What a huge tragedy for one family to bear! He had two kinds of riches; financial and familial. I bet he would pay any price to bring his kids back to life.

If you are blessed with people in your life, you are also rich. Oh, I know they all have shortcomings of one kind or another, but so do you. In the midst of all your daily hustle and bustle, it is important to sometimes pause and take a moment to thank God for your family and friends.

Don’t ever take them for granted! They are a gift that is here today and should be celebrated today. When is the last time you told each and every one that you love them?

If not today, when?

 

Recently, a young seminarian was playing in a soccer game when he suddenly collapsed and died on the field. Three days after his funeral, he appeared to one of his teammates and said, “If only you could see what I see!”

Every once in a while, we get reminders of life after death. When they communicate with us in some manner, they always seem happy. I believe we can live happier lives here on earth if we know that our deceased loved ones are happy in the hereafter.

So, let’s move on with our lives safe in the knowledge that good things are ahead of us!

As the Reverend Jesse Jackson always told us: “Keep hope alive!”

If not today, when?

If you worry, you are presupposing you know the future.

Sorry, but you don’t!

After living 77 years of life, starting 8 businesses, having 6 children and 22 grand children, I’ve had plenty to worry about. Listen to this: The overwhelming amount of worries never happened! I wasted a lot of nervous energy and angst on ideas I created in my mind that never materialized.

Yes, good and bad things happened that I did not anticipate, but they were going to happen anyway. That’s why we must absolutely be thankful for today because we don’t know the future, but we can surely ruin today worrying about it.

Most of the tomorrows you create in your mind don’t exist!

Don’t ruin today! Live it! Be thankful for it!

If not today, when?

There is a new normal in our daily lives. It is the constant news of events in every remote corner of the world. We are brought to the scene via 24 hour TV networks and the internet playing video, photos and live reporting on our cell phones.

I think there are a whole lot of calamities around the world we really don’t need to know about! So, our minds are filled with our own personal agenda as well as traumatic happenings being felt by people we don’t know and never will know.

These distractions mean that many of us have difficulty devoting ourselves to a given task. Would you be happier and more productive if you returned to the “old normal” not allowing your mind to be filled with unnecessary news and trauma?

  Try living YOUR life simply without 24 hour news.

If not today, when?

Are you carrying a grudge from some incident that happened in your past? If so, it has become a burden for you and it is also a burden for the other person.

Forgiveness is very difficult for all of us.

Because the original perceived offense hurt us, we’re not inclined to “turn the other cheek.” For the same reason, unconditional love is a worthwhile objective, but seldom realized.

If you think carrying a grudge is difficult while the offending party is alive, try carrying it the rest of your life after he or she is dead!

Forgive and forget! It’s the right thing to do!

There are enough burdens in our lives that we can’t easily eliminate. Forgiving someone, however, can be done quickly and you’ll make two people instantly happier!

If not today, when?

The burning of Notre Dame Cathedral was a horrific event! People around the world paused their own personal lives to witness the destruction of one of civilization’s most easily recognized landmarks.

From most tragedies, however, there usually comes something good.

And, it was also true yesterday. We witnessed Parisians and tourists (complete strangers) embracing one another in their shared grief as they stood together in the streets watching the famous steeple fall into the unquenchable flames. Without the fire, those people would not have embraced one another. But, they had something instantly in common.

We all are very similar, you know. Many people today try to accentuate our differences by pointing out the diversity of our society. That is very short sighted.

We were all made by the same God and we all bleed red!

If not today, when? 

Yesterday, after an 11 year drought, Tiger Woods won the Masters by one stroke. During those 11 years, he endured three back surgeries. The pundits felt he would never be able to compete at the highest level again.

Because of an approaching storm on the final day, the tee times were moved from mid afternoon to 9:30AM. A reporter asked Tiger when he would have to wake up in order to tee off at that time. He replied, “3:45AM” because he had to go through a strenuous physical workout to be sure his back was ready. So, at 4AM, he was seen in the weight room going through his daily routine.

Willpower is an awesome thing! You can accomplish so much more with your life!

Are you willing to pay the price to become so much more?

If not today, when?

Originally, your relationship was the centerpiece of your life!

How about now?

All the shortcomings and frailties of each partner are well known by now. Some of them were perhaps not obvious during the dating process. How have you adjusted to the “Total Person” you know now? Is there still the same attraction or has the lamplight of love dimmed just a little, or a lot?

Actually, love is also a decision. There is more to it than the original physical attraction that brought you together. Now that we’ve been married 54 years, we don’t even look the same, but I have learned so much that makes me love her even more.

You and your spouse can always be happy together if you have fun, practice patience, respect, kindness and all the courtesies you would extend to a total stranger!

If not today, when?

Many people are unhappy in their present jobs, but don’t do anything to see if there is a better opportunity elsewhere. The irony is that it is easier than it has ever been to search for a new position. Before the internet, you were limited to the classified “help wanted” ads in the newspaper.

The other reason to look around now is because the economy is humming! Many employers are short handed and are willing to offer attractive pay plans.

Most people, who are unhappy, don’t look around because they are resistant to change. So, they just continue being miserable.

If you like where you work, but need more money, seek some part time position that would give you the total income you need.

If you’re unhappy, DO SOMETHING!

If not today when?

 

Have you made a positive difference in someone’s life. If not, why not? The only thing that survives us are the good deeds we have rendered on behalf of other people.  Your possessions and bank account will be split up someday and given away. I remember when a neighbor died. His heirs were actually fighting over the canned goods left in his house. The fight became so intense that I saw some family members out on the front lawn in an attempt to gather in more booty and the police were called!

If you are the recipient of some kindnesses bestowed upon you, it is important that you pass those same kindnesses along to those in need while you’re still able.

If ever we have needed a kinder, gentler world, it’s now.

Make a difference!

If not today, when?