May 22, 2024

---

BG’s Positively Speaking

Understanding the Value of Endurance

When we enter a new phase of our lives, whether it be a new business venture, a new job, or changes in our personal lives, there are myriad things to be aware of. Not the least of these is a keen awareness of the value of Endurance.

Endurance is the great definer. It separates those who will become successful from those who don’t. It is the determination to stay the course when things don’t go as planned. It could be said that it is the difference between climbing to the top of a mountain or just looking at it from the bottom.

Endurance gives us the will and determination to “Suck-It-Up” and “keep on keepin’ on.” It allows us to endure the setbacks and challenges on our journey to whatever we strive to achieve. When others throw up their arms in defeat and give up, we keep pushing forward. When they turn back, we continue to move forward. Endurance is the measure of our passion, belief, and desire, allowing us to focus on the goals we have set for ourselves.

Over the years, I have talked with many people who display great confidence in the tasks they are just beginning. Then, they start their journey and feel a little pushback. When this happens, they start to have doubts. Before long, they give up, feeling that they have failed.

I know exactly how they felt; my journey with The Perkolator has had its share of setbacks.

But I chose to endure the challenges and resist the setbacks, and twenty-nine years later, we are still here.

Endurance Is Priceless

---

GPS To The Rescue!

Supermarkets worldwide are experiencing significant problems with shoplifting. Maybe Canadian stores can follow the lead of Australian supermarket Drakes? Drakes recently started attaching GPS locators to expensive cuts of meat. Hopefully, they will recover the stolen cuts of beef before the perpetrator can get them on the “Barbie.” This practice is now being adopted in the UK and is spreading rapidly in the US. Can Canada be far behind?

---

Editors Quote Book

“I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.”

—Serena Williams

---

The Rookie

A rookie cop was calling his station sergeant on his radio. “I’m outside the Plaza Mall,” he reported. “A man has been robbed. I’ve got one of them.” “Which one?” asked the operator.  “The one that was robbed.”

---

Trivia Quiz

(Click Question For Answer)

 

---

Your Horoscope

For Amusement Only

ARIES (March 21- April 19): Unexpected funds come from an unusual source. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Play your cards carefully.

TAURUS (April 20- May 20): Some stressful times lie ahead of you. Deal with them as they come. Good things are on the other side.

GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Your determination is highly regarded. You will soon receive rewards. Be gracious when receiving them.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):  You may be the source of another person’s entertainment. Don’t take offence at words spoken in jest. Laugh at yourself.

LEO (July 23- August 22): Don’t be ashamed of your limitations. We all have them. Accept them, learn from them and continue to push forward.

VIRGO (August 23- September 22): Allow emotions to cool before making your next move. Acting in haste could be disastrous for you. Be patient.

LIBRA (September 23- October 22): Avoid being pressured into spending money on something you don’t really need. Consult with your partner. Hold back.

SCORPIO (October 23- November 21): Take a vacation before the busy time arrives. You should spend time with your family and enjoy life.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22- December 21): An intrusive individual causes you some embarrassment. Take care that the situation doesn’t get out of hand.

CAPRICORN (December 22- January 19): The small details are slowing you down, so hand them over to someone else and focus on the big things.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A social event may lead to a new relationship. Be aware that someone special is looking in your direction.

PISCES (February 19- March 20): Spend some time doing what you want. Indulge yourself; life is for living, so live it up.

---

---

21st Century Newspaper

I was visiting my daughter last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. ‘This is the 21st century,’ she said. ‘We don’t waste money on newspapers. Here, use my iPad.’. ‘I can tell you this… That fly never knew what hit him!

---

Overboard

The banker fell overboard from a friend’s sailboat. The friend grabbed a life preserver, held it up, not knowing if the banker could swim, and shouted, “Can you float alone?” “Obviously,” the banker replied, “but this is a heck of a time to talk business.”

---

Desert Traffic Lights

One of the last things you would expect to find in the middle of a desert is a functional traffic light, but you can find several of them in the sand dunes of the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake Nature Park in northwestern China’s Gansu Province.

During the annual holiday at the beginning of May, thousands of people flock to these natural tourist spots and engage in various activities, the most popular of which is camel riding. In 2023, around 2,400 camels were available for riding, as well as tens of thousands of tourists per day at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spots alone, which resulted in severe traffic congestion problems. Luckily, local authorities devised an ingenious solution—camel traffic lights.

---

When We Were Kids

It was different when we were kids. In second grade, a teacher came in and gave us all a lecture about not smoking, and then they sent us over to arts and crafts. To make ashtrays for Mother’s Day.

---

Clarence

There were some backwoods hillbillies living across the river from each other who feuded constantly. John hated Clarence passionately and never passed up a chance to throw rocks across the river at Clarence. This went on for years until one day, the Corps of Engineers came to build a bridge across that river. John was delighted; he told his wife that, finally, he was going to get the chance to cross over and whip Clarence. He left the house and returned in a matter of minutes. His wife asked what was wrong. Didn’t he intend to go over the bridge and whip Clarence? He replied that he had never really seen Clarence up close and didn’t realize his size until he started over the bridge and saw the sign: “CLEARANCE: 8 FT 3 IN.”

---

The Last Word

An open ear and a closed mouth are the best-known substitutes for wisdom.

---