Read an Excerpt
"GORDY-ISMS"
Inspiring, Inspirational and Thought-Provoking Quotes from the Mind of a Severely Wounded Combat Veteran; Proverbial Dung
By Gordon L Ewell
Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2012 Gordon L Ewell
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-6712-0
Chapter One
Friends and Friendship
Coffee hands
Good friends are like a warm cup of coffee nestled gently between your hands, on a chilly, brisk morning.
Dear friends come in all shapes, sizes, colors, races, creeds, and classes. However, they all have one thing in common. They all love you! Don't be the exception. Return the love!
When crossing fast-moving streams that often run through the path of life we are traveling, good friends are like the solid stepping stones that will hold you up and allow you to cross the stream without getting your feet wet!
When your world seems to be weighing heaviest upon your shoulders, a dear friend can always find a way to fill your world with helium.
A good visit with old friends is a good reminder of what is truly important in life. It is not titles or what you own. It is love and how you choose to share it with others.
No matter how much real time passes between visits with a true friend, when reunited, you can pick up conversations and talk as if you had just seen each other the day before. What a wonderful thing!
Coffee is so good in part to its hidden meaning. Coffee stands for come over for friendship everyone enjoys!
Dear and true friends seem to have the ability to not be bound by the rules of Father Time or the laws of physics. I do not know how else to explain why they are always, with perfect timing, there when you need someone to laugh with, a shoulder to cry on, someone to listen to you, or someone just to give you a pat on the back, a handshake, or a hug.
If they are not close enough to speak directly to, dear friends are never more than about a foot away in two directions—either up to wonderful memories in your mind, or down to precious memories in your heart!
It is not often that a person finds a true friend—someone who wants nothing more than an ear to listen, a shoulder for a tear to land on, a laugh at a good joke, even a laugh at a bad joke, and the knowledge that they would do anything for you, most often before you ever had to ask.
One of the best gifts for any occasion cannot be bought. It is found with humility in the heart, contained within a big hug, presented with the sincere smile of dear friendship, and given verbally by simply looking happily into the eyes of the receiver and saying "I love you!"
While cruising down the highway of life, good friends are the suspension on our vehicle. They help absorb the shock of the bumps, potholes, and rocks in the road which could cause pain and misery and help make the ride of life as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
It is a fact that laughter is good medicine, social interaction keeps the mind active, and getting rid of stress can ward off a heart attack. These things are provided by a dear friend. And it is easy to have many—simply be one for someone else! Just think of the many health problems you could avoid and help someone else avoid by simply being kind, being a good listener, sharing laughs, and being willing to open your heart.
The kindness of friends reminds me that there is a reason I sit on my wallet and not my heart. It is much more important that my heart has room to swell with happiness than my wallet having room to buy things that will never last as long as a precious moment with a friend.
You know you have found a dear and special friend when they will resort to trying to simulate grotesque sounds of unpleasant bodily functions, or hang spaghetti out of their nose in an attempt to cheer you up and get you to laugh when you are feeling blue.
There is no void a true friend cannot fill. They laugh with you, laugh at you, lift you up when you are down, knock you down if you are too full of yourself (hee-hee), and are there to congratulate, console, counsel, listen, love, worry, and cry with you, whether tears of joy or sorrow. They are few and far between, so when one enters your life, make sure that you keep them there, by being all they are for you, for them!
No matter where you or your dear friends are in the world, they are always as close as your heart. With today's technology and a few finger strokes, they can also be as close as your ears and the sound of their voice can be a like beautiful song in your head within seconds. Don't let distance, distance a friendship. Give them a call today.
Good friends are like a warm cup of coffee nestled gently between your hands, on a chilly, brisk morning.
We have ambition and strong willpower to enable us to chase all that we can dream of and choose. When it appears, as if we are going to come up short, there always seems to be that special friend who just happens to show up at just the right time to motivate us to keep chasing and never lose sight of our dreams.
The wealth of my heart, happiness, self-worth—however you phrase it, you feel at your very best not by looking in your wallet, in your purse, or at your bank statement but rather by leading with your heart, taking risks, and doing your best to be the best friend you can be. Often it is a close friend who is the recipient of your best works. It could also be the good fortune, if you choose it, to let the recipient be a total stranger.
Friendships are not maintenance free. Even the best of friendships require some effort to let friends know you love and care about them. They cannot thrive if you always take and never give back.
What makes a person special, important, respected, admired, and adored is not the medals he wears upon his chest, certificates on a wall in his home or office, or worldly titles that precede or follow his name. No, what makes a person special is nothing on the outside. It is everything from within him—a big heart full of charity and love; kindness; compassion; good thoughts; ability to think of others; a desire to help, aid, assist, and provide; being quick to laugh, compliment, and listen; and being slow to belittle and judge—all of which are manifested through actions on the outside that tend to draw others to you and you to others and lay a firm foundation for friendships, love, admiration, and respect to be built upon!
Kindness is so special it was designed to be able to be delivered in many different packages: a warm smile, a gentle touch, a friendly wink of an eye, a kind word, a softly spoken voice, the wave of a hand, a kiss ... No matter how you package and deliver it, friendly kindness will always be well received.
Just when you think you have found a mountain too high to climb, good friends have a way of letting you know that God gave them extra carabiners, pitons, and rope for you to climb it with.
Life is tough Pilgrim. It's even tougher if you're stupid! —John Wayne
Chapter Two
Lighthearted
Glass half-full
It doesn't matter if you see the glass as half-empty or half-full. If you are thirsty, be smart enough to drink it! Either way, it will quench your thirst, and that should give you something to smile about.
Be a believer! Believe in faith, fairies, miracles, angels, dreams, and pixie dust! It will make you smile; and who knows? It just may be angels, fairies, or pixie dust working on you. Believe!
Tears are the Miracle-Gro that nourishes flowers of the heart.
If you are dead set on judging a book by its cover, make sure it's your story that is written on the inside flap.
If your heart is in the right place, you may not be able to hear it beat, but someone else will—loud and clear!
Jump in your car, and no matter how fast you drive, there are three things you can never outrun: your past, a lie, and the police radio telling the patrol car up ahead how fast you were clocked driving through the speed trap.
The reason pets can't talk is because God did not want us to feel constantly embarrassed by how much more common sense they have than we do.
We all have two of the following: eyes, ears, nostrils, arms, hands, legs, and feet. So why only one mouth? Because to make someone's day, takes one little smile!
If you like yourself and feel good inside and out and have peace of mind, you are beautiful! If you can do the things you want without easily tiring, you are healthy! If both of these apply, I don't care what your bathroom scale says. You are beautiful and healthy! When I become dictator, I will outlaw bathroom scales.
If you don't believe grown men cry, just walk into any bar or club at closing time on a Saturday night and look around when you hear the bartender holler out, "Last call!" You could irrigate five acres of farm land with all the big ol' alligator tears you'll see well up in eyes of every grown man in the place.
Laughter is good medicine. But with all medicines, there are side effects. You may experience sore cheeks from oversized smiles, sore ribs from continuous laughing, or even a rare bladder discharge from uncontrollable laughter. In spite of the side effects, it is one medicine I wish everyone could be prescribed, could share, and even have an occasional overdose of.
Laugh when you're happy. Cry if you're blue. Bite your tongue if you're angry. To blow your cool only makes you a fool!
Plan for the worst, hope and pray for the best, and count your blessings if things fall somewhere in between.
Someday we will all meet our Maker; will you be labeled a giver or taker? Will you be able to look him square in the eye, be given wings, and to heaven take flight? Or will you be ashamed, stare down at your feet, and hear the words "Just keep walking that way, best of luck, it's quite steep."
Doing math this morning, I realized that when we help others, we subtract from our own problems, we add to our feelings of happiness, our individual worries appear to get divided in half, while our blessings are instantly multiplied.
Kind words and actions both have the same roots: kind thoughts!
If you can't smile through some of life's little problems, at least stand on your head through them. That way, your frown will look like a smile to others and not ruin their day as well.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again ... and again and again to find someone else to do it for you! I am so just kidding!
It doesn't matter if you see the glass as half-empty or half-full. If you are thirsty, be smart enough to drink it! Either way, it will quench your thirst, and that should give you something to smile about.
A review of my portfolio to ensure high dividends revealed I had had a good exchange rate with nieces and nephews. Friendships were diversified and giving high returns. Family was conservative and protected in vested accounts. Indeed, all was providing a high yield of happiness, thanks to my broker, my Creator.
If I wanted to see how wealthy I was, I would not run right to the bank. All I need to do is check my Facebook page. Thank you, my dear Facebook friends, for all your kind birthday wishes, blessings, inspiration, and support! You not only made me feel like a million dollars, you also left no doubt in my mind that I am one of the wealthiest and blessed people on our spinning orb (earth)! I love you all!
When you least expect it, a smile from a stranger will catch you off guard and give you reason to smile and feel a warmth in your heart as well. Why? That is just the magic of random acts of kindness. So have some fun and catch someone off guard. Simply wear a smile while waiting in the checkout line. Have fun!
Today I am going to actually do the things about which I keep saying, "I'll remember to do that tomorrow." Important things that often get over looked, like calling an old friend just see how they are doing, calling my parents to say "I love you," playing a game with my kids, and thanking my Creator that I am able to do these things! Tomorrow, I will mow the lawn.
A man who takes the time to sit a spell and ponder in depth on proverbs to tell is doing good to think wisely, with his heart and soul as well. But to constantly sit and spout words, not lifting a muscle to put them in action, becomes just a fool with his mouth constantly yacking.
It is impossible to frown with a smile in your heart and impossible to smile with a negative attitude.
When life seems to be beating up on you, rather than screaming and yelling like an idiot who crapped his pants, try laughing at the thought of some idiot you dislike crapping their pants. You might be surprised at how much smaller some of your problems will seem when you add a little humor to them.
When in doubt, smile! Smiles are contagious. So the worst that can happen is that someone else will smile too simply because you are!
Today, while enjoying some flowers in my yard, I got stung by a bee. At first, I was as mad as a hornet. But then I had to chuckle as I thought to myself, This is a lesson of sharing. Obviously, I am not the only person (or creature) that likes to enjoy the flowers. Next time, I will check to see if someone else is enjoying them before I stick my nose in.
Do you know why God did not spell the word family like this: famile? It is because it would have put the letters m and e in the word. A family is not about any "me." It is about a unit, a team, all working together in harmony for the good of the whole. While individuals within the unit are of great importance, it is how they interact as a whole that matters most. So says me, with love.
A good friend will tell you if you have something "unusual" hanging out of your nose, without making too much fun of you, to keep you from being embarrassed in public.
For the perfect smoothie, blend carefully two to three family members (that you like), a half-dozen good friends, a couple of neighbors (if you get along), a nice backyard, some shade, warm temperatures with a very light breeze, perfectly marinated meat of your choice, one big barbeque grill, potluck brought by the friends and neighbors, ice-cold beverages, music, some storytelling (both fact and fiction), and a lot of laughter. Enjoy all you can until you pass out, someone calls the police, or whoever fell into the fire pit cannot wait until morning to go to the emergency room (ha-ha).
I was thinking about the word handicap, not really liking it much, until it struck me: I believe it is an acronym to describe handy, insightful, capable persons, which we handicapped people are! Now I like it!
Start the week out by putting your best foot forward. The worst that can happen is some jerk will criticize your taste in shoes. However, there is always that same person who would do that if you were standing still.
Fads come and go—some are fast, some are slow, and some are generational. But there are a few things that have been and never will go out of style. These are a laugh, a smile, a kind word or gesture, a compliment, honesty, lending a helping hand, hard work, the innocence and imagination of children, freedom, justice, good morals, and love! These things will forever be welcomed and always be in style!
Don't be saddled by your burdens. There is a little cowboy in all of us. Rather, saddle your burdens and ride them like a bucking horse in a rodeo; ride them to the eight second buzzer and collect your prize money!
My thoughts on walking: if at first you don't succeed, fall, fall, fall sixty times, get some stitches, have some coffee, and try again!
I was brushing my teeth and thought, I wonder what I can do today? Then I had another thought that made me smile. Two of my brain cells must have accidently ran into each other as the thought came back: You live in America! You can do anything you set your mind to!
Three ways to start the week out right: (1) Let the driver that should have merged sooner cut in front of you on your commute. (2) Offer to let someone get on the elevator at work before you do. (3) Tell the person who serves you, even at a drive-through window, "Thank you for all you do." I guarantee you will get a smile or a wave that will make you feel good all over.
Everyone will get "their day," a day your ship will come in. You'll find the bottle with the genie in it. You will get a chance to enrich your life. When that day comes, will you be ready to make a wish or make a choice with a seconds notice? When you pick, will you choose to enrich your wallet? Or will you choose to enrich your heart? I hope that your heart account breaks the bank as you start off your week.
No doubt about it, its inventor sure put up a stink and had to put up with a lot of crap from the neighbors, local media, and I'm sure, even total strangers. But the man had a dream and didn't let people get to him even when they tried to "pee-pee" all over it! I thank God for his attitude and courage, as I am sure grateful for my indoor toilet!
Sometimes it is a good thing that one's mouth runs before they take the time to engage their brain. The consequences of this action is usually a good teacher of humility.
People are a lot like roses. To fully embrace and appreciate a rose, it is inevitable that at some time a thorn will prick you. Thorns do not take away from the beauty of a rose. You just have to take in stride, that while enjoying roses, every now and then, you will get pricked.
I truly believe that knowledge is power and that the pen is mightier than the sword. To keep from getting dehydrated, I have to actively water my thinker. One thing I try is letting the dictionary flop open and picking one new word definition to learn and trying to use it on someone during the day. If occasionally I pick a word that could get my beak broken, I do allow myself to pick again.
I believe that dreams come true if you want them to bad enough. Sometimes obstacles, time, or distance will make your dream appear unreachable; your path may get changed and seem to be leading you away from your dream. Many will give up or settle for less. But as long as you keep your dream in sight and stay determined, I believe you will find that the path will turn back toward it, and with determination not abandoned, the obstacles will get smaller. Keep chasing your dreams, and I believe that they can and will come true.
Sometimes I think we dream to have clarity of thought that we could not have with all the extra clutter that is on our minds during the day.
"Life is like a box of chocolates" (Forrest Gump). So true! If we do nothing with them, they could all melt and become nothing more than a great, big messy, sticky, rotten glob of goop. If you want to really enjoy life's chocolates before they melt, run around and share the box of chocolate with your family and friends. Then you will really enjoy every single one!
If we put as much effort into the small details of our lives as we do into the larger ones that others notice at first glance, I believe we would be surprised at how much better we would feel and how much better our outlook and attitude would be each day. "Don't sweat the small stuff," I have read, but don't totally overlook it either. It does not just magically go away.
Everyone will step in something along the path of life. It is inevitable. How you prepare for it, conduct yourself, and give of yourself to help to others, could make the difference of what you step in being a little piece bubble gum on your shoe or a big ol' pile of dung!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from "GORDY-ISMS" by Gordon L Ewell Copyright © 2012 by Gordon L Ewell. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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