Many words and sayings stay with us as we go through life. I call them "passwords." When I run into difficulties I recall words that help me deal with whatever is before me. A whole book may be a password if it teaches me how to handle something the author has already overcome.

Sometimes it is one word that when repeated, like a mantra, sustains me. Or it may be an Internet password that leads me to helpful information. We all need to find the passwords that get us through, just as a passport gets us through customs when entering a different country.

My favorite passwords are love, laughter, faith, prayer, and miracle. I use miracle more than any other because it keeps me open and expecting the positive aspects of life. For me, it's a reminder of what Dr. Carl Simonton said: "In the face of uncertainty there is nothing wrong with hope."

Solution of the Day: Pass your words of hope on to others.

Bernie S. Siegel in 365 Prescriptions for the Soul