Your dreams create higher foundations, all you have to do is establish your route and begin climbing.

Determination burns within each one of us. Whether or not it will heat the room or the whole house depends on how much time we spend feeding the fire.

If you check under your hood every few thousand miles, you will greatly reduce the risk of breaking down in a bad neighborhood.

Throughout our lives we are constantly rebuilding and renovating the walls we have created between our heart and others'. Bear in mind that the higher your wall is, the darker it will be, and the more difficult it will be for love to find it's way.

The draft you feel after your heart has been broken is simply the essential airing out of your soul to help establish fresh, new beginnings.

Remember those ships who pass through your day, touching your life just once, sending you into a better direction than your life was headed.

As you travel through life, your dreams will guide you, determination will get you there, and love will provide the greatest scenery of all.

Don't become a follower, begin to take a chance. Try becoming a dreamer and create your own dance.

The path of least resistance has been cleared for you, but the road to success is one you must build yourself.

One of our senses may be touch, but in order to make sense, one must feel.

Even if you are not the best at what you do, you can be the one who never gave up.

Think about what you want to do and then do what you have to do to get it done.

You cannot be miserable unless you have something wonderful in your life to compare it to.

There is always a light at the end of each tunnel, but it is only visible and obtainable to those who wish to see it.

Good friends share good times, but great friends divide pain.

We see them every day and sometimes for a brief moment, we may capture a smile... a small gift from someone who we may never see again. A gift given unselfishly

as we cross the paths of a stranger.

When you enter adulthood, don't leave your child behind. He will help you to keep sight of your dreams, show you how far you have come, and remind you to go outside and play every once in a while.

There is a positive you and there is a negative you. When you begin to realize which you is responsible for specific actions that you take, you can finally eliminate the negative and build upon the positive.

When your walls come tumbling down, consider it an opportunity to rebuild something even stronger and better.

Behind every great accomplishment, there is an even greater opportunity.

Close your eyes and imagine where you want to be. Imagine the complete journey you need to take in order to get there. Now go pack. Your reservations have been made.

While sailing through life, take your good friends along, the scenery will only get better.

The length of time it takes to reach your goal depends on the intensity of your desire.

As you approach your goal, you will realize that childhood fantasies do come true and that you are actually capable of so much more.

A day grows old as we do. Do not wish death upon it. Let it live, let it love, and only then should you let it rest in peace.

Sometimes the greatest encouragement one can receive is the discouragement of a nonbeliever.

Everything happens when it's supposed to.

Memories may fade as the years go by but they won't age a day.

With a view from above, your world becomes vast, dreams become infinite and freedom soars at last. So, if you have a dream, you have already begun to rise, just step a bit higher and grab hold of your prize.

When others aim to hurt, rejoice in the absence of your own animosity.

There is nothing more satisfying than living an experience that you worked hard to create.

Pain is pain. The difference lies in our inner hospitality. Some may let it get comfortable while others simply show it the door.

We tend to be held back from our goals by the simplicity of our comfort zones...but just how comfortable are we? Wouldn't we be more content living in our dreams?

It's not the mistake that matters, it's how you interpret the lesson.

Before you can consider a problem water under the bridge, you must first patiently work on removing the dam.

When opportunity knocks, at least welcome him in and hear what he has to say.

If you want to get to the top in life, you are going to have to take the stairs.

Do not wait for your ship to come in, get in your boat and row out.

If you spend too much time searching for the perfect parking spot, you may be missing out on some of life's best sales.

Never look back and regret, look back and smile at what you have learned.

The most important things you will need to know will be taught at Life's University.

If you hit a road block, help someone else to the other side.

With the love of a child, you have the whole world in the palm of your hands.

Don't work on the problem, work on the solution.

Children look up to us, be the person you want your children to become.

A child's smile is like the sun, whenever it rises, the world becomes so much brighter.

When we become parents, our children lie in the same beds we make for ourselves.

It is sometimes hard to cross that bridge, try something new, or make that change. But once you do, you will realize that things are usually never as bad as we imagine.

When you touch a life, you touch all who surround him and all who descend from him.

If you think you can't, you won't.

Sit down and think about everything you "do" have.

As you work toward your goal, anxiously anticipating the light at the end of the tunnel, don't forget to notice the light that shines upon you today.

Persistence penetrates.

A heart that welcomes sweet simplicity will appreciate much.

When you rise, shine.

You will instantly win any battle when you find peace within yourself.

The simple negatives in life will control you, but the simple positives can set you free.

We may feel dark and gloomy at times, but the intensity of our inner light will determine how quickly we can find our way back.

The right place at the right time is here and now.

Find the light, the brighter side of things. It is there where you will find peace.

Courage is what it takes to admit when you are wrong.

Children are to be seen and not ignored.

Imagine yourself many years from today. Will you look at your life with even a little dismay?

If you stay focused and right on track, you will get to where you want to be.

If you have a dream, see it in your mind, feel it in your heart, and that right there is a great head start.

We all have a desire, a dream, a need to be. But to find it takes courage to avoid conformity.

When life gives you a strong blow, just be smart enough to know that you are the one in control.

Sometimes it seems as though we have no control over our own destination and although we cannot control our surroundings at all times, we can control ourselves.

Step onto a clean slate each morning and you will be miles ahead of the rest.

We can see the world more clearly once we learn to view it through the eyes of another.

Parents are stepping-stones to their child's future, giving them strong foundations to travel into adulthood, keeping their heads above the water, until they grow, jump in,

and swim on their own.

Honesty is fearing a negative response and telling the truth anyway.

When people aim to hurt, divert.

Now is the time to create those memories that you will want to share with your grandchildren.

We get so wrapped up in what happened yesterday and where we are going tomorrow, we sometimes

forget to enjoy today.

A past that wisely matures will enjoy a future with many open doors.

Do not wait for a ray of ambition to guide you to your dreams. You will get there much sooner, and the light will be much brighter if you start today.

Everyone is capable of reaching their goals, do it now, and you will learn to fly holding your dreams in the palms of your hands.

If you fail the first time, consider yourself normal and try again. If you fail a second time, consider yourself special for you have what it takes to succeed. If you fail a third time, consider yourself extraordinary, for many people would have already given up.

With determination, we can break through any wall that life puts before us.

Given time, unconditional love will break through any barrier that our hearts have created in order to defend themselves.

Your heart will not lie to you, as long as you tell it the truth.

Before someone's tomorrow has been taken away, cherish those you love, appreciate them today.

Do not battle with those you love, put your guard down and listen.

If you can easily find fault in others, just realize that in another person's eyes, you are the other.

Furniture and fixtures do not make a house a home, the people who live in it do.

Don't worry about how much money you have and how you are going to spend it. Worry about how much love you have, that way, you can spend your life happily.

We often neglect to find the beauty in things we see every day.

Having a good heart is like having a new car, no matter how rocky the roads are, you are sure to have a smooth ride.

Plant the seed of love, water it daily, and patiently watch it grow.

When you rise for an instant, foresee the final day and do that day what you wish you would have. When you are confronted with a decision, for an instant, foresee the

final day and handle it the way you wish you would have. When you arrive home after a hard day, for an instant, foresee the final day and offer your heart to those you love, the way you wish you would have.

One good friend... priceless.

Give without hesitance and you shall receive great abundance.

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Reflections

by Michelle C. Ustaszeski

Learning How To Walk Again

It took many self-help books and proven successes for me to realize that there wasn't anything I couldn't do. My parents engraved those exact words into my mind while growing up as well, but still some dreams seemed too far off into the distance and too high to grab hold of. I learned that setting a goal and a time to achieve it was vital in the process. I discovered that each goal needed to be broken down into smaller steps and that each step could possibly take ten smaller feats in order to be obtained. I learned to walk all over again. I began taking one step at a time, falling on occasion, but getting right back up with my goal in mind as it became more visible with each step. I conquered feat after feat until I eventually learned how to walk straight into the arms of my dreams.

Looking Back

As I come to the end of a new day, I look back at a conversation that I had with a friend of mine during lunch. It wasn't long ago when I discovered that you cannot be miserable unless you have something wonderful in your life to compare it to. But today, I discovered quite the opposite. As I talked about a difficult time in my past, I came to the conclusion that if I hadn't experienced what I did, I would not be the person that I am today. I would not enjoy a non-eventful day, a peaceful cup of tea, watching my children play, and hearing them scream just a little too loud. I would not appreciate the good-hearted and loving people in my life today had I not loved a cold one. I would not have such a brilliant future had the past been just as bright. As I fall asleep tonight, I will be thankful for those hard times as well as the good. I will drift off peacefully knowing that I will never again, after today, have to look back and regret, but I can now look back… and smile.

Thankful for Major Disappointments

To some extent, we deal with disappointing experiences and outcomes each day of our lives, but sometimes there are a few that stand out as being more tender and unforgettable than others. These major disappointments may include happenings such as not receiving the job of your dreams, being turned down for a mortgage on what you believed to be your dream home, or even going through a painful separation. It may sound unsympathetic to propose thankfulness for such disheartening experiences, but the truth is that there “will” be a day when you will look back at those times, standing in the midst of a new experience that wouldn't be there had you not been hurt. And as you are standing in what could be one of the happiest days of your life, you might even find yourself saying, “Those days were hard, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.”

Love is a Verb

Some may be misplaced in the belief that love is simply a feeling. It’s not my belief that you can fully love someone based solely on the feelings that their acts have produced within you. You can “feel” love toward someone because somewhere in time they have performed an act of love or kindness toward you that made you feel needed, wanted, cared for, or appreciated in some way. But "to love" someone is to become the performer and carry out an act of love on them… hence the saying “to be in love.” Of course, it is possible to love someone because they are perfect to you…but simply having that does not mean you are loving them until you reciprocate that love. Only then can a relationship flourish and soar into something you never imagined possible.

When Does it End?

Just as we manage to cross one thing off of our “to do” list, a new one somehow emerges. There’s a new problem to solve, the car broke down, a project is due tomorrow and the phone bill is late. At times, we become overwhelmed by the every day chores, responsibilities, and problems that seem to arise without fail. I have always been torn between what I wanted to do, what I should do, and what really needed to be done. So often I put things off until the last minute which only made me feel even more overwhelmed and stressed when the deadline arrived. It wasn't until I forced myself to get some paperwork done in advance that I discovered a strange new feeling… the feeling of accomplishment… of being “ahead” of the game. All of a sudden I had time to do the things I wanted to do… without the guilt. Don't wait for a ray of ambition to guide you to your goals, do it now, and you will learn to fly holding your dreams in the palm of your hands.

Can I Borrow Your Shoes?

It wasn't until my children began getting older that I was able to seriously put myself in another person’s shoes. It takes quite a bit of practice to be able to close your eyes and imagine just what it’s like to be another human being in a relationship with you. What is it like to be married to you and would you want to be married to yourself? Would you consider yourself a good friend, brother, or sister and can you confide in yourself? If you were your own child, would you be able to write, “My Mommy or Daddy is my hero because…?” And how would you finish that sentence? How do you want to be remembered by those who love you? How do you want to be talked about by those who don't? It might be a good idea to borrow a pair of shoes from your family and friends from time to time and see for yourself just how well you stand in them.

Judgment Day

One evening this past October, as I walked out of a convenience store with my cup of coffee, I noticed an older woman standing next to a pay phone. She had what seemed to be a hat on, pink leg warmers that have been out of style for at least ten years, a black mini skirt with blue/gray stockings, what used to be white sneakers, a brown…torn coat, and gloves with each finger cut off of them. Stereotypically speaking, she looked homeless. As I waited for my friend to come out of another store, I nonchalantly sipped my coffee from inside my car and watched her rummage through her bag for some change in order to make a call. My compassion for her grew when I noticed how upset she seemed, aggravated at her disposition, angry at where her life had led…at least that is the way she “appeared” to me as I watched her surrender in her search for change and slide down the side of the store wall in order to rest.

She looked exhausted. Just as I was about to rummage through my own bag and offer change for her phone call, a Lexus pulled up along side of me. Surprisingly enough, I watched her jump to her feet, walk up to it… and get in. At that very moment a young girl, about the age of ten, stepped out from the back seat wearing a cat costume. I overheard the homeless woman telling the driver, whose devil horns were perfectly placed, that he was late and that she had been waiting for over a half hour. It was then that I realized that Halloween was only a week away and that they were most likely on their way to a Halloween party. Since I hadn't yet prepared for the holiday myself, being consumed in my own world, it was not a determining factor.

We make false judgements about people every day without knowing what is happening in their lives. We often, without thought, judge people based on their appearance and not what they are made up of. We judge their actions based on what we would do given our own personal experiences and information that we have been provided up to that point and given the environment in which we were raised and live in.

It takes a lot of practice to learn how to put yourself in another person’s shoes, and I don't even believe that it is completely possible, but we can begin by first realizing that our thoughts, opinions, views and ultimate actions are based on a combination of all the experiences that “we” have had throughout our lifetime. Every person in this world experiences their own and ultimately creates ‘them’. If you can easily find fault in others, just realize, that in another person’s eyes…‘you’ are the other.

Did I Do All That?

Regardless of how many steps I took toward reaching a goal years ago, I would find time spent elsewhere that I believed could have been better spent doing something more productive. I recall feeling disappointed for not accomplishing enough throughout a day and it became a normal emotion to fall to sleep feeling inadequate. I recall feeling as though I was running out of time and that I had already wasted enough of it. After a friend reminded me of just how far I actually progressed in such a short amount of time, I began to see that I was expecting too much of myself. Slowly, I began to lower my own expectations of myself and create a monthly time marker to prove to myself just how far I've traveled. After a few months, I began to feel a sense of pride and eventually, one feat a day became my sedative.

It’s Your View

Experiencing prosperity can be obtained once you realize and believe you have already received it and that it is simply your perspective. One may be sad because they can only afford two or three new outfits for their child. Another may be thankful and proud that they can at least afford two or three new outfits for their child this school year. Sit down and think about everything you do have. So often we neglect to see the things we are fortunate for and neglect to find the beauty in things we see everyday. We become accustomed to having something in our lives and after a period of time, we begin to consider it the norm, forgetting just how pleased we were to initially receive it. Try to remember those times and look at what you have from the perspective of someone who has nothing. How you view your world and all that you have will determine your own sense of wealth.

What’s Done is Done

Today I learned something that will change the rest of my life and help me to move further at a faster pace. I realized that when something unfortunate happens that is out of my control, even if it is my own mistake, and there is nothing that can be done to correct it, I must focus my attention and emotions on what I am going to do next... given my new situation. We cannot focus on what our mistakes or the mistakes of others have ruined or changed because these things cannot be altered. We need to focus our energy on the new situation and keep in mind that dwelling and anger serve only one purpose… to wound ourselves and the ones we love. Never work on the problem, work on the solution.

Determination

Determination burns within each one of us, whether or not it will heat the room or the whole house depends on how much time we spend feeding the fire. Whether your goal this New Year is to lose 10 pounds, get that degree, get those bills out on time, or become that better person... you are perfectly capable as the next person. It is in your power… the power of your mind.

The intensity of your desire to obtain a goal and your ability to suppress self made excuses will determine the time it takes for you to reach that goal. High intensity combined with great ability to suppress excuses will ultimately get you to where you want to be and if you stay focused and right on track…you will get there much sooner.

The level of effort you put into reaching your goal is associated with your level of desire or intensity to want to succeed. There are things that we would like to do, there are things we want to do, and there are things that we need to do in order to avoid internal disappointment (sense of failure for not sticking to that diet) or external ramifications (paying those late charges).

It is when your goal becomes a need, that you should place it in front of your mind, making it a constant reminder of what needs to be worked on and nurtured on a daily basis. During that time, determination either revs up and steps are formulated in order to finally obtain that goal or excuses are created and the goal is, once again, suppressed. Whatever your goal is this New Year, keep in mind that the outcome is in your hands. See it... need it... ignore those excuses...and do it.

A little bit here and a little bit there will get you just about anywhere.

Sometimes it may feel as though we are running ourselves ragid and not getting any closer to our goals, but the reality is that no matter how many tasks we take on each day, as long as they are related to the completion of that goal, we are traveling far beyond the norm. As long as you continue to take steps toward your goal, whether it is tackling one or ten tasks per day, you are making great progress. By simply finding the time to initially write down your ultimate goal and break it down into smaller tasks, your chances of reaching that goal increase magnificently. If you are actually able to take on those tasks daily, your goal is practically guaranteed. Make the time, take on those tasks promptly, with enthusiasm, and before you know it, you will be standing on the top of a great mountain… even if you simply intended to nestle into a small hillside.

Heart Insurance

Have you ever noticed that giving away a piece of your heart ultimately makes it bigger? The more you give of yourself, the more you will receive. By offering kindness and love to each person you encounter and in all areas of your life, you will begin reaping the benefits of admiration, acceptance and abundant love from every direction. Should your heart ache and become unable to part, your history of generosity will be the foundation for those around you being eager to heal it. Begin creating a new habit and fasten a fraction of yourself and your heart to each word you speak, every sentence you write and all actions that you take. Obtaining heart insurance has never been easier.