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Inspire Me (November 2002)True stories, quotes and information on inspiration, leadership and kindness to provide hope and direction in your life.
A
Good Man! Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room smiled softly at him, took her card punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible. He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter. He offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That
Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable
to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To
which Kurtis simply said, "Well, lets take the kids with us." She
tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking
no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children.
She
had an older daughter who was just cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda
brought out her son, in a wheelchair, he was born a paraplegic with down syndrome.
Kurtis
asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?"
Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially
if one had disabilities. Just like her first husband and father of her children
did. That
evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When
her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the
rest room, he picked him up out of his chair, took him, brought him back. The
kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she
was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A
year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then
they have added two more kids. So
what happened to the stock boy and check out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner, now live in St. Louis, where he is employed by the St. Louis Rams and plays quarterback. This story really demonstrates more about "who" Kurt Warner really is than anything he will ever do on the football field!
I've
Learned (Part I) from Andy Rooney (who has the gift
of saying so much with so few words) I've learned...that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I've learned...that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I've learned...that you should always leave loved one with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I've learned...that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you'd better know something. I've learned...that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do. I've learned...that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it. I've learned...that you can do something in an instant that will give you a heartache for life. I've learned...that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always to sides. I've learned...that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think. I've learned...that you can keep going long after you think you can't. I've learned...that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I've learned...that either you control your attitude or it controls you. I've learned...that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is a first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place. I've learned...that heroes are the people who do what has to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequence. I've learned...that learning to forgive takes practice. I've learned...that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it. I've learned...that money is a lousy way of keeping score. I've learned...that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I've learned...that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. I've learned...that I'm getting more and more like my grandparents, and I'm kinda happy about it. I've learned...that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I've learned...that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. I've learned...that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back. I've learned...that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I've learned...that you should never tell children their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it. I've learned...that your family won't always be there for you. It may be odd, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. "Family" doesn't have to be just biological. I've learned...that no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive them for that. I've learned...that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned...that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief. I've learned...that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do. I've learned...that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions. I've learned...that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I've learned...that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. An Important E-mail To: YOU Date: TODAY From: THE BOSS Subject: YOURSELF Reference: LIFE I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years. Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return. Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children. Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk. Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemotherapy who wishes she had hair to examine. Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity. Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them! Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you, you may have touched their life in ways you will never know!
RUN TO WIN A monthly insert on Coaching and Leadership by Vince Lombardi
* Build a young, energetic staff with both unproven talent and veteran experience. * Demand the best from everyone. * Remember that players are a dime a dozen. Look for individuals with intelligence, versatility, and desire, those who have a lot of heart; those who are aggressive even when it hurts; those who have the pride to make any sacrifice to win. * Remember that there's nothing more discouraging than to watch the opposition run up and down the field at will against you. Championship teams must stop the run! * Trade or cut players with losing attitudes. * When you find that "100 percent desire" individual, take care to give him a special personal touch. * Try to make the team members feel unique and wonderful - as if they are a special bunch of people. * Individual commitment to a group effort is what makes a team work, a company work, a civilization work. * The success of the individual is completely subjected to the satisfaction that he receives in being part of the successful whole. * Business is a very complex machine, all of whose components are people, and, as in a football team, it is vital that these people mesh and gear smoothly. * The team must bend or already be molded to your personality. You've got to have people who bend to you. * People who work together will win.
The
100-yard Dash A few years ago, the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back...every one of them. One girls with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"
STOPPED
BY A BRICK About
ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling
down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek,
black, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old. He was watching
for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought
he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out
and -- WHUMP! -- it smashed into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!!
Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back
to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. Josh
jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car.
He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what
the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's
my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you
throw it?" Tears
were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's
my brother, Mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of
his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive,
"Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and
he's too heavy for me." Josh
never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not
to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his
attention. ----
What a great story! At
times in our lives, we tend to become so wrapped up in other things. We become
focused on ourselves or our job we do not realize there are others around us that
need our help. We
can react in a negative way to a situation without fully realizing or taking the
time to look at the other persons situation. Or to take the time to find out the
reason the other person has taken the action that they did. Don't
let the bricks in life hit you, be sensitive to those around you. |
