BRIGHT SIDE ARCHIVES FROM AOL:

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 17TH, 2007

TODAY'S THOUGHT

I do not understand the mystery of grace— only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.

Anne Lamott

TODAY’S ACTION

When you see a butterfly let it remind you of new life.

TODAY’S QUOTE

There are the NOWS, WAS’S, and GONNA-BE’S.

A NOW is the most precious thing you can have, because a NOW goes by with the speed of light. Let’s say you’re having a beautiful NOW that you want to hold on to forever. No matter how much you want to hold on to it, it’s going to be a WAS. A lot of people get stuck in and can’t let go of the WAS’S. Those WAS’S get heavy, and they start to decay into SHOULDA-COULDAS. And they never have time for the new NOW.

Sid Caesar

HAPPY TUESDAY

After having a break from our dulcimer get together’s, we are finally getting back together this evening. None of us has played at all since we met after Christmas, so it ought to be interesting, the important thing is that we’ll laugh a lot and have fun. We always do!

Yesterday was very very windy here, but thankfully we got no rain. The folks in the Northeastern part of the country really got deluged.

Today is supposed to be a sunny one and maybe a little warmer.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdomfor their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TODAY IS…CHEESE BALL DAY

Yes, they are usually only seen on special occasions, but... why? Easy to make, a cheeseball can be a treat for your next night of cards or just a fun snack when renting a movie. Plan ahead so it has time to chill - then get your out favorite crackers and dig in!

PINEAPPLE CHEESE BALL

16oz. cream cheese, softened

8 1/2oz. can crushed pineapple, well drained

2 cups chopped pecans

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

2 Tablespoons green onion, chopped

1. Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl only 1/2 the nuts. 2. Shape into a ball and roll it in the rest of the nuts (use a cookie sheet or waxed paper). 3. Cover in plastic wrap or foil. Chill overnight and serve with your favorite crackers.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Daffy Duck Day. Daffy appeared in his first cartoon, "Porky's Duck Hunt," on April 17, 1937.

1492: A contract was signed by Christopher Columbus and a representative of Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, giving Columbus a commission to seek a westward ocean passage to Asia.

1810: Lewis Norton of Troy, Pennsylvania, patented Pineapple Cheese

1964: At the New York World's Fair, Ford Motor Company introduced the Mustang. Base price was $2,368.

1985 - The U.S. Postal Service unveiled its new 22-cent LOVE stamp. In a clever promotion, the USPS used the set of ABC-TV’s The Love Boat as a backdrop. The stamp went on to become one of the most popular ever offered by the postal service.

TODAY’S SMILE

This is a little long, but I thought it worth sharing

Discover the 90/10 Principle: It will change your life

The 90/10 principle is incredible! Very few know and apply this principle. The Result? Millions of people are suffering undeserved stress, trials, problems, and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. Theirs is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger breaks friendships, and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life!

What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane may be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%! How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react!

Let's use an example. You're eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize them for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school.

Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 (traffic fine) away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.

You look forward to going home. When you arrive home you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the Policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's OK honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase. You come back down in time look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both go to work. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having. Notice the difference.

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% is determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out, etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive. Remember the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? It will work out. Use your "worrying" energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late. It is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on.

Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger, etc. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you now know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.

TODAY’S WORD

mag·nan·i·mous adjective.

1. Courageously noble in mind and heart.

2. Generous in forgiving; eschewing (abstaining from) resentment or revenge; unselfish.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 16:16

The book of Proverbs is filled with comparisons that point us toward the right pathway in life. Because the book’s purpose is to give the reader knowledge and wisdom based on the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:2,7), it’s not surprising to find statements saying, “This is better than that.”

Some people have the ability to be both wise and wealthy. But when faced with a choice between the two, Proverbs says wisdom is the better alternative When God’s Word shapes our thinking and guides our choices, we’ll discover that His way is always better

Our Daily Bread

http://www.rbc.org

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup baking soda per wash load to make clothes feel soft and smell fresh.

65 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

I Love You All !!!

Be Blessed !!!

MY HOMEPAGE I believe we should live ‘ON THE BRIGHT SIDE’

www.bigmarainey.com

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