[Timber Loftis]

Sure I'm surre many of you have heard it before. If not, enjoy:

>George Carlin was an American comedian of the 70's and 80's. He was
>known to be
>a little foul-mouthed, and it is fascinating that after the death of his wife
>and the tragedy of September 11, he would write the following:
>
>A wonderful Message by George Carlin:
>
>The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but
>shorter
>tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less,
>we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more
>conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more
>knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine,
>but less wellness.
>
>We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too
>little,
>drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too
>little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our
>possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and
>hate too often.
>
>We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years
>to life
>not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have
>trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space
>but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've
>cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not
>our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish
>less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold
>more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and
>less.
>
>These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small
>character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two
>incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of
>quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands,
>overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill. It
>is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the
>stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when
>you can choose either to share this insight, to just hit delete.
>
>Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
>moments that
>take our breath away. Think about the following:
>
>HOW TO STAY YOUNG
>
>1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and
>height.
>Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
>
>2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
>
>3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening,
>whatever.
>Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the
>devil's name is Alzheimer's.
>
>4. Enjoy the simple things.
>
>5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
>
>6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who
>is with
>us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
>
>7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets,
>keepsakes,
>music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
>
>8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
>improve
>it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
>
>9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county,
>to a
>foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
>
>10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
>
>AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
>take, but
>by the
>moments that take our breath away.
>
>If you don't send this to at least 8 people....who cares?
>
>George Carlin