Bill “Pop” Person
Pop’s Wisdom
I love you forever, Suzi.
Statements of fact.
Suzy is my soulmate.
I dedicate myself to our happiness.
We will live together happily forever.
Most important of all is my love for Suzi.
Here are two sentiments that express my love.
Number one, when I say I love you more,
I don't mean I love you more than you love me.
I mean, I love you more than the bad days ahead of us.
I love you more than any fight we will ever have.
I love you more than the distance between us.
I love you more than any obstacle that could try and come between us.
I love you most.
Number two, when I tell you I love you, I don't say it out of habit.
I say it to remind you that you're the best thing that ever happened to me.
Pop’s Keys to Success
Number one, be resolved to be a prisoner of hope forever.
Number two, find strength, courage and confidence from mistakes.
Number three, success is connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving, they make mistakes but they don't quit.
My Eight Life Principles
By Bill “Pop” Person
#1: Love my family.
#2: Have high self-esteem.
#3: Be honest.
#4: Create hope and have faith.
#5: Be a people person.
#6: Be a good listener.
#7: Be in control and be a good person.
#8: Be humble.
Pop’s Prayer on Family
Each day my cares and burdens mount, it seems the world is against me;
And yet I know when I go home, I'll find the love of my family.
Though each of us has a separate life, together we are all one.
No power on earth can come between a mother and a daughter and a father and a son.
Sometimes we quarrel and argue, then our pride keeps us apart.
Somehow we always try to forgive, if not with our head, then with our heart.
This little prayer will remind me to thank the Lord each day;
For blessing me with a family that gives each other love in every way.
Whoever does the will of my heavenly father, is brother and sister to me.
Have Fun
By Bill “Pop” Person
Father Sal Aguilera’s Homily at the Baccalaureate Mass in 2017.
Do not forget to have fun.
We have a responsibility to live life fully.
Living life fully is just as important
as hard work, dedication, et cetera.
I will be happy now.
It sets up my life after this one.
I will forgive and be happy.
You Can Be Happy No Matter What
From Richard Carlson’s book “You can be happy no matter what.”
Four keys to getting back to the moment.
1. Listening.
2. Seeing the wisdom and not thinking.
3. Having faith in the free-flowing mode.
4. Putting your problems on the back burner.
Seven steps for reducing stress.
1. Knowing that inner peace is possible, even in the midst of stressors.
2. Having the humility to admit that getting what you want isn't the ultimate answer.
3. Learning not to deal head on with problems.
4. Understanding that stress originates in your thinking, not getting caught up.
5. Learning to not allow passing thoughts to turn into thought attacks.
6. Avoiding the temptation to get caught up in details.
7. Lowering your tolerance for stress.
The pitfalls of speeding up your life.
People speed up their own lives with their own thinking in three main ways. Avoid them as much as possible.
1. Analyzing your problems and your life.
2. Judging yourself every time you realize you are out of the moment.
When we realize we are using our own thinking against ourselves, we can either A, be graceful and realize it, or B, judge ourselves as failures.
3. Living in the past.
Pop on Uncertainty
Every generation speaks about uncertain times.
Born in uncertainty, living in uncertainty, we pass on in uncertainty.
By living creatively, we bend uncertainly to our will so we can reach our goals in a sense of fulfillment.
We live successfully by rising above our tensions.
We can do this effectively if we practice the art of mental and spiritual relaxation while remembering these four points.
One, forgive others with no sense of condemnation, a clean, clear slate, not forgiveness on the installment plan.
I love you today, but can't stand the sight of you tomorrow.
That is not forgiveness.
It's a difficult habit to learn, but it's worth fighting for.
Two, forgive yourself for your errors or blunders, another difficult task, but you can do it.
Forget the blunders of yesterday and make it a habit to live fully today.
To err is a human failing, but to forgive is a human achievement.
Shakespeare said, to forgive is divine.
Still, who is asking you to be divine?
Be human and achieve your fulfillment as a human being.
Three, keep up with yourself, not with someone else.
Trying to imitate others merely forces you to play second fiddle.
Remember, you can't be someone else without tension.
Every day, you must try to make your self-image grow, this you can do.
Four, see yourself at your best.
Stop concentrating on your worst.
You are your most wicked enemy when you torture yourself with feelings of frustration every day.
You are at your best when you practice confidence every day.
You have a choice, select wisely.
Remember, you must forget yesterday
and you can forget yesterday through substitution.
Thinking and working towards your present goal.
The more you think of reaching your present goal, the less time you will have for the worries and heartaches of yesterday.
Prayers
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me so love.
Where there is injury, let me so pardon.
Where there is doubt, let me so faith.
Where there is despair, let me so hope.
Where there is darkness, let me so light.
And where there is sadness, let me so joy.
O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in the giving that we receive, it is in the parting that we are pardoned and it is in the dying that we are born to eternal life.
Our Father
Our Father, our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil.
Letters from Pop
Bill Person wrote letters and texts to his family with common themes of encouragement, advice and persistence throughout the challenges of life. Some of these common themes were captured by family members so that future generations can benefit from his wisdom and encouragement.
As the years, people, places, and issues change, Pop’s words of wisdom stand the test of time.
MORE LETTERS TO COME!
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not here to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
Are filled with tears for me
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say
I know how much you love me
As much as I love you
And each time you think of me
I know you’ll miss me too
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand
And said my place was ready
In Heaven far above
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love
But when I walked through Heaven’s gate
I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne
He said this is eternity
And all I promised you
Today your life on earth is past
But here it starts anew
I promise no tomorrow
For today will always last
And since each day’s the same way
There’s no longing for the past
So when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart
For every time you think of me
I’m right here in your heart
By David Romano