There have been more stressful times in the history of our great country, but there are also many sources of stress today. I don’t think I need to enumerate them.

We never know what problems other people might be dealing with at any moment. “We are our brother’s keeper.”

It’s so easy to love people who love us.

So, the question becomes,”Will we love those who don’t love us?” How about a simple smile given to a passerby? How about courtesy extended to another driver when we are behind the wheel? How about showing kindness to a new employee who is making an adjustment to a new company and new co-workers?

All these ideas are simple to perform and yet so meaningful in the eyes of the other person.

You can create a better world!

If not today, when?

 

 

I think the answer has to be yes for most of us.

We’re happier on some days than others depending upon the greeting we get each morning from local weather conditions. Of course, some people are physically affected by weather such as those with asthma.

For most of us, weather can put us in a good or bad mood. Why do we allow this to happen? Don’t we have enough to deal with in our lives? If you don’t like current weather conditions, get over it! Move on to something within your control instead of fretting about something over which you have no control.

Weather is just another one of those things that doesn’t deserve the attention we give it.

Gee, I heard it’s going to rain today!

If not today, when?

 

When the Reverend Jesse Jackson ran for President, his slogan was,  “Keep Hope Alive!” No other politician, to my knowledge, ever did or ever will use those words as a campaign slogan. Of course, he ministered to those millions of people who had lost hope for their future.

How about you?

If some event in your life brings you to the point of despair, please step back and re-evaluate your situation. At that moment, it is wise to take inventory of your life. Make a list of your blessings and disappointments.

In order to maintain emotional balance, it is important to work through the moment by remembering the positive facts about your life!

If not today, when?

Restaurant waiters and waitresses expect us to add a tip for them. How about tipping other people who don’t normally receive tips for helping us in various endeavors?

One day, we had an unusual amount of trash at the curb for pickup. Along came the truck with a young boy hanging off the back. Although, there was a lot to collect, the truck driver did not get out on that cold day to help the young man who loaded it himself. So, I ran down to the curb and gave him a $10 dollar bill. Wow, was he surprised!

Other examples might include people who clean your office or various delivery people. We have a company that cuts our grass each week. We don’t tip the owner, but occasionally the young people who actually do the work.

Why not surprise someone today?

If not today, when?

The first synonym the dictionary has for “happiness” is “contentment.” Are you content with your life?

I believe that the course of events throughout our lives should not necessarily affect our sense of contentment. Oh yes, we all experience disappointment, sadness, frustration and other negative feelings. Despite these common emotions, however, you should not allow them to undermine your underlying sense of contentment?

There are two things in life: fact and perception. …and fact doesn’t count!

Your perceptions are not what happens, but how you look upon the things that happen. Because your perceptions are completely under your control, you can choose to view negative events without permitting them to irrevocably damage your deep felt sense of happiness!

If not today, when?

 

If you want to make more money and move your career curve upward, you need to do somethings other people don’t want to do.

What is the edge that you can bring to your present employment to show your superiors that you’re a keeper and must be rewarded financially in order to keep you as an employee?

Is it your enthusiasm? Is it your problem solving skills? Is it your curiosity that reveals ideas you can bring to your employer to improve sales? Is it your willingness to work overtime? Is it your punctuality? Is it your pleasant demeanor in stressful work related situations?

You just can’t do the same thing each day and expect different results!

What is your edge?

If not today, when?

We were in the funeral home because our son’s best friend had died in an auto accident at the age of 21. Many years earlier, the dead boy’s older brother had died in an auto accident also.

His parents were receiving the condolences of mourners when our son came up to the dead boy’s father. He just stood there in front of him and began to cry.

Although there were still other mourners in line, the boy’s father left the other people and took our son off to the side. He spent considerable time trying to console our son who was heartbroken by  the loss of his best friend.

The man who needed condolences was instead consoling someone who needed it also.

That act of selflessness will always remain with me!

If not today, when?

 

 

Thankfully, our lives are only served up one day at a time. They’re like bite sized morsels. And, that’s the way you build our life, one day at a time.

So, each day counts toward what you make of yourself. Don’t allow yourself to end any day without doing one thing well!

It could be that you had a very positive achievement of some kind or that you handled a negative incident very well. These are all the building blocks of a successful life. Don’t allow anyone to dictate who or what you are.

Just continue to to do one thing well each day and you will build a strong foundation that no one can take away from you.

You are what you make of yourself!

If not today, when?

 

Of course, everything has its price and worry is no exception. Now, after 77 years of living, I’ve had my share of worries. I’ve always been a risk taker by starting up numerous businesses and these worries were self made.

Many of our worries are self made and come about as the result of poor decision making. So, these worries can be reduced in number  with better decisions.

Worries that are created by circumstances out of your control are a different matter. When these occur, some thoughts:

1. Ask yourself, “Can I help solve the issue?” If so, do something.
2. If you can’t help, pray!
3. If it doesn’t directly affect you, turn it loose!                                                                                                                                                       Worries can be crippling. Please try to prevent them from dictating the course of your life. Each day presents the opportunity to start anew.                                                                                                                                                                                         If not today, when? 

I think we have all done things that, in hindsight, we regret. Was it your idea or was it prompted by a friend?

Some friendships add to the quality of our lives while other “so called” friends may diminish our happiness either accidentally or deliberately.

Have you established certain standards of behavior that you will not violate? If not, it is about time you did! Without a system of values, you will always be susceptible to bad advice.

You should make decisions not to please others if those decisions violate your standards of behavior. And, if the same friend is trying to influence you to do the wrong thing, he or she doesn’t deserve to be your friend any longer.

It’s your life! Be true to yourself!

If not today, when?