Grandpa's Little Buddy

By Brian G. Jett

As Steven stood awkwardly on the bank of Lake Malone in Western Kentucky, his grandfather watched his "Little Buddy" desperately attempt to get just one of the many flat rocks he'd gathered to skip over the lake's sun reflective surface.

"Keep at it son!" his grandfather shouted with much enthusiasm.

"Grandpa," Steven asked in his pre-adolescent and breaking voice, "Why am I no good at anything I try? I want to be a great pitcher like you used to be!"

His grandfather gently touched his shoulder while observing his grandson's eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Little Buddy, let me tell you why you are already a great pitcher and will be a better pitcher than your old grandpa ever was. Can I give you a little advice son?

Steven looked intensely into his hero's eyes and replied, "Yes grandpa! I'll do anything to be great like you!"

His grandfather sat him down on a hollowed out log and pulled him in close. "Little Buddy, I want you to remember what I am about to tell you and all I ask is that you never forget what I had to learn the hard way. Do you promise you will remember?" Steven's grandfather asked.

Without pause, Steven assured his grandfather he'd remember any and everything he told him.

His grandfather continued, "If you think someone is better than you, always remember that you are the only one who is thinking the other guy is."

His grandson looked at him inquisitively and caught his grandfather off guard with his response. "So you're saying that I need to use my brain, is that what you said grandpa?"

"You got it Little Buddy! Many folks focus on what they are doing wrong, but the winners figure out what they are doing right."

His grandson replied with yet another super insight based on what he'd heard his grandfather say. "So I need to tell myself that I am good?" he asked.

His grandfather smiled and went further: "Not only do you need to tell yourself that you're good, you must always believe that you are great! You see Little Buddy, you've got determination and grit. I've been watching you throw those stones for over two hours and anyone who stays at it that long has what it takes to be a winner even though he may get a bit down on occasion!"

As they walked back up the hill to the home Steven's grandfather built for him and his wife 20 years earlier, his grandfather took hold of his Little Buddy's hand and stated the last piece of wisdom Steven would ever hear him provide. "

You'll be at the pitcher's mound next season and I'll be there Lord willing. When you're on that mound, I want you to repeat to yourself what I'm about to tell you when you start to throw each ball. Are you listening son?"

What could the grandfather possibly say? Continue reading:

http://motivateus.com/stories/l-buddy.htm

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Self Growth

Are you interested in self-growth for your personal life or business life? Be as patient as you would with someone else.  You will need tools for your growth toolbox.  Stay tuned, tomorrow we will unveil an easy way to learn.

What Kind Of Friend Are You?

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

What did the man say? Continue reading:

http://www.motivateus.com/stories/whatkind.htm

Explosions Of The Heart

Written by Miles Patrick Yohnke

I had experienced the black car parade at the age of five, after my father was killed in a potash mine accident, so I know death intimately.

Growing up in the 70's, before the billboards, advertising and paralegal companies that sprung up creating easy divorces (i.e. No Complications. Call Now), it was still fairly common to have two parents at home. In school, I was the only one in our class that didn't have a father.

Father's day was always awkward. The teacher would say, "Class, today we are making something for our Dads." "Oh, great," I thought, as I placed 'Ken' for my oldest brother on the item I made. Awkward, it was just plain awkward.

I know depression and hatred all too well. Having a learning disorder, I was unmercifully bullied through elementary school. Not only from the fellow students, but from the teachers as well. Les e bon temps roule, Let the Good times roll.

Like many, I have had my heart broken. Dumped. Depleted. Rejected. Various forms of physical anguish, different kinds of sad-various shades. However, I didn't know fire.

I live in what is called the cool district of our city--the Broadway district. I live on the top floor, facing southwest. It is a great view. People tell me it looks like the cover artwork of "Hotel California" by the Eagles. Indeed it is like that. On the morning of Wednesday, Aug 8th, 2012 at 2:52am, I was awakened by a very loud, ground shaking bang! Kaboom! Explosions rang out.

I ran to my living room window to see what happened. Thick dark smoke was danced ominously about. It appeared to be coming out the new high rise that was just built. The sound of a car horn blaring. I real sense of chaos was occurring before my eyes. Something far more then me.

There's much more to this story. Continue reading:

http://www.motivateus.com/stories/explosions-of-the-heart.htm

Start Believing In You Written by Stanley Anukege

No matter the kind of booing or abuses you get, just because you're not good at something, shouldn't stop you from being the champion you are.

Yes, we’re all champions if we see ourselves as one.

Growing up for me was a challenge. I started out at primary school and was always asked by my teacher to sit at the back of the class because I was a dullard.

I kept forgetting things; I forgot nursery rhymes and spellings. I was the butt of class jokes and I was all alone, friendless and dejected and always in dullsville. I hated school, but my dad would hear none of it. He kept telling me I was a champion, if I believed it.

A turn around came one day when I remembered the spelling of the word 'Cognoscenti '; a word all the other 'bright students' had forgotten how to spell because they spent their free time making fun of me.

I wasn't asked to spell, even though I raised up my hands. So I stood up and went to the front of class, with 23 pairs of eyes piercing me like darts.

The intensity is increasing? What happens next?:

http://www.motivateus.com/stories/start-believing-in-you.htm

Acceptance

Why does it seem that we can accept others the way they are, yet we have a hard time accepting ourselves?  No matter where you are on your life path, you are incredible and deserve all the love, attention, kindness and forgiveness you give to others.

Give a little bit to yourself each day.  Imagine how you will feel in 30 days!

Problems

Everyone has problems that they have to deal with. They are part of life, your life. You can let them defeat you or you can use them to motivate you. It's all in how you look at things - half empty or half full.

What could happen if the next time a problem arose and you said, "Okay, this will not defeat me. I have solved many problems before and I can do it again!"

Can you imagine this scenario - coming from your position of strength?

I wish you a beautiful day knowing you can handle everything that comes your way.