Tuesdays Direction
Good Morning Friends,
This week is under way, and as always we have much to accomplish. Sometimes our lives get wrapped up in the day to day things and we fail to notice the simple things that can impact our attitudes. Have you noticed the fall foliage, or the bright colors of the mums? Life goes by way to fast and we must remember that we need to do things to recharge our own batteries. The story today is a reminder to each of us to find ways to relieve life's stress's and issues; I hope you find it as useful as I have.
The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there.
~Monica Baldwin
Put the Glass Down
People constantly ask me how I manage to keep a positive attitude, or how I manage to have faith despite the many losses I've experienced. That’s when I have to remind others, and myself, that I’ve also experienced great blessings and joy. There will always be pain and worry and disappointment at points in our lives but take a look at what happens when you hold onto it too long…
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."
Remember to put the glass down.
Are you bearing a heavy burden today? Put the glass down and do something for you today. Focus on your blessings, take a deep breath, and give yourself a break from the weight of worry or pain. Only then will you have a free hand to do the things that bring you joy once again.
At a loss for humor........
Amazing Story Of Man and Elephant
In 1988, Steve Jennings was on vacation in Australia after graduating from Southeastern University. During a hike through the Outback, he came across a young elephant standing with one leg raised in the air as if it was in pain.The elephant seemed distressed, so Steve approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Steve worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.The elephant turned to face the man and, with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Steve stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Steve never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.Twenty years later, Steve was walking through the Atlanta Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Steve and his son Nicolas were standing. The large elephant stared at Steve, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.Remembering the encounter in 1988, Steve couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Steve summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Steve's legs and slammed his dumb ass against the railing, killing him instantly.Probably wasn't the same elephant.