Take a second look. There are still a lot of heroes out there. Some of them make the national news, while some you might never hear of, but they almost always have one thing in common – they are in tune with their Core Desires and it produces something positive for not only themselves but other people, too!

You don’t know how many years you have on this earth, but you know for sure that they are limited. You’ll either put them to good use or look back on them with bitter regret. It’s such an old, hackneyed phrase, but you really do have to Go For It! Find your Core Desires. Flip the switch on your Conquering Force. Go over, around, under or through every obstacle, including Invisible Barriers. Make your time count.

Have you ever seen a trained elephant? Seven thousand pounds of mammal, held in place by a chain not much thicker than a woman’s choker. Even if the elephant likes its handlers, it must want to wander off at times, go exploring or check out the pink cotton candy a few yards away. But it stands there, swishing its trunk and looking around, never thinking to jerk its broad leg and snap that thin strand holding it back. Why?

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

Here is another wonderful Christmas story. This story touched me deeply. I trust it will you too.

I hope you are enjoying them. I have received many emails saying that my stories are appreciated. Some even share their own story.

If you would like to share yours, I’d love to hear it, leave it in the comments below!

I love this time of year! It is Christmas time all around the world! I love this season because it causes people to be nicer, more giving and focused on others. Just as gifts were brought and given to the Christ child so we, in similitude, give gifts to those we love. There are two parts to this letter.

Venture capitalists risk a certain amount of money in order to make more money. Women risk the complications and exhaustion of pregnancy in order to have the benefit of a baby. Firefighters risk their own lives to save the lives of others. Students risk tuition money and years of studies for the potential benefit of a lucrative career. Entrepreneurs risk the hours, money and dedication needed to start a new business for the potential benefit of a successful business. Publishers risk the cost of printing and marketing a novel for the potential benefit of a best seller.

Kimberly Anne Evans spent her life using food as a friend, confidant and comforter. She estimates now that she ate about 9,000 calories a day. When she was 39 years old, her weight was 347 pounds, and she knew that she was slowly killing herself with food. Then a friend loaned her a DVD of The Phantom of the Opera.” She was moved by the Phantom’s status as an outcast, craving human contact and love.

“I’ve had some bad experiences with trust at work,” Jim wrote. “At my last job, my boss didn’t trust anyone, and it showed. He was completely disorganized, but he blamed me when he lost his paperwork. He tried to micromanage everything, and he was always spying on me and the other employees. I’d turn around from my computer and he’d be reading over my shoulder. He actually went through people’s desks a couple of time. He was always talking about honesty – how it was dishonest to get paid for a full day’s work without giving it – but he made all kinds of promises he never kept.”

A top tier celebrity is in the news right now. It’s a pretty unsavory story, so I won’t go into the details, but in short, he made some really serious mistakes. That was bad enough, but then someone got hold of the details and began to blackmail him.