A recent study of Detroit students, K-12, showed that 90% of them do not have access to internet connected devices.

An organization called Connected Futures will provide all 51,000 students with connected devices, household internet and technical support by June. Those students and their family members will have internet access and much better learning opportunities.

I spent three years in a Detroit high school in the years 2010-2012. At that time, none of the students had textbooks of their own. They had to pull their desks together and use one textbook for two students. Those books remained in the classroom.

In addition to all the struggles of living in Detroit, the kids were getting an inferior education when compared to their suburban peer group.

It appears that a small part of the unfairness of their lives is being corrected!

If not today, when?

Which of them must change temporarily or permanently?

Medical experts are saying that this pandemic will be here for three years. So, which of your previous habits are in need of alteration or elimination?

Maybe, you know just a little about the digital world and have been able to get by with email and texting. That will have to change.

Many employees are doing their office work from home because of the virus. Employers will move as many tasks as possible to the digital world and you must have the expertise to perform those tasks.

Use this time to become more computer literate. Take online classes or hire a tutor. Do something to make your skills more valuable in order to compete for jobs!

Forget your old habits if they will leave you unprepared for the future.

If not today, when?

What a great plan it is!

Yesterday, either good or bad, won’t come again. Tomorrow never comes because at the stroke of midnight, it’s today again. So, you see, all you’ll ever have is today.

…and I think that living one day at a time is doable. No need to be overwhelmed by current events because our lives are served up in bite sized pieces we refer to as today.

Even in these times with”Shelter in place,” each of us should make today one in which we achieve at least one worthwhile accomplishment. Those people who say they’re bored are not taking control of their lives.

Make today count. The very best way to do that is to reach out to someone with kindness. You’ll make your life better today by making another life better!

If not today, when?

 

You probably think I’m crazy asking a question like that when our entire world is filled with negativity on every front.

Yet, you are the guardian of your thoughts!

If you allow yourself to believe all hope for a bright future is gone, then you will be living every day without all the strength you need to make the most of your potential.

…and if you want life to return to the way it was, it sure wasn’t perfect. Because we’re all suffering together for the same reasons, we are growing closer to family, friends and, yes, even strangers.

Another thing to keep in mind, you and I will be unable to rebuild our society if we are pessimistic and self centered. No, everyone needs hope and that hope comes only from those who are optimistic!

If not today, when?

Strength of character is greatly enhanced by living through adverse circumstances.

I have a friend who is now 26 years old and was one of the players on a high school football team I coached. Since his high school years, he has continually fallen on hard times.

He worked for a landscaping company and had a friend who worked with him. After he cashed his paycheck one day, his friend shot him, removing his left eyebrow and took his cash.

He has been homeless and has had various jobs off and on. Yet, I received a text from him yesterday. He was very happy that he had been approved for unemployment compensation.

You are also facing adversity with this virus and its consequences. You are making necessary adjustments to your daily life and becoming stronger!

If not today, when?

It may not seem that way, but the virus has given you much more free  time than you have ever had!

What will you do with it?

Here are some things you could be doing:

EXERCISE-The medical professionals tell us we need to exercise in order for our bodies to be as healthy as possible to ward off the virus. Perhaps you’ve not had a regular routine. Now, you’ve got the time and good weather.

RELATIONSHIPS-Because you and your immediate family are spending more time together, you should be growing closer, not further apart. Even distant family members are available with Facetime or Zoom.

JOBS-Will you be able to return to the job from whence you came or should you be exploring alternatives? There will be fewer jobs because many companies won’t have the funding they need.

If not today, when?

Because millions of our fellow citizens are unemployed, those who lived from paycheck to paycheck are falling or have fallen into the newly poor. Many of these are people you know. They were employed by various businesses that served your needs. They live near you and may belong to the same church.

There are also owners of small, once  thriving businesses who cannot continue due to a lack of cash flow to sustain their company’s ongoing financial expenses. When they get the green light to reopen, they may not be able to purchase necessary inventory.

So, as the old saying goes, “It takes a village.” It referred to everyone has an impact on raising a child. Likewise, it will take all of us to help those small business owners and their employees to recover!

If not today, when?

These are the days that test us all. Will you make the necessary adjustments to the constantly changing circumstances you are facing?

If you have always been a rather rigid person who takes solace in a predictable daily routine, you are going to have to loosen up and become more flexible. It seems that uncertainty will become our new way of life.

If you’ve never done it before, it’s time you allowed yourself to think “outside the box!” New circumstances will require new solutions to new realities.

I also believe, if you haven’t until now, you should consider turning to God in these times. This pandemic, coupled with the coming threat of climate change, is too big for us to solve all on our own.

You’re not alone. We are in this together. Have faith!

If not today, when?

Do you keep your perspective in times of stress?

We’re hearing more stories of the abuse of family members during these “shelter in place days.” Why do we hurt the ones we love when the current situation calls for an abundance of love?

Did you know that a recent study says that there is an EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS in America? Yes, 47% of our fellow citizens are lonely. For those of us fortunate enough to live with family members, we should get down on our knees and thank God for every one of them.

Do we all have flaws and do we sometimes annoy one another particularly during stressful times? Of course we do.

The biggest sin we’ll ever commit, however, is the sin of ungratefulness! Millions are homeless and don’t have enough to eat.

Get a grip!

If not today, when?

Don’t let a day go by without telling someone that you love them!

One of the biggest irreversible regrets in life comes when a loved one passes away and you are left with that painful question, “Did he/she know I loved him/her?”

It is essential that you spread love around during these days when the threat of death is just around the corner for each of us.

I’ve always believed that your day to day happiness is dependent upon whether or not you like yourself. Are you proud of, or ashamed of what and who you are? If you need to become a more loving person than you have been, begin now!

You might say that they know I love them so I don’t need to tell them.

You can never say, “I love you” too often!

If not today, when?