• I believe- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
• I believe- that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
• I believe- that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you wantthemo doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
• I believe- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
• I believe- that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
• I believe- that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
• I believe- that you can keep going, long after you can’t.
• I believe- that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
• I believe- that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
• 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 money is a lousy way of keeping score.
• I believe- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
• I believe- that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
• I believe- that sometimes when I’m 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’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
• I believe- that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
• I believe- that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
• I believe- that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
• I believe- that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
• 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 will find the strength to help.
• I believe- credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
• I believe- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

Christmas is a time of year that can be challenging to many. There are memories, regrets, and losses that seem to rush to our minds, especially as we get older. There is nothing wrong with feeling sadness at Christmas, it doesn’t diminish or disprove your faith in any way. If you look at it in the right way, it can merely be a longing for a better place and the reflection of a life lived loving and connecting with others. Sometimes though, our loneliness is tied to anger, regret or bitterness. Either way, here is a touching story to help you decided how to to approach life.

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She is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed, and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is legally blind.

Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, where I am employed, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…just wait,” I said. Then she spoke these words that I will never forget: “That does not have anything to do with it,” she gently replied.

“Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not, does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it. It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and all of the happy memories I have stored away…just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have already put in.

I’ve learned….
that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I’ve learned….
that love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned….
that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I’ve learned….
that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned….
that no one is perfect until you fall in love

I’ve learned….
that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve learned….
that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned….
that I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I’ve learned….
that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve learned….
that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I’ve learned….
that I can’t choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I’ve learned….
that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness
and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve learned….
that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.

I’ve learned….
that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

I’ve learned….
that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I’ve learned….
that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I’ve learned….
that when you’re in love, it shows.

I’ve learned….
that just one person saying to me, “You’ve made my day!” makes my day.

I’ve learned….
that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I’ve learned….
that being kind is more important than being right.

I’ve learned….
that you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I’ve learned….
that I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in some other way.

I’ve learned….
that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I’ve learned….
that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I’ve learned….
that money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve learned….
that it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve learned….
that under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned….
that the Lord didn’t do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?