David Leonhardt
?>
Download eBooks and Software
 Peoplesearchaffiliates.com: #1 For Over 2 Years
Make Money Today! Most Lucrative People Search Products On CB For 2+ Years In Reverse Phone - Email Search - Vital Records - Family History. All New Aff Area W/ppc Landing Pages, Keyword Lists, Seo Tools, & More At www.peoplesearchaffiliates.com
Self-esteem Elevation For Children Coaching Certification
From Renowned Life-optimization Coach Joe Rubino: High-ticket Product With Proven Copy Perfect For Any Niche That Relates To Children, Parenting, And Family. Certification Teaches How To Make A Profound Impact On The Happiness And Future Of Children.
Urban Survival:survive Any Disaster Without Leaving Home
Urban Survival: Easy Shortcuts To Prepare Your Family For Surviving Disasters Without Leaving The City
Articles > FamilyRed Balloon of Happiness
by: David Leonhardt
Just when you think you know it all, some 17-month old child comes along and teaches you another valuable life lesson.
Little Lady lost her favorite ball. There are few things that bring this 17-month-old more joy than playing with her favorite ball. And, of course, we want our daughter to have all the happiness she can get.
So we headed out to the store to replace the missing ball. Little Lady enjoyed the outing, since there were so many exciting things to pull off shelves. And when we reached the ball aisle, she nearly jumped for joy. (OK, more like raced to the bin and started covering the floor with her joy, one bounce at a time.)
As we left the aisle, Little Lady was happy and smiling. She held her replacement ball in her hands as we walked up to the cash. While waiting to pay, Little Lady caught sight of a red balloon that had obviously been used for some promotion, but was now wandering aimlessly around the floor like a lost puppy.
If you think a ball can bring happiness, wait 'til you see the sparkle in the eye of a toddler who has just found her very own red balloon. Pure joy! Of course, she adopted the balloon immediately and clung to it all the way back to the car. Did she want to hold the ball? No way. She had a balloon!
I couldn't help but marvel at how she valued the free, fragile balloon more than the sturdy ball I for which had just paid good money. Is there a lesson we can learn for self-actualization? Here are the possible lessons that immediately occurred to me:
- Why bother having a thick skin, if your daughter prefers thin skins?
- If you drift aimlessly long enough, you might get adopted.
- Money can't buy the most important things in life (happiness, joy, smiles, balloons, etc.)
- Your child can see value where you cannot, so listen to what she says.
I figure at least two of these are valuable lessons that can add happiness to a person's life. Little Lady teaches me self-actualization lessons daily now, and I am learning to listen with head and heart.
How often do we value the wrong things? The things that cost the most? How hard to we work to earn all that extra income to buy things we simply do not need. Anyone reading this probably has more than she will ever need, and yet don't we all want more anyway?
Suppose we chose to have less of the things money can buy, and instead chose to have more time? More time to spend with our family? More time to spend with ourselves? More time to just be? What if we are giving up the red balloon chasing after the ball?
My wife and I made a big decision a few months ago. We gave up the condo in the city for a big ol' house in the country. Our red balloon was space to raise a family in a much less noisy and stressed-out environment. The ball we gave up was the "glamour" of city living and a fancy condo.
Assuming we can make a living from my book, my ezine, my web site and whatever other work-from-home projects I take on, we get to keep the red balloon.
I invite you to look carefully at your life. Ask what truly brings you meaning. Then ask yourself if you could have more of that if you spent less time and effort on activities that don't bring you meaning but just fill your time.
Enjoy your red balloon.
?>
News on Family
Jaunt.ca and SavvyMom.ca Partner to Launch Jaunt Family
Jaunt Family offers carefully curated family getaways that will create lasting memories for Canadian familiesTORONTO, May 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Jaunt.ca and SavvyMom Media (SavvyMom.ca) announce the launch ... Some England family members skip Euros over racism
Some family members of England's black players will avoid traveling to the European Championship because of fears of racist abuse and violence. England star's family snub Euros over racism fears
England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's family have become the latest to decide against supporting their son at Euro 2012, amid fears about racism in tournament co-hosts Ukraine. England family members skip Euros over racism
LONDON (AP) -- Some family members of England's black players will avoid traveling to the European Championship because of fears of racist abuse and violence. Family Child Care Course by CCEI Provides General Training for Family Care Providers
DULUTH, Ga., May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an IACET approved, nationally accredited, online training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care and education ...
|
