February 29th, Orange's Day

A Special Day


February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years, and is called leap day. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365.000 days.


It is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. So, fair warning if you will. In many places, it is believed that getting married in a leap year is bad luck for the couple. Thus, for a while couples avoided setting a marriage date in a leap year. Today, most are not so superstitious.


Some lucky people have the special distinction of being “leaplings,” having Feb. 29th as their birthday. So was the case with my grandfather, who was known as Orange. Orange was born Feb. 29, 1904 and lived until April 21, 1979. Orange was 75 years of age, but I remember him telling me, “today was his 18th birthday.” He only got to celebrate his true birthday once every four years.


Orange was one great granddad. He loved to take me with him everywhere. He would take me to town when he would go have coffee with his friends. He would take me to work with him, he worked as a carpenter, and he would always bring me to the work sites. He liked all his grandkids, but I was the favorite. I secretly always enjoyed that. He would let me drive, when no one else would. He just had a way about him that made me feel so special. I don’t know if anyone else ever made me feel as special as he did.


Orange loved to have fun. He wasn’t like most stuffy adults I knew. He was always looking to make the most of any occasion. If it was a family gathering, he would rather gather the kids and do something fun instead of sitting around talking with the adults. All of my family says I am just like him. Many times I have been called Orange myself, and when it happens, I just swell up with pride. He was a great guy. And he will always be remembered as long as I am around.

It brings me joy to remember this good man, Grand Daddy Orange, or as his work buddies called him, "Lemon.”


Oh, and the coffee cup. That is how he liked his coffee, always drinking it from a cup and saucer. I always thought it was odd, but now a favorite memory of mine.


Wishing you well, Ric

Helping Others

What I love about helping others, is that it relieves your pain and makes someone else smile. A smile is one of the best gifts to an aching heart, a smile can help your heart feel the warmth of unconditional love and the joy of life again. ...Ric

Story:

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said. “Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.” The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, “You have seen Hell.” They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons , but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, “I don’t understand.” “It is simple,” said the Lord. “It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.”

The Dream Team

You are, in fact, the people you surround yourself with. You're not your house or your car, you're not how much money you make – your success is a direct reflection of those around you and your relationships with them. We must redirect our focus to creating relationships in our life that will help us change our dreams into reality.

It's the idea that people working together can accomplish far more than they could working separately or alone.

Incredible power can be released when people work together. Associating with like-minded, success-oriented, joyful individuals - or Dream Teaming - is the most amazing success tool that exists. Anyone who achieves great success – anyone – must have a Dream Team. Instant solutions exist in Dream Teaming. They help you to take your ideas and expand them into greatness. A Dream Team will help you focus on your goals – whatever they may be.

What characteristics should your Dream Team possess? You have to have a team mate to think through situations and circumstances. These people should have limitless vision and work together for a single goal. Both your hearts and your heads have to be in harmony with one another. You may even have several Dream Teams for different goals – that's okay. Always be on the lookout for the best people and then ask them.

Also, every member should be on a probation period. If they show themselves to be selfish, negative or egotistical they have to leave. It should be determined from the outset – none of you in the Dream Team can allow for "energy suckers" in your group. This is your life you're building – don't make exceptions because a fit may not be quite right. Attitude is everything and it can make or break your success, as an individual and as a group. There should be a spirit of joy and contribution to the group. After all, that's all you should have room for in your life.

The relationships between you and your Dream Team must be confidential. Your results should speak for themselves – they will tell the world what you have going on with your Dream Team. Only the team should know the goal. Only dedicated, committed, joyful Dream Teams achieve great success.

Lastly, remember this: All of us have self-doubt, but remember that your Dream Team sees more in you than you see in yourself. You're there to cheer each other on, to encourage one another when you become weary, to identify bad habits and help change them. The members in your Dream Team tell you the truth so that you can be all that you can be. Together, you and your Dream Team can master and conquer anything.

Ya'll take care....Ric