Slow Dance, and Secrets, and Blessings, and Power...

"Slow Dance"...

Have you ever watched kids, on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain, Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down. don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Do you run through each day, on the fly?
When you ask, “How are you?” Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
With the next hundred chores, Running through your head?

You'd better slow down, don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die?
Cause you never had time, to call and say,'Hi?'

You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift, thrown away.

Life is not a race. Do take it slower.
Hear the music, Before the song is over.

This is TheOldGuy, reminding you that in the words of the Eagles, "Slow Down and Take it Easy."

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"Secrets of My Success..."

* If you want to be successful, it's just this simple: Know what you're doing. Love what you're doing. And believe in what you're doing. - Will Rogers

* The people that get on in this world are the people that get up and look for the circumstances that they want; and if they can't find them, they make them. - George Bernard Shaw

* The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. - Eleanor Roosevelt

* The best way to predict the future is to create it! - Jason Kaufmann

* Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. - Unknown

* The future is simply infinite possibility waiting to happen. What it waits on is human imagination to crystallize its possibility. - L. Kaiser

* The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself. - Mark Caine

This is TheOldGuy, contemplating success, reminding you to get rid of the doubt that holds you back – and start your path to success, however you define it. Start today.

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"Blessings in Disguise"...

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly to be rescued, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.

Then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried and complained.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship’s horn that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

This is TheOldGuy reminding you to never forget that many blessings come in disguises. Often they show up as uncomfortable or even dangerous and painful situations. And often only later, sometimes decades later, does the true purpose of something revealed. May you all be blessed with revealed blessings. ==============================

"The Power of Speech"...

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.

One day one fellow met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued.

"Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test.

The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't know if it's true or not.Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?" This is why Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. Friend, use this triple filter each time you hear loose talk about any of your near and dear friends.

This is TheOldGuy reminding you to ALWAYS think before you speak. If what you are going to say is harmful, force yourself to wait an hour – and then ask yourself is it worth it. Usually it is not.