The worried housewife sprang to the telephone when it rang and listened with relief to the kindly voice in her ear. "How are you, darling?" she said. "What kind of a day are you having?"
"Oh, mother," said the housewife, breaking into bitter tears, "I've had such a bad day. The baby won't eat and the washing machine broke down. I haven't had a chance to go shopping, and besides, I've just sprained my ankle and I have to hobble around. On top of that, the house is a mess and I'm supposed to have two couples to dinner tonight."
The mother was shocked and was at once all sympathy. "Oh, darling," she said, "sit down, relax, and close your eyes. I'll be over in half an hour. I'll do your shopping, clean up the house, and cook your dinner for you. I'll feed the baby and I'll call a repairman I know who'll be at your house to fix the washing machine promptly. Now stop crying. I'll do everything. In fact, I'll even call George at the office and tell him he ought to come home and help out for once."
"George?" said the housewife. "Who's George?"
"Why, George! Your husband!....Is this 223-1374?
"No, this is 223-1375."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I have the wrong number."
There was a short pause and the housewife said, "Does this mean you're not coming over?"
How to Grow Happiness
Someone says that happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply,to enjoy simply, to think
freely,and to be needed. I have no objection to that,only wondering how to grow happiness.
◇ Step one: Plant yourself deep in a bed of faith,and pack it down solid and tight. Drench daily with positive thinking,and keep saturated(濕透)just right. Mulch(覆蓋)often with forgiveness,for this will help you grow. Quickly remove any seeds of worry,for they will soon germinate(發(fā)芽),and keep out the weeds of despair. Nourish disappointments with hope whenever it is needed,and always stay cool and shaded when you feel irritated(惱火)or heated. Trim(剪)away guilt or depression,for they create decay,and cultivate(培養(yǎng)) with happy memories as often as every day.
◇ Step two: Harvest the lessons of the past; just dig,pick,and hoe. And nurture(養(yǎng)育) the roots of the present,for now is when you flourish and grow. Start planting for the future; set your goals in a row. Spade the bed well for all your dreams to grow.
◇ Step three: Remember that grief is a natural predator,so learn to tolerate some damage. Protect your garden with daily prayers,for this will help you manage. Bury the criticism and complaining,for they are injurious pests. Sow the seed of love wherever you may go—for joy,love and laughter are surely bound to grow. Although the thorns(荊棘) of life may be here to stay,just sprout(長(zhǎng)出) a smile alongthe way,and be thankful for what you have.
Love of a lifetime
Once upon a time a teacher and his student lay down under the big tree near the big grass area. Then suddenly the student asked the teacher.
"Teacher, I'm confused, how do we find our soul mate? Can you please help me?"
Silent for a few seconds, the teacher then answered, "Well, it's a pretty hard and an easy question."
The teacher continued, "Look that way, there is a lot of grass, why don't you walk there? Please don't walk backwards, just walk straight ahead. On your way, try to find a blade of beautiful grass and pick it up and then give it to me. But just one."
The student said, "Well, OK then... wait for me..." and walked straight ahead to the grassy field.
A few minutes later the student came back.
The teacher asked, "Well, I don't see a beautiful blade of grass in your hand."
The student said, "On my journey, I found quite a few beautiful blade of grass, but I thought that I would find a better one, so I didn't pick it. But I didn't realize that I was at the end of the field, and I hadn't picked any because you told me not to go back, so I didn't go back."
The teacher said, "That's what will happen in real life."
What is the message of this story?
In the story, grass is the people around you, the beautiful blade of grass is the people that attract you and the grassy field is time.
In looking for your soul mate, please don't always compare and hope that there will be a better one. By doing that, you'll waste your lifetime, cause remember "Time Never Goes Back".
A Child's Commandments to Parents
Adopted from Dr. Kevin Leman
1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so I can keep up with you.
2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely; don't restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for such a short time - please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.
4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated.
5. I am a special gift. Please treasure me, hold me accountable for my actions, give me guidelines to live by, and discipline me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement, but not your praise, to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.
8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me with my brother or sister.
9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides,it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
Happiness
Many people think that when they become rich and successful,happiness will naturally follow.Let me tell you that nothing is further from the truth.The world is full of very rich peoplewho are as miserable as if they were living in hell.We have read stories about movie stars who committed suicide or died from drugs.Quite clearly, money is not the only answer to all problems.Wealth obtained through dishonest means does not bring happiness.Lottery winnings do not bring happiness.Gamble winnings do not bring happiness.To my mind, the secret to happiness lies in your successful work,There is no use sayingin your contribution towards others’ happinessand in your wealth you have earned through your own honest effort.If you obtain wealth through luck or dishonest means,you will know that it is ill earned money.If you get your money by taking advantage of others or by hurting others,you will not be happy with it.You will think you are a base person.Long－term happiness is based on honesty, productive work, contribution, and self－esteem.Happiness is not an end; it is a process.It is a continuous process of honest, productive workwhich makes a real contribution to othersand makes you feel you are a useful, worthy person.As Dr. Wayne wrote, “There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.”“Some day when I achieve these goals,when I get a car, build a house and own my own business,then I will be really happy.”Life just does not work that way.If you wait for certain things to happenand depend on external circumstances of life to make you happy,you will always feel unfulfilled.There will always be something missing.
Weakness or strength
Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.
"Sensei," the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.
Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.
"No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
"Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
You have a choice
You have a choice I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.
My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can fell sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.
What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
The Happy Door
Happiness is like a pebble dropped into a pool to set in motion an ever-widening circle of ripples. As Stevenson has said, being happy is a duty.
There is no exact definition of the word happiness. Happy people are happy for all sorts of reasons. The key is not wealth or physical well-being, since we find beggars, invalids and so-called failures, who are extremely happy.
Being happy is a sort of unexpected dividend. But staying happy is an accomplishment, a triumph of soul and character. It is not selfish to strive for it. It is, indeed, a duty to ourselves and others.
Being unhappy is like an infectious disease. It causes people to shrink away from the sufferer. He soon finds himself alone, miserable and embittered. There is, however, a cure so simple as to seem, at first glance, ridiculous; if you don’t feel happy, pretend to be!
It works. Before long you will find that instead of repelling people, you attract them. You discover how deeply rewarding it is to be the center of wider and wider circles of good will.
Then the make-believe becomes a reality. You possess the secret of peace of mind, and can forget yourself in being of service to others.
Being happy, once it is realized as a duty and established as a habit, opens doors into unimaginable gardens thronged with grateful friends.
A lesson in life
生活的課堂
Everything happens for a reason.Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck.Illness,injury,love,lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.Without these small tests,if they be events,illness or relationships,life would be like a smoothly paved,straight,flat road to nowhere.
任何事情的發(fā)生都是有原因的,沒(méi)有什么事是純粹出于巧合或機(jī)會(huì)的好壞而發(fā)生.疾病,傷痛,愛(ài)情,曾經(jīng)的榮耀和愚蠢的事,所有這一切的發(fā)生都是對(duì)你靈魂的考驗(yàn).如果沒(méi)有各種各樣事情的發(fā)生,疾病或關(guān)系的考驗(yàn),生活將會(huì)像一條已被鋪就卻沒(méi)有目的地的平坦小路.
If someone hurts you,hetrays you,or breaks your heart,forgive them.For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who you open your heart to.
如果有人傷害了你,欺騙了你,讓你心碎,原諒他們吧!至少他們讓你學(xué)會(huì)了如何信任他人,他們讓你懂得當(dāng)你敞開(kāi)心扉與人交流時(shí),謹(jǐn)慎是多么重要.
If someone loves you,love them back unconditionally,not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.
如果有人愛(ài)你,你也無(wú)條件地去愛(ài)他們吧!因?yàn)樗麄儾粌H愛(ài)你,并讓你也學(xué)會(huì)了愛(ài),讓你敞開(kāi)心扉去感受你從未感受過(guò)的,睜開(kāi)雙眼去看你未曾看到過(guò)的.
Make every day count.Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can,for you may never be able toexperience it again.
珍惜每一天吧!把握生命中的每一刻,盡可能收獲最多,因?yàn)闀r(shí)間將一去不復(fù)返.
Talk to people who you have never talked to before,and actually listen,Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself,for if you don't believe in yourself,no one else will believe in you either.
與你從未交談過(guò)的人聊聊吧,確切地說(shuō),是傾聽(tīng).昂起你的頭,因?yàn)槟阌袡?quán)利這么做.告訴自己你是一個(gè)多么了不起的人,相信自己,因?yàn)槿绻B你自己都不相信自己,別人也就不會(huì)相信你了.
You can make of your life anything you wish.Create your own life and then go out and live.
你可以按照你所期望的那樣創(chuàng)造你自己的生活,活出自我.
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