“The real judges of your character aren’t your neighbors, your relatives, or even the people you play bridge with. The folks who really know you are the waiters and clerks.”
— Katherine Piper
AB — The ultimate test of character is how you treat people who are powerless to fight back.
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
— Leonardo Da Vinci
AB — I utterly agree with Bear Bryant’s command, “Cause something to happen!”
“Challenges come so we can grow and be prepared for things we are not equipped to handle now. When we face our challenges with faith, prepared to learn, willing to make changes, and if necessary, to let go, we are demanding our power be turned on.”
— Iyanla Vanzant
AB — Meeting our challenges and responding with positive action — instead of fear or excuses — is undeniably the most liberating action we could take.
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
— C.S. Lewis
AB — As we grow older and, perhaps wiser, we should occasionally abandon the world of intellect and venture back into the realm of childlike fantasy, curiosity and ‘beyond a doubt’ belief.
“. . . love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy.”
— Louisa May Alcott
AB — Love is invisible, weightless and can’t be touched, but it remains the most important key we carry with us on our ‘earthbound’ journey.
“The penalty of success is to be bored by people who used to snub you.”
— Lady Nancy Astor
AB — One of the rewards of success is a better perspective of those who really matter.
“A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.”
— Mark Twain
AB — Our actions — whether positive or negative — require much repetition in order to become habits. Undoing these habits demands the same amount of repetition, effort and patience.
“You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost record of the referee.”
— John H. Holcomb
AB — Don’t be an observer, sitting in the grandstands. If it matters to you — even if you think your thoughts don’t count — get involved. It will matter to the next person.
“The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become.”
— Heraclitus, 535-475 BC
AB — Most times we don’t realize the cumulative negative effects of our fleeting moments of self-doubt. Let’s learn to develop the habit of quickly ushering our negative notions out the door, denying them the chance to ‘feel welcome’ and set down roots.
“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer.”
— Nolan Bushnell — founder, Atari Computer
AB — No success ever happens unless and until we take some action today.
