Keep Going When things go wrong, as they sometimes will When the road you're trudging seems all uphill When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh When care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns As every one of us sometimes learns And many a fellow turns about When he might have won, had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt And you never can tell how close you are It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit. Author Unknown

Good To Yourself Therapy Trust yourself. You know what you want and need. Put yourself first. You can't be anything for anybody else unless you take care of yourself. Let your feelings be known. They are important. Express your opinions. It's good to hear yourself talk. Value your thinking. You do it well. If you don't value it, no one else will. Take the time and space you need, Even if other people are wanting something from you. When you need something, don't talk yourself out of it. Even if you can't have it, it's ok to need. When you are scared, let someone know. Isolating yourself when you're scared makes it worse. When you feel like running away, let yourself feel the scare. Think about what you fear will happen and decide what you need to do. When you're angry, let yourself feel the anger. Decide what you want to do; just feel it, express it, or take some action. When you're sad, think about what would be comforting.When you're hurt, tell the person who hurt you. Keeping it inside makes it grow. When you have work to do and you don't want to do it, decide what really needs to be done and what can wait. When you want something from someone else, ask. You'll be okay if they say no. Asking is being true to yourself. When you need help, ask. Trust people to say no if they don't want to give. When people turn you down, it usually has to do with them, and not with you. Ask someone else for what you need. When you feel alone, know there are people who want to be with you. Fantasize what it would be like to be with each of them. Decide if you want to make that happen. When you feel anxious, let yourself know that in your head. You've moved into the future to something scary your body has gotten up the energy for it. Come back to the present. When you want to say something loving to someone, go ahead. Expressing your feeling is not a commitment. When someone yells at you, physically support yourself by relaxing into your chair or putting your feet firmly on the floor. Remember to breathe. Think about the message they are trying to get across to you. When you're harassing yourself, stop. You do it when you need something. Figure out what you need and get it. When everything seems wrong, you are overwhelmed and need some comforting. Ask for it. Afterwards, you can think about what you need to do. When you want to talk to someone new and are scared, breathe. Don't start rehearsing, just plunge in. If it doesn't go well, you can stop. If you're doing something you don't like to do, (such as smoking or overeating), Stop. Think about what you really want. If you're stuck and can't think clearly, talk out loud to someone. When you can't think straight, Stop thinking. Feel. When you're in need of love, reach out. There are people who love you. When you're confused, it's usually because you think you should do one thing and you want to do another. Dialogue with yourself or present both sides to a friend. When you feel harried, slow down. Deliberately slow your breathing, your speech, and your movements. When you have tears, cry. When you feel like crying and it's not a safe place to cry, acknowledge your pain and promise yourself a good cry later. Keep your promise. When everything seems gray, look for color. If one of these rules seems wrong for you, talk about it with someone. Then, rewrite it so it fits you. Author Unknown Remember, Be Good To Yourself! Words to live by for volunteers!

I've learned -
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is
be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

I've learned -
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.


I've learned -
that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned -
that it's not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.


I've learned -
that you can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned -
that you shouldn't compare
yourself to the best others can do
but to the best you can do.


I've learned -
that it's not what happens to people
that's important. It's what they do about it.

I've learned -
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.


I've learned -
that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.

I've learned -
that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.


I've learned -
that it's a lot easier
to react than it is to think.

I've learned -
that you should always leave
loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.


I've learned -
that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned -
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.


I've learned -
that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I've learned -
that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first,
the passion fades and there had better be
something else to take its place.


I've learned -
that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned -
that learning to forgive takes practice.


I've learned -
that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned -
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.


I've learned -
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned -
that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.


I've learned -
that sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.

I've learned -
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.


I've learned -
that just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want them to doesn't mean
they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned -
that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.


I've learned _
that you should never tell a child
their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and
what a tragedy it would be
if they believed it.

I've learned -
that your family won't always
be there for you. It may seem funny,
but people you aren't related to
can take care of you and love you
and teach you to trust people again.
Families aren't biological.


I've learned -
that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you
every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned -
that it isn't always enough
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.


I've learned -
that no matter how bad
your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned -
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.


I've learned -
that sometimes when my friends fight,
I'm forced to choose sides
even when I don't want to.

I've learned -
that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.


I've learned -
that sometimes you have to put
the individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned -
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.


I've learned -
that you shouldn't be so
eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I've learned -
that two people can look
at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.


I've learned -
that no matter how you try to protect
your children, they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned -
that there are many ways of falling
and staying in love.


I've learned -
that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves
get farther in life.

I've learned -
that no matter how many friends you have,
if you are their pillar you will feel lonely
and lost at the times you need them most.


I've learned -
that your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.

I've learned -
that even when you think
you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.


I've learned -
that writing, as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.

I've learned -
that the paradigm we live in
is not all that is offered to us.


I've learned -
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned -
that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.

I've learned -
that although the word "love"
can have many different meanings,
it loses value when overly used.

I've learned -
that it's hard to determine
where to draw the line
between being nice and
not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.

Anonymous

---

This poem is dedicated to the many ladies, past, present and future, that have and will continue to work and strive,
with sheer dedication, to promote the game of bowling.

"Thank You"

By Charlene Scheel

You keep everything running like a well oiled machine. Yet someone comes along to wreck your self-esteem. You feel that no one listens, Because in a crowd, you just don't glisten. But they always have a job for you, And of course, you'll do and do and do and do. You take no pride in a job well done, When others think you work for fun. You try your very very best, And are so often put to the test. Your job is certainly time consuming, And often leaves you really fuming. Oh so many tears you've shed, While laying quietly in your bed. Tears of hurt and tears of joy, You feel like a puppet, someone else's toy. A pat on the back for a special deed, That's not all you really need. You could go on and on you fear, There is no need, your message is clear. A "thank you" is what you want to hear, And certainly, it has to be sincere. For all the years that you have served, A "thank you" is so little, but definitely deserved.