This is a message for your kids:

Don’t hang out with those kids who bully or otherwise mistreat you.

I know they may be the popular group and you want to be accepted by them.

If they are going to act that way, you don’t need their friendship.

There are plenty of other kids who are good people.

They don’t have the need to be mean or to bully.

If you choose good kids as friends, your whole, daily experience at school will be much happier.

This is a good thing to do throughout your life.

Good things happen when you are around good people.

One of the biggest benefits is that a good person can be trusted.

Lasting friendships are built on trust.

Surround yourself with GOOD PEOPLE!

If not today, when?

(Lake Meade)

How do you allow the constant flow of bad news to affect your daily life?

There are more and more shootings all around the country.

Every day, we’re told about the latest versions of the Coronavirus.

Our political environment has put patriotism on “The Back Burner.”

Climate change is causing flooding, wildfires and droughts simultaneously.

Relations with adversarial countries is becoming more contentious.

Prices for many goods are rising.

So, how does all this affect your mood?

Do they make you more pessimistic or are you able to “Have a good day” regardless of current events?

It’s always your choice as to how much or how little you allow outside events to affect internal happiness!

Choose internal happiness.

If not today, when?

I’m sure you’ve heard this quote from your kids more than once.

How do you as the parent react?

If you’re a helicopter parent, you’ll try to come to the rescue with a suggestion.

If you’re not into micromanagement, you’ll tell them to go figure it out.

There are two kinds of parents: Those who raise DEPENDENT kids and those who raise INDEPENDENT ones.

Today’s society is is on edge because of all the massive shifts underway.

That’s the world your child must not only survive but actually thrive in.

A dependent child will have a habit of asking for help also as an adult.

You don’t want that.

When our kids were young, my wife would put a variety of cereal boxes on the breakfast table.

Thus began the deliberate process of raising INDEPENDENT children.

Each child had to decide which one to choose.

If not today, when?

Variety is the SPICE OF LIFE!

So, how can make today extraordinary?

Hopefully, because it’s Saturday, you have an open agenda.

Go somewhere, do something, see someone so that today is more interesting than all the ordinary ones.

Is there a family member or friend who you’d like to spend more time with?

How about a different restaurant or shopping experience?

Today won’t come again.

Have fun!

If not today, when?

How much pure thinking time do you get each day?

You might respond with, “Who has time to think when there is so much to do?”

How do you use your morning drive to work?

Do you play your favorite news or music station while you drive?

That drive time could be the best time for you to review the important issues of your life and make a plan for the day.

Are you willing to turn off the radio and create time to think?

Your family, your employment, your community are dealing with changes that will possibly require analysis in order to determine the best decisions going forward.

You must make the time for that analysis so that your decisions are not based upon inadequate forethought.

A productive life requires correct decisions.

Make more correct decisions by TAKING TIME TO THINK!

If not today, when?

You can do various things to increase memory, intelligence and adaptability.

There are websites dedicated to this purpose. Some of them are:

brainhq.com

entrepreneur.com

share.upmc.com,

lifehack.org.

They tell us that our brains are a muscle that must be exercised..

Many say that you should “Do Something new.”

These new activities could include:

Read something new each day.

Take a new route to your place of work.

Brush your teeth with the opposite hand.

Learn a new word each day.

Wear your watch on your other wrist.

Become more curious.

Think positively.

Train your memory.

Get enough sleep.

Read a book.

Exercise regularly.

In addition to strengthening our brain, I think many of these ideas have the potential to make our lives more enjoyable.

If not today, when?

“SUCCESS ISN’T FINAL! FAILURE ISN’T FATAL!”

“IT’S THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS!” (Winston Churchill)

He went through many HELLS during WWII.

There are so many lessons to be learned from the incredible life of Winston Churchill.

He believed COURAGE is the most important quality we need to have a full life.

When England was threatened with invasion during WWII, he said, “Take one with you!”

“Take one with you” meant before you are killed, kill one of your enemies.

Beginning in 1949,he had numerous heart attacks until his death at the age of 90.

Despite all his heart attacks, he “carried on” until reaching the age of 90.

Have the COURAGE to face those obstacles that are preventing you from living the kind of life you really want!

If not today, when?

Can you as a parent make learning more fun for your kids?

After the long months of Covid isolation, I’d guess that many kids are facing the same burnout experienced by their parents.

Especially if you have young children, it would help if you would get involved in making up for some of their educational shortcomings.

How about interesting “Day Trips?”

It is fun to explore different neighborhoods in your own town. Usually there are ethnic neighborhoods where everything is written in another language.

For instance, there is a Mexican area of Detroit where you can visit stores and have lunch. The Mexican bakeries are fun to stop at and experience wonderful pastries.

Every city has public parks. Maybe you can take your children to the same parks over and over again.

Or, explore the parks on the other side of town. Many of them have features your local parks don’t have.

If you search the web with “Fun Learning,” you’ll find a variety of sites with ideas.

One of those sites with many suggestions is “Goodhousekeeping.com.”

I’m sure your child’s local school is trying to help make up for lost time.

Remember, however, you are the ultimate teacher!

Get involved and bring fun back into the learning process.

If not today, when?

Spread your joy by smiling at people.

You will be surprised at how many of them will smile back.

I would guess that most people are unhappy with current events.

So, it’s a good feeling to know you were able to brighten someone’s day even a little.

How about those times you’re not happy?

Do you bring the sunshine or the rain?

If you are like everybody else, you are dealing with problems/worries in your life.

How does your behavior change when you’re happy or unhappy?

Should your internal concerns affect you’re outward behavior?

Does the world need to see another unhappy person?

Is making this world a better place important to you?

If the answer is yes, then “PUT ON A HAPPY FACE ALWAYS!”

If not today, when?