Favorite from August 2015

"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

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

"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

"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 

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

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

"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