(Leo Tolstoy)

It seems that happiness, like everything else, is a decision.

Do you know someone who has had a very tough life, but exhibits happiness?

I do.

I always stand in awe of that person.

Particularly because I have not had as tough a life as that person.

So, I have no excuse for not being happy.

Do you?

Be happy!

If not today, when?

Yes, these 4 men rode on the rudder of a large ship from Nigeria across the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil.

Nigerian migrants spent 14 days stowed away in the space above a ship rudder before they were discovered.

They ran out of food and water on day 10 and survived the last four days on only sea water.

They told the Brazilian Coast Guard that conditions in Nigeria were so desperate they had to leave family behind and risk their lives to get away.

God bless America!

We all make decisions throughout our lives.

All decisions have consequences, some big, some small.

How good are you at making decisions?

Do you have a method you use when making a big decision?

Let me suggest one:

What are the reasons to do it?

What are the reasons not to do it?

What would be the financial costs of implementing it?

What would be the emotional costs?

What would be the costs in your time?

Can you do it or whose help would you need?

Could you afford the cost of failure?

It was a nice term for telling people what they want to hear.

It actually kicked off a nationwide habit of lying in order to say something you don’t really mean, but is pleasing to the other person.

This phenomenon took society down the wrong path.

Now, when someone pays you a complement, you don’t really know if it is genuine or what you want to hear.

Speaking of the truth, we have another dilemma to deal with.

It’s called MISINFORMATION which is another form of lying deliberately intended to mislead us.

I hate to sound old fashioned, but why don’t we just TELL THE TRUTH?

If not today, when?

If the answer is “YES.” act like it!

Put on a good attitude when you begin your workday.

Good attitudes can be contagious and noticed by the boss.

And a good attitude could lead to a promotion.

If the answer is “NO,” is there a position you would like in your existing company?

If so, what would you have to do to earn that position?

If you must look outside your company, this is a good time to make a move.

It seems that every company has job openings.

Remember, don’t leave your present job until you have secured another.

Unconditional love is really the purest form of love.

And it is the kind of love that we must all aspire to.

The difficulty is asking IMPERFECT people to practice PERFECT love.

Nevertheless, I believe that the deeper our love is for another person, the happier we’ll be.

And the happier your loved one will be!

So, let us all in every way embark upon the daily journey to unconditional love.

If not today, when?

You and I know our kids are growing up in a very different world.

And I’m sure you are concerned about the kind of world we’re leaving to them.

It is a world where tried and true values are under daily attack.

There’s an old saying, “If your kids don’t stand for something, they’ll fall for anything.”

So, you have to give them a role model worth following.

How do you do that?

You must provide them a “port in the storm.”

Because their values are always under attack, you must adhere to the values they will need.

I believe the most important virtues you must practice are temperance, courage and honesty.

I list temperance first because alcohol is being overused by parents and their children.

You must be an example of courage because they will need courage to face up to constant peer pressure to do the wrong thing.

And very important is honesty.

I never thought I’d live in a world wherein lying is becoming the norm.

So, if you are to become the role model your kids need, those are my thoughts.

If not today, when?

 

We know so little about the intelligence of the creatures who live in our world.

And I guess whales should be included in that group.

The photo above looks like three whales having fun.

Getting closer to home, I’m amazed at the intelligence of dogs.

If only they could talk!

Enjoying everyday life is amplified by being aware of animals and plant life that surround us.

Opening our minds to life expands and enriches our lives.

AND IT’S FREE !

Enjoy this world and all its wonder.

If not today, when?

Yes. it happened in Seattle.

After two nights of earth-shaking dancing at Swift’s Seattle “Eras” tour concert at Lumen Field, enthusiastic Swifties caused seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake according to seismologist Jackie Caplan-Auerbach.

The “Swift Quake has been compared to the 2011 “Beast Quake” when Seattle Seahawks fans erupted after an impressive touchdown by running back Marshawn Lynch.

See for yourself!

Regret is a very hard emotion to live with.

This is particularly true if the moment to be courageous will never come again.

I have found that exercising a courageous act that fails is better than never having tried at all.

And when you are courageous today you are more likely to be courageous tomorrow.

Likewise, if you were afraid to be courageous today, you’ll be afraid tomorrow.

And that’s how it goes, you either live a life of fear or of courage.

A courageous life is a lot MORE FUN!

If not today, when?