It’s hard to believe. The days do add up.

There have been many days in which I don’t have a clue about another topic.

I think it’s fair to say, “Writing is a passion of mine.”

The primary reason I write this blog is to serve you, my reader.

This blog takes 1 minute to read.

I hope that I touch upon some topic that will, in a small way, improve your life.

Although we get buffeted about by the pains and sufferings of this life, I still believe the quality of our lives is in our hands.

And the best way for us to have a high quality of life is to live each day with the ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!

And how do you do that?

Take a moment to COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

If not today, when?

Drinking enough water each day is crucial for many reasons: to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.

Experts recommend drinking roughly 11 cups of water per day for the average woman and 16 for men. And not all of those cups have to come from plain water; for example, some can come from water flavored with fruit or vegetables (lemons, berries, or orange or cucumber slices), or from coffee or tea. (hsph.harvard.edu)

Our days are so busy that our personal health needs often come last.

It is particularly important to stay hydrated during warm weather.

I was recently hospitalized for three days because I was dehydrated.

There are consequences when our personal health takes a back seat to other priorities.

Keep hydrated!

If not today, when?

When the pandemic hit, the CDC anticipated record numbers of mental illness throughout the U.S. population.

When our daily habits were severely altered by mandatory isolation, the professionals figured we wouldn’t be able to muster the necessary coping skills required.

Well, they were wrong!

Yes, there was a temporary rise in the mental illness numbers as some people were not ready for the extreme change in daily life.

As unbelievable as this may seem, many of those people afflicted rallied in just a few months while there was still no vaccine on the horizon.

This story is just another reminder that WE AMERICANS ARE TOUGH!!

This country was not carved out of the wilderness by sissies.

Be proud of who and what you are!

If not today, when?

Thanks to the internet, we are bombarded with news 24/7.

Many of those news events tell us of constantly changing events.

Climate change is probably the biggest event that is impacting everyone.

Those states that need water are running out of it.

Those states that don’t need water are getting too much.

Our politics is becoming more vicious.

Unfortunately, patriotism is not the practice of too many people in high places.

Covid is constantly changing into new versions of itself.

I have a suggestion on how to cope with all this: PRAY!

Have you ever experienced the power of prayer in your life?

I have and often.

I’m not promoting any particular religion, but I am a firm believer in the ALMIGHTY.

None of us have all the answers to this constantly change world.

Why don’t you begin seeking answers from ABOVE?

If not today, when?

We all have made mistakes along the way.

Some have serious consequences. Some don’t.

The big question for today’s discussion is: Are you deliberately becoming a better managed person?

If so, an essential ingredient in the process is acknowledging past mistakes, learning from them and avoiding them forever.

Easily said, but hard to do especially if past mistakes have become a habit.

I think the number one priority in our lives should be LIKING OURSELVES!

We will find it hard to like ourselves if we’re not happy while repeating past mistakes.

If we like ourselves, we become more likable to others.

You are the you that you decide to be today.

MAKE TODAY DECISION DAY.

Shed the mistakes of the past.

Decide to like yourself more by becoming a better managed person!

If not today, when?

New York (CNN Business)The scourge of obnoxious robocalls has resumed after a brief dip during the early months of the pandemic.

But a new prevention program developed by the Federal Communications Commission, which officially went into effect this week, could begin to offer some relief later this year.

The program, called “Stir/Shaken,” is a set of technical standards that mobile carriers are required to adopt to help prevent call “spoofing,” a tactic used by robocallers to make an incoming call look like it’s from your area code so you’re more likely to pick up. 

Robocalls from spoofed numbers aren’t just an annoyance, they’re dangerous! They are capable of scamming people out of money or sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers.

Approximately half of all calls made in the U.S. are robocalls.

I’m sure you find them every bit as annoying as I do.

Let’s hope the FCC can stop them!

If not today, when?

What an incredible experiment in personal freedom America continues to be!

While other countries are descending into dictatorships, we are still a DEMOCRACY.

Our diversity is our strength.

It enables the practice of many religions and customs.

And how about the physical beauty of our home?

Surrounded by oceans on three sides.

The great plains that provide our food..

The Great Lakes with their awesome beauty and abundance of fresh water.

Yes, there are many blessings we enjoy as Americans.

Today’s celebration of our freedom is the gift of the pioneers who forged a country out of the wilderness.

And it has been protected by all those patriots lying under white markers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Let us always appreciate what we have as Americans.

“O Say Can You See?”

How would you measure the success you’ve had so far?

I think most people would use personal wealth as a yardstick.

Others may have overcome serious health issues and rejoice in that accomplishment.

Another important barometer would be the degree to which your loving relationships are in good order.

Last but not least must be the quality of the person you’ve made of yourself thus far.

Looking at the measurements listed above, how successful are you?

If you are lacking success in one of those categories, it is never too late to decide upon the actions you will take to make improvements.

We can always do better and become better people.

Improvement begins with your decision to improve!

If not today, when?

How can we maintain a positive attitude in the midst of so many negative things going on?

Our approach is to divide all issues into two categories: Those things we can solve and those we cannot.

THOSE WE CANNOT SOLVE: There are probably worrisome things going on in your family, in your career choice, in your friendships and in your community.

If there is nothing you personally can do to solve them, you must liberate yourself from dwelling on these unsolvable issues that sap your emotional energy.

THOSE WE CAN AND MUST SOLVE: Focus on those things that are within your grasp.

What can you do to improve the relationship with your spouse and children?

These should be your highest priority because they have a big impact on your happiness.

How about other family members and friends?

How about your daily workplace? Can you improve things there?

Dwell on what you can solve, not those things you can’t!

If not today when?

We use “PLEASE” and “THANK YOU” with complete strangers, but not with our spouse and children ENOUGH!

This is most often the case with our spouse.

Common courtesies should be extended to loved ones more often.

We probably say “PLEASE” more often than “THANK YOU.”

You may say to me, “Why should I thank him for taking out the trash? That’s his job!”

I’ll tell you why. It keeps the romance alive by showing appreciation for his or her efforts.

And do you give enough COMPLIMENTS in your family?

COMPLIMENTS are a necessary form of glue in our personal relationships and they raise the self-esteem of loved ones.

SPREAD KINDNESS IN YOUR FAMILY!!!

Don’t leave your good manners at the doorstep when you arrive home!

Make a practice of showing your appreciation of family members with GOOD MANNERS AND KINDNESS!!

If not today, when?