James Allen wrote a monumental book AS A MAN THINKETH. An important truth is that people are makers of themselves. This book to me is poetry of this fundamental truth. The following are some paraphrased thoughts from the book:

Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err. This is just as true of those who feel out of harmony with their surroundings as of those who are contented with them. As the progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow. As he learns the spiritual lesson which many circumstance contains for him, it passes away and gives place to other circumstances. Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be outside of these conditions, but when he realized that he may control many of these circumstances using his free will, he then becomes the rightful master of himself. As he continues to grow and practice self control and self purification, he will have notice that the alteration in his circumstances has been in an exact ratio with his altered mental condition. So true is this that when a man earnestly applies himself to remedy the defects in his character, and makes swift and marked progress, he passes rapidly through a succession of modifications. The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves; and also that which it fears; it reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires, and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own. Every thought seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into an act, and bearing its own fruit of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.

The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought. Both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss. Following the inmost desires aspirations, thoughts, by which he allows himself to be dominated (pursuing the will o the wisps of impure imaginings or steadfastly walking the highway of strong and high endeavor), a man at least arrives at their fruition and fulfillment in the outer conditions of his life. The laws of growth and adjustment are evident as each of us, accept challenges or runs from them. At home, work, school or in the dojo, we can choose what to become and how we are going to reach our ultimate level of ability and maturity. This is evident in how we work toward improving every day or float on the waters of mediocrity.

WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR THINK YOU CAN’T - THE OUTCOME WILL BE THE RESULT OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

IF YOU DESIRE TO BE YOUR BEST.

World renown motivationalist Brian Tracy has identified 10 key strategies essential for success:

BE PHYSICALLY FIT! If you are fresh and alert, you will feel good and be good. Have a healthy lifestyle.

GET AROUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE! Associate with the best. Look for happy, positive people who are going the same places you want to go.

GET SERIOUS! Quit fooling around. Successful people have had what Brian refers to "a significant motivational experience," something that got inside them that made them just decide that "I'm going to be the best, there are no barriers, I shall turn the course."

GROW EVERY DAY! Dedicate yourself to learn (did you know that 80% of American households didn't buy a single book last year?). Listen to positive mental attitude audios, read positive mental attitude books, and take training courses.

IDENTIFY LIMITATIONS! Everyone has some type of choke point that is setting their speed. Missing just one skill will hold you back. This will be the factor that limits you. Your associates will probably be aware of this limitation and can help you identify it.

LEAD THE ACTION! Act as if everyone is watching you. If it is to be, it is up to me. Have high standards and great expectations. This will energize you.

POSITIVE ACTION! Get going. Get busy. Work. Go see people. Move quickly (there are no successful slow people). Persist. Never, never give up!

POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS! Always look for the good. What am I doing right?

POSITIVE VISUALIZATION! Picture yourself as successful in all situations. To gain a desirable attribute, act as if you already have that quality.

SELF-TALK! Successful people have an optimistic inner dialogue. They talk to themselves in the form of positive affirmations. Be your own cheerleader.

Golf Balls and a Quantity of Water

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar . . . and the water.

A sensei stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So, the sensei then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The sensei next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The sensei then produced a large pitcher of water and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed. "Now," said the sensei, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.”

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room or the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups and exercise your body and mind. Do your school work when it is assigned. There will always be time to clean the house. "Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the water represented. The sensei smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, everything that exists does so because of the abundance of our lives. Our bodies are 80% water. We need water to live, sleep to regenerate our bodies and love to fill our lives with caring for someone other than our self. What is important to you?”

UPCOMING EVENTS & TOURNAMENTS
 (information on the dojo information center:

• October 5th - - Mt. Arlington, NJ - - For the PBA in that area
• November 1st - SWEAT - A - THON AT FIT HAPPENS - FUND RAISER FOR THE JOAN KNECHEL CANCER CENTER
• November 9th - - Easton, PA

Raising Physically Active Children - Parental Involvement Key in Physical Development - NewsRx.com September 2003

Physical education programs can introduce children to a variety of exercises and healthful activities, but an expert at the University of Arkansas warns that all could be for naught if kids come home and plop down in front of TV or video games. "Parental involvement is key not only in a child's academic development, but in their physical development as well," Kern said. "In fact, children who engage in regular physical activity are better able to focus on their academic work. Physically active children demonstrate increased alertness and attention spans, which can lead to improved academic performance." He suggested five things parents can do to get their children away from the television and video games and involved in healthy activity:

• Move with them! Taking a family walk or bike ride is an excellent way to spend some family time and stay active at the same time. Don't let hot weather get in your way - wait until the evening when the sun starts to go down. If your kids see that you don't mind sweating a bit, they won't mind either.
• Encourage your children to sign up for an activity. Experiment with soccer, swimming, karate, etc. Maybe you'll hit one that they really enjoy, or they may simply enjoy the social interaction benefits that go along with a variety of activities.
• Contact your friends who have children and get them together on a regular basis. Kids are more likely to be sedentary when they are alone or in the confines of their own home, so get them out of the house.
• Check out the many parks and recreation facilities in the area. Many have hiking trails, bike paths, and lakes for canoeing or swimming. Time spent out of the house is more likely to be active time.
• Ask them regularly what type of activities they are doing in their school physical education classes. Encourage them to practice the skills they have learned at school, and better yet, practice with them.