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Joyful Living PDF

288 Pages·2000·0.63 MB·English
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Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! Joyful Living is a step-by-step, easy to read recipe that stirs the soul and awakens the spirit. Amidst the many examples and touching stories, Pelger asks that you not be passive, but actively participate to discover yourself, chart your own destiny, and find joy in your life. I now realize one of the best ways to relate to my kids on a non-superficial level; I must open up and share my experiences, my life, that they might find it within themselves to share theirs. Ray DeStephen, P.E., president, Schnabel Engineering …it made me laugh and cry as I considered some of my own life experiences…Joyful Living is not just a book to be read, but a book to be worked. In the exercise of completing the worksheets, in demanding of oneself the truth from within, the refining process begins. Mike Sharpe, founder of Suzy’s Soup Pelger has more guts than I do to admit being “de-pantsed” in front of 80,000 people. His honesty, bluntness, desire for ex- cellence, and refreshing humor are invigorating. John Hess, hog farmer “Most people don’t know how to transcend the circum- stances life hands them. This victim mentality is especially preva- lent today. Joyful Living not only points out that we can choose our level of joy, but it provides a method for doing it.” Carl Ginder, director, United Zion Retirement Community “A very human story, told well, which extends personal ex- perience into spiritual guidance and fulfillment…quite an accom- plishment.” Robert S. Walker, former US Congressman I’m impressed with Pelger’s deep understanding of the nitty-gritty of life. Dr. J. Calvin Wenger 2 Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! Joyful Living affords the reader an opportunity to examine life in a way that will provide a much deeper understanding of who they are and why they make those moment-to-moment choices. The real life examples made me feel very connected to the book. Dr. Joe Narkiewicz, school principal A wonderful road map to the difficult journey we take every day. Mike Bingeman, CPA Easy to read and applicable to anyone who desires to work toward a more joyful life. Phil Geyer, construction superintendent We really appreciate Pelger’s unique approach to this mate- rial… so practical and full of common sense, which sad to say, is greatly lacking nowadays. Fran and Leland Paris, directors, Youth with a Mission Pelger produces a compelling blueprint for our social des- tiny, our voice of conscience, our raison d’etre for self- determination and spiritual evolution. Dr. Mark Mentzer, scientist and musician An outstanding book that should be read by every member of the family and then discussed. Robert Beers, AIA architect Pelger writes with the seriousness of a scholar, the precision of an engineer, the lightheartedness of a humorist, and the wis- dom of a sage. Paul Brubaker, banker …a wonderful handbook for self evaluation, it's quite a resource. George Rettew, P.E., president, Rettew Associates Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! 3 Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! Ned Pelger, P.E. ATA Publishing Company Lititz, PA 4 Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! ATA Publishing Company th 507 W. 28 Division Hwy. Lititz, PA 17543 COPYRIGHT  2000 BY NED PELGER, P.E. EDITORS: SHARON AND JOHN CHARLES COVER DESIGN: EVELYN AND BARNEY EPSTEIN PRINTING: BANG PRINTING CO. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CARD NUMBER: 00-190062 ISBN # 0-9624569-8-5 Additional copies of this publication may be purchased from ATA Publishing Company. For information, please call toll free to 888-627-7744 or fax a request to 7l7-626-6222. Also see our website at www.pelger.com for free software downloads or to order additional copies. Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! 5 Dedication I dedicate this book to you, the reader. The principles presented here can change your life. Since many people give me guidance and love, I want to pass some of that help along to you. I hope you will enjoy my effort. 6 Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! 7 Acknowledgements I sat in the office of John and Sharon Charles, discussing my manuscript. Prior to becoming my editors, they had reviewed the book and felt the editing would consist of a “light dusting” of grammatical corrections and word usage improvements. After four years of writing and many reviews by others, I thought there couldn’t be too much more to revise. As usual, I was wrong. After carefully reading the first few chapters, they asked to meet with me. John leaned back in his chair, looked in my eyes for several seconds without blinking, and said, “Well, Ned, we think you should cut about a third to a half of the material from the book.” I felt sick. Then I thought, “How could I have chosen such obviously misguided people for my editors?” But I said, “You’re the experts. Do what you think is best.” They didn’t cut quite that much, but they did cut plenty and the book improved substantially. Thank you, John and Sharon, for your struggles, your guidance and your integrity. While John and Sharon came into the project near the end, Evelyn and Barney Epstein critiqued and encouraged me from the beginning. They helped me stay true to the concept of the work. We had so many discussions, and contemplated so many changes. In particular, they designed the cover. We disagreed on some issues, yet always retained respect for the beliefs of the other. I’ll always cherish our friendship. Thank you, Evelyn and Barney, for challenging and encouraging me in many ways. To my best friend and wife, Debby…what can I say? You have been there for 25 years, listening, gently directing, stub- bornly refusing, whatever it took to move us in the right direc- tion. I love you more than any words can say. 8 Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! Alexey, Anna, and Tessa---we have so much fun together. Sorry if I embarrass you by sharing some of it here. But, if you’ve learned nothing else from me, you know that, “it builds character!” You have taught me so much about relationships and love. I’m proud of each of you. I’m blessed to have a large group of friends and family to look to for guidance and direction. Thank you to the following people for reviewing manuscripts, providing comments, and en- couraging me through this long process of writing and rewriting: Mima Adams, Bob Beers, David Billington, Mike Bingeman, John Bomberger, John Bonfield, Geneva and Bob Brandt, Mike Brubaker, Paul Brubaker, Skip Clair, Debby DeBord, Ray De- Stephen, Jill and Shawn Erb, Gail Funk, Colleen and Phil Geyer, Carl Ginder, Belinda Graybill, Pam and Terry Griffe, Gene Grif- fith, Ken Groff, Donna Hammond, Martha and John Hess, Beth Hibshman, Sarah Holt, Bruce Jackson, Lehman Kaylor, Carol Kline, Nevin Kraybill, Dan Leaman, Anita Lipkowski, Sharon and Dennis Martin, Judy and Paul Martin, John Matarazzi, John May, Mark Mentzer, Joe Narciewicz, Lynn Neidermyer, Patty Owens, Fran and Leland Paris, Chris and Ed Pelger, Jim Pelger, George Rettew, Dawn Risser, Shelley and Mike Sharpe, Jeff Sholly, Jim Singer, Steve Slaby, Bruce Spicer, Cindy Sullivan, Wendy and Steve Terry, George Travis, Joe Wagman, Bob Walker, Sally Watkins, Calvin Wenger, Kristen Worley, and, fi- nally, all the people that have taken my courses and provided feedback, teaching me as I taught. Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! 9 Table of Contents Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Chapter 1 - What Makes You Unique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Chapter 2 - Understanding Who You Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Chapter 3 - Understanding & Managing Emotions . . . . . . . . . . 59 Chapter 4 - Your Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Chapter 5 - Understanding & Managing Relationships . . . . . . .91 Story - “That Whereby Men Live” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Chapter 6 - Your Ancestors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Chapter 7 - Truths & Lies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Story - “How Much Land does a Man Require? . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Chapter 8 - The Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189 Chapter 9 - Living the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Story - “Where Love Is, There God Is Also” . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219 Chapter 10 - What I Believe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 10 Joyful Living: Build Yourself a Great Life! Appendixes A. Obtaining Blank Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 B. List of Worksheets, Tables, and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266 C. List of Section Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268 D. Your Computer as a Tool for Personal Growth . . . . . . . . . 271 E. References and Suggested Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277 F. Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 G. Reader Response Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 H. How to Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

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