I Like America, Anyway.

“I like America anyway. In Japan we are much more formal. If two friends are separated for a long time and they meet they bow and bow and bow. They keep bowing without exchanging a word. Here they slap each other on the back and say: “Hello, old man, how goes everything.””

~ Sessue Hayakawa
Actor, Founder – Haworth Pictures Corp. Production Company, Academy Award Nominee – Best Supporting Actor The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) & Zen Buddhist Priest

~

Loving & Liking Your Spouse

“Hopefully you marry someone who you not only love, but who you like as well.”

~ Tom Selleck,
Actor, Film Producer, Co-Founder of the Character Counts Coalition,
Honorary Doctorate for Outstanding Character and Ethic- Pepperdine University (2000),
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1986), Golden Apple Awards (1983),
People’s Choice Award (1984 & 1985 (2x)), Emmy Award (1984), Golden Globe Award (1985),
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (2010)

It’s Always ‘We’

“As successes come your way, remember that you didn’t do it alone. It is always we.”

~ Colin Powell
Politician, Statesman, Diplomat, United States Army 4-Star General (1989) & 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005)

~

All of Your Friends

“May your house always be too small to hold all of your friends. ”

~ an Irish Blessing

~

Schoolmates, Friends & Siblings

“I was born in Milano which is in the north of Italy and is the capital of industry in Italy and the fashion industry worldwide. I am an only child. I didn’t have to fight with any siblings of any sort. Actually I missed that very much. I would have liked to have someone to play with and to interact with. So for that reason, I was very much interested in having this tight contact with my schoolmates and the like. I actually even dreamed to go to a boarding school because at least I would be with my friends, which is kind of strange because nobody wants to go to boarding school. I wanted to go to boarding school.”

~ Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli
Academic Researcher, Professor, Entrepreneur, Technical Advisor, Author, Co-Founder – Cadence Design Systems & Synopsys, Inc., Phil Kaufman Award, ACM Fellow Award & IEEE Leon K. Kirchmayer Graduate Teaching Award

~

She Soars Like an Eagle

“A kaleidoscope of colors, you can toss her round and round
You can keep her in your vision, but you never keep her down
She’s a lover, she’s a mother, she’s a friend and she’s a wife
And she’s a sparrow when she’s broken
But she’s an eagle when she flies”

~ Dolly Parton,
Singer-Songwriter, Instrumentalist, Record Producer, Actress, Author,
Businesswoman, Humanitarian, Grammy Awards (8X), Grammy Nominee (46X),
Academy Award Nominee (2X), Country Music Association Awards (10X),
Academy of Country Music Awards (7X), American Music Awards (3X), &
Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award

People Standing at the Crossroads of Life

“I am overwhelmed to receive this Citizen of the Year Award for interacting with people who are standing at a crossroads in their lives and looking for a helping hand. By proactively approaching people in need and offering a helping hand, we have helped more than 200 people start new lives in this area, which has seen numerous suicides over the years.

With this award as encouragement, I plan to grow our network considerably moving forward.”

~ Yukio Shige,
Citizen of the Year (2009), Policeman, Suicide Preventer &
Founder – Kokoro ni Hibiku Bunshu Henshukyoku

Assuring the Survival & Success of Liberty

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

~ John F. Kennedy,
35th President of the United States (1961-1963)

Our Most Important Friendships

“Your most important friendships should be with your own brothers and sisters and with your father and mother.
Love your family. Be loyal to them. Have a genuine concern for your brothers and sisters. 

~ Ezra Taft Benson,
Farmer, United States Secretary of Agriculture (1953-1961),
President – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985-1994),
Boy Scouts of America Awards: Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope
& Silver Buffalo & International Scouting Award Bronze Wolf

Socially Connecting through Food

“The reality is that we connect through food, and we have the opportunity to do it three times a day.”

~~~~~~~

“We’re social beings, and food is one of the things we can use three times a day to connect with family or with friends.”

~ Kimbal Musk
Businessman, Philanthropist, Restaurateur, Co-Founder – Big Green, Co-Founder – Square Roots,
Co-Founder – Zip2 & World Economic Forum Global Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2018)

~

The Real Gold of Competition

“Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition.
Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.”

~ Jesse Owens,
Track & Field Athlete & Olympic Gold Medalist (4x)

Every Day, One Day at a Time, is Thanksgiving

“I am grateful to have my life back and for the friends and family who never gave up on me,
for a God who was there when I was ready to find Him.
I am grateful for so much, that every day, one day at a time, is Thanksgiving.”

~ Andrew Zimmern
Culinary Expert, Chef, Restaurateur, Television Personality, Radio Personality,
Director, Producer, Entrepreneur, Food Critic, Journalist, Teacher, Author
James Beard Award for Outstanding TV Food Personality (4X) & Effie Award (2010)

Having It All

“The secret to having it all, is knowing that you already do!”

~ Egypt Sherrod,
Multi-media Personality, Author, Real Estate Expert & Philanthropist.

Planting Kindness

“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship,
and he who plants kindness gathers love.”

~ Saint Basil the Great,
Scholar, Orator, Bishop & Theologian

A Marriage of Friendship & Passion

“Experts on romance say for a happy marriage there has to be more than a passionate love.
For a lasting union, they insist, there must be a genuine liking for each other
which, in my book, is a good definition for friendship.”

~ Marilyn Monroe
a.k.a. Norma Jeane Mortenson,
Actress, Model, Singer, Humanitarian & Film Producer

A Yardstick of Your Success

“Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success
will be how you treat other people –
your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.”

~ Barbara Bush,
37th First Lady of the United States (1989-1993), 33rd Second Lady of the United States (1981–1989),
Jefferson Awards Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged Award (1995),
The Miss America Woman of Achievement Award (1997)

True Friends

“I’m ready to listen when you’re ready to talk.”

“You’re gonna be O.K.”

“The fellowship of true friends who can hear you out,
share your joys, help carry your burdens,
and correctly counsel you is priceless.”

~ Ezra Taft Benson,
Farmer, United States Secretary of Agriculture (1953-1961),
President – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985-1994),
Boy Scouts of America Awards: Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope
& Silver Buffalo & International Scouting Award Bronze Wolf

 Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay & Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

A Husband, a Father, a Son …

“I pray to be a good servant to God, a father, a husband, a son, a friend, a brother, an uncle,
a good neighbor, a good leader to those who look up to me, a good follower to those who are serving God and doing the right thing.”

~ Mark Wahlberg,
Actor, Producer, Businessman, Model, Rapper, Songwriter, Co-Owner – Wahlburgers,
Co-Founder – Performance Inspired & Founder – Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation

That Color on Purpose

“People are valuable regardless of the color of their skin.
You can be open about it and talk about it. You don’t have to pretend that you are not different,
but you can learn about those differences God didn’t say, ‘Ooh, I made you brown on accident.’
He made them that color on purpose. And if you do not have friendships with other races,
then ask God to bring you some. He will.”

~ Nicole C. Mullen,
Singer, Songwriter & Choreographer.

Having No Lack

“Prosperity can be defined as “having no lack”.
Not lacking in any area of your life.
This includes family, work, friends, etc. It’s never just about the money.
The moment we make prosperity only about money is the moment we start to lose.”

~ Jonathan Hinshaw

Co-Founder – EBWAY Creative & Founder – Revenue Love

Be the Father, First

“Be a father first. Don’t put a priority on being … … … a friend with your kids first.”

~ Hulk Hogan,
a.k.a Terry Gene Bollea,
Professional Wrestler, Actor, Television Personality,
Entrepreneur & Rock Bassist.

The American Dream is Alive!

“I have great news: the American Dream is alive and well!
… it’s not just available to people born into rich families or people who win the lottery.
You can become a millionaire!”

~ Chris Hogan,
Author

A Magnet in Your Heart

“There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends.
That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first;
when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.”

~ Paramahansa Yogananda,
Guru

One Night by the Christmas Tree

“Faith is salted and peppered through everything at Christmas.
And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to sing and feel the quiet holiness
of that time that’s set apart to celebrate love, friendship, and God’s gift of the Christ child.”

~ Amy Grant,
Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Author, Media Personality,
Grammy Awards (6X), Gospel Music Association Dove Awards (22X)
& Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

I Think That Comes from My Dad

“Me and my buddies are all like brothers.
So it’s okay for us to say ‘I love you’ or whatever.
It’s always cool. I think that comes from my dad.
That’s just the way he always was.”

~ Paul Walker,
Actor, Founder – Reach Out Worldwide, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt,
MTV Movie Award (2X) & Teen Choice Awards (2015)