Author: We can Paint the Sunrise

Dear Me,

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Or a churlish sort of “Howdy” and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that’s slipping fast,
That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

-Edgar Guest

Dear Me,

Dear Me,

“When he splits wood, he must place the log on the block and raise his axe. But he must strike the wood with the grain, and he must let the axe fall with its own weight. If he tries to chop across the grain, his effort would be wasted. If he tries to add strength to the swing of the axes there would be no gain. Like the wood cutter, whether it is the time or the method, true labor is half initiative and half knowing how to let things proceed on their own.”

Deng Ming-Dao

Dear Me,

Dear Me,

“Good is the enemy of great… Few people attain great lives in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.”

– business author Jim Collins

Dear Me,

The Scroll Marked II
an excerpt from
The Greatest Salesman in the World
Og Mandino

I will greet this day with love in my heart.
For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures.  Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of people and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the marketplace.  I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force.
My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I do this?  Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again.  I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.  I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.  I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.  I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I speak?  I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers and sisters.

Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip.  When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.

Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator?  Cannot I speak with the same music to his children?  Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I act?  I will love all manners of people for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden.  With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.
I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me; I will love the failures for they can teach me.  I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine.  I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many.  I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for the wisdom they share.  I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
But how will I react to the actions of others?  With love.  For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of people, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger.  Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains.  My shield will protect me in the marketplace and sustain me when I am alone.  It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exultation.  It will become stronger and more protective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of people and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I confront each whom I meet?  In only one way.  In silence and to myself I will address him or her and say I Love You.  Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and his or her heart will be opened. . . .
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
And most of all I will love myself.  For when I do I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart.  Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation.  Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages.  Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer.  Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
Henceforth will I love all humankind.  From this moment all hate is let from my veins for I have not time to hate, only time to love.  From this moment I take the first step required to become a man among men. . . . If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone.  Without it I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world.
I will greet this day with love, and I will succeed

Dear Me,

“A worthy goal for a year
is to learn enough about a subject
so that you can’t believe
how ignorant you were
a year earlier.”

–Kevin Kelly

Dear Me,

Impact. Contribution. Legacy. To live your life in a manner that constantly and consistently seeks to better the world around you; be it your family and friends, community, industry, the world and future at large. To impact and have effect on its long term stability, it’s direction and purpose. To contribute to its continuation, its health and its prosperity. This is to live the infinite life. This is Legacy.

–Dear Me Original Thought

Dear Me,

Raise your standards and you will raise your value.

Dear Me,