Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-12-27
PERSONAL
STOCK>TAKING
Dawn Of New Year a Good
Time to Bolster Up
Weak Spots

SolUS ~ all lLlChtos WAOO
and otherwise proffer advice gratis
until the poor chap isn't sure whether
the New Year is coming or going and
he himself is hopelessly lost. If he's
wise he viii go off by himself to
quiet corner and turn over the events
of the past year and strike balance
on the results. The chances are that
he win feel as clipper as squirrel
in May when the job is finished. There
will be many instances where the
might have been" win condemn what
was.
Life has many lessons thot are hard to
learn.
One is that you can't put your abil-
ity in cold storage until needed for
some great scoop. Your present Job
may be no compliment to your ability,
but you dare not slight 1t for that
reason. To keep yourself fit you must
constantly employ your talents to the
limit. As soon as you begin to go easy
on them you start to decline. Unused
potentialities deteriorate. Labor saw
ing devices and man-made expedients
won't work out with the Divine mas
terpiece. God never intended ability
to be held in reserve for spectacular
purposes. The wise man takes stock
daily to see whether or not he Is meas
uring up to his privileges. This is the
season to begin the practice Of it.
Mans measure is best taken a0Ien he
ko;Tr foe kLo 1oad Of oyLaxr
Much that he does In this line is
not appreciated. The knowledge Of
his kills some folks at the start. Most
men do their best when the thing they
advocate Is popular. A few indom-
table souls are fired to the heroic
point by opposition. 1t takes the big
souled man to struggle on when he
sees few results and gets little thanks.
He works for the sake Of the thing to
be done, and that is the evidence Of
the master-workman. 1t takes the
stalwart to keep on the Job in cloud
and sunshine with his best always as
the goal. If you are willing to take
stock and profit by the results shown,
you may be in that class soon.
The fellolU that is honest in his stock
taking 1pill find many loose connection,
in his past efforts.
He has failed to keep the pace be-
cause his ideals and ability did not
mix properly; or he has been short on
one or both of these essentials. There
are many sincere souls that are fail
ures because they have gone at high
speed with a bolt loose somewhere.
No wonder they wrack themselves to
death. The stock taking will help
them to see where their personal mech
anism needs repairs. Weakness in
any one part binders the best work Of
the whole. For the sake of tempo
rary gain you dare not endanger your
future usefulness. The past has been
of your making. If it does not please
you find what has been the matter
and make sure of a better record for
1919. It's unfair to blame your com.
petitors for lack of success. If you
had been able to deliver the goods you
would doubtless have had your share
of the trade. They have won because
you have failed somewhere. Most fall
ures begin with the mental apparatus.
There is no time for adjustments
after the race starts.
When the head is supplied asith right
thinking the body is opt to be best fitted
for Its tasks.
To be sure the care Of the body in
fuences the thinking, but even that
needs right thinking to help it. If
your head Is off you can't give your
body square deal. You can't booze
all night and have a clear head the
next day. You can't dance until day.
break and have elasticity and spright-
illness of body when the rush is on
the next afternoon. You can't fill
your stomach with cheap candies,
creams and chemically preserved
fruits and be happy and obliging to
q trying customer in busy times. You
must have the whole human mechan.
ism working in harmony if you are
going to get the most out of the COM
Ing year. That's why your old uncle
Is asking for mental and physical
examination. He's concerned for your
welfare and wants you to make good.
Think right, and you will generally
be right. e.
If yoa haven't measured up to exbec-
tdt'ons during 1918 you must find the
reason.
The truth will doubtless jar your
self-opinion little, and you would
AatD to see the analysis in the news.
paper. But the results Will be Just as
public If you fail and men who read
between the lines know the facts. So
If you're concerned about the future
you win respect the verdict and hon.
estly set out to avoid the foolish things
done In 1918. You will make your
C directions at once. If you continue
In error you will damage your work.
Ing ability. not to speak of your repu-
tati0n and character. It isn't bust
ness to toy with things costly. You
can better afford to down a foolish
self-pride than be downed by tasks
too big for you. IF you make the cor
rections to your life at once even the
balance of this year will profit by
the stock taking and you will start the
year with little practice.
The best assurance of success is found
IN taking stock of the means of attain
ing 1t.
Many worthy projects are blasted by
over-zeal. Faith does wonders, but it's
a healthy process to mix considerable
good Judgment with It. Promises to
pay are of no value without the abil-
ity to redeem them. You must count
the Scost before beginning the new en-
terprise. Scan your personal fitness
before undertaking new ventures. If
you stand the test you are bound to
vtn. Y0n haEe No reason 10 exuect