Dear Folks,
Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to the eyes. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or weak; and at last some crisis shows what we have become. — Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1901) Theologian
Personality is where our free will resides. We are valuable to the most important Person in the Universe. Each of us is Significant. He gave us the prerogative to Direct our path. Simply look back on what has transpired in your life. How much of it was inner-directed and how much were you reacting to an outside influence. Even if you see you have been pushed hither and yon, you still and always have control of your own attitude.
Peace,
Jim
            DIRECTED
Definitions: (1) knowing where you are going; having a clear purpose; (2) guided, regulated, or managed <by oneself or by another>
Quote:
God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you. — Paulo Coelho, (1947 – ) The Alchemist
            SIGNIFICANT
Definitions: (1) a person of value; (2) the self-realization of one’s own worth; self‑esteem; (3) important

Dear Folks,
Remember that your character is your destiny. — Author Unknown
You may consider yourself as Excellent in your own mind, but more likely, if you consider it at all, it is in combination with other qualities. One which is should be paired with is humility in order for the ego not to be overfed, but this week we can join it with Sure-handed. Maybe that will save the glass in the house from being dropped.
Peace,
Jim
            EXCELLENT

Definition: being of the very best quality; exceptionally good; first‑class; of great worth; superior; admirable
Synonyms: choice, prime, sterling, transcendent, worthy
            SURE‑HANDED
Definition: (1) displaying dexterity with confidence and proficiency; (2) good with money or with any important matter <A mother has to be sure-handed in many areas.>

Dear Folks,
Your desires,
Whether or not your achieve them
Will determine who you become.
— Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006) Author
One must be careful with Determination. First be sure the ideas and ideals you aspire to are worthy, with that clarity your Determined focus is warranted.
As we have seen before, there is gender specific language we must use. This week it is the behavior of a Gentleman. If we look behind the words, we will see the qualities they represent.
Peace,
Jim
            DETERMINED
 Definitions: (1) resolute; unwavering; staunch; (2) having one’s mind made up; decided; resolved
Synonyms: firm, fixed, immovable, settled, steady
Compatible Qualities: The Principles of Kwanzaa: cooperative economics, creativity, faith, purposefulness, self‑determination, teamwork with responsibility, and unity
Too Far: stubbornness, narrow-mindedness
Comment: Once you recognize your desire is worthy, then pursue it with determination.
            GENTLEMANLY

Definition: pertaining to or becoming courteous, a gracious man with a strong sense of honor; polite; complaisantNote: If you are female, the traits described in the definition are still applicable. Use them.

Dear Folks,
Be you perfect, even as I am Perfect. — God The Father – circa 100 Trillion BC.
God sure thunk up some stuff! — John P. Downs (1913-2003)
Puppies and children are Frisky. If we maintain the natural habits of youth, we can retain them for a lifetime. An old person can still have a frisky mind.
There are often several definitions of many words. The idea of Cagey as  “practical foresight” gives us a new insight for this quality.
Peace,
Jim

Definition: gaily active; lively; playful

            CAGEY

Dear Folks,
It’s not having information that is going to make you happy and successful; it’s using that information that’s going to make the dramatic difference in your life.— Zig Zigler (1926-) Motivational Speaker, Author
One may have athletic talent, but if they are Gamesome without being sportsmanlike, is it valuable?  One may be Well-spoken, but if they do not care for the thoughts of others, is it worth the effort?
Peace,
Jim
            GAMESOME
Definition: sportive; playful; frolicsome; merry

Definitions: (1) able to communicate with grace, kindness, or propriety; articulate; (2) civil; courteous; (3) having the ability to converse with ease; quick‑minded

Comment: It can often be a greater kindness not to speak.

Dear Folks,
The Beatitudes: • Humility (The poor of spirit); • (Thirst for) Righteousness; • Meekness; • Pure- hearted (The pure of heart); • Tenderhearted, Sympathetic (They who mourn); • Merciful; • Peacemaker; • Endurance, Perseverance (Persecuted for righteousness) — The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus of Nazareth
We all have some natural or acquired knack. We are Adroit at something. We know we can develop these talents and become better than we are. Being Open-hearted means recognizing the heart and soul of the other person as valuable. Focus on your skills and desires, serve them, and they will become a part of you.
Peace,
Jim
            ADROIT
Definitions: (1) expert in using the body or mind; nimble; (2) cleverly skillful; resourcefully inventive; ingenious
Synonyms: artful, dexterous, proficient
Derivation: Latin, “to set in a straight line”
            OPEN‑HEARTED
Definitions: (1) candid; frank; (2) generous; kind; benevolent
Too Far: bleeding hearted

Dear Folks,
You, indeed, become what you want to be by affirming that you already are! — The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, Catherine Ponder (1927 – ) Minister, Author
The more Broad-minded we are, the more Stable is our foundation. It is a difficult process to transfer our secure footing from physical gravity to spiritual gravity, and yet the most stable of physics is heavenly.
Peace,
Jim
            BROAD‑MINDED

Definitions: (1) tolerant of various views; liberal; (2) inclined to tolerate, or even condone, departures from conventional behaviorComment: Some conservatives of this era have shunned the idea, and possibly even the ideal, of being liberal. But it seems the ideal of being broad‑minded is still considered valuable. There are many ways to think.
            STABLE
Definitions: (1) not easily moved or thrown off balance; not likely to break down, fall apart, or give way; steady; fixed; (2) firm in character, purpose, or resolution; steadfast; (3) enduring or possibly permanent; long lasting; (4) capable of returning to equilibrium or original position after having been displaced; flexible
Balancing Qualities: adventuresome, changeable, lively
Too Far: stagnant

Quote: Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Author

Reflection: We hold on to our old selves while allowing our new selves to grow around the old. We are like coral, where the old is the structure upon which the new growth of life is active. The old self is a record of what we have chosen. The only you that is alive and vibrant is the new you. The past is the structure upon which we rely for stability. We know ourselves by who we have been, and yet we are not our past structure any more than we are our body.

Dear Folks,
A man is what he thinks about all day long. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Essayist
Talk slowly but think quickly. — Author Unknown
Meritorious is an after-the-fact quality. Thinking is an in-the-moment quality, but the ‘moment’ includes the past and the future. Both are intrinsic. What do you think of that?
Peace,
Jim
            MERITORIOUS
Definitions: (1) worthy of notice because of superior qualities; (2) deserving fame or happiness as a reward for service; praiseworthy for exceptional action; (3) of intrinsic value
Derivation: Latin, “to earn,” “to gain,” “to deserve”
            THINKING

Definitions: (1) the power of reasoning and conceiving ideas; imaginative; (2) the ability of a person to form mental images; envision, (3) given to pondering a suggestion; cogitation; (4) focusing on something in order to arrive at a conclusion using logic, judgment, and inference
Synonyms: deliberating, fancying, realizing, reflecting, speculating
Quotes:
I am, therefore I think. — Dr. Chris Halvorson (1960 – ) American Theoretical Physicist

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. — Peace Pilgrim [born Mildred Lisette Norman] (1908-1981) Steps Toward Inner Peace

Then only are we thinking when the subject on which we are thinking cannot be thought out. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German Artist

Comments:
• Thinking people apply their knowledge to new situations unrelated to the original situation.
• To move from a single good idea to its completion surround it with compatible ideas, and umbrella it with good ideals.
• Complexity results from keeping ideas in your head. Create systems to help you express your thoughts. Holding ideas takes energy – write them down.
Types of Thinking
Additive, Aggressive, Anthropological, Brilliant, Aesthetic, Analytic, Extroverted, Financial, Clear, Constructive, Applied, Introverted, Historical, Deep, Creative, Backward, Kinky, Humanistic, Keen, Efficient, Broad, Optimistic, Legal, Mercurial, Expressive, Converging, Market‑oriented, Methodical, Innovative, Critical, Mathematical, Quick, Insightful, Decisive, Medical, Right, Instinctive, Deductive, Product‑oriented, Powerful, Literal, Diverging, Scientific, Productive, Practical, Eliminative, Sociological, Precise, Focused, Technological, Random, Forward, Verbal, Visual, Imaginative, Wishful, Incisive, Inductive, Intuitive, Judgmental, Narrow, Objective, Qualitative, Quantitative, Rational, Speculative, Subjective, Theoretical
Advice: A teacher must know the level of each student in order to challenge each with those things just outside his or her current level of understanding. But it is the responsibility of the student to commit themselves to strive for that understanding. If the challenge motivates them, they will give it some thought.
Color: sky blue
Symbols: 1) the hat; 2) the pansy; 3) the helmet

Dear Folks,
He looked at all his choices and said, What would a good person do, and then did it. But he has now learned something very important about human nature. If you spend your whole life pretending to be good, then you are indistinguishable from a good person. — Ender in Exile, Orson Scott Card  (1951-) Public Speaker, Author
We can ask ourselves not only ‘How am I Important?’ but also ‘What (out there) is important?’ This is true of most qualities. Our internal environment is interactive with the external landscape. A Judicious decision may range anywhere from locally politic on up to cosmically wise. Our subjective reality is always enhanced (or shrunk) to the extent of our Objective scope.
Peace,
Jim
          IMPORTANT
Definitions: (1) having much significance, value, or influence; outstanding; of exceptional consequence; great; (2) deserving special notice or attention; noteworthy
Synonyms: dignified, essential, momentous, relevant
Affirmation:

I am inherently important and uniquely designed to do my own thing so perfectly that no one else in the world can do it like me. — Jacquelyn Small, Transformers, The Therapists of the Future

          JUDICIOUS
Definition: possessing sound judgment; discreet; prudent; wise
Synonyms: discerning, expedient, politic, sagacious, sensible, thoughtful, well‑advised, well‑judged
Sayings:
Judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgment.
Ex pede Herculem (Latin): “From the foot of Hercules” [From a part we may judge the whole.]
Quotes:
All the way to heaven is heaven. — Saint Catherine of Siena [born Caterina Benincasa] (1347-1380) Italian Catholic Theologian

Don’t wait for the last judgment. It takes place every day. — Albert Camus (1913-1960) French Algerian Philosopher

Judge men by their fruits, not by their roots; and their fruits are their character, their deeds, and accomplishments. — Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) American Theologian
Reflection: On judgment day, God is not going to ask you what you have done, but who you are becoming.
Symbol: The planet Jupiter

Dear Folks,
Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire. — Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Monk, Author
We think of a person who is Urbane as subdued, even aloof.  We all have a wide range of energetic moods. We can be calm and we can be exuberant. If we add Pizzazz to the qualities described by urbane, we will be delightful company.
Peace,
Jim
            PIZZAZZ

Definitions: (1) attractive style; dash; showing flair or sparkle; (2) energetic with vitality; vigorous; spirited
Compatible Quality: entertaining
            URBANE

Definition: having polite manners; courteous; civil; suave; elegant or refined; sophisticated; polished and poised; pleasantly tactful