When a loved one does or says something that embarrasses or offends you, the first impulse is to strike out at that person in anger.

Expressing disappointment is the better route.

It is not as confrontational as anger.

An inherent benefit in expressing disappointment is the introduction of a new, unexpected result of the offense.

You can now explain the impact it had on you.

Begin by saying that you are disappointed.

Go on to explain the impact it had on you and any other parties present.

Tell him/her how it made you feel.

Finally, ask him/her to please not to do it again.

Many times people don’t realize the impact their behavior has on other people.

If you want this relationship to grow, you are doing them a favor by speaking out.

If not today, when?

There are times when we may have an opportunity to compliment someone, whether it is a family member, co-worker or friend.

They may have done something nice that should be encouraged.

I think you can begin by announcing that you would like to compliment them on something they have done.

Then, explain the situation in which it occurred.

Next, in detail. explain the action taken or the thing that was said.

Explain the impact it had on you and how it made you feel.

Finally, encourage the person to do it again in similar situations.

We have entirely too few compliments in this world.

Compliments can lift up a person and become a boost to their self-esteem.

It may the only upper they experience that day or that week.

By selecting actions by others that are worthy of compliments, you are doing your part to make this a better place.

If not today, when?

It’s simple enough.

When someone renders a service to you, do you customarily thank them?

I know they are supposed to do it and don’t require “Thanks” because you are paying for the service to be rendered.

But, it’s not the point that you paid for it and that’s thanks enough.

I just think we should be the bearers of “Kindness” and “Appreciation” with everyone including those who render us a service.

Why not?

It only takes a brief, “Thank you for your service.”

You and I can make this world a better place.

We can do it throughout our day by the manner in which we treat other people, especially those who wait on us!

Make it a habit!

If not today, when?

Definition: The breaking of trust between two people.

This is a difficult topic.

I think most of us have been betrayed at one time or another.

Of course, the severity of the betrayal is important in terms of our response.

Betrayal is one of the most emotionally troubling things that can happen to us.

The degree of hurt is magnified by the closeness of the relationship and the magnitude of the betrayal.

You have a decision to make:

Will you decide to continue the relationship under certain conditions or must you terminate it completely?

If it is a marital betrayal and there are kids involved, that is more complicated.

As the one betrayed, you should be allowed to go on with your life in peace.

Its in your hands as to how to make that happen.

If not today, when?

Contentment and a clear conscience have a lot in common.

Are you content with the big and the small choices you’ve made?

THE BIG CHOICES:

Did you marry? Is he/she a good partner?

How about your standard of living? Is it adequate?

How about your children? Are they a joy or a problem?

THE LITTLE CHOICES

How do you treat loved ones?

How do you treat co-workers?

How do you treat your friends?

How do you treat yourself?

It is possible to be content in a bad situation, depending on your behavior.

You can’t always be content with what’s going on, but you can be content with your reaction to it.

Contentment is all about your behavior, not someone else’s.

You may not be content with a troublesome situation, but you can be content with your reaction to it.

Contentment is a personal quality that only applies to you.

You deserve to be content with your life!

If not today, when?

Are we?

We sure don’t act like it.

The bold truth is that we either live or don’t live on this planet together.

We should behave like a family because the house we live in is in danger.

I heard last week that the Gulf Stream is becoming unstable and will adversely affect our weather.

Every family member should help take care of the house because we must all live in it together.

And we must accept the fact that everyone is a member of our family even if they don’t look like us.

We know enough about Climate Change now that we can’t ignore it.

Where is the international co-operation to address this problem with a plan?

I’m not concerned about my future but the future of my children and grand children.

Unless we get serious, their world will be unstable.

That should NOT be unacceptable!

Yesterday’s blog was entitled: “The Whale That Cried.” 

A killer whale was stranded on rocks and tears were coming out of its eyes.

Did you know a killer whale had feelings?

How does the earth provide day and night?

How can babies be formed inside the mother and immediately begin breathing when born?

Why do we need the Gulf Stream to continue its journey every day and night?

Why has the earth provided all the ingredients necessary to sustain human life since the earliest times?

THIS LIFE IS A MIRACLE AND WE ARE ITS BLESSED ONES!!!!

Well, if this life is a blessing, why aren’t we grateful?

Why are we destroying the environment that has always given us everything we need?

Why do we mistreat people who don’t look like us?

This is not the way grateful people should act.

When will we begin every day THANKING GOD FOR THIS MIRACLE?

If not today, when?

Boaters in Alaska came upon a peculiar sight on Thursday: A 20-foot-long killer whale was on the shore, stuck in a crevice of rocks.

Soon, Chance Strickland, the captain of a private yacht in Alaska, and his crew anchored and came ashore to spray the whale with seawater.

The mist kept the whale cool and scared away birds that had gathered nearby in the trees, waiting for a chance to eat the orca alive.

Mr. Strickland and his crew hoped that when the tide rose that afternoon, the 13-year-old whale would float and make its way back to the sea.

Mr. Strickland could hear the orca calling out to killer whales swimming in the area.

People on other boats stopped with water and buckets to douse the orca.

“There were tears coming out of its eyes,” he said. “It was pretty sad.” (NYT)

I guess killer whales have feelings too!

“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.