From http://www.selfgrowthtest.com - 01/30/09 - "Living With More Courage":

Goal Setting - Could You Being Living With More Courage!
By Margie Warrell - Mar. 14, 2007
 

Finish this sentence – If I had the guts I would…

What would you do? What issues that you’ve been silently brewing on would you speak up about? What changes would you make in your career, your relationships… your life? What goals would you take on and what commitments would you break off? Ahhh… if only you had the guts.

Of course it’s much more convenient to blame your woes or lack of opportunity on your spouse, your boss, genetics, the economy, your kids or ‘all the above’ but the truth is that you are alone are responsible for the shape of your life and the state of your heart. Yes, that’s right – you alone are responsible! Sure sometimes life throws curve balls your way but whist you can’t always choose your experiences in life, you always get to decide your experience of life. Sadly though too many people allow fear and doubt to determine their path and choose the certainty of mediocrity because they are so bloody terrified of the possibility of messing up or looking foolish. In ‘settling’, they sell out on their potential, on their dreams and on themselves.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Most people tip toe through life only to make it safely to death”. So what about you – where are you tip toeing? More to the point, what would you do if you weren’t afraid of speaking up, of messing up or of what people might say? Whether at home, work or beyond, your life is waiting for you to reclaim the power that your doubts and fears have been wielding and begin living it more purposefully, more passionately and more courageously.

Perhaps as you’re reading this you’re thinking, “But I’m different. Really. I’ve always been timid and never had the boldness and gutsiness that others do.” Well, I hate to burst your bubble but that’s just not the truth. Rather, it’s just a story you’ve become very attached to that lets you off the hook in taking ownership for all those things in your life that aren’t as you’d like them to be. Sure you may never have performed some extraordinary feat of bravery, survived some dreadful tragedy or overcome a life threatening illness but that doesn’t mean you don’t have all the courage you need to do whatever it is that tugs at your heart strings. You just haven’t been forced to draw on your courage for your survival. The fact is if you found yourself in similar circumstances you would realize that you too possessed more strength and courage than you ever imagined. The problem is that most we human beings go through life never realizing just how resourceful, how strong, how capable and how courageous we have it within ourselves to be.

Ultimately courage is not the absence of fear, self doubt, misgivings or uncertainty. Not at all! Courage is action in their presence; its feeling your fear and taking action anyway! Of course if it were easy to live with courage everyone would be doing it. The reality is, living the courage is likely the biggest challenge you will ever face. It’s also the most important, because when you tap into the courage that resides within you it opens up a whole new world of possibility.

Whilst no-one is born with a genetic bypass to fear, everyone is born with a heart and the ability to connect with what stirs it. By doing so everyone (and yes, that includes you) is able to tap into the reserves of spirit (from which the word inspire derives) to face their challenges with courage, to dream bigger, to live bolder.
As risky as it may feel to you to begin making changes and taking chances, the far greater risk is to take no risk at all. Choosing to stay in the safe, predictable, familiar confines of your comfort zone will take you down a path that will one day have you looking back on your life and wondering regretfully “What if?” As ordinary as you may think you are there are things that you, and only you, can ever do. So fear regret more than you do failure and don’t wait for “some day” to arrive when the moon and stars all line up and all your doubts have disappeared to step out boldly out into your life. Life is too short for such a long endless wait. Rather make the decision to embrace a renewed sense of adventure in the life you have right now and to begin fulfilling the only true mission you ever really have in your life – to do the best you can with what you have been given, to make changes to those aspects of your life that aren’t as you’d like them to be, to speak up about issues that concern you, or try to accomplish something you’ve never sought to do before...

Everyday opportunities arise for you to live with greater courage. Whenever you make the choice to express yourself more openly; to give up well worn excuses and dare to pursue something bigger; to open your heart and reveal your humanity more fully; to get up after a fall; to say no to something that doesn’t inspire you and yes to something that does; to step up to the plate of leadership in your workplace, in your family, in your life, you are being more courageous and expanding your ability to live a more meaningful, rewarding, successful and joyful life.

Never again do you need to say “If I just had the guts” because you do! All the courage you need is available to you right now. It’s just waiting on you to tap into your heart, to connect with whatever makes your spirit come alive, and to step boldly forward in living the life you aspire to live and being the extra-ordinary person you have it within you to become. Don’t let your life pass you by as you tip toe through it only to make it safely to death. Move out onto center stage, ask for more from life, dream bigger dreams for yourself and trust that wherever your dreams may take you, you have the courage to travel.
Don’t believe me? Your life is waiting on you to dare to try.


Author's Bio

Margie Warrell is a Coach, Speaker and Author who works internationally with individuals, teams and organizations to enhance communication, develop leadership and fulfill individual potential. Author of “Find Your Courage! Unleash Your Full Potential and Live the Life You Really Want”, Margie is internationally renowned as an expert on courage as it relates to communication, relationships, leadership and life! As a mother of four young (and noisy) children, Margie specializes in helping other women find the courage to pursue the goals that inspire them – personally and professionally - with greater success, fulfillment and balance. Together with John Gray, Richard Carlson, Jack Canfield and other internationally recognized success experts Margie has also co-authored “101 Ways to Improve Your Life, Vol. 2”. For free resources on how to live a more courageous and rewarding life, further information about Margie’s coaching and speaking programs or to subscribe to her free monthly eNewsletter “Your Greatest Life!” visit www.margiewarrell.com or email info@margiewarrell.com.

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AND NOW SOME CATCH-UP TIME... :

  From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 12/19/08 - "Hey, try this !!!!":

Hi, I know you are sitting at your desk so without your BOSS seeing you, " TRY THIS."   Check this out!! HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?   You have to try this, please; it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this!!! It is from an orthopedic surgeon...........   This will boggle your mind and you will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't.  It's pre-programmed in your brain!   1. Without anyone watching you (they will think you are  GOOFY......) and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.   2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.   I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are  going to try it again, if you've not already done so.   Send it to your friends to frustrate them, too.     Joyce Cahoon

   Okay, this is just weird! Thanks again, Lady!

    From Karen Weinstein Witte ('60) of FL - 12/20/08 - "Stuart Hallett III":

I want to pass along this message from Pat and Stuart ('60) Hallett. I know we will all keep their son, Stuart III, in our prayers and hope for a speedy recovery.

   Oh, no! I'm so sorry to hear this, Karen! I've added Stuart and his family to our Prayer Roll.

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/requests-prayers.html

     From Evelyn Vretos ('55) of VA - 12/20/08 - "note fr ev, NNHS '55":

Hi Carol, Finally made it to my apartment after two months away, recovering from breaking two bones in right lower leg.  The MD said I have good bones, am healing well.   I sent this photo to you (earlier); hope it was received.  Now, I'm sending this photo via email - it may be easier to add next to my '55 photo.   Wishing you & your family a very Merry Christmas and much happiness in the New Year! Love, Evelyn  (NNHS'55)
		Evelyn Vretos

 Thanks so much, Evelyn! Glad to hear you're doing so well, and I really enjoyed speaking with you this morning!  

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/SITE-MAP.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/alumni-list.html

          http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/alumni-1959-n-before.html

From Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH - 12/20/08 - "The Shortest Day-- Susan Cooper Poem":

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.

 Thanks, Domi! I'm sorry I wasn't able to create a Winter Solstice Newsletter in December.....  

    From Richard Dawes (NNHS / HHS - '62) of VA - 12/22/08 - "radio":

Try this on

http://www.theradio.com/

Richard

   Thanks, Dicky! Um, this looks waaay cool, but I, ah, I couldn't make it actually do anything.  I must not be holding my mouth right or sumpin'..... I'll keep trying. :oD

From Norris Perry (Warwick HS - '59) of VA - 12/25/08 - "SR-71":

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/SR-71/index.htm

   Thanks, Norris, I really did enjoy this one!

AND FINALLY:

From Norris Perry (Warwick HS - '59) of VA - 01/28/09 - "FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW TO A HAPPY LIFE:":

FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW TO A HAPPY LIFE:

1. It's important to have a woman who helps at home, who cooks from time to time, cleans up, and has a job.

2. It's important to have a woman who can make you laugh.

3. It's important to have a woman who you can trust and who doesn't lie to you.

4. It's important to have a woman who is good in bed and who likes to be with you.

5. It's very, very important that these four women do not know each other.

      Thanks again, Norris!

REUNION ALERTS:

The Class of '69 is planning its 40-Year Reunion.  If you have not received an email from Jean Baker Howell, she needs your email.  Please contact her at hokie13mom@cox.net.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1. April 23, 24, & 25, 2009 - Class of 1954 will hold their 55th-Year Reunion. For details contact Dr. Harry Simpson at 804-694-0346 or email him at hdsdds@aol.com - CLASS OF 1954

PRAYER ROLL: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 02/02/09

NNHS BLOG: http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 01/09/09

If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie

- Words by Buddy DeSylva, 1925
(27 Jan 1895 - 11 July 1950)

Music by Meyer
()
 

VERSE
I have got a sweetie known as Susie,
In the words of Shakespeare she's a "wow".
Though all of you may know her too,
I'd like to shout right now. If

CHORUS
You knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh, Oh, Oh what a girl. There's
none so classy as this fair lassie,
Oh, Oh, Holy Moses what a chassis.
We went riding, she didn't balk,
from the country, I'm the one that had to walk. If
you knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh, Oh, what a girl.

VERSE
Susie has a perfect reputation,
no one ever saw her on a spree.
Nobody knows where Susie goes,
nobody knows but me. If

CHORUS
You knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh, Oh, Oh what a girl. She
wears long tresses and nice tight dresses,
Oh, Oh, what a future she possesses.
Out in public how she can yawn,
in a parlour, you would think the war was on. If
you knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh, Oh, what a girl.

"If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie" midi and lyrics courtesy of http://www.midnitesun.co.uk/songshtm/songsi.htm - 01/31/09

First Image of Eddie Cantor courtesy of http://broadway.cas.sc.edu/index.php?action=showPhotographer&id=27 - 01/31/09

Second Image of Eddie Cantor courtesy of http://www.nndb.com/people/171/000026093/ - 01/31/09

Marine Corps Seal clip art courtesy of the late Herbert Hice of MI - one of my Famous Marines who served in the South Pacific during WWII.
Thanks again, Herbie!

Hillsboro High School's Topper (Band Version) clip art courtesy of http://www.hillsboroschools.net/schools/hhs/activities/music2/Band/bio.html - 06/07/08
Thanks, Mark!

Siuslaw High School's Viking Logo clip art courtesy of http://www.answers.com/topic/minnesotavikings-1000-png - 12/27/07

Animated Silly Bear (designed by AF Artist - Ryan Hagen) courtesy of http://www.animationfactory.com - 10/04/05

Animated Laughing Frog courtesy of Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 07/16/08
Thanks, Wayne!

Back to NNHS Newsletters - 2009

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