The Greatest Gift

audiobook

a classroom

in your mind

What is something that everyone should have? Something absolutely essential to their needs? What is the greatest gift they could get?

The greatest gift is investing in yourself. Take the time to learn new skills and grow as a person. This is one thing that you should never deprive yourself of. Material things come and go, but the things you learn will last a lifetime.

But how do you invest in yourself? The answer is to seek out resources that will help you develop an area that you would like to improve on.

 We live in a great technological age - there is information for the taking. Look for it with free videos and books. Why pay when so many people are willing to give free advice? All you have to do is find it. Take advantage of their teaching and learn from them. Make the most of these opportunities. Two sites that I recommend to help get you started:

• Librivox (free audiobooks - you can learn faster than by reading a traditional book)
• Youtube (free videos on various subjects).

Give yourself the greatest gift. You owe it to yourself.

The Frog

Midnight in the plum garden. The full moon shines high overhead, kissing the grass with silver light. A gentle breeze blows sweetly over the plum trees, and the smell of ripe plums lingers in the air.

In the center of the garden is a small pond. The clear water shines in the moonlight like glass in a mirror. Near the edge of the pond, squats an old frog on a lily pad. Its skin is mint-green and wrinkled. Big, bulging eyes stare out into the water and then sink to slits as it begins to croak. From time to time, a slimy tongue shoots out as if kissing the air. The old frog croaks through the night.

old frog

under the moon

spring song

Mountains Of Misery

snow

on the mountain

clear streams

We all have mountains in our lives - some obstacle that blocks our way forward. These mountains can be devasting to a person. We see in front of us a solid wall of rock and think it is impossible to climb. Our hopes are crushed, and we fall into utter despair. These unsolved problems have become "mountains of misery."

But there is no need to lose hope. Instead, we must remind ourselves that there are many ways to attack a problem. Do not let fear and despair hold you back from achieving your goals. With careful thinking, there is a way to overcome any obstacle. If the mountain seems too large or intimidating to climb, do not climb it. The direct way will get you nowhere. Your best bet is to use an indirect method. See if you can go around the mountain. Often times, these indirect methods are more effective than direct action. They can lead to solutions that are much easier and better than your original plan.

The next time you see a mountain in your life, take a step back and attack the problem in your mind. If direct action seems too costly, or unattainable, look for indirect methods that can help you achieve your goals. Mind will always be better than matter. Instead of exhausting your strength with brute force, use your mind to come up with clever alternatives. By following this plan, you will never have to fear the "mountains of misery" in your life.

Nightingale

The full moon shines high above a lake. Its water is calm and clear in the silver light.  Across the water, on the shores of the lake, sings the nightingale. Her sweet song is like an angel singing - pure, high notes that linger in the air like golden bells ringing.

aria

the nightingale's song

at midnight

Learn To Listen

alone

on the telephone

static sounds

Have you ever felt that you do not understand people? That you could not relate with them? One of the ways to overcome this barrier is to listen to them.

There are many advantages when you listen to people. People can be an amazing source of information - a well of knowledge and opinions that can enrich your life. All you have to do is be polite and listen to what they have to say. Most of the time, people will be all too happy to talk to you. By being a good listener, you will be able to learn so much about yourself and the world around you.

Listening builds compassion. When people talk, they share not only their joys but their troubles as well. Deep down, most people just want a sympathetic ear to listen to. When you listen to them, you will learn how to practice kindness and compassion - you will win the respect of that person. A willing ear leads to a compassionate heart.

The next time someone wants to talk, listen to them. Both of you will benefit from this interaction. You can only grow as a person if you learn to listen.

Say No To Negativity

sitting alone

in my room

calm sea

The mind is a beautiful thing - the greatest part of your body. When used properly, it can lead to new discoveries and inventions for humanity. When used negatively, untold misery, defeat, and destruction can occur. How can you use your brain to its optimal power?

The first thing you must do is to banish negative thoughts. Negative thoughts are a poison that will infect your mind, shattering your self-confidence and leaving you weak and vulnerable to bad influences. To free yourself, you must let go of the past. Stop thinking about the past and moaning about things you cannot change. The past is history - no amount of crying or screaming will change what has already happened.

Instead, focus your efforts on the present - the here and now. This is the only thing that is within your power. You cannot change the past, and no one knows the future - all that is left to you is the present. Think of the present as a block of marble. To fulfill your dreams, you must see the image and work your way towards it. Like a patient sculptor, you will slowly chip away at the unnecessary material until you mold something of great beauty from within your mind.

Now is the time. Stop thinking of the past and focus on what you can do now. Believe in yourself and build your dreams and life with positive thinking. Say No to Negativity.

The Fear Of Failure

a turtle

in the grass

noonday sun

For many, failure is like a death sentence. It paralyzes you, making you afraid to take action. All you see is doom and gloom, darkness and defeat.

But it does not have to be this way. Your fear of failure is the result of misguided thinking. Failure is not the end of the world. Life must go on, and you must learn to adapt. With time, you will understand that a temporary setback has turned into a jewel of opportunity.

Failure is nothing more than a tool to improve yourself. Whenever you fail at something, look at the cause and effect of the problem. Try to understand what went wrong, and use it as a source of feedback on what needs to be done. By learning from your mistakes, you will grow as a person, becoming wiser and stronger in the process.

So the next time you feel hopeless and lost from a problem, remember this lesson. Use your mistakes as a springboard to renewed effort and growth. You will then know that there is nothing to fear from failure.

The Words We Use

links

in a chain

short words

To write well, we must make use of all our words. Words are stones that build our thoughts. Each one must be put in place, at the right time. Brick by brick, we build the wall to make a work of art.

Choose your words with great care. Each word is linked in a chain that flows from point to point. It must be smooth from one line to the next. Short words give strength to your work; the words are clear and make it a joy to read.

Try to use short words in your work. It is a good way to write with more skill. All my words have been one syllable (except this one). Short words will help you write in a clear and smooth way. Try it; it is well worth it.