Here is your Friday STORY on: HAPPINESS: I don’t know why I chose Friday to bring a happy story, but as I sit writing this I sense it was a good choice. The weekend offers more time with your family and friends, and it is only a full working day away. Do you celebrate a birthday in a big way? My observation is why wait a full year to be happy! I try to make every day full of the essence that brings forth a cheerful attitude. Today’s story is slightly different, it is more like a joke than a story, but hidden within it is a confirmation that certain things are more important than others. If you strive for financial prosperity, would you bend your head down and charge your way through life, bustling everything out of your way. Or would you do your job to the best of your ability, remain cheerful and happy and watch with due care and attention as the play of life unfolds. Chris Evert, the American tennis player once said, “If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that is a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life.” It is how you view life that assists in your efforts to be happy. Everyday situations arise that try to knock you off your pedestal, almost as if a magnet is pulling you down. To do a certain task may hold you in high esteem amongst your colleagues, but to do it with grace, nobleness, cheerfulness and a most pleasant attitude; will imply that you have room for more. You have a big heart, but wait until they see it at its biggest. You are determined, but wait until they see you totally committed. In other words you’ll appear to breeze through every task, in fact you’ll find no need to impress people with what you do, it will be obvious. Please enjoy this story, you’ll not be able to resist telling others… 100 POINTS A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in." "Okay, " the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." "That's wonderful, " says St. Peter, "that's worth two points!" "Two points!?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service." "Terrific!" says St. Peter, "that's certainly worth a point." "One point!? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans." "Fantastic, that's good for two more points, " he says. "TWO POINTS!!?" the man cries, "At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!" "Thank you for seeing that, that’s worth 95 points, please come in, ” said St. Peter. (Unknown Author). Don’t TRY to impress, by doing impressive things. Allow your roots to be fed with love, grace and a happy attitude. Then everything that grows will be impressive without TRYING… QUOTE: "Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.” (Eugene Delacroix).