THE THREE TOADS

How often I recall the tale of the three toads

They decided to cross the road to a greener field on the other side,
but were momentarily delayed by a deep rut in the auto tracks.
Two toads hopped over the rut successfully,
but the third misjudged the distance and fell in.

His friends waited for him as he tried to jump out but failed.
Finally, they deserted him and went on across the field.

A few moments later,
they were amazed to see their friend hopping merrily toward them.
“What happened?
The last we saw, you were in a rut and couldn’t get out.”
“I know,” he replied. “But a car came along and I had to!”

Please call my office if you’re in a “financial rut”
we may be able to help.

MESSAGES
from the Masters

LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER

by Ron White

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a poem on success. One of his measures of success in that poem was to, 'Leave the world a bit better.' That line has always stuck in my head. Emerson said you have succeeded if you leave the world a bit better. I have made that line part of my life philosophy.

When the tide goes out, there is a watermark where the water was. When the waters of life recede from the shore of my being and my heart pumps for the last time, my desire is that there will be a mark where I stood. My aim is that the mark will say, 'For some decades a man occupied this space who saw others more important than himself and made an effort to leave the world a better place for them and those yet to come.'

Our society tells us that success is measured by bank accounts, power, beauty and wealth. These are often the result of hard work, luck or birth. They are not evil and I strive for some of them daily. However, they are not the mark I will measure the success of my life with.

So how do you do it? How do you 'leave the world a bit better?'

• You give a percent of your income away to a charity or church. This makes your community better.
• You save a percentage of your income to pass down to your family when you leave.
• You volunteer your time for those who are less fortunate. Are you volunteering anywhere?
• You mentor someone who needs a positive direction in life.
• You follow and get involved in politics. Our laws and leaders will determine the future. You can have a hand in that future.

Or you can amass as much wealth as you can, spend it as fast as you can on the fading desires of your heart and seek to please you first. Our culture might tell you that this is success. Emerson tells us that it is not. I encourage you to realize that the waters of your life will eventually withdraw from the shore. When it does, will there be a watermark?

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QUOTES
from the Masters

On Overcoming Obstacles

"Obstacles across our path can be spiritual flat tires -- disruptions in our lives seem to be disastrous at the time, but end by redirecting our lives in a meaningful way."

-- Bernie Siegal

"You can't fly a kite unless you go against the wind and have a weight to keep it from turning somersaults. The same with man. No man will succeed unless he is ready to face and overcome difficulties and is prepared to assume responsibilities."

-- William J. H. Boetcker

"It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done."

-- Samuel Smiles

On Attitude

"You're as old as you behave."

-- Harvey Mackay

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

-- James Dean

"No life is so hard that you can't make it easier by the way you take it."

-- Ellen Glasgow

"It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome."

-- William James