Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angles were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the corner of the basement and filled it up with cement. The younger angel than asked why, and the older angel just replied with saying, "Things aren't always what they seem." 

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but 
very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose 
milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. 

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel ,"how could you have let this happen?" The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. "Things aren't always what theyseem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it." "Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem." 

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later...

"Michael"

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" 

Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it isn't that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away
all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to
situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is: It's your choice how you live life." 

I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. 

Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a  serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six months after the accident. 

When I asked him how he was, he replied. "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon to be born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. "I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. 

Michael continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. 

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied."
The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Gravity." Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'." Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

"Slow Dance"

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round ?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground ?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night ?
You better slow down

Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last
Do you run through each day On the fly ?
When you ask "How are you ?"
Do you hear the reply ?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores Running through your head ?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Ever told your child
We'll do it tomorrow ?
And in your haste
Not seen his sorrow ?
Ever lost touch
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi" ?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

When you run so fast
To get somewhere
You miss half the fun
Of getting there.
When you worry and hurry
Through your day,
It is like an unopened gift
Thrown away
Life is not a race
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over

"Yesterday"

Yesterday, I held you tight.
Yesterday, it was so right.
We were in love, that was true.
And now, I'm still in love with you.
But your feelings, they did change.
Never again will we be the same.
You said you're sorry, I'm sorry too.
Because I never thought I would ever hurt you.
You were the center of my life.
Now all I face is anguish and strife.
All our time together, I can recall.
It seemed we could make it through it all.
I wasn't thinking, I made a mistake.
Didn't know how soon my heart would break.
I hold back tears with all my might.
I think, 'Should I end my life tonight?'
That's not the answer, some would say.
But my thoughts hold on to yesterday.
Thoughts are running through my head.
It would hurt too many people if I were dead.
So I go on with this life of sorrow.
Hoping maybe yesterday will soon turn into tomorrow.
Maybe to have loved and lost is better then.
But, still I ask, 'Will I ever love again?'
The answer to that, I just can't say.
You see, my future died yesterday.

Today

Today, I felt some great things.
Today, my heart grew wings.
I was in pain, that was true.
And now, I'm finally over you.
My tears, they did end.
Never again will my heart bend.
We went through a lot, that we did.
And the wonderful memories will never be rid.
We had some great times.
But now I'm independent, my life shines.
All the lost days, I can count.
But no longer will my lips pout.
It hurt so much, I had no hope.
I really thought I could never cope.
That wasn't right, I turned out strong.
Now my thoughts hum a sweet song.
For what was lost and what was gain.
Makes up for all of my dear pain.
So I go on with this life gone astray.
For finally yesterday has turned into today.
To have loved and lost is better then.
And I know that I will love again.
The answers lie just a leap away.
You see, my future is today.

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