As I walked out of the grocery store this morning, a cashier wished me “a good day!”

While driving home, I asked myself, “So, what is a good day?”

A good day is when you get a much desired promotion at work.

A good day is when the love of your life says “YES.”

A good day is when a homeless person finds a home.

A good day is when nothing bad happens in your life.

A good day is when a dying loved one is relieved of his/her suffering.

A good day is when a lonely person gets a phone call.

A good day is when you practice patience with someone who annoys you.

A good day is when you forgive yourself for making a wrong decision.

A good day is when a jobless person gets a job with fair wages.

A good day is when you sincerely appreciate your blessings.

“HAVE A GOOD DAY!”

They can hurt or heal.

Many times, a compliment may be just what the other person needed.

You never have to regret being kind and kind words are remembered.

Words spoken in anger, however, cannot ever be taken back.

Even a subsequent apology doesn’t remove the memory of the original altercation.

Your choice of words also have a great impact on your own peace of mind.

Words also have an enormous influence on important relationships.

Before speaking, ask yourself how these words, you are about to use, will affect others.

Don’t allow your words to become weapons.

Use words that express LOVE, PATIENCE, ACCEPTANCE AND FORGIVENESS!

They make for a better world.

If not today, when?

Is today just another day or is it the most important day of your life?

I ask this question because yesterday is gone.

I ask this question because tomorrow may never come.

No, the only thing we can experience is today.

And will today be a good or a not-so-good experience for you?

How well have you invested your time on this earth?

When looking back on your life, how well you spent each day is your report card.

Many of us will waste today by worrying about the future or regretting the past.

DON’T DO THAT!

Make today count! Live in the moment!

We are accountable for each others’ happiness.

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing there’s just too little of!” (Jackie DeShannon)

If not today, when?

Do you accept people who are different than yourself?

If not, you’ve got a problem because you happen to live in a country that your ancestors chose to live in.

Most countries are composed of people whose ancestors were native born. They all speak the same language and adhere to the same customs that have been handed down.

Not in America! We all came from elsewhere!

We look different than our neighbors.

We speak different languages.

We have different customs.

We have different religions.

Many of us came as slaves.

So, here we are! Different!

We have a saying, “In diversity, there is strength!”

That must be true about America because all these different people built a unique society.

I just believe acceptance of all our differences is the MAJIC OF AMERICA!

Will you become more accepting?

If not today, when?

How are your kids reacting internally to current events?

Hopefully some are verbalizing their concerns to you.

Their openness depends on the closeness of your relationship.

I’m guessing that your teenagers are less communicative than your younger children.

They form their opinions in three steps: 1) What happened? 2) Friends reaction. 3) Your reaction.

It’s an uphill battle for parents because teens put great value on what their peers say and do.

Nevertheless, you must try to open a dialogue with your kids.

The best approach would be to begin by asking them what they think of the recent events in Washington.

Once you know what their understanding is, you are better equipped to construct a meaningful conversation and exchange of thoughts. LISTENING carefully is most important.

There is so much turbulence in society today.

You don’t want turbulence in your family relationships.

The most appropriate remedy is a loving dialogue.

If not today, when?

The US Capitol Police officer who died in the DC riots was a President Trump supporter from New Jersey who served in the military — including a deployment to the Middle East — before joining the force.

Brian Sicknick, 42, died Thursday, a day after collapsing when he returned to his division office following the attack on the Capitol, according to the USCP, which said he was injured “while physically engaging with protesters.” (New York Post)

Brian was twice a PATRIOT by putting himself in HARM’S WAY on behalf of his country in Iraq and in his own country.

He didn’t die on the battlefield in Iraq.

No, he came home to serve his country a 2nd time as a United States Capitol Police Officer.

But, he was eventually killed in the halls of Congress.

He lived and died a PATRIOT!

Have mercy on him Lord and all the PATRIOTS who keep us safe!

Let’s never forget the ULTIMATE PRICE paid by our fellow citizens. Most of them were young boys aged 18 to 25 who never realized their dreams of love and life!

Freedom is not free!

Four people died yesterday.

As hard as it is to believe, our DEMOCRACY is not guaranteed!

When something bad happens, there is usually a lesson to be learned.

The lesson to be learned is, “HOLD ONTO OUR DEMOCRACY WITH BOTH HANDS!”

Pay attention to the decisions being made by our leaders and hold them accountable.

We must also call out leaders who spread misinformation in an attempt to destroy our DEMOCRACY and replace it with a dictatorship.

Every day, appreciate the freedom we have to make our own decisions and determine our own destiny.

Each of us must also become more accepting of one another, including people we don’t know.

I think it would be wise to talk more about our DEMOCRACY and what it means to us.

If not today, when?

Are we believable?

Do our actions validate our words?

In order to live with ourselves, we must be true to ourselves.

Our actions must be proof-positive of what we say.

And we must remember that our children and grand children are watching and listening.

They will learn much more from what we do than what we say.

There is a related issue here. It is your ability to positively influence your world.

It is impossible to do that if you’re a hypocrite!

Your words, however, have real power if your listeners know you practice what you preach.

BE A TRUTH TELLER!

If not today, when?

These sandpipers are SMART! They don’t walk away from danger, THEY RUN!

They go into the surf as the wave recedes to gather nutrients left by the salt water.

When the next wave rolls in, they sense the danger and run.

How about you?

Are you in a dangerous relationship?

Do you have friends who are leading you astray?

Is it best to keep your distance from certain co-workers?

There is enough negativity in the world without inviting it into your daily life.

Your life will largely be the result of the decisions you make.

Who will you allow to influence you?

Are they a source of reliable information or misinformation?

And will those influences set you back or take you forward?

Become more discretionary when choosing how and with whom to spend your time.

Your time is precious and actually in short supply.

RUN FROM DANGEROUS RELATIONSHIPS IN 2021!

If not today, when?

Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England during World War II, issued many orders each day.

Some of the orders had a red sticker attached that read, “DONE THIS DAY!”

As written, he wanted it done by the end of the day. No excuses!

How about you? Do you have self-imposed deadlines or do you “let it slide?”

If you want to accomplish something in this world, you must be a good manager of YOU!

Good self-management means NO EXCUSES!

Yesterday, we were having lunch next to a playground.

We noticed kids attempting to pull themselves across an overhead ladder with their hands. One of the kids always made it across. Another always quit half way.

Which one are you?

It’s a new year! Make it happen!

If not today, when?