A ROBIN'S WINTER - More Family Kindle Books "LIVE"

This book, in the style of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, spins the life and times of a lad who grew up in a hamlet on Saginaw Bay. Born and raised in Linwood, Michigan, Richard La Flamme was a loyal, patriotic 'Linwoodite' who lived there his entire life.

Richard is my brother-in-law, m wife Carole's brother. Carole and I decided to publish his book in 2001.

Richard began writing his book one-winter evening in 1994, sitting in his favorite easy chair in front of the living room fireplace. He never married. It was important he leave behind something tangible.Rich reminisces about his early life, his "buddies," his family, his relatives, Boy Scouts, Military service, volunteerism and his travels.

He decided on the title A ROBIN'S WINTER because he related to the hearty robin that refused to leave his nest during harsh cruel winters, who loyally stayed behind instead of migrating to warmer climates. Wherever he traveled, Rich always returned to his nest by the bay ... Where he remained happy and content all the days of his life. He passed away in 1999 not seeing his book in print but family members picked up on his desire to leave something behind and published the book in 2001 ... as he wrote it.

Larry & Carole Beighey books are now available on Kindle

STRESS

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem.. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burden will become increasingly heavy: and we won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again... When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down: don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.' So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Just accept that, some days, you're the pigeon: and, some days, you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet - just in case you have to eat them.
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "recalled" by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty; and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colors; but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.


My wife. Carole, sent me this article about stress and then added this memory

[Guess I must be happy because I love detours and new scenery I have never seen. Guess maybe, it's because I don't get out much anymore and when one is from Linwood, MI. whose parents entertained their kids by taking them to the corner to watch the traffic go by on US 23 or to count the deer passing by during deer season ... or your mother took you on the tour of Tower Road and Elevater Road to watch the pickles and sugar beets growing ... detours are AMAZING!] (but somehow, wherever Mother took us, she made it seem like a wonderful adventure ... though we had been on the same ride a hundred times ... and we never tired of her historical tour. We could imagine everything through her eyes ... and glory in it. Oh gosh, would I give most anything to take another tour on those ole gravel roads with my mother and sisters.) -Carole Beighey
Have a wonderful day and know that someone has thought about you today.
I did ...

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

My wife is a remarkable person. What she has accomplished at this point in her life makes any of my accomplishments pale in comparison.

Her first husband died the day after Christmas, leaving her with four children, ages two to nine. She was 30! Besides her own grief, she still had to cope with explaining the loss of their father to these four small children. They just couldn’t understand what had happened to their father. When was he coming back?

While vacationing at her brother’s lake cabin in Michigan’s northern woods, she watched a mother raccoon and her babies feeding nightly at the stump outside the kitchen window. The idea came to write her story through the eyes of animals, believing it would be less painful for children to relate to their loss.

Carole had a dream about writing but could never imagine how she would find the time, especially after marrying me and having two more children … six children under the age of 11.

It was a great idea, but when would she ever find the time?

One Saturday afternoon, I told her that I was going to take the six kids out for about three or four hours and that she should do whatever she wanted.

When I returned home, I found that she had sat down at a typewriter (there were few personal computers in those days) and had written 30 pages of her book, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake. That was 31 years ago.

By sneaking a few minutes here or there – or staying up half the night after everyone had gone to bed – she typed away.

In 1986, we bought a personal computer and after a few quick lessons, Carole learned how to use a simple word processor. Soon, she was proficient in using the computer and had moved up to the most advanced word processors.

That was 1500 type-written pages ago.

She has now had five books published in the series, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake, and has written enough draft material for 2or 3 more books. (www.waddodles.com)

What started out as a dream has turned into a reality! It just proves the point that if you set your mind to something, you can find a way to get it accomplished, despite difficult odds and situations.

Remember to “follow your dreams” and as Theodore Waddodle, one of the raccoons in Carole’s books says, “Always look forward, never behind.”

MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN

Many years ago, I was coaching a baseball team in a 13-15 year old league. I kept telling the players that they could not always just play the game, but that sometimes you had to do whatever it takes to “make something happen.”

In one game, we were losing in the late innings and I implored the batter to “make something happen.” We had runners in scoring position with two out, but the batter hit a routine ground ball to the shortstop and I thought the inning would be over. The runner was going to be out by a couple of strides. Surprise! He slid into first base, startling the first baseman. He dropped the ball. The runner was safe and we won the game.

This was about a baseball game, but it works in all aspects of life: Make something happen.

MOTHERS DAY MEMORIES

I HAVE SPECIAL MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER ON THIS SPECIAL DAY ... NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK OF HER ... I MISS YOU MOM

MOTHERS

For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mom this is beautiful ... For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.

"Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said,"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.But at all times she said to the children, A little patience and weare there."So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, Unconditional love.

And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage.

And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.

One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them."

And the children said, " You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she’s crystallized in every teardrop.

A mother shows every emotion... happiness,sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take.She's your first love; your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...........not even death!

MY THOUHTS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Because Carole and I didn't get married until we were 32, I never dreamed we would have 40 years of marriage [in 2010], especially when you look at the longevity in both our parent's “life lines.”

As I grow older, my love for my Wife and Family grow stronger & stronger ... I have always loved my wife and family very much but, I was like many men that thought my total obligation was to provide a livelihood for my wife and family. I thought that was my only role. I thought my wife would do the rest ... After all I was working hard ... Traveling all the time ... What did she expect from me? Boy, was I wrong!

I remember one week when in an unfinished house [Mt Vista, Pennsylvania], Pregnant with Daughter, Anne, she had Business Dinner parties at home for 5 couples on two successive nights ... She stained wood, finished trim and doors ... Had Family sit down full course meals including desert every night ... Did the cleanup ... Slept for only 4 hours every night ... Writing the Waddodles pre-teen books [Five [5] are in print] … I could go on and on ... Literally, she did everything for the family and me ... I provided the money ... What did she expect from me? Boy was I wrong!

It was a long, slow "learning curve" for me but, I finally "get it."

One night, on one of our frequent "couch dates" ... Having a picnic, rubbing Carole’s feet and watching a DVD ... We watched "Fireproof," [Made by the people who made Facing the Giants] a Christen movie about a troubled marriage] ... We both ended up crying I guess because we could "relate."

I "hope and pray" that every husband and wife have a "Date Night" together and watch your "Wedding Tape" ... Then watch "Fireproof" [Fireproof was the biggest-grossing indie movie of 2008.]

"Fireproof" is the story of a firefighter who after seven years of marriage to his wife , is seeing their relationship fail. His father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day test called, "The Love Dare." ...

The 40 day "Love Dare," is making a daily commitment to our love and marriage ...


The Firefighter starts it, and, after several weeks on it, becomes frustrated with having his efforts rejected. He needs to save his marriage. Thru faith he continues on ... unsure if it's too late to "fireproof" his marriage.

If you can relate ... Take the "40 day Love Test." In this day and age it is easy to just give up ... But there is so much at stake it is worth the extra time and effort to make it work. Carole and I grew up in an age when divorce was not an option. we certainly had our ups and downs but we "persevered." ... Our Love and Marriage endured.

On this Mother's Day, I can reflect on my wife and family ... I told Carole yesterday that she was and is the "perfect" Wife and Mother ... I couldn't ask for anything more ... It took me 32 years to find her but I found the "needle in the haystack."

Yes, I got her a card, flowers and a box of candy but my "Love" is the best gift I can give.

Carole ... I Love You ... Forever, Forever [Engraved in her Wedding Band]

Her is one “40 Day Love Test” … Get a Journal, write in it everyday. LETS GET STARTED. Here are the challenges in a nutshell:
1. Demonstrate patience and say nothing negative to your spouse.
2. Do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.
3. Buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."
4. Contact your spouse with no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.
5. Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated simply to gain their perspective.
6. Make a list of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.
7. Get two sheets of paper. On the first, write out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second. Place both sheets in a secret place. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.
8. Take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.
9. Think of a specific way to greet your spouse that reflects your love for them.
10. Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse.
11. Choose a gesture that says, "I cherish you" and do it with a smile.
12. Willingly choose to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse and tell them you are putting their preference first.
13. Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement and resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.
14. Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse.
15. Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine.
16. Hope for three specific areas where you desire to help in your spouse's life and in your marriage.
17. Determine to guard your mate's secrets and hope for them.
18. Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you and focus this time on getting to know your spouse better in areas you've rarely talked about.
19. Look back over the dares from previous days and assess your need to change your heart to love. Ask yourself to show you where you stand and hope for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.
20. Dare to trust yourself, believe in yourself and know that you have the power to change.
21. Be intentional about making a time to conflict over your actions and understand them.
22. Say to your spouse in words similar to these, "I love you. Period. I choose to love you even if you don't love me in return."
23. Remove any addiction or influence that's stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.
24. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it.
25. Whatever you haven't forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Say from your heart, "I choose to forgive."
26. Take time to reflect on your areas of wrongdoing.
27. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you're expecting too much, and tell them you're sorry for being so hard on them about it.
28. Recognize one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life. Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.
29. Hope for your spouse and for their needs. When you see them, say "I love you," then express love to them in some tangible way. Thank yourself and the world for the privilege of loving this one special person.
30. Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and think about it and wish it gets better.
31. Confess a "leaving" issue to your spouse, and resolve to make it right.
32. Try to initiate sex with your husband or wife in a way that honors what they have told you (or implied to you) about what they need from you sexually.
33. Let your spouse know you desire to include them in your upcoming decisions, and that you need their perspective and counsel.
34. Find a specific, recent example when your spouse demonstrated good character and commend them for this.
35. Find a marriage mentor.
36. Commit to making yourself happy every day.
37. Ask your spouse if you can discuss your hopes regularly together.
38. Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable and then wish for it.
39. Spend time in personal thought, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse.
40. Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home.

REMEMBER NAMES

OF COURSE, THIS WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS BEFORE COMPUTERS AND PDF'S

One of the most useful and successful techniques in getting along with people is to remember their names.

Early in my business career, I learned a useful technique that helped me gain the respect of my personal and business acquaintances.

I traveled extensively, visiting the many sales offices and manufacturing plants of my company. The visits would be of a short duration, but I would visit each site frequently.

I decided to build a logbook for each location by writing down the names of each individual. I would try to remember each person's name and other tidbits of information about them such as their wife’s name, birthdays, children's names and other interesting facts about them. As soon as I left them, I would jot down as many names and facts as I could remember. Later, when I was alone, I would enter my notes into my logbook.

When it was time to visit each location, I would pull out my logbook and browse through the names and facts. Many times I could not remember who the people were or what they looked like, but when I saw them it immediately came back to me. I would walk up to them and say, "Hi, Bob, how are you doing today? How is Mary? Is Mike still playing Little League baseball?" They would remark, "How do you remember all that?"


Sometimes I wouldn't see an individual for over a year, but by just reviewing my logbook of names before I arrived, I could recall many facts.

I have used this technique since the early 1960s and found it to be very successful. Everyone likes to hear their name and talk about their life and family. By mentioning their name or by asking a simple question, people will feel a close relationship with you and you will have earned their respect and admiration.

BOOGIE WOOGIE

I just thought this was so good I had to pass it on. Does it bring back memories for any of you?

"THE MORE YOU PRACTICE THE LUCKER YOU GET"

One of the professional golfers on the PGA tour said, ”The more you practice, the luckier you get" ... this is so true in any endeavor.

Many times you have heard it said when playing golf, “if that ball would've just been six inches more to the right it would have rolled up to the pin instead of dropping into the sand trap. Of course, the person who practices more gets what we would call the “lucky bounce” but it is really not luck. It is more than likely the constant recurring practice that people do.

You can be the smartest person but if you can’t sell your ideas you are not likely to get ahead.

I have always felt the Speech was one of the most important classes in college … Dale Carnegie is also a great way to learn the art of “public speaking.

For several years, a friend of mine paid for ten high school students to attend the Dale Carnegie Program. He is a very successful businessman and realized the value of public speaking and wanted to pass it on to others. What a nice way to help young people.

I had a reputation of being a good public speaker and people may have the opinion that I was just a “natural” … Far from it … I worked very hard at becoming a good speaker.

I would make a “detailed” outline of what I want to say and get it burned into my mind. Then I would stand in front of a mirror and practice, practice and practice … working on delivery, posture and gestures. For example, did you know?

If you are standing behind a podium and you step around to the side and rest your elbow on the podium you are signaling your closeness to the audience?
Don’t chew gum.
Don’t have car keys or jingling things in your pocket.
Don’t stand with your legs crossed.
Don’t point your finger at people.

These are just a few quick things I learned … There are many more. The important point is practice

Another great tip is to “role play.” I have mentioned that one of my first jobs was at Eddie Levine’s Men’s Store. When I would finish with my daily chores, Eddie would give me one-on-one sales training by role-playing with me. Some times he would be a nice customer … Sometimes he would be a difficult customer all the time showing me “the ropes” of Selling.


One of the executives of Brockway, Inc. was going to testify in front of a House Committee … He spent hours “role playing” … answering “hostle” and “friendly” questions he may be asked. It helped him prepare to answer questions in a high stress situation.

One person that continues to impress me with his public speaking is Newt Gingrich. He normally speaks “off the cuff” or with a few cryptic notes. My daughter, Anne, worked for him for over twelve years and as far as I know only once did he write a speech … the day he was sworn in as Speaker of the House. He is an amazing speaker … No pun intended.

A side story … Few people know that Newt Gingrich is a speed-reader … The first afternoon that our daughter Anne was with him, He was traveling to some rallies in his District … During that time he read a book and 2 newspapers … He has written over 300 Book Reviews for Amazon.com … He is a prolific reader with great retention.

The day he was being sworn in as Speaker, He called up to Anne and asked her to call over to the Archives and have them look up a quote … He wanted to get it just right. It was from Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. He said, “It goes something like this … It is about 1/4 of the way into the book … About 2/3 of the way down a left hand page … The last sentence in the paragraph.”

Sure enough, they found it and Anne took it down to Newt. He was in the Ceremonial Room off the House Chamber … Newt was sitting their alone at Thomas Jefferson’s Desk.
Anne said it was “A Kodak Moment.”

I am sure you have heard the saying, “practice makes perfect." ... Well, we know there are such things as a lucky bounce but more often than not it is a result of many hours of repetitive practice. “The more you practice the luckier you get."

COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR

As I reach the “sunset years,” I have become increasingly aware of the effect compulsive behavior has had on my family and friends.

I am certainly not a prude and did my share of drinking when I was “sowing my wild oats” and I kept it up until I got married. Fortunately, Carole and I steadily decreased our alcohol consumption to the point that we are now “social” drinkers. At no time did we drink at home by ourselves or allow our children to drink at home except for a small glass of wine or champagne on a holiday.

I had four really close friends in my life … “Best Man” type of friends. Alcohol has taken three of them at ages 40, 59, and 65. One was a lawyer; one a CPA; one owned an insurance firm. All were married and two had children. Two ended up divorced and one ended up in a homeless shelter.

There are many other forms of compulsive behavior besides alcohol … gambling, drugs, stealing, and eating disorders … and on and on and on.

I mention this to point out that compulsive behavior picks on all types and has a devastating affect on individuals and their families and friends. No amount of talking, financial support or intervention by family or friends helped these individuals.

It is important to watch for signs of compulsive behavior and give these individuals love, support and help to fight their obsessive actions.

THE 4 F'S

Freedom, Faith, Friends and Family! These are my 4 F’s.

I first heard President George H. W. Bush (Bush 41) talk about them at a motivational seminar in Atlanta, Georgia shortly after he left office in the early nineties. I adopted the 4 F’s and use them to help guide me.

FREEDOM
In our hectic, day-to-day lives we seldom if ever take the time to think about and give thanks for our freedom. As I am writing this we are engaged in “The War on Terrorism.” The terrorists want to deny us our freedoms just like they did on 9/11. I don’t think we want to give up our hard earned sovereignty like women’s rights, voting, free expression and freedom of speech. It is a battle we must endure and win … “Don’t tread on us.”

FAITH
I feel it is so important to have faith in some higher level being. You must have beliefs and convictions to help get through our day-to-day lives. Isn’t it great that we have freedom of religion to be able to openly pray and meditate for our personal guidance.

FRIENDS
I have always said that you can count yourself lucky if you have more friends than you can count on one hand. I am talking about “Best Man” type of friends. These are the friends that will be there for you no matter what … a friend you can talk to for advice and counseling in strictest confidence … a friend that will help you financially if you find yourself in great need … a friend that will tell you straight even though it may affect your friendship.

I count myself lucky that I had four such friends. Unfortunately, I have lost three of them at early ages and the fourth was in a terrible automobile accident that left him less than 100%. He, too, recently died. My friends were there for me when I needed them and I think I served them well when they needed me.

FAMILY
The last F is for family. I saved it for last because I feel it is so important. When things are at a low level and you are most in need you can always turn to your family unit. We have always told our children that no one loves you like your spouse and your family. You can always count on your kin in a time of need.

As I have mentioned, it pleases my wife and I that our children’s best friends are their brothers and sisters. It makes us happy that our immediate and extended families are so close and caring for each other. Our door is always open to our family group as their doors are always open to us.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

My wife is a remarkable person. What she has accomplished at this point in her life makes any of my accomplishments pale in comparison.
Her first husband died the day after Christmas, leaving her with four children, ages two to nine. She was 30! Besides her own grief, she still had to cope with explaining the loss of their father to these four small children. They just couldn’t understand what had happened to their father. When was he coming back?
While vacationing at her brother’s lake cabin in Michigan’s northern woods, she watched a mother raccoon and her babies feeding nightly at the stump outside the kitchen window. The idea came to write her stories through the eyes of animals, believing it would be less painful for children to relate to their loss.
Carole had a dream about writing but could never imagine how she would find the time, especially after marrying me and having two more children … six children under the age of 11.
It was a great idea, but when would she ever find the time?
One Saturday afternoon, I told her that I was going to take the six kids out for about three or four hours and that she should do whatever she wanted.
When I returned home, I found that she had sat down at a typewriter (there were few personal computers in those days) and had written 30 pages of her book, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake. That was 31 years ago.
By sneaking a few minutes here or there – or staying up half the night after everyone had gone to bed – she typed away.
In 1986, we bought a personal computer and after a few quick lessons, Carole learned how to use a simple word processor. Soon, she was proficient in using the computer and had moved up to the most advanced word processors.
That was 1500 type-written pages ago.
She has now had two books published in the series, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake, and has written enough draft material for 5 or 6 books. (http://www.waddodles.com/) [UPDATE: FIVE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND 3 MORE ARE READY IN DRAFT FORM ... IN ADDITION A 500 RECIPE FAMILY COOKBOOK, MIMI AND ME, HAS BEEN RELEASED]
What started out as a dream has turned into a reality! It just proves the point that if you set your mind to something, you can find a way to get it accomplished, despite difficult odds and situations.
Remember to “follow your dreams” and as Theodore Waddodle, one of the raccoons in Carole’s books says, “Always look forward, never behind.”

11 Lessons They don't Tell You in School

I received this from my High School Classmate ... Billie

This should be posted in every school! Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this!

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

• Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!
• Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
• Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice! -president with a car phone until you earn both.
• Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
• Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.
• Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
• Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
• Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
• Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
• Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
• Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.