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Decisions · Choices · Consequences

We wonder sometimes why things happen to us or to someone else. Some events can be traced back to a decision we made, or failed to make, a long time ago. Failing to quit smoking when all the warnings first came out has had terrible consequences years later for many people.

Recently a friend of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer. She smoked for years despite the warnings. Good person, bad decision, unhappy consequences.

The earth has a lot of those rules. Gravity is one - and until we figure out how to live in outer space, it's a hard law to repeal. I am reminded of that every time I look in the mirror!

If you ask people, "Do you believe in gravity?" They look at you like you have lost your mind. "Of course I do! Are you nuts?" So if we believe that night follows day, fire burns, rain comes from clouds, milk comes from cows… why don't we believe that Milky Way Midnight® candy bar will wind up on our hips? How do people forget (ignore?) that driving drunk could kill us and a few others along the way. Why do we get upset when there are consequences for bad choices?

Humans are funny creatures. We speed, the cop pulls us over, and we get mad at the cop. He/she is just doing a job - meting out consequences.

The secret to a happy life? Pay attention to the consequences of your decisions. Learn from your mistakes. Make new, healthier decisions, or accept the consequences and move on.

Personally, on my birthday, I will be "hitting the speed limit" this year. I think instead of wondering why I am not skinny, I will enjoy that Milky Way Midnight® in moderation and accept that I will be a tad voluptuous instead of skinny. Oh well. The good side? Dark chocolate makes me happy. And that works for me.

Happy Spring!

Beth

"I intend to live forever. So far, so good."
  -Steven Wright

"I think God's going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding. "
  -Steven Wright

"I am a high school nurse in Phoenix Az. I try to find different things for my students to read while in my office. … Thank you for touching my life and soul each email. You seem to have the perfect thing to say. Xena of course melts my heart. I help a cat rescue and wish that you also could reach more with Xena asking each month to keep cats indoors and to spay and neuter pets and ferals.

Again, thank you from my heart; you strengthen my spirit."

Tamar S. Phoenix, AZ

Announcements:

1. Help Beth keep the newsletter real and relevant. Click on the "Ask Beth" link on her web site and send her questions about motivation, employees, customer service, difficult people, etc. She will collect the questions and answer them as part of her monthly letter to you.
2. Do you belong to an association or organization that holds annual conventions? Send them to Beth's web site. She would love be your keynote or breakout session speaker! "Have microphone, will travel!"
3. Remember, mothers day, graduation and weddings are coming up. Beth's "101 Ways to Make your Life Easier" continues to be a best seller to parents and friends of newlyweds and graduates. And she only has a few "Walking in a Crowd of Angels" books from the first printing. You can still get an autographed first edition if you hurry!
4. Travel? Yes - Hawaii every month through the summer. Several other states on Hold at this time. Beth can be in your state and present to your company with just a phone call or email. We'd love to hear from you.

Visit the wonders of San Francisco's Science museum - the Exploratorium; http://www.exploratorium.edu/about/about_explo.html

When I was little I used to sneak up on our really big dog that used to live with us. His name is Kaimana Hila because he has a diamond on his forehead and that name means Diamond Head. He is a pretty cool dog, but I harassed him a lot. Beth would give him a giant rawhide bone to chew that weighed almost as much as me. I would wait until he chewed on it long enough to make it soft, then I would run to the door and start barking really loud. When he got up to see what the fuss was about, I would run back to the bone, grab the soft part in my teeth and drag it backwards under the couch. He wasn't too bright, so he would look all over for it. I could see him from under the couch, but he couldn't hear me laughing because my mouth was full of rawhide.

So Beth is right. Sometimes our choices have consequences we don't think about. When we moved to Phoenix, he didn't want to come with us, so he stayed in Hawaii with the girls. I kind of miss him. Nobody to pick on. Lezard just looks at me when I try to trick him. But, some good came from my choices, too. I have really strong legs and teeth from dragging those bones backwards! Hah! So it's not all bad.

Xena (The real Chihuahua at Beth's house!)

Click here to email me (Xena)! (You don't think humans are the only ones to get fan mail do you?)

[Editors note: Attitudes and advice given out by Chihuahuas do not reflect the opinions of management. However, in the interest of political correctness and recognition of multi-canine diversity, we will let her speak her mind. We are not responsible if you take her advice.]