In the fall of 2004, my friends, Susan and Jim Clifton, gave me a book on the New York Times Best Sellers list - "How Full is Your Bucket?" by Donald O. Clifton and Tom Rath. Don was a well-known psychologist, an educator, as well as one of the founders of the Gallup Foundation. Tom was Don's grandson and a Ph.D. candidate at Johns Hopkins University when he co-wrote the book with Don. The book was the result of over 50 years of their combined knowledge and research in psychology and was completed before Don passed away.

"How Full is Your Bucket?" tells us that we each have a bucket in our heart. When we praise, try to be considerate toward others, maintain an optimistic frame of mine, our buckets are filled with good elements which benefit other people's buckets, too. The world becomes a better place and life has more energy and dynamics when there is positive interaction among people.

At the age of 16, Tom was diagnosed with von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome (VHL), which caused his body to grow tumors randomly. Despite many major surgeries and extensive checkups every six months, Tom would not allow himself to be defeated by his illness. Tom attributed his strength to his growing up in a family full of warmth and happiness. His parents taught him to be positive and optimistic, and his friends loved to gather at his house because they could sense the open and joyful atmosphere. Growing up surrounded by encouraging words and deeds instead of discouraging criticism gave Tom a positive outlook on life and caused him to use his own experience and research to help many others.

For many years I have been suffering from stomach ailments. Problems with my digestive system led to anemia and malnutrition, which affected my moods and life consequently. After reading this book, I realized that, in times of trouble, we need to keep an optimistic frame of mind to withstand stress and solve difficult problems. As long as we have the intention, all it takes is a thought to discover the spring of optimism and positive thinking. When we are hopeful for the future, blessings will come our way.

Since our personalities and concepts are largely formed in our childhood, Tom wrote "How Full is Your Bucket for Kids". A child that learns to be kind and sincere in helping, caring for, and sharing with others will grow to enjoy happiness, success, and become an angel of happiness for others.