[djrockinsteve]

This is a poem that I have had laminated in my wallets since the early 80's and I believe all of this. Thought some of you may enjoy it. The author is anonomous.

WINNING IS GIVING

Winning is giving your best self away
Winning is serving with grace everyday
You'll know that you've won when your friends say it's true.

"I like who I am, when I'm around you.
You look for the best in the others you see
And you help us become who we're trying to be."

Winning is helping someone who's down.
It's sharing a smile, instead of a frown.

It's giving your children a hug by the fire
And sharing the values and dreams that inspire.

It's giving your parents the message "I care.
Thanks Mom and Dad for being so fair."

Winners are willing to give more than get
There favors are free, you're never in debt.

Winning is giving one hundred percent
It's paying your dues, your taxes, your rent
It's trying and doing, not crying and stewing.

Winners respect every color and creed
They share and they care for everyone's need.

The loser's keep betting that winning is getting
But there's one of God's laws that they keep forgetting
And this is the law you can live and believe
The more that you give, the more you'll receive!

[Leanne]

That is so lovely on so many levels. Thank you for sharing it.
I have a copy of "Desiderata" in my purse.

[lloyd]

Great Post! The true wealth.

[myakkagldwngr]

Very very good!
So many don't get it and never will.
Life is not about what we take for ourselves and leave behind.
It's about how much of ourselves we leave behind.

[lloyd]

So I see philosophical minds at work on this page. What do you all think of this thought? A definition of Love. From the Book "A Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck. MD He said "I define love thus: The will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." the definition of "spiritual growth" includes helping one's self or another achieve social,emotional, and intellectual maturity. This is how you love your self, by extending your will to nurture your self. This is how to love others, by extending your will to nurture others. Sometimes we choose to do this when we get nothing in return from them.This is when we express love not for our own benefit but truly for the others benefit.

[djrockinsteve]

I know that the more I give to people I run into and most I don't know, the more that comes around and multiplies ten fold. Which means you are able to give more and more.

Today I partied with a bunch of preschoolers for an hour and I don't know who had more fun, them or me. I know they will remember something from their experience, and so will I.

Once again, Great thanks to all who share their experiences, wine making and more on this site.