Joe's Quotes

My Quote of the Week #6

2006-03-24T18:41:00.000-08:00

"Never underestimate the power of your actions because you never know how a simple act of kindness can transform someone's life."
- Joseph D. Acosta

There is a world of hurting people, people in pain and need of help. A world filled with people who are oppressed, depressed, and suppressed. People who are frantically searching for answers to their problems. Men who are searching to find peace and hope in the mist of their hopelessness. And at times we go through life not noticing these people. They are the ones at which we never take a second look. We pass by them day after day, never uttering a word, it may be that guy who stands on the corner at the end of the freeway, or the guy you sits alone at lunch, or that classmate who always has a bad odor. We may sit by them and never look in their direction. We never take the time to get to know them or understand them, or find out what abilities they might possess. We never stop to listen or give them a helping hand.

These people are searching for a remedy and in today's world they turn to books and magazines for advice on beauty, relationships, and financial security. In today's world people turn to T.V. programs for answers, but let me say that Dr. Phil and Maury don't have all the answers. I also want to say that what people need today Oprah can't give it all. What people need today, drugs stores don't stock it. What people need today, liquor stores don't bottle it. What people need today, protestors don't push it. In the mist of their anxiety, in the mist of their trouble minds and disturbed hearts, I come to tell you there is a rather simple remedy to impacting their lives. A remedy that gives them a reason to live, brings a smile to their faces, gets them out of their sea of hopelessness and places them on a solid foundation. And you my friend can take part of it. Simply KINDESS can make a difference! Although, people have more complicated issues and kindness probably will not help at all, but never underestimate the power of your actions because you never know how a simple act of kindness can transform someone's life.

A well known Japanese proverb reads, "One kind word can warm three winter months." One word, one action, one simple display of affection can be more than you could ever imagine. From saying good morning to volunteering around the community, from holding an open door for someone to picking up litter, even acknowledging someone's presence by saying "hello" can go along way; the number of ways to pass along kindness is endless. Many underestimate the little things in life which actually end of being extremely valuable. You never know how a small gesture can make the difference; it doesn't even have to be something big.

A wise man once told this story and went something like this:

"A gang member was walking through an alley one night, and he was attacked by rival gang members. They stripped him of his clothes and took his money, beat him up, and left him half dead near a dumpster.

By chance a doctor walked by the alley; but when he saw the man lying there, he walk to the other side of the street and passed him by. Later on in the day a cop also walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

Then a rival gang member came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the rival gang member took a rag and wiped his wounds and ties a shirt around his leg where he was stabbed. Then he put the man in the back seat of his car and took him to the nearest hospital. The next day he came back to see if the man was okay and he paid his bill."

My friend, I come to tell you don't be like that doctor, who had the opportunity to use his skill to help the man but refused to acknowledge this man's need because of his prideful self. Come down to earth because you are human just like that person in need of help. I come to tell you don't be like that cop who had the power to rescue this man in his time of need, but just looked at him and passed him by. Notice that it said he "walked over and looked," the cop represents those people who slow down on the freeway to look at the accident that had occurred. This person's attentions are never to help the person, but simply to get in the persons business. But I come to tell you be like that rival gang member who exercise an act of kindness. Give a smile to a stranger; you never know how it can make one's day. Give a dollar or some change to the homeless guy. When you come across a situation to help someone in need, lift you voice and sing:

"I am here; you don't have to worry. I can see your tears; I'll be there in a hurry when you call. Friends are there to catch you when you fall. Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me."

My friend, remember never underestimate the power of your actions because you never know how a simple act of kindness can transform someone's life.

My Quote of the Week #5

2006-02-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

"Your destiny is never connected to anyone that has left."

- Joseph D. Acosta

"Baby, stay with me tonight, please!" "I'm sorry, I don't love you anymore." Sounds familiar? How about the time when your boyfriend cheated on you? Or the time when she said, "It's not you, it's me." Or how about that famous phrase of all time, "Let's be friends." So what's next? You're sweating, shaking, and feeling as if the world will soon come to an end. Everything you believed in - love, respect, loyalty - has all vanished at lightning speed. Depression and anxiety begins to settle in and the sleepiness, chest pains, or breathlessness is taking over. You told yourself that if you treated him or her right, they would be with you forever. My friend, I come to tell you're wrong! Nothing lasts forever! This is a lesson we all learn the hard way. They hurt you, and you'll probably hurt someone else. It's a vicious cycle that one must learn about, in order to survive the crazy game of "love". Don't get me wrong there is someone out there for you and the time will soon come. Anywho, let's face it; we have all been through the dreaded breakup. If you haven't, believe me, you soon will.

My friend, if you have ears, they hear me when I tell you this! There will be people in your life that will walk away from you and I come to tell you LET THEM WALK!!! Stop trying to talk the person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the dam phone! When people walk away from you let them walk because your destiny is never connected to anyone that has left! A wise man once said, "These people leave our lives because they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us." What we must realize is that people leave you because they are not connected with you. And you can't make them stay so LET THEM GO!!! Acknowledge the chapter is over and it's time to start a new one. You can't tare out this chapter, you have to move on! You can't erase the past so let the past be the past. Forget the former things and MOVE ON!!! It takes to much sweat you don't need, so stop begging them and LET THEM GO!!!

"If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...LET IT GO!!! If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...LET IT GO!!! If someone has angered you...LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...LET IT GO!!! If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents...LET IT GO!!! If you have a bad attitude...LET IT GO!!! If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...LET IT GO!!! If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship...LET IT GO!!! If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...LET IT GO!!! If you're feeling depressed and stressed...LET IT GO!!!" In mist of your trouble minds and disturbed hearts, remember, your destiny is never connected to anyone that has left.

My Quote of the Week #4

2006-02-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

"Misery is a blessing!” – Joseph D. Acosta

Imagine life without emotion: There would be no joy associated with great art. A vicious crime elicits no anger or disgust. Watching our favorite sports team never leads to "the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat." Sadness does not follow the death of a loved one because we would not experience love. Without emotion, life would be listless and colorless, like a meal in need of seasoning. Emotions not only give life color and spice; they can actually help us survive. Emotions warn us of danger, guide us to what is desirable and satisfying, and convey our intentions to others. But emotions do more than provide color and survival, it alleviates pain. Yes, my friend, pain is a gift, sorrow is a benefit, and misery is a blessing; especially during your time of need when life seems cruel and unfair. And with each new day it seems like a greater problem is waiting there. Even during times when you feel that you can't go on and thoughts of discouragement and hopeless begins to fill your mind. In this time of misery and doubt you need to realize that your situation is there to help you grow. And whatever feelings that you are experiencing, vent them. Let it out in a modest form of expression. Cry if you have to. Crying can be one of the best remedies. A wise man said, "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad experience the heart is made better."

See it as you are creating tension to release tension. If emotions are suppressed day after day instead of letting it out, I question where does all this unreleased energy go? The body has no choice but to transform it into physical energy. There are two options: Work off the energy through exercise and relaxation, or let it accumulate in the muscles. We have are emotions to release this tension, so next time JUST LET IT OUT!!! In the mist of your anxiety, in the mist of your trouble minds and disturbed heats lift your head up and say to yourself “Misery is a blessing!"

My Quote of the Week #3

2006-02-04T12:16:00.000-08:00

"Be careful what you say to yourself because what you say will mold you into what you will become."
– Joseph D. Acosta

There have been times in your life that the voice inside has laughed at you reminding you of all the times you have tried and failed. The voice keeps on telling you time and time again "You'll never win!" How about the times when that voice said "You're worthless! There is no reason to live." That voice that continues to say, "It's just no use! I just know it won't work", "Nothing goes right for me", "I don't have the talent", "I can never afford the things I want", "With my luck I don't have a chance!", "Same shit! Different day", "I'm so clumsy", "Everything I eat goes right to my waist", and "I never have enough time." Does that sound familiar? From time and time again we tell ourselves these things without realizing the affect it has on our lives. Rudyard Kipling once stated, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." Everything you tell yourself about yourself becomes a directive to your subconscious mind and when you make a statement about yourself that is negative you are directing your subconscious mind to make you become the person you just described - negatively!

We all talk to ourselves all the time. Our "self-talk" may be spoken words or unspoken things. It can take the form of feelings, impressions, or even wordless physical responses, such as the grip in the stomach that comes when we are surprised or afraid, or the rush that comes with excitement of joy. We are thinking machines that never shut down. From childhood to now we have been watching, listening to, judging, cataloging, and storing everything that goes on about us. Most of our "self-talk" is unconscious; we are not even aware of it and little that we know it affects us. As a wise king once said, "What a man thinks, so is he." How could we possibly be what we think? After all, aren’t our physical self one thing and our private thought another? Again, little that we know that this quote is scientifically correct. An incredibly complex physiological mechanism, the brain, determines whether we will succeed or fail in any endeavor we undertake in life, from something as important as a lifetime goal to something as small as what we do in a single day.

Now that you realize this, as I stated before in one of my blogs, "Stop telling yourself that I can't, but say I can. Stop saying I am not and start claiming that you are. Stop seeing life as a life full of barriers and battlements and see them as learning experiences. Stop seeing that’s just the way life is and nothing is going to change. Who said that you can't be a super-star, living large with five cars or have an extraordinary talent? Why can't you have a successful job or career, a good family life, and reasonable financial security?" My friends, stop saying negative things to yourself, but start saying positive things. Remember be careful what you say to yourself because what you say will mold you into what you will become.

My Quote of the Week #2

2006-02-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

"See things for what they can be and not for what they are”
– Joseph D. Acosta

How many times have you tried and failed? How many times have you look at someone and said, "He's hopeless! He's not worth it"? How many times have you looked in the mirror and said, "This is as good as it's going to get"? My friend, I come to tell you it's time to look at things differently. Stop telling yourself that "I can't," but say "I can." Stop saying "I am not" and start claiming that you are. Stop seeing life as a life full of barriers and battlements and see them as learning experiences. Stop seeing that’s just the way life is and nothing is going to change. Who said that you can't be a super-star, living large with five cars or have an extraordinary talent? Why can't you have a successful job or career, a good family life, and reasonable financial security? We go through life always seeing things for what they are instead of see things for what they can be. We fail to realize the full potential in people and in ourselves. Well my friend, an artist sees more than a blank canvas, he sees a picture.

How about the time when you have looked down on someone because of his failure, and said to yourself "He's never going to change." Well, God took a piece of dirt a made man. Whose says that he can't change? How about the time when you didn't get that audition, or that job, or failed that test and you felt why try. Well, my friends, when you fail get back up again and try one more time. A wise man once said, “A successful man falls seven times and gets back up again, but a fool stays in his failure.” What makes this man a successful man? It is because he realized that he can get back up and get back in line; no matter how many times he failed. You see, don't see it as a failure, but see it as a lesson. My friend, see things for what they can be and not for what they are.

My Quote of the Week #1

2006-02-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

"It doesn't rain forever!" – Joseph D. Acosta

Life is full of tests and hardships, but will we endure them? We all run a race in life trying to reach the finish line, but somehow we become hinder from reaching our goal. Life’s problems become a distraction and we find ourselves facing the wrong direction or even without a direction. Things are distorted and frustration begins to set in, then we begin to feel that we can't go on. We become dehydrated from the stress and weight of life; which makes us weak and weary. In this time of doubt we need the water of encouragement, hope, and endurance to fill us with assurance saying "We can make it!" There are also times we walk this race and things go slower than usual, but we will endure it all?

My friend, you may be facing some road bumps, the race may be slow, you may be tried, frustrated, or whatever it is that you feel. Whatever feelings that you are experiencing, vent them. Let it out in a modest form of expression. Cry if you have to. Crying can be one of the best remedies. A wise man said, "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad experience the heart is made better." No matter what you are facing keep your eyes on your future. This may be a distraction, but hey, you can make it! You've probably already heard this, "Everything happens for a reason." Well, buddy, things do happen for a reason and I believe your situation will mold you into a better person. You see, if you want to be great in something, you must go through the fire. Before gold becomes purified, at its best, when it is most valued, it must go through the fire. Before a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, from ugliness to beauty, it must go through a process of cocooning itself. You see, we all go through things, but at different degrees. I feel the ones that face the hardest times, become the greatest. After this process, this slowing down race, things will speed up again. Remember this it doesn't rain forever! The storm won't last long! After going through it, don't dwell on it, take the knowledge you gain from this and utilize it, because dwelling on the past can blind you to the present.