Life Of Good Virtue

"The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities; and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head." - Noah Webster

When you work upon your talents, do not forget that you must talent without virtue does not round you out as a great person. Think of sports figures that have huge talent on the field but are very forgetable off the field. Or an entertainment idol that within a movie brings to bear a wonderful character onscreen yet in public is a complete cad. In your own personal life, do you live a dual life of amazing talent yet a lousy attitude with others?

When you work upon your own attitude, anything you do is improved because you will draw others to you that will have talents beyond your own. Carrying the weight of all that can be done on your own shoulders will get you but a short distance. There will not be people around to help you bear the burden. Those that become drawn to the talented yet 'bad attitude' folks are there primarily to catch the scraps which fall to the side. For when this type of person falls, the fans will disappear, not there to help catch.

Round out your life with both your talents and your heart. Give to the world that which is good about you by giving of your heart first and your talents second. You will be drawn into a world in which you add to the betterment of all that is around you. Others will be drawn to you and together this cumulative power of many will do wonders.

Gloria Kerr

As the days pass, we always strive to bring something uplifting to our lives. But with every good day, there will be those you wish never come. Today was one such day in our life that I will ask you to bear with me.

A very good friend of my wife passed away early today, quick and suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition. Gloria Kerr was a great and grand woman that leaves behind her loving husband, six children and numerous grand children. In our hearts and minds she will always remain that one person you could always count on to give of her heart.

Her talent and love of clothing design went unnoticed living here in the Atlanta area. But her ability and unique designs won her rave reviews from all who knew her. All will miss her ability to take swatches of seemingly scraps of cloth and turn them into wonderful creations. She even managed to pass this talent on to her daughter Tabitha. So her talent will live through her daughter and will be remembered for years to come.

As you read this, you wonder of the poetic or wonderful words to a person you didn't know. It is because you should have had the same pleasure hundreds of us did in knowing her. All of her children lost a caring mother that they will surely miss. Her grand children will not get to snuggle with her. Many friends in her life, her church and around her will mourn not having her hugs and kindness. Her very loving husband is without his partner for life. The world lost another person who mattered.

You have an opportunity to simply take a bit of time to love with a bit more feeling for those around you. It means you continue to have an opportunity to meet more people in this world like Gloria Kerr. Bring happiness and love to those around you. Allow yourself to be impacted by more wonderful and loving people like Miss Gloria. Then pass it along and let your life mean something to others. Gloria's life meant so much to those around her and those that crossed paths with her. We love and will miss you Gloria. God's care and love for you now.

Seeing Change Coming

Staying grounded in your daily life can provide you with the ability to change and adjust to the curves that life throws at you. It becomes easy during times when things are going so well to let ourselves believe we are above it all. The actor William Shatner (Star Trek, Boston Legal, etc) is quoted as saying, "being an icon is overblown. Remember, an icon is moved by a mouse."

Those little things in life will tend to cause us the most grief. The cumulative effect of them will cause you to tumble from a high perch. But keeping in touch with your basic values and allowing yourself to impart this to others, you will stay in tune with what is going on around your life. It allows you to recognize when 'the mouse' is starting to shift the direction of your life.

Don't be afraid of change and change is not all bad. You simply need to recognize that it is happening. I have had shifts in my life that came at me like a baseball bat to my back. At other times I've been able to recognize them from a far. In either case I had to adjust but it was much easier to make judgements when seeing the change coming.

You too can effect the changes coming at you - if you see them before they hit. Stay aware of the moods and swings of life around you. Then when you sense a change coming, it probably is so take time to evaluate what type of movement is happening. Good or bad, you will have to make that decision. At least you will have the opportunity to effect the change that is coming.

It may be an issue in your marriage that is heading you towards worse times. If you see it, you can do things to improve the probability of a better outcome. If it comes at you like a baseball bat to the back, then its probably too late...you'll have to adjust to the change. Maybe its in your job, evaluate what is happening with the business or your work area.

If the type of job you are performing is slowly being prepared for outsourcing, chances are you will be out of a job soon enough. Start doing those things to improve your skills for another position within the company or at least in preparation for that moment if a layoff occurs. If it comes at you like a baseball bat to the back, then you're behind everyone else who did prepare themselves...you'll have to adjust to the change.

By now your back is likely battered and bruised by the unexpected changes that have come your way. Seeing change coming or at least sensing it will lessen the impact. It would be unfair of me to say that simply seeing change makes it a whole lot easier. But then again, not all change is bad and can be quite good. Just allow yourself to see it coming.

Having an upbeat and positive attitude will allow you to make change much easier, whether its a slow train rolling down the track towards you. Or if that bat comes swinging out of nowhere...you'll have a bit of protection to lessen the blow.

Attitude And Stress Management

As you go through life, there will be times of stress and times of negative attitude. Its unlikely you would be human were you never to experience these. Everyday events can bring about stress whether it be a higher then expected electric bill, a neighborhood dog barking all night or simply a rough day at work.

Each of us develop our own coping mechanisms. Some people turn to drinking and other methods of hiding the stress. Others turn to a 'mean' streak within them, being either physically abusive or just a rotten person. These are methods which do much more harm in the longterm as opposed to the shortterm relief given. All of the previously mentioned methods are used by people with negative attitudes as well, a quick release or 'pick me up' from the situation.

Now I certainly am not here to criticize drinking or to condone any type of abusive behaviour. Those tendencies are better addressed by professional people. What I do want to offer is a choice in how to deal with stress. An easy and learned method of helping you work through the current situation. As with any serious issue of stress, seek out doctors or other professional assistance.

Now, the day has ended and you are stressed from a very hectic work day. Way too much work and too little resources, customers badgering you on the phone and a boss that simply shouldn't be in a position of management. You feel as though a vein may burst at any moment and you really need to decompress.

The car awaits and you may automatically turn on the 'drive home' music on that local rock station or to the 'talk show' heads. With each loud beat or shrill pontification your stress only builds. You may not even realize it. Reach over and find something more soothing such as classical music or maybe simply turn the radio off. Reflect, think about the day and realize this to has passed and a new day awaits.

Now you are home, seek out your spouse, a relative or friends and simply connect. Don't simply unload your troubles but talk about the day, about other events and more importantly about 'their' day. As humans we are designed to encourage each other and naturally this will happen. Give encouragement to the other and you will receive it in return.

The same goes for your dreams and visions. Sharing these with others will provide an opportunity to receive encouragement. You need also to encourage others in a positive fashion in order to get the same in return. The same goes for having a positive attitude. Giving forth a great attitude, being nice to others, helping them be upbeat will be provided back to you.

You have made it this far, the day doesn't seem quite so bad. You've placed yourself among others and those others should have great attitudes in order to bolster your own. Placing yourself among others with like minded dreams and visions will help you as well. In both cases, doing so only helps you to achieve both.

Now look where we have ended up, the anxiety of the day is probably easing away by now. Our mind isn't 'laser-focused' on the negative things of the day. We've placed ourselves into a mind set that life will go on and it will be great. We've placed ourselves among others that support the idea of a great life. Together we pull each other through it with amazing ease.

Stress will always be there and you will learn to sense it and to fight it off. By being among others of like minded attitudes will naturally over time allow you to overcome stress more quickly. Maybe you will even be able to avoid it as you allow your mind to go to that 'stress-free' place as soon as you feel it coming on.

Overcome your stress with a positive attitude and allow others to enter your world. They will impact your life and you will impact theirs.

“There is no such thing as a 'self-made' man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”
-George Matthew Adams

Spring Into A New Attitude

Such comfort as do lusty young men feel,
When well-apparelled April on the heel,
Of limping Winter treads, even such delight,
Among fresh female buds shall you this night,
Inherit at my house
- (Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet)

With spring upon us, the above text taken from the play of youth and budding new opportunity. Ourselves can take spring to make the old, new again. To make a fresh start with the promise of growth and renewed vitality. 'Spring' into a new attitude and your life will grow in abundance.

Quality - The Road Continues

From the good folks at www.despair.com. Note the intended humor in it but understand that for all of us, striving for quality where we work never ends.

The road ahead of us whether it is in business or in our personal lives stretches on. You should understand that achieving one level of goodness only sets us up to achieve another level.

So sure, it may seem like a 'death march', but greatness does await each of us. Success in this march to quality of work and life will be yours.

Drink From The Well Of Life

Heard an interesting statement the other day, "movement doesn't take place with 'stinky thinking'. It happens with positive thinking." This comes from Steve Bullen, a pastor at my local church and it was in reference to preparing yourself to move ahead in life. The 'stinky thinking' refers to always being negative about any given situation.

So easy it has become for all of us to look at the down side of most any situation. So easy to wallow in the negativity of anything gone bad. So easy to let these things bring our own attitude down. It breaks our strength, it weakens our ability to push through to what is more important. Is it that much easier to be negative? Does it take more energy to be positive?

I have read different studies that have shown it takes more muscles to frown then to smile. Even if it isn't so, I still hold the belief that smiling is much better for you and consumes much less of your energy. And what is it you can do with this added energy?

Use that energy to improve your life, to drink from the well of goodness that life has to offer. With that energy, you will have the strength to move that rock which covers the well. To push that rock aside and drink from all that life has to offer.

At a place called Andersonville Civil War Prison Camp in the U.S. state of Georgia (also known as Camp Sumter), the differences of men imprisoned during the war came to a boil. Conditions had worsened to a point at which water flowing in a small stream became intolerable. Many of the men prayed for water and many wished for divine intervention. Many put away their differences to work as one and to try and create better conditions.

It then happened one thunderous and stormy night. It is said that lightening struck the ground and a new and previously unknown water spring began to flow. There is no scientific explanation for this but many felt it was a sign from above. The earth opened, the water flowed and it was named Providence Spring.

Set aside your 'stinky thoughts' and develop a positive look in life. Drink from the Providence Spring that will come forth.