Courage

Archived Posts from this Category

December 15, 2010

Why are we so stubborn ?

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Choices, Consequence, Courage, Criticism, Decision, Illusion, Important question, Life expectancy, Life leadership, Procrastination, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , |
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It seems to me that we are stubborn students of life.

Life seems to tell us; here is a situation you need to face for your own developpement, and yet, most of the time, we will try to avoid the lesson. Why? Because it’s too damned hard! The curious thing about this is: the lesson we try to avoid seems to come back to us in many unexpected ways. Somehow, we can’t escape it. We have to meet the challenge.

An example?

I know some people (actually quite a lot of them) who move from relationship to relationship only to discover after a while the same problems they were experiencing in the previous relationship. It seems to me that what they are trying to avoid comes back to them in another form and with a new label.

Personally, I start too many new projects and I don’t finish all of them. I know it, I’m aware of this but somehow, it doesn’t seem  to change. I have to admit I can’t do  it alone. When I face this kind of situation, I try to find a coach, a mentor or a personal trainer to make sure I am accountable to someone.

When we focus on the moment and accept to face what we have to, it can be difficult, but it is one of the best ways to grow, to outgrow the challenge.

What does this post have to do with time?

If we do what WE MUST do when WE HAVE TO do it, the day will come when we will do what WE WANT to do WHEN WE WANT TO do it.

The sooner we understand this concept and we put it in practice, the more time we will save to do other activities that we really enjoy.

Will you try it?

 

December 14, 2010

Do you appreciate your life ?

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“What a wonderful life I had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner”

Colette

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Life is not always easy! Sometimes, life throws a curve at us and we have a hard time dealing with it.

This is why it’s important to remember our blessings, especially when things don’t go our way. Because, most of the time, even when things are not as good as we’d like, there is still a lot going well. It’s important to take the time to be thankful EVERYDAY for the good things in our lives.

In 1985, I had a car accident and I was immobilized without being able to walk for about 6 weeks, then after I had to go to physiotherapy for a couple of months. That was the bad side of the accident. The good side of it is that for the first time in  my young life, I took the time to read good books and spent time all alone away from the distractions of the world.Time to ponder upon what I was going to do with my life.

This was the beginning of a process of introspection that lead me to question constantly what I was going to do at almost every moment of my life. As Socrates once said, “A life not examined is not worth living”,  from now on, I would question myself and question others continuously. I would start to doubt common beliefs and confront them. it was not because everyone said something that it was necessarily true.

As we question ourselves and others, it is tempting to become sarcastic, but this is when it’s important to take a long-term perspective and realize that something bad in the short term might turn out to be a good thing in the long run. Many curses are opportunities in disguise. It’s up to us to learn how to recognize them.

Everyday we must look at the good things in our lives even when everything seems to be hopeless.

Everyday we must count our blessings and try to minimize our sorrows.

This is one of the ways to appreciate how wonderful life really is.

Will you count your blessings today?

 

December 9, 2010

I chickened out!

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Courage, Fear, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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I was walking on the 103rd floor of the tallest building in the United States

and suddenly, I chickened out…

File:Sears Tower ss.jpg

In October 2009, I visited the Willis Tower ( formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago. When I reached the top floor, I noticed some glass balconies that were suspended outside the building. The all-glass boxes allow visitors to look through the floor to the street 1,353 feet below. The boxes, which can bear five  tons of weight, extend approximately four feet over Wacker Drive from the 103rd floor.

It is a very interesting experience to look down at the cars when we feel like we’re walking on thin air.

As I entered one of the balconies, I walked right in it and I wasn’t able to stay in the box more than 30 seconds. Beside me, there was a child of 3 years playing in the box without a worry in the world. The boy played in the box for at least a good 10-15 minutes.

I suddenly realized how fearful I had become as an adult compared to this little child. I knew the boxes were very solid, but I didn’t trust it enough to stay longer than 30 seconds. 30 very long seconds.

Was it the structure of the box or myself I didn’t trust?

I was humbled by the innocence and the complete trust of a child.

How many times in your life do you avoid doing something because you don’t trust yourself? 

Because you’re afraid…

or you don’t finish what you start…because… because… because.

Do one thing EVERYDAY that scares you!!!!!!

 

 

December 7, 2010

Hurry! Hurry! Make new mistakes!

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Courage, Criticism, Decision, Failure, Fear, Important question, Life, Life leadership, Procrastination, Risk, Success, Time | Tags: , , , , , |
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“If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.”

Tallulah Bankhead

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It’s good to make mistakes!!!

Repeat after me,

It’s good to make mistakes!!!

Forget about what others will say.

You will experience failure many times in your life. Not all the time, but you will. If you don’t fail enough, it’s probably because you don’t try new things very often.

We can do this with our dreams; wish them away, let them slip away because we are afraid to fail, afraid to get started or because we are waiting for the right moment. The right moment? Most of the time, is an excuse or at best, an illusion.

I make so many mistakes all the time. Am I a slow learner? It’s possible, however, it’s the only way to improve anything. Every time I take a chance to make a mistake, I also get a chance to do something right.

An exemple?  The top scorer in the NHL will miss his shots more often than he will score a goal, but we don’t remember when he misses, we add up the goals.

We will always miss 100 % of the shots we don’t take.

Some of you may argue that we should learn from what we are doing good, and I agree. We should always repeat our good experiences to the extent that we benefit from them.

However, we should not let ourselves be paralyzed with inaction because of the fear of making mistakes. The young baby who is learning to walk will fall. The one who is learning to swim or to dance will not be very elegant at first. The failing is part of the learning process.

Will you risk making a mistake today?   At least one…

 

December 3, 2010

Wisdom from Peanuts!

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Consequence, Courage, Death, Decision, Fear, Illusion, Important question, Life, Life expectancy, Life leadership, Now, Procrastination, Serenity, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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“I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at the time.”

Charles Schulz, Peanuts, cartoon

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A while ago, a lady went to a restaurant in downtown Montreal to celebrate her birthday with her husband , as they entered the restaurant, apparently they asked the hostess for a seat near the window to get access to a better view…

This is an excerpt of the Montreal Gazette July 17, 2009

“MONTREAL – One minute Thursday night, a couple was quietly celebrating a birthday inside the Mikasa Sushi Bar on Peel St.; the next minute, a concrete slab crashed through the glass skylight above them, killing the 33-year-old woman instantly.

Her husband of two years, also 33, lay next to her lifeless body screaming, “Ma femme! Ma femme! Stay with me!”

He pleaded for help, but other diners and staff were paralyzed with shock. Minutes later, sobbing and screaming, the man was loaded into an ambulance, his right hand wrapped in a blood-soaked napkin, two single tracks of blood running down his cheek.

“Her birthday was Monday, that’s what they were celebrating,” said the nurse, who spoke on condition that her name not be published. The concrete panel from the 18th floor of the Marriott Residence Inn crashed through the sloping glass ceiling of the restaurant, which lies directly below at street level, and hit the woman “directly” – while she was seated at her table, said Montreal police Constable Olivier Lapointe.”

The last thing this couple was expecting on that evening was a piece of concrete to fall on the woman’s head…  33 years old.   (12 045 days)

The reason why I bring up this story today is to show that when we have regrets about the past or worries about the future, we waste precious time and energy. We must focus on the present.

This is where our attention should be because this is where we have a little more control over what happens to us. This lady didn’t have much control over what happened to her that night.

Today, try to focus your attention on what you can influence and the rest will take care of itself.

I agree with the creator of Peanuts; we should only “dread one day at a time”

How many days to you “dread” in advance?

 

November 25, 2010

American Thanksgiving

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“Instead of concerning ourselves with what will come tomorrow, we should be thankful for what we have today, which is good health for most of us, a roof over our heads, food to fill our stomachs and free time to enjoy with our family and friends. This does not mean that we should not plan for tomorrow. It just means that we should not let it control us to the point where it takes us away from what we are able to do today.”

Stephen Lafond

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November 24, 2010

Who was your favorite teacher?

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Clarity, Courage, Decision, Important question, Life, Life expectancy, Life leadership, Serenity, Success, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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“Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils”

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) French composer

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Time is a great teacher when we dare to make mistakes.

Time is a greater and more effective teacher when we accept to learn from our mistakes.

Time is the greatest and wisest teacher when we learn from the mistakes of others and avoid to make them ourselves.

Time will eventually kill all of us, and since we don’t know when, one of the most important lessons Time can teach us is:  To live each day to the fullest..

What did Time teach you recently?

What would you do differently if you learned that you had 3 months left to live?

Oh really!    

Why wait?

 

October 18, 2010

Do you remember Forrest Gump?

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“My Mama always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.”

From the movie Forrest Gump

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September 4, 2010

Do you argue with reality?

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“When you argue with reality, you lose, but only one hundred percent of the time.”

Byron Katie

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September 3, 2010

Advice from Nike

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Courage, Important question, Procrastination, Risk, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom
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When will you start taking yourself seriously. You know when you need a break. You know when you need a rest. You know what to get worked up about and what to get rid of. And you know when it’s time to take care of yourself, for yourself. To do something that makes you stronger, faster, more complete. Because you know it’s never too late to have a life. And never too late to change one.”

Text from an advertisement from the Nike company

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

 

September 2, 2010

The future and the present.

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Clarity, Consequence, Courage, Failure, Fear, Here, Important question, Life, Life leadership, Now, Procrastination, Results, Serenity, Success, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , , |
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“The future will depend on what we do in the present”

Mahatma Gandhi

(1869-1948)

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We all know this, it is so simple to understand when we read it. However, the challenge is not only to read it and understand it, the real challenge is to practice what we understand so well.

Yes, practice it day in day out, especially when you have distractions, a bad day or a good day.

Whatever is your dream, your project, your goal, pursue it relentlessly without wasting time.

You need a burning desire to keep you absorbed and focused, even when you have so many responsibilities and distractions.

Will you?

 

July 8, 2010

Before my cancer…

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Courage, Death, Decision, Fear, Life, Life leadership, Now, Procrastination, Results, Serenity, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , , |
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“Before my cancer, I was often afraid to try new things or do something different. But I just began singing lessons and this summer I’m off on my first kayak camping trip. I have a chance at living again, and I try to take a moment every day to really appreciate just being alive.”

Joshua, 24 years old, testicular cancer, 2-year survivor

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July 6, 2010

Message from Gandhi.

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Courage, Life leadership, Now, Serenity, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , |
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“My life is my message.”

Mahatma Gandhi.

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June 23, 2010

What Do We All Receive Equally Every Day?

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Awareness, Complaining, Consequence, Control, Courage, Kvetching, Life, Life expectancy, Life leadership, Now, Procrastination, Results, Serenity, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , |
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“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein.”
 
— Jackson Brown Jr., writer
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June 13, 2010

Sweat and Struggle

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“Don’t feel entitled to anything you don’t sweat and struggle for”

Marian Wright Edelman (1939- )

American activist and founder of the Children’s Defence Fund

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Did you ever hear the saying “Easy come, easy go”? There seems to be an unwritten law in nature that takes away what we don’t deserve or what we didn’t work hard enough for. There is no way to prove it, but we can witness it over and over again in the form of people winning the lottery and spending everything very quickly, or children who inherit from rich parents without having to work for their money. Another variaton of this is when people have such an easy life that they are unable to cope when disaster strikes.

Do you often try to take some shortcut in order to get what you want?

 

May 9, 2010

Why not forgive NOW?

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“Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others”

Morrie Schwartz  (  Tuesdays with Morrie p.164)

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Why is it so important to forgive ourselves? Why is it so important to forgive others as soon as we can?

Forgiving ourselves and others is an act of letting go, it is also an act of selfishness because when we let go, we let go of the emotions that are poisoning our day. Who needs these emotions? Shouldn’t we use our limited time and energy for more exciting activities?

Morrie said “Forgive yourself and others before you die”

But since we don’t know when we are going to die, why not forgive NOW?

If we know that we will eventually forgive, why wait?

 

May 2, 2010

Change! Change! Change !

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Choices, Complaining, Consequence, Courage, Decision, Important question, Life, Life leadership, Procrastination, Results, Time, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , |
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“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”

— Maya Angelou, poet

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Good luck with this one. Have a nice day.

 

April 26, 2010

The road to Hell

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Choices, Consequence, Courage, Decision, Procrastination, Results, Success, Time, Wisdom
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“The road to hell is paved with good intentions”

Proverb

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This is one of my favorite proverbs because it summarizes so well all the excuses
that we create to justify our inadequacies in so many areas of our lives.

The time and the energy that we often spend to make up these excuses could be invested in doing what must be done.

Life seems to tell us ” Whatever responsability that you try to avoid, I’ll figure out a way for you not to escape it”

Yes, but it’s not my fault…

I meant to do it, but then…

I was very ill, so I couldn’t …

If I had more money…

If I were younger…

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Do I really have to keep on writing?

Are you on the road to hell with YOUR “good intentions”?

 

April 24, 2010

Julius Caesar on worrying

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Courage, Fear, Important question, Life, Procrastination, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time, Wisdom | Tags: , , , |
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“As a rule, men worry more about what they can’t see than about what they can.”

Julius Caesar

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Why do we worry so much?

What do we get out of it?

What’s in it for us?

It is true that we worry more about the unseen and the unknown.

Many people who have written or spoken about worry have told the statistics story. The earliest source that we could find of the story and most probable author was Thomas S. Kepler. He wrote about a woman who realized fears were ruining her life. She began to keep track of what was worrying her and she found:

40% of the things she worried about were about things that would never happen.

30% of the things she worried about were about things that had already happened, water under the bridge.

12% of the things she worried about were about others’ opinion. When she thought about it, she realized that criticisms are often made by those that are jealous or insecure; therefore unjust criticism is a disguised compliment.

10% of the things she worried about were needless health worries, which made her health worse as she worried.

8% of the things she worried about were “legitimate,” since life has some real problems to meet.

If you consider the above as probable statistics, it would seem that only 8% of the things that you worry about are worth the worry. Next time you are worried about something, perform a check to see if the worry is in a category other then the 8% category and if it is, perhaps logic will help free you from the worry.

Will This Matter a Year from Now?

How much quality time do I spend worrying?

 

April 22, 2010

Is there a life after death ?

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Courage, Death, Life, Life leadership, Now, Procrastination, Time, Wasting time | Tags: , , , , , |
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The real question for me is : Is there a life BEFORE death ?

When they asked  Henry David Thoreau his opinion on the afterlife, he answered to them: One Life at the time.

Sometimes , it seems to me that some of the people who worry the most about the afterlife are often the ones who don’t know what to do with this one.

Why should we worry about the unknown, why should we worry about something over which we seem to have very little control?

I hear many people talking about faith and yet, at the same time worrying constantly, how can they worry and have faith at the same time? Isn’t worrying the opposite of faith?

Do you spend too much of your time worrying about things over which you have no control?

Does this make any sense to you?

 

 

April 20, 2010

Are You Afraid of Dying ?

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Courage, Death, Fear, Important question, Life, Time, Wasting time | Tags: , , , , , |
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Most people I know prefer to avoid the subject of their own mortality. I know , it’s not the most exciting subject, but I think it’s a mistake not to look at death straight in the face for what it really is. Why? Because if we would dare to look at death , most of us would change a lot of things that we are currently procrastinating about.

We have seen this happen many times: when someone gets diagnosed with an incurable disease, when they learn how much time they have left to live , they change a lot of things in their life.

Some of the people who went through this extreme experience said that it was the most intense, fulfilling genuine experience they ever had.

My question to you is: Why wait until you have no time left before making significant changes in your life?

 

April 17, 2010

Serenity

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Through my efforts, I gain the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

To live one day at a time;
Enjoy one moment at a time;
Accept the hardships as natural balance;
Taking this beautiful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting in the balance;
That I may be able to see myself as happy in this life.

(Many authors have worked on this one, I don’t know who to give the credit to)

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This is so much easier said than done, but I’ll keep on trying until…

I could try to comment this text over and over again, but the real challenge is to live by it when we are confronted with daily frustrations.

 

April 16, 2010

A life of quiet desperation

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Aware, Awareness, Choices, Clarity, Complaining, Control, Courage, Failure, Fear, Illusion, Important question, Serenity, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”

Henry David Thoreau

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If this is how you feel, there is still a chance to change it. It’s up to you.

Will you?

 

 

April 13, 2010

What teachers make?

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Apparently, Socrates never wrote anything , the knowledge of the man, his life, and his philosophy are based on writings by his students, one of which was Plato who was amongst the most popular. Plato himself was the teacher of Aristotle, and  Aristotle later on became the teacher of Alexander the Great.

We can see how an original thinker (Socrates) had influence on the poet & dreamer (Plato) who in turn had influence on the man of Logic (Aristotle) who finally influenced the man of action (Alexander the Great). The teachings of Socrates still resonate with us directly and indirectly 24 centuries later.

We can see with the previous succession of great people the importance of teaching.

Some of the greatest teachers often work in relative obscurity, it is their own personal passion that helps to shape some of the greatest individuals of the future.

Could you be one of them?

Could Taylor Mali be one of them?

 

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I  really like this guy ( Taylor Mali). Check it out.

 

April 10, 2010

Unimportant Things

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“No matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem, if we do it well, it may become the step that will lead us to better things.”

Channing Pollock

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This is encouraging and inspiring ! Why ? Because there is always room for improvement

Don’t you think so?

 

April 9, 2010

Stay hungry , stay foolish

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 I really enjoyed this clip and I’m sharing it with you.

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April 6, 2010

Life is what happens to you… Was inspired by John Lennon.

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Choices, Courage, Decision, Here, Life leadership, Now, Results, Time, Wasting time | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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“Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans”

John Lennon (1940-80) British rock musician

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We often say things like, “when I’m older, I’ll do this; if I had more time, I would start this project; when my children are grown up, I’ ll have more time to take  care of myself.” If, If, If, when, when, when…are just excuses to test our determination.

When we really care about someone, we do what we must do.

When we really care about something, we become very creative in order to get what we want.

What we can be, we must become, ultimately, it is one of the best ways to be at peace with ourselves.

Stop waiting and Start acting NOW.

 

What are you waiting for?

 

April 1, 2010

Now is the time!

Posted by stephenlafond under 36525 days, Courage, Life leadership, Time, Time magagement, Wasting time | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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“Now is the time”

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

American civil rights leader & Noble prize Prize winner

 

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Martin Luther King died at 39 years of age. When we look at everything he accomplished in such a short period of time,

I think that he fully practiced what he preached. He was totally focused on his task.

What fascinates me is that with so little time, he produced RESULTS that are timeless.

Doesn’t it fascinate you that he accomplished so much in so little time?

How focused are you on YOUR tasks , on YOUR projects, on YOUR life passion?

What will be YOUR legacy?

Do you even care?