My dear wife is a greeting card aholic. She has single handedly  made greeting card stores a profitable enterprise!

I know it’s much easier just to fire off a text or email, but she doesn’t believe in taking the easy route if the difficult one is more meaningful to the recipients.

She keeps a meticulous file of all the people who are lucky enough to receive a kiss in their mailbox. As we stepped into our senior citizen swimming pool yesterday, the swimmer next to us thanked her for the nice card. I didn’t know she was also on the list.

She never forgets someone’s birthday and remembers them at the holidays. Of course, the envelopes are hand addressed with a personal note inside each card.

Send more greeting cards. Brighten someone’s day!

If not today, when?

 

 

Common sense isn’t so common anymore!

In chaotic times like these, it’s important that you make wise decisions. Sometimes, it looks like the wheels are coming off civilization.

At this date in the U.S., we have no idea how far the coronavirus has spread because testing kits are just becoming available. The virus, of course, is not the only issue facing us. There is much discord today both here and around the world.

All of these trends cause uncertainty which can cause you to make emotional decisions instead of logical ones. Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep up with ever changing news events so you are informed.
2. Try to refrain from making major decisions during these times.
3. If you must make major decisions now, ask for some good advice.

Think before you act!

If not today, when?

It is an important question because it has such a huge impact on many aspects of your life. If you are likeable, people assume you are also approachable. People like to be around you if your demeanor is not a downer. You can be the glue in your family, business and community.

When it comes to enjoying a happy and lasting marriage, it helps if you’re likeable. “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”  (Friedrich Nietzsche)

You probably have family members, friends or co-workers who always seem upbeat. Don’t be deceived by their sunny disposition. They may be dealing with the same  problems we all have to face. They just “put on a happy face.”

Here is the bottom line: Likeable people go farther than those who aren’t!

If not today, when?

 

There is hardly any time of life during which your kids won’t need your support.

I know it’s a great relief when the kids exit the teenage years and begin to resemble the behavior of adults, somewhat. I hate to break it to you, but when they become adults, they come back to you with adult problems. Of course, these are more serious and consequential than those of their younger years.

They may bring divorce and or lessor marital problems. They may need advice in the raising of their children. They may run into financial difficulties. In all fairness to them, they are dealing with the same problems we laid at the feet of our parents.

We are their parents and, to the best of our ability, must always be there for them.

It’s called UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

If not today, when?

They are growing up in a world that doesn’t begin to resemble the world of your youth!

They’ve got to contend with a more dangerous form of peer pressure than you experienced. ..And their peer pressure follows them home on their cell phone. Cyber bullying is now a common phenomenon which is practiced by both boys and girls.

Drug and alcohol availability is everywhere. Sexual exploration is being practiced at younger and younger ages.

Your job as a parent is made much easier if your child loves to talk. The more they gab, the more you learn about their world. Parenting becomes more difficult if you have a quiet son or daughter who doesn’t want to reveal his/her world to you.

You MUST KNOW what’s going on in their daily lives so you can give input!

If not today, when?

 

You’ve probably heard about Nashville. An enormous tornado hit, leaving wide spread destruction, twenty five people killed and thirty eight missing.

Recently an off duty police officer saw an elderly lady fall while walking across the street. She put her car in park and went to assist the lady. While walking back to her car, she was struck by a passing motorist and killed instantly.

Why do I bring up stories like these? You may be having a bad day, but is it really that bad?

You will probably finish this day without your house being blown away. You’ll probably arrive home through rush hour traffic this evening without being killed instantly.

Thank God you can still enjoy the gift of life!

If not today, when?

 

If you are like most people, you know what’s wrong with your life.

Do you give much thought to what’s right? Is your glass half empty or half full?

Even though you may always have some urgent problem to solve, inner peace can be found by keeping your life in perspective. If you approach your daily life with a negative mindset, you are setting yourself up for a negative outcome.

Are you aware of current events? There are sixty million homeless refugees right now. Many of those same refugees are being stopped at the borders of countries that won’t let them in.

Many people are very lonely. Many people are in ill health. Many people are subject to all kinds of discrimination.

No, your life is not perfect. But, keep it in perspective. Count your blessings!

If not today, when?

Do you feel gray on a gray day and sunny on a sunny day?

I think for many people, the answer is “yes!”

Research on the relationship between weather and mood has found some interesting conclusions:

1. If you’re in a positive mood, temperature, sunlight, wind and precipitation had no notable impact.
2. If, however, you’re in a negative mood, increased temperature had a positive effect.
3. Increased wind and decreased sunlight had a negative effect on a negative mood.
4. A person specializing in “light therapy” says people, who get depressed on a gray day, should still go outside because they will receive more UV Rays which boost Serotonin. (Webmd.com)

So, it seems that the best defense against bad weather is to determine to get yourself in a good mood and soak up as many UV Rays as possible.

If not today, when?

 

Take a minute and recall the many acts of kindness your spouse has contributed to your relationship. Let’s not forget the acts of bravery in those tough times when events seemed to be turning against you or family members.

How about his/her generous forgiveness while overlooking your shortcomings and moving on? Probably the biggest blessing you’ve received and continue to receive each day is that he/she is still there for you.

…And how can you give thanks?

Of course, let’s begin with complete loyalty.

Express your love and show your love by sharing the many burdens of daily living. Or, does only one of you do the heavy lifting? If so, you’ve got to correct that in a heartbeat!

A priest once told us, “Don’t give 50-50. Each of you should give 60-40 so you always have a seamless relationship!”

If not today, when?

Many things are changing rapidly in our modern world. ..And the speed is increasing in velocity.

Some of these changes meet your approval and give you hope for your personal future. Others are not to your liking and cause you to be increasingly concerned about their impact on you and your loved ones.

So, what can you do?

The answer: Do what is in your power to change and don’t be absorbed in fear about the things you can’t change! Live your life to the fullest. Give every minute sixty seconds worth of long distance run.

Work hard! Play hard! Love deeply!

The best path to inner peace for each of us is to always be true to ourselves. Don’t try to be someone else. Be the best of you!

If not today, when?