After years of failure at everything he tried, a man sought advice from a wise monk in a nearby monastery. “Brother,” he said, “I just don’t have it in me to go on anymore. Can you think of any reason why I shouldn’t just quit?”
The monk took him out to the garden. “Look at the fern and the bamboo. Look closely.”
“What about them?”
“When I first planted them, I gave them both plenty of light and water. The fern grew quickly, and its green leaves covered the garden.
“But nothing came from the bamboo seed. Year after year the fern grew more beautiful, but the bamboo still didn’t sprout.
“Five years later, the bamboo started sending up shoots. Then in just a few months, it was taller than the fern. Why? It had spent those five years growing roots strong enough to support a great height.
“One year, the fern was flattened by a terrible windstorm, but the bamboo stood firm because of the deep, strong roots.
“Think about this,” the monk finished. “While others have been growing high, you have been growing the roots that will sustain you when the strong winds come. You will be able now to grow taller and stronger because of your deep roots.”
In my opinion, success is built on adversity and challenge, not on easy wins.
The Origin Of New Year’s Resolutions
The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates all the back to 153 B.C. when January was named the first month after Janus, a mythical god of early Rome.
Janus was often depicted with two faces — one looking forward, one looking backward. This allowed him to look back on the past and forward toward the future.
On December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking backward into the old year and forward into the new year. This became a symbolic time for Romans to make resolutions for the new year and forgive enemies for troubles in the past.
The Romans believed Janus could forgive them for their wrongdoings in the previous year. They would then make promises, believing Janus would see this and bless them in the year ahead. Those promises are the origin of our New Year’s Resolutions today.
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Mel’s Home News
News To Help You Save Time And Money January 2015
Don’t Sabotage Your Workout!
You work out regularly, so why aren’t you in the best shape of your life? You could be sabotaging yourself without realizing it. Whether you go to a fancy health club or simply exercise at home, don’t undercut your progress with these mistakes:
* Not warming up properly. Without a thorough warm-up, you won’t get all the benefits of a good workout, and you increase your chances of injury. Don’t leap right into exercise—get your muscles ready to work.
* Consuming the wrong calories. Energy drinks and power bars may seem healthier than soda and chocolate, but they still add unwanted calories. Keep up your energy with fruits and vegetables, not trendy sports beverages or massive bran muffins.
* Starving yourself. The flip side of eating too much is not eating enough to get through your workout. If you’re hungry, you’ll tend to binge on high-calorie foods later. Focus on a healthy diet that supports your effort.
* Doing the wrong exercise. What do you want to accomplish? Get specific: Do you want to lose weight, build up muscle, increase your endurance, train for a marathon? Set clear goals, and then talk to a trainer about the best
exercises for them.
* Overdoing your workout. Exercising for hours at a time can release hormones into your system that aren’t good for your body in excess. Training seven days a week can wear you out and won’t give your body sufficient time to adapt and recover. Take a reasonable approach to your workouts.
The Honest Thief
The skeptical king spoke to the newest prisoner in his dungeon, “All these others loudly proclaim their innocence. I suppose you’re as innocent as a lamb, too?”
This man shook his head sadly. “No, Your Majesty. I’m a thief. I was caught fair and square, and my sentence was just.”
The king blinked in surprise. “Release this man!” he proclaimed, and the thief was promptly set free.
The other prisoners began shouting. “Your Majesty, how can you do such a thing? How can you free a confessed criminal while we rot in here?”
“I’m doing you a favor,” the king said. “I can’t risk leaving that evil scoundrel in here to corrupt all your innocent souls, can I?”
