...patience and calm...

...here is a beautiful story submitted by a good friend of mine in my homestate, Missouri.

...sorry Garry, but I read mindless mystery novels and spy fiction, and I quit playing golf 25 years ago. Why you ask; I found my best friends had played all their lives and while they were most kind, I perceived my golfing prowess kept them from enjoying their game...so I quit.

My son Matt who is now 35 years old loves to fish. When Matt was eight he had no patience whatsoever, and a temper to match. However, after spending hours upon hours fishing and wandering the lakes edge as well as many ponds, streams and rivers we’d fish, his patience developed. I wanted to encourage this "patience and quiet" he enjoyed while fishing. Soon my daughter Leigh and wife Ann (of 39 years), joined our patient and quiet fishing. The water has a calming effect on me and has done wonders for my son and entire family. We love the "patience, calm and quiet" in our lives while fishing the waters of Northern Missouri. You should try it too.

Mom’s funeral was three weeks ago. While there, the family decided we should go to Kellogg Lake one evening. The only fish caught was by Leigh’s daughter, my granddaughter. I cried when all of my kids and their kids gathered around her, congratulating her on a fine catch. Don G., Missouri

Now that's what life is all about...thanks Don. friend, --gg

...what about a "Comments" page?...

...thinking of including a “Comments” page on the books site to create some exposure with what the buyers of the book (PreOrders), have been saying in their comments. It is most impressive...what has been written. From a random of six buyer comments that I’ve chosen, a couple have really confirmed my premise...making me think that the message of the book is indeed being communicated. A writer never knows if what he’s thinking and actually put into writing...is being interpreted correctly, if at all. Needless to say, I’m ecstatic when I read from one posting on my comment page mentioning... “delusions of self-importance supersede appropriate behavior.” How good is that, huh?

It is always difficult (like now), to write in brevity...remembering the old shoe... “brevity is the soul of wit!” Being brief in ones speech is not any easier...but writing has to be the most difficult task...particularly when you’re wit-less (lacking in wit), like me. So...when a person (me, specifically), tries to be brief AND convey his “life’s message,” it is refreshing and humbling to know...that someone (more than one, many) are picking-up on what indeed it is you’re trying to say. I’m honored to have the many friends and relatives...take the time, to respond with such kindness in their comments...and particularly their “understanding.” Thank You. --gg
(I'll let you know when this "Comments" page is up).

...time marches on...

...it makes my heart pound to read the nice comments from buyers of the book Character Happens! Sales of the book (the preorders), have been pretty good with such limited exposure. My wife Linda keeps pounding me to “keep writing...get it done,” if it were only that easy. Fits of inspiration coupled with time come sparingly...also, having the unfortunate disease of constantly editing the work...causes the sentences, paragraphs and pages to creep along. However...it is progressing...and for that little movement, I’m further encouraged.

My tentative schedule is to finish and final edit the book by the middle of November, 2009. The word tentative is not my “out” so to speak...from my pronounced delivery date of “Before Christmas.” It is only the reality of this (like any other) business...whereby numerous events (beyond my control) can cause delay in its being printed, bound and shipped to me in early December...for shipping to purchasers prior to Christmas, 2009.

Many of the book purchasers have commented about the topic of the book and “The 5 Most Important—But Fleeting Virtues.” They are in agreement the time is right for “a book” to discuss the topic of fleeting virtues. Naturally this makes me happy...also...many of you have stated you agree with the topic or premise of book. Great! And, I hope the stories convey the message of the virtue in a way many readers can empathize with, perhaps reflect...and aid their personal understanding of making a “more virtuous” decision in life.

PreOrders are now "Open"

Yesterday I received the first order for my book Character Happens! It was a fantastic moment to see the email from my credit card processor, PayPal. Along with the email about the order was a note from the good friend who bought my book (shipping December 2009), wishing me the best and for the book to be a huge success. Needless to say...it was gratifying.
Still working diligently on Chapter 4, I still believe I'm on schedule to submit to the digital printer (self-publishing), late November with an early December delivery. I'm excited.

....here's a nice "sample story" (the kind I'm looking for)...thanks for the feedback.

The Seed

A successful business man was growing old and
knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children,
he decided to do something different. He called all the young
executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO.
I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were
shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one
of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant
the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with
what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then
judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be
the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the
story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted
the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had
grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began
to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have
a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's
pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall
plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however.
He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company
brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot.
But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick
to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment
of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot
to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety
of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful --
in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and
many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back.
"My, what great plants, trees,
and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will
be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with
his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to
the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a
failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened
to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim,
and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next
Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow
his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this
room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it,
and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds;
they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and
flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you
substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the
only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with
my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new
Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
* If you plant faith, you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now; as it
will determine what you will reap later.
"Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back"
Unknown Author

.....another pic of me...no comments please.