The trees bend, but they don’t break.

They live to see another day.

How about you and me?

There is a simple lesson for all of us to remember.

Life forces all of us to sway and bend every day in so many instances.

It’s not always easy, but it is necessary.

And if you have children, they will see how you handle the forces that come at you, good and bad.

We must remember as parents, we are role models!

Our children learn so much more from what we do than what we say!

Learn from the trees!

If not today, when?

Hard time to be a parent!

Hard time to be a teenager!

Both parents and teens are living with a lot of pressure.

Most parents are scrambling to make ends meet.

Most teens are trying to to make sense of a world in chaos.

And parents are trying to understand their teens caught up in the chaos.

So, where does LOVE come into the picture?

And how should it be expressed?

I think there are two demands:

1. Say to your teen often, “I love you and you can always come to me with anything.”
2. Listen, Listen, Listen. (You may not have the answers, but you can listen.)

And PRAY!

If not today, when?

This is my favorite photo at the helm sailing home after a Mackinac Race.

I am grateful for every minute spent in a fast moving sailboat!

It’s just you, the wind and the water.

And the great people I’ve met along the way.

I want to thank our children who are hosting a birthday party for me.

This is the GRATITUDE time of my life.

Gratitude for 61 years with the love of my life.

Gratitude for each member of our family.

Gratitude for my health.

Gratitude for blessings too numerous to mention.

Gratitude for the opportunity to serve our country.

Gratitude for my sailing partners, Dennis and Wylie who have passed on.

Thanks to all my readers.

I hope you find my blog helpful as you begin your day.

Tom

I spent most of my working life as a salesman.

I worked for a landscape company and then started my own.

I bought a big truck and had my name painted on the front doors.

My Dad was upset when he saw that all my money was spent on the truck and uniforms.

I reassured him that you have to look successful to be successful.

The profit from that business put my brother and me through college.

That was the beginning of my life as a salesman.

As a salesman, you get paid what you’re worth.

“I love sales! Every morning you wake up unemployed!”

(Until you find someone who will say, “Yes!”)

Yes, it took him ten years to finance and obtain his college degree.

It took tremendous perseverence to stay with his dream of a degree.

He joined the Detroit police department and rose through the ranks to his present position as plain clothes detective.

He spent many rough nights on Detroit streets in order to learn the job.

I am proud of him and his dedication to the people of Detroit.

Let’s first begin with the original purpose of Labor Day:

Today celebrates the skill, determination of the American workforce.

And their integral role in the nation’s success!

So, like every national holiday, it is a celebration of something important to each of us.

Because many businesses are closed today, it seems we should rest.

How about you?

It seems to me that we should honor all those workers who have gone before us.

Let’s do what this holiday intended.

Let’s not work today!

You might say I’m working by writing my blog.

2,200 blogs later, it remains a labor or love!

He was an exchange student from Dresden, Germany.

From the very first day, you could see he was full of life.

He made a one year commitment to live with our son’s family.

Whenever we suggested that we do something, he’d say, “Why not?”

He was an incoming freshman in high school and enrolled in the same school as our grandson.

Because our grandson played on the freshman football team, Martin played also.

He had never played American football, but became the starting defensive safety.

Likewise, he joined the wrestling team with our grandson.

When we decided on a sailing trip to Cedar Point, Ohio, he joined in.

He was a great joy for our entire family and continued the relationship after returning to his home in Dresden!

Here’s my latest scam!

I wrote a book 5 years ago and filed it with the U.S. Trademark office.

I get a phone call today identifying himself as an employee of the U.S. Trademark office.

He said someone else is trying register my book’s name.

He said that for $795 he can block the other person’s registration.

Two hours later, he called again saying he could register my book for a reduced price of $500.

I know the U.S. Trademark Office doesn’t chase authors around trying to get them to register.

Further, I know it doesn’t offer discounts.

Be careful when something sounds too good!

I hope you do!

Here are some things to consider if you don’t:

Maybe the money is so good that you don’t dare think of leaving.

Maybe you have built strong friendships in the company and don”t want to leave them.

Maybe the remote work at home fits in with family needs and you can’t leave.

So, even though this is not the perfect job, you can’t leave for the reasons above.

If, however, you want to look around for a better opportunity, don’t quit till you have the new job locked up.

And remember, no new job and working environment is perfect!

… because you still have to work with PEOPLE!

(Helen Keller)

Helen Keller was a political activist, author and lecturer who overcame deafness and blindness.

She became a prominent 20th century humanitarian & disability rights advocate.

She was the first deafblind person to earn a bachelor’s degree.

She graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1904.

I told you her story because I want you to know the power of optimism!