THREE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING

A funny story tells about three high school seniors who went to New
York for their senior trip. When they arrived in the city, they went
immediately to one of the finest hotels and registered for a room.
They were assigned a room on the 30th floor.

After settling in, they decided to go see the sights. They toured
Manhattan, the Empire State Building, Wall Street and the Statue of
Liberty. They finally returned to their hotel utterly exhausted.

When they asked the desk clerk for the key to their room, he
said, "I am sorry, the elevators are not running." He told them that
they could either wait or use the stairway. The thought of a soft
bed was irresistible, so they decided to climb the stairs -- all
thirty stories.

One of the boys had an idea. "On the way up, each of us will tell the
funniest story we know for ten flights of stairs," he suggested. The
other two agreed and started to climb. When they reached the tenth
floor, they were still going strong. By the twentieth floor, their
legs were rubber and they panted for breath. The steps grew harder
to climb and the one whose turn it was to tell a funny story
said, "I'm sorry, I'm just too tired to talk."

They trudged on in silence. When they reached the 29th floor, one of
them began to laugh. He sat down on the steps and laughed
hysterically. Finally, he said to his amazed companions, "I just
thought of the funniest thing that could ever happen."

"What is it?" they asked. He said, "We left the key in the lobby."
Many people feel as if they have lost the key to getting what they
want in life -- meaning, happiness, success, peace, security. They
have been trudging and toiling at length but feel as if they are
locked out of that place they really want to be. They think, "If
only I had the key to a whole and happy life!"

That wise and amazing woman Eleanor Roosevelt gave three keys to
meaning, happiness, success and peace. "One is that you do whatever
comes your way as well as you can," she said. She knew that the key
to satisfaction in life is to take pride in whatever you're given to
do, regardless how grand or humble the undertaking.

"Another is that you think as little as possible about yourself and
as much as possible about other people and about things that are
interesting," she continued. Eleanor Roosevelt knew that those who
take a genuine interest in the concerns of others and in great ideas
lose their desire to worry needlessly about themselves.

"The third is that you receive more joy out of giving joy to others
and [that you] should put a good deal of thought into the happiness
that you are able to give," she concluded. She was aware that the
key to finding happiness is in giving happiness -- wherever and
whenever possible.

These are three keys that should neither be lost nor locked away in
a safe place. Learn to use them -- every day -- and you'll open
doors to those important and wonderful things that will make your
life worth living !
(This reading is found in Steve Goodier's popular book
TOUCHING MOMENTS 60-second readings that touch the mind and heart)