Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Whatever the weather, you could find him in the same place—whether the sun was scorching or the rain was pouring down.


For three years, a homeless man sat on the same street corner in Webster, Texas.

"Someone needs to do something about that guy," locals used to grumble as they drove past.

But no one ever took the time to find out why the man was sitting in the same spot day after day. Until a woman named Ginger Sprouse stopped and rolled down her window.



She learned that the homeless guy had a name—his name was Victor Hubbard and was 32 years old.

Most people correctly assumed Victor was homeless. But few knew that he also suffered from mental illness.

Ginger asked Victor why he was always at the same corner.

And Victor's answer would change both of their lives forever...

Ginger Sprouse is a wife and mother who lives in Webster, Texas. She and her husband, Dean, run a cooking school called Art of the Meal.

Like most of Webster's residents, Ginger had noticed a homeless man at one of the city's intersections.

Rain or shine, the guy sat in the same spot every day for three years.

"Someone needs to do something about that guy," Ginger heard her friends grumbling.

One day Ginger drove up to the homeless man, rolled down her car window, and started talking to him.

It was then that she learned the heartbreaking reason why Victor was sitting at the same corner for three years.

Victor Hubbard is 32 years old. He struggles with mental illness, is homeless, and has been on his own since his mother abandoned him three years ago.


That street corner was the last place Victor saw his mother, and no one has seen her since.

Victor waited there for three years in the hope that she would return for him.

When she heard his story, Ginger felt an immediate bond with Victor. And as the season changed from autumn to winter, Ginger worried about Victor's health out there in the cold.

She began visiting Victor on her lunch breaks. After a while, Ginger and her husband agreed that Victor could come to their house whenever he wanted to escape the cold and get some food.

But Ginger's kindness didn't stop there.

During the next three months, she helped Victor get psychiatric treatment, she got him off the streets, and she gave him a job at her restaurant.





Were you touched by this story? Share it with others!

Source: Newsner
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“Don’t think of introversion as something that needs to be cured…Spend your free the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to,” wrote Susan Cain, a modern expert on introversion. “Love is essential,” she explained, “gregariousness is optional.”

OFTEN, IN OUR PAST-PACED AND OUT-LOUD SOCIETY, AN INTROVERT’S VALUE CAN BECOME HIDDEN.


They are worth the time and effort it may take to seek them out. Introverts, as a group, tend to be thoughtful, fascinating, and deeply kind. They will never leave you bored.

FOR MANY REASONS, INTROVERTS MAKE WONDERFUL LIFE PARTNERS.


Here are eight reasons to fall for one:

1. THEY UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF LOVING ONESELF.


Because introverts enjoy spending time alone, they come to know themselves very intimately. This gives them the chance to love themselves, which allows them to more deeply and thoroughly love others. They’ll encourage you to do the same.

2. THEY ARE CREATIVE.


Because introverts spend so much time in their own minds, they are able to develop a unique worldview. They are inclined to express this worldview through art, music, or literature. Creative expression comes naturally to an introvert, who will likely prefer it to conversation. Prepare to be wowed by your partner’s creativity.

3. THEY ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT.


An introvert does not need a partner. They are with you because they want to be. If you need a few days for yourself, they will not complain. They won’t label you selfish or cold. They will appreciate your independence, and will love you even more for it.

4. THEY ARE LOYAL.


As Adam S. McHugh explained, “Introverts treasure the close relationships they have stretched so much to make.” An introvert won’t flirt with your friends. They won’t play games to make you jealous. They are unlikely to cheat on you. Because they are selective in their relationships, they value and respect their partner deeply.

5. THEY ARE GOOD LISTENERS.


“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply,” observed Stephen R. Covey. Introverts are gifted listeners. They will give you their full attention. Their replies will be insightful and meaningful. Soon, you may feel that your partner knows you better than you know yourself.

6. THEY HAVE A GREAT CAPACITY FOR EMPATHY.


 An introvert’s attention is directed to the inner workings of the mind. They tap into this territory much more effectively than most. For this reason, they are able to pick up on the emotions of others and feel them deeply. They are more inclined to react with understanding than with judgement.

7. THEY LIVE WITH AUTHENTICITY.


In our extroverted society, introversion itself becomes an act of rebellion. Introverts know who they are, and they will fight for it. This extends to their feelings about world issues, politics, religion, and humanity itself. An introvert will not change who they are to please others.

8. THEY CARRY A SENSE OF MYSTERY.


In a relationship with an introvert, you may always feel as if they know you better than you know them. They tend to keep parts of themselves hidden. It takes great courage for an introvert to be emotionally vulnerable. This sense of mystery is undeniably alluring.

“I believe that introversion is my greatest strength. I have such a strong inner life that I’m never bored and only occasionally lonely. No matter what mayhem is happening around me, I know I can always turn inward.” Susan Cain knows the value of her solitary nature. Introverts are rebellious, authentic, and deeply in tune with the universe. In our world, these qualities are rare. Treasure them.

 Source: Heart Intelligence
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You aren’t wealthy until you have something money can’t buy.-– Garth Brooks

  • A First Kiss from Someone Special – The sweet rush of butterflies in your tummy when you kiss someone special for the very first time.
  • The Realization of True Love – The warm feeling you get many years after your first kiss when you realize you married the right person.
  • Beauty – Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
  • True Friendship – Through thick and thin, they stood by your side.  They were there when you had nothing but them.
  • Peace of Mind – It can only be acquired with an honest heart.
  • Beginner’s Eyes – You’ll never see it again for the very first time.
  • The Joy of Telling an Interesting True Story – One of the most enticing roles we lead in life is that of a storyteller.  There are few things more satisfying than telling a true story that others enjoy listening to.
  • Happiness – True happiness is achieved by doing what you love and being involved in something you believe in.
  • Success – Success is simply excelling at doing what you love.
  • A Single Moment of Time – Once it’s gone, it’s gone.  Don’t miss it.
  • A Baby’s Laughter – Babies don’t care about money.  They care about kindness, love, and living in the moment.
  • Surprise Encounters with Long-Lost Friends – You haven’t seen them in years, and you figured you’d probably never see them again.  Then suddenly, there they are standing right in front of you.
  • The Feeling of Self-Accomplishment – You set your sights on a specific goal and followed through until you achieved it.  Now that’s something to celebrate.
  • The Sound of Raindrops Outside – …as you snuggle up on the couch.  Few sounds are more soothing.
  • A Good, Genuine Conversation – Those moments of verbal bonding when the topic of conversation flows seamlessly and all parties involved gain as much as they put in.
  • An Unexpected Compliment – It seems like just another dreary Monday afternoon, but then she walks into your office and says, “I love your shirt.  That color looks great on you.”
  • The Feeling You Get When Your Idea Works – You’ve been struggling to resolve a complex problem all day, but you just can’t seem to get it right.  Filled with frustration, you decide to try one last idea before calling it a night.  You’ve had many ideas before that failed miserably… but this time it works.
  • Randomly Hearing Your Favorite Song – You’re stuck in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic, so you crank on a radio station for a little distraction.  The opening notes to your favorite song instantly chime in.
  • Watching a Live Blooper Unfold in Front of You – As you walk alongside a friend, she trips over her own feet, wobbles erratically, regains her balance, and then tries to play it off like nothing happened.  Hilarious!
  • A Sunny Sunday Afternoon – The birds are chirping, a light breeze in blowing through your hair, and the sun’s rays are warming your cheeks.
  • The Rush of Adolescent Love – Those magical moments of adolescent lust and affection that only you and one other person rightly remember.
  • Being In The Right Place at The Right Time – You’re sitting in the nosebleed seats at a professional baseball game.  The home team batter cranks a monstrous, game-winning home run.  The ball bounces off another fan’s glove two seats in front of you and lands right in your lap.
  • The Recollection of Great Childhood Memories – Do you remember the first time you learned to ride a bike?  What about wrestling with your dad?  Or climbing trees with your friends?
  • Reminiscing About Old Times with Your Best Friend – Those crazy life experiences only the two of you lived through together.  Like that wild 24 hour road trip to Atlanta, or that drunken night on the 3rd floor balcony of your college apartment.
  • Passion – True wealth comes naturally to those who follow their hearts.  You can’t pay someone to be emotionally passionate about something.  Nor can you pay them to psychologically give-up on their passions.
  • Objects of Sentimental Value – Old family photos, your great grandmother’s music box, that painting your baby brother made for you… some things are priceless.
  • The Comfort of an Old Familiar Smell – You just pulled into your parent’s driveway after being away for a long while.  You smell familiarity in the air, the scent of the pine tree in the neighbor’s yard.  As you head through the front door, more familiar smells consume your senses.  Gosh, it feels good to be home.
  • The Hilarity of an Inside Joke – You’ll never get it unless you were there at its inception.
  • Amazing Talents You Are Born With – Like the mind of a genius or the voice of an angel.
  • The Excitement of Making Someone Else Smile – Because her smile makes you smile back.
  • Exercising Your 5 Senses – Sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.  Each provides a gateway to rewarding personal experiences.
  • Sharing a Good Laugh with Friends and Family – Some of the most memorable moments in your life will be moments spent in laughter.
  • The Warm Coziness of Your Own Bed – No bed is more comfortable than your own.
  • Watching Wild Animals in Nature – Like a hawk gracefully soaring above the tree line, or a deer prancing across a grassy field.
  • A Home – Money can buy a house, but not a home.  Because home is where the heart is.
  • Waking Up to the Smell of a Home Cooked Meal – You were still asleep, but someone special knew you’d be hungry soon.
  • The Peaceful Sound of Absolute Silence – Shhhhh…
  • Streams of Consciousness and Clarity – You’re ‘in the zone!’  Act while your mind is hot.
  • The Sound of a Light Breeze Through the Trees – It’s the sound of Mother Nature all around you.
  • The Captivating Experience of People Watching – The interesting (and sometimes foolish) things people do never ceases to please.  You can’t buy this quality of entertainment.
  • Watching the Sunrise and Sunset with Your Beloved – Make time for this.  It’s worth it.
  • The Sound and Sight of Ocean Waves – Another phenomenal act of Mother Nature.
  • The ‘Pump’ After a Great Workout – You feel like you can conquer the world.
  • The Blissful Act of Daydreaming – Just being… and thinking… and dreaming.
  • When She Says “I Love You” – …and you know she means it because you can read the sincerity in her eyes.
  • When an Unlikely Someone Remembers Your Birthday – A friend you haven’t seen in over a month calls you at 9AM on your birthday just to say “happy birthday.”
  • Finding Something You Thought You’d Lost Forever – You searched for it for days and finally gave up.  Now, six months later, it basically appears right in front of you.
  • The Inspiration Behind Creative Works of Art – Every piece of art is priceless in the eyes of someone who can relate to it.  The creative inspiration behind these works of art is no different.
  • When Your Pet Snuggles Up Next to You – It’s just soooo cute.
  • A Moment of Eye Contact with an Attractive Stranger – You’ve never seen them before, and you may never see them again.  But a moment was shared.
  • A Long Hug from a Loved One – Those deep, warm hugs you wish you could nestle in forever.
  • Happily Singing at The Top of Your Lungs – Well… You know you make me wanna shout! Kick my heels up and shout! Throw my hands up and shout! Throw my head back and shout! Come on now… Shout!
  • Seeing Your Breath on a Chilly Night – A simple phenomenon that has entertained children since the beginning of mankind.
  • The Feeling of Acceptance – You’re now a part of something greater… and it feels good.
  • Watching the Clouds Form Cool Shapes – Never the same show twice.
  • Cuddling a Newborn Baby – Precious… simply precious.
  • When You Know You Can Trust Someone – You can see it in their eyes and you can feel it in your heart.  They have no ulterior motive.
  • Sitting Around a Bonfire with Your Friends – One of the greatest settings for reminiscing and storytelling with those your care about.
  • Seeing Two Elderly Folks Who are Madly in Love – It’s a sight of love that has surpassed the tests of time.
  • The Beauty of a Moonlit Sky – Few simple pleasures are more satisfying than gazing up into a starry, moonlit sky.
  • The Awesomeness of Skipping Rocks Across Water – It doesn’t matter how old you get, this one never gets old.
  • Watching Lightning in the Distance – Peaceful and powerful at the same time.
  • Slow Dancing in Your Living Room – Dancing is like dreaming with your feet. -Constanze
  • Knowing She’ll Be There When You Get Back – Yes.  There is stability in your life.  And she’s a big part of it.
  • Watching Her Sleep – Just being with her and breathing with her.
  • The Colors of Fall – It’s Mother Nature’s artwork.
  • People Who Make You Smile Just by Thinking of Them – Wherever I am, no matter what I’m doing, just thinking of her makes me smile.
  • The Warm Touch of Your Beloved – It’s the touch no one else has.
  • When You Realize People Are Reading What You Write – Words can’t explain it.  Thank you.
  • The Excitement of a New Comment on Your Blog – We love these.  😉
Can you think of anything else money can’t buy?  Leave us a comment and let us know about it!
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    The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver, and using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.
    It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity.
    Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her. "How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth: her sight was never going to return.
    A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark. Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart.
    When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.
    Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe.
    She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react? Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day.
    He taught her how to rely on her other senses especially her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase. Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office.
    Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.
    Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience and his love. She said goodbye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!
    On Friday morning, Susan took the bus as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live the past year? Curious she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?" The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, and gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady."
    Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.
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    When life has got you in a slump, turn to these inspirational short stories. Not only is reading them like getting an internet hug for the soul, but they just may spark an idea or a change in you for the better. Read on and get ready to smile.

    1. Everyone Has a Story in Life

    A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…

    “Dad, look the trees are going behind!”

    Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed…

    “Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”

    The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…

    “Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.”

    Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you.

    2. Shake off Your Problems

    A man’s favorite donkey falls into a deep precipice. He can’t pull it out no matter how hard he tries. He therefore decides to bury it alive.

    Soil is poured onto the donkey from above. The donkey feels the load, shakes it off, and steps on it. More soil is poured.

    It shakes it off and steps up. The more the load was poured, the higher it rose. By noon, the donkey was grazing in green pastures.

    After much shaking off (of problems) And stepping up (learning from them), One will graze in GREEN PASTURES.

    3. The Elephant Rope

    As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

    He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

    The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

    Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

    Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

    4. Potatoes, Eggs, and Coffee Beans

    Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

    Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

    He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

    After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

    He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?”

    “Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied.

    “Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.
    “Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

    He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water.

    However, each one reacted differently.

    The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

    The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

    However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

    “Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “

    Moral:In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

    Which one are you?

    5. A Dish of Ice Cream

    In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

    “How much is an ice cream sundae?”

    “50 cents,” replied the waitress.

    The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it.

    “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient.

    “35 cents,” she said brusquely.

    The little boy again counted the coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.

    The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed.

    When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw.

    There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were 15 cents – her tip.

    Source: www.livin3.com 
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