A New Beginning

I love starting a new year!

We get a chance to reflect on the past, be thankful for the present, and look forward to a bright future. This year has special meaning for many of us and we are excited about the opportunities that are in store.

I was at a tough point in my life around twenty years ago. I had decided to leave a company that was failing, I was unemployed, broke, and all I had left was a big dream and hope for a better future.

Through a series of events, I found myself in an arena listening to several speakers one particular weekend. Of all the speakers I listened to that day, one stood out above the rest and truly changed my life.

As I was thinking about this man this morning, I pulled out those old notes and decided to post a few of my favorite quotes from him here. I think you will agree, they are at least as relevant today as they were for me back then.

"Money cannot buy peace of mind. It cannot heal ruptured relationships, or build meaning into a life that has none."

"If you have that flame of a dream down inside of you somewhere, thank God for it, and do something about it. And don't let anyone else blow it out."

"The easiest thing to find on God's green earth is someone to tell you all the things you cannot do."

"The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible."

"It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, impossible to win the victory unless you dare to battle."

"The riches of life, the love and joy and exhilaration of life can be found only with an upward look. This is an exciting world. It's cram-packed with opportunity. Great moments wait around every corner."

Richard M. DeVos (1926 - )