InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 94 - September 25, 2006
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

The prize isn't always in the bottom of the box

How many of you can remember when you were a kid and looked for that proverbial prize in the box of cereal? I can remember when I was about 8 years old, I asked my mum to buy me a certain cereal because it sponsored Flash Gordon. It's possible that many of you younger readers don't have a clue who Flash Gordon was. Flash Gordon was an invincible super-hero who crusaded for good deeds in outer space.

At any rate, my mum bought the cereal for me mainly because I wanted the prize that came with it. The prize was a Flash Gordon Super Vision Shield. It was an amber coloured pair of goggles.

However, in order to get to the prize I had to pour the entire box of cereal out because it was at the bottom. I didn't dare think of eating my way to the prize because I was too impatient. Yes, I wanted to be like Flash Gordon! Once that shield came pouring out from the bottom I put it on and I felt invincible like my favourite super-hero. I wore it everywhere my mum and I went. I even tried to wear it to school but the teachers didn't want a super-hero flying around the playground.

Over the years there were other neat prizes from many different brands of cereal, but I was never really interested in the cereal, only the prize. In my defence, I could say, 'But I was only a kid and didn't know any better.'

When you think about it; life itself can be like a box of cereal. Even as adults we keep looking for that proverbial prize which we'll go to all costs to obtain. Just think about what we do at times. We get greedy and pushy just to obtain what we think is the prize.

If you happen to have a box of cereal that has a prize in it, what would you do? Would you throw it away just to get to the prize? Unfortunately there are times we don't consider our friendships or other people's feelings when we are trying to find it.

Try to look at it from a different perspective. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy the journey along the way? In other words, don't be impatient and pour the cereal out of the box. That will only spoil the real meaning of the prize. Savour what you have and be grateful. I guarantee your prize will appear, without having to push others out of the way to get it.

Written by Tony Masiello

Tony Masiello is a speaker, author, and consultant. He is the author of the e-book, Whispers from the Universe, which is a collection of writings that will help you, motivate you, inspire you and guide you along the inner path of your life. Tony produced a very special series of five of his inspirational stories . . . 5 Parables of Inspiration >>>



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The Distinct Sound of Purring

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only . . . read the full story >>>

Reflections

'Who am I today?' I ask ... and I wonder if I'll ever know.
I know the past has shaped me now, though the past was long ago.

The little moments form a blur, the times both happy and sad.
All the people I once knew, and the things I used to have.

They all helped me to become where, what, and who I am now.
And everything has influenced me ... though I'm not sure exactly how.

But I'm thankful for the memories, from everyone I've ever met
People I miss and people I love, even people I'd like to forget.

For these memories have helped me grow, they've made me calm, yet strong.
And now there's a story to my life, that they've been writing all along.

So, thank you for the memories, without them, who would I be?
Because somewhere in my memories are the things that define me.

Author Unknown

- Inspirational Quote -

Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best
Henry Van Dyke

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InspirEmail

A monthly positive inspirational story and quote to refresh your spirit and boost the emotional bank account. InspirEmail was first published in November 2005 and each issue can be viewed in the Archived InspirEmail Directory located below the latest issue of InspirEmail


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