From the song 'No Pain No Gain' by Betty Wright:

There was an old lady sittin' under a tree
She called me over and she said to me
"My days left here may not be long
I wouldn't waste my time tellin' you nothin' wrong

But love is a flower that needs the sun and the rain
A little bit of pleasure's worth a whole lot of pain
If you learn this secret, how to forgive
A longer and better life you'll live"

No pain (No pain)
No pain (No pain)
No gain (No gain)

In order to get something
You got to give something
In order to be something
You got to go through something

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NprgWAZQo-Q

"Without difficulties, life would be like a stream without rocks and curves – about as interesting as concrete. Without problems, there can be no personal growth, no group achievement, no progress of humanity. But what mattes about problems is what one does with them."
- Benjamin Hoff, The Te Of Piglet

"By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination."
- Christopher Columbus

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."
- Walt Disney

"To me, obstacles in life build character. You have to be able to overcome adversity in order to succeed and appreciate the simple things life has to offer... that's where most of my inspiration for writing and singing comes from."
- Elliott Yamin

"Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity."
- Stephen R Covey

"The most beautiful people I've known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths."
- Unknown

"It's our challenges and obstacles that give us layers of depth and make us interesting. Are they fun when they happen? No. But they are what make us unique. And that's what I know for sure... I think."
- Ellen DeGeneres

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man be perfected without trials."
- Danish Proverb

MainMessageForToday
Difficulties, obstacles, and setbacks mold us to be beautiful people who appreciate the important things in the world.

From the song 'Keep On Moving' by Five:

When the rainy days are dying,
Gotta keep on, keep on trying,
All the bees and birds are flying (ahh ahh ahh),
Never let go, gotta hold on in,
Non-stop 'til the break of dawnin',
Keep on movin' don't stop rockin' (ahh ahh ahh).

Get on up when you're down,
Baby, take a good look around.
I know it's not much, but it's okay,
Keep on moving anyway.

Feels like I should be screaming,
Trying to get it through to my friends,
Sometimes it feels that life has no meaning,
But I know things will be alright in the end.

https://youtu.be/FbWJVult-9M

"I don’t believe in the Law of Attraction. There were things I wanted in my life that no amount of positive thinking was going to make it a reality for me. However, I have learned to believe in the Law of Tough Love. Life has thrown a dozen tragedies at me. I did what any Christian would do--prayed for the outcome I wanted. But God was tough and only gave me what I needed. I now realize that life is not about fulfilling a wish list; rather a need list. Good and bad experiences are on the horizon. How else does a person change, grow and evolve? And just like any warrior woman, I won’t simply survive-- but thrive!"
- Shannon L. Alder

"Before you reach your destination, you'll find yourself going through the wilderness. There's some survival skills that you'll need master through the wilderness journey. While in the wilderness, your faith will be tried and tested. You'll become humble. Your vision for your life will get clearer. You're in training for your purpose. You'll lose some friends, because there's some folks who are only with you because of where they think your journey will lead THEM. Don't worry, they're a little confused... but it was meant for them to get lost during this phase. Walk on. Continue on your journey. Soon, you'll be approaching the mountain. Get ready to climb!"
- Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir 

"Behind every successful man, is a trail made of determination, a path of overcoming failures, several rest areas of prayer time, and friendly mentors pointing out the direction!"
- Doug Seaton

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."
- Henry Ford

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive."
- Lee Iacocca

"Press on. Obstacles are seldom the same size tomorrow as they are today."
- Robert H. Schuller

"The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings. It makes us patient, sensitive, and Godlike. It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
- Helen Keller

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
- John Quincy Adams

"Be calm and strong and patient. Meet failure and disappointment with courage. Rise superior to the trials of life, and never give in to hopelessness or despair. In danger, in adversity, cling to your principles and ideals. Aequanimitas!"
- Sir William Osler

MainMessageForToday
When faced with obstacles, be patient and keep ploughing ahead. Keep your eyes on the goal.

From the song 'Step By Step' by Whitney Houston:

And this old road is rough and ruined,
So many dangers along the way,
So many burdens might fall upon me,
So many troubles that I have to face.

Oh, but I won't let my spirit fail me,
Oh, I won't let my spirit go,
Until I get to my destination,
I'm gonna take it slowly 'cause I'm making it mine.

Step By Step (you know I'm taking it), bit by bit (bit by bit, come move),
stone by stone (yeah), brick by brick (brick by brick by brick by brick mmm...)
Step by step (step by step uh-huh), day by day (day by day-ee),
mile by mile (ooh), go your own way.

https://youtu.be/sWa5vE4MUpU

"To take the difficulties, setbacks, and sorrows of life as a challenge which to overcome makes us stronger, rather than as unjust punishment which should not happen to us, requires faith and courage."
- Erich Fromm, Art of Loving

"When things go wrong. Just do two things: 1. Ask yourself, 'What can I do to make myself more deserving of the next opportunity?' 2. Don't waste time and energy being discouraged. Don't berate yourself. Plan to win next time."
- Benjamin Fairless

“Licking your wounds will not stop the bleeding, but applying pressure will.”
― Orrin Woodward

"Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have."
- Norman Vincent Peale

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."
- Orison Swett Marden

“Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead.”
- Les Brown

“A challenge only becomes an obstacle when you bow to it.”
― Ray Davis

“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options.
You can climb it and cross to the other side.
You can go around it.
You can dig under it.
You can fly over it.
You can blow it up.
You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there.
You can turn around and go back the way you came.
Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.”

― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

MainMessageForToday
When faced with obstacles, do something about them. There is always something you can do.

From the song 'Survivor' by Destiny's Child:

After all of the darkness and sadness
Soon comes happiness,
If I surround my self with positive things
I'll gain prosperity,

I'm a survivor,
I'm not gon' give up,
I'm not gon' stop,
I'm gon' work harder.
I'm a survivor,
I'm gonna make it,
I will survive,
Keep on survivin'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki97oF8LBFE

Usain Bolt has had to overcome difficulties and setbacks.
"When he had a hamstring injury in 2004, he was unable to perform at his best and was away from track for about two years. He persevered and came back with a vengeance in 2007 winning the 200 meter race in the Jamaican Senior T&F Championships in record-breaking time."
- From 'Usain Bolt: Another Example of the 7 Ps for Success,'
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/usain-bolt-another-example-7-ps-success-fahmeenaodetta-moore

"History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."
- B. C. Forbes

"The best people I know have had a lot of obstacles to overcome."
- Jayne Meadows

"I'm proud of the way I've dealt with setbacks. It's hard when you feel down and you think, 'Why is the world doing this to me?' But you have to pick yourself up again. That's what makes you a better athlete."
- Jessica Ennis

"I've been motivated by overcoming challenges and overcoming the hurdles and obstacles that face me. There still is plenty out there to get motivated by."
- Andre Agassi

"I don’t like to lose—at anything… Yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks. If winning is God’s reward, then losing is how he teaches us."
- Serena Williams

"If there is one thing that all players have in common it is that winning, competitive gene; the ability to overcome obstacles and fight for what you want from your career."
- Andres Iniesta

MainMessageForToday
Winners or people who have achieved great success are usually people who have had to overcome challenges and setbacks.

"When you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong...The hero lies in you"
- From the song 'Hero'by Mariah Carey
https://youtu.be/0IA3ZvCkRkQ

"The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats."
- Theodore Roosevelt

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
- Christopher Reeve

"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward."
- Henry Ford

"Fighting your way back on your feet when life knocks you down, while they all thought you can't rise again, is what makes you a true survivor."
- Blaze Olamiday

"No matter how many obstacles that are thrown in our path, there are ways to accept them and to live through them."
- Robert Zemeckis

The incredible stories of the women from Push Girls who suffered setbacks and maintained a positive attitude:
http://celebrityscribe.com/2012/07/push-girls-the-best-in-reality-tv/

"The degree of challenge is all relative. At one point I thought getting paralyzed was the greatest challenge for me. Now I feel like it’s the best thing that has happened to me. My viewpoint now doesn’t see it as a challenge; it feels like a great experience in life leading to the ultimate self-growth."
- Mia Schaikewitz

MainMessageForToday
In life, you must win in spite of difficulties, obstacles and setbacks.

Everybody hurts.........

Song 'Everybody Hurts' by R.E.M.

When your day is long and the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go
Everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on

Everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand Oh, no
Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes
So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
(Hold on, hold on)

Everybody hurts
You are not alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijZRCIrTgQc

"Everyone has setbacks. I'm no different. I happen to have no legs. That's pretty much the fact."
- Oscar Pistorius

"I live my life like everyone else; everyone has their own obstacles. Mine is deafness."
- Marlee Matlin

"Everybody goes through obstacles and problems and issues and turn their backs on people that we are fond of and love just because we hurt; and everybody goes through that."
- Boris Kodjoe

"You know, everybody has setbacks in their life, and everybody falls short of whatever goals they might set for themselves. That's part of living and coming to terms with who you are as a person."
- Hillary Clinton

"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
- Michael Jordan

"I've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish."
- Chuck Norris

"The life of the individual is a continuous combat with errors and obstacles, and no victory is more satisfying than the one achieved against opposition."
- Gustav Stresemann

Theme for the week 8/9 - 8/15: Overcoming Difficulties and Setbacks.