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Self-Control

by MICHAEL JOSEPHSON
in COMMENTARIES, PARENTING, FAMILY, THE NATURE OF CHARACTER

A frazzled mother with a fussy child caught the eye of a grocery store manager. He overheard her say, “Lily, you can do this. We just have to get a few things.”

Moments later, when the child became more upset, the mother said calmly, “It’s okay, Lily. We’re almost done.”

When the child became hysterical in the checkout line, the mom took a deep breath and said, “Lily, just hold it together for a few more minutes.”

As she was leaving, the store manager stopped her. “I just wanted to compliment you on how remarkably calm and patient you were with little Lily.”

The mother laughed. “Well, thank you, but my baby’s name is Lisa. I’m Lily. I was just holding it together for myself.”

Self-control is a virtue that doesn’t come easily. This mother had to work on it, talking herself through each challenge. According to Dr. Daniel Goleman, controlling impulses like frustration and anger is a crucial aspect of character that he calls “emotional intelligence.” In fact, he says, “Those who are at the mercy of impulse – who lack self-control – suffer a moral deficiency.”

The good news is, this deficiency in self-control can be cured by continuous efforts to identify and overcome negative emotions with rational thought. Although most of us experience negative emotions, inducing us to express anger, give in to frustration, or surrender to temptation, self-control is well within our power. We may not be able to suppress all our emotions and reactions, but we can dictate what we say and do. And whether we’ll allow negative feelings to dominate us.

It’s hard work to harness powerful impulses and redirect our thoughts toward positive attitudes, but those who do live happier lives in a happier world.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

Adam Wynne Amazing 3 Year Old Irish Snooker Kid

Common Phrases That You’re Saying Wrong

excerpts taken from stumbleupon.com

1. I could care less vs. I couldn’t care less - Saying that you could care less about a topic implies that you do care about it at least a little. What you usually mean is that you don’t care about the topic at all, hence “I couldn’t care less”.

2. Each one worse than the next vs. Each one worse than the last - Unless you can foresee the future, “each one worse than the next” doesn’t make sense. The problem with this phrase is that it isn’t logical. For example, you can’t compare two bicycles until you’ve tested them both. So logically, you would compare the current bicycle to the last bike you tested.

3. Statue of limitations vs. Statute of limitations - these two phrases, are discussed of one of the best Seinfeld episodes ever.

4. Expresso vs. Espresso - I’m sure those of you who work at coffee shops have had people order an expresso before. There’s no such drink. The drink you’re trying to order is an espresso.

5. Irregardless vs. Regardless - Regardless means without regard. Throwing on “IR” to the beginning makes the word a double negative. I think we can all agree that “without without regard” doesn’t make sense.

6. I made a complete 360 degree change in my life vs. I made a complete 180 degree change in my life - People say they’ve made a complete 360 degree change in their life to imply that they’ve completely changed from the way they used to be. However, going 360 degrees means that you’ve returned to the exact same place you started. Which would mean you didn’t change at all. A 180 degree change would mean that you are the complete opposite which is what most people are trying to say.

7. Brother in laws vs. Brothers in law - If your wife or husband has several siblings, they’re called your “brothers/sisters in law”. I’m about to get a little grammar nerdy with my explanation so get ready. The general rule of thumb for making a compound noun plural is to add a “s” to the noun that there’s more of. In our case, the words brother and law are both nouns. Since the word you’re pluralizing is brother, you add an “s” to it, not law.

A Potato Story

Girl Potato and Boy Potato had eyes for each other, and finally they got married, and had a little sweet potato, which they called 'Yam.' Of course, they wanted the best for her.

When it was time, they told Yam about the facts of life. They warned her about going out and getting half-baked, so she wouldn't get accidentally mashed, and get a bad name for herself like 'Hot Potato,' and end up with a bunch of Tater Tots.

Yam said not to worry, no Spud would get her into the sack and make a rotten potato out of her! But on the other hand, she wouldn't stay home and become a Couch Potato either. She would get plenty of exercise so as not to be skinny like her Shoestring cousins.

When she went off to Europe, Mr. and Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for the hard-boiled guys from Ireland and the greasy guys from France called the French Fries. And when she went out west, to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get scalloped.

Yam said she would stay on the straight and narrow and wouldn't associate with those high class Yukon Golds, or the ones from the other side of the tracks who advertise their trade on all the trucks that say 'Frito Lay.'

Mr. and Mrs. Potato sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (that's Potato University) so that when she graduated, she'd really be in the Chips. But in spite of all they did for her, one-day Yam came home and announced she was going to marry Tom Brokaw.

"Tom Brokaw!?"

Mr. and Mrs. Potato were very upset. They told Yam she couldn't possibly marry Tom Brokaw, because he's just . . . . .





A COMMON TATER

Wise Words

Self-Improvement - The Importance of imagination

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

~ Albert Einstein ~

How Much Is a Tooth Worth?

The world desperately needs less of "a tooth for a tooth" thinking and more of "together for a tomorrow" thinking.

Zapping Static Cling

If you have problems with static cling in the winter, try using lotion instead of traditional static cling sprays. Just rub lotion into hands and apply to legs or even directly onto stockings where the static is causing your skirt or pants to cling. It works better than sprays!

False Sense of Being From The Truth

Society is a false sense of being. Humans have been given a great gift from nature, and we are destroying it. One who feels a great sense of essense in the mind of peace like meditation through his or her epiphany of the roots of their nature will they see truth. I say that out of anything else in life give me truth.

Light the way

Perhaps the best way to motivate others is to cast a beam ahead to where they already want to go but didn‘t know where it was or how to get there.

Guests

Guests, like fish, begin to smell after 3 days.

Cutting Calories

Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream, the flavor and texture are so similar and the most important thing is that Greek yogurt has 75% fewer calories and two-and-a-half times more protein.

Green way to repel pests

Placing moist cotton balls with peppermint oil wherever the pests tend to gather will make them get out and stay out. Ants, silverfish, caterpillars and mice register the mint’s strong menthol scent as an olfactory alarm, which will keep them away.

Being

So long as there is one person starving, just one, we cannot claim to be either civilized, or human.

What is life?

Life is what happens to you whilst you are making other plans

- John Lennon

Life Is Nothing

Life is nothing if not a daring adventure!

- Helen Keller -

The five simple rules to be happy

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she manoeuvred her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.

I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs Jones, you haven't seen the room, just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away ...just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account: you withdraw from what you've put in. (I love that!!!)

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories.

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

*Thanks, Bright Eyes!

Human Life - Explained

ON THE FIRST DAY, God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day at the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a lifespan of 20 years." The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me 10 years and I'll give you back the other 10." So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people. Do monkey tricks and make them laugh. I'll give you a lifespan of 20 years." The monkey said, "How boring. Monkey tricks for 20 years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back 10, so that's what I'll do, too. OK?" And God agreed.

On the third day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of 60 years." The cow said, "That's a tough life you want me to live for 60 years. Let me have 20, and I'll give back the other 40." And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. I'll give you 20 years." Man said, "Only 20 years? Tell you what. I'll take my 20, as well as the 40 the cow gave back, the 10 the monkey gave back and the 10 the dog gave back. That makes 80." "OK," God said. "You've got a deal."

That's why the first 20 years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next 40 years we slave in the sun to support our family. Then, for the next 10 years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. Our last 10 years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Fashion No-Nos

Absolute DO NOTS

1. A nose ring and bifocals
2. Spiked hair and bald spots
3. A pierced tongue and dentures
4. Miniskirts and support hose
5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads
6. Speedo's and cellulite
7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar
8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor
9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge
10. Bikinis and liver spots
11. Short shorts and varicose veins
12. In-line skates and a walker
13. Thongs and Depends

14. Socks with sandals or worse with flip-flops

Holy Soap

Two priests are off to the showers late one night. They undress and step into the showers before they realize there is no soap.

Father John says he has soap in his room and goes to get it, not bothering to dress.

He grabs two bars of soap, one in each hand, and heads back to the showers.

He is halfway down the hall when he sees three nuns heading his way. Having no place to hide, he stands against the wall and freezes like he's a statue.

The nuns stop and comment on how life-like he looks.

The first nun suddenly reaches out and pulls on his manhood. Startled, he drops a bar of soap.

Oh look" says the first nun, "it's a soap dispenser".

To test her theory the second nun also pulls on his manhood....sure enough he drops the second bar of soap.

Now the third nun decides to have a go. She pulls once, then twice and three times but nothing happens.

So she gives several more tugs, then yells!

Holy Mary, Mother of God - Hand Lotion too!"

***Sorry folks, I don't write 'em!

Hissing Pits

Petey was a snake, only soooo big. Petey lived in a pit with his mother. One day Petey was hissing in the pit when his mother said, "Petey, don't hiss in the pit, go outside the pit to hiss."

So Petey went outside of the pit to hiss.

Petey was hissing all around when he finally leaned over and hissed in the pit. Petey's mother heard Petey hissing in the pit and said, "Petey, if you must hiss in a pit, go over to Mrs. Pott's pit and hiss in her pit.

Petey went over to Mrs. Pott's pit to hiss in her pit, but Mrs. Pott was not at home so he hissed in her pit anyway. While Petey was hissing in Mrs. Pott's pit, Mrs. Pott came home and found Petey hissing in her pit. She said "Petey, if you must hiss in a pit, don't hiss in my pit; go to your own pit and hiss."

This made Petey very sad, and he cried all the way home. When Petey got home, his mother saw him crying and said, "Petey, what's the matter?" Petey said, "I went over to Mrs. Pott's to hiss in her pit but Mrs. Pott was not at home, so I hissed in her pit anyway. Mrs. Pott came home and found me hissing in her pit and said, "Petey, if you must hiss in a pit go to your pit and hiss, don't hiss in my pit."

This made Petey's mother very angry and she said, "Why that mean old Lady! I knew Mrs. Pott when she didn't have a pit to hiss in."

S O M E T I M E S

Sometimes...
when you cry...
no one sees your tears.






Sometimes...
when you are in pain...
no one sees your hurt.






Sometimes...
when you are worried...
no one sees your stress.





Sometimes...
when you are happy...
no one sees your smile.

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But FART!! just ONE time...

And everybody knows!!

Gotcha!! You thought it was going to be one of those heart-touching stories!

Animals who are just having a killer hair day

from TheChive

Korean Artist Beautifully Illustrates What Real Love Looks Like

Love in films is pretty much always overdone. Sure, people can feel like that but the gestures of love that you see on the big screen are far too unlikely.

Running to a plane as it’s boarding to tell your true love how you feel about them before they move half way across the world doesn’t happen. It can’t really, what with all of the checks that go on…

And no-one writes letters these days.

Korean artist, Puuung, has decided that she wants to show how love shows itself in day to day life in her works. Take a look at these…

Take the jump to HelloU to see the rest. Very cool.