Are you optimistic only when things are going your way?

That’s easy.

But, the core question is, “Do you have an optimistic nature regardless of circumstances?

That’s NOT easy!

I must confess to you that I’ve been much more of an optimist than a pessimist.

When I get an idea to try something new, I assume it will be successful.

That doesn’t mean to say I’ve always been successful because I haven’t.

I have, however, been more successful than not.

And I attribute that success to an optimistic approach to everything.

Life is more fun that way.

Try it. You’ll like it!

If not today, when?

We Text.

We email.

We Zoom.

But, we don’t sit down with one another and really share our thoughts and feelings.

When we have bad news to tell our friends, they don’t call or write, they send an emoji.

It only takes a few seconds to send it along and they think they have shown sufficient empathy.

WRONG!

What percentage of us would actually stop everything, jump in the car and go visit our distressed friend?

Our relationships, because of the Internet, are losing their depth and becoming shallow.

It’s just too easy to fire off an emoji and think we performed our responsibility!

If we can’t go see the other person, at least we can make an old fashioned phone call.

Change your ways.

Make your relationships more meaningful!

If not today, when?

The good news is that Americans are returning to work.

The bad news is that many are not returning to their previous employment.

Restaurants, in particular, seem to be the hardest hit.

In an effort to woo people back, wages have gone up.

This is great news for the economy because people have more money to spend.

More spending drives up the economy.

A current downside is inflation which the Federal Reserve will hopefully bring under control.

America and all other countries have endured two very tough years with loss of millions of loved ones around the world.

Fortunately America is showing its grit by “Bouncing back on its feet!”

Thank GOD for the good old U.S.A!

The slaughter of women and children by Russian soldiers must stop.

Mothers are being shot to death in front of their children.

After a bomb landed nearby, a boy woke up to find his legs gone and his mother dead.

I understand that the Ukrainian people are tough and putting up one hell of a battle.

But, that’s not the point I trying to make.

My point is that the rest of the world cannot stand by and watch an innocent country be literally destroyed house by house.

Why doesn’t the United Nations live up to its name?

The U.N. was formed after the end of WWII as a vehicle to promote peace.

Well, here’s its opportunity!

If not today when?

I guess we all do to some degree.

The two questions to be asked are:

How much do others opinions affect you?

Do you worry about it?

Do you think about it often?

Does the opinion of others raise or lower your self esteem?

Do you feel that the friends you’ve chosen affect others opinion of you?

How do their opinions change your life?

If most people have a high opinion of you, is it because of your looks or deeds?

How do you react to low opinions of you?

Do you avoid being in the public eye?

Do you just live your life and ignore what others think of you?

Do you do things that will, hopefully, elevate others opinion of you?

In my opinion, you should live your life and do the things you want to do.

Live by your own standards of behavior, not those set by others.

If not today, when?

In last night’s Men’s NCAA Championship basketball game, the Kansas Jayhawks overcame a 15 point deficit to beat The North Carolina Tar Heels.

It was the greatest comeback in title game history.

I thought the Tar Heels would run away with the game, so, at halftime, I turned on a movie.

When the movie concluded, I went back to the game out of curiosity to see how badly Kansas had lost.

The Tar Heels were only leading by 7 points.

So, of course, it renewed my interest.

Kansas clawed their way back into the game and the lead seesawed until Kansas pulled out the victory with 4.3 seconds remaining on the clock.

That game should be a lesson for every one of us.

Grit and determination can overcome impossible odds.

NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

NO!

People hurt us in various ways.

These hurts come in the form of words or actions.

We have all experienced both.

When someone hurts us, our first and most natural reaction is anger followed by the need to strike back.

My mother used to say, We’re a drop of intellect in a sea of emotion.”

When someone says something that hurts us, we must ask ourselves, “Was the other person’s point of view actually correct?”

Let’s remember, “The truth hurts!”

So, sometimes, when we strike back, we may be defending the wrong viewpoint.

Whether the other person is right or wrong, if you take revenge, you can never take it back.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

The act of revenge only encourages recrimination.

And the relationship between both parties deteriorates from there.

Take the HIGH ROAD.

Resist the temptation to hurt the other person as you have been hurt.

If not today, when?

I’m not talking about catastrophic weather such as hurricanes or tornadoes.

But, so many of us let a rainy day or cold day dictate our outlook.

Why is this?

There’s nothing we can do about it.

It’s like so many other aspects of living over which we have no control.

Yet, we fret and worry about something we can’t change.

You are or at least should be the master of your moods.

If you let a rainy day day upset you, what does that indicate about your coping skills in general?

Having lived 29,410 days, I can guarantee you, many things that happen will not be to your liking.

So, when things are not ideal, sit down and count your blessings.

Oh, and remember, we need rain!

If not today, when?

Later this month, two pilots, each flying separate planes at 13,000 feet, will point their planes toward the ground.

They will turn off their engines and jump from their respective planes WITHOUT a parachute.

Before jumping, they will engage an “air brake” that will slow the descent of each plane.

As each pilot is falling, they will, hopefully fall into the cockpit of the other plane.

Once inside the cockpit, each pilot will restart the plane’s engine, disengage the “air Brake,”

bring the plane under control and land safely.

At least, that’s the theory.

Two days ago, my blog was about Ukrainian soldiers risking their lives for their country.

This blog is also about risking one’s life.

As you can see, the motives are much different!

Why not mix in some fun with all the work and responsibilities?

Our lives become quite routine doing the same old things everyday.

Change is good.

Last week, we drove to a nearby city just for the purpose of going to a restaurant we had never been to before.

It was a chance to get away from the ordinary, see new sights and enjoy a new cuisine.

A surprise doesn’t have to be some exotic trip to the Bahamas in order for it to be appreciated.

Another nice surprise would be to take over some chores around the house which are normally not your responsibility.

All these surprise are expressions of love.

Keep your love alive with a surprise!

If not today, when?