Ralph Marston on Hard Work

"Don’t avoid the hard work. That’s where the greatest value is created.
Don’t be afraid of the difficult, complicated, challenging tasks.
Once you get past the fear, you’re already past the most difficult aspect.

Relish the opportunity to do the hard work. For it is an opportunity to experience yourself being fully alive and effective. Find real enjoyment and satisfaction in doing the difficult work. Get yourself hooked on how good it feels to make a meaningful positive difference.

It’s often assumed that hard work is best avoided. Yet when you avoid hard work, you cheat yourself out of the joy of accomplishment.Seek out the hard work and you’ll find it’s not bad at all.

Do the hard work, and transform each day, each moment and each effort into great value."

— Ralph Marston

A kind of friend we all should be...

"I can’t give solutions to all of life’s problems, doubts, or fears.

But I can listen to you and together we will search for answers.

I can’t change your past with all its heartache and pain,

Nor the future with its untold stories.

But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can’t keep your feet from stumbling.

I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall .

Your joys, triumphs, success, and happiness are not mine;

Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;

I can only support you, encourage you, and help you when you ask.

I can’t prevent you from falling away from friendship, from your values, from me.

I can only pray for you, talk to you, and wait for you.

I can’t give you boundaries which I have determined for you,

But I can give you the room to change, room to grow, room to be yourself.

I can’t keep your heart from breaking and hurting,

But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces and put them back in place.

I can’t tell you who you are.

I can only love you and be your friend!"

Anonymous