The World of Grandpa Don

 9/12/2001
The Important Things in Life
 
 Sometimes people come into your life and you know  right away that they were meant to be there, to serve  some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help  you figure out who you are or who you want to become.
 
 You never know who these people may be - a roommate, a  neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a  complete stranger - but when you lock eyes with them,  you know at that very moment they will affect your  life in some profound way.
 
 Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible,  painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you  find that without overcoming those obstacles you would  have never realized your potential, strength,  willpower, or heart.
 
 Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness,  and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of  your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they  may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight  flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and  comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
 
 The people you meet who affect your life, and the  success and downfalls you experience, help to create  who you are and who you become. Even the bad  experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are  sometimes the most important ones.
 
 If someone loves you, give love back to them in  whatever way you can, not only because they love you,  but because in a way, they are teaching you to love  and how to open your heart and eyes to things. 

 If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your  heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn  about trust and the importance of being cautious to  whom you open your heart.
 
 Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and  take from those moments everything that you possibly  can for you may never be able to experience it again.  Talk to people that you have never talked to before,  and listen to what they have to say.
 
 Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your  sights high. Hold your head up because you have every  right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual  and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in  yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in  you.
 
 You can make anything you wish of your life. Create  your own life and then go out and live it with  absolutely no regrets. 
 
 And if you love someone tell them, for you never know  what tomorrow may have in store. 
 
 Due the tragic events in the United States that have  taken place, our regular issue will not be sent out.  Instead, please take a moment to remember those that  have been injured or lost their lives, and those that  have been affected both directly and indirectly. Now  take another moment, and tell your family and friends  that you love them.
 
 If you have a Red Cross unit near you, please donate  blood. 
 Locate your local Red Cross  http://www.redcross.org  Please note this website is experiencing heavy server  traffic.
 
 You may also make a financial donation. 
 National American Red Cross
 P.O. Box 37243
 Washington, D.C. 20013

Ron Hartman