“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” (Helen Keller)

She was born with two closed doors: Deafness and blindness. Yet, she became the first American woman with that disability to earn a college degree and enjoyed a career as an activist and lecturer.

How about you? Are you still staring at a closed door? If she could find open doors without the ability to see nor hear, you must have more open doors awaiting you.

Today is the beginning of your life. You can’t take it backward, only forward. Our society is going through unparalleled uncertainty. Therefore, many doors are now open that were not available only four months ago.

Look for them!

If not today, when?

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try!” (Alexander The Great)

Progress must always begin with the first step. Is there something you want to do or become? If it is something very important to you, it will probably take a great act of willpower on your part.

Are you up to it? Is it some accomplishment you have been avoiding recently or for a long time? Maybe now is the time to give it a try. Remember, it is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all!

Take tiny steps as you begin. It might also be good to announce your goal to another person who can help hold you accountable. Will the attainment of this goal make you happier?

If so, go for it!

If not today, when?

Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.”  (STEPHEN R. COVEY) 

Trust, of course, is earned by  those who tell the truth. How popular is the truth today? We hear about “fake news” and deliberate attempts at misinformation. Do you have people in your life you can trust? If not, why not?

What percentage of the time do you tell the truth? Sometimes, telling the truth requires courage because the other person may not want to hear the truth. Every healthy relationship, however, needs trust to get it started and keep it going.

Your life will be much easier to live every day if honesty is your constant companion. Once you earn someone’s trust, don’t let it slip away!

If not today, when?

It was one of those great high school football seasons. We had a good team that year filled with inner city kids who gave it their all. We went unbeaten in the regular season and won both city wide playoff games.

Finally, we earned the right to play in the Citywide Championship Game at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.

Upon graduation, one of the players went on to Wayne State University for a couple years of college classes. He left college and became a Detroit policeman. We attended his swearing in ceremony.

Last week, he sent me a text saying that he had to arrest one of his ex teammates who had chosen a life of crime. Although together in the game of football, they were opposed in the game of life.

It’s all about choices!

If not today, when?

Let it into your house, your life, your loves, your friends, your world!

Remember, the sun will come up tomorrow, if you let it. Or, do you live with a cloud over your head for everyone to see? It’s just one the many choices you have in this life.

Please don’t misunderstand me. It is not my intent to minimize whatever challenges and disappointments that may have come your way. I just believe that we all have things which should bring us gratitude.

…And if we are grateful, we must let the sun shine on all our relationships with others. Our sun could help another person deal with their cloud. Sometimes, we even have to fake it for the sake of lifting up someone else.

So, in some way, every day, let the sun shine in!

If not today, when?

“Good, that means you stood up for something, sometime in your life!”                  (Winston Churchill)

He had many enemies, both foreign and domestic. He was not popular in the Parliament because he always spoke the truth regardless of the consequences. He lived a life based on his core beliefs and he did not not waver from them.

None of us go about seeking enemies, but there are times when we must be true to ourselves. After all, we have to live with ourselves 24/7.

As an example, these are tough times to be a parent. Our kids are being deluged with all kinds of messages from a variety of sources. Whether they will admit it or not, you and your personal example do have a lasting impact on your kids.

For your sake and theirs, stand for something!

If not today, when?

“You never really learn much from hearing yourself speak.” (George Clooney)

When you are engaged in a conversation with another person, what percentage of that time are you speaking and what percentage spent in listening?

In these times of turbulence and uncertainty, I think it behooves us to become better listeners. More people are hurting in our society today than possibly ever in our history. A greater percentage of people are unemployed today than during the Great Depression.

Although you and I may not have a solution to someone’s suffering, the mere act of genuine  listening certainly brings comfort. Now is the time to be “our brother’s and sister’s keeper.”

One of the best things we can do now is to seek out someone who is ill or unemployed and ask him or her how it’s going.

If not today, when?

You must do the things you think you cannot do. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Most barriers in our lives are self made. “I can’t do this. I can’t do that.” Will you give yourself permission to do what you have always dreamed of doing?

The safe path in life usually creates regrets later on. Risks, however, can be very rewarding even if you fail because you can always know at least you tried.

Eleanor lived seventeen years after the death of her husband and continued to do great things for her country. She was appointed by both Presidents, Truman and Kennedy to accept major assignments in service to the people.

If you make yourself do things that you thought were impossible, remember the word means, “I’m possible.” Take down those doubts and let yourself live!

If not today, when?

“Be yourself, but always your better self.” Karl G. Maeser

He was one of the founders of Brigham Young University who emigrated from his early years in Germany to the U.S. His  passionate desire was to teach.

As much as I admire his principled life dedicated to the benefit of his students, I believe you don’t have to choose between personal interest and some principle of right.

Most of us have to earn a living which is, of necessity, a means of pursuing our self interest. Can we look out for ourselves and still live a principled life of dedication to those who need our help? It makes for a busy life, but a fulfilling one.

Yes, I think both pursuits are possible. In this way, you can always be your better self!

If not today, when?