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MESSAGE #784 IT’S ABOUT OTHERS…

“If you want happiness for an hour – take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month – get married.
If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else.”
-From the Federal Palace Restaurant in Hong Kong (Thanks, Guy Kawasaki!)

Last night I attended a benefit for HomeFront, an organization that helps families “break the cycle of poverty.”

Every single night, HomeFront helps…

-Over 450 children and parents sleep soundly in a safe place

-171 people reside in HomeFront’s permanent, affordable, service-enriched housing

92% of their funds go directly to their programs, and they have just started a Women’s Initiative, empowering women.

I went to show my support and to donate a signed copy of my book. I also spoke briefly and shared a story on how the key to true happiness is helping others.

I remember a story about two men standing at their friend’s funeral and one of them asking the other, “How much did he leave?”

The other responded, “He left…everything.”

See, many of us go through life trying to accumulate as many things as we can – homes, cars, electronics, but we can’t take any of that with us.

At the end of our lives, it doesn’t matter how much we have.

All that matters is what we leave behind. How much of a difference we made. How we treated others.

I don’t get paid to blog every day, but it motivates me to motivate others. It’s my way of making a difference, in my own little way.

Am I perfect?

Not even close.

But I’m doing what I love and appreciate every single day – I’m just like you – trying to become a little bit better every day.

I have been fortunate to realize that external riches are nothing without internal riches. Now go make a difference today!

Have a super day, everyone.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #513 BACK HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS…

First of all, a very Merry Christmas for all of you celebrating.

It is 2:34AM on December 25th and I just got back from my amazing Australia and New Zealand trip. I had a wonderful time and met some great people like magician and Houdini expert, Bernard Reid (pictured above with me and the great Melissa Sapio). If you recall, I did not post a message on December 9th because I was crossing the international date line and never experienced December 9, 2008. And my intention was to give you two blog entries for the December 24th because I actually experienced it twice, but our flight was delayed and didn’t get home in time.

Some say that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Many people like the holidays because they receive gifts. Others enjoy it because they get to give gifts.

My family decided long ago not to exchange gifts with each other (except for the kids) and instead we spend time together.

So if Santa doesn’t bring you what you want this year, don’t worry because they is still plenty to be grateful for.

Here are a few things on my gratitude list:

My friends
My family
My health
My dog
My car
My computer
My house
My clothes
My food
My opportunity to play/teach tennis
My opportunity to help others
My blog readers
My life.

When you focus less on wanting more possessions, and more on being grateful for all the wonderful things you already have, your whole world changes.

Life is beautiful…are you noticing?

Thanks for reading.