Welcome to the
first business day of 2006. For some, this is still
vacation day. Here at SSA, we have hit the ground
running. Although I don't always follow through on New Year's
resolutions, I do set them. I consider them a goal, something to aim
for at least. And I have had some success with them. This year I am
renewing my commitment to good health. Actually, I started 2 weeks
ago, and am seeing some progress. Most exciting is that I have joined a
local gym, so I can walk in the pool here, and not just when I travel.
Of course it is cold here in New England at this time of year, so it
takes some real incentive. In 3 weeks we will head off for San Diego
for a week, so it will be a welcome break. We've only been back from
Wyoming for 2 weeks, but a trip to the west coast is always fun and
exciting for me.
I hope that you
have all begun this New Year with new commitments to your health,
your family, your friends and renewed priorities. Here are some
inspirations and motivations to help start the year off right.
own terms.
Harrison
Ford
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not be
too
timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.
Ralph Waldo
Emerson
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Inspirational Reading
THE BLACK
BELT by Steve Goodier
A parable
tells about a martial artist who kneels before a master
sensei in a
ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After
years of
relentless training, the student has finally reached a
pinnacle of
achievement in the discipline.
"Before
granting the belt, you must pass one more test," the sensei
solemnly
tells the young man.
"I'm ready,"
responds the student, expecting perhaps one more round of
sparring.
"You must
answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of
the Black
Belt?"
"Why, the end
of my journey," says the student. "A well-deserved
reward for my
hard work."
The master
waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. The sensei
finally
speaks: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one
year."
As the
student kneels before his master a year later, he is again
asked the
question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"
"It is a
symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our
art,"
the young man responds.
Again the
master waits for more. Still unsatisfied, he says once more:
"You are not
ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."
A year later
the student kneels before his sensei and hears the
question,
"What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"
This time he
answers, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the
beginning,
the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and
the pursuit
of an ever higher standard."
"Yes," says
the master. "You are now ready to receive the Black Belt
and begin
your work."
You may not
be hoping for a Black Belt, but you might be at a crucial
point. Maybe
you're facing a life change, perhaps even a painful one.
Or maybe you
are awaiting something you have worked hard to attain -
graduation, a
new job, a promotion, or even retirement.
All wise
people see that changes can be new beginnings. Change need
not be
feared. And neither should we be looking for a permanent
resting
place, for a full and happy life is never stagnant.
Does the
change you face represent, not just an ending, but a new
beginning in
your life's journey? If so, you may be ready to move
forward.
