May 15

A friend, a famous baseball player, hit regularly in the neighborhood of .315. Early in the season I had listened on the radio through two innings of a game and was dismayed when he struck out. Meeting him later that day. I told him how sorry I was he had struck out. “Oh,” he said, “l struck out again in the eighth inning.”

“Twice? What’s happening to you?” I asked anxiously. “Nothing at all,” he responded with unconcern. “I take comfort in the law of averages. To bat an average of .315 as I have been doing, one will strike out about ninety times a season. So today, when I fanned twice, it means I have only eighty-eight times more to strike out this season.”

May 14

In his book The Unobstructed Universe, Stewart Edward White suggests that when the blades of an electric fan are at rest, or moving slowly, you can’t see through them. But when the fan is revolving at top speed you can see through all the points of the circle in which the blades are revolving, because they have been stepped up to a higher frequency.

Is it not conceivable that around us now in this mysterious universe are those whom we have loved and lost for a while, and that we get glimpses through the barrier in rare moments when our spiritual frequency is at one with the higher frequency?

May 13

A man said: “I've been afraid, but not anymore, for now I’ve got the five G’s going for me: Guidance: God guides me in everything. Grace: God does for me what I cannot do for myself. Guts: Just plain man-sized courage. Gumption: Good old American common sense. And the greatest of all: God.”

May 12

The key phrase of failure is “if only.” If only this hadn’t happened! lf only I had done differently. If only . . . if only! Shift the key words. Take “if only” out of the mental slot. Slide in a new phrase, image it locked into place in your mind. It can cancel out failure thinking. Instead of “if only,” say “next time. . . next time . . . next time.”

May 11

Never settle for a failure. To do so is a serious blow to self-confidence. When an acrobat fails, he tries again, and, in fact, will keep the audience waiting for minutes, if necessary, until he completes his stunt successfully. He will not leave the stage until he has performed it. Otherwise he accepts into his consciousness the fact of failure so that the next time he performs he is afraid, is not sure he can do it and is, indeed, likely to fail.

May 10

There is only one power greater than fear, and that is faith. When fear comes to your mind, immediately counter it with an affirmation of faith. Think positively, visualize achievement. Never doubt. Always think faith.

May 9

My father, Charles Clifford Peale, often said to me, and indeed it was one of the last things he said: “I have always believed in you. You have never failed me. Remember, the Peales never quit.” While I have not always lived up to my father’s statement, one thing is sure—it has always helped when I begin to weaken.

May 8

A physician tells of a patient who died of “grudgitis”—a long-held hatred of another person. It is healthy to get rid of grudges; they seldom hint the other person but they can make the holder sick.

May 7

General Stonewall Jackson was approached by a timorous subordinate general who admitted grave doubts about a planned military sortie. “General Jackson,” he said, “I’m afraid of this. I fear we can’t quite carry it off.” Jackson replied, “General, never take counsel of your fears.”

May 6

A family holds a yearly “unhappy-thought burning.” Each person drops into an urn pieces of paper on which they have written things they want to forget. They watch their unhappy thoughts burn and curl into ashes. This act helps them forget.

May 5

Built into you is the inner fortitude and strength to stand up to things—to anything. The best lightning rod for your own protection is your own spine. That means, stand up straight and handle difficulties with faith in yourself.

May 4

Once, in a restaurant, Henry Ford was asked, “Who is your best friend?” Ford thought for a moment, then took out his pen and wrote in large letters on the tablecloth, “He is your best friend who brings out of you the best that is in you.”

May 3

Charles P. Kettering, the famous engineer, said: “I am not interested in the past. I am only interested in the future, for that is where I expect to spend the rest of my life!”

May 2

A friend has six gems of wisdom which he repeats almost every day. The first is from Cicero: “To live long, live slowly.” The second is from Confucius: “The way of a superior man is threefold: virtuous, he is therefore free from anxiety; wise, he is therefore free from perplexity; bold, he is therefore free from fear.” The third is from Robert Louis Stevenson: “Sit loosely in the saddle of life.”

The fourth, Saint Theresa’s famous words: “Let nothing disturb you; let nothing frighten you. Everything passes except God; God alone is sufficient." And from Isaiah, “. . . In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). Then finally, and most importantly, the words of Jesus: “. . . my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

May 1

I had made a speech to a large and friendly crowd. My cousin Philip Henderson heard me. Afterwards, he said: “You were not up to your best. It just wasn't good enough. You didn’t give it all you’ve got. You coasted. You only wanted to get by. You must always do your top best, nothing else.” It was a wise appraisal from one who loved me with the kind of love that gives it to you straight to make you be your best self.