I’m not talking about the old habit of New Years resolutions.

Some of those are kept, most are not.

We’re talking about substantial improvement with no compromises.

Let me go first.

I’m going to try to spend more time involved in the serious concerns of others.

This will require regular communication in person and phone conversations.

I am also going to try not to let myself to get too “down” with bad national or international news that I have little influence over.

I will concentrate more on the events in my life that I can impact.

How about you?

How will you become a better person?

Are you motivated more by HOPE than FEAR?

It’s an important question.

If the answer is fear, you must take inventory of yourself.

Why are you fearful?

Have you chosen the best values to live by?

I think the best way to face an uncertain future is to base your life on solid values..

Are you honest, loyal, kind to yourself & others, compassionate, forgiving, faith in the Almighty?

I believe these values enable you to live with yourself.

I also believe practicing these values will give you HOPE in your future.

If not today, when?

If you are a news addict, you are deluged with a constant diet of bad news.

We also receive upsetting information that affects us personally.

Bad news that affects us personally may be something we should and can act upon.

This is obvious.

World events, however, are a completely different matter.

In most cases, it upsets us, but is beyond our reach for a solution.

And yet, an upsetting world event can continue to linger in our conscious thoughts and even in our dreams.

As these troubling events pile up in our memory, we become more upset because we are helpless to bring a solution.

I think we must dismiss these troubling events by focusing on those issues we CAN SOLVE.

There are plenty of people within our reach whom we can help.

There is nothing more satisfying than helping a friend or loved one.

Keep your focus on those people.

If not today, when?

Many of our ancestors were greeted by the Lady in the Harbor.

There were and are other ports of entry.

There are as many stories of coming to America as there are families.

My grandmother and her two sisters immigrated from Ireland.

On the boat trip across, one of her sisters died.

She, after arriving in Chicago, married a fellow Irish immigrant from County Cork.

And so the stories became imbedded as part of our heritage.

They were brave people one and all.

Leaving everything familiar and struggling with everything unfamiliar.

Thank you, Grandma!

The beginning of a new year is upon us.

Do you have a habit of setting goals for a new year?

If not, why not?

Look back at the year just ending.

Are you proud of your accomplishments?

Because it seems, the older you get the faster time flies, you should set goals.

Here are some thoughts about goal setting:

Is it WORTHWHILE?

Is it OBTAINABLE?

What PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES must you have to obtain this goal?

What PREPARATION is necessary?

Does it have an INTERIM DEADLINE?

Does it have a FINAL DEADLINE?

A PUBLIC DECLARATION of your goal will help you stay with it.

Set at least one goal and stick with it!

If not today, when?

Why not?

The Christmas Spirit does not have to be an artificial, temporary experience!

No. it could become the way you live your life each day.

And what are the ways to live Christmas each day?

KINDNESS-Deliberately practice kindness with family members, friends and co-workers.

REACH OUT-Remember those who are lonely. They aren’t just lonely during the holidays.

GENEROSITY-Sometimes, people need a little financial help or just day-to-day assistance with everyday life.

VISIT THE SICK-Sickness ads another dimension to loneliness.

Make the Christmas Spirit live through you everyday!

If not today, when?

Luke 2:8-14

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you:

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

It’s Christmas every day on Christmas Island, the 52-square-mile jungle paradise that sits in the Indian Ocean about a 3.5-hour plane flight northwest of Perth, Australia.

Its thriving reefs and 250 endemic species have earned it the nickname “The Galapagos of Australia.”

Just 1,700 or so residents are lucky enough to call it home.

Local, Sook Yee Lai tells CNN Travel, “We do lots of free diving, snorkeling, diving, surfing, caving and walking through the jungle.”

About 22% of the residents have Chinese ancestry, 17% Australian, 16.1% Malay, 12.5% English and 3.8% Indonesian, meaning it’s common to hear many languages day to day. (CNN TRAVEL)

Obviously, they all get along with one another.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It’s the annual party where we gather to celebrate one another while baking a variety of Christmas cookies.

We’re 82.

Our children are mid 50’s.

Our grandchildren are late teens-early twenties.

And our only great grandchild is 21/2.

So there you have it, 4 generations.

The recipes mostly come from our European ancestors.

My favorites are Empire Biscuits!

In the midst of our chaotic times, it’s good to harken back to family traditions!

If not today, when?

Well, do they?

I think the more sophisticated of us call it MISINFORMATION.

The people we elected to lead this great country have taken lying to an artform.

Is there still a honest person among us?

And 2024, another election year, will be rife with lies.

So, what example are we giving our children?

The more principled of us will always be prepared to face the consequences of telling the TRUTH!

How about you?

If not today, when?