Hold onto your courage during difficult times. Difficulty has a way of robbing people of their bravery. Can you remember a time when you faced your future with great courage and determination? What happened that caused you to shrink back from the dream for your life?

Walt Disney discovered a way to rescue people from the distress of hard times. Disney was a forerunner in animated cartoon films. During the economic difficulties of the 1930s, Disney captivated his audiences. He used his creative ability to help lift people of all ages from discouragement to joy. Disney was the recipient of 48 Academy Awards and 7 Emmys. He is quoted as saying: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

Don't allow difficult days to rob you of your courage. Pursue your dream during every hard moment. Let the courage you once knew, propel you into your future.

Last week Sarah Palin appeared on Bill O’Reilley’s cable news talk show discussing a crude joke levied at her on the animated television show — The Family Guy.  For those who may not have seen either the show itself or the O’Reilly interview, here’s what happened.

In the animated show two Sundays ago, a teenaged character named Chris is romancing Ellen, his classmate. She has Down syndrome. As Chris delves into Ellen’s background, she makes this statement, “My dad’s an accountant and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.” The fact that the actress who does the voice for Ellen, Andrea Fay Friedman, has Down syndrome in real life complicates this story. In fact, Freidman attempted to make Palin the bad guy by saying that the former governor has no sense of humor.

Many people live life looking out for self, "number one." We even use the familiar expression What's in it for me?

During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia a selfless young man rose to fame. Alexandre Bilodeau won his country's first gold medal in the moguls event. This was the first gold medal for this speed skating event won on Canadian soil.

Cameras captured the joy on the face of his older brother when the victory was announced. His brother, Frederic Bilodeau, has cerebral palsy. In spite of the limitations, Frederic Bilodeau motivates himself to achieve beyond his disabilities. Encouraged by the determination to succeed in his handicapped brother, Alexandre Bilodeau felt he had to achieve his own high goal. His goal was to win the gold medal.

After Alexandre Bilodeau was handed the gold medal in recognition of the highest award for his achievement, he proudly made a profound statement: "I did it for him." In making that statement, Alexandre Bilodeau was referring to his handicapped brother, Frederic.

Who is motivating you to do your best? Who are you watching that presses beyond their limitations? Let that person know that you are encouraged by their example. Then go ahead and do something special for someone else.

This past weekend the nation celebrated an interesting cultural event---Valentine's Day. A new movie by the same name grossed 52.4 million dollars in just three days and topped the nation's box office sales this weekend. The storyline of the movie is interesting. It spins a star-studded yarn concerning the romantic escapes of an incredibly diverse group of fictional Los Angeles residents from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and circumstances.

It intrigued me that so many of our national luminaries could collaborate on such an expansive project. After watching the commercials and trailers, I am personally going to make a point of watching this entertainment phenomenon. Further I am convinced that the film reflects a cultural hunger. The theme of the movie taps into the fascination of people of all ages finding and maintaining true love. All of us want to find a soul mate. We are wired that way.

Trust should be earned rather than demanded! Great leaders know how to earn the respect of their followers. They will do whatever it takes to ensure that they are people who can be trusted.

Evangelist Billy Graham has a proven track record of trust from around the world. He has met personally with every sitting United States president from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama.

Graham has frequently been honored by credible surveys. One of these surveys included the honor as the "Greatest Living American." Through the years he has consistently ranked among the most admired persons in the United States and the world. Graham has been careful to take reasonable compensation far below what other television evangelists receive. Whether you agree with him or not, it is impossible to deny that he is a man that millions of people trust.

You may not be a Billy Graham, a Harry S. Truman or a Barack Obama. You are one of a kind. Do whatever it takes to be a person who can be trusted. Keep your word. Practice integrity and honesty. Watch as people identify you as a person who never demands trust. They recognize that you have earned their trust.