Well, she died at the age of 94 after a tough, tough life. She was pulled out of the third grade to take care of a dying aunt a few miles from home in a small hamlet in Western Ireland.

Then, she was sent to America to take care of a dying uncle who was a priest. After he died, she returned to bring her two sisters to America. On the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, her youngest sister died in her arms.

Later on, in her forties, she married Timothy, a fireman from County Cork who joined the Chicago fire department. She gave birth to my mom and 22 years later, he died of cancer.

She lived alone for 50 years after mom married dad. She never complained about anything.

Those who suffer are the best teachers!

If not today, when?

75 years ago, American, British, Canadian and Australian young 18, 19 and 20 year old boys stormed onto the beaches in Normandy, France. The armada that carried them from England and across the English channel included 7,000 ships and over a million people.

After years of planning, the D-Day invasion was a bold attempt to loosen the grip of Nazi Germany on France and other European nations. Because of heavy seas, most of those young boys were seasick when they climbed onto their landing crafts. Thousands of them were either killed or wounded that day.

Your freedom was bought and paid for!

Please remember those boys who gave their all so that you and I can live our lives as we wish. Never take for granted all the privileges you enjoy in America every day.

Freedom is not free!

If not today, when?

You don’t have to spend a fortune to promote yourself or your business. Because the internet is saturated with ads, why not try some other venues? Here are some old ideas that still get results:

My favorite tool is a postcard. Everyone has to go through their daily mail, so you have their attention as they read your message. The best postcard approach is a brief description of your business along with a “Satisfied Customer” testimonial. Because they don’t have to open an envelope, it is the easiest piece of mail to read. Also, because it has two sides, you can have two messages.

People always need a calendar. Mail a magnetic calendar with a brief message that can stick on the refrigerator door. They will see you every time they go to the fridge!

If not today, when?

As I look back over the years, I realize that I am glad I did some things I had feared. When you summon the courage to do something difficult, you are better prepared emotionally for the next time.

Winston Churchill said, “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities… because it is the quality that guarantees all others.”

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt said, “The only thing to fear is fear itself!”

I was fearful when I enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War, but my nine years of service were good for me. Although an avid sailor, I was fearful of sailing in the three day and night Mackinac Race. Despite being hit by a big storm, I look back on the 2005 Mackinac Race with great memories.

Climb every mountain!

If not today, when?

“… Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

These are the values America offered on The Statue of Liberty to those who came ashore on Ellis Island in New York harbor beginning in 1886.

How about you? Are these the values you practice in your life?

If yes, you are making your world a better place for those less fortunate ones who live near you. If no, those multitudes who live in daily despair will realize that even in America, hope is a distant dream!

You know someone who needs help. You can make their day with a simple act of kindness.

If not today, when?

If you don’t, you will probably have a slower learning experience than if you could learn from someone you respect. Many of his or her hard earned lessons could provide you with shortcuts to avoiding those same mistakes.

I was blessed with my dad as my role model. His name was Robert.

He grew up in a small town in southern Ohio. His dad owned a hardware store aptly named Ervin Brothers Hardware. Throughout his childhood, he learned the value of hard work and how to treat fellow employees and customers.

He graduated from Notre Dame with a masters degree in Biology. He became a professor there. He was always teaching me and my siblings about life. He also taught us how to treat our spouses.

It’s never too late to learn from a role model!  Find one you admire.

If  not today, when?

 

 

 

By age two, every child needs to know what “No” means. “No” means “No” at ages eight and sixteen too.

“No, you cannot have another piece of candy!”

“No, you can’t stay up past 10 p.m!”

“No, you can’t have the car tonight!”

Children need structure in their lives. You, the parent, must provide this structure at an early age and remain consistent all through their years of growing up. Although they won’t admit it, they do feel comfortable with the realization that something that was wrong yesterday is also wrong today.  Children unconsciously depend upon their parent’s consistency. It is good that parents care enough to take the effort to enforce their beliefs.

In addition to helping your child become a responsible adult, you are also preparing them for their role as a future parent.

If not today, when?

 

We all have too many things. Something we bought ten years ago seemed like a necessary purchase, but it has possibly outlived its usefulness. Still, it continues to take up space and sometimes has to be moved from one spot to another.

Happiness doesn’t come from things, only from people. Also, if our surroundings are orderly, we can have greater peace of mind.

As the title of this blog says, if you doubt that you need an item and won’t in the future, be decisive and get rid of it. I think many of our possessions can become a burden and not a source of happiness.

If not today, when?

I believe the celebration of Mother’s Day should be honored by the tradition of families gathering together. It is the perfect opportunity to thank our moms for all the sacrifices made on our behalf! Even if you can’t get together don’t forget to write, call, text or do Facetime to acknowledge the day.

Some sporting organizations are scheduling day long tournaments for kids that prevent the family from enjoying their participation in the traditional manner. Don’t let activities such as these cause you to forget.

No one makes a bigger contribution to our lives than our mothers. If it was up to men to go through a nine month pregnancy, child birth and nursing the baby, the earth’s population would be about 150 people!

Let’s not allow Mother’s Day to slip away. Our mothers and this wonderful tradition are too precious!

If not today, when?

 

Many of us are so self-centered that we think the world revolves around us. When something happens, we ask, “How does this affect me?” Of course, we must have built in defense mechanisms to assure our safety and well being. We must, in times like these, also think of those around us.

Like anything else, however, a good thing can be taken to such an extreme that it becomes a harmful experience. For a healthy life, mentally, emotionally and physically, we have to practice moderation in our decision making. I love that old saying, “In the middle, stands the truth!”

Let’s also remember that, “In giving, we receive.” The more we reach out to help someone in need, the easier it is to live with ourselves. …And we help create a kinder, gentler society for our loved ones and friends.

If not today, when?