Crosswalk

This is yet another wonderful piece from Attitude Is Everything. Thanks Guys...It really reminds to appreciate life's treats and is all about being alive.


CROSSWALK

As I slowly pulled myself into work this morning, I was overwhelmed with exhaustion; with full speed stress headed my way. Anticipating the "mind over matter" feeling I needed, my eyes not wanting to open my "inbox" to start the day, I remembered the crosswalk.

I was on my way to work a couple weeks ago, frustrated at how late traffic was making me, annoyed at my bad hair day. It was already scorching hot, humid and NO wind. I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep. While being frustrated and annoyed and just plain angry at the day, I was held at a stop light for what seemed like forever.

I glanced over to my left and saw a woman probably in her mid twenties, waiting for the crosswalk sign to allow her to cross. She was dressed in bright colors, gorgeous shoes, with a purse at her side and a glowing smile! Along with these striking things, she also had her dog along for the stroll.

A joyful golden retriever, hopping along on the leash, excited for the day and to be outside with his owner. He just couldn't sit still with how much energy he had. So the woman petted him with her hand, and was talking to him with so much expression, and love - they were so happy! It made me smile underneath my gloomy bad mood.

One detail not mentioned; the woman dressed in bright colors, gorgeous shoes, purse and a glowing smile, with her pal at her side was handicap, in an electric wheel chair, which she could only operate with her right hand. As the crosswalk sign changed, and she pushed the black knob forward to operate her wheelchair across the street, her dog followed happily beside her as the leash was tied to the arm of her chair.

A tear filled my eye, and I smiled! Someone else's situation can kick your mind into gear and remind us what to be thankful for! I have no doubt this woman and her dog were put there for a reason, so I would wake up, and enjoy my day no matter what my hair looked like, no matter what traffic I was stuck in, and no matter what my day had in store for me!

I greatly appreciate this woman and her golden retriever, for teaching me a wonderful lesson! Pay attention to the smallest moments, they will teach the most!

By Amy Sandlin

An approach to success

Like the thousands of Indians and a few hundreds from other nation, I too was fascinated by the 'Indian' Gold medal in the Olympics.

Rather than gushing and blurting about it here, I would rather let the first person view tell all the tale.

Here is what was on the day before...

"Today is my day off and so i am going to spend some time soaking in the village and actually getting my mind to do something it has never done before.... NOT THINK ABOUT SHOOTING!!!


So instead of thinking about shooting perfect bulls eyes... today i am going to think of the pretty women in the village, the weather, the great city of beijing and whatever else pops into my mind will be allowed to stay as long it doesn't involve the words "rifle", "shooting" in it.... hey all it is a great time to be an athlete and this event is what we all live for..... "

....and here is what was on, after....

For more than a decade now my life has been all about my sport. In fact, I do not have a life beyond the confines of the 10m range. I have had a range built in my own home to cut down any possibility of distraction and to be able to practise my sport whenever the fancy strikes me. It all did pay off, didn't it?




The joy that the nation feels at my win is humbling. I just wish that this is repeated more and more often.


With our depth of talent and expanse of people I firmly believe India can be a world-class sporting power. What we need are precise systems. I will try to do my bit at grooming the next generation. I would like to appeal to each Indian to also do their bit in prodding us out of sporting complacency.

To me these statements seem to be the ultimate success mantra.

May be, one more stop to enquire about success could be with one Mr. Phelps! He is unstoppable.

My salute to all the heroes who break the barriers, at will.

2008 - Nothing new about it

The new year started off in a very innocuous way. I mean, nobody could have imagined that the initial days will be loaded with so many negative incidents that stare at us in our face and ask us "Where in the hell are you?"

First, there was this ugly incident in Mumbai about a newly married couple getting roughed up by an unruly crowd. The small group of people wanted to have a taste of new year celebration in India but they ended up being immediately surrounded by the wrong group of people. Whatever happened in Mumbai on that new year night, can bring any Indian to shame.

The couple were right in refusing to come back to Mumbai for the identification parade of the suspects ...the police should be congratulated for allowing them the privacy they wanted post the trauma.. what was more deplorable were the photos of molestation being splashed across the pages of most papers and news web sites the next day. Do we need to see graphic details of a young woman being molested by an unruly crowd to know the news? What kind of guys can sit and select suitably exposed photos to accompany a story on molestation? That is really sad indeed. Talk about respecting individuals and granting their right to dignity.

Then, the channels were awash with images of a class ten student gunning down a class 8 student over an unknown issue within a month of another such incidence in a Delhi School earlier. What are our schools turning out? How can the parents be so careless about how they store weapons at home allowing free access to children? Who taught these kids to use a gun?

Then there was this murder inside Shantiniketan...this one seemed to be a case of settling personal score but guys, do you realise that the name of the Institution stands for such a respectable tradition and is almost respected like a temple by the whole world? To let such incidents happen inside a University of such repute is itself a shame on our system.

And now, whatever channel one turns to, there is this cricketing controversy involving the India & Aussie teams. Anyone who is someone is in the news on some channel or the other giving verdicts and throwing free advice to BCCI, ICC or anyone about how they should run the business. There were city wise, and (Sic!) Genderwise polls about what should the BCCI do - most people said India should pull out of the tour and come back to India immediately. How unfortunate. I don't think so. Surprisingly, the Australian media had turned agianst Ponting's behaviour and 61% of Australian respondents said they want him sacked.

I liked Sanjay Manjrekar's view that the Indians should rather reply through their game rather than any other means. Play them and defeat them at their own game in a straight forward game. He said that will bring them to their knees more than an orchestrated settlement or revokement of sentences by match refree. By end of the day the world got to learn that Bucknor is out, Bhajji is in, Hogg is in the red light for verbal abuse, the series will go on and Bhajji can play but the verdict on him is pending and what not...Gentlemen, can a sport be played like a sport, please ?

And, by the way, don't we have any thing more important to analyse on TV shows?

Sincerely, the way TVs sensationalise daily events is taking more and more of comic proportions than real value.

What a beginning to a new year :---( ( a long, long very long face .)

Glow of the STAR

This weekend, there is a very touching piece from Attitude is Everything.
Wish you all a wonderful time ahead!

The Strand I Could Not Fix
By Janet Perez Eckles

Like fog in the morning, the spirit of Christmas had vanished. Still, I shuffled in the garage. One by one, I retrieved the bins I'd stored the previous Christmas. While the aroma of sugar cookies wafted through the air and Silent Night played in the background, I began the decorating.

Placing the nativity scene as the focal point of our family room, I spread the rest of the decorations around the house: red and green candles, musical boxes with winter scenes, and bright red poinsettias framed with green garland adorned with burgundy, velvet bows. They all transformed our home into a lively winterland.

Next, I retrieved three stockings to fill the marked places above the fireplace; each embroidered with our sons' names: Jason, Jeff, and Joe. Once Jason and Jeff's were hung, with tears burning my eyes, I clutched Joe's against my chest.

The empty stocking sears my heart. It's been five years since the Lord called Joe home. Five years that Joe's absence left an emptiness we can almost touch. And five years that God's grace wiped away portions of the grief that flogged our hearts. But often, it's the scorching pain that opens our eyes to a bigger picture.

Years ago, when our three sons, including Joe, were still young, I focused on providing a perfect Christmas; a perfect tree to wrap a perfect celebration. As a result, little things tended to roil in me such as a light strand that refused to shine because of a burned bulb. Annoyed at the glitch, I promptly set off to resolve it -I fussed, I rearranged, plugged and unplugged until frustration grew hot in me.

How foolish and silly. I focused on that one bulb, dismissing the glow of the star atop the Christmas tree. I'd done the same with light bulbs that burned in my life-from broken relationships to shattered plans. Exerting tons of energy trying to fix them, I missed the star-- the one that gave significance to my life.

When that void in our heart aches to be filled, it's the star of comfort that makes it whole. When bitter sorrow robs the spirit of Christmas, it's the star of His genuine love that whispers joy. When a health diagnosis shakes our world, it's the star of reassurance that shines the certainty of new tomorrow's. It's the same star that never loses the brilliance of hope, incomprehensible hope, one we can only embrace when all strands of life burn out.

With eyes focused on the star, I hang Joe's stocking along with his brothers'; not empty anymore-but filled with sweet memories--his wit, laughter, his hugs and kisses.For that reason, God called it His "Morning Star" to dispel our darkness, dry our tears and repair strands we cannot fix.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janet Perez Eckles is an author and national speaker. She loves to host visitors to her site, and imparts bits of inspiration in her blog. www.janetperezeckles.com