“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” (Abraham Lincoln)

It’s the second day in a row that I’m quoting Abraham Lincoln. I don’t know how he found the time to leave all these great quotes behind while conducting the Civil War.

There is another famous saying, “Everything comes to those who wait.” I do believe that patience is a very desirable trait to develop in our personality, but it should not be a substitute for HUSTLE!

Our lifespan is a very fickle thing over which we have no control. If there is something you really want to achieve, don’t wait for the “right time.”

That time is now!

I have tried to accomplish many things in my 78 years. I have succeeded and I have failed.

No regrets!

If not today, when?

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”  (Abraham Lincoln)

Are you a business person? Are you a teacher? Are you a parent? Are you a maid? Are you a chef? Are you a waiter? Are you a garbage collector? Are you a doctor or nurse? Are you a truck driver? Are you a grocery store employee? Are you an invalid? Are you a farmer? Are you in law enforcement? Are you in fire prevention?

Regardless of your calling in life, we all need each other. It is the collection of all these roles in society that keep it going. And one is not more important than the other! They deserve our thanks and our respect.

Every Wednesday, when our garbage man comes, I tell him, “Thanks. What you do is important!”

Whatever you do, be a good one!

If not today, when?

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.”          (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Whose life is it anyway, yours or theirs? This is a basic question that each of us must answer for ourselves.

Are you a puppet and do you allow society to be the puppeteer?

Or, do you make a decision based upon a value system that you will not violate just because someone happens to criticize you for it?

I really believe when you look back over your life, your report card will not be determined by the mistakes you made along the way. We all make mistakes.

No, your grade will rest upon one issue: Were you true to yourself?

Begin now!

If not today, when?

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” (Michael Jordan)

Victory in any kind of game requires failure along the way. There are always hurdles that you will encounter in your struggles to accomplish something truly important to you.

Babe Ruth only got a hit 29% of his times at bat. So, he walked back to the dugout as a failure on 71% of his attempts.

If Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth often failed in their efforts, what excuse do you have for giving up on your pursuits? Yes, you will make mistakes and bad decisions along the way. We all do.

Don’t give up!

If not today, when?

I met her 20 months before our wedding. Hudson’s Department Store invited college students with a business major to come to Career Day to consider a career with the store upon graduation.

While on a guided tour of its headquarters, I noticed a girl in a red dress walking along.

I had never seen anyone so beautiful!

Luckily, the store provided lunch for all of us and I noticed the seat next to her was vacant. Her name was Nancy, but I didn’t hear her last name.

So, I departed the store without her last name or phone number. I remembered, however, that her dad was the chief  of police in a local town.

I called the police department and said I met Nancy and I needed her phone number. The dispatcher gave me her number and the love affair began!

Thank God!

There were more than 940 deaths from Covid 19 yesterday!

It seems that we are setting a new record every day now. The epidemic scientists tell us that we we can eliminate the virus in 4 to 6 weeks if everyone would wear a mask.

Many businesses are now demanding that masks be worn in order to enter their stores. I know it’s frustrating to have to put them on. It’s the only answer, however, to eliminating the virus while keeping our economy from collapsing.

I just read a story of an egg farmer who was delivering eggs to local restaurants, only to find them closed. He now has 24,000 eggs that don’t have customers. Many farmers are on the brink of bankruptcy.

The ONLY ANSWER is to kill the virus NOW before there is no chance of an economic recovery!

If not today, when?

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”  (Walt Disney)

If anyone knows about dreams coming true, it has to be Walt Disney and his friend, Mickey Mouse!

Here is the question: Do you have a dream and do you have the courage to pursue it?

I have always loved racing sailboats. For many years, I had the dream of racing in the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race up the length of Lake Huron. I was, however, afraid of the huge storms that can occur on the Great Lakes.

Finally, at the age of 64, I sailed in the 2005 race. Of course, a huge storm hit us and blasted the boat for eight hours. It was the greatest adventure of my life!

My advice: GO FOR IT!

If not today, when?

They are created under pressure and become very hardened.

There is a lesson for us that the formation of a diamond can teach about ourselves and our approach to adversity. It’s all about the development of our coping skills.

How do you react to traumatic situations? Do you lose control of your emotions or are you able to be a positive example to those who observe your response through tough times?

Those, who have developed strong coping skills, are more quickly able to find solutions to a bad situation. Because there are many unknowns about our collective future, it is a desirable self-preservation technique to try to continually improve our ability to cope.

We cannot choose which troubling challenges may come our way, but we can choose how to cope with them.

If not today, when?

”By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. Forgiveness is no longer an option but a necessity for healing.”  (Caroline Myss)

No, you can’t have one without the other. We have all heard stories about the mother of a murdered son or daughter who had to forgive the assailant in order to move on with her own life.

You won’t find a more dramatic example of the linkage between forgiveness and healing.

How about your situation? Are you carrying a burden that is going to require the healing power of forgiveness before you can be FREE to live again? I mean really free to enjoy a better tomorrow!

Yes, it will require courage, but this won’t be the first time you dug deeply into the well of courage!

If not today, when?

Yes, you are, As a matter of fact, we all live with various obstacles that we overcome on a regular basis. Some of them are private while others are known by loved ones and friends.

These obstacles take many forms:

Lost loved ones-This sorrow lingers for our life time. The passage of time helps somewhat, but it never leaves entirely.

Physical health-Most of us deal with health issues along the way. Some are temporary while others are a permanent companion.

Relationships-These are the premiere challenges of our lives. The most critical ones involve family members. Spouses, children, parents, in-laws and siblings provide opportunities to love and be loved. They also, however, can be difficult.

Financial Worries-Very few of us complete our lives without severe money concerns.

So, you see, you are a hero!

If not today, when?