. . . beautiful thoughts . . .

I do not own the copyright to any of these beautiful stories and I believe they are public domain. If you know the author of any of these stories, please email me at: themuse@graphicsmuse.com. Thank you and enjoy!
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine glass in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming WOO HOO! What a ride!" ~author unknown (if you know who, let me know, I'd LOVE to credit her ;o)	Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. And dance like no one is watching.
A poem for the grieving... Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die... ~~ Author Unknown ~~	I have no respect for justice I maim without killing I break hearts and ruin lives I am cruel and malicious And gather strength with age The more I am quoted The more I am believed I flourish at every level of society My victims are helpless They cannot protect themselves Against me because I have no name and no face To track me down is impossible The harder you try The more elusive I become I'm nobody's friend Once I tarnish a reputation It is never the same I topple governments And ruin marriage s I ruin careers and Cause sleepless nights Heartache and indigestion I spawn suspicion And generate grief I make innocent people Cry in their pillows Even my name hisses I AM GOSSIP Who gossips to you will gossip of you ~~ Author Unknown ~~
Are we friends Or are we not? You told me once But I forgot. So tell me now and tell me true, So I can say... "I'm here for you". Of all the friends I've ever met You're the one I won't forget. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you. ~~ Author Unknown ~~
ARE YOU A REASON, A SEASON, OR A LIFETIME? Pay attention to what you read. After you read this, you will know the reason it was sent to you! People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person. When someone is in your life for a REASON. . . It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on. Then people come into your life for a SEASON. Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. ~~ Author Unknown ~~	After A While After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul And you learn that love doesn't mean learning and company doesn't always mean security And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure that you really are strong and you actually have worth. And you learn and you learn... with every good-bye you learn. ~~ Veronica A. Shoffstall ~~