Many people are tempted by quick-win, quick-gain, and quick fix solution.  But real life experience is not like shortcut keys of computer keyboard that can fulfill one’s desires and dreams by a magic touch.  There is no shortcut to getting ahead in life, but a long road to the future, which is, in essence, requires investment in time, money and energy in preparing for what will pay off in the long run.

There is not shortcut to making big life decisions.  Shortcut are, however, relevant in scientific applications, mathematics, computer manipulation, geographical routes, transport system and production techniques, but not in the realm of human dealings based on ethics, values and principles.

In real life drama, shortcut is associated with tricks and fraudulent means of achieving fame, fortune and success, and most often at the expense of others.  People with shortcut mentality embrace the dark side of life even having recourse to black magic, weird tricks, cheating, black-money, gambling, doping unfair business practices, illicit activities in trying to achieve their goals.  Many young people, who are at the pursuit of instant fame and overnight success, refuse to roll up their sleeves and get “dirty”, and they think that money, fame and success are going to just show up one day at their doorstep.  They waste their time and energy in looking for shortcuts, political backing, tuyeau le course and weird tricks in order to get quick-wins.

They can go to the extent committing academic fraud, take credit for academic papers written by others and even sell their souls to the devils in pursuit of the greedy objectives.  Anyone motivated by pure greed and shortcut mentality is simply looking to get what he/she can in the shortest period of time by whatever means with little or no concern for other’s wellbeing.

Success is a result of hard work, patience and perseverance and it takes time to accomplish the necessary steps needed to complete the process.  One should not miss the steps while moving up the ladder quickly.  Great achievers are those who possess great levels of determination and never give up, even in the face of adversities.  There is no shortcut to success… constant efforts and perseverance, coupled with solid determination, are the real formula to catapult any person to success or fame. 

Shortcut to success is indeed a road to failure.  Success is more permanent when it is anchored on principles and values.  The golden advice is “never take a shortcut in life, take the right path even though it is a long route”.  This allows picking up more experience on the way and learning from the mistakes of others.

Article courtesy of Assad Bhuglah.

Read more »

Lessons Learned

by Carrie Underwood

There’s some things that I regret,

Some words I wish had gone unsaid,

Some starts,

That had some better endings,

Been some bad times I’ve been through,

Damage I cannot undo.

Some things,

I wish I could do all over again,

But it don’t really matter,

When life gets that much harder,

It makes you that much stronger,

Oh, some pages turned,

Some bridges burned,

But there were,

Lessons learned.

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,

And everyday I wondered how I’d get through the night,

Every change, life has thrown me,

I’m thankful, for every break in my heart,

I’m grateful, for every scar,

Some pages turned,

Some bridges burned,

But there were lessons learned.

There’s mistakes that I have made,

Some chances I just threw away,

Some roads,

I never should have taken,

Been some signs I didn’t see,

Hearts that I hurt needlessly,

Some wounds,

That I wish I could have one more chance to mend,

But it’s don’t make no difference,

The past can’t be rewritten,

You get the life you’re given,

Oh, some pages turned,

Some bridges burned,

But there were,

Lessons learned.

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,

And everyday I wondered how I’d get through the night,

Every change, life has thrown me,

I’m thankful, for every break in my heart,

I’m grateful, for every scar,

Some pages turned,

Some bridges burned,

But there were lessons learned.

And all the things that break you,

Are the things that make you strong!

You can’t change the past,

Cause it’s gone.

And you just gotta move on,

Because it’s all

Lessons learned.

Read more »

When you are dealing with someone’s feelings, never ever take them for granted.  You never know what someone is going through, and you never know how hard it may have been for his or her true feelings to come to light.

Remember that not everyone is the same, and that not everyone will come to love you the way that you think that they maybe should.  Focus on the fact that someone was willing to take a chance and show you that they love you, instead of giving focus to, and picking apart the manner in which they do.  Love isn’t always about pizzazz and flash, many times love is most shown by the amount of effort someone is willing to put into their relationship.

Trust in people sometimes, and cherish what a person is willing to give to you.  Realize that loving is a risk, and that you both have to appreciate anytime a person is willing to show you their feelings.

Article courtesy of the “UCO World” blog.

Read more »

Don’t give up, okay?  I know you’ve been hurt, I know how it feels.  Believe me, I do.  But the feeling will pass, the tears will stop falling, your heart will heal itself.  I promise you it will, so hold on and don’t let go.  Don’t lose hope because I promise you’ll find someone who will treat you right the way he never did.  Someone who will never ever leave you the way he did.  He’ll be worth the wait, so hand in there because I love you and I want you to be happy.

Read more »

A few times a week at least, I remind one or another of my children, when they say, “I can’t… “, that anything is possible.  When they argue the point – for example, “man cannot fly, mom!” – I hop onto the internet and show them a video of “Jet Man” on TED Talks.  “Still, he cannot fly by himself, mom”, they say.  “Yes, that is true,” I respond, “but the point wasn’t that he could do it by himself, the point is that he can do it!”

And such is life – we cannot do anything by ourselves.  If you believe in a God, which we do, without a doubt, and you understand His nature, you understand that He has given us the air we breath, the strength to carry on, and the means wherewith to do whatever we can imagine.  The point never was whether we could do something incredible by ourselves, the point is that we can do incredible things, with whatever help is necessary.

My daughter has taken quite an interest to pinterest.  I have two very conflicting feelings about this.  But that is not this post is about.  On the plust side she finds these incredible quotes.  She never fails to run and find me to share them with me (such as, most recently, this quote).  Why? She feels something when she reads them.  Likewise, I feel a strong desire to share things with others that have impacted my mind or my heart.  Also, she knows that I will appreciate them, every bit as much as she does.  Why? Because I have taught her what I value…

I believe in happily ever after’s.  I believe in fairy book endings.  I believe we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.  I believe we have little understanding of our potential.  I believe in the goodness of humanity.  I believe in a power above my own.  I believe in a Maker with a plan.  I believe that warn can cease to exist.  I believe that no one need go hungry.  I believe that suffering can be comforted and the helpless can become hopeful.  I believe that we are what we think we are, and we can become whatever we dream we can.  I believe in impossible missions and unlimited purpose.  I believe we are our brother’s keepers.  I believe that we are instruments in the hands of God.

And even though most days I feel my words fly like pollen blown too hard over tiny flowers, passing right by my intended target, they are getting through.  Those tiny, sunshine-coloured molecules of hope are fulfilling their intended purpose – to fertilize young minds in preparation for greatness.  This is what I believe lies in my children – in all children – greatness – the capability to change the world.  Not in some abstract way, but real one-person-can-change-the-world change.  And even if they choose never to believe me, never to open their hearts and their minds to this idealistic vision I carry, they will, with certainty know, that they had a mother who believed in impossible dreams.  That alone may be enough.

Article courtesy of Shelli McCullough.

Read more »