After decades of traveling, both separately and together, Rachel Davey and Martina Sebova had each visited over 100 of the 195 UN-recognized countries and territories on the globe.

The pair, who met during an overland tour of Europe back in 2008, were having coffee together in Melbourne, Australia, when they first discussed the prospect of visiting the 88 or so remaining countries on their lists.

They quickly decided to spend the next two years doing just that together.

While the thought of traveling to so many new destinations in a relatively short space of time was somewhat daunting, Sebova notes that having over half of the countries in the world already ticked off made things a lot easier. (CNN)

NO LIMITS TO HUMAN INGENUITY!

Have you hugged anyone lately?

Hugs are still magical for all of us.

If you have someone in your family who lives with you, give him or her a GOOD MORNING HUG!

It’s a wonderful way to start the day.

I’m so tired of people growing apart.

Let’s go toward one another with open arms.

Nothing beats closeness with someone.

If you work in a business with others, of course, they don’t want or expect you to hug them.

But, you can practice kindness, patience and forgiveness.

These are also HUGS!

If not today, when?

Is the word “GRATITUDE” part of your vocabulary?

What are the parts of your life for which you are grateful?

To find things, look first at yourself.

Then look at others who are close to you; family & friends.

Find what you believe each person could be grateful for.

Let them know how you believe they are blest.

What I am suggesting is this:

Each of us can lift a person up with GRATITUDE for something in THEIR life.

You could begin today with yourself, then others close to you.

If not today, when?

I don’t know about you, but I’m very tired of bad news.

I’m going to make a promise to you right here and right now!

My blog will NEVER be a source of bad news!!!

If there isn’t good news to report, then we’re not looking in the right places.

In this big, wide world, there are always good things happening somewhere to someone.

Each of us must begin looking for good, upbeat things to talk about.

Look first at yourself.

Can you become a source of good news to your loved ones?

Can you be a source for good when meeting a stranger?

The best way to always be a source of good is to practice KINDNESS!

It’s easy to be kind

If, as an example, you have a partner who stays with you year after year, you are blessed.

Do you thank him or her for the wonderful companionship that is always there for you?

If not today, when?

THANK YOU!

For taking the time out of your busy day to read my daily blog!

According to LinkedIn, which also carries my blog, it’s a 1 minute read.

I’ve written over 1,330 blogs, one each day.

Each morning, I try to think of a topic that touches your life.

My most popular was “My Dad.”

Crazy as it sounds, the second most popular was “Don’t Forget Lunch!”

I’m retired now, after many years of business ventures, and raising a large family with my wonderful wife.

Wherever you are in life, I’ve probably been there.

Each day, I will reach out as best I can to give you a worthwhile one minute read.

Thanks for reading!

Today is hopefully a day off for you.

Here in Michigan, we were greeted with a beautiful, quiet snowfall.

Regardless of weather, however, today could be the day to draw closer to family.

We used to refer to Sunday as the Lord’s day.

It was a day of prayer and thanksgiving for our blessings.

But, the cell phone has taken control of our lives and our relationships.

Could we use our cell phone today only for phone calls?

And, devote today to how you would like to spend Sunday.

Or, how you celebrated Sunday in the past.

Take control of your Sunday and enjoy today!

If not today, when?

Scientists were able to create a virtual lightning rod using a large, powerful laser atop a mountain in Switzerland, successfully diverting the path of lightning strikes.

Lightning deflection technology hasn’t changed much since Ben Franklin invented the lightning rod in 1752.

The Franklin rod, or a pointed metal mast on top of buildings and other structures vulnerable to lightning strikes, works by intercepting lightning and guiding the strikes safely to the ground.

But the protection zone of Franklin rods is relative to their height — a lightning rod with a height of 10 meters (32.8 feet) protects an area with a 10-meter radius.  (CNN)

We visited Switzerland years ago.

We visited two stores.

One built hand made children’s toys.

The other built hand made violins.

We all know about the accuracy of a FINE SWISS WATCH!

Amazing people!

A human voice is much warmer than a text!

It’s so easy to rip off a couple words and  add an emoji.

This escape route away from human conversation is overused.

And the result is that our relationships become shallow and we lose touch with one another.

I particularly think we need to talk with our loved ones more.

What do you think about texting?

This saying, of course, was the signature of the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

And it really applies to all of us today.

There is a lot of breaking news.

Some of it good.

Some of it not so good.

Through it all, we must maintain a positive attitude for the sake of ourselves and others.

I think each of us can do that if we practice the values we believe in such as honesty, loyalty and compassion.

Adhering to a lifelong value system is our source for peace of mind!

Your lifelong habit can bring joy to those who didn’t have good role models growing up or who are mired in depression or have given up.

Keep Hope Alive!

If not today, when?

We all make decisions based on the facts.

Well, are they facts or something else?

Could they be a rumor or even part of a hidden agenda?

Unfortunately, many of us constantly like to have the latest news.

So, we get in the habit of using our favorite sources.

But, today we have liberal and conservative news sources.

These opposing sources slant the same news story to support their point of view.

With repeated exposure, their point of view becomes yours.

There are so many news sources coming at you.

I suggest that you step back and take a hard look at your values.

Are your values and your favorite news sources opposed or in sync?

If not today, when?