Post by Rhonda on Feb 6, 2009 5:35:23 GMT -5
NO GREAT TALENT
"I don't have any talent." You have certainly heard those words. You
may have even said them yourself! And quite possibly, if you looked
closely enough, you might discover that you are wrong.
Mary Frye enjoyed writing poetry. She wasn't interested in publishing
her poems, and occasionally she passed one on to a friend who could
use a lift. "I don't figure I have any great talent," the Baltimore,
Maryland homemaker said. But many people would disagree.
One of her poems, especially, has given hope and comfort to people who
mourn for over 50 years.
When a friend of hers lost someone close, Mary Frye jotted down a
poem, which seemed to spring from her heart, and gave it to the
grieving woman. That poem was later passed on to others, who, in turn,
passed it on until it became an American classic. "If it helps one
person through a hard time, I am amply paid," said Mary, who has
received no remuneration for her uncopyrighted work. It has been
used in countless funerals, translated and used in foreign lands and
even incorporated into television drama.
Here is her original text, which has moved so many for so long:
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room,
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
How many people are finding strength and solace from a verse jotted
by a woman who always professed she had no talent? And what if she
had kept her poetry to herself? Don't be afraid to use the talents
you do possess, it has been well advised. The woods would be very
silent if only the birds with the sweetest songs were heard.
-- Steve Goodier
__________
LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED
Life is to be lived. No excuses. No reservations. No holding back.
An enchanting story about violinist Fritz Kreisler tells how he once
came across a beautiful instrument he wanted to acquire. When he
finally raised the money for the violin, he returned to buy it and
learned that it had already been sold to a collector.
He went to the new owner's home in order to try to persuade him to
sell the violin. But the collector said it was one of his prized
possessions and he could not let it go. The disappointed Kreisler
turned to leave, but then asked a favor. "May I play the instrument
once more before it is consigned to silence?"
Permission was granted and the great musician began to play. The
violin sang out a quality of music so beautiful that the collector
himself could only listen in wonderment. "I have no right to keep that
to myself," he said after the musician finished. "The violin is yours,
Mr. Kreisler. Take it into world, and let people hear it."
William Arthur Ward said, "If you believe in prayer, pray; if you
believe in serving, serve; if you believe in giving, give." For you
and I are exquisite violins -- our music is meant to be heard.
I want to live my life that way -- to take it into the world and live
it fully. I'd rather burn out than rust out. I'd rather be used up
than die not having done whatever I could...wherever I would.
I'm not talking about wearing ourselves out on over-activity.
Happiness is never found in excessive busyness. But it is found in
investing our lives in others. Saying YES when asked for a hand.
Volunteering some time for a worthwhile organization. Spending an hour
with a lonely relative.
In the end, I know that my happiness will not have been
about by my ability or my inability. It will have been about my
availability. My life is meant to be lived.
-- Steve Goodier
__________
P.S. AIN'T IT SO
Arguing with some people is like trying to blow out an electric light
bulb. -- Unknown
__________
CHOOSING CONFIDENCE
Carefully examining a display in the drugstore, a man asked the
pharmacist, "Do you really guarantee this hair-restorer?"
The pharmacist responded, "Better than that, sir. We give a comb with
every bottle." Wouldn't you love to have that kind of confidence?
One man quipped, "When it comes to believing in myself, I'm an
agnostic." One of the greatest problems many people experience is lack
of confidence. Some don't believe in their ability to speak in public,
others are afraid to try something they've never done before, and
still others do not have the confidence to overcome their shyness.
Do you know that you can become more confident? One effective
technique is to learn to do what you're afraid to do.
I led a seminar a few years ago where I asked for three volunteers to
speak to the group the next day. One young woman named Judy was the
first to raise her hand. She explained to me later why she did so:
"When you asked for three volunteers," Judy said, "I felt a knot of
fear in my stomach. I've never done anything like this before and I've
never really believed I could. But the fear was telling me something,"
she continued. "So...BECAUSE I felt so anxious, I decided that this
was something I had to do. But I must to tell you, I'm terrified!"
She made up her mind to DO that which she was afraid to do. And the
following day, Judy's five-minute talk was superb! She was honest and
genuine, speaking right from her heart. Now she is more confident
about her ability to speak in public.
People who are confident have choices. People who are fearful too
often avoid much of life because they are afraid to venture into
unknown territory.
Jim Loehr said, "With confidence, you can reach truly amazing heights;
without confidence, even the simplest accomplishments are beyond your
grasp." When you make what you're afraid to do what you CHOOSE to do,
you will soon have the confidence TO DO whatever you choose!
-- Steve Goodier
__________
P.S. CELEBRITY QUIP
In the beginning there was nothing. God said, "Let there be light!"
And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a
whole lot better. -- Ellen DeGeneres
"I don't have any talent." You have certainly heard those words. You
may have even said them yourself! And quite possibly, if you looked
closely enough, you might discover that you are wrong.
Mary Frye enjoyed writing poetry. She wasn't interested in publishing
her poems, and occasionally she passed one on to a friend who could
use a lift. "I don't figure I have any great talent," the Baltimore,
Maryland homemaker said. But many people would disagree.
One of her poems, especially, has given hope and comfort to people who
mourn for over 50 years.
When a friend of hers lost someone close, Mary Frye jotted down a
poem, which seemed to spring from her heart, and gave it to the
grieving woman. That poem was later passed on to others, who, in turn,
passed it on until it became an American classic. "If it helps one
person through a hard time, I am amply paid," said Mary, who has
received no remuneration for her uncopyrighted work. It has been
used in countless funerals, translated and used in foreign lands and
even incorporated into television drama.
Here is her original text, which has moved so many for so long:
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room,
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
How many people are finding strength and solace from a verse jotted
by a woman who always professed she had no talent? And what if she
had kept her poetry to herself? Don't be afraid to use the talents
you do possess, it has been well advised. The woods would be very
silent if only the birds with the sweetest songs were heard.
-- Steve Goodier
__________
LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED
Life is to be lived. No excuses. No reservations. No holding back.
An enchanting story about violinist Fritz Kreisler tells how he once
came across a beautiful instrument he wanted to acquire. When he
finally raised the money for the violin, he returned to buy it and
learned that it had already been sold to a collector.
He went to the new owner's home in order to try to persuade him to
sell the violin. But the collector said it was one of his prized
possessions and he could not let it go. The disappointed Kreisler
turned to leave, but then asked a favor. "May I play the instrument
once more before it is consigned to silence?"
Permission was granted and the great musician began to play. The
violin sang out a quality of music so beautiful that the collector
himself could only listen in wonderment. "I have no right to keep that
to myself," he said after the musician finished. "The violin is yours,
Mr. Kreisler. Take it into world, and let people hear it."
William Arthur Ward said, "If you believe in prayer, pray; if you
believe in serving, serve; if you believe in giving, give." For you
and I are exquisite violins -- our music is meant to be heard.
I want to live my life that way -- to take it into the world and live
it fully. I'd rather burn out than rust out. I'd rather be used up
than die not having done whatever I could...wherever I would.
I'm not talking about wearing ourselves out on over-activity.
Happiness is never found in excessive busyness. But it is found in
investing our lives in others. Saying YES when asked for a hand.
Volunteering some time for a worthwhile organization. Spending an hour
with a lonely relative.
In the end, I know that my happiness will not have been
about by my ability or my inability. It will have been about my
availability. My life is meant to be lived.
-- Steve Goodier
__________
P.S. AIN'T IT SO
Arguing with some people is like trying to blow out an electric light
bulb. -- Unknown
__________
CHOOSING CONFIDENCE
Carefully examining a display in the drugstore, a man asked the
pharmacist, "Do you really guarantee this hair-restorer?"
The pharmacist responded, "Better than that, sir. We give a comb with
every bottle." Wouldn't you love to have that kind of confidence?
One man quipped, "When it comes to believing in myself, I'm an
agnostic." One of the greatest problems many people experience is lack
of confidence. Some don't believe in their ability to speak in public,
others are afraid to try something they've never done before, and
still others do not have the confidence to overcome their shyness.
Do you know that you can become more confident? One effective
technique is to learn to do what you're afraid to do.
I led a seminar a few years ago where I asked for three volunteers to
speak to the group the next day. One young woman named Judy was the
first to raise her hand. She explained to me later why she did so:
"When you asked for three volunteers," Judy said, "I felt a knot of
fear in my stomach. I've never done anything like this before and I've
never really believed I could. But the fear was telling me something,"
she continued. "So...BECAUSE I felt so anxious, I decided that this
was something I had to do. But I must to tell you, I'm terrified!"
She made up her mind to DO that which she was afraid to do. And the
following day, Judy's five-minute talk was superb! She was honest and
genuine, speaking right from her heart. Now she is more confident
about her ability to speak in public.
People who are confident have choices. People who are fearful too
often avoid much of life because they are afraid to venture into
unknown territory.
Jim Loehr said, "With confidence, you can reach truly amazing heights;
without confidence, even the simplest accomplishments are beyond your
grasp." When you make what you're afraid to do what you CHOOSE to do,
you will soon have the confidence TO DO whatever you choose!
-- Steve Goodier
__________
P.S. CELEBRITY QUIP
In the beginning there was nothing. God said, "Let there be light!"
And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a
whole lot better. -- Ellen DeGeneres