You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love - Henry Drummond

InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 156 - April 6, 2009
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

Busy

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter ask for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions and for that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was to work and the first day, the woodcutter cut down 18 trees.

'Congratulations,' the boss said. 'Go on that way!'

Very motivated for the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could cut down 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he only could cut down 10 trees. Day after day he was cutting less and less trees.

'I must be losing my strength,' the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologised, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

'When was the last time you sharpened your axe?' the boss asked.

'Sharpen! I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut down trees . . . '

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don't take time to sharpen the 'axe.'

In today's world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy that ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay 'sharp'. There's nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our creator, giving more time for our family, taking time to read, etc.

We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don't take time to sharpen the 'axe', we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. So start from today, think about the ways by which you could do your job more effectively and add a lot of value to it.

Written by Stephen Covey
Author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

April's Featured Inspiration

The Stone Soup Story

Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers, suffering a meagre harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their . . . read the story >>>

Plants and People

Plants grow best when we pay attention to them. That means watering, touching them, putting them in places where they will receive good light. They need people around them to notice if they are drooping at the edges or looking particularly happy in the sunlight. The more attention a plant receives, the better it will grow.

We need to be noticed in the same way. If we notice a family member or friend is drooping, perhaps we can pay some special attention to him or her. All of us need someone to care about how we are and to truly listen to us.

We can share and double someone's happiness by noticing and talking about it also. We help the people around us to grow by listening to their droopy edges as well as their bright days.

People need this as much as plants need light and water.

Author Unknown

Inspiring Image

I trust you enjoy and value watching this inspiring and uplifting image, please turn up your speakers and allow up to a minute for the image to download . . . Fantastic Trip >>>

- Inspirational Quote -

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant
Robert Louis Stevenson

View more Inspirational Quotes >>>

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