Moms are the noblest creatures on this earth!

No one makes the sacrifices that can even compare with those of moms.

Every stage of motherhood is difficult!

Early pregnancy may include morning sickness. She must now accommodate the needs of a person growing inside her. Her body is not her own, but must be put to the service of another.

Her appearance changes radically and later stage pregnancies are most uncomfortable.

Childbirth has been described as one of the most painful experiences a person must endure. And yet, this is not the end, but merely the beginning of a lifetime of devotion to her child.

Do you appreciate the irreplaceable role of the moms you know?

What have you done lately to let the moms in your life know how much you care?

If not today, when?

During your busy, frenetic day, do you ever look up at the sky?

I know all about being under pressure to make ends meet. In a small software company I founded, we needed $140,000 in monthly income just to pay our bills. That was with no recurring income.

Fortunately, my wife had built a little publishing business that she ran out of the house while we had our six kids and two foster kids living at home. The income from her business paid our personal bills and the kids’ tuition in private schools.

So, we are not strangers to financial worry.

It is still not an adequate excuse for not taking the time each day to look up at the sky. Appreciate your blessings and our beautiful world! It’s all a gift!

If not today, when?

 

Do you live with a sense of urgency or will you just get around to it someday?

Although I’ll be 77 tomorrow, I still believe life is short.

Surely, you must have some dream, want or need that you would like to satisfy sooner rather than later or never!

Is it your love life?

Is it your children’s lives?

Is it your career?

Is it your health?

As long as you are still breathing, you can make you dreams, wants and needs happen!

Create deadlines and hold yourself accountable for getting results on or before your self-appointed deadlines.

It is you versus you!

The dreamer and goal setter in you must win over the procrastinator and quitter in you.

Begin with small, short term goals and work your way up to the big ones.

If not today, when?

 

 

 

Are you a well managed person or not?

Do you put off doing the things that you want to avoid?

My wonderful wife of 54 years taught me to put the worst first. As in many other aspects of life, she is right. Success is found by those people who face difficult tasks head on!

Success is the result of doing things you really don’t want to do. If you develop the habit of doing the thing you least want to do at the beginning of each day, you’ll get an immediate dose of self confidence and increased self esteem to carry you through the day with a “can do” attitude.

Of course, the opposite is also true. Putting things off will lower your self esteem.

Remember this easy to remember saying, “do the worst first!”

If not today, when?

 

We have a swimming pool that recently was in need of repair. The first repair man who came out to evaluate the situation thought the repair would cost in excess of $2,000. The second man found a way to make the repair and save me $2,000.

I was surprised that he found a way to save me money that would have otherwise gone to his company. I told him, “You are an honest man.” He replied, “I have to be.” I asked if he had to tell the truth in order to live with himself? He said, “Yes, that is the reason.”

How about you?

Do you have a value system that permits you to live with yourself?

I believe if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

What will and won’t you stand for?

If not today, when?

Many years ago, my wife and I invited two 15 year old boys, who were living in a youth home, to live with us.

Upon their arrival, I asked them individually what they hoped to become in the future. They both said they thought they’d be dead or in prison by age 21 because that was what happened to people they knew.

Since they left our home, one of them is serving a life sentence in prison while the other was wounded in a gang shootout, but survived.

Many kids in your community live without hope for a successful life. They live in dangerous neighborhoods, attend inferior schools or are school dropouts. Their future is bleak.

Those of us with time and resources can do something to make their future better.

If not today, when?

 

I think some of us can safely assume that our loved ones know that we love them.

How often do you say “I love you” to your spouse, siblings, children, parents, grandparents or grandchildren? It is a very good idea to say the actual words from time to time.

This is especially  true when a loved one is going through a tough time that may cause self doubt to creep in. The gesture of reminding people they are loved should always be a priority in your life.

We have all heard stories of a loved one who dies suddenly and of a survivor who regrets that the recently departed might not have known how much he or she was loved.

Remember to say, “I love you.”

If not today, when?

Senator John McCain is being remembered for his many great personal qualities.

In addition to his military service and statesmanship, it seems that he was also known as a “truth teller.”

I hope truthfulness is an outstanding quality in all of us. Honesty actually brings some very strong benefits to you. Here are a few:

People trust you, which can lead to more solid friendships.

Your life becomes easier to live because you don’t have to remember every lie you’ve ever told just in case the topic comes up again.

You can sleep better.

You’ll have a higher sense of self esteem and self confidence.

In terms of the larger picture, a society can’t exist if it is built on lies.

If not today, when?

I recently had a retiree ask me how I spend my time because he didn’t know how to spend his.

Which brings to mind, “It is in giving that  we receive.”

My most heartfelt wish is that older people would be self motivated to make the world a better place during their later years.

It is so easy!!

Needs abound right where you live.

Many children are attending inferior schools which don’t prepare them with the skills needed for the world we are living in. Volunteer to become a tutor to a child!

Other older people have no one who cares about them anymore. Visit rest homes and ask the receptionist which people never have visitors!

Make the world and the people in it better!

If not today, when?

 

If you’re like most of us, you are well aware of your current array of problems, worries, challenges and disappointments.

Have you ever counted your blessings?

I mean literally.

I am suggesting that you open a WORD document and begin enumerating all the wonderful aspects of your life for which you are grateful.

Think deep, far and wide of all blessings you know as well as other blessings that you have never thought of or realized before!

If you usually dwell on your problems, you are living a lopsided existence.

Get yourself together by also dwelling on your blessings!

Save your WORD doc. and add to your list. Refer to it when you are down.

If not today, when?