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

Hello

Hi everyone I am so sorry for my the silence. This last few weeks has been long, busy and emotional for me. What triggered the emotional side of me was the death of my beloved uncle (my mother's younger brother).

Let me tell u a little about my mum's family.

My mother is the first born and only girl. She has three younger brothers. She was brought up in a house full of love. My mother and her brothers are very close. When one person sneeze everyone sneezed with him. They got each other's back. My mother, the ideal sister in law. didn't give her brother's wives any trouble and they all loved her.

With this little story I am sure you understand how close they are.

All the children, the nieces and nephews are also very close, and I am so close to my uncles, for they are like my second father, if you know what I mean.

In 2008 my uncle was diagnosed with cancer. He went to Switzerland, where he had a bone marrow transplant. He survived it and was told to come every year for a check, which he did in 2009 and 2010. Only for him to become ill again after christmas. Without hesitation he was sent to India, where he died. In fact the week he died, he was to be discharged from the hospital.

I have asked God a lot of questions: "why do bad things happen to good people?"

Why is it that it looks as though the enemy has won the battle?

Why did he have to die so young at age 54?

Well I know he is in a better place but at least he should have stay with us, with his family, his wife and his son longer...

He had some many dreams, a lot of things he wanted to accomplish but he cannot, for he is no more...

I have decided to do a lot of things in this life, whether I can finish them or not I will try

1. I will try my best to fulfill some of the dreams he had(My uncle)...like a family holiday in one of the islands where all the uncles, aunties, nieces and nephews will come together and have fun.

2. I will try and be there for his son for he is family and very dear to my heart.

3. I will learn to play a musical instrument ( learning to beat the drums) in memory of him, for my mother (who had always wanted to learn to beat the drums but because of the times she didn't learn and finally for myself, for I have fallen in love with the drums.

Life is so short and one never knows...Please all that you have decided to do, start it now, even though you don't accomplish all, but at least you will be satisfied that you tried.

Do take care and chat with you later.

Ciao

A PASSION FOR HORSES

Monty Roberts is definitely a man who has found his passion. He is a horse trainer on a mission to show people that violence is never the answer. He believes that horses are trying to teach people that if they could get violence out of their lives, they will find a much happier existence. His work has produced 8 national champions in the show rings of the world and more that 300 international stakes winners in Thoroughbred racing. He's written several books, including "The Man who listens to Horses", which spent 58 weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller List.

Extracts of Monty's interview: " knowing my goals and setting my course allowed me to follow a road map, which introduced me to a life free of work-or work as most people know it. Sure, I worked hard, but it was always to follow the tingle that set me on a course doing exactly what I wanted most to do. This means that I could execute the most grueling schedules imaginable without considering them to be work. I am 69 years of age, and I have a schedule that would choke down most people in their thirties and forties. I read many inspirational and self-help-type books that we should work hard so as to earn the right to retire young and enjoy "free time". By following my strongest desires and seeking my greatest goals, I have created an environment filed with the joy that feee time and work time are the same"....

Trust me when I read this story I said to myself what am I going to do with a passion as lame as the love or horses? But as I continued it dawned on me that no matter how stupid your passion may be you can succeed in it and draw people into your own world.

Note this from his passion he was able to breed thorough breeds, which are used for racing, very expensive in the market, he has also become a writer earning him 58weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller list, and he has become a teacher, a mentor for i am sure he would have students...

P.S. " you can succeed in anything if you have the passion. as laziness in contagious so is Passion..

"The biggest mistake people make in life is not trying to make a living at doing what they most enjoy" Malcolm S. Forbes

Have a lovely weekend.

Ciao

Worried Himself To Death

Welcome omolara thank you for becoming a follower and looking forward to having a lovely time with you.

Today will post an extract from a book I have been reading. (THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES How to get from where you are to where you want to be by Jack Canfield). I hope you learn a lot from this as I have.

WORRIED HIMSELF TO DEATH

Nick Sitzman was a strong, healthy and ambitious young railroad yardman. He had a reputation as a diligent hard worker and had a loving wife and two children and many friends. One summer day, the train crews were informed that they could quit an hour early in honor of foreman's birthday. While performing one last check on some of the railroad cars, Nick was accidentally locked in a refrigerator boxcar. When he realized that the rest of the workmen had already left the site, Nick began to panic.

He banged and shouted while his fist were bloody and his voice was hoarse, but no one heard him. With his knowledge of "the numbers and the facts", he predicted the temperature to be zero degrees. Nick's thought was if I can't get out, I'll freeze to death in here. Wanting to let his wife and family know exactly what had happened to him, Nick found a knife and began to etch words on the wooden floor. He wrote, "it's so cold, my body is getting numb. If I could just go to sleep. These may be my last words".

The next morning, the crew slid open the heavy door of the boxcar and found Nick dead. An autopsy revealed that every physical sign of his body indicated he had froze to death. And yet the refrigerator unit of the car was inoperative, and the temperature inside indicated 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Nick had killed himself by the power of his own thoughts.

You, too, if you are not careful, can kill yourself with your limiting thoughts-not all at once like Nick Sitzman, but little by little, day after day, until you have slowly deadened your natural ability to achieve your dreams.

Notez Bien: when I read this story it spoke to me. This is me for I worry a lot. Why did Nick Sitzman worry himself to death, leaving his wife and kids behind?

Newly added Goal: " stop worrying about everything, for, most at times they all fall into place at the end of the day".

Ciao.

Hello

Hello everyone its been a while we had a good chat. How r u? I hope good. Hmmm last week had been a hectic week for me good excuse why i didn't blog...loll. Despite the hectic schedule I had fun...

Sunday was very interesting for me for I had two invites one for a 1 year old birthday party and the other a friend's party. Oh my my friend Mandy does cook very well. I was tempted to take a second helping, anyway I didn't take though, but wished I did..

Enough of my gisting..

I have to take my leave for u will not believe it, I am feeling very sleepy this afternoon...loll..Oh my God I hope I don't become lazy..

Do take care of yourself and have a lovely week ahead.

Ciao.

P.s: " please join me to read a book a week. its good for your soul"

Note: " You are the same today as you'll be in 5 years except for two things, the books your read & the people you meet", Charles "Tremendous" Jones.

Book Review Continues

IMAGINATION.... "The workshop of the mind"

It is a common saying that if you can imagine it, if you can visualize it, then you can achieve it. Guess what we are back to the power of the mind and faith...loll....

What I Will Do If I Had a Million Dollars.....

A true story about a beloved educator and clergy man, late Frank W. Gunsaulus who began his preaching career in the stockyards region of Chicago. While Frank W. Gunsaulus was going through college he observed many defects in the educational system, so he envisioned, imagined, made up his mind to have a college where he would be the head and he can change the educational system, without being handicapped by orthodox methods of education. Good idea, and a well thought out plan, but he had one hurdle he needed a million dollars for his project. Where was he going to get that money? This was his question, every day. Every night he went to bed thinking of how to accomplish his plans. He took it with him wherever he went.. He imagined it every time he had then opportunity, he was obsessed by it.

Gunsaulus realized that definiteness of purpose is the starting point from which one must begin. He recognized, too, that definiteness of purpose takes on animation, life, purpose when backed by a burning desire to translate that purpose into its material equivalent.

Knowing that in truth there was no way he was going to get that money. The natural proceedure will be for him to quit.......oh well its a good idea but you have to just leave it alone, but he didn't. He set out to preach a sermon the following morning entitled... " What I Would Do If I Had A Million Dollars". For him it wasn't hard for he had spent almost 2 years thinking, imagining, envisioning his dream. The next day he went into the bathroom, read the sermon, then knelt on his knees and asked that the sermon might come to the attention of someone who would supply the needed money. While praying he had the assurance that his request will come through. In his excitement he forgot his sermon, and didn't realize the oversight until he was on the pulpit. It was too late to go and get the sermon papers........his subconscious mind came into action. He closed his eyes and spoke from his heart and soul of his dreams. According to him he not only talked to his audience, but he fancied he talked also to God. He described the plans he had for the school. A school where young people would learn to do pratical things, and at the same time develop their minds.

After his sermon a man walked up the pulpit and said, " Reverend, I liked your sermon. I believe you can do everything you said you would, if you had a million dollars. To prove that I believe in you and your sermon, if you will come to my office tomorrow morning, I will give you the million dollars. My name is Phillip D. Armour.

Gunsaulus went to Mr Amour's office and the million dollars was presented to him. With the money he founded the Armour Institute of Technology, now known as IIIinois Instutute of Technology....

Note this: " Gunsaulus got the million dollars within thirty-six hours after he reached a definite decision. "Imagination, visualization + definiteness = Goals or dreams achieved...

Do have a nice week and remember everything you set your heart to do is possible...Anyone can do anything, become anything either good or bad.....

Ciao....

Book Review Continues

Hello everyone, a big shout out to our new members, happy to have you on board the secretlilies ship. I hope and pray that you will love it.....

Before I start the book review, you can never guess what happened to me. I woke up this morning, went straight to my blog and vamp, started writing, finished examined my work and loved it, clicked the publish post button and watched my post disappear due to network problem.... Well I am back again, nobody stopping me from blogging.....

For our new members the book I am reviewing : " THINK & GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill. For those of us in Lagos you can get it in Laterna ventures, Victoria Island for #1,200 and they even do home delivery, so you can call and order. Do check their website for more details. For those of us out of Nigeria we can get the book on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles.

"Last time if you recall I talked about The MIND. Today it will be about FAITH. Although FAITH & MIND have almost the same kind of qualities they are different in their own way, but intertwined.

"Faith is the head chemist of the mind. When faith is blended with thoughts, the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translates it into its spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to infinite intelligence, as in the case of prayer.

Faith is a state of mind which you may have to develop at will, after you have mastered the thirteen principles, because it is a state of mind which develops voluntarily, through application and use of these principles.... like....repetition..

Repetition of affirmation of orders to your subconscious mind is the only known method of voluntary development of the emotion of faith.

A mind dominated by positive emotions, becomes a favorable abode for the state of mind known as faith. A mind so dominated may, at will, give the subconscious mind instructions, which it will accept and act upon immediately. Even the bible says if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains. Faith is a very powerful tool that a lot of us do not have. We have to cultivate it, if we want to be rich, famous, excel in whatever area we find ourselves.

How many of us as children did our parents have faith in our dreams even though they hadn't seen it? How many of us have faith in our selves, our loves ones, our partners, our friends? How many of us have faith in our country? Faith so small yet so powerful...

Have faith in yourself: faith is the infinite.

Faith is the eternal elixir which gives life, power and actions to the impulse of thought.

Faith is the starting point of all accumulation of riches.

Faith is the basis of all miracles and all mysteries which cannot be analyzed by the rules of science.

Faith is the only known antidote for failure.

Faith is the element, the chemical which, when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with infinite intelligence.

Faith is the element which transforms the ordinary vibration of thoughts, created by the finite mind of man, into spiritual equivalent.

Faith is the only agency through which the cosmic force of infinite intelligence can be harnessed and used by man.

Whoa FAITH is mind blowing.... It is time for us to develop our faith....

TO BE CONTINUED........