InspirEmail No 138 - July 14, 2008

You manage things, you lead people
Grace Murray Hopper

InspirEmail No 138 - July 14, 2008
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

Great Happiness

Not long ago I answered a telephone call from an old friend I'd not heard from for a long time.

'Hi, Steve,' he said. 'I just wanted to see how you're getting along.'

For whatever reason, our paths had simply not crossed for months. It was good to talk with him. I wondered why we hadn't kept in touch better.

Toward the end of the conversation, he said, 'If you need me in any way, I'll be happy to help out.' And he meant it!

That call came at just the right time, as they so often do. I needed those words of encouragement. I hung up the phone feeling a satisfying lump of warmth in my chest.

And that day I re-learned something important about life: life is primarily about people, not plans and schedules, not to-do lists and a million tasks left undone - it's about people.

To love and to know that we are loved is the greatest happiness of existence. And happiness seems to be something that is in short supply for too many of us! My friend reminded me that it is never enough just to love; we must also express it. What good are our affectionate feelings toward others if we don't find ways to let them know?

George William Childs put it like this: 'Do not keep the alabaster box of your love and friendship sealed up until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go.'

Happiness . . . may be just a phone call away.

Written by Steve Goodier

Steve Goodier publishes This is Your Life Support System, a free e-newsletter sharing life, love and laughter. You can visit Steve's website at . . . lifesupportsystem >>>

July Featured Inspiration

In Clay Vessels

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay vessels. It was like someone had rolled balls of clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him . . . read the story >>>

Creativity and Beautiful Living

Creativity is to make something new in the virtual world or by physical material It is to give it a new form that touches other people's lives. Because it stirs their emotions, speaking with or without words making the imagination full, releasing exuberant joy and fruitful ideas of the heart - generating new forms of life.

Creativity is releasing others into creative living, by rejecting the self-absorbed life. For a life of generosity and nobility, the great things of a creative life, come out of small acts of faithfulness and love.

Every creative act is created in a generous heart, not out of selfishness or self-indulgence. Creativity and generosity result in works of beauty and beautiful living.

Author Unknown