Ramblins' 12-31-2010 Last Edition Section 1

Dear Subscriber,

Admiring My Daughters Computer Yes, there comes a point where I have taken enough of your time, and believe me I appreciate the time you have given me. I enjoyed all the comments, good and bad, what I really enjoyed was your enthusiasm. I feel like the children in the Sound of Music when they perform "So Long, Farewell" to say goodnight to the guests. Life is really strange sometimes, this newsletter started as the result of someone I met who enjoyed the Sound of Music and it ends with the same thought. I hope that you gained something from these Ramblins' over the past year, if for nothing else you sit back and think, this guy is crazy, I would be happy with that because it means I got you thinking and that's the true purpose of my Ramblins'.

Feel Like Giving Up

by: Edward V Ellis, Sr. Life can be challenging and obstacles at times can seem insurmountable. Over the years, people have given up on many things because of setbacks and lack of progress. Right now, there are people who are giving up. Now there is a big difference between quitting or giving up and changing directions. Adapting or finding a better method is not giving up. Moving ahead in a new and different direction is not giving up. Some, instead of giving up on their marriage, changed what wasn't working to a better and more fulfilling method. Others who felt like quitting their business found a better direction and have seen positive results. There are also those who instead of giving up on their dreams, found a better avenue to pursue them and are well on their way. When it comes to quitting, or giving up, lots of people have heard the story of Thomas Edison. Working on the light bulb, it reportedly took him 1,000 attempts before he developed a successful prototype. How many of us have the persistence to keep going after that many so called "failures?" There is the story that a reporter asked Edison how it felt to fail 1,000 times. His response was that of one who did not regard setbacks as failures. He reportedly answered the reporter, "I didn't fail 1,000 times; the light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps." You have probably heard other stories of famous people who refused to quit. Babe Ruth struck out a lot. He said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." Winston Churchill never allowed setbacks to keep him from moving forward. He lost every election for public office until he became prime minister. One of his most famous quotes is, "Never give in; never give in." Some may say, "That's nice for them, but, how about me? Those people were all famous people who had special talents and abilities; of course they wouldn't quit." Actually, all of those people, and countless others we have never heard of, were human beings, just like you and me. We all have talents and abilities. We all have the capacity to grow and develop what we have, and even expand into new areas of expertise. The point is, don't quit; never give up. Far too many people have literally given up on their dreams. They look at their personal setbacks as failures. They see the present economy as an insurmountable obstacle blocking them from their dreams. They are tired of trying and so they just give up. There is one sure way of never seeing your dreams come to pass. It is 100% guaranteed. Give up. Giving up is a choice. No matter what the present circumstances or the past results, quitting is still a choice. Each of us, every day, has the choice to give up or to keep moving forward. In those times when you feel like giving up and you just don't want to try anymore, what can you do? It is one thing to say, "Keep moving forward," but what can you do if you just don't feel like it? Why not pray? Jesus said that we ought to "pray always and not faint." When people give up and quit, that is exactly what they are doing; they are fainting. So, instead of fainting, you can continue to pray every day asking God for His help, and, at the same time, choose to move forward, even if it's only a baby step. All of us can look back on our lives and see times where we could have done something differently or where we should have done something differently. But "could haves" and "should haves" will not change your present circumstances. Excuses will never change your life. Instead, decide each day to keep moving forward. You can choose to not give up on your dreams, even if it takes 1,000 times or 1,000 years! You can be so determined that for you, giving up is not an option.