What is the trajectory of your life?

Is it one you are proud of?

What grade would you get from the people who really know you?

There are two factors that impact your life’s path: events and decisions.

Things happen in our lives over which we have no control. How have you reacted to them?

Are your reactions based upon strong values you hold dear? What are your values?

Without adherence to honorable values, your life’s path will go asunder.

And then there is the lifelong influence of your decision making!

Do you make rash decisions on the spur of the moment or do you take a moment to weigh the pros and cons?

It is possible to make better decisions in the future that will improve your life’s path.

Try to keep emotions out of your decisions. You can’t take back what you said or did.

It’s never too late to get on the right path!

If not today when?

I don’t pretend to be a marriage counselor.

But, after 56 years living with THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, here’s a thought:

Always try to put the interests of your spouse ahead of yours.

Before we go further, I must make a confession:

Many times, I was selfish and put my priorities ahead of hers.

For the last few years, however, I have tried harder to put her priorities first.

I know I probably won’t have enough years left to catch up with all her kindnesses.

I must admit, though, the effort is most enjoyable!

It’s never too late to make your marriage happier for both of you.

It takes two to tango.

START DANCING!

If not today, when?

I have never been a big advocate of having a dog as a pet.

But, my wonderful wife loves all people and all dogs.

She has a heart as big as all outdoors!

So, 18 months ago, I suggested we get a dog because I want her to be as happy as possible.

We were in a dog shelter within one hour of my suggestion.

We found a female who had recently given birth and was put out on the streets by her owner.

When the police found her, she was very malnourished.

My wife knew this was the dog she wanted.

She named our new pet “HAPPY.” And she has lived up to her name!

Happy has often reminded me of the power of LOYALTY, FORGIVENESS and AFFECTION.

She displays these virtues every day and spreads happiness all around.

What a blessing she is!

It’s not complicated.

Because you only have one 24 hour companion, you must like YOU!

For many of us, that is easier said than done, but is very possible.

Many of us have regrets about our past, things we did and failed to do.

Remember, you don’t have to live with the person you were.

No, you only have to live with the person you are now and will be tomorrow.

Learn to forgive yourself and embrace this incredible gift of life we enjoy.

I know it sounds like a cliche’, but life really is short.

At the age of 79, I am shocked at how short it is.

I know, in these times, it’s not easy to be happy

But, don’t allow external events to disrupt how you feel about yourself!

Our lives are a pure gift. Like any other gift, enjoy it.

If not today, when?

America would never have been discovered without WIND & WATER!

No, our founders needed the Atlantic Ocean and plenty of wind in their sails.

One of my lifelong passions is sailing.

My brother and I owned a 15′ wooden sailboat with a hole in the hull.

One of us would SAIL while the other would BAIL!

Before you step into the next world, you must go sailing.

The magic of it all!

All you need is a boat with a sail & Mother Nature takes it from there.

The photo in this blog is me at the helm, sailing home from the 2005 Mackinac Race.

It was one of the biggest thrills of my life!

“Red sails at night, sailors delight. Red sails at morning, sailors take warning!”

The sky turned red on Sunday morning and a big storm hit us hard for eight hours.

That night, it was peaceful and our boat was followed by a beautiful MOON RIVER.

Go sailing!

If not today, when?

As adults, we are all trying to cope with our ever changing reality.

I think our children and grandchildren are having it worse than us.

The entire rhythm of their daily lives has been traumatized!

The quality of their schooling has deteriorated.

So much so, that many kids are not even trying to learn remotely.

Their physical interaction with friends has been compromised.

And isolation from their peers is a really big deal!

Those graduating from high school this year, don’t know what college life will be.

Your kids are also watching you and how you’re handling the stress.

In addition to all this, millions of kids can’t get enough food and may be evicted soon.

So, what can a parent and grandparent do?

LOVE THEM, LOVE THEM, LOVE THEM!

And when you’re tired, LOVE THEM SOME MORE!

If not today, when?

I am not promoting any particular religion.

Actually, I’m not even talking about religion.

Today’s blog is about you and GOD!

Have you thought about the MIRACLE that you even exist?

You had nothing to do with your gift of life. I mean GIFT!

God and your parents brought you into this glorious world.

If you think otherwise, think again.

Every breath you take is a gift from GOD!

And how should you respond to your gift of life??

There are two kinds of prayer: THANKING AND ASKING.

THANKING should always come ahead of ASKING. Count your blessings.

When you have needs, the prayer of ASKING will reveal GOD’S ongoing love for you.

I am now 79 years old. I have seen a lot of life, the good and the bad.

In the midst of all my ups and downs, GOD has brought me through!

Do you pray?

If not today, when?

A promise is a promise! “…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”

We have close friends who have been married 57 years.

She has Cancer and he has Alzheimer’s disease.

Due to the advanced progression of his disease, he is now in a facility.

Because of Covid-19, she must stand outside and talk to him through the window.

He comprehends some of her words, but not many.

Although he is no longer the young man she married, her love for him has no bounds!

She endures her chemo therapy treatments alone.

She never talks about her repeated battles with Cancer.

Her entire attention is on him and his wellbeing.

A promise made is a promise kept!

My wife took a friend to the hospital yesterday and waited outside for her return.

While waiting, she observed a young man who was working as a parking valet.

His job was to greet drivers who wanted him to park their cars and retrieve them when their visits were concluded.

Probably about 25 years old, he was amazing!

I don’t know if he was paid very much for his services, but it didn’t seem to matter.

He greeted every single visitor with a warm and friendly approach.

Some of the visitors were obviously wealthy and others were obviously poor.

They were different ethnicities.

Some were bringing a loved one home after successful treatment.

Others were there to hold the hand of a family member who was dying.

It didn’t matter to the young valet, every visitor received that same, warm greeting.

Do you treat everyone with the same, warm greeting?

If not today, when?

Definition: The quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgement.

I am most interested in the dictionary’s linkage of WISDOM & GOOD JUDGEMENT!

Of course, good judgement creates good decisions.

There are, however, events that affect our happiness that are out of our control.

And then, there are the decisions we make in response to those events.

Your response will be determined by the wisdom you employ in your response.

Another quality that determines wisdom is EXPERIENCE.

Do we learn from our good and bad experiences and thereby increase our wisdom or do we repeat our past mistakes.

Wisdom also assumes the possession of KNOWLEDGE!

How do you assimilate knowledge? You must continually learn and listen.

Listeners learn more than talkers.

Learn from your experience!

Learn and listen and gather more knowledge!

Think before you act and use good judgement!

Wisdom is precious. Use it!

If not today, when?