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WITandWISDOM(tm) - December 7, 2005 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: We lead by being human. We do not lead by being corporate, professional, or institutional. - Paul G. Hawken Source: Quote Lady's Quote of the Day, mailto:quote-a-day-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: A parable tells about a martial artist who kneels before a master sensei in a ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline. "Before granting the belt, you must pass one more test," the sensei solemnly tells the young man. "I'm ready," responds the student, expecting perhaps one more round of sparring. "You must answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" "Why, the end of my journey," says the student. "A well-deserved reward for my hard work." The master waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. The sensei finally speaks: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year." As the student kneels before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" "It is a symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art," the young man responds. Again the master waits for more. Still unsatisfied, he says once more: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year." A year later the student kneels before his sensei and hears the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" This time he answers, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the beginning, the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever higher standard." "Yes," says the master. "You are now ready to receive the Black Belt and begin your work." Source: Christian Voices, http://www.christianvoices.org ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Home Economics For Men Part 2 of 2 [Dec 6, 7] Knowing the Limitations of Your Kitchenware: No, The Dishes Won't Wash Themselves. Romance: More Than a Cable Channel! Strange But True!: She Really May NOT Care What "Fourth Down and Ten" Means. Going Out to Dinner: Beyond McDonald's. Expand Your Entertainment Options: Renting Movies That Don't Fall Under the "Action/Adventure" Category. Yours, Mine, and Ours: Sharing the Remote "I Could Have Played a Better Game Than That!": Why Women Laugh. Adventures in Housekeeping I: Let's Clean the Closet. Adventures in Housekeeping II: Let's Clean Under the Bed. "I Don't Know": Be the First Man to Say It! The Gas Gauge in Your Car: Sometimes Empty MEANS Empty. Directions: It's Okay to Ask for Them Listening: It's Not Just Something You Do During Halftime. Accepting Your Limitations: Just Because You Have Power Tools Doesn't Mean You Can Fix It. Source: ArcaMax - Jokes, http://tinyurl.com/9kf44 ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: It is a good plan to have a book with you in all places and at all times. If you are presently without, hurry without delay to the nearest shop and buy one of mine. - Oliver Wendell Holmes Source: Quote Lady's Quote of the Day, mailto:quote-a-day-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Pleasant Pheasant Soon after we moved into our home, I noticed several strange-looking large birds walking down the road. They were quite young, with no mother in sight. My husband, Harold, and I guessed they were turkeys. Soon one of the birds began frequenting our yard. As it grew, we realized it was a beautiful male ring-necked pheasant. The problem was, it didn't seem to know it was a pheasant. It appeared to prefer people! The bird always wanted to hang out with Harold and me, but it took a particular liking to Harold. Whenever he mowed the lawn, the pheasant would run in front of the mower never resting until the mower stopped. In the morning, the pheasant perched on our fence, waiting for us to come out and "play". It followed us wherever we went. When Harold stained our wishing well, the pheasant tried to help by peeking into the pail and pecking at the brush or rubbing its head against it. Needless to say, the job took much longer than Harold expected. Although we never fed the pheasant or tried to lure it into the yard, it was there every day, and we looked forward to seeing our feathered companion. Since we usually head south for winter, we always expected our friend to be gone when we returned, but every year it was waiting for us. One year, though, the bird was nowhere to be found. We like to think it just went into the woods to find a friend of its own kind. By Eleanor Riddell, Mohawk, New York Source: Birds & Blooms, August / September 2004, http://www.birdsandblooms.com