“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” - Lao Tzu
 
How do you show kindness in your everyday life?

The Trouble Tree
  
The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. Upon opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tan face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree", he replied. " I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and children. So, I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
 
www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/stories.

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” - Helen Keller
 
Are you able to see where your vision will take you?
 

“Everything you do matters. Everything you don’t do also matters.” - Amy Kaur
 
Do you do what matters most to you? 

I would be true,
For there are those who trust me;
I would be pure,
For there are those who care;
I would be strong,
For there is much to suffer;
I would be brave,
For there is much to dare;
I would be friend to all -
The foe - the friendless;
I would be giving,
And forget the gift;
I would be humble,
For I know my weakness;
I would look up - 
​And laugh - and love - and lift. 

“I refuse to believe God put us on this earth just to be ordinary.” - Lou Holtz
 
Would you consider yourself common and ordinary or uncommon and extraordinary?

“Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
 
How much emphasis are you putting on the things that matter most?

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think another negative thought.” - Peace Pilgrim
 
What type of thoughts motivate you?

“Success is piece of mind which is a direct result of the self-satisfaction knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” - John Wooden
 
How do you define success in your life?

“I would rather fail in a cause that would ultimately succeed, than succeed in a cause that would ultimately fail.” - Woodrow Wilson
 
Are you involved in causes that matter to you?
 

Life’s Meaning and Purpose 

By: Morrie Schwartz

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. 

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot
 
What is stopping you from taking that risk you know would be good for you?

"Fear is like fire: If controlled, it will help you; if uncontrolled, it will rise up and destroy you. Men's actions depend to a great extent upon fear. We do things either because we enjoy doing them or because we are afraid not to do them. This sort of fear has no relation to physical or moral courage. It is inspired by the knowledge that we are not adequately prepared to face the future and the events it may bring - poverty perhaps, or injury or death." - John F. Milburn

“I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.” - Kareem Abdul Jabbar
 
How much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve the great?