Everywhere you look, Spring is bursting forth!

Trees that were dormant all through the cold winter are alive again.

Flowers of all shapes and colors emerge from the ground right on schedule.

Mother nature provides us with a glorious NEW BEGINNING!

Why don’t we join her with our own NEW BEGINNING?

Shake off the past with its ups and downs.

This is a new day for you to re-create your life anew!

Remember, where there is life, there is HOPE!

Believe in yourself and your possibilities!

Look at those breathtaking trees and flowers after the cold, harsh winter they just endured.

Let’s follow their colorful triumph and burst forth with a new belief in ourselves and our possibilities.

And let’s be grateful that GOD has given us another day TO GET IT RIGHT!

If not today, when?

“… Go together like a horse and carriage.”

“You can’t have one without the other.” (Frank Sinatra song)

Falling in love is a most interesting phenomenon!

The physical attraction propels the relationship forward at the outset.

The decision to marry includes a SELFISH desire to enjoy the physical attraction.

After the wedding, the physical attraction, in many cases, produces offspring.

The affection between both spouses must now include caring for the needs of the children.

This marks the beginning of the UNSELFISH chapter in the spousal relationship.

As love matures, it evolves into a process of making the wellbeing of spouse and children the priority.

And all through the trauma of the child rearing years, the spouses must be there for each other.

As the children leave and pursue their future, the nurturing of in-laws and grandchildren expands the UNSELFISH love of others.

That’s my view of LOVE AND MARRIAGE!

It’s a different ballgame when they emerge into adulthood.

Different for them and different for us, their parents.

Of course each son or daughter takes on the mantle of adulthood in their own time.

Adult kids want to make their own decisions like we did.

They sometimes seek our advice and other times not so much.

Regardless, it is our job to be supportive and not to cast rain water on their sunny day!

If it ends up that their decision doesn’t work out, we are there to help pick up the pieces.

We must remember that parenthood is a lifelong endeavor.

When we (and GOD) bring a child into this world, we owe that child unconditional love.

As our adult children raise their own children, they experience many uncertainties.

The one certainty they have every right to expect is OUR LOVE!

If not today, when?

Ten people die in India each day from hitting potholes.

A vegetable vendor In Mumbai has filled 585 potholes since his 16 year old son was killed on a motorbike in a pothole accident.

He has said that he will continue on his mission so that other lives can be saved.

He goes to construction sites and picks up discarded materials he uses to fill the holes.

“It turned our world upside down when we lost our only son,” he said.

He has taken his sorrow and used it as motivation to help other families he’ll never know!

This father in Mumbai has been filling potholes for six years. (Tribune India)

If you have lost a loved one, perhaps reaching out to someone in need could serve as a tribute to the departed.

It’s not enough that loved ones know intellectually you love them. They must FEEL IT!

There are many ways to express your love!

Let me name a few.

HUGS STILL COUNT! Do you hug loved ones often? There is nothing that can beat the power of TOUCH.

TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM! It is so good to hear it every time.

LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY! It’s not really love if it is dependent upon certain conditions. Love is either ALL IN or not at all.

MAKE HIS/HER LIFE EASIER! Volunteer to pitch in. Offer your assistance with chores or errands that can lift the load that your loved ones carry.

KEEP SECRETS A SECRET! There are certain confidentialities between loved ones that must remain so.

EARN THE TRUST! Are you a source of anxiety or is your relationship so secure that is a source of joy? Must not break the trust ever!

Love is a decision! Decide to love!

If not today, when?

I have been an entrepreneur for most of my life, having started eight businesses along the way.

As a result I have developed some firm thoughts on how to run a business.

USE “THE TEAM APPROACH”– The team approach is better than a dictatorship. It allows the employees to get involved and feel they are a part of something.

RESPECT YOUR EMPLOYEES- If the boss wants respect from the employees, respect must be given to them.

PRAISE IN PUBLIC- Praising an employee in front of other employees can be a teaching opportunity.

CRITICIZE IN PRIVATE- Don’t embarrass or humiliate someone with a reprimand in front of others.

DON’T PLAY FAVORITES-The fastest way to crush morale is to favor one employee over others.

FAIR PAY FOR A DAY’S WORK- Fairness begins with how employees are compensated for their efforts.

These 6 simple rules will be a win-win for everyone!

If not today, when?

Before we begin, let’s admit your employer is not perfect and neither are you.

We will assume, however, that your present work environment continues to be tolerable.

As long as you choose to remain employed by your current employer, here are some thoughts:

BE LOYAL TO YOUR EMPLOYER- Whether you agree or disagree with decisions and policies of your superiors, you are being paid to be a TEAM PLAYER. For that reason, you don’t express dissatisfaction with the company when interacting with other employees.

OVERLOOK SHORTCOMINGS OF CO-WORKERS– There will always be some fellow employees who irritate you. It is your responsibility, though, to work in a cooperative manner with those you like and those you dislike.

DELIVER A GOOD CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE- If you interact with customers, it doesn’t matter if you’re having a bad day at work. When a customer calls or walks through the door, “It’s Show Time.” Be cheerful because that’s what you’re paid to do.

If you follow these three rules, you will be a valuable employee!!

If not today, when?

Let’s take a look at various categories of risk.

FINANCIAL– Many of us have placed some money in a hopeful enterprise that did or did not turn out well. Depending on the amount involved, this is usually one of the least consequential risks.

PHYSICAL-This can be a big one with lifelong ramifications. Anyone who engages in a contact sport is a potential candidate for injury. Many of us also don’t live healthy lives..

CHOICE OF SPOUSE –This is one of the riskiest with enduring consequences for you and your offspring. Forty to fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. Subsequent marriages also have a high divorce rate. Despite the physical attraction as people in fall in love, both partners must also have a lifelong commitment to the union!

CHOICE OF CAREER –We live in an increasingly chaotic job market. The pandemic has accelerated this trend. It takes some sober analysis to figure out where you should invest your time and talent.

With all the uncertainties shown above, you are already a risk taker!

If you really don’t have priorities that you live by, your future is very uncertain.

You are creating your future today and every day by what you do and don’t do.

Do you have a conscious list of priorities?

If so, how important is your #1 to you?

Do your daily actions include your #1?

Has your #1 been chosen to benefit you or someone else?

Do you want to continue with the same #1?

Or, do you want to think again about what your #1 should be?

Yes, events can happen that draw your attention away from your priorities.

When events happen, do your priorities change for good or temporarily?

Are you happy with the path you are on?

Select those priorities that will give you the future you want!

If not today, when?

Angela Merkel is Chancellor of Germany.

She has held that office since November 22, 2005.

Merkel is the first woman elected Chancellor in Germany.

She is the leader of the federal government and Germany’s armed forces.

It is widely believed she has been the “De Facto” leader of the European Union and the most influential woman in the world.

She will be stepping down soon upon the election of a new Chancellor.

I believe her steady, courageous leadership will be sorely missed.

Yes, I have always admired her from afar!

I only have one item left on my “BUCKET LIST.”

I would love to interview HER before I make my exit!

I don’t think that will be possible, but I will keep it on my “LIST” just in case.

If not today, when?