CRITICISM

People who criticize others usually do so because they don't like themselves and believe that by tearing others down they are building themselves up. They sadly soon learn it doesn't work. When we throw dirt at others, we dig a deeper hole for ourselves. Often the traits or behaviors we are critical of in other people are the very things we need to correct in ourselves. If you find that you don't like someone, rather than attacking or criticizing them, take time for self examination. Ask yourself, "am I projecting on to them behaviors I possess and don't like?" Transform the need to criticize into an opportunity for personal change and growth. People who constantly criticize and speak negatively of you are people you do not need in your life. 

People who feel good about themselves want to make others feel good and don't need to knock the joy out of someone. Keep away from people who try to belittle  your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great!

FAMILIAR IS POWERFUL

As human beings it is in our nature to be attracted to that which is familiar. People remain in unhealthy relationships because that is what they know. We also have a natural fear of the unknown. So often, we will continue in misery because we believe, " the hell I know is better than the hell I don't know." Abused children often run away from foster care back to the home of abuse because that is what they know and therefore there is no uncertainty. A person may wonder why they continually get into relationships with the same type of unhealthy person.  They  are attracted to people who turn out to be controlling, an alcoholic, abusive, etc. It is being attracted to that which is familiar. We have been taught for years that the strongest inner need of man is the need to survive. I believe our strongest need is to seek out that which is familiar. It doesn't take long when looking at clouds to begin seeing shapes of things 'we know'. 

How do we break the cycle of being drawn to negative or hurtful familiar things? Stated simply, we need to change that which is familiar. This can be accomplished by taking small intentional steps outside our comfort or familiar zones and learning new things. Read about people or situations with descriptions of behaviors and values that are new to you. Visit groups and places with people who are different from your typical experience. Take some time and evaluate past relationships and situations  identifying common elements. Those are the familiar things. Once you are 'aware' of what it is that's 'familiar' you know where to begin to make changes. That's half the battle. Change one element in an equation and the answer or outcome will change. 

THOUGHT ON RELATIONSHIPS

Over the past several years, clients have asked me how to recognize the "right" relationship and how to maintain a healthy relationship. A few observations; the "right" person / relationship is someone who inspires you. You share common core values. You feel better about yourself when with that person and they inspire you to want to be an even better person. A healthy relationship is one where two independent people make a deal that they will help make the other person the best version of themselves. It's important to realize that regardless of how much you care for each other, you cannot read your partner's mind. Talk to each other. Express what you feel and what you want. Be realistic about what you expect of and from your partner. The majority of conflicts in relationships are the result of either failing to meet unspoken expectations (you didn't know), and / or holding unrealistic expectations of your partner ( they can't possibly do it). A healthy relationship is not giving 50/50, rather it's giving 100/100. If you will make your partner's happiness and emotional security your goal, you will have a rich and strong relationship. Ancient Masters and Mystics taught that if you help someone row their boat across the river, you make it across the river as well. What you send out returns to you. This is not co-dependency it is healthy inter-dependency. A final note; the simple things are powerfully important. A touch, a smile, a kind word serves to improve, preserve and protect our relationships. 

CHILDHOOD WISDOM

Most of us transition from a relaxed carefree mindset as a child to a serious and stressed mindset as adults. Children remind us of important life truths we may have forgotten. Most adults breath from high up in the chest. This type of breathing is triggered by the sympathetic nervous system when we are experiencing the "fight or flight" response. Emotions become intense, muscles tense, and stress products are dumped into our blood stream in preparation for action. Remaining in this state day to day, as most of us do, stresses our internal organs and reduces our quality of life. Observe how a young child breaths, they breath from the belly. When we consciously change our breathing from the chest to the belly, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system which initiates the relaxation response and calms the mind and body. 

As adults, we can drive or walk great distances without noticing any of the beauty or wonder around us. We live day to day missing out on tremendous sources of joy. Observe a child, when they take a walk or arrive at a park, they exclaim,"wow!" at the trees, the grass, the flowers, the birds, the squirrels, etc.   Reminding ourselves to be childlike can restore a level of relaxed and joyous living  once forgotten. 

CLEAN UP THE CRUMBS

The first time my wife and I had a meal at the Brown Derby restaurant, I was so impressed with the cleanliness and order of the place. After enjoying some delicious bread I noticed bread crumbs on the table cloth. It felt distracting and took away from the pleasant experience. Our server came by, saw the mess of crumbs, and immediately cleaned them up. I could then relax and enjoy my meal. I was surprised that something as simple as those crumbs could have that much of an impact on my experience.  

Our lives are like this dining experience. As we go about our daily lives, we drop crumbs of poor choices, mistakes and out right blinders. These crumbs clutter the table of our lives and makes life unpleasant. Wipe up the crumbs quickly by recognizing your mistakes. Take action to correct the problem and apologize to others if needed. By the end of the day, people around you will appreciate you in spite of your mistakes and you can then relax and enjoy your life. 

DECORATE YOUR JAIL CELL

Prisoners decorate their cells by putting pictures and art work on the walls. Some even scratch their names in the concrete. This action affects how they feel. As human beings, we are influenced by the things with which we surround ourselves and we have the inherent capacity to find or create joy even in the most difficult situations. 

You may feel like a prisoner of a dysfunctional family, a frustrating job, or even a bad relationship. There is a powerful principle which teaches that when we change, our world changes. That's how we plan our prison break. When we shift our focus, we change our thoughts. When our thoughts change, we change. Decorate your jail cell. Life is precious, life is short. Don't put joy on hold. 

Two men looked out through prison bars, one saw mud, the other saw stars. 

MISREPRESENTATION OF TRUTH

There was a sailor who had worked on the same ship for three years. One night he got drunk. This was the first time this had ever happened. The captain recorded in the ship's log, "the sailor was drunk tonight." The sailor read the comment in the log and knew such a statement could affect his career. He went to the captain, apologized and asked the captain to add that it only happened once in three years which was the complete truth. The captain refused and said, "what I have written in the log is the truth." The next day it was the sailor's responsibility to make the ship's log entries. He wrote, "the captain was sober tonight." The captain read the log entry and asked the sailor to change or add to it explaining the complete truth because this implied that the captain was drunk every other night. The sailor told the captain that what he had written in the log was the truth!

EXPERTS!

Beware of experts who make things sound complicated and confusing. It's unlikely they are really experts. 

When someone really understands something they can explain it simply and realize that understanding is just a new starting point. 

A MATTER OF PERCEPTION

A wise man was sitting outside his village. A traveler approached him and asked, "what kind of people live in this village, because I'm looking to move from my present one?" The wise man asked, "what kind of people live where you want to move from?" The man said,"they are mean, cruel and rude." The wise man replied,"the same kind of people live in this village too." Time passed and another traveler came by and asked the same question. The wise man asked him," what kind of people live where you want to move from?" The traveler replied," the people are very kind, courteous, polite and good." The wise man said," you will find the same kind of people here too."

BE A LITTLE HAPPIER

There are 5 things that, when done on a daily basis, result in greater levels of happiness in our lives. 

1. Write down three things for which you are grateful. 

2. Journal one positive experience you had over the last 24 hours. 

3. Exercise - do some form of exercise every day. 

4. Meditate every day. 

5. Random acts of kindness - do one thing for someone else every day. 

Doing these 5 things on a daily basis for a period if 21 days (or longer) will make you a happier person. Why? Because it rewires your brain - it trains your mind to look for happiness and to give happiness. Simple? Yes. Powerful? Yes. By small and simple things great things are brought into being. 

FLIGHT of the BUMBLE BEE?

According to recognized aeronautical principles, the Bumble Bee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of his body in relation to his total wing area. The Bumble Bee doesn't know this; so he goes ahead and flies anyway. 

We are continually learning about the amazing abilities we all possess. Our vision or mental estimate of ourselves activates our subconscious mind and compels us to be all that we imagine ourselves to be. What we give our attention to magnifies and multiplies exceedingly. Think rich and riches follow; think poverty and poverty follows.  The law of life is the law of belief. To believe is to sincerely accept something as true. Believe in the abundant life, the happy life, the successful life, and live in the joyous expectancy of the best, and invariably the best will come to you. Remember that conditions and circumstances are not creative; we, in our thoughts are creative; the creative power is in our thoughts and feelings rather than in the false and limiting suggestions of externalities. We are not victims of our circumstances or happenings, except as we believe we are. We go where our vision is. Hold a mental image of what we want to accomplish and back it up with feeling and enthusiasm. and we, like the Bumble Bee, can do extraordinary things!

A BOWL OF ICE CREAM

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. The server put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "50 cents" replied the server. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins. "How much is a bowl of plain ice cream?" he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the server was a bit impatient "35 cents," she said brusquely. The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The server brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed. When the server came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty bowl, was 15 cents - her tip. 

ULTIMATE SECRET TO SUCCESS

A young man asked the great philosopher Socrates the secret of success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. They met. Socrates asked the young man to walk with him toward the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise  and dunked him into the water. The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Socrates pulled the boys head out of the water and the first thing the boy did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air. Socrates asked,"What did you want the most when you were under water?" The boy replied,"air!" Socrates said,"that is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it."  There is no other secret. A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. 

CONSIDER TRYING AGAIN

A man was passing by some circus elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by what he saw. The huge creatures were being held in place only by a small rope tied to one of their front feet, no chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds. For some reason they made no attempt to escape. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "We'll," the trainer said,"when they are very young and much smaller, we use the same size rope to tie  them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free. 

These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right there. Like the elephants, we may be going through life hanging on to a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before. There is really no such thing as failure, only feedback. Consider trying again. It may set you free!

IMPORTANCE OF VARIETY

When I was a kid I loved chewing gum. My favorite was Bazooka bubble gum because the flavor lasted for a good while. Even with Bazooka it wasn't long before I had finished a whole pack, mainly because I would spit out my gum after about 5 minutes, when it had lost its flavor, and open up a new one. It's those first few bites that were so good. The flavor would burst in my mouth and the taste was grand. But then I learned that apparently the flavor doesn't run out! What actually happens is that the taste buds on your tongue get used to the flavor and it appears like the flavor has gone. A condition known as habituation. In reality you're just used to it. If you want to test this for yourself, chew some gum for about 5 minutes or until the flavor seems to have run out. Take the gum out of your mouth and "taste a pinch of salt." This wakes up the taste buds because its a different flavor / taste. Put the gum back in your mouth and you will be surprised at the flavor! So I didn't need to chew so much gum in such a short amount of time. This gum experience is like people's emotions. It's not that people are bored of their jobs or that their relationships are less exciting. It's that they have gotten use to the emotions they experience on a daily basis. They don't have enough emotional variety. They've gotten so used to experiences, the same emotions every day that they blame their life, their job or their relationships. They think that a new job or a new partner will give them that " burst of flavor"! But in reality, all they need is some SALT. Something  to wake up their emotional taste buds. Experience a greater variety of emotions in their daily life. Are you considering a major change in your life? Is a big change really necessary, or do you need to simply"taste a pinch of salt?"

DAY OF REFLECTION

Today is Fathers Day in the U.S. On this day families and individuals across the country will have special gatherings and provide gifts celebrating the position and role of fathers in our lives. Celebrating men who help provide for, teach, protect, correct and live as examples for their children. I find with each passing year I understand and appreciate my father more and more. 

For some, this is not a special day or a day of celebration. They may not know their father or may have had a father who didn't provide, wasn't a good teacher, good example or even a good person. Their father may even have been hurtful to them. I recently wrote of the principle that we can learn and or benefit from any experience ( What can I learn from this?). That can apply today to the experience of a father in your life. Some people are examples of what to do and be in life. A person can also be an example of 'what not to do and be in life.' Today, perhaps we can reflect and consider the blessings of what we have, what we are and what we have learned as a result of our father. Whether your father was present or not, loving or not, a good example or not, we can learn and benefit if we choose to do so. 

GRATITUDE for the UNEXPECTED

We try to live our lives as predictable, safe and routine as possible. We would rather not have surprises or unexpected events. Living life expectantly keeps things in perspective, helps maintain lower stress levels and makes planning  easier. 

I have learned that it's in the unexpected events that I experience the most learning, growth and at times the greatest joy. We can learn and even relearn important lessons from any experience. "What can I learn from this?" can be an insightful and life altering question to answer for ourselves. 

Earlier today, I stopped at a gas station / mini market near my home to purchase my favorite canned soft drink. As I entered the market I walked to the cooler where I knew my particular soft drink isALWAYS found. I opened the cooler door and saw that the space usually occupied by my drink was filled with a different drink. ZAP! My routine, which I had comfortably repeated many times before, was disrupted, thrown completely off! I just stood there... staring ... Kinda lost. I then heard a sweet soft voice say, "did you want this one?" I was a little stunned!  There was no one standing anywhere near me. I looked around...nothing. Then, appearing directly before my eyes, was a gloved hand protruding from within the cooler holding my particular soft drink. Boy Howdy! I was taken back a bit. Then peering into the low light within the cooler I saw one of the employees gently smiling at me. She was restocking the coolers, recognized me and knows what I drink. My routine broken, I was preparing for disappointment, but no...I got the unexpected. 

The unexpected serves a valued purpose. Cherish those events, opportunities and periods of growth. 

ENJOY THE VIEW

We are all on a journey. Our paths, though similar at times, are very individual.  The daily climb of the stairway  which is life can cause us to become weary. We become fatigued. Each step may seem a little more difficult.  The staircase may feel unending. These thoughts and feelings come when we stare only at our feet, our posture becomes slumped and we focus on our discomfort. If we will remember to breath, stand erect with confidence, and take time to enjoy the changing view with each ascending step, we find joy in the journey, and life has meaning and purpose. 

TAKE A CHANCE

Some people dread the same old thing day after day. Some people go through the motions but don't really feel anything. Then there are people who find joy  and excitement in each day. To live the enriched joyful life we must step out of our comfort zone, take a risk, step out on faith. If you want your life to be different, do something different. Take a chance. 

VIEW FROM A TRAIN

A 24 year old boy looking out from the train window shouted... "dad, look the trees are going behind!" Dad smiled as a young couple sitting nearby looked at the 24 year olds childish behavior with pity as he suddenly again exclaimed... "dad, look the clouds are running with us!" The couple couldn't resist and said to the old man, " why don't you take your son to a good doctor?" The old man smiled and said,"I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just received his sight today." 

Every single person on the planet has a story. Don't judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you. 

HEAVEN AND HELL

A great Samurai warrior went to see a little monk. "Monk," he said in a voice accustomed to instant obedience, "teach me about heaven and hell!" The monk looked up at this mighty warrior and replied with utter disdain. "Teach you about heaven and hell? I couldn't teach you about anything. You're dirty. You smell. Your blade is rusty. You're a disgrace, an embarrassment to the Samurai class. Get out of my sight. I can't stand you." The Samurai was furious. He shook, became all red in the face, was speechless with rage. He drew his sword and raised it above him, preparing to slay the monk. "That's hell," said the monk softly. The Samurai was overwhelmed. The compassion and surrender of this little man who had offered his life to give this teaching to show him hell! He slowly put down his sword, filled with gratitude and suddenly peaceful. "And that's heaven," said the monk softly. 

HEAVEN AND HELL

A great Samurai warrior went to see a little monk. "Monk," he said in a voice accustomed to instant obedience, "teach me about heaven and hell!" The monk looked up at this mighty warrior and replied with utter disdain. "Teach you about heaven and hell? I couldn't teach you about anything. You're dirty. You smell. Your blade is rusty. You're a disgrace, an embarrassment to the Samurai class. Get out of my sight. I can't stand you." The Samurai was furious. He shook, became all red in the face, was speechless with rage. He drew his sword and raised it above him, preparing to slay the monk. "That's hell," said the monk softly. The Samurai was overwhelmed. The compassion and surrender of this little man who had offered his life to give this teaching to show him hell! He slowly put down his sword, filled with gratitude and suddenly peaceful. "And that's heaven," said the monk softly. 

A FORMER CHILD'S STORY

A message for all of us because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say. 

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should share with those who don't. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say," Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

Each of us influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

THE TROUBLE TREE

A carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house has just finished a rough day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family, as we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me so I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong at home with my wife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then  in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is," he smiled,"when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

CHOOSING THE NEGATIVE

A hunter purchased a rare one of a kind bird dog. This dog could walk on water. The hunter couldn't believe his eyes when he saw this miracle. He was excited to show off his new acquisition to his friends. He invited a friend to go duck hunting. After some time, they shot a few ducks and the man ordered his dog to fetch the birds. All day long the dog ran on the water and kept fetching the birds. The owner was expecting a comment or complaint about his amazing dog, but never got one. As they were returning home, he asked his friend if he had noticed anything unusual about his dog. The friend replied,"Yes, in fact , I did notice something unusual. Your dog can't swim!"

Some people live miserable lives because they habitually look for and always find the negative in every experience. 

RECOGNIZING LOVE

There was once a young woman who had two boyfriends, Bill and Charlie. Both of them were madly in love with her. Every Friday night she would go out with Bill and every Saturday night she had a date with Charlie. The young woman knew that one day she would marry either Bill or Charlie, but she was in no rush to take the next step. One weekend everything abruptly changed. It started on Friday, when she was having dinner with Bill. Right before dessert, Bill proposed to her. The woman was so startled that all she could say was, "Let me think about it." Bill was so disappointed that he took her home immediately. Saturday night she had her usual date with Charlie. Right after dessert, Charlie proposed. She was so startled that all she could say was, "Let me think about it." Charlie was so disappointed that he took her immediately home. Later that night, the woman realized that she had to make the biggest decision of her life. Suddenly, the only person who could help her magically appeared - her Fairy Godmother. The young woman explained her dilemma and asked if the Fairy Godmother could help. "Of course I can help." the Fairy Godmother said, "here's what you need to do. Get a sheet of paper and a pen. Determine the one thing you love most about being with Bill and write it down. Then determine the one thing you love most about being with Charlie and write that down. Then read what you wrote about Bill and Charlie, close your eyes, and the name of your future husband will magically pop into your mind."

The woman did exactly as she was told by her Fairy Godmother. At the point where she closed her eyes, the name "Charlie" popped into her mind. The woman was ecstatic! She realized that Charlie was indeed the right choice. The Fairy Godmother suddenly reappeared and inquired as to the success of her magic. "The magic worked perfectly and I've discovered that I'm going to marry Charlie", said the woman. The Fairy Godmother asked, "what did you write about Bill?" She responded,"when I'm with Bill, he makes me feel like he is the most wonderful person in the whole world." The Fairy Godmother was confused. "I don't understand." She said. "You wrote that when your with Bill he makes you feel like he is the most wonderful person in the whole world!! Why are you marrying Charlie?" "Oh, that's easy," the woman replied,"when I'm with Charlie, he makes me feel like I AM the most wonderful person in the whole world."

MOTIVATION

There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived on the lowlands and the other in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlands one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains. The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountains. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used and they didn't know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain. Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby  home. The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only several hundred feet. Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below. As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby's mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn't figured out how to climb. And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How could that be? One man greeted her and asked, "We couldn't climb the mountain. How did you do this when we the strongest and most able men in the village couldn't do it?" She shrugged her shoulders and said,"It wasn't your baby."

WALKING THE TALK

Late one night on a lonesome Texas prairie, three cowboys were sitting around a campfire. Then the stories began... The first cowboy said," I must be the meanest cowboy in the world. Just the other day, a bull got loose in the corral and gored six men to death. I immediately jumped over the fence and wrestled the bull to the ground with my bare hands." The second cowboy not wanting to be outdone said," That's nothing! I must be the meanest toughest cowboy in the world. Just the other day, I was walking down a trail when a 15 foot rattlesnake slid out from under a rock and made a move toward me. When he was just about to bite me, I grabbed the snake by the neck and choked him to death with my bare hands." The third cowboy listened intently and remained silent while he stirred the orange hot coals in the campfire with his bare hands. 

HALL OF FAME

During the winter of 1993, workers at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, made a remarkable, heartwarming discovery. 

While renovating a section of the museum they found a photograph that had been hidden in a crevice underneath a display case. The man in the picture had a bat resting on his shoulder, he's wearing a uniform with the words "Sinclair Oil" printed across his chest; his demeanor is gentle and friendly. Stapled to the picture is a note, scribbled in pen by an adoring fan. The note reads, "You were never too tired to play ball. On your days off, you helped build the Little League Field. You always came to watch me play. You were a Hall of Fame Dad. I wish I could share this moment with you. Your son, Peter. 

Peter found a way to put his father in the Hall of Fame. 

HOW CAN I CHANGE THE WORLD?

Each of us, in our own way, wants to do something BIG! We want to leave our mark. We want our life to stand for something. We want to change the world. 

Here's some advice written by an unknown monk in 1100 A.D.; "When I was a young man I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize that the only thing I can change is myself, and that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. That impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world."