Will you smile even if you don’t feel like it?

That’s called faking it.

I think we all have some current dilemma we are concerned about.

But, for the sake of not bothering someone with our problems, we PUT ON A HAPPY FACE!

The good news is that the smiles we project can help someone have a better day.

Our world really needs more smiles and fewer frowns!

“Spread sunshine all over the place and put on a happy face!”

If not today, when?

When you held your newborn baby or tiny toddler, you likely hoped for a life that was full of ease, fulfillment and happiness for your child.

As it turns out, that ease doesn’t lead to fulfillment or happiness.

A bit of failure often does.

That’s because challenges help kids develop coping skills and resilience, both of which make life much more enjoyable.

Kids don’t learn when life goes perfectly for them.

It’s like working out with 1-pound weights forever.

Sure, you’re exercising, but without tearing and rebuilding muscle, you’ll never get stronger. (CNN)

This is tough advice for parents, but very valuable!

You won’t be there every time your kids (young adults) take a fall.

They must learn that they CAN pick themselves up.

If not today, when?

The 2023 travel craze is not letting up for the upcoming Labor Day weekend in the US, travel experts warn.

“Travelers heading out of town over the long weekend should expect busy airports and long lines,” the travel app Hopper said in a news release.

AAA, the automotive and trip-planning group, said in a news release this week that Labor Day weekend travel will be up 4% over last year domestically, according to booking data.

That’s notable, but it’s the increase in international bookings for Labor Day weekend that’s jaw-dropping. Those bookings are up 44% over 2022.

It also noted that international cruise bookings are up 44% over last year and that international hotel bookings for the holiday are up 82% compared with 2022.

AAA said its findings show the top five international destinations over Labor Day weekend to be Vancouver, Rome, London, Dublin and Paris.

Hopper said the top three international destinations booked for Labor Day weekend off its site are San Juan, Toronto and Cancun. (CNN)

Wherever you travel abroad, it will be crowded.

(Melon Dash, Author of, “Conquer Your Fear Of Water.”)

A Gallup survey, published two years ago, found that across the globe, half of adults are afraid in water over their heads, and that’s just in pools.

A third of American adults are afraid to even put their heads underwater and half are afraid of going into the deep end of the pool.

Many of them will have had some sort of swimming instruction over the course of their lives.

Yet, over a decades-long career teaching swimming, one thing has become abundantly clear to me: Learning swim strokes doesn’t make people safe in deep water.

If you’re an adult who doesn’t know how to swim, you may have asked yourself,

“Why haven’t I been able to learn over the years? Is it me?”

I’ve taught swimming to thousands like you who are afraid in the water, and I can assure you — it’s not you.

For most people who don’t succeed in learning to swim, it’s not for lack of trying. 

If you are afraid in the water, there are classes available to help you.

Spanking or striking children in school, or corporal punishment, should be “abolished in all states by law.”

This is according to an updated policy statement by the Council on School Health and released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The use of corporal punishment has dropped over the years, but it is “either expressly allowed or not expressly prohibited in 23 states,” US Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona said in March before Colorado banned the practice.

“Furthermore, researchers have determined that the use of corporal punishment in schools is likely underreported.”

“Some healthy forms of discipline as alternatives to corporal punishment may include the use of positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors, setting limits, redirecting, and setting future expectations,” (CNN)

What is your opinion?

Of course, we all worry from time to time.

Are you, however, a constant worrier?

If so, you are dramatically lowering your QUALITY OF LIFE!

Worry, for you, has become a habit.

It is actually a self destructive habit.

There are two kinds of worry; those you can solve & those you can’t.

If you CAN solve it, get up and solve it!

If you can’t, get it out of your mind.

There is nothing you can do about it.

It’s just that simple.

Easy to say, but hard to do.

It is an interesting dilemma.

You really have an objective you’d like to accomplish.

But, all you can think about is the downside.

“What will it be like if I fail?”

“Can I accept the consequences?”

“What will people say?”

Now, ask yourself how you’ll feel if you DO IT anyway.

Let me tell you something from my own experience.

IT IS BETTER TO HAVE TRIED AND FAILED THAN TO HAVE NEVER TRIED AT ALL!

If you overcome your fear and DO IT anyway, you won’t ever have to ask “WHAT IF?”

Not today! Not any day!

Why not?

There is only one of YOU in this whole, wide world.

And you are worth celebrating.

I think effort is more important than accomplishment!

Why do I say that?

Because the satisfaction from doing your best is everything.

You are always doing and learning through successes and failures.

And this process of constant learning makes you a better person.

Take the time to make an honest list of all your best qualities. You may be surprised at how long it is!

You have many reasons to like yourself and that’s worth celebrating!

If not today, when?

Today many single people complain that it is very difficult to meet potential mates.

When you are in school, there are many opportunities to meet people.

But, after that, you are mostly on your own.

It seems today that dating sites are commonly used by singles of all ages.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that a mate doesn’t generally show up on your doorstep!

You have to be active.

Join clubs or community activities that have social or sports teams.

Seek out a place of worship that has a singles group.

Join an organization that supports a cause you believe in.

If your employer has after work events, join in.

But, above all, be a person someone would like to spend time with.

Be upbeat (even if you have to fake it.)

Be positive, be “put together” nicely in your dress.

And, above all, SMILE a lot!

In order to answer that question, you must first decide how you would define success.

You only have a certain number of days to live.

What seems like a reasonable amount of days to expend in pursuit of your goal?

Are you willing to devote the emotional, mental and physical energy needed?

Do you have a plan that is well thought out?

Can you execute the plan yourself or do you need help?

After expending a considerable effort, do you still believe the goal is reachable?

If you have to go in another direction, you should have no regrets because you went for it.

If you succeed, you learned a lot about yourself!