* This is not a self-improvement book. You are already perfect, right

where you are, doing just what you're doing. You can, however,

grow and develop further. This book is intended as a handbook for

your personal development and growth.



I was again hooked right then and there . . . Donovan then

proceeds to offer sound, practical advice, weaving in his

own personal background . . . when he suggests something,

you feel like it will be right for you; for instance:



* Write down all the things in your life you are grateful for and when

you are feeling down take the list out and read it. When you feel great,

add to the list. If you can't find anything to be grateful about, go visit

someone in a hospital or homeless shelter and compare your problems

with theirs.



I also liked how he related things that others do (both car

racing and sky diving) to situations that were meaningful for me:



* If you ask race car drivers how they are able to get through those tight

places without hitting anything, what you will hear is-- "look where

you want to go, not where you don't want to go." If you look at the

wall, chances are you will hit it. We can use this metaphor in our lives

as well. Focus on what you want in your life rather than what you don't

want. All too often people spend most of their time and energy thinking

about what they want to get rid of--I want to lose 10 pounds, or what

they don't want--I wish I didn't have these bills. Try instead to focus

on what you do want. I was talking about this with a friend recently and

learned that the way sky divers are able to "link up" in mid air is that

they look into the eyes of the person they want to connect with. Their

bodies then follow and automatically move toward each other!



Lastly, Donovan's use of insightful questions got me thinking how

I would answer them:



* Why, for instance, do people age differently? What keeps some people

going strong well into their old age, while others seem to have given

up on life and are just waiting for it to be over? I am convinced the

difference is having a purpose. We need a reason to get out of bed in

the morning. We need something outside of ourselves to keep us going.