Each month I receive stories and comments from many of you. This month I want to share this delightful 'frog tale', submitted by Bill & Debbie of Lakewood, Washington, that illustrates the power of encouragement and individual perception.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs said, "Didn't you hear us?"

The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time!'

**This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through out the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of wordsit is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that
tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. Be special to others. Author Unknown

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~
The power of words is awesome. One's emotional tone of voice in speaking words has a tremendous impact too. Dr. Norman Cousins in his book "Head First" makes a profound statement, "Words can be lethal. No more important lesson can be learned by medical students than that no one knows enough to make a pronouncement of doom". He was referring to
medical students but it applies to all of us.

There is also another perspective and that is you have the choice of accepting what you want, not what you don't want. Should someone make a remark that is hurtful or cruel, you can reject it. Your mind and attitudes belong to you. You are the boss. You can be hard of hearing by choice. I think that it was one smart frog that persisted regardless of the obstacles he faced.

Why not do the unexpected this month? Surprise a few people by presenting 'positive solutions' and not buying into the 'negative' attitudes. Let your 'light shine' with such brightness that it turns
the 'light' on in others; showing that challenges are opportunities to demonstrate the greatness within. Donna Seebo