SSA Blog #012     By Michelle Drew     November 14, 2005

Well, they say that everything happens for a reason, so I suppose that there is a good reason that my glasses ended up under Robert's foot before he left for work. So today's blog will be short. We had a wild ride through the South Pass and the Wind River Canyon last evening. It was just breathtaking scenery, especially in the snow. We did run into some people who had just had a hair raising skid and near flip over. The guy had just split with his wife and his friends had come from California to bring him and his Harley back. I remember being in a similar situation 30 odd years ago. I was able to offer a few words of comfort, which he gobbled up. Is there someone in your life who could use a few worlds of encouragement? The holidays are coming and that can be difficult for those down on their luck. Do take some time to include those people in your prayers and plans. Even small gestures can make a big difference!!!

All Good Thoughts

Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.
Winston Churchill

Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of
honour, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the
goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means.
Charles Dickens

If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised
to find how little remains that we cannot do.
S. Butler

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.
Goethe

Inspirational Reading

NO FUTURE IN THE PAST by Steve Goodier

The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to
administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did
was to ask whether anything was troubling him.

"Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes," answered the patient. "You
see, I seem to be getting forgetful. No, it's actually worse than
that. I can never remember where I park my car, where I'm going,
or what it is I'm going to do once I get there -- if I get there.
So, I really need your help. What can I do?"

The doctor mused for a moment, then answered kindly, "Pay me in
advance."

Actually, forgetfulness isn't all bad...especially when we decide
to forget all that pain from the past that threatens to ruin the
present. Like one song says, "There ain't no future in the past."

The past is to be remembered -- how else will we learn from it
and keep from repeating it? But why would I want to remember
every time I felt hurt because of my spouse, my children, my
friends, my boss or anybody else? Why would I want to fill my mind
with a detailed catalogue of past pain? Better to remember the times
they brought me joy or love or feelings of warmth. Unfortunately, even
those wonderful and magical moments too easily fade away.

A friend of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross,
asked her about a particular traumatic event in her life. Miss
Barton seemed perplexed.

"Can't you remember?" the friend prodded.

Clara Barton replied, "I distinctly remember forgetting it."

Dwell on the past -- but not the negative past, not the pain of
the past nor the sadness. Dwell on the good. Be consumed by past
joys and obsessed with gratitude. Dwell upon the moments that
uplifted you, the times you laughed and the memories of love
shown to you by friends and family.

Not everything should be remembered, and those who live well know
what to forget and what to cherish. Like the song says, "There
ain't no future in the past." But there IS joy there. And love.
And kindness...if we choose to remember.