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WITandWISDOM(tm) - February 7, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere." - Zig Ziglar Source: Marcella's Inspiring Collection http://tinyurl.com/w9nb9 ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Not long ago I was in Nashville, Tennessee and I went into a convenience store to get a newspaper and a pack a gum. The young women at the check-out counter said, "That will be five dollars please," and as I reached into my wallet, the thought occurred to me that a newspaper and gum didn't quite make it to five dollars. When I looked up to get a "re-quote", she had a big smile on her face and said, "Gotcha! I got to get my tip in there somehow!" I laughed when I knew I'd been had. She then glanced down at the paper I was buying and said, "I'm sick and tired of all this negative stuff on the front pages. I want to read some good news for a change." She then said, "In fact, I think someone should just publish a Good News newspaper - a paper with wonderful, inspiring stories about people overcoming adversity and doing good things for others. I'd buy one everyday!" She then thanked me for coming in and said, "Maybe we'll get lucky tomorrow; maybe we'll get some good news," and she laughed. She made my day. The following day, after my business appointments, I dropped by the same store again to pick up a bottled water, but a different young lady was behind the counter. As I checked out I said, "Good afternoon," and handed her my money for the water. She said nothing - not a word, not a smile...nothing. She just handed me my change and in a negative tone ordered...."Next!" It hit me right between the eyes: Two people, same age; one made me feel great, and the other, well, made me feel that I had inconvenienced her by showing up. By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways... our family, our peers, our friends, and even strangers we've never met before and will never meet again. So when you brush your teeth every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself... "Are there things I'd like to change?" How will you choose to live your life... as "the grouch" or as "the good news girl?" Your answer will go a long way toward determining the joy and happiness that you will experience in your life. By Mac Anderson Mac Anderson is the founder of Simple Truths, a company dedicated to publishing great gift books that reinforce core values. Mac also founded Successories, Inc. the leader in designing and marketing products for motivation and recognition. Mac regularly speaks to corporate audiences on a variety of topics, including leadership, motivation, and team building. Mac has written three books and co-authored 5 more all available at http://www.simpletruths.com You can signup for Mac’s free Newsletter at: http://www.simpletruths.com/simpletruthsnewsletter.html ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: The late Spencer Penrose, whose brother was a major political leader in Philadelphia in the late nineteenth century, was considered the "black sheep" of the family. He chose to live in the West, instead of the East. In 1891, fresh out of Harvard, he made his way to Colorado Springs. Not long after his move, he wired his brother for $1500 so that he might go into a mining venture. His brother telegraphed him $150 instead - enough for train fare home - and warned him against the deal. Years later, Spencer returned to Philadelphia, and handed his brother $75,000 in gold coins - payment, he said, for his "investment" in his mining operation. His brother was stunned. He had qualms about accepting the money, however, and reminded his brother that he had advised against the venture and had only given him $150. "That," replied Spencer, "is why I'm only giving you $75,000. If you had sent me the full $1,500 I requested, I would be giving you three-quarters of a million dollars." From: "God's Little Lessons on Life for Mom," Honor Books of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1999. P. 193, http://isbn.nu/1562926098 Source: The Timothy Report, Copyright (c) 2004 Swan Lake Communications, http://www.timothyreport.com ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A visiting American textile buyer told a long but amusing anecdote at a luncheon in Seoul, Korea. The translator repeated it to the group in just a few words and the audience laughed and applauded. Later, the textile buyer commented to the translator, "I think it was wonderful the way they appreciated my joke. It's amazing how you were able to shorten it in Korean." The interpreter replied, "Not at all. I merely said, 'Man with big checkbook has told funny story. Do what you think is appropriate."' By James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 370, http://isbn.nu/0842315691 Source: A Dose of Inspiration, http://www.quietstones.com/mydailydose ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: While I was employed by a private corporation and assigned to the space-shuttle program, my job included ordering supplies. One of the engineers asked me to get a new dictionary for him. The request form said, "State reason this item is needed," so I asked him why he wanted one. I expected his answer would be "My old copy is lost" or "The cover is falling off." Instead he replied, "My edition defines spaceship as an 'imaginary aircraft.'" He got his new dictionary. Source: Smile a Day Newsletter (c), http://www.net153.com/best.htm