This Site Is A Special Thank You & Introduction To Some Outstanding Men & Women!

"Your story should not be your fortress but rather your fuel." - Lisa Nichols
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney
"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." -Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." -Robert Louis Stevenson
Dreams grow if you grow. Zig Ziglar
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Nelson Mandela
"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln
"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." -Tony Robbins
"Love the life you live. Live the life you love." -Bob Marley
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -Helen Keller
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. Buddha
Stay hungry, stay foolish. Steve Jobs
The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. Malcolm X
Some people do really find fault like there's a reward for it. Zig Ziglar
It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela
Turn your wounds into wisdom. Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you are, be a good one. Abraham Lincoln
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt
Little by little, one travels far. J.R.R. Tolkien
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. Bruce Lee
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. Malcolm X
You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. Marcus Aurelius
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Benjamin Franklin
I think, therefore I am. René Descartes
To be, or not to be, that is the question. William Shakespeare
A lot of people quit looking for work as soon as they find a job. Zig Ziglar
Live life like your the hero in the story.
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Jennifer Cohen

Jay Morton SAS

Gary John Bishop

Alvin Law (No Arms, Big Heart)

Alvin Law: What do you need to succeed?

This morning I discovered Alvin Law and it moved me.  I have been feeling down these past months and really needed to see this.  Take a few minutes and discover this great man and his even greater attitude!

Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic: A Story of Overcoming Adversity

Nick Vujicic is a remarkable individual who has inspired millions with his story of resilience, determination, and unwavering positivity. Born on December 4, 1982, in Melbourne, Australia, Nick came into the world with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. His parents, Boris and Dushka Vujicic, were understandably shocked and saddened by their son’s condition, but they made a conscious decision to embrace Nick and raise him to live a fulfilling life, despite the challenges he would face.

From a young age, Nick experienced bullying and struggled with feelings of loneliness and depression. He often questioned his purpose and worth, grappling with the harsh reality of being born without limbs. However, with the unwavering support of his family, as well as his own unyielding determination, Nick gradually found the strength to overcome his inner demons and embrace life with a newfound sense of purpose.

Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Nick encountered numerous obstacles, from learning to do daily tasks without limbs to facing the stigma and discrimination of others. Despite these challenges, he refused to be defined by his physical limitations and instead focused on his abilities and the opportunities that lay before him.

Nick’s turning point came when he realized that his unique life story could be a source of inspiration and motivation for others. He began speaking publicly about his experiences, sharing his message of hope, faith, and perseverance. His powerful words and charismatic presence resonated with people from all walks of life, and he soon gained recognition as a motivational speaker.

In 2005, Nick founded the non-profit organization Life Without Limbs, with the mission of reaching out to those facing similar challenges and offering them support and encouragement. Through this platform, Nick has touched the lives of countless individuals, proving that one’s circumstances do not have to dictate one’s destiny.

Nick’s impact continued to grow as he ventured into writing, authoring several best-selling books, including “Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life” and “Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action.” These books not only chronicle Nick’s personal journey but also offer practical wisdom and guidance for overcoming adversity and embracing a life of purpose and fulfillment.

As a sought-after speaker, Nick has traveled the globe, delivering powerful messages of hope and empowerment to diverse audiences, including students, corporate leaders, and religious communities. His captivating presence on stage, coupled with his genuine warmth and sincerity, has earned him a loyal following and made him a symbol of hope for people facing difficulties worldwide.

In addition to his speaking engagements and writing endeavors, Nick is also a husband and father. In 2012, he married Kanae Miyahara, and the couple now has four children. Through his role as a husband and father, Nick continues to embody the values of love, perseverance, and resilience, inspiring others to embrace life’s challenges with courage and grace.

Nick’s story is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the capacity to triumph over adversity. His unwavering optimism and determination serve as a reminder that with faith, perseverance, and a positive mindset, one can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.

In recognition of his remarkable achievements and contributions to society, Nick has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Young Australian of the Year Award in 2005. He has also been featured in various media outlets, including “60 Minutes,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and “CBS Sunday Morning.”

Nick Vujicic’s journey is a beacon of hope for anyone facing adversity, reminding us that our circumstances do not define us and that we have the power to shape our own destinies. Through his unwavering resilience, compassion, and unwavering faith, Nick has touched the hearts of millions and continues to inspire people to live life to the fullest, regardless of the challenges they may encounter.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Ideas to help quite the mind

Ajahn Brahm's Retreat Discussion about how to quite the mind

Video Transcript:

Understanding what I mean by silence.
So as I am speaking, some of you
have heard this before but please
don’t interrupt and spoil it for other people
because as I’m speaking I’m going to
ask you also not just to listen to what I’m saying
but to listen to the reaction in your mind
what’s happening inside of you
as I’m speaking because
as I’m talking you will begin
to notice
some
pauses between
my words.
In those spaces
what was going on
in your mind?
there it was again, you were silent.
You were aware
without a thought going on in your head.
That’s why it’s a very skillful reflective trick.
Now is the first time many people have realised,
oh, I can be silent.
There it is again.
and
it’s beatiful.
It’s profound.
It’s deep.
And somehow or other
you know there is so much freedom and meaning
to be found in that silence.
So by giving you a taste of that silence
now you understand its value.
Now you have to increase
its length of time.
So you are more and more and more
silent.
It’s lovely isn’t it?
So once you start to value the silence
and take the value off the thinking
you find that there’ll be many many
more moments of silence
throughout your day.
Silence will grow on you, literally.
Until you-know, you only think when you really have to
and when you don’t, you won’t.
The related technique which helps
you remain silent
is actually doing what we call little mantras.
A mantra is a group of words you
say to yourself over and over and over.
It’s what the Buddha said in the Sabbasava Sutta [?]
of like substitution, substituting one thing for another
So the thinking goes on and on and on,
so you want to substitute a thought,
yes this is a thought, a mantra,
which you say to yourself but a very simple thought.
Instead of having the thoughts go all over the place
take one set of words, a mantra,
a thought, and keep repeating it again and again and again
because it blocks out the other thoughts.
Now many of the mantras which I heard
as a young monk, yeah they didn’t really work
and one of the reasons why they didn’t work was
because of the way it was used.
It’s not just repeating the mantra over and over and over again.
It’s important if you’re using mantras to make the mind silent,
to put spaces between the words.
Now there are many many different mantras
and I’ll just mention the one I was talking
about last time I was overseas,
the old Tibetan mantra,
the old “om mani padmi hum” mantra
which I thought was the most famous, I knew that as a kid.
So you can use that if you like.
If you’re a die-hard Theravada you can use sort-of the
“Namo Buddhaya”, that’s the Indonesian greeting.
Na-mo Budd-haya. That means homage to the Buddha.
Or, I don’t know, you can make up your own mantras
if you like, but the important thing, that’s just the Theravadan,
Namo Buddhaya say, if you’re doing
mantra remember to put spaces between the syllables.
Na
Mo
Bu
Daya
If it’s om mani padmi hum – om
mani
padmi
hum
om
because the spaces are more important than the words.
If you’re very restless, and thinking alot,
lots of things worrying about, close up those spaces,
om
mani
padmi
hum
om
mani
padmi
hum
But as you settle down, increase the spaces.
om
mani
padmi
hum
And the more you quieten down,
the more you lengthen the spaces between those words.
om
mani
padmi
hum
Until those spaces get so long
you don’t need to say the words anymore.
It’s a way of learning how to be silent inside.
How to stop this terrible thinking mind.
And if you ever get upset, angry, anxious or whatever
you’ll always find that there are so many thoughts
going on in your head and it’s great to find this
circuit-breaker, this switch, you can just switch to
try and stop all these crazy thoughts, and that’s
one thing you can do. Get your mantra, if you’re getting
really crazy – om mani padmi hum, om mani padmi hum, om mani padmi hum,
om mani padmi hum, om mani padmi hum, om mani padmi hum,
om
mani
padmi
hum.
It’s like going down the gears in a car
whose breaks have failed. It works.
So – that’s how you can learn
how to be quieter by using that little technique.
You can make up your own mantra, most important
part is putting spaces between the words.
And getting to know that silence,
getting to respect it, getting to value it,
and after you value it, it grows.
Now there’s also the problem which I mentioned last night
in brief which is an important part of meditation
it’s an important part of the spiritual path – fear.
You know it’s amazing how many people are afraid of silence.
When we first came over here to this part of the bush
we had this beautiful land opposite where our monastery now stands,
it’s very quiet.
And sometimes we had visitors coming in
and as soon as they came in they raised their voice.
They spoke louder than necessary
and I’ve seen that many times in quiet parts of the world
people actually raise their voice or are almost shouting.
And I was really wondering – what is the psychological
they don’t need to speak so loud.
And after a little consideration you realise that
the silence was so threatening to them, they needed to destroy it
with loud talking, more than is necessary.
Because silence is a bit scary if you’re not used to it.
So to understand how to overcome the
different fears which happen in meditation
I say in every level, every stage of meditation,
I describe there are three levels
and this is a wonderful little insight in

Napoleon Hill