…And you will find it in yourself!”

It’s really that simple.

Another way of saying it is, “If you want to be happy, make someone else happy.”

I always admire those who choose a career in the service of others.

With this pandemic, of course, nurses and doctors come to mind.

We must add ambulance drivers and paramedics.

I would include elementary and high school teachers.

We don’t, however, need to choose one of these professions to make someone happy.

We can begin right at home with all our family members.

Does your way of living each day make them happy?

That’s the bottom line.

God has entrusted us with loved ones who need and deserve our love.

And how about co-workers and friends in need?

The opportunities abound!

If not today, when?

Your past no longer exists! Why cling to it?

Yes, there are regrets.

So, take those regrets and learn from them so you don’t repeat.

But, for God’s sake, MOVE ON!

You have a life that has been given to you. Make the most of it.

We actually create a new life when we rise each morning.

This thing we call our life is really a compilation of days and nights.

Take the wisdom you’ve gained thus far and apply that wisdom to today.

Let’s call it THOUGHT MANAGEMENT.

We live in our THOUGHTS and we act upon our THOUGHTS.

So, we must generate POSITIVE, CAN DO THOUGHTS in order to be productive and feel fulfilled.

That is the essence of GOOD THOUGHT MANAGEMENT!

Take control of your life by taking control of the THOUGHTS you permit yourself to have.

If not today, when?

“Where’s my cell phone?”

All our lives are lived on our cell phones.

Could you imagine going back to only a landline at home and office?

The invention of and the development of its many apps have transformed the way society functions.

Steve Jobs, founder of APPLE, began in his garage. What a humble beginning!

What other innovations are waiting to be discovered?

How about you? Do you have an idea?

Do you ever “Think outside the box?”

Are you creative when attempting to solve problems?

It’s the DREAMERS who move us FORWARD!.

They don’t ask “WHY?”

They ask, “WHY NOT?”

DREAM A LITTLE!

If not today, when?

New York (CNN Business) Jeff Bezos, the Amazon (AMZN) founder and world’s wealthiest man, said Tuesday after flying to the edge of space that he planned to award $100 million each to CNN contributor Van Jones and chef José Andrés.

Bezos said that Jones and Andres were free to do “what they want” with the money.

“They can give it all to their own charity,” Bezos said at a press conference after his trip to space. “Or they can share the wealth. It is up to them.”

The money, Bezos said, was tied to a “surprise” philanthropic initiative he wanted to announce called the Courage and Civility Award.

The award aims to honor those who have “demonstrated courage” and tried to be a unifier in a divisive world, Bezos added.

Chef José Andrés Wants to Feed the World Through the Pandemic.

He has been quoted as saying, ‘Without Empathy, Nothing Works.’

Bezos is honoring Van Jones because he says, “Jones is a UNIFIER not a VILIFIER!”

We must reward and motivate those who are dedicated to making this a better world for everyone.

If not today, when?

This is a message for your kids:

Don’t hang out with those kids who bully or otherwise mistreat you.

I know they may be the popular group and you want to be accepted by them.

If they are going to act that way, you don’t need their friendship.

There are plenty of other kids who are good people.

They don’t have the need to be mean or to bully.

If you choose good kids as friends, your whole, daily experience at school will be much happier.

This is a good thing to do throughout your life.

Good things happen when you are around good people.

One of the biggest benefits is that a good person can be trusted.

Lasting friendships are built on trust.

Surround yourself with GOOD PEOPLE!

If not today, when?

(Lake Meade)

How do you allow the constant flow of bad news to affect your daily life?

There are more and more shootings all around the country.

Every day, we’re told about the latest versions of the Coronavirus.

Our political environment has put patriotism on “The Back Burner.”

Climate change is causing flooding, wildfires and droughts simultaneously.

Relations with adversarial countries is becoming more contentious.

Prices for many goods are rising.

So, how does all this affect your mood?

Do they make you more pessimistic or are you able to “Have a good day” regardless of current events?

It’s always your choice as to how much or how little you allow outside events to affect internal happiness!

Choose internal happiness.

If not today, when?

I’m sure you’ve heard this quote from your kids more than once.

How do you as the parent react?

If you’re a helicopter parent, you’ll try to come to the rescue with a suggestion.

If you’re not into micromanagement, you’ll tell them to go figure it out.

There are two kinds of parents: Those who raise DEPENDENT kids and those who raise INDEPENDENT ones.

Today’s society is is on edge because of all the massive shifts underway.

That’s the world your child must not only survive but actually thrive in.

A dependent child will have a habit of asking for help also as an adult.

You don’t want that.

When our kids were young, my wife would put a variety of cereal boxes on the breakfast table.

Thus began the deliberate process of raising INDEPENDENT children.

Each child had to decide which one to choose.

If not today, when?

Variety is the SPICE OF LIFE!

So, how can make today extraordinary?

Hopefully, because it’s Saturday, you have an open agenda.

Go somewhere, do something, see someone so that today is more interesting than all the ordinary ones.

Is there a family member or friend who you’d like to spend more time with?

How about a different restaurant or shopping experience?

Today won’t come again.

Have fun!

If not today, when?

How much pure thinking time do you get each day?

You might respond with, “Who has time to think when there is so much to do?”

How do you use your morning drive to work?

Do you play your favorite news or music station while you drive?

That drive time could be the best time for you to review the important issues of your life and make a plan for the day.

Are you willing to turn off the radio and create time to think?

Your family, your employment, your community are dealing with changes that will possibly require analysis in order to determine the best decisions going forward.

You must make the time for that analysis so that your decisions are not based upon inadequate forethought.

A productive life requires correct decisions.

Make more correct decisions by TAKING TIME TO THINK!

If not today, when?

You can do various things to increase memory, intelligence and adaptability.

There are websites dedicated to this purpose. Some of them are:

brainhq.com

entrepreneur.com

share.upmc.com,

lifehack.org.

They tell us that our brains are a muscle that must be exercised..

Many say that you should “Do Something new.”

These new activities could include:

Read something new each day.

Take a new route to your place of work.

Brush your teeth with the opposite hand.

Learn a new word each day.

Wear your watch on your other wrist.

Become more curious.

Think positively.

Train your memory.

Get enough sleep.

Read a book.

Exercise regularly.

In addition to strengthening our brain, I think many of these ideas have the potential to make our lives more enjoyable.

If not today, when?