How wonderful! It always shines again!

The real beauty of life is in the fact that we're not poured into some specific mold with a predetermined, unalterable life pattern. We were created as unique individuals with a free will to make the choices that shape our lives. We then, hopefully, find the courage to live with the consequences of those choices. While some choices come easy, circumstances make some choices more difficult. However, the fact remains that we can, at any time in our lives, change our destiny by the choices we make.

We all have been entrusted with many challenges. I have learned that facing these challenges developed moral, spiritual, and mental muscle to prepare me for the next gathering storm. I can't think of anything less rewarding than a life lived without benefit of trials and hardships to prepare one for the crises that are bound to come. Without the building of some kind of inner strength, we are as helpless to withstand a sudden personal crisis as is an athlete who enters a sports arena without having developed physical muscles needed to compete in his chosen contest. The contest was lost before it started! As I viewed the fading sunset, followed by the afterglow, I realized that it is in our daily living, through the lives that we touch, that we are creating the afterglow that we will leave behind us. As long as there is one life on this earth in whom we have made a positive difference, our afterglow will remain. It was at that moment that the full impact of the day's events became clear to me. When my life's sun sets, I will view, for the first time, that sunrise in glory. At the same time, the loved ones that I leave behind will be viewing my afterglow. It is my desire that when this time comes for me it will be a time of celebration of my life that will never end! No sad songs-only the colours of the sun!