年齡的顔色

The sad truth is that only very emotionally insecure people pad their dates with a third wheel or a posse of friends. Either the date will think that you are too insecure to make decisions (because you have to take a poll to see what your friends think) before you embark on a relationship) or that your relationship history is so bad your dates need to be monitored for quality control.

I’ve noticed, particularly amongst the under thirty crowd, that a good way to get to know someone lately is to ask “what kind of vibrator do you use?” or “How many hundreds of dollars are you in overdraft?” This used to be the kind of thing that was never discussed in polite company, but nowadays it seems that one can never be too forthcoming with personal details.

Another rule to remember is “never ever get too drunk.” This one also sounds obvious but it is amazing how one drink leads to another when your nerves are frayed by the sight of a potential lover who makes you too nervous to even eat.

In the worst case scenario, you might find yourself asking your partner “Will you respect me in the morning?” He or she might respond, “Why should I? I don’t respect you NOW!”

Needless to say, copious amounts of alcohol have been known to release more than sexual inhibitions. It can lead to the kind of confusion that has you going home with the wrong person.

A third law of dating is: “never, ever share too much.” —Has anybody else noticed that we live in a confessional culture, one in which we are encouraged to “tell all at first sight”?!

It used to be that one could get to know someone else by asking, “what kind of movies do you like?” or “what kind of books do you read?”

Sometimes it is possible to get to know somebody too well, too soon to the point that knowing all about their little personality quirks and habits turns you right off. This is why you should “never ever give it all away.”

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the employer came to inspect the house and handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Who could say it more clearly? Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

    Many people think that when they become rich and successful, happiness will naturally follow. Let me tell you that nothing is further from the truth. The world is full of very rich people who are as miserable as if they were living in hell. We have read stories about movie stars who committed suicide or died from drugs. Quite clearly, money is not the only answer to all problems.
    Wealth obtained through dishonest means does not bring happiness. Lottery winnings do not bring happiness. Gamble winnings do not bring happiness. To my mind, the secret to happiness lies in your successful work, in your contribution towards others’ happiness and in your wealth you have earned through your own honest effort. If you obtain wealth through luck or dishonest means, you with taking advantage of others or by hurting others, you will not be happy with it. You will think you are a base person.
    Long-term happiness is based on honesty, productive work, contribution, and self-esteem. Happiness is not an end; it is a process. It is a continuous process of honest, productive work which makes a real contribution to others and makes you feel you are a useful, worthy person. As Dr.Wayne wrote, “There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” There is no use saying “Some day when I achieve these goals, when I get a car, build a house and own my own business, then I will be really happy.” Life just does not work that way. If you wait for certain things to happen and depend on external circumstances of life to make you happy, you will always feel unfulfilled. There will always be something missing.