Stay In Tune With My Star player (Namely Me), The Person I have to Deal With Everyday.

It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer.
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide feelings.
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf.
I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines , Iowa . I’ve always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I’ve done for over 30 years.
Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I’ve never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students.

However I’ve also had my share of what I call ‘musically challenged’ pupils.
One such student was Michael. Michael was 11 years old when his mother (a single Mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Michael.

But Michael said that it had always been his mother’s dream to hear him play the piano.
So I took him as a student. Well, Michael began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Michael tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel.. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he’d always say, ’
My mom’s going to hear me play someday.’ But it seemed hopeless.
He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Michael off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.

Then one day Michael stopped coming to our lessons.
I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming.
He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student’s homes a flyer on the upcoming recital.
To my surprise Michael (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital.
I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify.
He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing. ‘Miss Hondorf I’ve just got to play!’ he insisted.

I don’t know what led me to allow him to play in the recital.
Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night for the recital came.
The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives.
I put Michael up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my ‘curtain closer.’

Well, the recital went off without a hitch.
The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Michael came up on stage.
His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he’d run an eggbeater through it. ‘Why didn’t he dress up like the other students?’ I thought. ’
Why didn’t his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?’

Michael pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart’s Concerto #21 in C Major.
I was not prepared for what I heard next.
His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories.
He went from pianissimo to fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso.
His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent!
Never had I heard Mozart played so well by a person his age.
After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo
And everyone was on their feet in wild applause.

Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Michael in joy.
‘I’ve never heard you play like that Michael! How’d you do it? ’
Through the microphone Michael explained:
‘Well Miss Hondorf . .. Remember I told you my Mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning And well . .
She was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play.
I wanted to make it special.’

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house that evening.
As the people from Social Services led Michael from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy, and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Michael as my pupil.

No, I’ve never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy. . Of Michael’s!
He was the teacher and I was the pupil for it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don’t know why.

The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.

The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered in another race and it won again.

The local paper read: PASTOR’S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in any more races.

The next day the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES THE PASTOR’S ASS.

This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline: NUN HAS THE BEST ASS IN TOWN .

The Bishop fainted.

He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the headlines read: NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.

This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the high plains where it could run free.

The next day the headlines read : NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

Alas… The Bishop was buried the next day.

MORAL OF THE STORY???

Being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery and even shorten your life. So, be yourself and enjoy life. Stop worrying about everyone else’s ass and you’ll live longer.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car drove out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, So…Love the people who treat you right. Ignore the ones who don’t. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a marvelous, garbage-free day! The seeds you plant today, determine the harvest you reap tomorrow.

HONESTY IS STILL THE BEST POLICY

Once a general manager wanted to test his people who had come from all over India, about their values of life.

He announced that in their seminar folder, there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return, they must put it in a good soil in a pot and look after it very well.

He would hold a competition in the next year’s seminar and that the best plants would be awarded suitably.

Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And next year in a big hall, there were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants-a great scene.

Except one pot in which the soil was there and no plant! The owner was standing quietly and seemingly ashamed of himself!

The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed which he was given – and did that was to be done- but nothing happened!

The general manager declared him the winner!

Everyone was shocked. It was announced, “Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing ha ppened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds.

This man was honest to his work and, therefore he did not cheat me or himself!”

This is a story about a dog who was born on Christmas Eve in 2002.He was born with 3 legs – 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front legwhich needed to be amputated.He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did notwant him.He was rejected and scorned.His first owner also did not think that he could survive. Therefore, hewas thinking of putting him to sleep..At this time, his present owner a woman named Jude
Stringfellow came intohis life and wanted to take care of him.She was determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself. Shethought, all we need is a little faith.Therefore she named him ‘Faith.’In the beginning, she put Faith on a surf board to let him feel themovements of the water. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lureand to reward him for standing up and jumping around. Even the otherdogs at home helped to encourage him to walk. Amazingly, after only 6months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his 2 hind legs andjumped to move forward. After further training in the snow, he can nowwalk like a human being.Faith loves to walk around now.No matter where he goes, he just attracts all the people around him. Heis now becoming famous on the international scene. He has appeared invarious newspapers
and TV shows. There is even one book entitled ‘With alittle faith’ being published about him. He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.His present owner Jude Stringfellow has given up her teaching job andplans to take him around the world to preach:’‘That even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul.” In life there are always undesirable things. Perhaps a person who feels things are not going as well as they couldwill feel better if they change their point of viewand see things fromanother perspective.Perhaps this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone.Perhaps everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful daythat follows.Life is the continual demonstration of the power of thinking positive andhaving faith. Believe in yourself. Never lose
faith.

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she d id not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.’

Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, ‘I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘No way!’, replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word..

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, ‘I loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘No!’, replied the 3rd boyfriend. ‘Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to marry someone else!’

Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, ‘I have always
turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me.

When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!’, replied the 2nd boyfriend. ‘At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.’

His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: ‘I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go..’

The girl looked up, and there was his first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, ‘I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!’

In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:

Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.

Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go.Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Make progress instead of promises. You are not known by the
Promises you make, but rather by the value you create.

Actions do indeed speak louder than words. Every positive,
Productive action builds your credibility and polishes your
Reputation.

The way to be impressive is to do impressive and valuable
Things. Instead of wasting your time posing as a successful
Person, get busy with the real and persistent efforts that
Will truly make you successful.

True accomplishment is infinitely better than the mere
Appearance of accomplishment. The way to gain the sincere
Respect and admiration of others is to make positive and
Valuable things happen.

Those who shout loudly and yet do nothing will eventually be
Ignored or laughed at. Those who work quietly and
Consistently end up gaining the greatest influence.

Instead of just talking about it, step forward and do it.
Without saying a word, you can make yourself heard with the
Quality of your actions.

Think Positive!!

This is nice – finding positive out of every negative – which we don’t always manage to do.

I am thankful…

1. For the husband who snores all night, because he is at home asleep with me and not with someone else.

2. For my teenage daughter who is complaining about doing dishes,
because that means she is at home & not on the streets.

3. For the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed.

4. For the mess to clean after a party because it means that I have
been surrounded by friends.

5. For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

6. For my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

7. For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning
because it means I have a home.

8. For all the complaining I hear about the government because it
means that we have freedom of speech.

9. For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.

10. For the noise I have to bear from my neighbours because it means
that I can hear.

11. For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have
clothes to wear.

12. For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working hard.

13. For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am still alive.

AND FINALLY ….... for received e-mails because it means I have friends who are thinking of me, at least.

This is something to think about when negative people are doing their best to rain on your parade. So remember this story the next time someone who knows nothing, and cares less, tries to make your life miserable.

A woman was at her hairdresser’s getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:

Rome ? Why would anyone want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty. You’re crazy to go to Rome . So, how are you getting there?”

“We’re taking Continental,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!”
“Continental, “exclaimed the hairdresser.” That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying in Rome ?”
“We’ll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome’s Tiber River called Tested.”

“Don’t go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it’s really a
dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they’re overpriced. So, whatcha’ doing when you get there?”
“We’re going to go to see
the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope.”

“That’s rich,” laughed the hairdresser. “You and a million other people trying to see him. He’ll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it.”

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome

“It was wonderful,” ex plained the woman, “not only were we on time
in one of Continental’s brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot.

And the hotel was great! They’d just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it’s a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner’s suite at no extra charge!”

“Well,” muttered the hairdresser, “that’s all well and good, but I know you didn’t get to see the Pope.”

“Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican , a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I’d be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me.

Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me.”

“Oh, really! What’d he say?”

He said: “Where’d you get the crappy Hairdo?