I hope you know whom I’m talking about? If you are a regular student of Sunday school class you should know. Anyway, I’m talking about Noah, who like you and me had a dream and work towards its accomplishment. Did you say his vision was divine?

The vision was nothing different from one you had in your mind. It’s nothing different from that dream you abandoned because your friend said it wouldn’t work. It’s nothing different from that vision you tossed through window because your parents think such dream is insane. It’s nothing different from lifetime goal you shy away from because you got so many people laughing at you. Those are simply your critics at work.

If you are not criticized, you can’t get better. If you are not laughed at, don’t expect to be successful. If people did not say, “It won’t work” then you still have a long way to travel. I’m not saying walk into streets sharing your dreams with every passer by but people don’t have to like what you are doing or where you want to go. They don’t have to come giving you backslaps or some courageous words to push you on. They are basically there to dislike your dream, then wonder how good you are doing and finally they will be left with no choice than to like your dream.

Coming soon, “Haiku with love” An inspiring poetry collection by A.Z. Alfred. To be published by Author House, USA. www.writesight.com/blackzeal101

A.Z. Alfred is a writer and a motivational speaker whose greatest pleasure is observing the world through a window while listening to inspirational songs.

11. Birthday Journal - Have your friends pick a date and journal why they picked that date, and ask them to retell a funny story, journal how you met, or say why they care for you as they do.

12. Recipe Journal - Journal past and present recipes. Include where you got recipe, where and when you served it, who was there, and what they thought. You can keep a journal for salads, dinners, and a third for desserts.

13. Sports Journal - Journal your experiences with your favorite team. 14. Health Journal - Journal how you feel physically and what you are going thru health wise.

15. Diet/Exercise Journal - Journal what you eat, and your current times, distances, repetitions, weights, and other capabilities, tracking your progress.

16. Finance Journal - Daily you can journal all expenses, certain expenses, or have a place to keep this journal for family or employees to enter their expenses. You can also use this journal idea to track your present financial situation, or reflect on what you want to change or keep same.

17. Collection/Hobby Journal - Journal your experiences and feelings about what you collect or your hobby, your stamps, coins, furniture, scrapbooking, dolls, etc. Besides journaling about actual collection, you can record your feelings, what you saw, what you heard, who you met.

18. Focus Journal - Journal what you want to focus on tomorrow, or what you did focus on today.

19. Joke Journal - Journal a joke a day. Make one up or record a good one that you heard.

20. Travel Journal - Journal your travels, all those adventures and experiences.

Doreene Clement, a cancer victor and author of The 5 Year Journal, is currently writing a new book, Blessed, about her life and her cancer experience. For more information www.the5yearjournal.com 480.423.8095 Copyright 2005 OMDC, LLC All Rights Reserved