“Determine never to be idle.  No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any.  It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.” — Thomas Jefferson

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. — John F. Kennedy

You can’t be old and wise if you’ve never been young and crazy.

“All right, every day ain’t going to be the best day of your life.  Don’t worry about that!  If you stick to it, you hold the possibility open that you will have better days”. –Wendell Berry

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

“Every play, every down, every series, every meeting — like it’s your last.”– Jerry Kramer, former all pro and great offensive lineman, Green Bay Packers

A lesson we can all apply to our own everyday lives…… Dr. B.

“The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” — Eden Phillpotts