What do you really want to do with your time? What is your mission in life? Where have you been, and where would you like to go? What are your dreams, your hopes, your wishes? If you could do anything in the world, what would it be? The main goal in writing down these perceptions, parables, and pointers, and in creating this book in general, is to present ideas that will help get people thinking, imagining, planning, creating, and actively participating in life. This book is divided into three sections: (1) Perceptions, (2) Parables, and (3) Pointers. - Who do you want to become? The person you were yesterday, the person you are today, and the person you can become tomorrow are all very different. Learn as much as you can about the person you want to become...page 25 - There are many stepping stones on the road to success. One of the first steps toward success is believing in yourself...page 32 - Do not dwell on defeat. Do not wallow in the well of worry or be fenced in by fear. Learn from your past mistakes and move forward...page 33 "When we fall down, we GET BACK UP!" If you say the first part to my children, "When we fall down", they all automatically respond with "WE GET BACK UP!" This encompasses not only physical falls, but mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, and all different kinds of "falls". This ideology began when I was eight years old and had fallen off of a 50 foot cliff. I cracked my head open and the doctors lodged a total of 26 staples in my scalp. I endured seizures for the next year, as well as frequent doctor visits, CAT scans, and MRIs. As a result of the fall, I have no memory of my life before the accident. It is a miracle I am alive and was not paralyzed. After my fall from the cliff, I resolved that each day would be a new birth for me regardless of how many times I would fall down, both literally and metaphorically. It helped me see that life is precious. It is a gift and should be cherished. It helped me to evaluate my priorities and focus more intently on what matters most. Now, we don't need to fall off a 50 foot cliff to get sense knocked into us, but we all need to continually have reminders and even wake up calls that help us refocus our energy into the best life has to offer us. We all fall down, metaphorically, and make mistakes. We may do poorly on a school or work assignment. As a result, we may feel we don't measure up. We may feel like failures as parents, and worry that others criticize us. We might feel depressed and even apathetic toward life. At times we may feel unsure, insecure, afraid, and doubt our own abilities, potential, and future. What must happen when we fall down emotionally, spiritually, financially, and even socially? We must GET BACK UP! Throughout this book, I have written my own perceptions on life. These are motivational tips and ideas to help each of us improve and strive to be better today than we were yesterday. This book, for me, is a manual of what I would share with my younger self. It is what I would encourage myself to think and strive to become. It is something to turn to for those times when we have been beaten by the bullies of life. Life is full of intricate and unforeseeable twists and turns. The ups and downs can take their toll. The focus, however, must be on our potential and possibility! If we can believe in ourselves and hope for the best within us and within others as well, then we can commit to do and be our best. We can strive to be better because we choose to look for the best in life. Yes, there are discouraging days and moments of madness when everything that could go wrong will go wrong. That is life. We don't need to enjoy it, but when those dark days get us down, we can always GET BACK UP! It may be difficult, but it is worth it. It may take time, but is imperative to realize that we can improve and change. We cannot give up on ourselves!