Phoenix

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The Brooklyn Bridge that spans the river between Manhattan and Brooklyn is simply an engineering miracle.

In 1883, a creative engineer, John Roebling, was inspired by an idea for this spectacular bridge project. However, bridge-building experts told him to forget it, it just was not possible. Roebling convinced his son, Washington, an upandcoming engineer, that the bridge could be built. The two of them conceived the concept of how it could be accomplished, and how to overcome the obstacles. Somehow they convinced bankers to finance the project. Now with unharnessed excitement and energy, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project was only a few months under way when a tragic on-site accident killed John Roebling and severely injured his son. Washington was severely brain-damaged, unable to talk or walk. Everyone thought that the project would have been scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who understood how the bridge could be built.
Though Washington Roebling was unable to move or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever. One day, as he lay in his hospital bed, an idea flashed in his mind as to how to develop a communication code. All he could move was one finger, so he touched the arm of his wife with that finger. He tapped out the code to communicate to her what she was to tell the engineers who continued building the bridge. For 13 years, Washington tapped out his instructions with one finger until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was
finally completed.

The miracle bridge

Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the well-known German composer, was far from being handsome. Along with a rather short stature, he had a grostesque hunchback.

One day, he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter named Fromet. Moses fell hopelessly in love with her. But Fromet was repulsed by his misshapen appearance.

When it came time for him to leave, Moses gathered his courage and climbed the stairs to her room to take one last opportunity to speak with her. She was a vision of heavenly beauty, but caused him deep sadness by her refusal to look at him. After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, “Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?”

“Yes,” she answered, still looking at floor. “And do you?”

“Yes I do,” he replied. “you see, in heaven at the birth of each boy, the Lord announces which girl he will marry. When I was born, my future bride was pointed out to me. Then the Lord added, “But your wife will be humpbacked. Right then and there I called out, ‘Oh Lord, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy. Please, Lord, give me the hump and let her be beautiful.”

Then Fromet looked up into his eyes and was stirred by some deep memory. She reached out and gave Mendelssohn her hand and later became his devoted wife.

- Barry and Joyce Vissell

True love

Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December, 1914. Although the damage exceeded two million dollars, the buildings were only insured for $238,000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fireproof. Much of Edison's life's work went up in spectacular flames that December night.

At the height of the fire, Edison's 24-year-old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his red face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind.

"My heart ached for him," said Charles. "He was 67 - no longer a young man to start life when everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, 'Charles, where's your mother?' When I told him I didn't know, he said, 'Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long
as she lives.'“

The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.”

Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver his first phonograph.

Great value in disaster

Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later.

Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

Take time to celebrate your successes, even little ones. They will encourage you to go ahead.

Life is not the sum of what we have been, but what we yearn to be.
- Jose Ortegay Gasset

Lessons from a jigsaw puzzle

In fantasy, we can be all-powerful—invincible in conflict and irresistible in love—an omnipotent force in an imagined universe where even the laws of physics cease to apply. Imagine flying, moving mountains, traveling to the far side of the galaxy at faster than light speed. The mind can do these things without breaking a sweat. Our bodies are confined by limitations and laws on all sides, but in our imaginations, we can be free.

Imagine you have a single chance to freeze time and walk about the world as if it were a wax museum. You can do whatever you like. Just what is it you would like to do before the clock’s hand thaws?

Source: Kokology - The Game of Self-Discovery

Frozen in Time

Hugging is healthy. It helps the immune system, cures depression, reduces stress and induces sleep. It’s invigorating, rejuvenating and has no unpleasant side effects. Hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Hugging is all natural. It is organic, naturally sweet, no artificial ingredients, non-polluting, environmentally friendly and 100 percent wholesome.

Hugging is the ideal gift. Great for any occasion, fun to give and receive, shows you care, comes with its own wrapping and, of course, fully returnable.

Hugging is practically perfect. No batteries to wear out, inflation-proof, nonfattening, no monthly payments, theft-proof and nontaxable.

Hugging is an underutilized resource with magical powers. When we open our hearts and arms we encourage others to do the same.

Think of the people in your life. Are there any words you’d like to say? Are there any hugs you want to share? Are you waiting and hoping someone else will ask first? Please don’t wait! Initiate!

- Charles Faraone

We need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, and twelve hugs a day for growth.
- Virgina Satir

Hugging is

Being engrossed in chasing the lights in your thoughts, you didn't realize when your best friend drove up and stood at the door. She brought a Christmas gift for you: A vase of pink lotus flowers made of beautiful fabric. You think to yourself, "What could be warmer than having a vase of pink lotus in the middle of winter?" You struggled to find a suitable place to put the vase in your home.

Which place do you choose?

By the airy and romantic window
On dad's desk
Put it in the kitchen so mom can cook while looking at the flowers
Placed in the middle of a bright living room

A vase of pink lotus

In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modeling Agency, told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker (Marilyn Monroe), "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married.”

In 1889, Rudyard Kipling - an author won the Literature Nobel Prize in 1907 received the following rejection letter from the San Francisco Examiner. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language.”

Winston Churchill failed sixth grade. He did not become Prime Minister of England until he was 62, and then only after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks. His greatest contributions came when he was a "senior citizen.”

Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old and didn't read until he was seven. His teacher described him as "mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in his foolish dreams." He was expelled and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School.

Louis Pasteur was only a mediocre pupil in undergraduate studies and ranked 15th out of 22 in chemistry.

General Douglas MacArthur was turned down for admission to West Point not once but twice. But he tried a third time, was accepted and marched into the history books.

While turning down the British rock group called The Beatles, one executive of Decca Recording Company said, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out.”

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after one performance. He told Presley, "You ain't goin' nowhere... son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck.”

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers. President Rutherford Hayes said, "That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?”

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2,000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2,000-step process.”

After years of progressive hearing loss, by age 46 German composer Ludwig van Beethoven had become completely deaf. Nevertheless, he wrote his greatest music - including five symphonies - during his later years.

- Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.

- Henry Ford

Consider this

Bright electric lights, full of funny or warm colors, flashing or pensive, are all signs of human life. On special occasions such as Christmas or New Year, the lights are even more meaningful to signal the joy of gathering or show the bustling atmosphere that surrounds everyone. You are sitting at home waiting for your best friend coming and hanging out on Christmas Eve. You rest your chin and dreamily think about the meaning of the lights in your life.

Close your eyes for a few seconds, and what kind of lights do you think of?

Street lights
Table lamp
Mount ceiling lights
Chandeliers

Phoenix

The miracle bridge

True love

Great value in disaster

Lessons from a jigsaw puzzle

Frozen in Time

Hugging is

A vase of pink lotus

Consider this

Road to dream house

Lights

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