Quotations for Successful Living

How My Mom’s Quote-Collecting Led to a Day with Muhammad Ali

I owe a special thanks to my mom for inspiring me to create my first book, Quotations for Successful Living (QFSL), even though she did not think it was a good idea at that time. Two years later, after QFSL was in its second edition, mom and dad saw a first edition copy on a professor’s desk at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. With dog-eared pages and special quotes highlighted in yellow, mom was impressed. That night she called me to say the book was great. Thanks mom.

Sometimes your biggest supporter can also be your biggest doubter. This reminds of a quote from Muhammad Ali, “I sought advice and cooperation from all those around me – but not permission.” When I was introduced to Mr. Ali, he said, “Please call me, Muhammad,” and signed my personal hard back copy of my book by his quote. I had a huge smile the whole night.

Friends Always

Hi, I am Howard Alan Levin – most people call me Howie or Hal, which is the acronym of my name. I am an author, my third book A History of Horses Told by Horses is to be released in April 2009. I am also an experienced speaker, consultant, and spiritual healer.

Friends Always is the title I gave the paper newsletter that I created in 1989 for family and friends. It allows me to update the people I care about most. Each issue opened with an inspiring quotation from my first book Quotations for Successful Living.

The first quote I used was, “A friend may well be the masterpiece of life,” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This passage defines for me what matters most in my life, not possessions, but family and friends. I love my family and friends. It makes my heart soar anytime I can inspire them or make them laugh and smile.