3.7 LESSONS FROM 2011

Today I am better than I was yesterday, but not as good as I will be tomorrow. 2011 was a good year; unforgettable, filled with joy, tears, exciting engagements and heartbreaks all packaged in there; quite eventful but made me a better and stronger person at the end of the day.

I leant a lot in terms of relationships, commitment and sacrifice, but the most important of these lessons was that you should never take a good woman for granted, they are very few of them out there and if you're lucky to be blessed with one, they should be grasped with both hands.

Otherwise this is just a summary of bottled up emotions:

-Some people come into your life as a blessing, and others come into your life as lessons.

-Some of the very things that we hold onto the most, are the very things that we need to let go of.

-The only person you should ever compare yourself to is the person you used to be.

-Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, take note of all the “signs”

-A good relationship can make you stronger. A bad relationship can make you wiser for next time.

-Life Is Too Short to Spend Time with People who want to make unhappy, move on to better... Who Suck the Happiness Out Of You

-Some people are just bad news. Even if you love them, they aren't good for your life. Give them time to grow up.

-The only people you need in your life are the ones who need you in theirs.

-Don't wait until you see them moving on to decide you want to try and catch them.

-If you know you're in the wrong relationship.. Break Up before you Break Down.. Life is too short to be unhappy

-Sometimes in life you need to lose everything you have to appreciate what you had.

-Never do something permanently stupid just because you are temporarily upset.

-Stick with people that bring out the absolute best in you. :)

-There comes a point in your life when u realize who REALLY matters, who NEVER did, and who ALWAYS will.

-Life is a marathon, not a sprint. So don't rush things, because anything worth having is worth waiting.

-Nothing dries sooner than tears. Life can never promise us to be always happy, but life gets better after you accept things you can’t change

-Being in the wrong relationship will have you feeling more alone & unsatisfied than when you were actually single.

-I hate the fact that you ignore me for so long, and then you start talking to me like nothing happened.

-Friends with Benefits is an amazing idea, till they fall in love.

-Life is like a taxi ride. You can go wherever you want & do whatever you want to do, but when the ride is over you're going to have to pay up.

-Whenever you feel weak, remember those who make you strong and whenever you start to doubt yourself, remember those who believe in you.

-Sometimes we have to fight for what we love and care about. But sometimes we have to find the strength to let it go.

-Never expect. Never assume. Never ask. And never demand. Just let it be. If it's meant to be, it will happen.

-I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

-You never lose by loving; you always lose by holding back.

-I'm strong because I've been weak. I'm fearless because I've been afraid. I'm wise because I've been foolish

-Never assume that someone likes you by their sweetness. Sometimes, you are just an option when they are bored.

-moving on is NOT about "never looking back", it's taking a glance at yesterday and noticing how much you've grown since then

-The truth is everyone's going to hurt you. You just have to find the ones worth suffering for

-The most important element of any relationship is COMMUNICATION. Everything should be shared, never make someone guess or assume.

-Sometimes being too nice is dangerous; you have to show your mean side once in a while to avoid getting hurt.

-Some people are meant to fall in love with each other, but not meant to be together.

-Sometimes, it takes a good fall to really know where we stand.

-Can't call it a real relationship if you feel single

-Remember never give up on something u really want. It's difficult to wait, but more difficult to regret...

-One lie is all it takes for a person to lose interest in you. Best thing to do is always be upfront, remain real & tell the truth

-The sky isn't always blue. The sun doesn't always shine. So it's okay to fall apart sometimes, but always remember to get up again.

-A wrong relationship will make you feel more alone than when you were single.

-Never expect things to happen, it's better to feel surprised than to feel disappointed.

-Seng'Khathele! - Dj Euphonic :)

-Never allow something that doesn't matter because you to lose something that does....

-Never call them mistakes, they're lessons. They're there to teach you what not to do in the future.

-Realize if you don't put yourself in a place to cheat, chances are you won't cheat

-I don't want a perfect relationship. I just want someone who I can act silly with, someone who treats me well and loves being with me

-Trust is what a relationship stands on if you don't have trust you aren't in a relationship....

-One of the simplest ways to stay happy: Just let go of the things that makes you sad.

-One of the best feelings in the world is when you know that you actually mean something to someone.

-Don't quit because something went wrong. Quit because you tried your best and nothing got better!

-Maybe it's not about fixing something that's broken. Maybe it's about restarting and creating something even better.

-Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.

-Don't let something that doesn't matter because you to lose something that does.

-Everybody has the power to make someone else happy. Some do it by entering the room, while some do it by leaving.

-Start everyday with a new hope, leave bad memories behind & have faith for a better tomorrow.

-When I give you my time. I'm giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back. So don't waste it

-No relationship is worth hiding. If you have to hide your relationship to be happy....it’s not worth having.

-We must hurt in order to grow, fail in order to know and lose in order to gain, because some lessons in life are best learned through pain.

-Never regret anything that has happened in your life, it cannot be changed, undone or forgotten so take it as a lesson learned and move on.

-There comes a point in life where you get tired of chasing someone & trying to fix everything... but it’s not giving up... its realizing you don’t need certain people, the bull crap & the drama they bring!!

-Sometimes you end up losing yourself trying to hold onto someone who doesn’t care about losing you
-there comes a time in life when you have to let go of the pointless drama and the people who create it

-some people are like clouds, when they go away, the day gets brighter

-Flirting while in a relationship is highly disrespectful & while it may seem harmless, it can be very hurtful to the person that loves you.

‎-sometimes being scared is okay, in some cases fear is the only thing that saves you from doing something you'll regret
-loving; is when you just want the best for that person whether it includes you or not
-live every moment, love everyday; coz before you know it, precious time slips away
-never apologise for what you feel, it’s like saying sorry for being real

-Quit crying over what happened and start praising God over what didn’t happen :)

-Always trust your gut feelings and take note of the "signs", ...

#iknewitwasoverwhen you started being too busy for me, “me-time”

#iknewitwasoverwhen you needed me I was there for you, but when I needed you, you were nowhere to be found.

#IKnewItWasOverWhen I felt single even though I was still in a relationship...you didn't care anymore.

#IKnewItWasOverWhen you became over moody & seems very upbeat and excited when leaving...

#Iknewitwasoverwhen we couldn't even have a normal conversation anymore.

Life's TOO short to be stressing' over ANYTHING!

Ponder points

After all the tears and heartbreaks, you should learn to pick yourself up and move on. Life goes on, so should you. Every tear you shed comes with a hard lesson, and that should guide you from getting into the same situation again in the future.-BB

Forgiving people who have hurt you is your gift to them, forgetting people who have hurt you is your gift to you.

Forget what hurt you in the past but never forget what it taught you. Everybody deserves second chances, but not for the same mistakes. If someone you love hurts you, one of the best things you can do is to move on and find happiness elsewhere. Don't give them the satisfaction of seeing you suffer. Let go when you're hurting too much, give up when love isn’t enough, and move on when things aren't like before. Surely there is someone out there who will love you more.

-Yvonne Tjedu-tjanana Buzwane

3.6 Tips to Understanding Women in Relationships

 Men also have the same tendency of going to their friends in the bar when they and are having problems with their woman. To a man, women appear as sometimes too emotional and their needs and wants seems exaggerated. This is written by women for the husbands and boyfriends who wants to tighten the bond in their relationships

Regardless of what people would have you believe, women can be understood. There are only a few things that you need to understand about women in relationships. These tips will help you to make her happier and to be more successful and joyful in your relationships.

1. Women are very up and down. Women are like a roller coaster when it comes to emotion, decisions, and every area of their life. Women also want a man who is firm. That is why women go for the men who treat them horribly. They know what to expect from that type of man and he will always let her know where he stands.

2. Women they need to feel secure, special and important. They need to feel like they are the most important and special person in your world, especially when it comes to women. If you aren't taking the time to do little things to let her know you are thinking about her, especially when you are apart, she will hit one of those emotional roller coasters. Do yourself a favor, make sure you are leaving notes, calling her on your lunch break, and wrapping your arms around her as she does the dishes.

3. Women want security. Women want to at least feel secure in their relationship. This comes out in many different ways. Some women will stay with men that are horrible for them if that man is able to provide for them financially. For some women this is security. If you want to keep a woman be sure to provide mental and emotional security. She wants you to listen when she needs to talk, and that's all. Don't try to solve their problems, because they don't want you to solve their problems. Just provide the security by listening and being able and willing to solve it if she needs.

4. Women may think the nice guy is a great man, but nice guys finish last because that doesn't turn a woman on. A woman wants a man who can do them mentally. They want a man who will not always give them what they want, and won't be predictable for when he will and won't give her what she wants. She doesn't want a man who will bow down and kiss her shoes, all the time.

5. A woman wants a man who can keep her on her toes mentally. She likes the game, and the challenge. This doesn't mean you should manipulate or use her or play games with her, but instead, that you should be able to give her the game she wants to play mentally. If you want to know about understanding women in relationships, understand their psychology and their needs.

6. Women like to talk, but what men seem to forget is that as much as women like to talk, they liked to be listened to even more. You may think that there’s an awful lot of needless descriptions and detail in her conversations. And, maybe you could have made the same point in two sentences tops. But those details are important to a woman, and you can bet your bippy that two years later (when you receive your pop quiz on the subject) if you don’t remember these details you will hear the words, "See? You never listen to me!"

7. Women expect you to "know". Your response is usually, "What? Am I a mind reader?" For some reason, this is very common. "I shouldn’t have to tell you!" is something only a woman would say. And you can be sure to hear it when she’s mad. Really, there’s nothing you can do in this situation other than to ask and wait. You’ll find out soon enough exactly what you did wrong.

8. Women keep a list of your deeds - good or bad. It might not be on paper, but it’s all written down in her head. And don't let her forgetfulness at the grocery store fool you either. She may forget to buy toothpaste, but she'll never forget "what you said". Your "bad" deeds are sure to stay on that list for years and years, whereas, the good might only stick around for a couple of weeks - give or take a couple of weeks.

9. Women are control freaks A man cannot expect to live peaceably with a woman until he relinquishes all say as to his place in the household - which, if he’s lucky, might include a spot on the couch.

10. Women think they know what’s best for you, and will offer advice on everything from your golf game (even if she doesn’t play she can still offer some pointers – right?) to how you can move ahead in your job, right down to how you should handle the country if you happen to be President. Then, of course, there’s the small stuff, like what you should eat, what you should wear, and what to do for your cold. I think it’s called "nurturing".

11. What she really means :

• "FINE": This is the word women use to end an argument when they feel they are right and you need to shut up. Never use "fine" to describe how a woman looks. This will cause you to have one of "those" arguments.
• "FIVE MINUTES": This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five minutes that your football game is going to last before you pay attention to her again, so it's usually an even trade.
• "NOTHING": This means "something" and you should be on your toes. "Nothing" is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. "Nothing" usually signifies an argument that will last "Five Minutes" and will end with the word "Fine".
• "GO AHEAD" (With Raised Eyebrows): This is a dare. One that will result in a woman getting upset over "Nothing" and will end with the word "Fine".
• "GO AHEAD" (Normal Eyebrows): This means "I give up" or "do what you want because I don't care". You will get a "Raised Eyebrow Go Ahead" in just a few minutes, followed by "Nothing" and "Fine", and she will talk to you in about "Five Minutes" when she cools off.

• WHEN A WOMAN SAYS - "I want a sensitive guy..."

WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS IS -"I want a guy who can be sensitive to MY feelings."

“She does NOT want a guy who is sensitive in the way of breaking down in tears on a regular basis, or always "Sharing his feelings and heart" with a woman”

• WHEN A WOMAN SAYS - "Yeah, sure, let's go out this weekend. Give me a call on Saturday afternoon to confirm the plan."

WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS IS - "I'm not really interested, or I'm waiting for better plans to come up. But I don't want to say 'no' and shatter your hopes, so I'll take the easy way out on the phone, and when you call on Saturday, I won't answer. I hope you'll take the hint."

• WHEN A WOMAN SAYS - "I'm not ready for a relationship..." or "I think we should just be friends..."

WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS IS -"You seem more like a brother or a 'nice guy' to me, and you're just not raising my feelings of attraction. I don't feel any spark of chemistry. Mostly because you don't seem all that exciting, or I feel like you've got an agenda."

Ponder points

-Appreciate women for whom and what they are. They are not men and don't want to be.

-Tell them you appreciate them.

-Women want to look beautiful for you. Acknowledge their efforts and tell them they are beautiful.

-A woman's heart gives love unconditionally. Reciprocate by telling them you love them.

-A woman's eyes see the best of you. Be your best at all times.

-Women want to love their man and show it through loyalty, trust, support and nurturing.

“Every woman is different and not all tips will apply. As a man, it’s important to respect that - what may have worked with your ex may not work with your current woman. Men need to learn their women, discover what sets them off and what gets them going and vice-versa That's the beauty of love. For me...I seek companionship in a guy, plus we have to be compatible on values, religion, background etc. Understand, respect and support the things that are important to me.. and I'm all yours. Yeah, flowers, notes, calling etc is all appreciated in the early stages of a relationship (and on special occasions) but after 5years that all becomes normal and my guy needs to bring something more meaningful and fulfilling to the table. ( and so do I) When a guys asks for my opinion/advice that means more to me than leaving notes. I still think leaving notes it cute” - Tendai Marjory

3.5 Tips to understanding Men

Women usually go to their girlfriends when they don't understand their man's actions, needs or wants. You don't understand your own man so how do you trust your girlfriends to give you men-advice. Steve Harvey wrote a book called “Act like a lady, think like a man” and did a really good job in breaking it down for the ladies and clearing their assumptions and confusion. If you're a woman and have never read that book then you MUST get a copy. This is for the wives and girlfriends who wants to tighten the bond with their man

Men are very easy people to understand, I have broken it down into 3 parts, the basic fundamentals...

Part 1

What Men Want in Women

Remember that these are generalities, the top seven qualities that a reasonably healthy and balanced man wants. Some men might reorder this list, take things off of it, or add other things to it.

Talk to your man and find out what he believes is important in a woman. Do it as early as possible in the relationship so he is not influenced by what he already knows about you. If he doesn’t know or won’t talk about it…well those are some warning flags that he might not be a very good communicator or not be paying much attention in his own life.

1. Beauty – Each man has his own idea of what physical beauty in a woman is. Even though the outer package may be the first thing that catches a man’s eye, the inner beauty is what will hold his attention for many years. A man wants his woman to add beauty to his life by the way she dresses, by the way she moves through life and social interactions, and by the way she decorates the home. So you makeup and mascara is good ladies, but we don’t really care about all that at the end of the day!!
2. Femininity and Nurturing – A man wants to be nurtured and mothered. A man wants to witness his woman nurturing his children or pets or even others in appropriate social circumstances. A man wants to feel the presence of feminine energy in his life.
3. Playful and Fun – A man likes to play with his woman, to take time out of the seriousness of life to enjoy living. He likes to hear a woman tell cute stories and see her face light up with love, laughter and delight. I want to cuddle and carry you around.....I just want to be free and have fun when I’m with you!!
4. Sensuality – A man loves a sexy woman! A woman who knows how to touch and who allows him to see and touch her. (Hint: Don’t always make love in the dark!) A man wants a woman who can delight his senses through food, beautiful fragrances, and even texture and colors.
5. Youthful Energy – Life can get too serious; it is easy to get caught up in duty and obligations. A man wants a woman who can balance the necessities of life with spontaneity and who can look at the world with awe and enthusiasm as if she were a young girl. This is not about chronological age but about attitude and energy.
6. Social Planer – Men like to have women keep their social life alive; to plan and arrange interesting and exciting adventures with friends and family and out in society.
7. Stability and Dependability – A man wants a woman who is honest, reliable, and capable. A man wants a woman who can take care of herself and is emotionally stable., No drama ladies!!

 Part 2

 What Men Want in Their Relationship

1. Love and Partnership – Yes a man really does want to be loved and a man wants someone he can safely give his love to. A man wants a partner who will work with him in building a life together.
2. Peace and Freedom – A man wants to be free to be who he is. He does not want to have to fight or defend who he is in his own home or relationship. No drama please ladies!!!
3. Stability and Security – A man wants a life he can depend on. In many ways a man loves a good! A man wants to feel like his partner is not going to leave him or cheat on him. Financial security is a big part of this too.
4. Adventure and Excitement – While it might seem like a contradiction to stability and security, a man does like to take calculated and contained risks....adrenalin rush!!!!
5. Logic and Reason – A man wants things to make logical and rational sense. A man likes to know why you want him to do a certain thing and what you hope to gain from doing it. you can’t just do something aimlessly for no reason.
6. Self Esteem – A man wants to feel good about himself. He wants to be seen as competent, capable and strong. He wants a partner he is proud to present to others. SO a the lady you have to motivate that part of him and compliment him
7. Honesty and Fairness – A man wants to do the right thing and wants to do his part to make sure the right thing is done in his life and his world. This is one of the reasons men tend to be disciplinary, and join the police or military or at least admire them.

Part 3

-At the core of every happy man is the successful warrior and hunter… at the core of every woman is the loved and cherished nurturer. Thus, to allow this synergy of difference, men need us to allow them to be men

-Men are happiest when their woman is also happy

 Start to meet your man with praise and thankfulness for who he is and what he does and has done.  When you’re happy, he's happy… When you’re not happy, he feel in many respects that he's failed as a man.

 -Communicate

 Tell him what and why: what it is you love about him or something he does, and why it's important to you (i.e. how it makes you feel)

 -Perhaps it’s time to stop waiting for him to love before you love… why not trying to give without expecting anything back?

Within human needs psychology, there are 3 levels:

• Level 1 is the base level. It’s where a person solely seeks what they can get from the relationship.

• Level 2 is when each person seeks to both give to their partner and also receive from their partner.

• Level 3 is when a person gives out of love, not seeking anything in return.

What level are you currently operating in? Why don’t you decide that, without even thinking about what you may or may not get back, you are going to learn to speak HIS language and meet him at his point of need. You are going to build him up and allow him to see that he is appreciated, valued, respected and loved by his woman. Instead of just focusing on the things he doesn’t do (where all he hears is “You’ve failed me again!), why not help him see that (regardless of faults and frustrations), he is amazing!!! Allow him to feel success, pride and esteem… to feel that he is a true man. Thus, as the proverb says, “Be as wise as a serpent, yet as gentle as a dove.”. Know when to speak and not speak. Seek only to build up, and in no way to destroy.

Ponder points

Men are emotional beings just like women, although we don’t like showing that part of us to everyone because we egotistically regard it as a weakness. So that means you'll never see me cry, I cry behind locked doors and come out with my macho face, because I’m the man - I’m supposed to provide and protect (ego speaking), but that doesn’t mean I don’t need that comforting hug from my woman, whose going to tell me that we're going to be OK even when we're in the deepest of trouble..

“I enjoyed reading that… very honest input. In your Part 1, I agree with 1-7, that defines a well-rounded woman..aka.. the total package. You are talking about being more than just beauty and brains- its character, humility, being kind hearted, respectful. Women should aspire to that.. As a Christian I would add point 8. Spiritual – A man wants a woman who knows and loves her Lord. A woman with whom he can worship and praise the Lord with, A mother who will raise their children knowing and loving the Lord.

You keep mentioning “ladies no drama” lol…some men can also be drama queens! In fact.. a man having to too much ego can be soooo off putting. Men need to have that shit in check!! There’s a point when too much ego equals arrogant and there is nothing attractive about that. It just makes you look like a damn fool. (I’m not a fan of egotistical guys) lol”. - Tendai Marjory

3.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD WOMAN

A good woman is proud of herself, she respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs.
A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value.

A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance.
She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the
potential God gave them.

A good woman knows her past, understands her present and
moves toward the future.
A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played. A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self love. 

-Doc's Office

3.1 SIGNS YOU'RE A FRIEND, NOT A BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND

If you're reading this book, I’ll assume you're already dating age or at the prime peak "married :)". Somehow you should have encountered some of these issues during your dating era; if not, then this is your lucky day, because you get all the early warning signs that "he/she's not that into you"

 -She's not on her toes around you

-She doesn't laugh at your jokes

-She brings up other women

-She won't bend to your will

-She uses the F-word

-She stays away from you in public

-She asks for favors a little too much

-She doesn't lay a finger on you

-She gushes over other men and flirts with them in front of you

-Every compliment is brushed off politely without you realising it

-You address her as sweetie or something but she addresses you by name

-You say 'I missed you' and she says 'thanks'

-She brings a friend when she's supposed to meet you

-You are her personal punching bag

- She touches you and still finds it meaningless

Ponder points

Most young people in this generation are misguided when it comes to relationships. They tend to be delusional into forcing relations; mostly due to desperation for attention and money; consequently women especially end up used and abused, and that’s when the harsh reality kicks in.

Have enough self value to walk away when you’re not happy in a relationship, life is too short.

CHAPTER 3 -THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE- Introduction

“A place where socially amazing people of different ages ,locations backgrounds and cultures; gather to share ideas, laugh and talk about anything, nothing and everything; all at the same time. It’s a Comfortable space, it’s a hideaway for 5 minutes of insanity” - Tendai Marjory

So many might be asking, so what is the whole idea behind the "Doctor's Office" ?Well..

The Doctor's Office Is a facebook social group that was created in March 2011 just by mere coincidence or accident. I used be a pseudo “DrPhil” back in the days where my facebook friends would send me private messages (inbox) telling me about issues they were facing in their personal lives and I would give advice and counsel them through it all. I did this by posting the issue on my facebook wall so that people would comment with their individual perspectives pertaining to that matter, with the identification of the “patient” hidden of course. This way we got different views from people who could give logical advice and some who could counsel based on their past experience, so overall it would turn into a constructive discussion and beneficial to the person at hand

Well this setup worked well until the issue became too explicit for my facebook wall, I had a lot of “faint at heart” people complaining that’s my posts were now socially “disturbing”. So to curb this small challenge I decided to keep all discussions in the message inbox, I would only tag the guys who regularly and where most likely to comment on the topic, but this also became a problem because many people felt they were now being left out of the loop. Their argument was that they also learnt something from the discussions although they were shy” to comment and contribute to it. That’s where one of the guys came up with the idea of starting a private facebook group and we individually add interested parties, “The Doctors Office” was born!

The growth of this group has been phenomenal over the past year, now on 1500 members, although we've had many interesting high and very low moments. Some of the group pioneers left the group saying that it had lost its plot and was now offensive and all about sex; that’s one of the challenges that you'll face when you deal with young adults, they just love to talk about sex. The rules are simple “no explicit pictures or hate speech” and I've had to block a lot of people for breaking the rules; there has to be some control measures right!!

The office has seen it all love, fights, breakups , joy , tears but above all a lot of solid friendships have been formed. People that you've never met, but you know you can rely on if you're ever in need and stuck in their city, that’s how “like-family” we've grown. I've had the privilege of meeting most of the Docs in Harare and Bulawayo at the get-togethers and its always been awesome. It was interesting to meet in person for the first time, the fun and crazy people that you usually interact with in the group

The Doctors Office has taught me who to make friends, I've leant to embrace and adapt to different characters and cultures. You'll always learn something every day from the people's posts in the office, what they are going through in their lives and how they are handling the issues. I’m always humbled to see someone grow in the office, growth in wisdom, self-confidence, self-esteem, morally, maturity socially and in terms of general responsibility

There isn’t a day that passes by without me logging into the office, to post something and just to laugh or comment on the topics. I can safely say I had an Office addiction, a craving to see what’s trending and what everyone's up to. You get a lot of serious topics where someone is genuinely seeking help but then you also get a lot of crazy lighter moments where everyone is laughing and joking around. There's never a dull moment :)

I love and appreciate all the guys who contribute to the forum and keep it alive daily, 

www.facebook.com/groups/askBB 

2.6 THE QUIZ

(You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one.)

Take this quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last 10 presidents of the USA.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss World contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are

no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

Ponder Points:

The people who make a difference in your life are not

the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.