I heard about a ninety-five year old woman at the nursing home who received a visit from one of her fellow church members. The visitor asked her, "How are you feeling?"

She said, "I'm worried sick!"

Her friend said, "What are you worried about? You look like you're in good health. They're taking good care of you, aren't they?"

She said, "Yes, they are taking very good care of me."

"Well, then, what are you worried about?"

The elderly lady leaned back in her rocking chair and said, "Every close friend I ever had has already died and gone on to heaven. I'm afraid they're all wondering where I went!"

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"Why Worry About Tomorrow?"

Why worry about tomorrow
And the rising of the sun,
Of anguish over past mistakes
That cannot be undone?

Why waste life's precious moments
On things that bruise the heart
When today is ours to fashion
Into a work of art?

Today comes but once, my friend,
It never can return--
So use it wisely while you can,
There's a lesson you may learn.

Let history record the past
And tomorrow come what may.
Be content to do your best
With what you have today!

Poet: Clay Harrison

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     One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf.  He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

     About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday.  He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.

     "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

     The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"  "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.

     "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

     The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"

     "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.  The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions.  "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.

     "And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.  The businessman was getting angry.  "Don't you understand?  You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"

     Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"

     The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again!  You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset.  You won't have a care in the world!"

     The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"

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Once there was a handsome clock that became preoccupied with worry about its future. It began thinking about the number of times it would have to tick: twice each second, 120 times per minute, 7,200 times an hour, 172,800 times a day, 63,072,000 times a year. When it realized that in the next ten years it would have to tick, 630,720,000 times, it had a nervous breakdown.

 The clock went to a watchmaker for therapy. While under the watchmaker's care, the clock began to realize that all it needed to do was to tick one tick at a time. Soon it began to tick again, and it continued ticking, one tick at a time for one hundred years. And everyone loved that old grandfather clock.

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I will no longer worry about yesterday. It is in the past and the past will never change. Only I can change by choosing to do so.

I will no longer worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it. But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first making the most of today.

I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration. This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better.

I will cherish each moment of my life. I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly share this gift with others. I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.

I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to revel in the mysteries I encounter. I will face challenges with courage and determination. I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for growth and self-improvement.

I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time. Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image, my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.

I walk with renewed faith in human kindness. Regardless of what has gone before, I believe there is hope for a brighter and better future.
I will open my mind and my heart. I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people. I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else ... perfection does not exist in an imperfect world. But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do things that make me happy. I will admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my favorite music, pet a kitten or puppy, and soak in a bubble bath. Pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

I will learn something new; I will try something different; I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer. I will change what I can and the rest I will let go. I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.
I will live life this year in a way that I can look back on it fondly and without regrets and

I WILL MAKE THIS THE BEST YEAR EVER!
~Author Unknown

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