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Inspire Me (May 2004)True stories, quotes and information on inspiration, leadership and kindness to provide hope and direction in your life.
Not
“Just a Mom” A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a... “Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants". Happy
Mother's Day!! YOU
ARE AN INSPIRATION: DON'T EVER FORGET Your
presence is a gift to the world, Count
your blessings, not your troubles, Don't
put limits on yourself, Remember
that a little love goes a long way - Have
health and hope and happiness, POSITIVE POINTS TO PONDER... Maybe God wanted us to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift. Maybe when the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. Maybe
the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never
say a word, Maybe it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but if it does not, be content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Don't
go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go
for someone who There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real. Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too. The
happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make
the most of Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When
you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your
life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and everyone around
you is crying. THOUGHT
for Your SUMMER:
1.
My job is making me crazy; so crazy I’d do anything to quit. 2.
If I left my job for my dream, I’m not sure what I’d do first, or even
how I’d begin it. 3.
My boss runs my life … or ruins it. I feel completely misunderstood and trapped
by this job. I don’t even know if I could quit – how would 4.
I hate this job but I really need the money. I don’t see any other viable
alternative. 5.
If I stay at my work just a little longer, I stand a good chance of getting a
promotion and a raise. Then I could find my way clear to 5.
Yeah, I could quit my job for my dream, but I could run off to Tahiti, too. That’s
way too much risk for my taste. 6.
My spouse/partner is okay with the thought of me quitting my job for my dream.
We’ve talked it through and he/she sees it as the next thing I need to do. 7.
My spouse/partner fully understands what life will be like when I make the leap
to begin my dream. He/she will be there for me, 8.
I have a business plan for my dream all organized and ready to go. I’ve even
scoped out sources for capital, and necessary space and materials to get to work. 9.
I have a savings account for my dream with enough to get started, plus an emergency
savings account worth 6 months of my general living expenses. I’ve also scoped
out alternatives to my current health care and insurance. 10.
I’ve been developing a systematic plan for leaving my job for a while now…
I feel I’m almost ready to go.
If
you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 1-4, you’re stuck. Your job has
forced you to forget about essential pieces of yourself – it’s If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 5 & 6, you’re a borderline case. You haven’t yet decided whether your dream is all that important to the quality of your life. Just an experiment, you might want to sit with a blank piece of paper and really brainstorm what it would be like to live your dream. If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 7-11… what are you waiting for? You’ve got a plan, you’ve set up the necessary support and you’re good to go; you should be able to weather the inevitable ups and downs. Be sure to allow your company enough notice to make the transition smoothly, so you can leave with glowing reviews. Congratulations! QUOTES
for Your SUMMER: "Set
out each day believing in your dreams. Know without a doubt that you were made
for amazing things." "Man,
alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone,
can dream and make his dreams come true." "Most
people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second.
Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be "Don't
be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you
can make it so." “Some
people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five.”
"All
our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. " "We've
removed the ceiling above our dreams. There are no more impossible dreams."
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