"Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold."
                                                                                             – Leo Tolstoy

About Leo Tolstoy

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, known as Leo Tolstoy, is considered one of the greatest novelists of all time; he wrote 25 books, including War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He was born on his family's estate in Russia. Although he fought in the Crimean War, he became a pacifist and political radical after a severe midlife crisis. His beliefs greatly influenced Mahatma Gandhi, who became a friend. He died in 1910.

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SUCCESS REQUIRES NO APOLOGIES.
      FAILURE PERMITS NO ALIBIS.


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"Give us this day our daily bread."

                                                   Matthew 6:11  

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"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."
                                                                                                    – Anna Quindlen

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   Today is my 70th Birthday and I am in awe of what a great life God has given me. 
   Happy Birthday to everyone everywhere who has August 18 as their birthday. No matter what the number of years might be, it's a great life.
   My friends at Unity Village Missouri sent me the perfect spiritual message for this happy day. I accept it completely with the joy that it obviously conveys. Here it is -  

 

Today's Daily Word - Tuesday, August 18, 2009

                         Let Go, Let God

   I release, accept, and receive.

   At times I may need to repeat an affirmation several times before it takes hold in mind and heart. For instance, I may have been carrying a heavy burden for days or weeks, and finally I understand: I've been trying to do this all on my own. I stop struggling and affirm: I let go and let God. I repeat this affirmation until I release all to God.

   The One Power and Presence never lets me down. I release any worry or struggle and accept the comfort, inspiration, and abundance of God. I receive all that I need, and more.

   I release, accept, and receive. With ease and grace, the gifts of God flow to me and through me to accomplish good.

"The Noah rule: Predicting rain doesn't count; building arks does."
                                                                                           – Warren Buffett

        

"Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."
                                                                      – John Updike

About John Updike

John Updike, the Pulitzer Prize–winning American novelist known for his careful craftsmanship and small-town settings, has published more than 60 books to date. He was born in 1932 in Pennsylvania. As a child he suffered from stammering and was encouraged by his mother to write. After college, he joined The New Yorker as a regular contributor. He is best known for his series of novels about a fictional alter ego, including Rabbit, Run and Rabbit at Rest. He lives in Massachusetts.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
                                                                     –Theodore Seuss Giesel (Dr. Seuss)

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     THE PATRON SAINT OF WRITERS

When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time."
–                                                                          St. Francis De Sales

About St. Francis De Sales

St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622), known as the Gentle Saint, was bishop of Geneva. His motto was, "He who preaches with love preaches effectively," and his religious texts, including Introduction to the Devout Life, have resonated with many non-Catholics. Pope Pius IX proclaimed him a patron saint of writers. Some consider him a patron saint of the deaf; he invented a form of sign language to teach a young deaf man how to communicate.

With Respect & Gratitude,
                Tom
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This Was Helpful To Me: 
    http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

This website/video looks and sounds like simple high school "book learning," but it made clear to me some important things about my good life in the USA.

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

   It reduces the emphasis on "Liberals" and "Conservatives." It challenges the myths spread by some TV commentators and debunks the promises made by the gang of "We'll Take Care Of You" politicians.
   In laying out the basics, it serves as a warning to me that our country's system might be quietly changing. Based on other histories of the world, this could become very troublesome.
   I appreciate my friend who sent this to me. It awoke me from my unconcerned, day-to-day existence. I now remember that I have a duty to become more active in my community affairs.

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PEACE BE WITH YOU

              It Is Too Great Of A Day
      To Have Only One Good Thought.
                     Thought #2
                            For
            Tuesday, August 4, 2009:

"I have no right to say or do anything that diminishes a man in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him, but what he thinks of himself. Hurting a man in his dignity is a crime."
                      Antoine de Saint-Exupery as quoted in
                            How to Win Friends & Influence People, 
                                           by Dale Carnegie, p 226


      

               Failure seldom stops me.

              What frequently stops me

                   is the fear of failure.
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