Personally,Yours,amp,#58,Addin DIY Personally Yours: Adding Your Signature Of Beauty To

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Author: Lee WiseCopyright Date: 2003Word Count: 885 w/bioCharacters/line: 60 "Personally Yours" Adding Your Signature Of Beauty To The World Around You © Lee Wise 2003 All rights reservedVISITING BEAUFORT...If you are fortunate enough to visit a small town in Beaufort, North Carolina, you will soon discover itsuniqueness. Beaufort is a waterfront town, and one of those placesyou could term as "charming." It is rich -- both in its history and the natural beauty of a seaside atmosphere.I would term it "nice." Nice in the relaxing sense. Nice like savoring the flavor of a fresh, delicious tunasandwich with your special someone while allowing the calming presence of a beachfront view remind you one more time of what it means to "take time to live."PERSONALLY YOURS BY THE SEAYou could pass it by and not see it. The sign is not huge by any standard. A few words paintedon a wooden marker: "Personally Yours By The Sea." The size of the sign might easily be an indicator of thesize of the gift shop it is advertising. In a word: small.An area less than the measurements of an average livingroom houses the contents of "Personally Yours By The Sea,Ltd." Should you discover this somewhat hidden treasure, upon entry you would no doubt receive a warm Southerngreeting from Laura Lee.Personally Yours By The Sea is a place of transformation.You give Laura Lee a blank picture frame, for instance,and she will transform the frame into a personalized gift.By combining a thought or two of your own with Laura Lee'shandiwork, the frame becomes a uniquely designed souveniror present created for the sole purpose of causing someone toexperience a moment of joy each time it is viewed. THE POINTWhat was a blank picture frame becomes a *personal expression* of beauty for you or someone special to you.It just takes... Some time. A personal thought or two. And a dash of creativity. You might say that we each own a store -- not too unlikethe one in Beaufort. We are the sole proprietors of ourown "Personally Yours" establishments.As storeowners, we have the power to use our resources inwhatever ways we choose. We, like Laura Lee, may add ourunique "signatures" to the lives of those we influence. Day by day we can design and distribute moments of delight,encouragement and hope to people. IT ALL ADDS UPLaura Lee has been personalizing her gifts for about fourteen years.Fourteen years! Allow your mind to wander for a few brief seconds. How manyindividualized expressions of happiness have been craftedover the years from Laura Lee's tiny shop in Beaufort, North Carolina?And...In how many different places around the United States -- oreven the world -- do you think these unique gifts can befound? (I can name at least two states that I know of for sure!)Fourteen years. And no doubt multiplied hundreds of customers.That's a lot of smiles for a lot of people :)It also reveals the value of...COMPOUND INFLUENCEWe know the value of compound interest. Consistent investments -- even of relatively small amounts of money --made over a long period of time can add up. Consider the "compound influence" we can have in the lives of people. Our influence can "travel" -- just like the personalized gifts purchased from a small waterfront town in North Carolina have traveled to the homes, places of employment,and vacation hideaways of many people in a variety of different locations. WHAT'S THE SECRET? Consistency --> That's the secret of compound influence. Some time + A personal thought or two + A dash of creativity *Repeated again and again over time* = "Compound Influence"I know this is not a new concept. It is not unique and certainly doesn't qualify as brilliant.But the determination to take small, consistent steps of action in order to delight the hearts of others according to the unique motivations and gifts we have been given is both*needed* and *valuable* in our world. And with that in mind, maybe each of us should ask..."HOW'S THE STORE?"Do I have too much unused inventory? Am I allowing my gifts, talents and abilities to lie somewhat dormant in the back room of my heart?Or...Is my inventory being consistently used to brighten thelives of people? Am I utilizing the tremendous value of compound influenceby consistently adding my personal "signature of joy" tothe people in my world? Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time,Lee P.S. Why not spend a moment or two and take an inventory--an inventory of your strengths, gifts or abilities? You don't have to list all of them -- just a few. Once the list has been made, ask yourself this question:"How can I use one or more of these gifts I have been givento create a moment of joy for someone I care about?" Just a thought :)-------------------------------Lee is a seminary administrator, has a part-time business at home, and writes two motivational ezines: "A BeautifulMoment In Time" and "Hope For Daily Living." Permission is given to distribute article. This paragraph must be included. Email: [email protected]: http://www.seariches.net