INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - 2 "Angels" and "The Road Less Taken"

Angels

Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop.

Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there.

Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play.

 

As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little girl's dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a hi after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked 'til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said "Because I'm different."

I immediately said "that you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, "I know." "Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, she stood to her feet, and said, "Really?"

"Yes, ma'am, you're like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by." She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said with a twinkle in her eye, "I am." I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, "And since you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done."

Immediately I stood to my feet and said, "Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one who could see me, and you believe it in your heart." And She was gone. And with that my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, there is an angel always watching over you.

Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you....make sure you send it back to the person who sent it to you, to let them know you're glad they care about you...like the story says we all need someone..

Everyone of your friends is an angel in their own

- Author Unknown

 

GOOD SAMARITAN

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?'

A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.'

“I see it’s a fair, pretty sheet of water,
Our Willoughby!”

The Road Not Taken

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

I hear and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -Chinese Proverb

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - 1: "Perseverance"

Shake It Off And Step Up

 I don’t know who the original author of this story is, or if it’s actually true. Frankly, I don’t care. It’s a great story. So many times we are faced with challenges, and truly let them bury us.

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

- Author Unknown

A lesson in PERSEVERANCE! NEVER GIVE UP!

To maintain integrity… it takes PERSEVERNCE!
To maintain self control … it takes PERSEVERANCE!
To maintain courtesy … YES, sometimes it takes PERSEVERANCE!
To have indomitable spirit and fight for what it right no matter the cost … you got it … it takes PERSEVERANCE!

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.”

- Author Unknown

THINGS TO REMEMBER THAT HAPPENED IN JUNE

JUNE 2011 - THINGS WE LIKE TO REMEMBER:

CHERRIOS

70 YEARS

An "O" shaped by history

While the first “CheeriOats” were invented in 1941, the cereal in your bowl is actually part of a century-and-a-half tradition. Since 1856 the company now called General Mills has combined the best parts of nature and human innovation. Our mission is to nourish everyone by making lives healthier, easier and richer. General Mills is Nourishing Lives, Nourishing Communities, Nourishing the Future.

     
      1941                  1942               1945                    1951                   1961              1974
   
      1979                    1988                1992                 1995               1997                   2002
       
    2003                   2006                    2007               2009                    2010           2000-Buzz Bee

CN TOWER

35 YEARS  

The CN Tower is the third tallest man-made building in the world. It is located in Toronto, Canada and is used for communications and as a tourism sightseeing hotspot. At the top there is a large communication mast and in the middle is the Skypod, which is used for viewing the city of Toronto and also contains the 360 Restaurant. The Skypod is wrapped around the tower and also contains a 360 revolving restaurant.

Dimensions

• The CN Tower stands at 533.33 metres high and has 181 storeys. It has a weight of 100,000 tonnes. It's curcumference is 109.1m.
• The Skypod is 447m above the ground and is at the 147th storey
• The lookout is at 346m above the ground and is at the 114th storey.

Facts

360 Restaurant

• It takes over an hour for the 360 Restaurant to spin around once.
• 8 TV Channels are brodacast from the tower.
• 10 FM Radio Stations Broadcast from the tower.
• 3 Cell Phone Networks have a antenna at the tower.
• The tower used to be the tallest building in the world until it was surpassed by the Burj Dubai in September 12th, 2007.

Construction

• Started on February 6th, 1973.
• The tower was completed on February 22,1974
• The tower's antenna were completed on April 2, 1975.
• Construction finished on June 26, 1976.
• It took four years to build.
• It took 1537 construction workers to build it.
• It cost 360 million Canadian dollars to build

Elevators

• The elevators on the tower travel at a speed of 6 meters a second. Making them one of the fastest elevators in the world and the fastest in North America.
• There is a total of 6 elevators in the tower.
• The elevators are at the edge of the tower.
• One of the 6 elevators in the tower has a glass floor. Only people who have purchased Premier Tickets are allowed to travel on this elevator.

Lights

• Each light is capable of displaying 16 million colours.
• Usually at night red and white is shown on the tower (the canadian flag colours).
• At the start of each hour a short light show is shown.
• On special occasions (National Holidays, Seasons, Events) the colours of the lights are changed. e.g On valentines day the tower turns pink
• The lights are powerd by microprocessors.

The CN Tower at Night

Toronto from CN Tower

TERRYFOX(Jul.28, 1958 – Jun.28, 1981)

BETTY FOX

(1938-Jun.17'2011)

Terry Fox: Canadian Hero

Terry Fox (1958-1981) was a student when doctors discovered that he had a rare form of bone cancer. While he was recovering after most of one leg was amputed, he dreamt up his "Marathon of Hope": Terry would run across Canada to raise money for cancer. He began running on 12 April 1980, and ran nearly 5400 kilometres before cancer was discovered in his lungs. He was forced to end his marathon, but he captured Canadians hearts. He is remembered in annual Terry Fox runs in Canada, and around the world.

The Olympic flag is carried by a group of prominent Canadians during the opening ceremony - Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Feb. 12, 2010.

Peter Falk
Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles and was nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960's Murder, Inc. and 1961's Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once. Director William Friedkin, when discussing Falk's role in his 1978 film The Brink's Job said that "Peter has a great range from comedy to drama. He could break your heart or he could make you laugh.” (From Wikipedia)

5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT GROCERY STORES

5 things you may not know about grocery stores:

1.   Why produce is misted.

The first thing you see when you enter many grocery stores is a colourful wall of fresh produce, sometimes being misted gently. It screams healthy. That wholesome look has been proven to result in $5 to $8 more in sales per visit.

So next time you go into a grocery store save the produce area for last. Start by walking past the cash registers and the rows of chips, candy and treats. I guarantee you will buy less. Nothing kills spending faster than the thought that the last thing your waistline needs is $5 worth of treats.

2.   Why milk is at the back.

Most quick trips to the grocery store are for bread, milk and eggs, so marketers place these items at the back of the store hoping you will walk down an aisle and make an impulse buy. Avoid the temptation — just walk around the perimeter, pick up your bread, milk and eggs and leave.

3.   Always try lower shelves.

If you must walk down an aisle it is easy to buy healthier foods and save money by choosing the foods you have to bend down or stretch up to reach. The shelf space at eye level is aimed at the average Canadian woman who is 5-foot-5. Since women do most of the grocery shopping manufacturers will pay thousands of dollars per store to own that space.

Take the cracker aisle; the least healthy, most expensive crackers are generally on the eye-level shelves. Choose healthier and less expensive crackers by just bending down or stretching up to reach them.

4.      Featured specials aren’t so special.

Be wary of items that are “on special” or “featured” at the front of an aisle. Notice they don’t always say “on sale,” because often times they are not. A “featured” cereal may be exactly the same price as it is in the aisle, just placed in a more prominent spot to increase sales.

5.   Watch for “me too” items.

The front of the aisle is also a favourite spot for what I call “me too” items. A more expensive cereal is “accidentally” placed next to the featured cereal, and only when you get to the checkout do you find out it is more expensive. Most shoppers just keep it rather than go back to change it.

Next time avoid those featured areas.



It may not seem like much but remember, “look after your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” It is often the mundane day-to-day activities like grocery shopping where people are most easily parted from their money.



Tips for Easy Grocery Shopping

Going to the grocery store can sometimes be a daunting experience, so here are some simple tips to make it easy.

1. Make a List

Open-ended shopping should be a thing of the past. Keep focused on lean proteins and good carbs. Perhaps plan by the meal

2. Eat before Shopping

Sure you’ve hard this before, but you buy more if you are hungry… everything will look yummy, especially those sweets! So remember to never shop on an empty stomach

3. Leave the Kids at Home

We know how hard it is to say “no” to the sugary cereals and snacks marketed just to kids, so this is one distraction that is best left behind

4. Map Your Route

Get to know your local grocery store and avoid the aisles that have temptations galore. Go directly to what your list calls for, and bypass the other foods.

5. Shop During Off-Peak Hours

When grocery stores are busy (weekends, Monday evenings) you have to wait in lines, which are packed with snacks and candies. The more time you stand there staring, the more tempted you will be.