I’m going to offer a simple solution that is the result of my own experiences.

My solution: JUST DO IT!

I had two major fears in my life: Joining the Navy during the Vietnam War and racing the length of Lake Huron in a six man racing yacht.

I did both and consider them to be among the major accomplishments of my life.

Overcoming fear is about the biggest EGO BOOSTER I can think of.

The factor that made the yacht race very gratifying was a major storm that that hit us and remained for eight hours. Because of the enormous waves and troughs, it put the boat and the six crew members in great peril.

So, there is my simple solution to overcoming fear.

JUST DO IT!

If not today, when?

(Photo of Parwana and her father)

“Do I let my family of six starve this winter or do I sell my 9 year old daughter, Parwana, to a 55 year old man as a child bride in exchange for enough food to feed the remaining family for 6 months?”

Her father tried to find work in a nearby city, so he could support his family, but there was no work.

The man who wants to buy Parwana says he’s 55, but to her, he’s “an old man” with white eyebrows and a thick white beard, Parwana told CNN.

She worries he will beat her and force her to work in his house.

Parwana is one of many young Afghan girls sold into marriage as the country’s humanitarian crisis deepens. 

Day by day, the numbers are increasing due to lack of food, lack of work,

The families feel they have to do this.”

 Parwana’s father told the buyer, “This is your bride. Please take care of her — you are responsible for her now, please don’t beat her.” (CNN)

This photo, which appeared in the Detroit News, shows a player adjusting his helmet so another player could use it.

The article went on to explain that the high schools in the City of Detroit did not have access to the amount of funding required to allow those students, who wanted to enter a sport, to do so due to the lack of proper equipment and salaries for coaches. (Detroit News)

I have personal knowledge of another example:

Henry Ford High School in Detroit has a large swimming pool that is not available because the school can’t afford its maintenance and lifeguards.

So, my question is, “When will we RIGHT THE WRONG?”

Must we continue to ignore our HAVES and HAVE NOTS situation right here in our local community?

The photo above tells the whole, sad story of kids trying to grow up in the inner city of Detroit.

I have looked into the eyes of despair! It’s unsettling.

The disproportionate wealth and poverty in our cities is shameful.

“It is in giving that we receive!”

If not today, when?

A foodie hub in the Danish capital that’s seen new businesses thrive even in the depths of the pandemic has been crowned the world’s coolest neighborhood by Time Out.

Nørrebro, Copenhagen topped the global media brand’s 2021 list, which was compiled via a survey of some 27,000 people living in cities across the world.

In the wake of Covid-19, Time Out says COMMUNITY SPIRIT played a big part in selecting the top districts.

“The pandemic was pretty crushing for cities and culture and hospitality businesses,” Caroline McGinn, Time Out’s global editor in chief told CNN Travel.

“But each of these places has its own story to tell about how people came together to support each other – and inventing new grassroots culture along the way.” (CNN)

What can you do to lift the COMMUNITY SPIRIT of your neighborhood?

If not today, when?

Which is more valuable?

Your possessions will be passed onto someone else.

Your time, however, is yours to spend anyway you desire.

You will invest your time in various pursuits, such as:

MARRIED OR SINGLE?

This is a major time investment and leads to two vary different paths for your life.

If MARRIED is your choice, then your time decisions must be shared with your partner.

EMPLOYEE OR ENTRPRENEUR?

If you spend your time as an EMPLOYEE, your time commitment is usually decided by your employer.

The ENTREPRENEUR choice could be initially or always a big time investment that doesn’t end after an 8 hour day.

CHILDREN

Children, of necessity, will demand large investments of your time because you are a parent forever.

RECREATION

We all need to spend time away from all the responsibilities we carry.

Hopefully, you’ll develop a passion for some kind of recreational activity that refreshes your soul.

PRAYER

Some time should be spent thanking GOD and seeking help in difficult situations.

If not today, when?

Words, Words, Words!

We all can express ourselves verbally, but what have we accomplished thus far?

Let’s take Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, as an example.

She was born a minister’s daughter in East Germany, poor and spending her first 35 years under a communist dictatorship.

For a while, she lived in an apartment building that had been bombed during World War II and never repaired.

Yet, despite every excuse for failure, she got a masters degree in Physics, learned English and with guts and perseverance held the European Union together for 16 years.

I know this is a dramatic example of a major accomplishment.

But, what’s wrong with having high expectations of yourself?

You only “Go Around Once.”

MAKE IT COUNT!

If not today, when?

If you’re sleep deprived — and who isn’t these days? — you’re probably familiar with the impact on your body and psyche.

You’re plagued by sleepiness and yawning, you may suffer headaches, and you can easily feel anxious, irritable or depressed.

You can now add an unsteady walk to that list.

A new study sheds light on the association of a lack of shut-eye and your gait — thus potentially affecting your ability to walk purposely, avoid obstacles and keep your balance.

“The results show that gait is not an automatic process, and that it can be affected by sleep deprivation,” said study author Hermano Krebs, an adjunct professor of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. (CNN)

Many of us don’t sleep well or long enough.

Sleep is an essential ingredient of good health.

Do your homework.

Seek out remedies that can help you sleep better!

If not today, when?

It’s a fair question to ponder.

You see, God has invested certain qualities in you.

So, the question is, “Is GOD getting a good return on HIS investment?

Only you know the answer because you have travelled down different paths that were the ones you decided to take.

Are you making life better or worse for those with whom you are in contact?

Have you shown genuine appreciation for the gift of life?

Are you using your time on earth wisely because that is the question that we all must answer when our time has come?

I believe we will be held accountable for the things we did and did not do.

Did we reach out to “These, the least of thy brethren?”

We were all put here to make this “A better place” for others not so fortunate.

If not today, when?