NO. 1095 - WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

No. 1095

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

It has been said that “The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have.” I might add that a lot of what we have is determined by what we believe. For example, where would we be in life if we did not believe in hard work, treating others with respect, being honest, caring deeply about our fellow human beings, and saving some of our income?
What brought these thoughts to mind is something my good friend Coach Dale Brown sent me a while back. It was a compilation of thoughts, each beginning with the two words, “I Believe.” See if you agree and can benefit from some, or all, of the following thoughts:
I believe, “that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you once in a while and you must forgive them for that.” I believe, “That we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.” I believe, “That it is taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I believe, “That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.”
I believe, “That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.” I believe, “That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.” I believe, “That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.” I believe, “That either you control your attitude or it controls you.” I believe, “That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.” I believe, “That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.”
I believe. “That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you are down will be the ones to help you get back up.” I believe, “That sometimes when I am angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.” I believe, “That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you have learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.” I believe, “That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.”
I believe, “That it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others, sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.” I believe, “That you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.” I believe, “That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.” I believe, “That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.” I believe, “That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.”
I believe, “That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you find the strength to help.” I believe, “That you should always leave loved ones with loving words, it may be the last time you see them.” I believe, “That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.” (I can say, “A-men” to that one.) I believe, “That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.” I believe, “That you will share this with those people you care about the most.” As I have just done.
And just one more thought before I go. As I am sure you know, we have a very divided nation right now, and as individuals we can choose to be a part of the solution or be a part of the problem. Let’s all get on the same page and be grateful that we are all Americans.
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(Editor’s Note: THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY – Begin your day on a positive note – 365 days for $12. This will benefit the Bookcase for Every Child project. Go to www.apositivemomentwithjim.com to subscribe.)