Here is your Saturday STORY on: SOLVING PROBLEMS: If you have a problem, what do you do and where do you go? Firstly we must be aware that being choked by a problem will only make you want to kick and scream. The resultant decision would be a forced one under duress. Ideally you would want to take time, care and attention over every decision. To do this with a good degree of success we must be within a calm state of mind. If we are confronted with a problem and a state of anguish and frustration arose we must first spot the condition and then resist it from affecting any decision we make. More often than not we forget to be grateful for the other things in life that we have. Today’s story illustrates how an illness can suddenly make you see life clearly; and sadly for the lady who wrote this, too clear too late. IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER (written after discovery of terminal cancer) I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the "GOOD" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, would never have said, "Later, now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's" ... more "I'm sorry's" ... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute ... look at it and really see it ... live it .. and never give it back. (Erma Bombeck) QUOTE: “You have to make a conscious choice every day to shed the old – whatever ‘the old’ means for you. (Sarah Ban Breathnach)