Paths to Happiness

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  • 7/30/2019 Paths to Happiness

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    Paths to

    HappnessReal Life Stories ofPersonal Growth

    Self-Improvement and

    Positive Change

    7

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    pathstohappiness

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    Change happens, but rl rw i ii, mmim

    y . Y my w iv ri l, yr

    rlii wi g r. Y my w , i

    , vrm ri r mv y rl .

    I y r mmi rl iril rw, yll iir

    y v ri l w rl wi i r

    riv wy vrm m. Y lk yr il i-

    . R !

    Co3

    5

    9

    1114

    18

    20

    R U Or DroBy MaRiOn BOnD West, MaRietta, Ga

    Worh h WghBy JUlie HaDDen, JaCksOnville, Fl

    Ju JuBy kaRen BaRBeR, alpHaRetta, GeORGia

    th B Drm Of aBy Jill BURGin, BRentWOOD, tn

    UburddBy DUstin allen, CHanUte, kansas

    a sch tmBy FRan HaRt, ROUnD ROCk, texas

    th Courg o ChgBy DaRRen Jaz vinCent, CHaRlOtte, nORtH CaROlina

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    Rise Up OverDepression

    By MaRiOn BOnD West, MaRietta, Ga

    How helping others helped one woman heal

    When I appRoached my ir yr wiw l

    my r ilr wr lv m, I l vry mlly.

    I w r im I l r, i w

    k m wk r ir i. I lm l I m

    y w i . all my iii r

    li w . Filly, lik rwi r, I ri , d mi, g!

    t y I mll i my r r r rry

    r li r. I r li g w lli m wr

    . My r w 25 mil wy, i ww al, I rivi w-

    w. Frrmr, I w rry wrk i m i 28 yr.

    b i i my rl, I ill l g i m.

    I j. a I w ir. I m mik r rv wr w

    mr wr! I li vry wl rliv i I qii-

    li m. t i i w I k ir i l

    w m i r li. I ry r m. I i ir rr rji

    vr ir viri.

    slwly i r m. I w w I m, i,

    l m i. s i lr. I ii y. ar vrl

    m I r wy g w m k j. di mi

    ilmi r wi my I w v qli l m Iw li m l.

    Iv lr m i ri i : y y ri

    wy, i k m v ilr. I kw i ri ri, i

    wi k ril l.

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    Worth theWeight

    By JUlie HaDDen, JaCksOnville, Fl

    The Biggest Loser helped this contestantand suburban mom drop the pounds.

    Something else helped her keep them o.

    I

    tooK a deep r mll rm my . My rm k

    rllly I l lik I rk i w.

    I i r i, I rmi myl, w I m t bi

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    m lik ll my li, w i m li wi, I ly kw wr .

    t w I 5 2, 218 , 34. a w m rlir I i

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    i wi-l rrm w lik wi imil rm.

    a r vi r il, mi my , Mik, I lk-

    i . t r l ry wl riky my wi wi my

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    Worth the Weightii l ii. W ir i, I I v l l

    rii r ki.

    or n w rmi i-yr-l. I i v ry k wi im.

    a lyr, I i w i my y lk l, wi im rm r. I r

    r ir, ir k. W I i im i ki, I lly k

    l i kirly ly ( my vri!). My wi

    I r my my crim ry r v yr.

    Mik ir i k rm r wi y, l im I l rmmr i

    i. I i w mrrm ri i wrkr k im, W -

    yr wi?

    IsaId goodbYe to Mli w mirrr vrl l mirrr

    w i , wi i ri my ll r. W

    Mik wi? n mm? all w l w wrl ilr. t bi

    Lr? ti l my l , I .

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    wi wi w l. I m r r r, I , lki

    y r i r m m r mil. Ill vr mk i. h

    , y li wi w, I lly r i li. b I w ik r

    ir m. I lw my .

    t I r rr mryl. Jilli, ir rir w, r m

    r rj. t r ik y l wi, i. Wr

    i rv m wr. I l rly i my i. or r wrk r

    wk i r, yi i r rm, wy rm my r

    m. t i I l qikly . Jilli wrk wr rivi, vry r

    m r. a w kik m ym.

    I ll i my rm rm. I ll f my kr rw m

    r. s w vrywrik rm ll r im ri i r. I r

    i i vr. t ri i r my r, my .How precious to me are your thoughts, O God. They cannot be numberedthey outnumber the

    grains o sand. o my vri lm.

    I w l r, r r im, I w

    wr rlly m. My wi i mk m wrl. I my v il r, il

    , I w ilr. I w ri gi m I rv li

    fr? a l, y, iv li wi Mik, n il w

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    Worth the Weightr mily. a li g w r m m I i.

    I my kr i mr k ym. Im j r l wi,

    I l Jilli. My l i liv my li wy I rv liv i.

    t, i, i ri wr!

    Jilli wrk wr wr iii, wr i. or m rri r

    r wi-i, li m wi. b i w lr ili. o wk w wlk

    i ym qim w wrki. n rmill, llii-

    l, rwi mi. I gr Wk, Jilli . Wr i ri

    l-i wy.

    JuMp Rope, huLa , -, ll-. I l il ll-

    wi Jilli l. My rm l lik y wr rm ir k-

    . b i im, I i iv . g ik Im ilr. h w

    r m. Iv k wrki wr i. by wk, I w l

    w y myl.

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    r vry y ry myl r l wi-i rmi wir. t

    I m r r, n r v m . I lk n rm r my

    wi, ll wy r. smi I I vr . pr li I rv

    v. Im ry, Mmmy, i. cl y k m l i ki?

    I i my rk. hw l I y ? I ly r r im lly. I

    k i mm. s I w ki my i mii wl.

    I irr i r, r, , r, l i. slwly y l i mil-

    ir l r I lv. I lik iy i f . a k l r.

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    m y, lry l ki wr . I im i r. t

    r i bil w r r rii ri mi.

    o i I w y wy rm wr mi lik ki. nw I

    l myl l j g w li I w. I mv r. b I mv r. I m ki i r. Im rry, n,

    I i, Mmmy j v l i ki i ri w. L

    mll y r .

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    I r y i r i ri. ayi w

    ly I rw r i iv wy. Frm w , I ly k ly i

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    Worth the Weight . I lk ll l mirrrwy vi li myl l. I

    m ll-l ii w. W I k n lyr, I i

    i ily y. I i ll- mky r, rii i m R Li, gr

    Lii w lik gr Wk, wi Jilli.

    t y l wi-i, I I rv. I, I l r lm. I

    lry mli my l. I r I l i r y wi

    m wm. I w ly, r 121 . I i , liv m,

    l vr l !

    a w m lr w w l. I ll m i Mik

    my crim ry. ti im I w mi i. b I w mi i i yr!

    a l Jry, w y y, J. I ly im i k my -

    vr im. h il vry im I m w ki im. t I li my k

    ri im w v m, 20 lv. I r lii mll.

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    Junk JunkieCompulsive? Not me! I just couldnt resist a garage sale.

    FIRst thIng FRIdaY mri I gr sl i

    mil i r lr rivwy, mk y u-r, lli

    my v r jmi , i ry-ir wm

    rk i r m.

    My y k i wll-k wi v I v .

    My y r r ry ik, k, r l r m, r-

    i I i. a lm, m l lm I v vr .

    t i ry rl i k

    w wi r ml r i lik l w- wl. My

    v iq.

    evryi i rm, tk m. Im yr!

    t mki r $10. Im r I i r l. I i i i

    wi l i l wi m I rmm r ri cri-

    m ri.

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    k ll wm ri l. Wll k i r y i r il yr

    ry .

    n, k, I y rikly. n lli w mi i r I v my .

    I rlly i r . I i i w. Mwil I zi my y k

    wi my r i . Will y k i llr r i? ti lm

    wl l y k iq r, I ll myl. My mr.

    sr, wm y rily. hr qik rly irk m. I l v r w

    v mr. t l w. I rry lm v f. I v l 10

    mr r l i. I Friy, r ll.My r try I wrk r wrir. crrly, I w i -

    r k my ri wi ryr. b i r mi I r l

    i ll r, ri rlly. I i i l i wl vrri.

    a mli-mily l mr vriy mvi l w , ll miv

    llr, ry ri.

    Friy I my lrm rly, rw my w i, ll r r my ir,

    By kaRen BaRBeR, alpHaRetta, GeORGia

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    Junk Junkiemy m ylir. I k my I l r my , gr-

    , r, d y rlly ll i f? I i v wr r qi,

    I ir i.

    t Friy my r I rl myl my . t k

    v w ll wi qirky kik-kk. Ill v m r

    gr w i m, I rmi myl. I rri ii rry

    mll i l lv, y l i. b w wi w-

    lm?

    a I l i r , I rliz i i rlly i wi yi

    w w. I lik w Wr-m m. My i I i i my .

    gr wl i r. I w i m k i my k. I rw

    i w lil wi. ni. I jil r lil ri

    i. ni.

    N

    o WondeR that wm w qik k my i k! Wy, I

    v k r i i wrk. dm. I l i w

    m wr i l i wi v r lm

    l wi ll r jk I ml.

    My mri I w k wrk my ryr k. Wrii

    rqir ri, y ll I l r w illy lm. Wy I

    w i m? b i w l? Wll, i ri ri

    i m, w ki ri w ?

    n, mi l w i i li I i my l r-l

    ry. tr w mi ry my qir i I i

    rlly r m. bi lil l li ri, i r lw

    ri v w i i rlly mk m ifr.

    My y ll my bil rm Lk: W ! b yr r

    i ll ki r; m li i i i -

    i. tr w i wr wi r l, r w mi wr wi

    m. h I r i r mil l ff I mi

    lly i ri i ? W I mi jk jki?I v w r rl r i I liv y. I k myl i Ir m-

    I kwwill lly im. I mk r i wrk. I i I fr i i I

    lly v l r i i my i my li. I y yi I will

    i rm my . a I lwy k, Wy I rlly w i i? M-

    wil, kw y w l w-wl lm?

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    The BestDream Of All

    By Jill BURGin, BRentWOOD, tn

    A amily learns that bigger isnt always better.

    Boxes FILLed the livi rm, ki, rm. t wll wr

    r. Frir lm i rr. I w mvr l i

    r wiw ry kyr. I l v

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    . ti , i , w mllr w j l. s mll, I w lry

    ii i ry, ilk lw rm r. I rmmr

    -ry viw w r l l. n r.

    ti w il-ry r, mllr y w liv i r,

    mllr j y r ri. n mr i sy l ri, I l

    myl. a l ir. W i v i kyr, r ll. a lyrm r

    ki, r, w i vr r.

    Wll, l w wr ill i ir w lv. My tim k

    y wi w j mr mily-rily r, w

    y i i zi i lr wi l rm r lk r mi w mr

    frl 45 mi w. W rimiy rr w mil

    wy r ki l.

    sill, I l l iki w ifr i ll lk rm rm w rr

    r 13 yr mrrir amri rm i , i r, ri, r-

    mi, mrl rirm.J w yr r, tim I ri vr lri r 5,500-qr-

    w l il. W imi rl ri r-

    .

    nw w ml-iz rm viyl ki r. I worry, God, I i

    myl, ri i crim ri I rliz w rm r ir.

    Did we make the right choice?

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    The Best Dream Of Alltim I v yr r mrryi, wii il w wr l

    my y i nvill r r rm wr tim

    rw . t w imr : yi, ri. W i m-

    wr, r w l.

    tw yr lr w mv i w-ry, r-rm rik l-

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    r i ki. W il k ill Fr r li i.

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    rm w r wi y, r w yr r w mv i.

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    r tim rw i. evry j, i i . pr-

    i r sy l r l - -ll m r.

    I

    couLdnt heLp notIcIng lil lyrmmr wi iz

    r ll, l i, mily rm wi ri rm ki.

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    i wk, viii w ri rj, mi wi ilr.

    tim my w , wi ki ri l, I k wrk

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    amri rm.

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    r- rwr r mi r r. Rmmr, r, I r

    myl, imii wrmi ry.

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    ily. o , I rli rzily, vryi j l i mr.

    d w, , I wrri. Rmli tim wrk il

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    tim mi m im i i r, i lm v-

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    The Best Dream Of Allr m lv wrk i mil y. W rv Mdl rwr

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    ari riv-r wiw, w lk r. aiy r

    li r . a w y lr, w ll ilr ll.

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    o What IF r wr lmi? hr I w, mii my l

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    my w ki wl v k y wy r i mr ir ri.W wl I ll m?

    alry I kw wr. I w ly w I ll myl. t ir

    i lwy r. a y mily li r liv i r i

    rm ll. trly, w i ii . W m

    ri i.

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    UnburdenedCredit cards? Maxed out. Financial security? Paycheck

    to paycheck. Something had to give.

    You KnoW that ri, W rl m kki? Wll, i

    m kki, ll ri, i i 2006, my r r

    my Fr crw Vi.

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    l i . I r ri rw i . b i j lr.

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    mr w .

    I r, ri w my wi, criy, wl y w I l r my ml

    r, rw- y wr m y, w i v r i

    l.

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    r. W liv yk ykcriy, m r r ki wi my

    r my j lri rir 40 mil wy, yk wl

    i jry.

    My wrri wr r my ily i i w r liv r

    w im I vr v . bk w I w il, i my wi, I

    wvr I w wvr I w. I wl mi r i

    lik i w q.

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    cllwy l, , , mzi, vi m, riv l. ply

    i-m r, k l vi. sr, I w l my ri r, I vr

    mi ym, l miimm. I w , ri?t I m criy, il mm wi w ki, ll i lv. W mrri,

    mv i r-r r i r mily. a r . tr wr

    lwy i w (r I l lik w rv)w ri, i j, li-

    , l, ik, y, ir .

    criy ri miz, vry im , I m r

    mi I j vllr ll r, v-r-llr rivr,

    By DUstin allen, CHanUte, kansas

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    Unburdenedml r. I ly criy il v i. I ill mk y y, y,

    y i.

    I I lik i rr y iy m m l mr r

    mw, lik I k my l i wrl. bi, l w rm r,

    I r w wr ky.

    criy i ik , i w l i my wi i

    i . W k i lik i, wr.

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    i wr, I kw criy w ri. W rm ri wr rwi

    i .

    OuR tRoubLes Must v rlly vi y my

    mm v m k, The Total Money Makeover. I w ll w

    iv il .

    Like some fnance book is really going to get us out o debt, I ,

    i i i.

    criy, w w mr iril I w, l v m k bil. I r

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    r rlm, I i. Wll m r w. a I rly w l.

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    ll r r ill?

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    b wr llw, v m. dr.

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    y kir rm ili wiw my li wi. t i.t il k Mm iv m r, lik i w ri m w. Fi. I

    y l my mkvr, i w m. I ik i r ri.

    t y l mm vi: n mr yi ri. n il

    r y ki. sll w y . Mk r-

    wvr rm i ill yr -r. W il? criy I l v

    r ri rry r wi i mr w .

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    Unburdenedt mri I ll my k i I l rrw i r wrk.

    sr, i, , Ill l y my yr r .

    I w milii rw m l ri livi ki riy rm i

    r. b w i i I v? d llw m rvi i. t rlm

    w rk imi l. I wl l rl. d wr m k. I k

    im m wrk i i r.

    o my 40-mil riv, I i mi I i I w lil ki, mi

    I i vr i criy v m bil; I j i kw i. pry.

    t wr m i r. n lq . I my mily rik

    ymr, I l g. I i i m, I y l . pl

    l m, Lr. Ill li, I rmi.

    ALL daY at wrk my mi irl k k vi. t r

    i wi rl . t r i ,

    i, w i llr r mry .

    n, y f ri r im rm mll lr.

    I l wrk vrim ri m my, w wl v k

    mr ri mr. o i vi k ri il m: sll w y

    .

    all f! all iv jk I j I v. I w killi m. a

    I m, I w ll l. My ll r lli w r -

    ri . s w my l r. I lik I w i sry lik.

    Wk wr mily im. W w mr m?

    I lm r i ki, I w r . criy w i ir. hy, l

    v r l! I i.

    s lk rri. W y w ri ?

    evryi.

    W i wi r l. I m vr, i wy

    ll f. I m i by, li r ir- ri li. evry

    llr w w ri i k r mry .

    o my mm I k lki g. t vri vlv. I ji im r l, I w l iv k r im w yr r,

    vlly, ri r w i f.

    I lly r r k , bil. tr srir wr ll wi

    iml wim m, wr iv r wi k ,

    mi w wi i, illry wr my mk y l.

    W will i r m i i wl wrl, y ri i l?

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    UnburdenedI mril i wl mk m mr r my l i wrl,

    w rlly w I w iril i. I l ri

    ll i wi w r liv.

    Wv i l r y iry-i llr. W j v r

    mr l, w l. t crw Vi lm r

    mil i w, i r wll i i rir, wv k wy

    vr i.

    bi, i ry mil i I ik lw l iwy. I

    mi. giv m mr im lk my Fiil avir. t k im r ki m

    il I lly wi li. I m, w y ik rlly m kki

    i i 2006?

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    Gudo.org

    A Stitch inTimeBy FRan HaRt, ROUnD ROCk, texas

    Finishing what I started

    Isat on MY rm r rr y ki yr, il r, wi

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    m wrm l i.

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    I wr li ri r . or yr w i i

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    pathstohappiness

    A Stitch in Timeii ri?

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    vii r r i h r r f m. I sy l, w

    ki wr wrki rj. Fr I w i mm iki

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    r lr. o ry qr, ryr, im.

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    pathstohappiness

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    The Courageto Change

    By DaRRen Jaz vinCent, CHaRlOtte, nORtH CaROlina

    I had spent years fghting everyone.

    But with help rom riends and God, I ought my owndemons and ound solace in books.

    L

    ooKIng bacK noW, I i w r w li m k. n r

    yi. Fr ryi. I w ri . I w ri ifr.

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    i kw y r wy .

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    y wr lki ci i, r ri k .

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    ii i . t iy mi, wi l, mil m-

    ri l. b m lyf. t l l. pvry rim r.

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    .

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    r, i wrk-y y r ii. I i mjr i mmii

    r, m mmii, yly, m virv

    m r ri w l mi wrk.

    ev mril w iri, I i l fr i my l. I

    w l r l. t l ri my i l. t l r k.

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    pathstohappiness

    The Courage to ChangeI wy wi i I v rlly mmry. I ri l w I r

    i l. a I k r mmriz ri rr r-

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    , ki y w tV. t y w lk lik i i y mm.

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    w r r rr i hmil, ori, wr m ri

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    t I r m l lki m r ll i, yi, s. sm-

    wy ir I w. I w lik w li m k, ki m ill.

    I wlk wy rm . t w r im i my li I m miiv,

    rrr will ir i. I w m ry. I k, What do

    you want me to do?

    Lr i, ri I r rm i l yr ll. s w livi i

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    w I . I i or mv. b I w ill r. I k ill my my i Fll, i i wy I l lv.

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    r wr mvi w s rr r m r ir rk. n mr

    .

    I l m, l Fll. I l v il w I crl. I ly kw

    r i iy. I i v j li , r 9/11, l rii ri .

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    The Courage to Changet j I w ll r r y osr. My yv m-

    mril. I i-vil y riy ym y i gM r, wr

    y r r milly wi r w ll y r

    il , r ml, r li eMt y i mry.

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    il lvl. I m wy y r. o r lvl, , I w .

    I ry l r yr i crl. I y, God, I dont understand why you brought

    me down here to work at a call center.

    nw, i rr, I ik i w I r. si ll r

    w f 24-7, r l wrk r. pl I vr wlv m r-

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    y rm.

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    y r. t I r lii m, I l ll y wr ll ifr

    rm y l. ty ir rlm , y w l.

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    hen theY caLLed osr mli mi, I kw

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    wrkr, mr, r i c, I lik ll im t prr.

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    m rii r i. t prr l y r l

    k i ir irm y wr ri .

    h v m k, rk.Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway y s Jfr.

    prmi m yll r i rm r k, i.

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    i, , mm y rlly r my wll-i. I vr

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    w I l my r r m. I w I l rm li

    lik viim irm i rr mil li.

    t k lly m. I I kw vryi, I i kw yi.

    I w ry lr. I r ki irmi, yi k gwill, iki

    l ri.

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    pathstohappiness

    The Courage to ChangeMy imii w r. I wl kr, I i. I w -

    r l y, ir mi. I lk my wrkr my rm i Fr-

    ry 2004. I i k my m. by Mr, I 3,000. evry i I w

    rryi krm gwill r y wrkr my rm.

    a ri rm wrk k m nd, r crl wi rl li-k vi,

    l ifr kr ll i l. ti w wr I w my kr

    . I v my, w mll-i l wi rr l, l

    ril .

    Rley i r dmr. I ll w k, w yr

    I r crl Lirry Fivl v mr l ri. I i

    50, 60 r wk. I r wrk ki rm liv, y kw w? Im

    ri ry.