Pictured above is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Mark A. Milley. He is seen giving instructions to the troops in Afghanistan.

On Memorial Day, he spent the day walking through Arlington National Cemetery. He carried with him small American flags that he left at the grave of each man who had served under him and was killed in combat.

He stopped and said a prayer for every fallen soldier and cried in remembrance of each one. This is a poignant example of leadership at its best. If a leader does not care for the well being of subordinates, that leader is not worthy of command.

Thank God that we have people like General Milley at the pinnacle of our military. It is a terribly burdensome responsibility!

If not today, when?

Today on Memorial Day, we must remember all those have fallen in defense of America. Among those was one of my close friends, Jim Rivard. We were in high school and college together. He was an enthusiastic member of the Army R.O.T.C. which was a training program for those who wanted to become officers upon graduation.

Jim was sent to fight in Vietnam as a young Army officer. He died there along with approximately 35,000 other young Americans.

So, on this day, please remember all those who have worn the uniform proudly and especially every service member who paid the ultimate price so we can live in freedom!

Also, please remember that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

If not today, when?

Memorial Day weekend and the beginning of summer is finally here!

The forecast for the next ten days shows many 80 degree plus days. Add to these facts, the reality that most of America has been on lockdown for three months.

So, wherever you choose to travel, there will be many people enjoying their newly found freedom. A high percentage of those people will not be wearing a mask nor gloves.

Our medical professionals have determined that Covid-19 is most often transmitted directly from person to person. The three ways it is spread is by talking, coughing or sneezing.

The only protection you have is a mask and gloves and a distance of six feet. Please observe all these safety precautions this weekend because others will not!

If not today, when?

Two dams broke open north of the City of Midland, MI a few days ago. There were two types of victims of this disaster: Those who owned lakefront homes above the dam and those who owned homes and businesses below the dams.

The lakefront owners no longer had a lake to look at, only mud. You can imagine what happened to the market value of those homes.

The home and business owners below the dams may have lost everything because they only had a few minutes to evacuate.

This catastrophe reminds us once again of the fragile nature of our lives. The only true answer to living a meaningful life is to make the most of each day!

If not today, when?

During all the pandemic mandated lockdowns, family members are suddenly spending more time together. This can be a good or not so good situation depending on how family members treat one another.

I am referring specifically to how the husband treats his wife. Down through history, women, who married for love, end up with undeservedly bad treatment at the hands of their spouse.

How is this possible?

The decision to say, “I do” implies love for one another and that promise of love implies trust. How does a loving relationship become one of fear for the woman?

Her promise to give the rest of her life to her spouse is the biggest decision she’ll ever make. It should be rewarded with kindness and gratitude!

The man should use his strength to protect her, not hurt her!

If not today, when?

 

Thoughts powerfully impact your feelings. Look out for self-blaming thoughts.

Don’t criticize yourself for not having more in your savings account in the event of the unexpected such as medical expenses or loss of income. Beating yourself up with these thoughts can debilitate the strength necessary to move toward solutions.

Self-compassion is a meaningful way to cope with your present feelings of despair. I know you often show compassion to others in times of their troubles. Well, don’t you deserve compassion too?

Move beyond the familiar habit of continually re-visiting your self-criticism of the would have and should have. The only benefit in looking  back on your mistakes is to know how they happened and to prevent a repeat.

What can you do this day to begin moving in a positive direction?

If not today, when?

Statistics tells us that 48% of Americans are lonely. I’m not referring to those who are lonely because of the virus inspired lock down. I’m thinking of those who are experiencing all year long loneliness.

That’s why I’m so thankful for Facetime. It has been developed by Apple so that people using an Apple cell phone can see the person they’re talking to for free. I know you may have been using this feature for a long time, but I just began because I haven’t been with many family members and friends in person since March.

For those of you who haven’t used it very often, now is the time to reach out to isolated people who are alone and would love to see and speak with you.

If not today, when?

The firemen were on ladders and the roof this past Saturday when unknown butane gas in a building in the “Little Tokyo” section of L.A. exploded. Those on the roof and ladder had to escape through a ball of fire. The heat was so intense that it melted the men’s helmets and their coats caught on fire.

Eleven men were burned with two of them in the ICU. Two hundred thirty firefighters responded. One of them said he was worried about the poor people who lived there and in adjoining “skid row.” Where will they live now? Even when in mortal danger, he was thinking of others.

We must always pray for and be forever grateful for those “who run to danger.”

These include all public servants, medical professionals, grocery clerks, meat packers and many others.

If not today, when?

You may think that is a dumb question to ask considering all the threats out there.

Ok, so you’re worried. What are you doing about it? There is always an upside and a downside to most events that occur in your life. The upside with the pandemic is newfound personal free time at home.

Here are important statistics that may help you emerge from this more valuable to potential employers:

60% of the top 25% of earners are continuing to do their work from home with no interruption in earnings. 20% of the bottom 25% of earners are continuing to do their work from home with no interruption in earnings.

So, the world of employment is leaping into remote, online jobs and not looking back. They have discovered that they don’t need to pay high rent for offices.

Are you prepared?

If not today, when?

I saw two headline stories today.

Rich people are moving out of New York City in search of homes in small towns. They prefer homes in counties with fewer than 10,000 residents. This is, of course prompted by the tremendous loss of life in NYC.

The other headline was on the front page of today’s New York Times. The photo and story is about the incredible, inescapable density of the people who live in the slums of Mumbai, India. They do not have the financial means of escaping to a less dense location.

So, there you have it!

It’s the never ending story of those who live lives of privilege with many options available and those who live desperately day to day with no alternatives.

Is there something you can do about this unfair situation in your town?

If not today, when?