“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing.

The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Vulnerability is laying yourself bare through fear and shame in order to participate and create from a place of transparency and honesty, and this also allows others to connect and let down their own guards in the process to receive.”

Thebe Magugu, Fashion Designer

“From time to time…

I hope you will be treated unfairly because you will come to appreciate justice.

I hope you will suffer betrayal, because that will teach you the importance of loyalty.

I hope you will be lonely so you will appreciate freindship.

I wish you some bad luck so you understand that your success isn’t always completely deserved, and that the failure of others is not completely deserved.

And when you lose, I hope the winner will gloat over you so you appreciate good sportsmanship.”

From a commencement speech by Hon. John Roberts, June 2017

Two people were walking down the left side of a neighborhood street on a sunny afternoon.

“This sure is a nice place to walk. The lawns are clean, the trees are shady, and the sidewalk is easy to navigate . The people are friendly, too!” One said. “I wonder why they don’t like the people on the other side of the street.”

“Let’s cross the street and walk on the right side.” suggested the other. “Hey, these people are nice too. And the road is nicely paved. Both sides of the road seem to be more similar than different. It’s interesting that this side doesn’t like to talk to the other side of the street either.”

As they looked forward they saw a sign in big bold letters, Dead End.

“That’s a shame,” said one. “It was such a nice street.”

Mark DeBellis, 2024

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

C.S. Lewis

Is it hiding behind your last misfortune?

Why is it that we can allow a previous negative outcome in one thing to overshadow the positive potential we have for something else?

When your future potential becomes as “real” to you as the reality of your past, then can you move forward past your misfortune.

Don’t let your future greatness be dwarfed by your past misfortunes.

Mark DeBellis, 2024

Everyone you meet is part of your journey, but not all of them are meant to stay in your life. Some people are just passing through to bring you gifts; either they are blessings or lessons.

Roy T. Bennett

“I’m just your average guy,” he said.

“I don’t believe you are average at all,” I said.

“Do you know what ‘average’ really means? Let me tell you.”

“To be average means you are the ‘bottom of the top’, the ’top of the bottom.’ You are the ‘worst of the best’ and the ‘best of the worst’.

I believe you are anything but average.”

You may only think you are average because either the world hasn’t seen your true gifts materialize yet, or they don’t know how to measure them!

Mark DeBellis, 2024

Challenges will come. Challenges will go.

Make each challenge a chance to learn, improve and grow.

Use your experience as fuel, the next time you are challenged.

Don’t go through a challenge and come out empty handed.

Mark DeBellis, 2023