The good news is that Americans are returning to work.

The bad news is that many are not returning to their previous employment.

Restaurants, in particular, seem to be the hardest hit.

In an effort to woo people back, wages have gone up.

This is great news for the economy because people have more money to spend.

More spending drives up the economy.

A current downside is inflation which the Federal Reserve will hopefully bring under control.

America and all other countries have endured two very tough years with loss of millions of loved ones around the world.

Fortunately America is showing its grit by “Bouncing back on its feet!”

Thank GOD for the good old U.S.A!

The slaughter of women and children by Russian soldiers must stop.

Mothers are being shot to death in front of their children.

After a bomb landed nearby, a boy woke up to find his legs gone and his mother dead.

I understand that the Ukrainian people are tough and putting up one hell of a battle.

But, that’s not the point I trying to make.

My point is that the rest of the world cannot stand by and watch an innocent country be literally destroyed house by house.

Why doesn’t the United Nations live up to its name?

The U.N. was formed after the end of WWII as a vehicle to promote peace.

Well, here’s its opportunity!

If not today when?

I guess we all do to some degree.

The two questions to be asked are:

How much do others opinions affect you?

Do you worry about it?

Do you think about it often?

Does the opinion of others raise or lower your self esteem?

Do you feel that the friends you’ve chosen affect others opinion of you?

How do their opinions change your life?

If most people have a high opinion of you, is it because of your looks or deeds?

How do you react to low opinions of you?

Do you avoid being in the public eye?

Do you just live your life and ignore what others think of you?

Do you do things that will, hopefully, elevate others opinion of you?

In my opinion, you should live your life and do the things you want to do.

Live by your own standards of behavior, not those set by others.

If not today, when?

In last night’s Men’s NCAA Championship basketball game, the Kansas Jayhawks overcame a 15 point deficit to beat The North Carolina Tar Heels.

It was the greatest comeback in title game history.

I thought the Tar Heels would run away with the game, so, at halftime, I turned on a movie.

When the movie concluded, I went back to the game out of curiosity to see how badly Kansas had lost.

The Tar Heels were only leading by 7 points.

So, of course, it renewed my interest.

Kansas clawed their way back into the game and the lead seesawed until Kansas pulled out the victory with 4.3 seconds remaining on the clock.

That game should be a lesson for every one of us.

Grit and determination can overcome impossible odds.

NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

NO!

People hurt us in various ways.

These hurts come in the form of words or actions.

We have all experienced both.

When someone hurts us, our first and most natural reaction is anger followed by the need to strike back.

My mother used to say, We’re a drop of intellect in a sea of emotion.”

When someone says something that hurts us, we must ask ourselves, “Was the other person’s point of view actually correct?”

Let’s remember, “The truth hurts!”

So, sometimes, when we strike back, we may be defending the wrong viewpoint.

Whether the other person is right or wrong, if you take revenge, you can never take it back.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

The act of revenge only encourages recrimination.

And the relationship between both parties deteriorates from there.

Take the HIGH ROAD.

Resist the temptation to hurt the other person as you have been hurt.

If not today, when?

I’m not talking about catastrophic weather such as hurricanes or tornadoes.

But, so many of us let a rainy day or cold day dictate our outlook.

Why is this?

There’s nothing we can do about it.

It’s like so many other aspects of living over which we have no control.

Yet, we fret and worry about something we can’t change.

You are or at least should be the master of your moods.

If you let a rainy day day upset you, what does that indicate about your coping skills in general?

Having lived 29,410 days, I can guarantee you, many things that happen will not be to your liking.

So, when things are not ideal, sit down and count your blessings.

Oh, and remember, we need rain!

If not today, when?

Later this month, two pilots, each flying separate planes at 13,000 feet, will point their planes toward the ground.

They will turn off their engines and jump from their respective planes WITHOUT a parachute.

Before jumping, they will engage an “air brake” that will slow the descent of each plane.

As each pilot is falling, they will, hopefully fall into the cockpit of the other plane.

Once inside the cockpit, each pilot will restart the plane’s engine, disengage the “air Brake,”

bring the plane under control and land safely.

At least, that’s the theory.

Two days ago, my blog was about Ukrainian soldiers risking their lives for their country.

This blog is also about risking one’s life.

As you can see, the motives are much different!

Why not mix in some fun with all the work and responsibilities?

Our lives become quite routine doing the same old things everyday.

Change is good.

Last week, we drove to a nearby city just for the purpose of going to a restaurant we had never been to before.

It was a chance to get away from the ordinary, see new sights and enjoy a new cuisine.

A surprise doesn’t have to be some exotic trip to the Bahamas in order for it to be appreciated.

Another nice surprise would be to take over some chores around the house which are normally not your responsibility.

All these surprise are expressions of love.

Keep your love alive with a surprise!

If not today, when?

It’s a tough question to answer for anyone.

Of course, there are many things to consider:

The first and most obvious question is your financial ability.

How will you spend this new-found free time?

Is there something you always wanted to do if you had the time?

Will you have a companion or be alone?

Should you move or stay where you are?

Do you enjoy your present line of work so much that you could never have as much fun in retirement?

Have you talked with some of your friends who are retired?

What has been their experience and advice?

Are there classes you could attend prior to retiring that could enable you to develop a new skill that would be useful in retirement?

Enter your retirement year with some advanced planning so you don’t walk away from a satisfactory employment situation and regret it.

Ukrainian soldiers risking their lives in the fight to defend their capital, KYIV! (NYT)

This photo is another example of young people willing to risk their lives so that friends, family and fellow countrymen can live in freedom.

Every generation in every country produces its own fierce brand of patriots who stand ready to answer the call.

How many of these six men will grow old enough to see their children and grand children grow up?

Patriotism demands a high price from those willing to practice it in war time.

One of my best friends paid the ultimate price in the fields of Vietnam.

Don’t EVER take your FREEDOM for granted!

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!