I'll be happy when.........(author unknown)

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that, we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It’s best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with…and remember that time waits for no one.
So, stop waiting… Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home.
Until your kids leave the house.
Until you go back to school.
Until you finish school.
Until you lose ten pounds.
Until you gain ten pounds.
Until you get married.
Until you get a divorce.
Until you have kids.
Until you retire.
Until summer.
Until spring.
Until winter.
Until fall.
Until you die.
There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination

Turning failure into fame

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he finally succeeded. Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His teacher called him hopeless as a composer.

Colonel Sanders had the construction of a new road put him out of business in 1967. He went to over 1,000 places trying to sell his chicken recipe before he found a buyer interested in his 11 herbs and spices. Seven years later, at the age of 75, Colonel Sanders sold his fried chicken company for a finger-lickin' $15 million!

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. Disney also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.

Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution, gave up a medical career and was told by his father, “You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat catching.” In his autobiography, Darwin wrote, “I was considered by my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard in intellect.

Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old and didn’t read until he was seven. His teacher described him as “mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in his foolish dreams.” He was expelled and refused admittance to Zurich Polytechnic School. The University of Bern turned down his Ph.D. dissertation as being irrelevant and fanciful.

The movie Star Wars was rejected by every movie studio in Hollywood before 20th-Century Fox finally produced it. It went on to be one of the largest grossing movies in film history.

Louis Pasteur was only a mediocre pupil in undergraduate studies and ranked 15 out of 22 in chemistry.

When NFL running back Herschel Walker was in junior high school, he wanted to play football, but the coach told him he was too small. He advised young Herschel to go out for track instead. Never one to give up, he ignored the coach's advice and began an intensive training program to build himself up. Only a few years later, Herschel Walker won the Heisman trophy.

When General Douglas MacArthur applied for admission to West Point, he was turned down, not once but twice. But he tried a third time, was accepted and marched into the history books.

After Fred Astaire’s first screen test, the memo from the testing director of MGM, dated 1933, said, “Can’t act! Slightly bald! Can dance a little!” Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.

The father of the sculptor Rodin [The Thinker Statue] said, “I have an idiot for a son.” Described as the worst pupil in the school, Rodin failed three times to secure admittance to the school of art. His uncle called him uneducable.

Babe Ruth, considered by sports historians to be the greatest athlete of all time and famous for setting the home run record, also holds the record for strikeouts.

Eighteen publishers turned down Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull, before Macmillan finally published it in 1970. By 1975 it had sold more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone.

Margaret Mitchell's classic Gone with the Wind was turned down by more than twenty-five publishers.

Richard Hooker worked for seven years on his humorous war novel, M*A*S*H, only to have it rejected by 21 publishers before Morrow decided to publish it. It became a runaway bestseller, spawning a blockbusting movie and highly successful television series.

When the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was completed, it was turned down by thirty-three publishers in New York and another ninety at the American Booksellers Association convention in Anaheim, California, before Health Communications, Inc., finally agreed to publish it. The major New York publishers said, "It is too nicey-nice" and "Nobody wants to read a book of short little stories." Since that time more than 8 million copies of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book have been sold. The series, which has grown to thirty-two titles, in thirty-one languages, has sold more than 53 million copies.

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after one performance. He told Presley, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere… son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.” Elvis Presley went on to become the most popular singer in America.

Dr. Seuss' first children's book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected by twenty-seven publishers. The twenty-eighth publisher, Vanguard press, sold six million copies of the book.

Never give up believing in yourself!!! 

Inspiring Stories of Failure Turned to Fame — Jack Canfield and
Mark V. HansenFrom A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul and Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul

 

Inspiring Stories of Failure Turned to Fame — Jack Canfield and Mark V. Hansen

From A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul and Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he finally succeeded.

Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His teacher called him hopeless as a composer.

Colonel Sanders had the construction of a new road put him out of business in 1967. He went to over 1,000 places trying to sell his chicken recipe before he found a buyer interested in his 11 herbs and spices. Seven years later, at the age of 75, Colonel Sanders sold his fried chicken company for a finger-lickin' $15 million!

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. Disney also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.

Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution, gave up a medical career and was told by his father, “You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat catching.” In his autobiography, Darwin wrote, “I was considered by my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard in intellect.

Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old and didn’t read until he was seven. His teacher described him as “mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in his foolish dreams.” He was expelled and refused admittance to Zurich Polytechnic School. The University of Bern turned down his Ph.D. dissertation as being irrelevant and fanciful.

The movie Star Wars was rejected by every movie studio in Hollywood before 20th-Century Fox finally produced it. It went on to be one of the largest grossing movies in film history.

Louis Pasteur was only a mediocre pupil in undergraduate studies and ranked 15 out of 22 in chemistry.

When NFL running back Herschel Walker was in junior high school, he wanted to play football, but the coach told him he was too small. He advised young Herschel to go out for track instead. Never one to give up, he ignored the coach's advice and began an intensive training program to build himself up. Only a few years later, Herschel Walker won the Heisman trophy.

When General Douglas MacArthur applied for admission to West Point, he was turned down, not once but twice. But he tried a third time, was accepted and marched into the history books.

After Fred Astaire’s first screen test, the memo from the testing director of MGM, dated 1933, said, “Can’t act! Slightly bald! Can dance a little!” Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.

The father of the sculptor Rodin [The Thinker Statue] said, “I have an idiot for a son.” Described as the worst pupil in the school, Rodin failed three times to secure admittance to the school of art. His uncle called him uneducable.

Babe Ruth, considered by sports historians to be the greatest athlete of all time and famous for setting the home run record, also holds the record for strikeouts.

Eighteen publishers turned down Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull, before Macmillan finally published it in 1970. By 1975 it had sold more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone.

Margaret Mitchell's classic Gone with the Wind was turned down by more than twenty-five publishers.

Richard Hooker worked for seven years on his humorous war novel, M*A*S*H, only to have it rejected by 21 publishers before Morrow decided to publish it. It became a runaway bestseller, spawning a blockbusting movie and highly successful television series.

When the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was completed, it was turned down by thirty-three publishers in New York and another ninety at the American Booksellers Association convention in Anaheim, California, before Health Communications, Inc., finally agreed to publish it. The major New York publishers said, "It is too nicey-nice" anInspiring Stories of Failure Turned to Fame — Jack Canfield and
Mark V. Hansend "Nobody wants to read a book of short little stories." Since that time more than 8 million copies of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book have been sold. The series, which has grown to thirty-two titles, in thirty-one languages, has sold more than 53 million copies.

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after one performance. He told Presley, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere… son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.” Elvis Presley went on to become the most popular singer in America.

Dr. Seuss' first children's book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected by twenty-seven publishers. The twenty-eighth publisher, Vanguard press, sold six million copies of the book.

Never give up believing in yourself!!!          

Life is a journey (author unknown)

Birth is a beginning

and death is a destination

And life is a journey:

From childhood to maturity

and youth to age;

From innocence to awareness

and ignorance to knowing;

From foolishness to desecration

and then perhaps to wisdom.

From weakness to strength or

from strength to weakness

and often back again;

From health to sickness

and we pray to health again.

From offense to forgiveness

from loneliness to love

from joy to gratitude

from pain to compassion

from grief to understanding

from fear to faith.

From defeat to defeat to defeat

until looking backwards or ahead

We see that victory lies not

at some high point along the way

but in having made the journey

step by step

a sacred pilgrimage.

Birth is a beginning

and death a destination

And life is a journey;

A sacred journey to life everlasting

·        

Take the broom and sweep clean

Nobody can clean your life but you. Nobody can remove the debris of your past but you. Learn to take the broom and sweep clean. Sweep away your bad attitude, sweep away your bad habits, sweep away your mess, sweep away your bitterness, sweep away your jealousy, sweep away your reckless behaviour, sweep away the harvest of your wrong choices, sweep away wrong friends, sweep away bad relationships, sweep away your low self-esteem, sweep away the negative energy that is trying to dominate your life, sweep away hopelessness, sweep away ignorance, sweep away your bad temper, sweep away your destructive lifestyle, sweep away your nightmares, sweep away your unresolved issues, sweep away your unforgiveness, sweep away the scars of your past, sweep away your fears, sweep away your unhealthy diets, sweep until your life is clean. Don't allow the dust of negativity to gather around you. Don't allow your life to be somebody else 's dumping ground. Don't allow yourself to be somebody's doormat. Don't allow yourself to be somebody's tea bag, roll on and concubine. Don't allow the garbage of old issues to pile around you. Don't allow the odour of dead relationships to hang around you. Don't allow the oppressive smell of pain and betrayal to dominate your life. Don't allow the mud of yesterday's faults to fill your life. Don't allow confusion, sadness and misery to litter your life.Take the broom and sweep clean. Sweep clean by dealing with your issues, sweep clean by seeking help, sweep clean by taking responsibility, sweep clean by embracing change. Sweep clean because the broom is in your hands. NB: you can't employ somebody to clean your life. You can't hire a maid to help you with your cleaning. The broom is in your hands. So, start sweeping until your life is clean and shining.

Wake-up

Wake-up its a new day,
Wake-up to new opportunities,
Wake-up to change and a new thought life,
Wake-up to your dreams and potential,
Wake-up from abuse and exploitation,
Wake-up from fitting in and following the crowd,
Wake-up from your painful past,
Wake-up from addictions and living recklessly,
Wake-up from a restrictive and frustrating job without promotion,
Wake-up from the mud of repeated mistakes,
Wake-up from fighting for acceptance,
Wake-up from pleasing others,
Wake-up from bad judgement and wrong choices,
Wake-up from failure and defeat,
Wake-up from wrong friends and wrong relationships,
Wake-up from being promiscuous,

Wake-up before you are infected,
Wake-up before you are murdered by an abusive partner,
Wake-up from your addictions before its too late,
Wake-up before its too late,
Wake-up before it gets worse,
Wake-up from being a victim,
Wake-up and stay awake

Excerpts from my book (GOD)

WEEK 1

One of the main pillars that has sustained and given me the strength to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of a negative and hope eroding atmosphere is my faith in God. Being in the journey of life has taught me the importance of attaching myself to the source of hope, the well of inspiration and the sustainer of life. What I am talking about is having a relationship with the Big Man upstairs. I know when I mention Him, what comes into the minds of many is religion. Well, let me help you, I grew up in a religious family, I was forced from a young age to go to church on Sunday mornings and for many years, I continued attending church without really seeing the relevance of it in my life.

As author, Laurence J. Peter rightfully puts it, “going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than going to a garage makes you a mechanic.” What was happening every Sunday morning was just a religious ritual; my life remained the same in spite of my weekly attendances. And as the founder of communism, Karl Marx once said, “Religion is the opium of people”. In other words, religion is more like a drug that poisons the minds of those who indulge in it.

The problem with religion is that it has misled many by presenting God as a passive being who is less interested in what they are going through. Religion has further portrayed God as a sadist who delights in inflicting the world with suffering, sickness, death and destruction. According to religion, God employs situations like poverty, retrenchments, accidents, death in the family, diseases and hardships to teach people a lesson and to test their faith, when the truth is to the contrary (2 Timothy3:16-17 and James1:13). God is persistently seen as the inventor of pain and suffering. That is why whenever something bad happens; God is the first one to be blamed even when we know who the culprit is. It is quite ironic to hear mourners blaming God for the death of someone even when they know the cause of his demise. Religion has further turned God into a scapegoat for all of the world’s ills, whether it is the passing away of a family member, accidents, tornados, tsunamis, diseases, recession and any other evil thing that befell mankind. God has always been perceived as the face behind the pain of humanity.

I remember the day I was requested to speak in a prayer meeting in Mamelodi for a family whose son was slain. The family was distraught by this tragic incident. So, in an effort to comfort them in their grief, various speakers stood up to offer their condolences. Many spoke about God’s love and His mysterious ways. They mentioned among others that God was the one who orchestrated the boy’s exit (death) from the world because He wanted him to come home (heaven). The family was encouraged to trust in God and not to question His sovereign will. I kept wondering whilst listening to the speakers, of how this brokenhearted family could be expected to trust in a God, whom as they say, was the source of their pain, to me this was just a contradiction. So, when my time came to speak, I told the family that God was not responsible for their pain but the people who murdered their son. I reminded them that people who commit murder are usually arrested and jailed for their deeds. I further mentioned that there was no judge in the world who will acquit a murderer who claims he was send by God to maim others in the name of fulfilling His will. I concluded by saying, man and not God was responsible for their loss.

It is funny that our prisons are full of people who were convicted for crimes; religion has blamed it on God. It is a paradox to blame God for diseases and adverse weather conditions, when the source of all these problems has been proven scientifically. The world is hurting today because of the different religions that are warring for supremacy. What mankind is ignorant to, is the fact that God is not interested in religion but in having a relationship. After all religion is man’s own understanding about God while a relationship is God revealing himself to mankind? Thus, the bible teaches us that God is a father of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and our father in heaven (Matthew 6:9) God also wants to be our friend, just as He was to Moses (Exodus 33:11) and Abraham (Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23).

What I am communicating to you is not religion but developing a relationship with God. It is of utmost importance to note the difference between the two. For instance, religion is characterized by intimidation, bondage, stagnancy, confusion, arguements, traditions, complexities, arrogance, intolerance, ignorance, fear, immaturity, rules, rigidity, manipulation, judgment and too much control. While a relationship is based on submission, love, humility, simplicity, understanding, faith, redemption, free will, reconciliation, accountability, flexibility, truth, growth and progress. What is sad is that throughout history, God has been battling to free mankind from a mentality of being religious to an understanding of having a relationship with Him. One of the great teachers of all time, Jesus Christ was hounded during his earthly ministry by religious leaders who felt that his message of having a relationship with God was contrary to their religious beliefs. This led to him being crucified since the religious leaders of those days could not stomach an idea of man having a father-son relationship with the almighty God. To them everything sounded as blasphemy. What they didn’t notice is that God wants us to recognize His love, relevance and the active role He desires to play in our lives.

As long as you can breath

As long as you can breath, you can dream. As long as you can breath, you can walk in hope. As long as you can breath, you can believe God for your impossible looking breakthrough. As long as you can dream, you can pursue your career. As long as you can breath, you can turn your life around. As long as you can breath, you can change for the better. As long as you can breath, you can fall in love again. As long as you can breath, you can built your desired future from the debris of your painful past. As long as you can breath, you can see what you have been wishing for turning into reality. As long as you can breath, you can visualize your healing and restoration. As long as you can breath, you can move from your struggles to your desires. As long as you can breath, you can walk expecting good things to come your way. As long as you can breath, you can bury your painful past and give birth to your exciting future.

The sun rises inspite of

The sun rises up every morning whether it's dark, cloudy and windy. The sun rises up whether we like it or not. The sun rises up because it was programmed to do so. The sun rises up because nature needs it.. The sun rises up because it has the ability to do so. Just like the sun, you need to rise up from the dark clouds of your hardships. You need to rise up from the background of negativity. You need to rise up from your painful experiences. You need to rise up from your scars. You need to rise up from unforgiveness. You need to rise up from your excuses. You need to rise up from other people's opinions. You need to rise up from your mistakes. You need to rise up because you have been created for success. You need to rise up because there is an untapped wealth of ideas and plans within you. You need to rise up because there is something you need to share with the world. You need to rise up because you are pregnant with destiny. You need to rise up because you have a story to tell. You need to rise up because the world is waiting for your contributions. You need to rise up because you can.

The sun rises inspite of

The sun rises up every morning whether it's dark, cloudy and windy. The sun rises up whether we like it or not. The sun rises up because it was programmed to do so. The sun rises up because nature needs it.. The sun rises up because it has the ability to do so. Just like the sun, you need to rise up from the dark clouds of your hardships. You need to rise up from the background of negativity. You need to rise up from your painful experiences. You need to rise up from your scars. You need to rise up from unforgiveness. You need to rise up from your excuses. You need to rise up from other people's opinions. You need to rise up from your mistakes. You need to rise up because you have been created for success. You need to rise up because there is an untapped wealth of ideas and plans within you. You need to rise up because there is something you need to share with the world. You need to rise up because you are pregnant with destiny. You need to rise up because you have a story to tell. You need to rise up because the world is waiting for your contributions. You need to rise up because you can.

The Womb

What didn't kill you was surely meant to equip and empower you. Life is a journey, a journey that is sometimes hard to fathom. Because along the way there are incidents, situations and experiences that will challenge your faith, derail your destiny, abort your dreams and swallow up your positive energy and enthusiasm. This is the womb stage of life. A stage dominated by the overwhelming depressing thoughts of hardships, scars of abuse, headache of unanswered questions and flooding tears of betrayal. All these encounters even though painful are not meant to imprison but to propel you forward. You can learn amongst others from a womb of debts, broken relationships, retrenchment, lack, rejection and failure. And although you may sometimes feel like a dying hospitalized patient suffering from an incurable disease, just hang in there. Because what doesn't kill you will surely empower you. What doesn't kill you will surely propel you to your destiny. What doesn't kill you will surely lead to the people who are carrying the missing pieces of your jigsaw puzzle. What doesn't kill you will turn you into being a better and not bitter person. What doesn't kill you will usher you to your dreams and desires. Remember you are in a womb, a temporary place of development. A place that requires you to push until something happens.

Don't look back, look ahead

When your memory is full of sadness and your life is covered with scars of abuse and pain, don't look back look ahead. When tears start rolling from your face and your struggles seem to be overwhelming you, don't look back look ahead. When people walk away from you and some even betray your trust, don't look back look ahead. When your faith is shaking and your hope seem to be dying like a candle light, don't look back look ahead. When stagnancy seems to be your first name and disappointment, your surname, don't look back look ahead. When fear is screaming at you and negative thoughts seem to be the dominant force in your life, don't look back look ahead. There is still more ahead than where you come from. There are great people ahead than the ones who left. There are showers of smiles, blowing breeze of love, joy and fulfillment and the sweet melody of success. So, look ahead and not backwards. Visualize your desired future and don't even look back and take a picture of your past. Look ahead at your future dreams and not at the nightmares of your past. Drive forward don't even think of putting your life in a reverse gear. As you look ahead the past will disappear behind you and the future will suddenly appear before you. Your prison of pain, debts, lack and discouragement will eventually be replaced by the palace of joy, abundance and inspiration. Don't look back look ahead. What has happened has happened and what has never happen will happen. What you have been building will eventually be completed. What you have been dreaming of is about to come to pass. Look ahead and not backwards.

Because tomorrow is coming

Your yesterday may be painful, your today may be depressing but your tomorrow is exciting. Raise your expectations. Because tomorrow is coming.Tomorrow is pregnant with possibilities. Tomorrow is a handkerchief that will wipe away your tears. Tomorrow is make-up artist that will give you a new look. Tomorrow is the sun that will bring light to your darkened life. Look ahead with optimism. Because tomorrow is coming. Tomorrow is pregnant with destiny. Tomorrow contains answers to your innumerable questions. Tomorrow has solutions to your problems. Because tomorrow is coming. Where you used to be and where you are is about to change into being where you want to be, because tomorrow is coming. Your sad face is about to change into a smile. Your challenges are about to become channels of breakthrough. Your struggles are about to become stairs of progress. Because tomorrow is coming. Don't give up on your dreams. Don't stop believing. Don't stop hoping. Don't stop asking. Don't stop trying. Because tomorrow is coming.

Excerpts from my book (introduction)

As my point of departure, I would like to borrow the following thought provoking words from the world celebrated author and television evangelist, Bishop Thomas Dexter Jakes. “Life is a roller coaster. Life is not a straight line between two points. It has many twists and turns, peaks and valleys, pinnacles and ravines. It has many elevations.”

Life is full of contradictions. Looking at it is like having a coin on the palm of your hand, because there are two sides to everything that you see on the earth’ surface. The world is inhabited, amongst others, by the affluent and poverty stricken; the dejected and energized; the employed and unemployed; pessimists and optimists; procrastinators and doers; the slothful and industrious; players and spectators; critics and admirers, the abusive and caring, quitters and fighters, employers and employees; the brave and fearful; the astute and stupid; leaders and followers, the patient and impatient; the ordinary and extra-ordinary and the victims and victors. I can go on and on, but what you need to know is that all of us belong to either one of these camps. It is up to you to decide in which group you wish to belong.

It is important to know that you possess the means within and around you to reposition yourself from where you are to where you are aspiring to be and from being ordinary and depressed to being extra-ordinary and exciting. Keep in mind that your current life is a product of your previous choices, and your future position will be determined by your existing thoughts, habits and decisions. Life is like a road with lots of signposts and it is what you do with the signposts that will determine your destiny.

As you go through this book, I would like you to take note of the following points: Being positive is neither an event nor a quick fix solution. But it is a journey, a mindset, a habit, a life-style and an exercise that requires incessant practice, because along the way you are going to encounter portholes of betrayal, stop signs of failure, road blocks of disappointments, congested traffic of delays, off ramps of uncertainty, traffic lights of discouragement, speed humps of criticism, cul-de-sac of hopelessness and isolated gravel roads of obscurity. But by remaining positive, you will find the tunnel that passes through this mountain of obstacles.

This book contains nuggets that are meant to serve as signposts that will help you to navigate through the traffic of negativity, limitations, fear and hopelessness. I hope and trust that the nuggets in this book will challenge you to rise from the grave of your past to the palace of your dreams. Please note that there is nothing new under the sun, even the information in this book may be familiar to you, but what really matters in life is not what you know but what you do with what you know. Therefore employ these nuggets as stairs towards the podium of greatness and as keys to unlock the doors that have kept you from living the life of your desires.

It is possible to live a positive life in a negative world. If you don't think so, then follow me and I will introduce you to people who have learned to turn their lemons into lemonades by deciding to be positive in the midst of negative and discouraging situations. Let us take a journey of unearthing the desires of our hearts and burying the frustrations and disenchantments of the past. There is something exciting on the other side of your struggles. The light is shining at the end of your tunnel of hardships and tears. There is a silver lining at the end of your dark clouds of hopelessness and pain. Keep walking; keep believing for there is a valley of fulfillment, success and peace of mind ahead of you. Remember, everything under the sun has an expiry date including your current challenges.

(Being Positive In A Negative World: Spiced Weekly Nuggets)

You are in a tunnel and not a prison

When life suddenly becomes tough and hope is eroded from your vocabulary. Just hang in there, for you are in a tunnel and not a Prison. When your troubles becomes an ever increasing mountain and your faith is replaced by fear, just hang in there, for you are in a tunnel and not a Prison. When your eyes are filled with tears and pain seems to be your every day companion, just hang in there. You are in a tunnel and not a Prison. When disappointments show up and your dreams look impossible. Just hang in there. You are in a tunnel and not a Prison. When debts keep mounting and your income start shrinking. Just hang in there. You are in a tunnel and not a Prison. When you feel lonely and everybody seems to be walking away from you. Just hang in there, for you are in a tunnel and not a Prison. A tunnel is better than a Prison because it has a beginning and an end. A tunnel may be unbearable but it is not permanent. A tunnel may be dark but it has light at the end of it..A tunnel is a passing phase. A tunnel leads to destiny. A tunnel brings progress to those who walk through it.. At the end of a tunnel there is joy, fulfillment and success. So, wherever you are right now and whatever you are going through, just remember you are in a tunnel and not a Prison. So, keep crawling until you see the light. Keep believing until your dream is fulfilled.

I Choose

I Choose to be positive when everything around me is negative. I Choose to walk in hope when everything around me is screaming hopelessness. I Choose to love where hatred seems to be the best option. I Choose to forgive when unforgiveness is screaming loudly in my head. I Choose to believe God when everything looks doubtful. I Choose to visualize my dreams when depression wants to drown me. I Choose to celebrate myself when everybody is rejecting me. I choose to be a victor even though I may have scars of a victim. I Choose to walk away from the past even though the future may look uncertain. I Choose to soldier on even when the odds are stacked against me. I Choose to get better from a situation that was supposed to breed bitterness within me. I choose to learn and not to complain in the midst of a bad situation. I Choose to learn and not to regret my experiences. I Choose to stand up no matter how many times I have been knocked down by life. I Choose to cheer myself up no matter how many times I have been disappointed. I Choose to wipe my tears and smile again no matter how many times I have been hurt. I Choose to be a winner when defeat seems to be the obvious end result. I Choose to succeed when everybody is gunning for my demise. I Choose whatever I want to be because I am a builder of my dreams and not the resident of my struggles. I Choose to keep trying no matter how many times I failed. I Choose to keep knocking no matter how many doors have been slammed in my face. I Choose to choose because life is about choices.

My inspiration quotes

v  YOU CANNOT ERASE YOUR PAST MISTAKES BUT YOU CAN CREATE YOUR FUTURE DREAMS. LIFE DOES NOT OFFER US DELETE BUTTONS TO ERASE OUR PAST BUT BRICKS TO BUILD OUR FUTURE

v  IF YOU CAN'T FIND ANYBODY WHO IS DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO BE THEN BE THE PATH FINDER

v  PERMANENT SUFFERING IS EXPERIENCED BY THOSE WHO ARE UNWILLING TO LEARN FROM THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES

v  THERE IS NOTHING CALLED,”I DON'T HAVE TIME”. WE ALL HAVE 24 HOURS AT OUR DISPOSAL AND IT IS HOW WE USE IT THAT WILL DETERMINE OUR FAILURE OR SUCCESS

v  THE WORLD IS A STAGE SET FOR EVERYBODY BUT SADLY MANY SHY AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT AND THEY THUS END UP EXISTING AS SPECTATORS OF OTHER PEOPLE'SUCCESS

v  YOU WILL NEVER BE RECOGNISED AND APPLAUDED FOR YOUR BRILLIANCE UNTIL YOU STEP OUT OF A LIFE OF ROUTINE AND FOLLOWING THE CROWD

v  YOUR HEART BEAT IS A SIGN THAT YOU ARE STILL IN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES. WHAT YOU COULD NOT OR HAVE NOT DONE IS STILL ACHIEVABLE

v  COMPLAINING IS AN EMOTIONAL EXERCISE THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS YIELD ANYTHING

v  YOU CAN'T LIVE LIFE BASED ON YOUR PAY CHEQUE WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FINANCIAL STREAMS

v  THOSE WHO GO AROUND SEEKING A LIFE OF SECURITY USUALLY END UP LIVING IN A SELF MADE PRISON. AFTER ALL THE PLACE WITH THE BEST SECURITY IN THE WORLD IS A PRISON

v  NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO MESS UP YOUR LIFE WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION AND CO-OPERATION

v  MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHERE THEY ARE BUT STRANGELY ONLY A HANDFUL ARE ACTUALLY WILLING TO FIGURE  A WAY OUT OF THEIR MISERY

v  THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT IN LIFE IS TO TEAR OFF THE CURTAIN OF EXCUSES THAT STOPS YOU FROM STEPPING OUT AND PURSUING YOUR DREAMS

v  IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE EFFORT TO BE INFORMED YOU WILL END UP DEFORMED

v  YOU MAY HAVE MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE BUT THERE IS ONE INFLUENTIAL, EXCITING, TALENTED AND UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU HAVE TO STRIVE TO MEET AND THAT IS YOU

v  LACK OF DISCIPLINE WILL END UP LEADING YOU TO A STATE OF DISABILITY

v  EVERY DAY OFFERS US OPPORTUNITIES TO FORGET ABOUT OUR PAST AND TO STRUCTURE AND PURSUE OUR FUTURE

v  YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED IN LIFE IF YOU CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OF YOUR TELEVISION SET

v  LEARN TO RECORD EVERY GREAT THOUGHT THAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS UNNOTICED FROM YOUR LIFE

The tragic end

Hi, everyone, i hope you are still living positive in a world dominated by the dark clouds of negativity, pain and discouragement. I would like to share with you this exciting story that i hope will help you in your journey of living productively.

According to tradition, this is how an Eskimo hunter kills a wolf.

First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. He then adds layer after layer of blood until the blade is completely concealed by the frozen blood.

Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder, the wolf licks the blade in the cold Arctic night. His craving for blood becomes so great that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue. Nor does he recognize the instant when his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his own warm blood. His carnivorous appetite continues to crave more until in the morning light, the wolf is found dead on the snow!

Many begin using drugs, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or engaging in unsafe sexual behaviour for the same reasons that the wolf begins licking the knife blade. It seems safe and delicious at first, but it doesn't satisfy. More and more is desired, leading to a crisis or death.

The how questions of life

Have you ever realised that we are daily battling with the how questions in our lives, questions like how am I going to raise money for my studies, how am I going to realise my dreams without somebody helping me, how am I going to survive through the month, how am I going to pay my ever increasing debts with my small and shrinking salary, how am I going to live without him/her? These questions continue to depress, frustrate, discourage and stop many from moving forward. What I have observed is that life doesn’t always give us all the answers to the how questions. For an example, nobody knows how a black cow that eats green grass ends up producing white milk. We don’t know how tomorrow, next week or next year will be like. All these are mysteries of life. All we need to do is to learn to leave the how questions to God and focus on what needs to be done. We need to know that the how questions are more like tunnels we need to pass through. A tunnel that will eventually lead us to a place where everything will start making sense

A certain woman learned this, when one particular night she encountered a harrowing experience. The front tyre of her car burst in the middle of nowhere. It was extremely cold and dark outside and on top of that, the woman didn’t even know how to change a tyre. Whilst busy battling with the depressing thoughts emanating from the how questions. The woman looked at the sky through her front windscreen and said, “if you are there God, Please help me.” For a moment it looked as if nothing was going to happen. But after 45 minutes or so, suddenly from nowhere she heard a sound of a truck coming towards her. Immediately, the woman went outside to try and stop the truck. Fortunately, for her, the driver decided to stop and offer assistance. From the tyre experience, the two got to know each other. They began dating and later got married. Without earlier knowing how to answer the how question, the woman found herself on the other side of her challenges where everything began to make sense. So, in a nutshell, don’t allow the how questions of life to derail or stop you from moving forward in your journey of life. Leave the how questions to the man upstairs (God) and focus on what you can do.

www.beingpositiveinanegativeworld.blogspot.com

Life is like a home made cake

A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong: school, family problems, and severe health problems in the family. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does.

"Here, have some cooking oil," she says. "Yuck" says the boy.

"Then how about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Grandma!" he replies.

"Would you prefer some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?" she asks.

"Grandma, those are all yucky!" he replied.

To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem to taste bad all by themselves. But when they are mixed together in the right amounts and the right manner, they make a delicious cake!"

She continued, "God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

 

Author unknown

 http://www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.com

Be careful how you treat others

There was once a frail elderly woman whose loving husband died and because there was nobody else to keep her company, except the young girl who was hired to take care of her needs, a decision was made that she has to go and live with her son, his wife and their little daughter. With time the old woman’s vision became bad and her hearing grew worse. Her hands started to tremble so badly that the peas on her plate fell onto the floor and the soup spilled from her cup. Her son and his wife couldn’t help but be annoyed at the mess she was making while eating. So, one day they just stood up and said enough is enough, they couldn’t take it anymore. A little table was set for the old woman in a corner next to the broom closet. The old woman was now forced to eat all her meals there alone. This became a daily routine; the old woman spent her mealtimes alone without anybody speaking to her. The only time the couple uttered a word was when they scolded her for spilling her food or dropping her spoon.
One day before dinner, the little girl was sitting on the floor playing with her building blocks. The father out of curiosity inquired what she was doing. The little girl responded by saying, “I am building a little table for you and mom, so you can eat alone like granny in the corner someday when I get big.” The parents were stunned by the little girl’s response. This opened their eyes to the bad treatment they were giving to the old woman. With tears rolling down their cheeks, they repented for treating the old woman harshly. The couple immediately brought back the old woman to the table and began talking and enjoying meals with her. They no longer paid attention to the mess of a spoon falling down or milk spilling on the table. The lesson they learned from their daughter is that whatever you sow in this world you will definitely reap, whether good or bad. The couple learned that life is like a big farm where different farmers sow their seeds. What we reap comes from what we have earlier planted. So, in order to have an enjoyable great future, learn to sow seeds of goodness, love, humanity, honesty, diligence and faithfulness.

Be careful how you treat others

There was once a frail elderly woman whose loving husband died and because there was nobody else to keep her company, except the young girl who was hired to take care of her needs, a decision was made that she has to go and live with her son, his wife and their little daughter. With time the old woman’s vision became bad and her hearing grew worse. Her hands started to tremble so badly that the peas on her plate fell onto the floor and the soup spilled from her cup. Her son and his wife couldn’t help but be annoyed at the mess she was making while eating. So, one day they just stood up and said enough is enough, they couldn’t take it anymore. A little table was set for the old woman in a corner next to the broom closet. The old woman was now forced to eat all her meals there alone. This became a daily routine; the old woman spent her mealtimes alone without anybody speaking to her. The only time the couple uttered a word was when they scolded her for spilling her food or dropping her spoon.
One day before dinner, the little girl was sitting on the floor playing with her building blocks. The father out of curiosity inquired what she was doing. The little girl responded by saying, “I am building a little table for you and mom, so you can eat alone like granny in the corner someday when I get big.” The parents were stunned by the little girl’s response. This opened their eyes to the bad treatment they were giving to the old woman. With tears rolling down their cheeks, they repented for treating the old woman harshly. The couple immediately brought back the old woman to the table and began talking and enjoying meals with her. They no longer paid attention to the mess of a spoon falling down or milk spilling on the table. The lesson they learned from their daughter is that whatever you sow in this world you will definitely reap, whether good or bad. The couple learned that life is like a big farm where different farmers sow their seeds. What we reap comes from what we have earlier planted. So, in order to have an enjoyable great future, learn to sow seeds of goodness, love, humanity, honesty, diligence and faithfulness.

Be careful how you treat others

There was once a frail elderly woman whose loving husband died and because there was nobody else to keep her company, except the young girl who was hired to take care of her needs, a decision was made that she has to go and live with her son, his wife and their little daughter. With time the old woman’s vision became bad and her hearing grew worse. Her hands started to tremble so badly that the peas on her plate fell onto the floor and the soup spilled from her cup. Her son and his wife couldn’t help but be annoyed at the mess she was making while eating. So, one day they just stood up and said enough is enough, they couldn’t take it anymore. A little table was set for the old woman in a corner next to the broom closet. The old woman was now forced to eat all her meals there alone. This became a daily routine; the old woman spent her mealtimes alone without anybody speaking to her. The only time the couple uttered a word was when they scolded her for spilling her food or dropping her spoon.
One day before dinner, the little girl was sitting on the floor playing with her building blocks. The father out of curiosity inquired what she was doing. The little girl responded by saying, “I am building a little table for you and mom, so you can eat alone like granny in the corner someday when I get big.” The parents were stunned by the little girl’s response. This opened their eyes to the bad treatment they were giving to the old woman. With tears rolling down their cheeks, they repented for treating the old woman harshly. The couple immediately brought back the old woman to the table and began talking and enjoying meals with her. They no longer paid attention to the mess of a spoon falling down or milk spilling on the table. The lesson they learned from their daughter is that whatever you sow in this world you will definitely reap, whether good or bad. The couple learned that life is like a big farm where different farmers sow their seeds. What we reap comes from what we have earlier planted. So, in order to have an enjoyable great future, learn to sow seeds of goodness, love, humanity, honesty, diligence and faithfulness.

The story of life

Hi everyone, i have something that i read that i want to share with you. Enjoy. Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), *but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.*

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

*Everything happens for a reason.*

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. *Even the bad experiences can be learned from.* In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

*Make every day count.*

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.

Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

*Most importantly,* *if you LOVE someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.*

And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

That's The Story Of Life (author unknown)

Turn your lemons into lemonade

Life has a way of serving us with lemons when we least expect. Lemons of betrayal, recession, discouragement, rejection, retrenchment, diseases and abuse, lemons that leave us sometimes with a bitter taste of depression and hopelessness. But in the midst of all this, there are people who have learned to deal with their lemons. Some have even gone further by turning their lemons into lemonade. In this doughnut I would like to challenge you to follow the footprints of these people:

Successful screen writer, director and film producer, Antwone Fisher turned his painful life (lemon) of being raised and abused by some of his foster mothers into a script (lemonade) which later became a movie titled, Antwone Fisher, starring Derek Luke and Denzil Washington. Michele Deberge also turned her painful divorce experience (lemon) into a life coaching business company (lemonade) for divorced women called, Starting over without him. Mr and Mrs Leland Stanford turned their lemon of having their proposal rejected of erecting a building in Harvard University in honour of their dead son who was once a student of that institution. Rather than sit and complain, the Stanfords went on to build a university bearing their name (lemonade). My favourate movie mogul, Tyler Perry turned the lemons of having his movies rejected by some of Hollywood’s big movie studios, instead of moaning, Tyler chose to build his own movie studio (lemonade)                                to produce his films. One more incredible person is fifteen year old cancer survivor, Megan Blunt, who turned her painful lemon of sickness into a lemonade called; The A-Z Guide for children on how to deal with cancer. As these people has demonstrated you have the power to turn your painful experiences (lemons) into something worthwhile (lemonade)

NB: I have also turned my painful and sometimes depressing life journey (lemon) into an inspirational book: Being Positive in a Negative world (lemonade)

www,beingpositiveinanegativeworld.blogspot.com

The Sky is not the Limit

There is a song i would like to send you, i hope the lysrics will inspire you. the song is called there is a world out there by Brandt Paul. The song goes like this:

When I was a boy

I'd get so annoyed

Whenever it was pouring rain

Standin' at the glass door

Starin' at the outside nose pressed against the pane

I told my momma

I don't wanna be stuck inside no more

Give me thunder and lightnin', somethin' excitin'

That's what I'm livin' for

There's a world out there and I wanna be in it

I got a life and I'm gonna live it

Don't tell me the sky's the limit

There's footprints on the moon

I wanna do my walkin' down the road less traveled

Sew my dreams where they won't unravel

If you play it safe you won't get nowhere

I can't stay in here when there's a world out there

I remember back in school

They thought I was a fool

For askin' Lizzy Walker to the dance

She was always with the captain of the football team

Nobody thought I even have a chance

But imagine my surprise

When she looked me in the eyes

And said I'll go with you instead

I knew we'd be together for the rest of forever

When Lizzy looked at me and said

Hey baby

There's a world out there and I wanna be in it

I got a life and I'm gonna live it

Don't tell me the sky's the limit

There's footprints on the moon

I wanna do my walkin' down the road less traveled

Sew my dreams where they won't unravel

If you play it safe you won't get nowhere

I can't stay in here when there's a world out there

I imagine when they land on a brand new planet

In some far off galaxy

Somebody in the rocket's gonna look out the window

Feeling just like Lizzy and me

There's a world out there and I wanna be in it

I got a life and I'm gonna live it

Don't tell me the sky's the limit

There's footprints on the moon

I wanna do my walkin' down the road less traveled

Sew my dreams where they won't unravel

If you play it safe you won't get nowhere

I can't stay in here when there's a world out there

If you play it safe you won't get nowhere

You can't stay in here when there's a world out there