Carpe Diem! Seize this Day!

by Denis Waitley

What each of us is doing this minute is the most important event in history for us. We have decided to invest our resources in this opportunity rather than in any other. It is helpful to remember this when we consider the passage of time.

As the years pass, I am acutely aware that the bird of time is on the wing. At my fiftieth high school reunion, I saw old people who claimed to be my former classmates. We all had big name tags printed in capital letters so we wouldn't have to squint with our reading glasses on trying to associate the name with each well-traveled face. It was only yesterday that I was really enjoying high school. What had happened to the five decades in between? Where had they flown?

To the side of the bandstand, where the big-band sound of the late 1940s and 50s blared our favorite top-ten hits, there was a poster with a printed verse for all of us to see. I read the words out loud: "There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise, and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds; but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn. This leaves only one day: Today.

Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities -Yesterday and Tomorrow - that we break down. It is not the experience of Today that drives us mad, it is remorse and bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring. Let us therefore, live this one full Today."

Malcolm Forbes believed the important thing is never to say die until you're dead, and he lived that example to the hilt. It is, as we realize when we suddenly attend our fiftieth high school reunion, a short journey. But it also is difficult to be depressed and active at the same time. So get active!

And make today your best day ever!


Denis Waitley
Reproduced with permission from the Denis Waitley Ezine. To subscribe to Denis Waitley's Ezine, go to www.deniswaitley.com or send an email with Join in the subject to subscribe@deniswaitley.com Copyright 2008 Denis Waitley International. All rights reserved worldwide.

Thought for the Day

"The value of a life does not lie in what we take, but in what we give ... (and) of course it takes a certain courage to be generous in a world of thieves."

Stephen Downes

A Grateful Heart

When yesterday was said and done, I sat down to reflect on what I thought was a tough day at the office. I wanted to say those two very simple but powerful words, 'Thank You', and I thought I would have to dig pretty deep to find something I was grateful for...It turns out it wasn't that difficult after all.

So I want to say thank you for fellow teachers who chose to smile at me as they walked by or even managed to take the time to ask how I was doing.

For all the students who challenged me and made me wonder what I could have said and done differently.

For those kids in the back row who knew how to push all the right buttons, and made me think twice about teaching that way again.

For the quiet ones in the corner who did all the right things and then shyly said goodbye as they left the room, and made me smile.

For the struggling student who finally 'got it' - And let the whole class know about it.

For the diligent students who handed in a masterpiece (and reminded me that some of them do actually listen to instructions).

For the co-workers who lent an ear or a shoulder, until I once again came up with my own reasons why I have chosen this challenging path (and perhaps why it keeps drawing me back).

For the books that messed up my desk as I tried to find new and interesting ways to teach the same thing (knowing that somewhere in the world a teacher would love to have that as a problem).

For the endless stream of fresh water, coffee, tea, milk and sugar and morning teas served up right here in the staff-room.

For classrooms fitted out with every possible teaching aid and the latest pieces of technology (even if I don't really know how to use any of them very well).

And thank you for the eager, smiling faces of those students who say good morning to me as I rush by each day and actually seem pleased that I am back to do it all over again!

Maybe I can teach them facts and figures, or how to string a sentence together in a foreign language...and maybe they will never remember any of it, who knows?

I do know that every day I come here as a teacher, knowing very well that I am the one who is here to learn...and that I indeed have a lot to be thankful for.

Nicole Papasidero

Nicole Papasidero teaches Japanese to Grades 7, 8 and 9 in a country school in New South Wales, Australia. Feel free to email Nicole and let her know how today's message touched you, at: nici@mosaic-m.com.au

Words to Live by

Mary Kay Ash was loved by her people. She was the Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, and passed away not long ago at 83 years old. At the end of a speech she was asked, "What is the key to success in business?" She didn't hesitate when she said, "Make your people feel important." She truly understood that recognition is a need we all crave. There are no exceptions.

Marcy Blochowiak understands this powerful principle as much as any leader I've ever met. And, most importantly...it comes from her heart. She has built a team of thousands by using a secret weapon: "Hire more women, and love them like family."

In her beautiful book, No Glass Ceiling, Just Blue Sky, Marcy shares her story about leaving a secure job as a flight attendant to become an entrepreneur. She lays her heart on the line when she tells about overcoming fears and doubts to build a highly successful organization. She offers valuable insights on life balance, the power of choice, respecting others and removing the chains that bind you.

Marcy truly understands the power of kindness and compassion. She understands that companies don't succeed...people do.

Today, you can read a brief excerpt from Marcy's book. Enjoy and share it with friends and family.

Feel free to watch the 3 minute inspirational movie...No Glass Ceiling, Just Blue Sky. I think you'll love it!

Just click on the link below to watch.


Click Here To Watch

The Passion Test

The Passion Test is a simple, yet powerful way for anyone to discover what matters most to them in their life. When you consistently choose in favour of those things, your passions, you will find yourself filled with a sense of purpose.

Don't quit

This inspirational poem has been made into a video.

Inspiration

: Your Ultimate Calling
by Wayne W. Dyer

From the reviews

There’s a voice in the universe calling each of us to remember our purpose—our reason for being here now, in this world of impermanence. The voice whispers, shouts, and sings to us that this experience of being in form, in space and time, knowing life and death, has meaning. The voice is that of inspiration, which is within each and every one of us.

The bestselling author of the New Age classic The Power of Intention has another book that will probably delight his fans and new readers who resonate with his spiritual approach. Inspiration, Dyer writes, is the opposite of motivation and goal-oriented thinking, the latter, "grabbing an idea and carrying it through to an acceptable conclusion." Inspiration, on the other hand, is when "an idea has taken hold of us from the invisible reality of Spirit." To Dyer, getting rid of ego in all its manifestations is the first step to connecting with the power of inspiration.

Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling contains methods for finding your way to an inspired life, absorbing the inspiration of others, becoming an inspiration, and transcending commonplace uninspiring energy. According to Dyer, inspiration is the opposite of motivation. Motivation is "grabbing an idea and carrying it through to an acceptable conclusion", but inspiration is the reverse-allowing ourselves to be moved by a Force greater than ourselves. While motivation pushes us towards goals, inspiration is a relaxed flow, enabling us to enjoy where we are on the way to where we're going. By remembering our constant connection to Source energy, we tap into peace, ease, and abundance.

Dr. Dyer explains how we’ve chosen to enter this world of particles and form. From our place of origin, in ways that we don’t readily comprehend now, we knew what we were coming here to accomplish, and we participated in setting this life process in motion. So why not think this same way? Why put the responsibility or blame on any one or any thing that’s not a part of us? On Earth we have the capacity of volition—we can choose—so let’s assume that we had the same capacity when we resided in the spiritual realm. We chose our physical body, and we chose the parents we needed for the trip. It doesn’t seem too great a stretch to move into the idea that we chose this life in concert with our Source.

Each chapter in this book is filled with specifics for living an inspired life. From a very personal viewpoint, Wayne Dyer offers a blueprint through the world of spirit to inspiration, your ultimate calling.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book include: "Remember: We're already connected to everything that we think is missing from our life. Below and above the ranges that our eyes and ears perceive, the entire activity of creation remains invisible and inaccessible-but when we shift from sensory searching to trusting what we know, we discover the folly of chasing after anything in order to feel inspired."

"...you'll never find light by analyzing the darkness..."

"Having an interest in something is the clue to a thought that's connected to our calling-that thought is a vibration of energy in this vast Universe."

"Ego nags us to compete and insists that we've failed when others defeat us or have more than we do."

"Lecturing or demanding others live peacefully is one of the least effective ways to inspire them; however, when we simply demonstrate that we're living peacefully, we offer other people a large dose of inspiration by our mere presence."

"...we must make a conscious choice to say no to anything that takes us away from an inspired life...We can start by turning down requests that involve actions that don't correspond with our inner knowing about why we're here".