Bit #12: Work Hard

Little Life Lesson and Bit of Grace 12: There is no escape from HARD WORK!

"Hard work certainly goes a long way. These days a lot of people work hard, so you have to make sure you work even harder and really dedicate yourself to what you are doing and setting out to achieve. " ~Anonymous

There is no simpler way to put it than you must WORK HARD in order to succeed. No one truly succeeds without it. Let's look at some greats (these are merely just a few examples):

Sports: Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, or Michael Phelps

Business: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or Warren Buffet

Art: Picasso, Van Gogh, or Georgia O'Keefe

Arts: Tom Hanks, Yo Yo Ma, or Mikhail Baryshnikov

Greatness isn't handed to anyone; it requires a lot of hard work.

NONE of these people achieved their success without hard work and determination. Sure, they had some natural gift, however, with determination, practice, and a passion anything really is possible.

Success doesn't happen overnight either. Don't think that there is a magic potion or spell that you can do...the only magic is going to be from yourself-WORKING HARD!

Find out what interests you. If you aren't excited or interested in what you are doing, it will show and you will never be able to reach the top. Create experiences and surround people with similar interests and ideas. Create a support system of peers, friends, and family that will be there as you explore and work towards your goals and success.

"Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted."

We believe in you!!

Bit #11: Use your words wisely

Little Life Lesson and Bit of Grace 11: Use your words wisely!

Words are an extremely powerful thing. Be careful what you say as they can never be taken back.

My Uncle Stan is a true saint. He is such a gift to this world and I am so blessed that I have him in my life and have his fun and loving spirit. I can only hope that he will be around for many years and that my children get the same opportunities to know him that I did.

One day a few years ago and he was telling me a story that he had told his grandson. How fitting and how true:

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.”

The boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked up at his father and said “I hope you can forgive me father for the holes I put in you.”

Use those powerful words to lift someone's spirits!

Bit #10: Lessons in Lyrics~Dream Big

Little Life Lesson and Bit of Grace 10: Dream Big

We all know how powerful music is and there are fantastic life lessons found in music lyrics. Each Wednesday, we will feature a song's lyrics that express a life lesson we want to share. Have a suggestion for a song, please email us...thanks so much for your help and support.

A few years ago when I was pregnant, Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband came out with the song, "Dream Big." This song immediately brought tears to my eyes and was the epitome for what I wanted for my child in this crazy world they were about to enter in to.

Dream, just dream! Dream about anything and work hard to make it happen.

When you cry be sure to dry your eyes

'Cause better days are sure to come

And when you smile be sure to smile wide

Don't let them know that they have won

And when you walk, walk with pride

Don't show the hurt inside

Because the pain will soon be gone

And when you dream, dream big

As big as the ocean blue

'Cause when you dream it might come true

When you dream, dream big

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud

'Cause it will carry all your cares away

And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself

And it'll help you feel okay

And when you pray, pray for strength

To help you carry on

When the troubles come your way

And when you dream, dream big

As big as the ocean blue

'Cause when you dream it might come true

When you dream, dream big

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud

'Cause it will carry all your cares away

And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself

And it'll help you feel okay

And when you pray, pray for strength

To help you carry on

When the troubles come your way

And when you dream, dream big

As big as the ocean blue

'Cause when you dream it might come true

When you dream, dream big

Bit #9: Laugh

Little Life Lesson and Bit of Grace #9: Laugh often, laugh much!

"Carry laughter with you wherever you go." ~Hugh Sidey

Laughter really is the best medicine. It can turn anything around and really is what makes the world go 'round..

I love to laugh. I am looking forward to the laugh lines on my face when I am older...each one will have a story tell on the great times, good friends and family, and memorable life experiences. We laugh all of the time in my home and with my family.

Surround yourself with people that make you laugh and feel good about yourself.

Be able to laugh at yourself. We all have "those moments" and the key to being a great person is having the ability to laugh at yourself from time to time. Those laughing with you should be people that love and respect you too.

Here are some quotes that are fun and funny in terms of laughter:

"Laughter is an instant vacation." ~Milton Berle

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." ~Victor Borge

"What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul." ~Yiddish Proverb

"When people are laughing, they're generally not killing each other. " ~Alan Alda

"There can never be enough said of the virtues, dangers, the power of a shared laugh." ~Françoise Sagan

"I've always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, 'Ain't that the truth.'" ~Quincy

"A man isn't poor if he can still laugh." ~Raymond Hitchcock

Take laughter with you...it's fantastic and free for all! Have a good laugh today and pass it on!