Inspirational

Understanding

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy. 'Mister,' he said, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.' 'Well,' said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.'

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. 'I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?' 'Sure,' said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. 'Here, Dolly!' he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly another little ball appeared this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...

'I want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, 'Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.' With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.'

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully handed it to the little boy. 'How much?' asked the little boy. 'No charge,' answered the farmer, 'There's no charge for love.'

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

The 100 Dollar Bill

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $100 bill in a room of 200 people, and asked, "Who would like this $100 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $100 bill to one of you, but first let me do this...." He proceeded to crumple the $100 up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well".....he replied, "What if I do this?".....and he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" he asked. Hands still shot up!

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $100." Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt, by the decisions we make, and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you never lose your value! Dirty...clean...crumpled...or finely crease. . .you are still priceless to those who love you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.

You are special don't ever forget it.

Count your blessings

NOT your problems!

~Author Unknown~

Had A Hug Today?

Question: What has four arms and one heart?
Answer: A Hug.

By TOM MAGRUDER, PH.D.
Gannett News Service

When was the last time you were hugged? When was the last time you gave one? Do you usually get enough hugs in a day?

A hug is one of the easiest, cheapest and most convenient forms of therapy we know. Many studies have shown that physical contact between humans is necessary for both physical and emotional growth, a baby can die if only given physical nourishment but no bodily contact. One expert says each of us needs four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth. Many people don't even get one!

THE REASONS for hugging are varied. Some friends hug when greeting each other, as a way of saying It's good to see you again. Others share joy over a job promotion or some other happy event. A hug can also say," I care at the time of sadness or grief. "

If a hug is valuable in human relationships, why don't we give more of them? Hungry as we are to hug and be hugged, we're also afraid of the risks involved. For instance, you may be rejected by someone who doesn't want a hug. Or it might be misinterpreted as by someone thinking you're making a sexual advance. Others may simply prefer to maintain some distance, and there fore rebuff any attempt you make at being closer.

MOST OF US, having experience rejection a few times, then become more cautious in how we reach out to others. There is no way around these risks. But common sense and sensitivity to others can reduce the danger to a manageable level.

It should be obvious our subject is a non-sexual type of communication. If If you've never experienced non-sexual touching with someone of either sex, then you may be in for as treat.

You might want to start with a child. Few children get enough hugs, and they usually are more spontaneous in their responses. With adults, you might feel safer starting with your closest friend. If in doubt, you could explain yourself: "I feel so good about our friendship, may I give you a hug?"
REMEMBER That we all have a child inside who has probably never received enough hugging. For this reason, you may be surprised at the positive responses you'll get from many people if you ask permission to hug them.

Instead of wanting to give a hug you may, be need to receive one. In that case, you may need to take the responsibility for meeting your own needs and ask for one. Again, you might to start with your best friend. " I sure could use a hug right now. " The first time is always the hardest. After a while, it can become as easy as saying, " Please pass the salt. " Following a hug, a word of appreciation may be in order. " Thank you, I needed that. "

OUR COUNTRY is not as accepting of non-sexual touching as are some other countries. You'll find people who resist any kind of physical intimacy. But many others are hungry, even desperate, for a sign that someone cares. They want some to reach to reach out to them, literally, in order to make contact.

Hugging is a tremendous resource that is too neglected in our country today. So if you want to spread a bit of warmth, become a hugger.

NOTE:
   I found this yellowed and tattered newspaper article from 1983, and it still applies today, maybe more so. Our society has become technology oriented, Emails, Tweets, Text Messages and Facebook are beginning to replace phone calls, letters and face to face contact.
   In addition, we live in a very litigious society, and some of the laws that have been put in place to protect us, in many cases, have been taken to the extreme under the guise of the no tolerance polices. Consider the young kindergarten teacher, charged with sexual contact for hugging one of her students, after he fell in the playground.
   So caution is recommended, don't go out and start hugging strangers on the street but, by all means start with family, and friends. In addition, as the article suggests don't forget yourself. The world will become a better place.

Get Inspired - Check Out Nick Santonastasso
Click Here to watch a Today Show interview with an amazing young man!

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked." The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."