Start Living-- Author Unknown

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. This is my annual "Guilt Trip."

I got tickets to fly there on "WISH-I-HAD" airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my "baggage," which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was loaded down with a thousand memories of "what might have been." No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.

As I checked into the "Last Resort" Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event — the annual "Pity Party." I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there.

First, there would be the "Done" family; you know, "Should Have," "Would Have" and "Could Have." Then came the "I Had" family. You probably know old "Wish" and his clan. Of course, the "Opportunities" family; "Missed and Lost," would be present. The biggest family there would be the "Yesterday's."

There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. Of course, "Shattered Dreams" would surely make and appearance. "It's Their Fault" family would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in their life. Each story would be loudly applauded by the "Don't Blame Me" and "I Couldn't Help It" committee.

To make a long story short, I went to this depressing party, knowing full well there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that this trip and subsequent "pity parties" COULD be cancelled by ME!

I started to realize that I did not have to be there. And I didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as being encouraging.

Knowing this, I left Regret City immediately, and didn't leave a forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no way to undo them.

So, if you're planning a trip back to Regret City, please cancel all those reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a nice place called: "Starting Again." I like it so much that I made it my permanent residence. My neighbors, the "Been Forgiven" and the "We're Saved" are so very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around the heavy baggage anymore either. That load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. But don't take my word for it, find out for yourself.

LIVING A THANKFUL LIFE…

Life is not about finding the right person, but creating the right relationship.
It's not about how we care in the beginning, but how much we grow and
nourish one another in a relationship.

Some people always throw stones in your path. It depends on you what
you do with them – build a wall or a bridge? Remember you are the
architect of your life.

Search a beautiful heart, not a beautiful face, because beautiful
things won't last forever, but a golden heart does and will prosper
you and add value to yourself.

It's not important to hold all the good cards in life. But it's
important how well you play the cards which you hold.

Often when we lose all hope and think this is the end, GOD whispers,
'Relax, it's just a bend, not the end.'
Have Faith, keep faith and see what God will do for you.

One of the basic differences between GOD and man is, GOD gives, gives,
gives and forgives. But human gets, gets, gets and forgets.

Be thankful. It's the least you can do!

35 Fast Tips to Make This Your Best Year Yet-Robin Sharma

I'm sitting on an airplane thinking about what the best performers and most successful people do to continually outperform everyone around them.

As we enter what I hope will be the single best year of your life yet, I've come up with 35 Tips that I invite you to concentrate on. Share these tips, reflect on then, post them where you can see them – and allow them to infuse your mindset:

1.   Remember that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts.
2.   Keep the promises you make to others – and to yourself.
3.   The project that most scares you is the project you need to do first.
4.   Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long-term results.
5.   Stop being busy being busy. This New Year, clean out the distractions from your work+life and devote to a                         monomaniacal focus on the few things that matter.
6.   Read "The War of Art".
7.   Watch "The Fighter".
8.   In a world where technology is causing some of us to forget how to act human, become the politest person you know.
9.   Remember that all great ideas were first ridiculed.
10.   Remember that critics are dreamers gone scared.
11.   Be "Apple-Like" in your obsession with getting the details right.
12.   Take 60 minutes every weekend to craft a blueprint for the coming seven days. As Saul Bellow once said: "A plan relieves  you of the torment of choice."
13.   Release your need to be liked this New Year. You can't be a visionary if you long to be liked.
14.   Disrupt or be disrupted.
15.   Hire a personal trainer to get you into the best shape of your life. Superstars focus on the value they receive versus the cost of the service.
16.   Give your teammates, customers and family one of the greatest gifts of all: the gift of your attention (and presence).
17.   Every morning ask yourself: "How may I best serve the most people?"
18.   Every night ask yourself: "What 5 good things happened to me this day?"
19.   Don't waste your most valuable hours (the morning) doing low value work.
20.   Leave every project you touch at work better than you found it.
21.   Your job is not just to work. Your job is to leave a trail of leaders behind you.
22.   A job is not "just a job". Every job is a gorgeous vehicle to express your gifts and talents – and to model exceptionalism for all around you.
23.   Fears unfaced become your limits.
24.   Get up at 5 am and take 60 minutes to prepare your mind, body, emotions and spirit to be remarkable during the hours that follow. Being a superstar is not the domain of the gifted but the prepared.
25.   Write love letters to your family.
26.   Smile at strangers.
27.   Drink more water.
28.    Keep a journal. Your life's story is worth recording.
29.    Do more than you're paid to do and do work that leaves your teammates breathless.
30.    Leave your ego at the door every morning.
31.    Set 5 daily goals every morning. These small wins will lead to nearly 2000 little victories by the end of the year.
32.    Say "please" and "thank you".
33.    Remember the secret to happiness is doing work that matters and being an instrument of service.
34.    Don't be the richest person in the graveyard. Health is wealth.
35.    Life's short. The greatest risk is risk-less living. And settling for average.

I genuinely wish you the best year of your life.

Stay Great.

Robin Sharma