There is a lesson to be learned from a duck. Ever watched one gliding on the water on a beautiful sunny day? He seems so calm, cool, and collected. But guess what. Underneath that water, his little webbed feet are paddling like crazy. The lesson here? No matter what your task, you must remain calm for yourself and cool for others. Work as hard as you can to accomplish your goal behind the scenes, but never let them see you sweat!

Have you ever seen a U-Haul trailer following a hearse? The accumulation of stuff eventually leaves you empty. Fancy cars, elegant homes and keeping up with the Jones has it's limitations. Remember you can't take it with you. The only thing that remains after you are gone is what you give away.

Want to know the true test of a friend? How you know if you have one? How you know if you are one? Simple. When tough times come (and they do to everyone sooner or later), remember this: A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.

"What did I try to do today and fail at?" Ask yourself this question often. Why? Because it is the trying that opens doors to wisdom. It is our failures that move us to success. Try something new everyday. If you fail, you have tried. If you don't try, you have failed.

Turn your scars into stars! A famous TV pastor made that slogan popular, but have you ever really thought about the scars of your life and what you have done with them? Are they old wounds that you still nurse, or have you turned them into trophies of battles won and lessons learned? When others view our lives, may their eyes be filled with stars!

Ever honked your horn at someone who sits too long at a traffic light when it turns green, or drives too slowly on the interstate? Responding with impatience is most unkind. Who knows what circumstances have come their way to cause their mind to wander? An illness of a family member, bad news from afar, a relationship breakup, loss of a job or worse . . . . be quick to have patience and slow to react. No one knows what goes on in a stranger's world. Make sure you do not add unkindness to it.

Sometimes the road before us is winding. Often we cannot see what lies around the bend. Our future is uncertain. Don't take the time to worry. Continue walking, putting one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. Your path will unfold before you as you keep doing the next right thing.