More Books full of Words.....

My friend Tina is on this big kick to read 52 weeks 

of Motivational books 

this year.

I benefit because she passes the titles on to me.

I am in her Downline for CHOFFY....

she is my "Mentor" you could say.

So,

I write them down in my planner.

I hear about them through her and read some of them.

This one you have probably read yourself.

If not,

you should.

I remember I had my own copy a long time ago,

 because I had heard that,

"this is a must read book".

but for some reason I remember not being able to really get into it.

Very strange, because this book is so small.

What couldn't I "get into".

The goodness started for me immediately this go round.

I am going to give you a quick gauge on the book here,

because I would like a short wrap up myself.

I need to get my own copy (again)....Tina wrote her name in the front of hers,

which tells me she definitely wants it back.

I want one that I can highlight the dickens out of.

I won't give you the story line, or even messages from every chapter, 

only a few of my favorite nuggets....

there are WAY to many to include, this will give you a taste of more

to come when you read it.

"I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal.  Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road.  Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak.  The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third.  Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence.  Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble.  So it will be with my efforts of today.
I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.
I will persist until I succeed.

I am nature's greatest miracle.

I am not on this earth by chance.  I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand.  Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.  I will practice, improve, and polish, to deliver with excellence.  I will concentrate my efforts on the challenge of the moment....

Today I will be master of my emotions. 

If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel incompetent I will remember past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
No longer will I judge a man on one meeting;  no longer will I fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today.  This day he will not buy gold chariots for a penny, yet tomorrow he would exchange his home for a tree.
Today I will be master of my emotions.

I will act now.  I will act now.  I will act now."

These are just a few gems from the Greatest Salesman.

Even though as the title states, it is a story of a salesman,

it is applicable to each of us.

..........................

I also just finished listening to -

This book helped me get A LOT done.

trust me when I say my kitchen has never looked better...

(not counting the floor)

I cleaned out drawers, wiped down cabinets, painted around the 

handles, dunged out the fridge.  

Plus I ironed all of Kev's shirts and my items as well.

Reorganized our closets.....

anything I could do within hearing distance to my kitchen 

cd player was happily accomplished.....

lots of baking and cooking as well.

With 26 disks!!!

I had quite a bit of project time.

(also did not mind my drive time in the slightest.)

oh dang.....

I just remembered I never got to my mother in laws scrapbook 

pages I have promised to send out to her.

hmmmmm.....

best get onto my next book.

No time to waste.

If you are familiar with Ayn Rand's style of writing.

This is along the same lines as Atlas Shrugged.

Really enjoyed them both.

Both are aimed at celebrating individualism.....

and the human spirit.

Rather than sinking and disappearing into the mush pot of collectivism.

Her books are the perfect description of our time, written in 1943.

I will never be able to make it sound interesting, 

but I enjoy her books very much.
They definitely get you thinking, contemplating.

They are so frustrating,

yet so rewarding.

Sad, upsetting, and then fantastically triumphant.

Maddening, and then understanding arrives in a nick of time.

GOOD Stuff.

The Fountain Head is based around architecture. 

What have you been reading?

What is your favorite book of all time??

Maybe you could describe Ayn Rands writing better than me....

would love to hear your take.

Would You Rather.....

Run one mile with a cracked shinbone

 - OR - 

do 50 sit ups on a hard surface with a cracked tail bone?

I think I would take the run,

sort of experienced the sit up scenario the other day (w/out the cracked tail bone)

I rewarded myself with a huge scab on my lower back.

Would you Rather have your house hit once every 6 months by graffiti vandals

- OR - 

once every 2 weeks by toilet paper vandals?

DUH!

would totally take the toilet papering.....with thanks!

We would never waste money on t.p. again. 

Always Lose 

- OR -

Never Play

Geeze.....I hate loosing, 

really I only loose at those lame raffles and chance drawings.

I ALWAYS Lose those....

and I really hate it.

Would you rather find the perfect pair of shoes,

the brand you want,

the size you need,

the price your mom will pay and purchase for you,

but the color is not quite what you wanted.

- OR - 

Find a totally different pair,

costing twice as much,

which you will have to pay $20 of your own money towards,

but is exactly what you want?

Just wondering.....

cuz

this happened to Lawson and I the other day.

I took he and McCauley shopping.

L needed a new pair of school shoes and some 

cleats for soccer.

He was looking for a pair of specific shoes.

I sort of warned him ahead of time that I was not 

going to pay a fortune,

but that yes, we could go take a look and see what was out there.

We looked all over the mall.

No sale at Dillards

....bummer.

Went to several other shoe places.

I kept finding really similar shoes that looked 

AWESOME!!!

and that were on SALE.

But he shot down pair after pair.

I was getting so frustrated.

We finally left there and headed over to Ross.

Low and behold.....

magically 

we found the shoe brand, size, and style in one pair of shoes.

To me, 

this pair was MADE FOR HIM.

We lucked out.

right??

nah....he didn't like the color....too femmy.

Are you joking?

He finds this other pair,

 as previously mentioned,

for twice as much, 

and locks in hard on these guys.

I personally thought they were really boring looking....

I said as much.

He said he didn't care,

he liked them and he would be glad to pay the difference.

Geeeeeeeezzzzzz.

This really hurt me bad.

I was so disappointed in his money sense.

Who is this kid?

Where is he getting all this cash he is so free with?

I am sure this sounds very controlling and kind of pathetic.

On the way home, 

he didn't know it, 

but I was actually shedding tears over the whole thing.

Literally holding back sobs.

So what is the root of my problem?

I guess I was bummed I could not bend him to my will.

Even though my will was the smart way to go.

Why couldn't he see that?

Why wouldn't he listen to sense?

I was let down that he has different money strategies then me.

I am always willing to compromise and bend to get 

a better deal.

That makes me happy.

All told,

 I was proud of this kid.

He knew what he wanted and was willing to stick to his guns to get it.

Even in the face of his glaring mother.

He never waivered.....

trust me when I say I was applying pressure.

I think it scared me because I saw a glimpse into the future.

My children have minds of their own.

I can only teach and be the best example I can be.

In the end,

they will get to choose and decide for themselves.

I know this is the right way.

It felt like the beginning of letting go....

only I was being forced.

It's not fun to be forced.

He is loosening my motherly bands....

I didn't like it.

This guy is a good kid.

He is only 12 for heavens sake.

He has been enjoying his new shoes very much.

It is my hope that he will use that same stubborn determination

to withstand negative peer pressure and the 

press of temptation as it comes his way.

One more...

Would you Rather Be a woman with man's legs 

(no shaving)

- OR -

a man with a woman's arms?

Arrrrrrg!

This is Sooooo hard!!