Excerpt from "The Traveler's Gift"

The following is taken from the book The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. It's a fictional story about a middle-aged man named David Ponder who is in the throes of financial and emotional despair. One day, when he is at his most desperate, he suddenly finds himself on a journey through time where he meets several people from the past. They all have some words of wisdom for their visitor, and here is the first of several letters he receives.

-oOo-

The First Decision For Success: The Buck Stops Here

From this moment forward, I will accept responsibility for my past. I understand that the beginning of wisdom is to accept the responsibility for my own problems and that by accepting responsibility for my past, I free myself to move into a bigger, brighter future of my own choosing.

Never again will I blame my parents, my spouse, my boss, or other employees for my present situation. Neither my education nor lack of one, my genetics, or the circumstancial ebb and flow of everyday life will affect my future in a negative way. If I allow myself to blame these uncontrollable forces for my lack of success, I will be forever caught in a web of the past. I will look forward. I will not let my history control my destiny.

The buck stops here. I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success.

I am where I am today -- mentally, physicall, spiritually, emotionally, and financially -- because of decisions I have made. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am where I am today -- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially -- because of how I think. Today I will begin the process of changing where I am -- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially -- by changing the way I think.

My thoughts will be constructive, never destructive. My mind will live in the solutions for the future. It will not dwell in the problems of the past. I will seek the association of those who are working and striving to bring about positive changes in the world. I will never seek comfort by associating with those who have decided to be comfortable.

When faced with the opportunity to make a decision, I will make one. I understand that God did not put in me the ability to always make right decisions. He did, however, put in me the ability to make a decision and then make it right. The rise and fall of my emotional tide will not deter me from my course. When I make a decision, I will stand behind it. My energy will go into making the decision. I will waste none on second thoughts. My life will not be an apology. It will be a statement.

The buck stops here. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions.

In the future when I am tempted to ask the question "Why me?" I will immediately counter with the answer: "Why not me?" Challenges are gifts, opportunities to learn. Problems are the common thread running through the lives of great men and women. In times of adversity, I will not have a problem to deal with; I will have a choice to make. My thoughts will be clear. I will make the right choice. Adversity is preparation for greatness. I will accept this preparation. Why me? Why not me? I will be prepared for something great!

I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am responsible for my success.

The buck stops here.

-oOo-

"My life will not be an apology. It will be a statement." Yet another gentle kick in the butt to get me going. I really do love my life, and I want to make it even better. Damn right my life will be a statement! Damn frickin right.

90/10

Ninety percent of the time, I feel happy, hopeful, excited about life, and grateful for a fresh start. The rest of the time, I feel broken.

Tonight is a broken night.