“Be tough.”

Hang In There.”

“I understand.”

These are some of the things said by well-intentioned friends and family to very sick people.

As sincere as these comments are intended to be, they miss the mark.

We are learning, with the help of our cancer stricken daughter, that we must allow for complete candor from the sick person so that they can tell us what’s really going on inside their head and heart.

We must become better, more empathetic listeners.

To be honest, unless we have experienced a very serious illness ourselves, we really don’t understand the depth of their constant physical suffering and mental anguish.

And if we promise to pray for them, we’d better keep our promise!

If not today, when?

 

Will this little boy in South Africa and the 270 million people like him, who don’t have sufficient food, survive?

He is being fed outside a soup kitchen.

This kind man is keeping him alive TODAY, but who will keep him alive in ALL HIS TOMORROWS???

You don’t have to leave your town in order to find hungry people.

There are soup kitchens near you.

You just have to search for SOUP KITCHENS and you’ll find the ones in your area.

They are always looking for volunteers to lend a hand.

After you receive a service from a company, how do you feel about the quality of the service rendered?

As you know, we do get frequent requests to answer some questions in a follow-up survey.

Do you participate in any or some of them?

I just got off the phone with a service representative of a major automobile manufacturer.

She was, knowledgeable, professional and patient.

She is the kind of person who should be rewarded for caring enough to perform her job to the best of her ability.

I don’t fill out many surveys, but there are exceptions.

When I feel that the employee did a terrific job, I’d like to help that person get rewarded.

So, I take the few minutes necessary to take the survey.

They are usually designed with quick, simple multiple choice questions.

I’m inviting you to continue or begin answering customer surveys when you’ve been well treated.

If not today, when?

1. Accomplishments, Successes and Achievements

Sometimes we focus on everything that might be wrong with us, rather than on what’s right.

2. Really, Who’s Perfect? 

If you’ve been comparing yourself to other people all your life, it’s time for you to stop and realize that no one is perfect.

3. Looking at Values

Instead of buying into the idea that we need to FIT IN, we should pride ourselves on being a truly good person, honest, compassionate and caring

4. Creating Successes  

One of the best ways to  increase our self-esteem is to fight our fears and anxieties and start creating more positive accomplishments in our life.

5. Use Affirmations

There is a positive thinking technique called affirmations that can help improve our self-esteem. Stop negative self-trash-talk and replace it with affirmations.

6. See Yesterday with a Kinder Eye

Hindsight is always 20/20 and perhaps it’s not fair to judge our past based on what we know now.

7. Like Most of Yourself

Is it really reasonable to expect to like all 100% of yourself, all of the time?   Probably not, because, we’re all human.         (roberthammel.com—-A psychologist)

This is Andre De Grasse of Canada after winning the 200M race in the Tokyo Olympics.

He edged out two American runners who were favored.

In his follow-up interview, he explained that he worked out twice a day for six days a week for five years!

This is obviously an extreme example of someone who was willing to pay the price for success.

It’s never too late to dedicate yourself to attaining a goal or a dream you may have.

There is a saying that goes: “THOSE WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE A RISK, WORK FOR THOSE WHO DO!”

You might respond by saying that your dream requires too much pain.

My response: “How much pain do you endure each day in the knowledge you are not living YOUR DREAM?”

Marry the person who makes your HEART SMILE!

Always say “Good Morning” and “Good Night.”

Find something to laugh about together each day.

See yourselves as partners on the journey of life together.

Have a “date night” each week even if you only go for a walk.

Surprise each other with little things.

Use your “Best Manners” with your partner.

You can’t say, “I love you” too often.

Forgive the little annoyances of one another,

When your partner is speaking, listen.

Be complimentary when some act is worthy of a compliment.

Always let your partner know that he/she is the most important person in your life.

If not today, when?

YES OR NO?

What is your daily experience in your home, in your car, in your company, in your grocery store?

Oh, I forgot one: “IN YOUR HEART?”

Are you a devote practitioner of kindness or not so much?

Does it really matter and if so, WHY?

Look around you.

Step out of your world and take a good look at those not so fortunate.

How often do you smile during the day?

And to whom?

Only friends?

I heard about an incident that took place last week.

A woman was driving behind a truck that turned onto a street and lost many carpentry tools onto the street.

She pulled over, got out of her car and directed traffic around the tools until the truck’s grateful owner returned.

At that moment, in that place, the world showed its capacity for becoming kinder!

How about you?

If not today, when?

WITH YOUR KID’S BEHAVIOR?”

Today’s influences on their outlook on life are too many to count.

I don’t think the job of parenting has ever been more difficult.

We’re living in a very permissive society and everything goes.

Yet, from the very outset, your kids must understand that “No means No!”

Lines must be drawn at an early age.

Children must clearly understand parents’ expectations and the reasons behind them.

Your rules must be consistently applied.

Your personal example must also reinforce the behavior you expect from them.

Be sure to know who their friends are as well as their impact on your child’s behavior.

When they exhibit good behavior, you must be the first to recognize it by giving positive feedback.

Parenting is the most important leadership role of your life.

Lead them!

If not today, when?

Their athletes do!

After a lifetime of preparing for a spot on their country’s Olympic team, they are chosen.

The big moment comes when they either win or lose in their event.

If they win, there is great jubilation, rightly so.

If they lose, they walk over and hug the athletes from other countries who beat them.

Isn’t that really quite amazing and honorable?

They momentarily set aside their overwhelming sense of disappointment in order to congratulate the victor.

If these young athletes can “Take The High Ground,” why can’t their governmental leaders?

The great irony about wars is after each war, the previously adversaries do business with one another.

Vietnam’s first electric car company (VinFast) is opening its U.S. Headquarters and will have showrooms in California.

After a bitter and costly war, we have a new auto company opening by a previous adversary!

So, I repeat my original question: Why don’t countries hug one another?

If not today, when?

WITH YOUR PRESENT EMPLOYMENT?”

If not, what is the cause?

Could it be the amount of your compensation, an unacceptable management style, co-worker hostility, lack of advancement opportunities or a need to change the type of industry you’re in?

Before you decide to go elsewhere, have you stated your grievances to management because most companies are losing experienced workers and you may find a new, satisfactory response.

That said, this is definitely the time to look elsewhere if you’ve decided to move on.

There is a shortage of adequate staffing in every business I encounter.

“NOW HIRING” signs are everywhere.

I read recently that, in response to the present situation, American workers are being paid more with better benefits for the same job.

It is not my intent to motivate you to leave your present employment because no company you might move to is perfect.

It might be a good idea, however, to see what’s out there.

If not today, when?