The Princess Dress

The phone rang on a Saturday night. It was Kelly.

"Mom, where were you?" she said. "I tried to call you from a store because I want you to help me make up my mind. Oh, Mom, I found the most beautiful dress for my formal! I feel like a princess in it, but it's really expensive. What do you think I should do? Should I buy it?" I didn't have a moment's hesitation. "Yes," I told her. "Buy the dress."

But in those few short minutes on the phone I didn't have the time or the words to explain why I thought she should have the "princess" dress she'd found.

There are so many reasons I would give my daughter. . . .

For growing up without many clothes or vacations, because there was never enough money, and not complaining about either one - that would be one reason.

For studying so hard and doing every extra-credit assignment she could get her hands on, so she could go to college.

For all those times she passed the soccer ball, when she knew she could have easily run and scored but valued being a team player more than being a star.

For that fierce determination when she was slammed in the nose during a game, and despite blood running down her face, kept yelling, "I'm fine, Coach! I'm not bleeding anymore. Put me in, Coach!"

For giving up varsity soccer at college because she had to work and couldn't (wouldn't!) let her grades suffer.

For giving up her spring break one year to build houses for the poor in Tijuana and coming home scraped and bruised and sick and exclaiming, "Mom, that was the most wonderful thing I've ever done in my life!"

For deciding that even though she was supporting herself she could still find the money to sponsor a child in El Salvador who has less.

For deciding that faith is the most important thing of all.

For telling me when I wished I could give her more, "Mom, I think of you as my angel," and reminding me just how priceless love is.

Oh yes, I do think that daughter of mine should have that dress. And she's right that no one will notice that her shoes don't match (since there's no extra money to buy new shoes). I know that people will only see the shining joy in those big brown eyes of hers, and that radiant smile that could light a midnight sky. But Kelly was wrong about one thing. I don't think that she'll look like a princess in that dress of hers: To me, my darling daughter is a queen.

- By Anne Goodrich

The Art of Creating Powerful Intentions

Intentions are indeed very powerful if they are created in the right way. There are a few basic rules you will want to understand, otherwise your intentions may simply evaporate, or even backfire. By backfire, I mean they create just the opposite of what you wanted.

The Purpose of Making Intentions :

We use intention to guide our attention in a new direction, in order to create a new or different reality. For example, maybe you’d like to change your job. Most people would start with the intent to have a better job, as the old one doesn’t satisfy anymore. However, trouble may be brewing here already…

If you move on from something you don’t like, to something you prefer, you may deny your current situation. In order to make successful intentions, it is important to deal with the current situation first, and do some analytical thinking about it.

Understand that you created this situation, so don’t blame anybody else for it. Take full responsibility, and understand that you are the only person responsible for the current circumstances.

Do away with any judgments of your current situation, until you can see it from a neutral perspective. There was a point in your life when it was the perfect decision. Don’t compare the now with the past, as you have since had new experiences and gained a different viewpoint.

This is a common mistake in thinking; it is like a loophole in the mind. You jump from one time-line into another time-line, and then compare them. This leads to false conclusions. Besides that, leave the past; don’t reinvent it.

Evaluate Your Current Situation :

If you look at your current situation without judgments, you empower yourself. Only from a neutral standpoint can you make a powerful new decision. This new decision will be based on deliberate intent instead of reaction to circumstances. This is where choice and free will comes in.

Now, at the point of being neutral, you can ask yourself the following questions:

 What do I like about my current job?
 What do I want to improve in my next job?
 What would be the perfect job for me?
 What would I like to feel from my next job?
 What am I good at?
 In which areas is this job supporting me to live my full potential?

Write down the answers to these questions, and start to craft a few full sentences out from your answers. Include all the positive points. Make these sentences as precise as possible.

It could read like this: >> My next job is exciting; it flows with me, makes me happy, and I am able to learn and grow with it.

When you are done, read it out loud. If you have trouble saying the sentence, or even memorizing it, then it is not ready. Simply take a few moments and refine it.

Overcoming Pitfalls when Creating Intentions :

Intentions are formed in your conscious mind; however, it’s your subconscious that receives these commands and creates the necessary opportunities in your life. In other words, your conscious mind deciding on this new opportunity creates a new reality.

 Use only positive words
 Include a time frame
 Remove negations
 Be precise

Here is a simple test. Don’t think about a blue elephant! What happened? You thought about the blue elephant, you may even imagined it. The subconscious does not work analytically; it cannot understand words like ‘don’t’ or ‘not.’ It works mostly in images, sounds, and smells.

You want to avoid use of any negative words in your intentions. Always formulate your intentions in such a way that they reflect the outcome of what you’d like to create.

Example of how not to do it:
- I don’t want to have so much responsibility.

Better Example:
- In my new job I feel comfortable with my responsibility.

Including a Time Frame:

There is a difference between creating in your own universe or in the physical world. When you create inside yourself there is no time involved - your consciousness is timeless!

For example, if you’d like to change your attitude toward your boss, you don’t need to set a time frame. You can simply create the intention:
>>I appreciate my boss, >> or,
>> I value my boss’ viewpoints and beliefs.
>> It will work instantly if there is no other belief or intention in its way.

When you deal with the physical world, setting a time frame becomes important. The physical world works within time and space. If you build a new house, first you have a plan, and then you move dirt, assemble wood, install plumbing, and move furniture, until the house is complete. It takes time and effort.

So if you make your intention but you leave out the time frame - your intention becomes doubtful. Example: “I am working in my dream job.” Well, you would say right away >> I’m not. It sounds more like an affirmation than an intention. Include the time frame, and this example turns into: >> 6 months from now I am working in my dream job.>>

Pay attention to any reactions you have when you formulate your intention. Your mind may interfere and tell you:
>> No way, I will never get this, >> or
>> this is impossible.
>> If you encounter these instant judgments, formulate your intentions differently, so that they feel more do-able. Sometimes you may want to break a big intention into smaller pieces.

For example: >> In 2 weeks I am a Millionaire >> is an intention that may not work for most people. However, an intention like: >>Every day I have more money to spend >> may bring you there.

New Years Intentions Vs. Birthday Intentions :

Many people make new year’s resolutions on first night, which is a good thing. However, making them on your birthday is more efficient.

Why is this? A new year is an artificial point of time, it just means that one year passed, and is not related to you in any way >> it’s impersonal. If you make your new year’s resolution on your birthday, it is personal, because on this specific day the sun is in the same position as it was when you were born. Astrologers call this point a sun-sun conjunction. It is a very powerful point in time, as a new individual cycle for you starts.

May all your dreams come true.


- By Thomas Herold

To have Compassion for others, You must first have compassion for yourself.

Self-compassion is the ability to acknowledge your shortcomings, your vulnerability and your humanness - yet still perceive yourself as the lovable woman that you are.

You can never truly give to another if you feel empty inside. You can force yourself to give, but yiur giving won't be genuine and you will feel resentful. This is why it's so important to care for yourself first.

No one can give a gift they don't already possess.

So, practce self-compassion today. Meet your own deepest needs. Take time for yourself, by listening to your inner voice and feeling your own emotions. Know that they are okay, because you are a woman and you are human.

- Author Unknown

Count Your Blessings !!!

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to change your mood or mental outlook is to remind yourself of all the good things in your life. Reflecting on how far you have come, what you have already accomplished, and what you have learned, can be very encouraging.

Appreciating your dearest friends, your closest family members, your favorite possessions and of course yourself can bring a smile to your face.

If you need a lift or an attitude adjustment, try to appreciate and reflect on the good things. Count your blessings. It can be done anytime and any place.

- Author Unknown

Live in Today

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed;we cannot erase a single word we said.Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance; Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can fight the battle of just one day. It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.

- Author Unknown

Principles of Life

* Winning isn't everything. But wanting to win is.


* You would achieve more, if you don't mind who gets the credit.


* When everything else is lost, the future stillremains.


* Don't fight too much. Or the enemy would know your art of war .


* The only job you start at the top is when you dig a grave.


* If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything.


* If you do little things well, you'll do big ones better.


* Only thing that comes to you without effort is old age.


* You won't get a second chance to make the first impression .


* Only those who do nothing do not make mistakes.


* Never take a problem to your boss unless you have a solution.


* If you are not failing you're not taking enough risks.


* Don't try to get rid of bad temper by losing it.


* If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.


* Those who don't make mistakes usually don't make anything


* There are two kinds of failures. Those who think and never do, and those who do and never think.


* Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.


* All progress has resulted from unpopular decisions.


* Change your thoughts and you change your world.


* Understanding proves intelligence, not the speed of the learning.


* There are two kinds of fools in this world. Those who give advise and those who don't take it.


* The best way to kill an idea is to take it to a meeting.


* Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.


* Friendship founded on business is always better than business founded on friendship .

- Unknown

Life Span

On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'

The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God agreed..

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'

The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'

The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty? ' And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'

But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?' 'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

- Author Unknown