BELIEVE IN YOURSELF & GO FOR IT// IT HELPS TOHAVE SOMEONE ELSE BELIEVE IN YOU FIRST

Hello guys, I hope you are all excited as I am, that today is Friday..hurray. For the weekend I have decided to post two short stories that have touched me, ever so dearly...

Believe in yourself & Go for it

Tim Ferriss believed in himself. In fact, he believed so strongly in his abilities that he won the national San Shou Kickboxing titles just 6 weeks after being introduced to the sport.

As a prior all-American & Judo team captain at Princeton, Tim had always dreamed of winning a national title. He had worked hard. He was good at his sport. But repeated injuries over multiple seasons had continually denied him his dream.

So when a friend called one day to invite Tim to watch him in the national Chinese Kickboxing championships 6 weeks away, Tim instantly decided to join at the competition.

Because he had never been in any kind of striking competition before, he called USA boxing and asked where the best trainers could be found. He traveled to a tough neighborhood in Trenton, New Jersey, to learn from boxing coaches who had trained gold medalists. And after 4 grueling hours a day in the ring, he put in more time conditions in the weight room. To make up for his lack of time in the sport, Tim's trainers focused on exploiting his strengths instead of making up for his weaknesses. Tim didn't want to merely compete. He wanted to win.

When the competition day at last arrived, Tim defeated three highly acclaimed opponents before making it to the finals. As he anticipated what he would have to do to win in the final match, he closed his eyes and visualized defeating his opponent in the very first round.

Later Tim told me that most people fail not because they lack the skills or aptitude to reach their goal but because they simply don't believe they can reach it. Tim believed. And won.

IT HELPS TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE BELIEVE IN YOU FIRST

When 20-year-old Ruben Gonzalez showed showed up at the US Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, he had in his pocket the business card of a Houston businessman who believed in his Olympic dream. Ruben was there to learn the sport of Luge, a sport that 9 of 10 aspirants give up after the first season. Almost everyone breaks more than one bone before mastering this 90-mile-per-hour race against time in an enclosed mile-long downhill track of concrete and ice. But Ruben had a dream, passion, a commitment not to quit, and the support of his friend, Craig, back in Houston.

When Ruben got back to his room after the first day of training, he called up Craig.

"Craig this is nuts! My side hurts. I think I broke a foot. That's it. I am going back to soccer!"

Craig interrupted him. " Ruben, get in front of a mirror!"

"What?"

"I said, 'Get in front of a mirror!' "

Ruben got up, stretched the phone cord, and stood in front of a full-length mirror.

"Now repeat after me: " No matter how bad it is, and how bad it gets, I'm going to make it!"

Ruben felt like an idiot staring at himself in the mirror, so in the most wimpy, wishy-washy way possible, he said, " No matter how bad it is, and how bad it gets, I'm going t make it!"

"C'mon! Say it right. You're Mr Olympic Man! That's all you ever talk about! Are you going to do it or not?"

Ruben started getting serious. " No matter how bad it is, and how bad it gets, I'm going to make it!"

"Again!"

"No matter how bad it is, and how bad it gets, I'm going to make it".

And again and again and again..

About the fifth time Ruben said it, he thought, Hey, this feels kind of good. I'm standing a little bit straighter. By the tenth time he said it , he jumped up in the air and shouted, " I don't care what happens. I'm going to make it. I will be an Olympian!"

Its amazing what happens to your self confidence when you get eyeball to eyeball with yourself and you forcefully tell yourself what you're going to do. Whatever your dream is, look at yourself in the mirror and declare that you are indeed going to achieve it-no matter what the price.

Ruben Gonzales made that declaration, and it changed his life. He went on to compete in three separate winter games in the luge-Calgary in 1988, Albert ville in 1992, and Salt Lake City in 2002. And he's currently training for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, where he will be 43 years old, competing against athletes half his age..

Whoa very long if you ask me, but worth it....

Stories gotten from Jack Canfield's book, my new hero... If you can, please buy his book.. " THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES: HOW TO GET FROM WHERE YOU ARE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE", by Jack Canfield.

Do have a lovely weekend

Ciao

TITHING

A big shout out to my new followers you r welcome. I hope you have a wonderful time here...

Back to the topic for the day: "TITHING"...

I am sure everybody is going to say..here comes the preacher again....loll... Well, today will be talking about tithing from the circular world's point of view..(if there is anything like that..loll).

Still taking extracts from Jack Canfield's book, I was surprised when I stumbled on Principle 61 " Give more to get More"......

Principle 61, PAGE 415

"Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing", Malachi 3:10"

Tithing-that is giving 10% of your earnings to the work of God-is one of the best guarantees of prosperity ever known. Many of the worlds richest individuals and most successful people have been devout tithers. By tithing regularly, you, too can put into motion God's universal force, bringing you continual abundance.

Not only does it serve others but it serves you as a giver, too. The benefits cross all religious boundaries and serves those of every faith-because the simple act of giving both creates a spiritual alliance with the God of abundance, and fosters the mind-set of love for others. Tithing proves in a compelling way that abundant wealth is something God wants for His children. In fact, He created a world where the more successful you are, there more wealth there is for everyone to share. An increase in wealth for an individual almost always represents an increase in wealth for society at large.

"Robert Allen, best-selling author of NOTHING DOWN & THE ONE MINUTE MILLIONAIRE, didn't always tithe. But after he'd lost everything and was down to zero, he said to himself, Wait a second. I've had so much money in my life. I'm suppose to be the guru who teaches people how to become rich. Where's it all gone? I must have done something wrong.

Eventually Bob worked his way back to prosperity. But along the way he learnt a valuable lesson: Either I believe in tithing, he said to himself, or I don't. If I believe it, I'm going to tithe every week. I'm going to figure out what our income is that week and write my check that week.

As he became a dedicated tither, suddenly a whole new world opened up for him. Though his debts were almost insurmountable, he became more grateful for what he had. Soon, new opportunities started flowing to him. Today, Bob says, he has so much opportunity it will take him 10 lifetimes to tap into it. He believes it's that way for all dedicated tithers.

Red light: time to stop: more stories later.......

Before I leave, I will like to confess one of my "sins"... I haven't been a regular tither, why I can not say. Sometimes I will tithe and sometimes I don't..."kinda eat my tithe"... but as I read this book it struck me, that if I claim I am a child of God and I don't tithe, why then do I expect the blessings of God.. The principles in the Bible are there for everyone to follow: "Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, etc if you follow the law of tithing the rewards will come to you......

I am taking Bob/Robert Allen's strategy I will tithe every week...

This one is drastic tithing oh, please God help me..loll...tears....but I am sure I can do it.

Do take care of yourself and have a great day.

Ciao.

My Personal Love Story

Hello everyone I decided that today is the day I tell my personal love story as I am a romantic at heart..loll...

Since I didn't do any love piece in February I decided that I should do this...

How do I start..well I will just talk....

When I finished University in 2006 I decided to work for a photo studio called "Proshots" in Port Harcourt. I applied and was employed for the post of a photographer...(yes I am a photographer, dropping my secrets little by little.. don't worry as you get to know me, you get to know my secrets)

I started working at the studio, it was hectic but it was beautiful. Learning about photography was a new world for me and I enjoyed the gift it gave me. The owner of the photo studio was a young bobo called Bolaji. He sure was tall, dark & Handsome, but I wasn't tripping and just saw him as a bloke (hmm did I say that). Being a photography guru and working at the same time as an engineer, he always made it his business to check the studio out after his day job. Always coming into the studio and asking me how my pictures were, teaching me at the same time...

My life very nice, interesting and lovely, by the way I had a bobo whom I had built castles in the air with. Months after I started working he broke up with me, cos he was cheating. Even though I decided to give US another opportunity he said he didn't want to, so I let it be... It wasn't easy at all, I just had to move and I found solace in my job which helped....

After months of working and dealing with my heart, my Oga started showing signs of something... I say oh boy wat's up? Until one day he spilled the beans.

He told me that he had been attracted to me from the first day he saw me, he just wanted to be sure that it wasn't just a crush so he had taken his time, observing me and waiting...

ahhh I say go abeg how can you say you are attracted to me and you want something more.. I work for you...

What will people say when I get promoted, which I was due for.

Moreover, go you are from Yoruba, I am Rivers, you are the first child and son, haba, your parents will want you to marry your own....

My dear I fought it until I found my heart beating anytime I saw him walk through the door. That moment I knew I was in trouble oh... me in love with my boss....

The more I fought it the more amused he was and he was loving every bit go it, for him, he wasn't ashamed or afraid to profess his love for me to everybody.

Oh and when he kissed me for the first time I said OH God hold me so I don't something I will regret... You see I was determined to wait till I got married and men that kiss almost blew my resolve, but I kept it all the same...loll

Enough of my long talk, I hope I didn't bore you...

The bottom line is that I married the bobo oh, my Oga, my boss and I have DONT regretted it...

H

e is the love of my life and he has made me see that Nigerian men aren't stiff, brutal, unromantic, selfish brute they are characterized by, but that they can be selfless, romantic, nice, soft, caring... cos of him I am confident doing anything I LIKE. He believes in my dreams. He believes I am a fantastic writer even though I haven't found a publisher to accept and love my work. He believes I am the best cook even though I hate cooking and subject him to Indomie every now and then (loll). He thinks I'll be the best mum in the world even though we don't have kids yet. He believes I am his best friend even though I don't act nice at times. He believes I will always be there for him, even though, sometimes things don't work out as he had planned. He believes I am a model even though I have to fight to keep my stomach from blotting out. Oh and I am the best dressed female he has ever meet, even though sometimes my sense of dressing my just consist of a polo shirt and a baggy jeans...

Oh I thank God I gave love a chance despite the awkward circumstances..

I hope you liked it...

For those who have a love story do share. For those who feel they can never have a love story, cos their life is messed up...that's so not true... I know one thing, there is always someone who will see through the mess and love you for who you are. Everyone in life deserves to be loved that is what I know..

Take care and have a nice day.

Something for the weekend y'all

Hello before I go any further I will like to say welcome to MY new followers. SO sorry should have done this a long time ago but I got carried away, do forgive me..

Welcome Chizyk, E4PR, Prism of an immigrant, Kitkat, Rita, Berry, Omolara, Marumba 18, O.Uzamere.... thank you guys for becoming a follower... Your comments and followings...loll inspire me to do more...

This is also for all my other faithful followers...I want to say a big thank you and give everyone a big hug and LOTS of kisses....

A lot of the inspirational stories I have highlighted for some days now have come from this book " THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES HOW TO GET FROM WHERE YOU ARE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE", by Jack Canfield. I recommend that you buy this book as today and tomorrow is world's book day...

Do go and buy a book today....I BOUGHT four books oh God help me...

I am a BOOK addict...I wish I was addicted to something else...loll..

Anyways something a good friend of mine show cased on her blog inspired me... short stories every fridays of authors... blog Myne Whitman....

In the following weeks to come I will put up some of my short stories.. I guess it's time to be criticized and learn more.

Do have a lovely weekend and will chat later.

Ciao

PURSUE YOUR DREAM

When Debbie Macomber decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, she rented a typewriter, put it on the kitchen table, and began typing each morning after the kids went off to school. When the kids came home, she moved the typewriter and made them dinner. When they went to bed, she moved it back and typed some more. For two and a half years, Debbie followed this routine. Supermom had become a struggling writer, and she was loving every minute of it.

One night, however, her husband, Wayne, sat her down and said, "Honey, I'm sorry, but you're not bringing in any income. We can't do anymore. We can't survive on just what I make."

That night, her heart broke and her mind too busy to let her sleep, she stared at the ceiling in their darkened bedroom. Debbie knew-with all the responsibilities of keeping up a house and taking four kids to sports, church, and scouts-that working 40 hours a week will leave her no time to write.

Sensing her despair, her husband woke up and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I really think I could've made it as a writer. I really do."

Wayne was silent for a long time, then sat up, turned on the light, and said, "All right, honey, go for it."

So Debbie returned to her dream and her typewriter on the kitchen table, pounding out pages after pages for another two and half years. Her family went without vacations, pinched pennies, and wore hand-me-downs.

But the sacrifice and the persistence finally paid off. After 5 years of struggling, Debbie sold her first book. Then another. And another. Until finally, today, Debbie has published more than 100books, many of which have become NEW YORK TIMES best-sellers and 3 of which have sold for movies. Over 60 million copies of her books in print, and she has millions of loyal fans.

And Wayne? All the sacrifice in support of his wife paid off handsomely. He got to retire at age 50 and now spends his time building an airplane in the basement of their 7,000-square-foot mansion.

Debbie's kids got a gift far more important than a few summer camps. As adults, they realized what Debbie gave them was far more important -permission and encouragement to pursue their own dreams.

Today, Debbie still has dreams she wants to fulfill-a television series based on her books, an Emmy Award, a number-one NEW YORK TIMES best-seller.

To accomplish them, she has a routine: she gets up every morning at 4.30, reads her Bible, and writes in her journal. By 6.00, she's swimming laps in the pool. And by 7.30, she's in her office answering mail. She writes between 10:00am and 4:00pm, producing three new books a year with discipline and perseverance.

What could you accomplish if you were to follow your heart, practice this much daily discipline, and never give up?...

Notice: " she had to do this for 5 years before she sold her first novel......hmmmm and just after 3months of discouragement I cry and lament and give up.........

Hmm what an inspiring story..I have learnt that following a routine is one of the most difficult things to do.. But it's the way to become the best in what you do....

I have passions and I have dreams....

Underneath are some of my dreams and passions. I intend to put them to work by pressing on daily....

I love to create things with my hands...

I love to crochet and knit,

I love to write

I love to create lovely creative things with my hands,

I love to teach, motivate and encourage people,

I love to sleep....

I love the media

My goals and aspirations: " that I can earn a living for what I love doing and become famous worldwide including sleeping....loll..maybe I can be a sleep therapist....What do you think? Teach people how to sleep, people who suffer from insomnia etc....

Please share your dreams and passions with me and let me know how you intend to accomplish them....

Remember determination and perseverance is the key..

Ciao