Archives at Zinester: "Optimistic Yellow". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "Optimistic Yellow" - January12, 2006

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

*************************************************

Hello, my friend!

I expected it. I knew when I shared those stories I wrote a few years ago

about Daisy, that my email inbox would be full. It was.

Thanks for all of your own stories and compassion for what we went through.

I love knowing I share this Earth, this space and time with such wonderful people

I randomly chose a handful of your responses below. I couldn't possibly run all of them.

Please accept today's message as my "Friday" story. We have so much to do here, our home

is a real mess right now. But I'll be back on Monday with my heart and soul in my work for you.

Make it a great weekend.

Love always and all ways

*************************************************

Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"You are what you permit yourself to see in the world."

*************************************************

"Wishes" Gift Store

Tapes, Books, Greeting Cards, Wall prints,

Send a Hug Mugs, T-shirts

http://wishes.easystorecreator.net/

Buying products helps keep these messages

F R E E

*********************************************************

Maybe you can help us in 2006?

*********************************************************

These messages are f r e e.

Writing and speaking is the way I make a living.

If you enjoy reading and sharing my work, you can help us continue

our "Ministry of the Heart" in 2006 by making a donation:

http://www.bobperks.com/donations.htm

If you can't help at this time there is something you can do...an even greater need...

please pray for our mission to "touch the world one person at a time."

Thanks, my friend!

Bob and Marianne

*********************************************************

Today's Message:

"Optimistic Yellow"

It really surprised me. I will admit that I didn't like what I learned about myself.

Oh, it's not something terrible. But it is something I value, something significant

enough that I am now planning to make changes in the way I see things.

"Oh, wait, Bob! I can't imagine that you've missed anything about life," one friend told me.

All because of this room addition.

There were so many decisions to make. Too many. We were actually bombarded with

choices and no one would offer their opinion.

We were doing well until we had to choose colors. Early on we looked through

hundreds of samples for the countertop and shelves in the kitchen. We agonized over our

choices for days. At times we would choose something and then the next day reject it.

Now, in the last days of this project, we had just a few more decisions to make, as we also

began to see all the choices fall into place.

The counter top was perfect. The floor tile excellent. The cabinets just right.

"Marianne's Room" was nearly complete. I was told that day that I needed to choose

one more color for the kitchen.

We stood for three hours in the room struggling over that last piece of the puzzle.

We went to bed thinking we found what we wanted.

We woke up doubting it.

So I brought the color charts to my friend, Pam. She has a special gift, a vision for things of color.

I didn't say a word. I handed her the samples and she went right to work.

It was then that I discovered I was too narrow minded. I was too average. I was too predictable.

I take pride in the fact that I see the world in the details of life, not the big picture. I am open to all

ideas and views. I love all people and have been known to dance on a table at a party.

But when it came to choosing colors....brown lead to light brown, cream, off white, tan, beige etc.

From the first day I decided to build this room for my wife, I wanted it to be yellow.

No doubt at all. Yellow is full of life. Yellow is light. But a subtle yellow...light yellow...ahhh

"Optimistic Yellow."

"That's the one, Marianne. The name is perfect," I told her.

We chose the carpeting and tile for that room to work perfectly with it.

But the kitchen still needed one more decision.

My friend, Pam suddenly headed into blues and greens. It took my breath away.

"I would never think of going into those colors," I told her.

She gets so excited when she sees colors. Her face brightens and her smile widens as

she thumbs through the samples.

"This one or that one," she said.

Oh, my. They were perfect. I never would have gone that way. I was oak, brown, tan, cream

That night I sat looking at the wall that was to be painted a shade of green.

"Why couldn't I see that? Why couldn't I permit myself to freely go off in that direction?"

I discovered I actually was too logical, too limited in the way I saw things. I saw it as a flaw.

I don't want to see things logically flow from point "a" to "z." I want to start with "d"

and jump to "k" without thinking about all the letters in between.

It bothered me for days.

That is until I came home yesterday.

They painted Marianne's room.

"Optimistic Yellow!"

It wasn't subtle at all. It wasn't light yellow or yellow mist. It wasn't barely yellow or pale yellow or "lemon chiffon."

"Wow! This is really yellow" I said when I walked in. The contractor stopped working. He turned, smiled

and said, "Yes it is!"

Worried about what my wife would say when she got hope, I decided to call her in advance and

warn her. That way, if she had an image of extreme yellow in her mind, anything less than that would be fine.

"Perfect!" she said on the phone. "Honey, that's just what I wanted. Our home is so small and lacks color. I

wanted that room to be exciting!"

"I love you, Baby!" I said to her.

"After this past year of fighting cancer what better way to face each day," she said.

She's right. She's so positive now.

No, she's "Optimistic Yellow!"

"I believe in You!"

I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when

copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information

attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this

story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission

***********************************************

May I Suggest...

Visit my photo album:

Read recent messages:

*************************************************

Your Comments... If you would like to share brief comment

about today's message, please write to Bob@BobPerks.com

I will use only first names and no email addresses.

RE: Daisy Stories

Bob,

I completely understand how you must have felt - as I am experiencing the
same type of situation
with my 13 year old Siberian Husky - her name is Jessie - and every day she
is here is a blessing

Each morning I check - and as time goes on - there are subtle signs of
weakening - and, having a completely selfish reaction - fear
stabs at me - because the time is coming to make the very hard decision.

I do understand how you felt - and find no fault with any of your reactions
or thoughts in the telling
of the story.

Take care -

Kathy

Dear Bob;

I have had many a dog in my life and will no doubt have more and as they are all

special I have to admit like your daisy I had Romell. He went way past best friend

and child and when he had to be put to sleep it about killed me. I also had abby she

allowed my son to do anything he wanted. Take her for rides in his wagon and in the

cart later in years on the back of the riding lawn mower. That little piece of heaven

was with me for 20 yrs and even let me know after she was gone that it was my

grandmothers time as well. Romell well he was with me for over 15yrs. I miss them

both and know that when it's my time and I go to heaven they'll be waiting.

Oh and Bob I wish you enough always!

your never met friend Wendy

Bob my heart is breaking listening and reading your stories-my heart goes out to you

and Marianne for all you have been through-Daisy was one lucky dog.

Kate

Bob

I can relate to your pain when you had to put Daisy down.

I had an Old English dog named "Candy"and the day came that the tumors had

consumed her body and she could not get around. I tried to get my boys to take

her to the Vet. to be put asleep but none of they could do it either. So, the very hard

task fell to me and we put "Candy" to sleep. But, we have never forgotten her as we

speak of her often, even though it has been over twenty years ago.

Thank again for the wonderful stories each day, they are an encouragement.

Orvil, Gillette, Wyoming

Bob,

I have been going to write to you for some time about how your stories affect me,

but I do have to let you know about my Sasha. She was a Maltese and was diagnosed

with Addison's Disease when she was 2. Luckily, I found a vet that was familiar with this

in animals and we kept her going for the next ten years. You know how dogs are not dogs,

but little people. That was Sasha. My sister and I shared caregiving for my mom, who had

Parkinson's for years and Sasha and mom became close friends when she was at my house.

March 5, 1999, I work up to find Sasha had gone over the Rainbow Bridge. I was in a state of

shock all day, mom was in the hospital at that time. The following Monday morning mom

passed away. Now I know why I lost Sasha. Mom needed her more and she went to wait for her.

Thanks so much for your stories. They never fail to make me smile, cry or think hard.

hugs and blessings to you and Marianne,

dolly

Hi Mr. Perks,

As usual, you've hit the nail on the head. My husband and I had to make that same

decision on January 2, 2006, when we had to have our oldest girl, Maggie, put to sleep.

She was 16 years old and most pugs don't live past 13. I feel as if my heart has been ripped to shreds.

My husband and I could not have any biological children of our own, so our 'puggie

brigade' is the closest we came to having any children. It kills me to think of, but I have

4 more last trips to the vet coming up in the future, if the Good Lord doesn't cooperate and

take them before I have to make that decision. I prayed all the time that Maggie would die in

her sleep out in her backyard, but it didn't happen for her. Thank God we are given the chance

to alleviate our 'fur babies' suffering when the time comes. Too bad we can't do the same for

people after they reach a certain point.

Please take care and God bless you and Marianne both,

Lynne

Dear Mr. Perks,
I know you have been busy with your new room and may have not even gotten
around to reading a letter I sent you just three or four weeks. I has
written before when I read "In Her Eyes" an Dasies Scent telling you my time
for my grief and heart breaking was getting closer every day. My Lucy had
that look in her eyes that I could not ignore but I kept holding on until I
realized how selfish I was trying to pretend things were not so bad yet I
knew When she feel off the couch lifeless with me screaming to my husband
that Lucy was dying I was already blowing into her mouth just so she could
hang on a little longer. I went all over the house finding the things she
liked to eat most and I guess you could say we had our party like you and
Daisy. The night went by good with her still sleeping at the bottom of my
feet. When I got up I tied to not wake her but before I was half way to
living room I heard her little body fall so limber again I knew what I had
to do. I wrapped her in my best blanket and we laid in front of the
fireplace while I was crying my heart out and telling her how special she
was to me and how much I loved her but she already knew. Once I could see
from the tears and thanking God for giving me eighteen years with her I left
but I still feel like my heart stayed there.

"I Wish You Enough"
Jody

Dear Bob,
Ok my tissues are all wet! Oh what a story(s) I have
had several
dogs and cats I put to sleep - I hold them till they
go. Now I
worry about my Siamese, Sharayah, he's 12 - he's not
sick, but
there's been a few close calls. I love Him dearly.
Thanks for the stories - only people who truly know
what a pet
means to some people will understand how you feel when
one is put
to sleep. Debbie

Bob,

I cried allover again just like the first time.

It is always so hard to let our pets go they love us so much just like

we are, a lot like God does, sometimes I think that is why their name

is God spelled backwards.

God bless

Sue

Dear Bob,

You are a wonderful writer. God has given you the best gift in the world. I feel your happiness, sorrow, pain, etc . I love my dog as if he were my own child. God Bless you and your wife and most of all God Bless Daisy who is still at the top of your stairs still watching after you both.

Much Love,

Pam

**************************************************

"I wish you enough!"
Bob

Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com

Visit Bob's story site: http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
Sign up to receive Bob's free stories sent three times weekly.

"I wish you enough!"
written by Bob Perks (c) 2001

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."