I couldn't either..

Yes of course, Thanks

Might have some point. Thank you!

Thank you! :)

Hey! I don't have bad odor smish. I know proper hygiene

The Wooden Bowl Message

[By Byron Pulsifer]

There are those people who love to give advice. This advice is given without being asked, and is offered at every opportunity they can get. The unusual thing is that some of these people are the ones that do not like to accept advice given to them.


There is one person that comes to mind immediately when I think of people who love to tell others what they should change. This is a person who has been a wood worker for many, many years and sells some great products at a local market. Since we also sell craft products, we got to know him very well over the years.


Now, the craft market is very interesting and also is one that requires you to change your product mix from time to time. These products need to meet the market conditions especially in pricing. With any slow economic time what with every thing going up in price including gas, a product line needs to offer some very reasonably priced items to attract customers.


One thing we learned very early on was to change our product line every year we brought our goods for display. And, it was this very wood smith that suggested we try different products not just the ones we preferred to make and sell. But, over the last several years, we have noticed that year in and year out, he continues to bring the same products to sell and with rather high price tags.


In an attempt to help him because he had helped us, and noticing that his customer base had severely dropped and sales were really down, we spoke to him suggesting he start to develop a line of products that were smaller and a little less expensive.


Well, it was quite amazing what his reaction was. He said he didn't need to change his products, he was quite happy doing what he always did.


And, as time went on, sales continued to drop, and he started to complain. It became quite common that very market day the same thing would happen with fewer sales and even greater complaints.

Even though we spoke to him again and offered to help him develop a different product mix, he would refuse to change.


The message is clear. You can choose to change, or you can remain where you are doing what you have always done. And, the only person who can choose to change is you. It doesn't matter whether you are the type of person who offers advice to others to change, you are the only person who can accept that change is necessary and do it, or you can stay stuck.


Now, in this particular case, this wood smith keeps doing the same old thing and still goes about telling everyone else that they have to change with the times.

The interesting thing is this: he is absolutely correct in what he says and his advice is usually followed. The advice he has given to many other carpenters has lead them to actually increase their sales whereas he is still going downhill in his own sales volume.


Unfortunately, this same matter of fact way of making suggestions to others and not following your own advice is rampant throughout the world. I see these kinds of people almost every week and I have yet to see one of then follow their own suggestions.


I believe that each of us has the ability to change but change only comes when we see ourselves as the first to change. You cannot change anyone unless they want to change much like you cannot make an animal drink no matter how many bowls of water you set out in front of them. If they choose not to drink, they will not drink.


["If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." - Tony Robbins]

Get over it and forget him? Maybe it's his fault, but maybe it's yours? Sorry, but we only have one side of it here and that's yours. If the guy had to reply, i bet he would say things that you've omitted, to say. Life goes on though? Put it behind you and move on with your life, as you only get one shot at it? Take care?

I don't know how well you know him, sometimes people bail when they have misrepresented themselves and you are getting close to the truth. IE the poster above warning about scammers.

Dude. You're 18.....and this experience is a little thing we call life experience. Take it, move along, and prepare to deal with it during your dating life (cause people be whack like that yo).

I had that too...and it wasn't anything I said. The person was actually really eager to meet me and all of a sudden...silence...
I waited a week then I asked...no answer...then I moved on.

They don't deserve you....(and usually it's the kind of people that come back at a certain moment when you moved on with lots of excuses...but you know, my experience told me that it is going to happen again so it's really not worth the wait in the beginning already)

AND since I have 100 times better...no a million times better...totally unexpected....

So as the saying goes: when one door closes another one opens !

You are beautiful, you are young....and so much to live for !

IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and had lunch. Their conversation usually centered on all the things they were going to achieve. They both had many dreams and they loved to talk about them. This particular Saturday when they met, WHEN sensed that IF was not in a great mood. As usual they sat at the table reserved for them and ordered their lunch. Once they placed their order, WHEN questioned IF. "IF what is wrong with you? You don't seem your usual cheery self?" IF looked at WHEN and replied, "I'm not sure, I just don't feel like I am making any progress. This last week I saw a course I wanted to take if only I had the time to take it."


WHEN knew exactly how IF felt. "Yeah," replied WHEN, "I too saw a course and I am going to register when I get enough money together." WHEN then said, "well what about that new job you were going to apply for. You were so excited about it last week, did you apply?"


IF responded, "If my computer didn't break down last week, I would have applied. But, my computer is not working, so I could not type my resume."


"Don't worry about it IF, when you are ready another job will come through. I have been thinking about looking for another job also, but I will wait and when the weather gets nicer I will look then." WHEN then went on to tell IF about his week, hoping that it would cheer him up a bit.


The man at the next table couldn't help overhear WHEN and IF. They both were talking about when this and if that, finally he couldn't take it anymore. "Excuse me gentlemen," the man said. IF and WHEN both looked at the man and wondered what he wanted. The man continued, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help hearing your conversation. I think I know how you could solve your problems."


IF smiled and thought, how could a complete stranger know how to solve all of their problems. If only he knew. When he realized the challenges they faced there was no way he could solve their problems! Curious, IF asked the gentleman, "How do you think you can solve our problems?"


The gentleman smiled and said, "You only need listen to yourselves. It reminds me of an old proverb:
'If and When were planted, and Nothing grew'."


IF and WHEN looked puzzled. The gentleman smiled and said, "Start counting how many times you use the words 'if' and 'when'. Rather than thinking 'if and when', start doing, take action, stop talking about 'if and when'."


IF and WHEN both looked surprised, and suddenly realized that what the gentleman had said was so true. Both of them were guilty of thinking, acting and living their life for the "ifs and whens". The gentleman left and IF and WHEN's conversation changed. They made a pact that when they met for lunch next week, there would be no "ifs and whens"; they would only talk about what they accomplished!:-)

[Catherine Pulsifer]

ZZZZZZZZ

Yes, very true, but it still is an unpleasant thing to have happen to you ... It happened to me a few times, men disappearing off the radar without any apparent reason. If ppl just had the baws to say "sorry, but this just doesn't work for me".. Would make it easier to move on.
If you've only exchanged a few superficial mails, fair enough, but sometimes there's more going on, there was emotional investment etc., which makes it a bit harder to deal with when someone suddenly disappears.

I remember asking you guys here how you would wanna be dealt with if a woman felt it wasn't working out with you.
And ALL of you men said "Give it to me straight! But DO tell us! Be honest!!"
So why not give us the same courtesy I wonder?
.
.

:-)

I must investigate if I responded to your topic Crystal.

And we would all love to have it given to us straight. I have experienced a woman disappearing on me before (both in real life and on here) and it does suck. But I also developed an "Eh. Okay...so she is one of "those" type of people....the kind who would rather not face a confrontation and would rather just disappear". I mean...in the end...it's all about people not wanting to be the bad person and ending things. Most people hate that.

Okay I'll go ahead and ask the obvious.

Is he in another country?

o_o

just a joke precious one.

good thoughts and feelings to you.

It takes strength to be firm, it takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to conquer, it takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain, it takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in, it takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain, it takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to endure abuse, it takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone, it takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love, it takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive, it takes courage to live. :-)

As you travel through life there are always those times
When decisions just have to be made,
When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce,
And the rain seems to soak your parade.

There are some situations where all you can do
Is simply let go and move on,
Gather your courage and choose a direction
That carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward -
The process of change can be tough,
But think about all the excitement ahead

There might be adventures you never imagined
Just waiting around the next bend,
And wishes and dreams just about to come true
In ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships
that spring from new things
As you challenge your status quo,
And learn there are so many options in life,

Perhaps you'll go places you never expected
And see things that you've never seen,
Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds
And wonderful spots in between!

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring
And somebody special who's there
To help you stay cantered and listen with interest
To stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends
Are supportive of all that you do,
And believe that whatever decisions you make,
They'll be the right choices for you.

So keep putting one foot in front of the other,
And taking your life day by day...
There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road -
Don't look back! You're not going that way! :-)