"What's True Wealth-I Know But Do You?"

The Wise Woman's Stone
By: Author Unknown

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a
precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another
traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag
to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious
stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so
without hesitation.

The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew
the stone was worth enough to give him security for a
lifetime.

A few days later, he came back to return the stone to the
wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how
valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that
you can give me something even more precious. Give me what
you have within you that enabled you to give me this
stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have, but what's inside
of you that others need.

"How Much On Auto-Pilot Is Your Life Being Lived?"

The Touchstone
By: Unknown Author

When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story
goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book;
and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for a
few coppers.

The book wasn't very interesting, but between its pages
there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin
strip of vellum on which was written the secret of the
"Touchstone"!

The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any
common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it
was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles
that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The
real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are
cold.

So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple
supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing
pebbles.

He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw
them down again because they were cold, he might pick up
the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one
that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole
day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he
went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it
into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.

The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months.
One day, however, about midafternoon, he picked up a pebble
and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he
realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong
habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the
one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.

So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's
easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand
and it's just as easy to throw it away.

"Have You Ever Considered That You Are A Storm? Or Even The Burmuda Triangle?"

The Splashes Of Life
By: Author Unknown

A Sioux Indian story...

My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm when I
was about seven, and he told me to throw a stone into the
water. He told me to watch the circles created by the
stone. Then he asked me to think of myself as that stone
person.

"You may create lots of splashes in your life, but the
waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace
of all your fellow creatures," he said.

"Remember that you are responsible for what you put in
your circle, and that circle will also touch many other
circles. You will need to live in a way that allows the
good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that
goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or
jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You
are responsible for both."

That was the first time I realized each person creates the
inner peace or discord that flows out into the world. We
cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner
conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the feelings
and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or
not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling
out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all
other circles of life.

Remember the eternal wisdom: Whatever you focus on
expands.

"Do You Love TREES as Much As I Do?"

The Trouble Tree
By: Author Unknown

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse
had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire
made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and
now his ancient pickup truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On
arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked
toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree,
touching tips of the branches with both hands. When opening
the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His
tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two
small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward, he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and
my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I
had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't
help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure;
troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the
children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night
when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up
again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I
come out in the morning to pick them up,
there aren't nearly as many as I
remember hanging up the night befor

Are You Made Of Steel Or Bammboo-And Why Should That be Of Importance to You?"

Bend, But Don't Break
By: Author Unknown

One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the
river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the
peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream, and
listen to the chirps of birds and the rustling of leaves in
the trees.

I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure
from the wind and watch them return gracefully to their
upright or original position after the wind had died down.

When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce
back or return to its original position, the word
'resilience' comes to mind. When used in reference to a
person this word means the ability to readily recover from
shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the
limits of a person's emotions.

Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you
ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully,
you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.

During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions
that threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained,
mentally exhausted and you most likely endured unpleasant
physical symptoms.

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy
moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are
experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that
take you close to your breaking point, bend but don't
break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best
of you.

A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant
ordeal. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better
situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The
unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end
result is worth having.

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking
point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend but
don't break!

"When You Are Up To Your neck In Hot Water-What do Your Do?"

Carrots, Eggs, & Coffee Beans
By: Author Unknown

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her
life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know
how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was
tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem
was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots
with water. In the first she placed carrots; in the second
she placed eggs; and in the last ground coffee beans. She
let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about
twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs
out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee
out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you
see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.
The daughter did and noted that they were soft. She then
asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off
the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she
asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she
tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What's the
point, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced
the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted
differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and
unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling
water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had
protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through
the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they
were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity
knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot,
an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? With pain and adversity, do I
wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg
that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the
heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a
breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I
become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter
and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I
like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot
water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the
water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst
you get better and change the situation around you. When
the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do
you elevate to another level? How do you handle Adversity?

Too Busy Sawing
Author: Stephen Covey

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job
from a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really
good; so were the work conditions. For that reason the
woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he
was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought
down 18 trees. "Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on
that way!"

Very motivated by the boss' words, the woodcutter tried
harder the next day, but he only could bring down 15 trees.
The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring
down 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing down fewer and
fewer trees.

"I must be losing my strength," the woodcutter thought. He
went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not
understand what was going on. "When was the last time you
sharpened your axe?" the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no
time to sharpen my axe. I was busy trying to cut down
trees..."

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we
don't take time to sharpen the "axe." In today's world, it
seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy
that ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten
how to stay "sharp"? There's nothing wrong with activity
and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we
neglect the truly important things in life. We all need
time to relax, to think, to meditate, to learn and to grow.
If we don't take time to sharpen the "axe," we will become
dull and lose our effectiveness.

"Have You Planned Well For The Cycles Of Your Life? Or Will You Be Overwhelmed?"

Making Sandcastles
By: Unknown Author

Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand
with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket. Then he
upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it. And, to the
delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.
All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing
the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries. Popsicle sticks
will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.

Big city. Busy streets. Rumbling traffic.

A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers
into stacks and delegates assignments. He cradles the phone
on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers.
Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed. And much to
the delight of the man, a profit is made. All his life he
will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future.
Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges.
An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles. They have much in common.
They shape granules into grandeurs. They see nothing and
make something. They are diligent and determined. And for
both the tide will rise and the end will come. Yet that is
where the similarities cease. For the boy sees the end
while the man ignores it.

Watch the boy as the dusk approaches. As the waves near,
the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There
is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would
happen. He is not surprised. And when the great breaker
crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into
the sea, he smiles. He smiles, picks up his tools, takes
his father's hand, and goes home.

The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years
collapses on his castle, he is terrified. He hovers over
the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from
the walls he has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering, he
snarls at the incoming tide. "It's my castle," he defies.

The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand
belongs...