Who packed your parachute?

The Power of Kindness Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience! One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" Today's Daily Inspiration Today's Entertainment Today's Health & Healing Click here to Learn More "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said, 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, don't forget to recognize the people who pack your parachutes.                                                                                               ~~~~~~~~~ The story about Charles Plumb is just one of those shared in my book, The Power of Kindness. More than anything else, kindness is the one way you can be assured of making a difference with your life. Practicing small acts of kindness changes your own life while also changing the lives of others. Leo Buscaglia said it best: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." It's my hope that The Power of Kindness inspires every person who reads it to perform one random act of kindness they wouldn't have otherwise. Those little ripples will turn into a tidal wave that will make the world a better place. Here are just a few sample reviews from people who have read The Power of Kindness. Everyone Needs to Read This From Cheryl of Seattle, Washington. "Such a beautiful collection of stories and poems. Another "crier" for me. After reading The Power of Kindness, I am determined to be part of the force called kindness. Practice random acts of kindness - it's not a cliche... it truly could change the world, one kind act at a time." The Power of Kindness From Anonymous of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. "The Power of Kindness has such beautiful and real information, quotes to live by. It really makes you realize the important things in life. I recommend it 100%!" For more information, to look inside this great book or to watch the 3 minute inspirational movie, just click here. Make sure to share this email with your friends, family and co-workers. They'll thank you for it! All the best, Mac Anderson Prayer of the Day Belief-o-Matic Inspiring Quotes Beliefnet Blogs   Change your email address: http://www.beliefnet.com/user/nl_updemail.asp Mailing Address: Beliefnet, P.O. Box 3882, Norfolk, VA 23514-3882 Unsubscribe Online: Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter Privacy Statement: http://www.beliefnet.com/About-Us/Privacy-Policy.aspx Copyright 2011 Beliefnet, Inc. All rights reserved.