Inspiring stories for the season

Today is the best time to relate to Funfare readers some inspiring stories sent to me by my good friends Pinky Tobiano and Joseph Chua who must have gotten them from their other friends or other sources.

Anyway, they are worth retelling, from which we can all learn a lesson or two.

First, the story from Pinky who forgot to mention the title and only said, “Something worth sharing”:

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.

She hated everyone except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.

She told her boyfriend, “If I could only see the world, I will marry you.”

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyes shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her, saying, “Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.”

I’m not sure if the following is part of the story whose author Pinky didn’t mention but she included it as moral of the story:

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.

Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

“Life is a gift.

“Today before you say an unkind word…

“Think of someone who can’t speak.

“Before you complain about the taste of your food…Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

“Before you complain about your husband or wife…Think of someone who’s crying out to Almighty God for a companion.

“Before you complain about life…Think of someone who died too young.

“Before you complain about your children…Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

“Before you argue about your dirty house that someone didn’t clean or sweep…Think of people who are living in the streets.

“Before whining about the distance you drive…Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

“And when you are tired and complain about your job…Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

“But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another…Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one Maker.

“And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down…Put a smile on your face and thank God you are alive and still around.”

Still from Pinky, “Please think of sending this to as many people as you like. It might change someone’s thinking toward Life.”

*   *   *

From Joseph, this food for thought he said was written by Regina Brett, 90, of Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, saying, “You must have read this somewhere but it’s worth reading over and over again.”

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

When in doubt, just take time hating anyone.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

Pay off your credit cards every month.

You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

Whatever doesn‘t kill you really does make you stronger.

It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

Over prepare, then go with the flow.

Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

The most important sex organ is the brain.

No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?”

Always choose life.

Forgive everyone everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

Believe in miracles.

God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

Your children get only one childhood.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

The best is yet to come…

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Yield.

Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

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