Family

During my time off this week, it brings to mind things that I am thankful for. Things and people that have been a large reason in explaining who I am. In large part, my mother, father and siblings help make me the person I am today.

All of us have family and it is an easy thing to be thankful for. For me, being the second youngest of seven children allowed me to watch the older ones. Learning by their failures or success is something that I did all along. Through the death of a sister, to all of the many things that happen within a family, each of us have stuck together.

My parents are well into retirement and enjoying their lives and life together the way they want. As parents, I'm sure they understand how much they've meant to all of us kids but we'll never feel thankful enough. Not perfect parents but perfect for me as I've come to understand that we do the best we can in raising children and in living our lives.

To my sister and brothers, thank you for helping me through many of the tough times that I've had. It was with your support that really pulled me through those times. I'll always be one to give credit to each of you for helping form the person that I am now. As I go through my life, remembering each of you with gratitude and love will always remain.

To my readers, in some form you each have a family that raised you. There are many different stories, many different types and many levels of satisfaction with ones family. Yet you should find it in your heart to remember family at this time of year. Be safe and healthy during the holiday celebrations.

Christmas

All of us have our favorite Christmas hymns, this is mine. Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

O Holy Night - J.S.Dwight & A.C.Adam, 19th Century

O holy night,
the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of
our dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world
in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared
and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope,
the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night,
O night divine!

Led by the light
of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts
by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star
sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men
from Orient land.

The King of Kings
lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials
born to be our Friend!

He knows our need,
To our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!
before Him bend.

Truly He taught us
to love one another;
His law is love and
His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break
for the slave is our brother
And in His name
all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in
grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us
praise His holy name!

Christ is the Lord,
Oh praise His name forever,
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim
His pow'r and glory
evermore proclaim.

Merry Christmas

“Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing returns to you glad.” - John Greenleaf Whittier

For anyone celebrating this time of year, all the best to you, your families and friends. It will be a chance to renew yourself, to let the worry and stress of life be set aside for a short while. Let your world relax for a few moments.

• Afrikaans - Gesëende Kersfees
• Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
• Danish - Glædelig Jul
• English - Merry Christmas
• Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
• Finnish - Hyvää Joulua
• French - Joyeux Noël
• German - Froehliche Weihnachten
• Greek - Kala Christouyenna
• Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
• Irish Nollaig - Shona Dhuit
• Italian - Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
• Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
• Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
• Latin - Natale hilare
• Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
• Norwegian - God Jul
• Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
• Portuguese - Feliz Natal
• Russian - Srozhdestovm Kristovim
• Spanish - Feliz Navidad
• Swahili - Kuwa na Krismasi njema
• Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko
• Thai - Suksun Wan Christmas
• Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
• Welsh - Nadolig Llawen

7 Minutes

Coming up, the day before Christmas. I've taken the past week off to prepare for the holiday season. I have also been finishing up work for different customers before many take off for their own holiday.

In these final days of 2006, my family and I have been blessed. We in turn have taken our good fortune and passed it on to others. Since it has been seven days off from writing, consider it my '7 Minutes' of reflection that I've written about before.

The seven days have been busy and full of figuring out how to help others. It has also been a week of passing on to our children, family and friends. The whole holiday season is one that you can use to bless others which in turn will be returned to you in time.

There will be periodic writings over the next week or so as I prepare for the new year. It will give me time to continue reflection and focus on my wife and family. Take time yourself to do the same, please come back to read more. Tell those that you think may benefit to come back and read. It only takes seven minutes of your time, '7 Minutes' of reflection to take your life to a whole new level.

Maya Angelou 'isms'

Today, I am sharing what I'll call Maya Angelou 'isms'. Bits of wisdom from an American poet and novelist.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone."

"People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Simple words of wisdom that all of us can learn from. If you only take a few of them, life for you and those around you will be better for it. Take a moment to turn your life from a negative tone into one that you can enjoy.

Take Lifes Opportunity

Winslow Homer - Four Leaf Clover

"Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets." - Unknown

At various points in your life, someone will enter or pass through your life. They will prompt you to move and take charge before you believe that you are ready. What do you do? You take hold of that opportunity is exactly what you should do.

Too many times we sit around trying to plan out every aspect of what will happen next. All in an effort to plan the perfect experience, plan the timing to meet all expectations or simply over thinking the decisions that have to be made. You can certainly perform 'due diligience' in making decisions, but you can certainly over think things as well.

With all of this planning and thinking and 'gnashing of teeth', opportunity will probably pass you by. The timing will never seem completely right, the opportunity will never seem completely right and you will likely never be 100% sure of your decision. But take it and run with it...the feeling of not being quite prepared or it being a bad time will make you work all that much harder to succeed in that opportunity.

It is said that "many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers." Always continue your search through the clover, but also take opportunity when it is presented to you. Chances are you will find a four-leaf clover amid the new opportunity.

To Light Your Way Home

From the folks at Apple Blossom Art

Coming home, it is a wonderful feeling when one has been on the road. Whether it be a short trip down the road to another city, or a long journey to another country, returning is always a comforting event.

As much as we try to expand our horizons with new experiences and places, we tend to be 'home bodies' at heart. Home is the one place where you will always find those closest to you. The wife or husband, father or mother, child or friend that know you most dearly.

When I travel, the vast majority of people that I run into are friendly, helping and genuinely ready to assist. But the hotels are different from my own house, the food is different from my wife's cooking and the sounds or atmosphere does not have the same familiar feel. Always I come back and can slow down from the hectic pace, to be amongst close family and friends.

In your daily life, many of the stresses you encounter can be absolved simply by coming home. Don't make your home a stressful one, try to make it a comforting one that nourishes and rejuvenates the soul. “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned," was said by Maya Angelou. Build a home that you will always ache for when you are not there.

I myself am coming home and will write again as soon as I am able to. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy your time at home with loved ones.

Each Of Us Carries Something

Everyday, each of us has a different load in life to carry. The picture is from Mumbai, India and it isn't meant to be humorous or downward looking upon the individual.

What is meant to show is that each of us has different responsibilities, jobs or troubles that we must shoulder. It doesn't make one any harder or easier, just that we all share this common bond of living life.

When you consider your own issues in life, understand that many others around you have a story of their own. Each of us has different burdens but we all still have to struggle and cope with them. Try never to look upon others as not having it "as bad as you". Just realize that all of us work to overcome and to achieve all that we can.

Your House Called Life

When you have made a choice in life, you have to take on all that comes with that choice. You do not get to choose just the 'bits' that you like, you have to deal with all of it. It is like buying a new home. You walk into a home you are considering purchasing and you really love the family room. It has beautiful fireplace, cozy atmosphere and wonderful sunlight. Maybe even the kitchen area overlooks the family area, an added enjoyment.

So you purchase the home and move in. Yet the backyard is small and borders a yard with barking dogs. The home itself has too small of a master bathroom. Maybe the garage door does not work very well or the furnace does not heat the house well during the winter. All of these negative things are yours to deal with. You have a choice at this point.

Choose to complain constantly about them, which will diminish your enjoyment of the good things your home has to offer. Or you can change those things you do not like. Talk to the neighbors and get to know them. After a while, you will be able to bring up the subject of the dogs, the neighbors will likely be more willing to try and change the situation. Expand your master bath, get the garage door fixed or research what changes you could make to improve the heating conditions.

All of this requires you to make movement, to make a change. By doing nothing, you change nothing. Your life, like your home is your responsibility and only you can improve it. Take charge, begin now and let change improve your life.

In his book, "THINK BIG", Ben Carson talks of the same things I have written about. He writes interestingly about the need to think positively. The use of PMA or "Positive Mental Attitude"; have faith; you are what you think; I did it, so can you.

These are words that all of us have been told by so many over the years. And though we have heard them often, it doesn't make them any less true or more real. What it does mean is that we have a choice. We can either be negative about all that is around us or choose a more positive life attitude.

Ben Carson is a highly respected physician and he provides that our emotional state affects the hormones in our body. Hormones significantly influence white cells and the body's ability to fight disease. This means that we now actually have a scientific explanation for the fact that people who become very depressed do not do well in recovering from disease. The ability to lead a more positive life can help keep your physical well-being in better shape.

Maybe one could suggest that it doesn't mean we are physically better, just that we accept our physical state in better manner. For me, either way, if having a more positive attitude can keep me healthier or make make feel better about it, my existence is all that much better.

Ben Carson says, "if we allow ourselves to dwell on negatives, on hurts, on mistreatments, we will be negative thinkers. We can choose the way we think. When people object to words like "positive thinking," then you can say, "Think Big, then!"

All Of Us Have Dreams

"Get a dream for your life, regardless of your age or position." - Jill Sweetman

This week I have been working in India and this being my first time here, it is a pleasure getting to know the people and culture. As I have seen throughout my travels is at one level, people around the world are the same. Each of us sleeps, get up in the morning, get the kids ready for school, struggle with traffic on the way to work and deal with work stresses through out the day.

We also have to commute home, get dinner ready, reconnect with our family or maybe attend a function (soccer practice, school play, religious event) and then come home, prepare for bed and try to get to sleep. All in an effort to repeat it again the next day. As my parents said to me years ago, "people all around the world, regardless of ethnicity, class or location put their pants on one leg at a time." A lesson simply to show how much alike all of us are.

In travelling back and forth between the hotel and office, a regular driver picks me up and returns me to the hotel each day. Not that I am above driving, traffic here in India is certainly different then what I am used to. If I were to drive, I would be more of an impediment to others on the road. So for an hour each way, each day, I have the opportunity to talk with my driver.

His name is Mitra and has been a pleasure to be with. A young man with a child and a wife due to give birth at any time to twins. Life has the same concerns for him as any would have any place in the world. Things concerning the health of his wife and as yet unborn children, how will I pay the medical bills, will I get enough work, on and on and on. The stress of driving in this type of traffic and the potential for an accident. Anything you can think of is a potential conceren for another person any place on this planet (with obvious exceptions).

Mitra though is such an upbeat person about all that is of concern. He understands and appreciates all that he has. His attitude is so positive that he opens himself to opportunity that will present itself. Faith and belief in what is good and in his own ability says alot about him. He also has a dream that sustains him. He believes in that dream and I for one believe he can achieve it.

Establish a vision, a dream for your own life. Believe in that dream, act upon it and you will eventually realize your dream. All around the world, people have dreams...each of us can attain them at some level. Continue to believe in yourself.

Farming Hearts and Minds

The environment around you regardless of where you are is your field of influence. A field that includes the hearts and minds of other people that enter in, pass through and generally any one that you encounter through out your life. It is a field that you impact by your actions and words.

As a farmer plants seeds and tends to the field, you also have responsibility for the seeds you plant in the hearts and minds of others. You can tend to them over time and watch those people grow and move to greatness. Or you can ignore them and watch them wither. These interactions go on everyday both to you and by you.

You may be 'planting' seeds within the fields of your influence, but others are doing the same as you enter theirs. When two mindful farmers enter each others environment, a wonderful thing happens to both people. The metaphor for tending a field of influence can be difficult to follow in its concept, but the more you think about it, clarity will come to your understanding.

The basic premise for me when it comes to 'farming' your field of influence is this. Do not leave people where you find them. Help them, nurture them and bring them to a higher place. Leave them with hope and understanding that life has much to offer them.

The 'harvest' of a well tended field will yield much to you. Your life will be enriched for the experience and be more bountiful in its rewards. In all that you do, leave that which you enter better then when you found it. Leave the heart and mind of others in a better place.

Look At Life From A Different View

Everyone have a great day today and also tomorrow. I'll write again soon about how each of us has a field that we tend to. Where that field exists and how we sow into that field and take care of it. Of course it is a metaphor for life and how you can live it.

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” - Wayne Dyer

Your Field

Recently I listened to a speaker talk about your sphere of influence. That area or impact that you can have on those that enter or pass through your life. Taken in its simplest form, as you go about life, your family, friends, co-workers, people at the store you shop in, where you buy your gas, church and everything you do.

During these moments of interaction when you speak, the way you conduct yourself and the way you respond is a chance to impact another life. If you think about it, everywhere you go you create a sphere of influence. As the saying goes, "wherever you go, there you are" and so is your ability to impact people.

What all of this means is that your influence and ability to impact people moves with you. In example, I will be leaving on a business trip to India in the near future. Many would say to me that I'll be out of my comfort zone, out of my environment. But my environment is all around me where ever I go. I carry my own environment and people I come across are coming into my field as it is called.

A field you may wonder? I'll talk more about that next time I write. Just know that as you move about in your daily life, that where ever you go, you can have impact on others. Try not to lose any opportunity to engage and create change.

Perception Or Reality

Perception isn't always reality in certain things. I had reason to wonder why a professional football team called the Detroit Lions were taking heat for playing on the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Many have said this team always loses and shouldn't play on this day for they are not a very good team.

So I thought to see if perception is the reality. In 68 games that Detroit has played on Thanskgiving Day, they have a won/loss record of 35 - 33. This includes losses in 1925 and 1926 when there was a Detroit team called the Detroit Panthers. Better then even in winning games isn't all that bad.

But it does show that our first impressions or what we perceive on the surface is not always correct. We need to look a bit deeper to find the truth and reality of what we see. This goes for things we hear, things we see and people we meet. Learn to find out more and see what the reality is beneath the perceived, you will grow richer inside for it.

Now the scores for you football purists - for others, Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy time with family and friends.

Nov. 26, 1925 Rock Island Independents 6, DETROIT PANTHERS 3
Nov. 25, 1926 Los Angeles Buccaneers 9, DETROIT PANTHERS 6
Nov. 29, 1934 Chicago Bears 19, DETROIT LIONS 16
Nov. 28, 1935 DETROIT LIONS 14, Chicago Bears 2
Nov. 26, 1936 DETROIT LIONS 13, Chicago Bears 7
Nov. 25, 1937 Chicago Bears 13, DETROIT LIONS 0
Nov. 24, 1938 DETROIT LIONS 14, Chicago Bears 7
Nov. 22, 1945 Cleveland Rams 28, DETROIT LIONS 21
Nov. 28, 1946 Boston Yanks 34, DETROIT LIONS 10
Nov. 27, 1947 Chicago Bears 34, DETROIT LIONS 14
Nov. 25, 1948 Chicago Cardinals 28, DETROIT LIONS 14
Nov. 24, 1949 Chicago Bears 28, DETROIT LIONS 7
Nov. 23, 1950 DETROIT LIONS 49, New York Yanks 14
Nov. 22, 1951 DETROIT LIONS 52, Green Bay Packers 35
Nov. 27, 1952 DETROIT LIONS 48, Green Bay Packers 24
Nov. 26, 1953 DETROIT LIONS 34, Green Bay Packers 15
Nov. 25, 1954 DETROIT LIONS 28, Green Bay Packers 24
Nov. 24, 1955 DETROIT LIONS 24, Green Bay Packers 10
Nov. 22, 1956 Green Bay Packers 24, DETROIT LIONS 20
Nov. 28, 1957 DETROIT LIONS 18, Green Bay Packers 6
Nov. 27, 1958 DETROIT LIONS 24, Green Bay Packers 14
Nov. 26, 1959 Green Bay Packers 24, DETROIT LIONS 17
Nov. 24, 1960 DETROIT LIONS 23, Green Bay Packers 10
Nov. 23, 1961 Green Bay Packers 17, DETROIT LIONS 9
Nov. 22, 1962 DETROIT LIONS 26, Green Bay Packers 14
Nov. 28, 1963 DETROIT LIONS 13, Green Bay Packers 13
Nov. 26, 1964 Chicago Bears 27, DETROIT LIONS 24
Nov. 25, 1965 DETROIT LIONS 24, Baltimore Colts 24
Nov. 24, 1966 San Francisco 49ers 41, DETROIT LIONS 14
Nov. 23, 1967 Los Angeles Rams 31, DETROIT LIONS 7
Nov. 28, 1968 Philadelphia Eagles 12, DETROIT LIONS 0
Nov. 27, 1969 Minnesota Vikings 27, DETROIT LIONS 0
Nov. 26, 1970 DETROIT LIONS 28, Oakland Raiders 14
Nov. 25, 1971 DETROIT LIONS 32, Kansas City Chiefs 21
Nov. 23, 1972 DETROIT LIONS 37, New York Jets 20
Nov. 22, 1973 Washington Redskins 20, DETROIT LIONS 0
Nov. 28, 1974 Denver Broncos 31, DETROIT LIONS 27
Nov. 27, 1975 Los Angeles Rams 20, DETROIT LIONS 0
Nov. 25, 1976 DETROIT LIONS 27, Buffalo Bills 14
Nov. 24, 1977 Chicago Bears 31, DETROIT LIONS 14
Nov. 23, 1978 DETROIT LIONS 17, Denver Broncos 14
Nov. 22, 1979 DETROIT LIONS 20, Chicago Bears 0
Nov. 27, 1980 Chicago Bears 23, DETROIT LIONS 17 (OT)
Nov. 26, 1981 DETROIT LIONS 27, Kansas City Chiefs 10
Nov. 25, 1982 New York Giants 13, DETROIT LIONS 6
Nov. 24, 1983 DETROIT LIONS 45, Pittsburgh Steelers 3
Nov. 22, 1984 DETROIT LIONS 31, Green Bay Packers 28
Nov. 28, 1985 DETROIT LIONS 31, New York Jets 20
Nov. 27, 1986 Green Bay Packers 44, DETROIT LIONS 40
Nov. 26, 1987 Kansas City Chiefs 27, DETROIT LIONS 20
Nov. 24, 1988 Minnesota Vikings 23, DETROIT LIONS 0
Nov. 23, 1989 DETROIT LIONS 13, Cleveland Browns 10
Nov. 22, 1990 DETROIT LIONS 40, Denver Broncos 27
Nov. 28, 1991 DETROIT LIONS 16, Chicago Bears 6
Nov. 26, 1992 Houston Oilers 24, DETROIT LIONS 21
Nov. 25, 1993 Chicago Bears 10, DETROIT LIONS 6
Nov. 24, 1994 DETROIT LIONS 35, Buffalo Bills 21
Nov. 23, 1995 DETROIT LIONS 44, Minnesota Vikings 38
Nov. 28, 1996 Kansas City Chiefs 28, DETROIT LIONS 24
Nov. 27, 1997 DETROIT LIONS 55, Chicago Bears 20
Nov. 26, 1998 DETROIT LIONS 19, Pittsburgh Steelers 16 (OT)
Nov. 25, 1999 DETROIT LIONS 21, Chicago Bears 17
Nov. 23, 2000 DETROIT LIONS 34, New England Patriots 9
Nov. 22, 2001 Green Bay Packers 29, DETROIT LIONS 27
Nov. 28, 2002 New England Patriots 20, DETROIT LIONS 12
Nov. 27, 2003 DETROIT LIONS 22, Green Bay Packers 14
Nov. 25, 2004 Indianapolis Colts 41, DETROIT LIONS 9
Nov. 24, 2005 Atlanta Falcons 27, DETROIT LIONS 7

Change That Helps Others

Have you seen that commercial from Liberty Mutual? The one in which a person does a small act of kindness for another and a third person sees it. This third person then does a small act of kindness for another, so on and so forth. I'm not here to endorse Liberty Mutual, but to commend the message about personal responsibility and kindness.

If each of us takes a moment in our day to help another, as Jim Rohn said, “You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” Change yourself to be a better person. Turn that changed person into someone that is willing to help others.

Thanksgiving Grace

Grace by John Holyfield

A day goes by and another one arrives, time moves forward as we pass through it. In your own way, you find ways to be thankful for what you have, for who is in your life and for what will be. Here in America, we celebrate the harvest time with a thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving in Canada is much the same as it is in the United States; however, it is observed on a different day - the second Monday in October. Other parts of the world and different cultures celebrate thanksgiving. Although they are different from our own American tradition each of them revolve around giving thanks for life's blessings and the celebration of the autumn harvest.

In Great Britain, the Harvest festival is held late September or October. Jewish people celebrate Sukkot, a festival of thanksgiving that lasts nine days. The Festival of the Autumn Moon (Zhong Qui), is the Chinese celebration of thanksgiving. In southern India, people in Kerala hold the harvest festival of Onam. And a Lithuanian thanksgiving celebration involves the creation of a boba (meaning old woman) from the last sheaf of grain at harvest time.

For each of us, we have much to be thankful for in our lives. A holiday will remind us of this very thing, but we need to remind ourselves often as we go about our daily lives. A quote that I am unsure of its author says, "it isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart." Be thankful in your life and see it become more fulfilled.

Life Happening

Busy week, busy life - I do hope all is well with everyone. My thoughts come back to my regular readers when time becomes filled and writing this blog is interrupted. My belief has always been that words serve to inspire and support your daily lives. If giving my readers a bit of hope or encouragement to achieve dreams of a better life helps even one person, then it makes my day better.

Many times in life we encounter tragedy and pain. Yet the small acts of kindness, the small acts of encouragement allow us to see hope and belief in the good our life has. Your life is important to you and those around you. Each of us can help each other to achieve that better life. Each of us will achieve that better life with consistent and progressive movement.

“Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.” - Samuel Smiles

Helping Others

There is a great television show carried here in the U.S. called Extreme Makeover:Home Edition that simply does a good thing for a selected family each week. The basic idea of the show is to take a family that has had hardship in their life and do a good thing for them. This is done basically by tearing down their old house and building a new one. My short description does not do the show justice so I encourage you to read more about it.

I've always been fascinated by the goodness that springs from the different people that get involved each week. This past Sunday though, a relative of my wife had their home rebuilt. The story of the Farina Family (Season 4, Ep. 7) involves her dedication to the Relay for Life Walks in honor of her mother and becoming an active member of the American Cancer society. Then at age 25, developing and is now a one year survivor of breast cancer.

The stories of what people around us go through are wide and varied. Life is simply occurring and it is up to all of us to help and support each other the best way we can. If you see a need, try to fill it. If you see pain, try to soothe it. Most of all, do not ignore it. Sowing into other peoples lives will ultimately be rewarded in your life.

“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” - Flora Edwards

Think Big

"There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave, there are souls that are pure and true; then give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you." - Madeline Bridges

A short article today but one that can make a big difference in your life. It is the idea of thinking big in everything that you do. When you dream, dream large. When you act on those dreams, act large.

Another way to 'think big' is to look at what Ben Carson writes in his book, "Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential For Excellence". Each letter has a meaning that you can adapt in to your own life.

T - Talents/time: recognize them as gifts.
H - Hope for goods things and be honest.
I - Insight from people and good books.
N - Be nice to all people.
K - Knowledge: Recognize it as the key to living.

B - Books: Read them actively.
I - In-depth learning skills: Develop them.
G - God: Never get too big for him.

"Big thinking precedes great achievement," is what Wilfred Peterson said. You can achieve more in life by believing in yourself in a "big" way.

Attitude In A New York Minute

There is so much in life to take in as we move through it. Even when busy, I have been learning over these years to try and take in the goodness of things around me. Making sure that I experience and recognize the events and people happening as I pass through it.

An example of this would be a recent day trip up to New York. Flying in late on a Sunday evening, a cab ride into lower Manhattan, checking in and preparing for an early Monday morning meeting. Then another cab ride back out to take a flight back to Atlanta, hitting Atlanta rush hour traffic at its peak. As the saying goes, it felt like a 'New York Minute'.

Yet I have always liked going to New York City. The madness of it all can be overwhelming if you can not put it into context. Sure, lots of traffic, lots of people, everyone and thing going at a fast pace. But you can ease into the pace when you need to but you can easily find ways to simply step to the side and observe. To stop and watch others, you will find that life is happening like it is in any city around the world.

People are rushing to work, to home, to a meeting, shopping or maybe working in some capacity. Doing those same things you do - at a different pace of course - living life the best way they know how. And a general 'bad' reputation is given New York some times as not being friendly. Myself, I have never found that to be true.

There are certainly folks that have a bad attitude and seem to have a mean streak in them. But a smile or kind word tends to have a positive effect on them. In general though, most New Yorkers are quite friendly...as I find people most everywhere I go. What I do find is that the typical New Yorker is rushing by so quickly, it takes 'quick hits of kindness' that get exchanged between people.

In a slower paced community, you may take additional time to stop, say hello and exchange a few words. In New York, it is the fast hello, the quick smile, the 'quick hit of kindness'. When you understand this, you begin to see a change in your own view of New York. It opens you to see a whole new city. You will see a whole lot more of all that happens in that "New York Minute".

Exercise Your Voice

Not only for any person here during U.S. elections - where ever you live in this world - where ever you have the opportunity to vote - exercise that right to shape the world around you.

Generational Change

As we pass through life, there are seasons of change that occur for each of us. I've been having a 'mini-season' I think over the last week. Our children our growing up and taking on adult life. It is a change that I thought would pass through like a 'normal day'.

Yet I am finding that all of these years of raising and teaching my children is passing in to a new phase. The teaching and worrying doesn't stop, it just changes. With two still in high school and all others carrying on with their adult lives, it is a strange adjustment for me. But I feel assured that each will survive.

With the events of the past few weeks, I think how each of us endured the hardships and joy of early adult life. Each of us were passed down knowledge from previous generations. They were the ones to raise our own generation. And so it is with us, passing of our knowledge to the next generation...in other words the raising of the next generation.

Enjoy the change, enjoy what comes next.

Goodness in Autumn

As you get your dose of negative news, know that there is a tremendous amount of goodness that exists all around. If you look, you can find the good that is out there.

So take a seat and enjoy the goodness that surrounds us. The picture shown can also be seen along with others at PhotoChart.Com.

Power to Change

"You have the power to change your world and environment." - Dean Sweetman

There is so much that happens in our lives that we forget that change is possible. We get wrapped up in the fury of so much bearing down upon us at any given time. Yet the amount of pressure that is in our lives is in large part put there by our ownselves. We demand too much of ourselves in many ways.

It may be attempting to always look perfect or to work harder then the next individual. Maybe it is the career woman also wanting to be the perfect mother with children. Could it be that we should stop and take a breath, stop to think what is important in our lives?

Take time to evaluate what it is you want to accomplish in life. Measure your time to determine what you can devote attention to. Discard or lower your expectations of those things that only serve to complicate your life. Change is possible, change is yours to make. Make it a good change.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - please take a moment to follow the contributions link for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This is the month to help women in their fight against the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. It is the most common cancer among women other than skin cancer. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death among women, second only to lung cancer.

For the men out there, did you know that nearly 1,600 men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and that 400 are predicted to die. So this effects more women, but we men are not immune.

There are many health causes out there and I have those that are important to me. These include Breast Cancer, Diabetes, Crohns Disease along with a few others. Look inside yourself to see what matters to you, then begin helping those causes. This is another key to a full life, to helping others, to impacting others.

"Give time for a worthy cause (with eagerness) and you will be worthy and richly rewarded." - W. Clement Stone

Gaining Attitude Daily

A couple of days off from writing as I head into a weeks vacation. I will have limited stories to write as I get some of the 'work at home' done. I also have a son graduating from Army Basic training this week. The days are full and it is alway good at this point in my life. There will be times of worry and pain, times of self doubt and anger. Yet I continue to allow my life to evolve in such a manner as to not let those things keep me down.

You have the same ability within you to overcome those obstacles, those 'rocks in your wagon' that burden your daily life. Find it within yourself to find goodness in your day. Do not allow the bad to consume your life. There are wonderful things that will happen in your life if you let them. Put yourself among those that wish to see positively and change will occur for you.

"Like success, failure is many things to many people. With Positive Mental Attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again." - W. Clement Stone

Try to have a 'ladder' experience as often as you can. I'll explain more in future stories. Have a great week.

Power To Change

"You have the power to change your world and environment" - Dean Sweetman

Everyday passes as another learning experience and opportunity to make your life better. Events happen around and to you that will give rise to your ability to react in one way or another. How you handle these moments, these interactions of life will dictate if you move towards the life you want or leave you standing still in the same place.

When life is not going well, people tend to adapt to the conditions by growing accustomed to the situation. To change, to risk movement is not something that they would consider. A pop singer named Tori Amos said, "our generation has an incredible amount of realism, yet at the same time it loves to complain and not really change. Because, if it does change, then it won't have anything to complain about."

I would not hold that quote to just a particular generation for I find it in all age levels of people I talk to. The complaints may be different as are the reasons for why anyone may have a need to complain. It would appear to me that these people simply allow themselves to give thought to negative attitudes. Those negative attitudes are like planting a seed inside yourself much like the planting of a positive seed.

A negative seed though is like a weed. It grows quickly and fervently to take over all other thoughts. Others will notice it growing in you by how you talk and your gestures. Eventually anything positive in your life is overrun by the negative. You need to carefully seperate your negative attitudes from the positive ones. Burn the negative from your life as much as you can. This will allow the positive to grow stronger and brighter.

Making room for great attitude will result in the strength to make change. It will help you make room for a better life.

Compassion At Any Price

Things happen in life to all different people, with different backgrounds and different income levels. It is all relative to where you are in life. Take for example what happened to billionaire Steve Wynn. A great and valuable Picasso painting being shown to friends is accidentally punctured...by the owner himself!

A lot of value gone in an instant. You may think why feel bad for someone with so much money. Why not feel a bit of sorrow? A beautiful original painting that can be repaired but also it meant a lot to a person. That person may have more then you or I, but still they are a person.

There is a limit of course to the compassion, Mr. Wynn will be just fine in his loss. But when it comes to the misfortune of others, your instinct should not be to immediately 'pile on'. Find it in yourself to have a reasonable amount of sympathy. It may just be you next time having lost something of importance.

"Make no judgments where you have no compassion." - Anne McCaffrey

Make A Difference Day

"Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 28, 2006."

Have you ever considered taking a bit of time or even a lot of your time to help someone else? Doing something for another that can use your support.

The "Make A Difference Day" is a great opportunity for people just like you around the world to do just that. So you ask what can you do? Fill a need somewhere, do something nice for someone, paint a porch, get people together and clean up that small park.

When you click on the link, you will find an Idea Generator. Something that will help spark that inner you. Just do something, get up and put away your needs for a short time. You will be amazed at the difference you can make. You will be amazed at the difference it makes in you.

“The best way to do ourselves good is to be doing good to others; the best way to gather is to scatter.” - Thomas Brooks

Cheerfulness In Life

The Swedish text is translated to say;


Cheerfulness prolongs life.
Politeness delights company.
Industriousness brings prosperity.
- Carl Damm [1828-1884], a writing tutor in Wirestad [Virestad/G], Sweden

It is said by Thomas Carlyle that "wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it ;better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen." How often we go through life with a frown upon our lives wishing for a change that could bring happiness. For many people it is an elusive quest, this thing called happiness. Yet most fail to see that it resides within oneself, that ability to be cheerful.

Some have scoffed at my idea of happiness and cheerfulness. They say that it is easy to talk of this when things are going well. I understand the thought process they are using when saying wait until things go bad. I am here to state that things have gone bad in my life. I have suffered pain at times and understand sullenness of the heart.

My years though have taught me that to remain in a state of being glum solves nothing. It provides no opportunity for others to come into my life and lift me. Without the hope of gladness, of sunshine to once more cascade over your spirit is a terrible way to live.

Be of cheerfulness as I told a friend once. "Suffer", it was said by Aristotle, "becomes beautiful when any one bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility, but through greatness of mind." A glad and happy heart is there if you look for it.

Choose The Beauty In Life

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” - Aldous Huxley


This is one of Thomas Kuhn's Paradigm Shift examples. A whole lot of scientific theory and thought goes into that which he is famous for.

I choose to leave that to those better suited for the scientific discussion and use the example to wonder about our perception of what is before us.

The picture is two images in one. Can you see both and if so, which one do you choose? Will beauty and grace win out over somberness and seeming despair?

Both have a place in your vision and exist in most every decision you are faced with. There will be your reaction to that which is happening to you. How you choose will determine and say much about your character and ability to overcome obstacles in life.

To choose the goodness that prevails in life, to choose the best that life is all about. Do not wallow in pain and despair but rejoice in what life has for you. Embrace your life in even the worst of times and choose to see the beauty in everything.

Trust In A Father

Yesterday was my father's 76th birthday. A day that I am thankful for as he gave me more then he'll ever know. He is like many other fathers in that he toils in quiet greatness providing for a family the best way he knows how.

He has touched many people in life and given of himself to make life for others better. He is enjoying life at this time hopefully with the knowledge that his children are doing well.

Like this 1930 US Quarter Dollar, it says "In God We Trust." For you Dad, it is also you that I trust.

Attitude - Done From The Inside

The following story is from "Cheerfulness As A Life Power" by Orison Swett Marden. It is an example of how your outward appearance reflects your inner self.

Acting on a sudden impulse, an elderly woman, the widow of a soldier who had been killed in the Civil War, went into a photographer's to have her picture taken. She was seated before the camera wearing the same stern, hard, forbidding look that had made her an object of fear to the children living in the neighborhood, when the photographer, thrusting his head out from the black cloth, said suddenly, "Brighten the eyes a little."

She tried, but the dull and heavy look still lingered.

"Look a little pleasanter," said the photographer, in an unimpassioned but confident and commanding voice.

"See here," the woman retorted sharply, "if you think that an old woman who is dull can look bright, that one who feels cross can become pleasant every time she is told to, you don't know anything about human nature. It takes something from the outside to brighten the eye and illuminate the face."

"Oh, no, it doesn't! It's something to be worked from the inside. Try it again," said the photographer good-naturedly.

Something in his manner inspired faith, and she tried again, this time with better success.

"That's good! That's fine! You look twenty years younger," exclaimed the artist, as he caught the transient glow that illuminated the faded face.

She went home with a queer feeling in her heart. It was the first compliment she had received since her husband had passed away, and it left a pleasant memory behind. When she reached her little cottage, she looked long in the glass and said, "There may be something in it. But I'll wait and see the picture."

When the picture came, it was like a resurrection. The face seemed alive with the lost fires of youth. She gazed long and earnestly, then said in a clear, firm voice, "If I could do it once, I can do it again."

Approaching the little mirror above her bureau, she said, "Brighten up, Catherine," and the old light flashed up once more.

"Look a little pleasanter!" she commanded; and a calm and radiant smile diffused itself over the face.

Her neighbors, as the writer of this story has said, soon remarked the change that had come over her face: "Why, Mrs. A., you are getting young. How do you manage it?"

"It is almost all done from the inside. You just brighten up inside and feel pleasant." -end

An accompanying poem and ending statement are included here:

"Fate served me meanly, but I looked at her and laughed,
That none might know how bitter was the cup I quaffed.
Along came Joy and paused beside me where I sat,
Saying, 'I came to see what you were laughing at.'"

Every emotion tends to sculpture the body into beauty or into ugliness. Worrying, fretting, unbridled passions, petulance, discontent, every dishonest act, every falsehood, every feeling of envy, jealousy, fear, -- each has its effect on the system, and acts deleteriously like a poison or a deformer of the body. -end of book excerpt

It takes yourself to change what is viewed on the outside. But you can also provide that seed or spark to someone else with a kind word or gesture. Then the word has to be planted inside and allowed to grow. From there, it is all 'done from the inside'.

Move Beyond It

A single act that occurs to you can set the tone for your entire day, if you choose to let it. Those seemingly small 'slights' that are thrust upon you by another person. An example would be getting cut off in traffic.

This happened to me recently at a two lane right-turn when a person in the righthand turn lane decided to get into a hurry. They moved over into my lane as I was turning and nearly hit me. Now out of all the articles I've written, life happens and you should just let it go. But of course I couldn't for the first five or so minutes.

How could this person do this, 'what a jerk' and all the other thoughts you develop in these situations. Physically I could tell that it was upsetting me, I identified it and began a series of thought processes to bring me up from that low point.

You first identify that is has upset and is effecting you. Secondly, ask yourself why you are reacting in this manner. What is the reason that action upset you in the first place. Then begin to think about how you are going to let it effect you the rest of the day. If you decide to hold onto it and let it fester, the rest of the day is going to be miserable.

Let it go, chalk it up to simple human interaction. There was no real harm, so no real foul and you both move on. The problem is if you don't, it will impact how you deal with others during the day and can have disasterous results. Letting it go will free you to move on and have a productive day.

Lifes Debris

"Knowing who you are, when you do, you can overcome anything." - Dean Sweetman

Life has a funny way of throwing obstacles in your daily path. My choice of the word 'funny' is because what else can you call it. Is it life conspiring only against you? I doubt that very much. Is it a predestined pattern for your life and your life only? I doubt that very much. No, life is just happening, circumstance is occurring as you pass along on your daily path.

It may be that you are driving to work and in the traffic you encounter debris in the middle of your lane. Boom...you run over it and a flat tire occurs. You hobble your way over to the side of the road. You say to yourself, "why is this always happening to me?" But it isn't, it happens to other folks. It isn't as if someone was waiting along the road for you to come along and drop the debris out there.

Sure you could have left five minutes earlier, maybe used the other lane or possibly had your mind on driving instead of other things. Just maybe you would have avoided the trouble. The fact remains is you didn't avoid it and here it is, a flat tire. Life happening with all of its splendor. You change the tire, call for road service or someone stops to help. Eventually you are on your way once again.

It could have been worse you suppose. It could have been raining, not a great condition to be changing a tire. The spare tire could have been flat, the debris could have caused more damage resulting in a terrible and tragic accident. Oh the 'what if' things we could conjure up through our imagination. But none of it didn't, a flat tire occurred, you pulled over, it was changed and you were on your way. Life was just happening.

For those that do not understand themselves will have a hard time understanding that it was just life happening. They will berate themselves or worry with second guesses of what may have or could happen. I wouldn't be bold enough to say that you will fully understand yourself. I'm not even sure I understand who I am completely.

Just trust in who you are and where you want to be in life. Life's inconveniences will become minor bumps on the path to your vision. You will gain confidence in overcoming anything that comes your way. It isn't to say that you won't face difficulties. What you will be able to do is flow through difficulties better. To make the lows less low and the highs much higher is what each of you deserve.

Kaizen - change for the better

The Japanese have a word that embodies a concept of striving to always improve. A "change for the better", the English translation being a "continuous improvement", or "continual improvement." It is something embraced within business improvement models such as Six Sigma.

The Japanese way encourages small improvements day after day, continuously. To understand that this is an on-going, never-ending improvement process. A "soft and gradual" method opposed to western habits to scrap everything and start with new.

Even though the term is applied to business, it can certainly be applied to your daily life. Making small changes in how you approach your daily life. One can use cigarette smoking as an example. For some, going 'cold turkey' is a method to accomplish something all at once. Yet statistics show it's one of the less effective ways of quitting. For every 100 smokers who quit without aids or counselling, only 10 will remain non-smokers for 12 months.

So maybe a more gradual and persistent move to change a habit is better. In turn one can make changes in attitude by taking small and gradual steps to improve. Staying on a path to change can be difficult but the reward is much greater. Big steps or small steps to change, at least take a step in a new direction, a new attitude.

"Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better." - Richard Hooker (English Theologian, Author and Preacher, 1554-1600)

Your Thoughts

This morning I have to apologize to several folks that may have commented on various articles. It seems that when a comment is submitted, two entries were getting placed and if I deleted either one, the entire comment was being tossed out. So to those that have tried to strike up a conversation, I am very sorry for that.

Today I did catch the mistake and have a copy of a comment from a recent article. The article was "Enjoy Your Work or Change It", posted on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. A comment from an anonymous reader said, "There are a number of reasons why your job could be less interesting. You can like the job on itself, but when you are dealing with a bunch of idiots inside the company and the people you need to get help from are useless makes it very hard to make yourself up for a change, just imagine something will change eventually?"

I guess my thought is that you have not had great experience with quite a few of the people inside your place of work. And on the surface there are people that may read this and believe you think pretty highly of yourself. And then again, maybe your company is actually like the commercials from Career Builder. So please don't think I'm trying to pass judgement because I really don't know your personal situation.

But the key is that it is 'your' situation and not someone else. Your attitude is your's to determine. The work atmosphere you are working in sounds to be frustrating for you. The choice becomes that either your change the environment or make another change. The stress and irritation is possibly not worth the effect it is likely having on your life.

To sit back and only imagine that things will change is filled with disappointment. I have said it in the past and maybe not enough lately, but movement causes change. While the idle remain forever wishing for a better life, those that step out and create movement will see actual change occur.

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” - Robert Kennedy

Time For Change

Time for a short break. This picture was taken in London while visiting there on business with my wife. It can also serve as a reminder to you that now is a good time to start. A good time to begin your change for the better. A good time to start working towards your vision. Don't put it off any longer, start today.






"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol

Seen Your Family Lately

Today was probably another day for everyone. Possibly up at 5:30 am and getting the kids off to school. On the crowded road by 7:00 am for an 8:00 am start at work. The day is full of business with a short amount of time for lunch. At 5:00 pm you are hustling to get out the door for the same crowded ride home. By 6:00 pm you have made your way into you driveway. Exhaustion and stress from the day weighs heavily upon you, but now your family and home await.

There it is, family life down to one hour at most in the morning and maybe four in the evening. Difficult at best to keep your family life in order when only five hours can be devoted. For many it is probably less then that. How can we keep this part of our life in balance?

There are many places containing information about this subject but one should start with understanding why it is important. From one such place, Soul Purpose Academy, they offer the following.

"Family is the foundation for human beings. No matter what age we are, we are always seeking the "experience of family". The primary purpose for family is to provide an environment in which the members can have their primal needs met to feel safe, loved and wanted and to have their essential needs met in order to be seen, heard and recognized. When any of these primal or essential needs are missing our heart continues to seek this level of comfort and nurturing even beyond the genetic family into the extended family of our community, work, religion etc."

So one can see that without a well balanced family life such that your job over whelms all else in your life, troubles will begin to creep in. Losing touch with your children, divorce and many other issues can start to make your family and home crumble. How one can avoid this is to research and read about different ideas to work this part of your life out.

In an article from the Wall Street Journal, they offer some suggestions from job scheduling changes to readjusting your career. One also needs to make the most of the time they have. This is easy to say because many come home very tired. Yet you can try different methods to help you in this area of life. In example, evaluate what it is you feel is success. In an online article at eZineArticles.com, you can learn how to start towards balancing this spoke on your wheel of life.

“The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduce yourself to, had life not done it for you.” - Kendall Hailey

Reacquaint yourself with your family and strengthen an important area of your life.

Do You Believe?

In many polls, most show that nearly 90% believe in the existence of God in one form or another. It is a subject that can spark tremendous debate and also cause others to scornfully reject those that speak openly about it. Those that regularly read my articles will note that I have faith in God. But I keep the writings secular in nature, although the real meaning of secular was distorted to mean "distance from, or lack of, religion". But the word serves its purpose and I'll use it here.

The fact remains that I am driven or influenced by my choices in life, one of which is religion. Most everyone that is reading this has some form of religious background or experience. There is also in most everyone's life the idea of being spiritual. The term spiritual is a synonym of religious so on one hand you may say they are the same. Yet others deem the two very distinct and different.

So I don't wish to debate the two here but to say that being spiritual is very important in keeping your life well balanced. Being spiritual and moral is one of the six spokes of your life. Now don't shy away, I'm not going to start preaching religion. There are others better suited to do that. My aim is more simple, to let you know that part of your life requires a set of personal values.

Have you thought about what it is you believe in or don't believe in? This encompasses not just religion but things relating to money, job, sex and politics are all items to consider. If you don't know where you stand, how will you know how to conduct yourself. If you are spiritual in nature, then you likely believe in the idea that some higher form or power exists. And if that higher power exists for you, then you most likely have some level of values to live by.

Can you be both religious and spiritual at the same time? My belief is yes, because one does not have to believe in a narrow doctrine of one religion or another, but in the idea of larger possibilities within the context of my religious faith. It provides a grounding for me, gives me values to live by and to treat others. It is in establishing a spiritual belief under which your values can be drawn and acted upon.

Patricia Megregian is quoted as saying, "Spirituality is where people find meaning in their life. It's something higher than themselves, though not necessarily attached to religion." Keeping this part of your life well tended will improve your life. Tend to it as often as you can to keep your life in balance.

Adjust Spending - Adjust Your Life

When it comes to your financial 'spoke of life', there are many things one can do to improve their situation. TOne place to start is working on the debt you have accumulated. In a USA Today article (September 5, 2006), an example is given for one particular family. Advice is then given on how to control their debt.

Coming up with ways to control and then eliminate your debt isn't as simple as earning more money. The basic issue is that people will typically spend to their level of income. If someone has an income of $20,000 or $200,000, their spending habits will reflect that same. All of us have this tendency as our society has done an excellent job on the marketing side.

The commercial comes on and the spokesman sells you on the idea of a new car, more fuel efficient with the latest 'needful' gadget. All of us will fall for things that are truly 'wants' and not really 'needs'. If you don't have the latest this or that, then you are not person aspiring for the greatest things in life.

The key is to not spend all that we have. One way to accomplish this is to sit down with a pen and paper. Write down what your average 'take home' pay is for the month in one column. Then write down in a second column what each of your bills are on a monthly basis. Subtract column two from column one - simple but very eye opening when you do this.

To get to a firmer financial position, goal yourself to the 10/10/80 rule. Give 10% to charity, save (long term savings) for yourself and only spend 80%. The hard part is to get the monthly spending under control. More on that in a minute, the charity amount is historical in nature and many will disagree with me. But giving to others will ultimately benefit you, even at its most base level benefit - tax deductions.

Saving for yourself is very important. It helps protect against future expenses that you may normally use that credit card for or keep you from having to take out a loan. Remember, credit cards and loans can be good. But never believe that companies that extend credit are in the business to help you or give you a great deal. Plain and simple, they are in the business to make money. The more you borrow from them, the more money they make. It is in their best interest to keep you in debt.

One suggestion about saving is if your company provides automatic payroll deposit, see if the deposits can go to different accounts. Then set up a 10% automatic deposit to a savings account and the remainder to your checking account. If possible, keep the two accounts seperate so that you are not tempted to continually pull money from savings into checking.

Now the hard part as I said previously. All of those monthly items in column two have to be examined. One another sheet of paper, create two columns and label them NEEDS and WANTS. Like I said, here comes the hard part. In the column labeled NEEDS, place the necessities in life such as your rent or mortgage, the utilities and a car loan to get you back and forth to work.

The column called WANTS is where you place the TV cable bill, the gym membership and other similar items. You have to be honest with yourself about what a WANT is versus a NEED. You can lie to yourself but it only hurts yourself...so again, be honest about this.

Now that you have a list of WANTS, eliminate those bills from your life. Learn to live without them for now. The savings should go to paying off short term debt. Some financial experts say to pay off the high interest debt first. My belief is to pay off the one with the smallest amount first. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and then you can start taking that money combined with the WANTS savings - apply both to the next debt.

But let us think about what happens if we can not make the income exceed the expenses. You have eliminated the wants but a deeper look at the needs is required. You have that nearly new car that is costing you $350 - $450 per month. Sell this one and get a more used car for only $5000 and maybe a payment of $200 per month. It could also be that the big house with the yearly association fee is too much of a mortgage.

Those are tough choices to make but ones you should consider before you become forced into a decision. Being able to have a choice in the matter will save you money as opposed to being required. In being required, it usually means foreclosure or repossession - not the choice you want in your life.

Some of the simple things are keeping lights turned off, maybe not using the air conditioning as much. Saving on water, generic brand food and less of the 'designer' brand clothes are other ways that you can make a change.

The key here is to lower your expenses to 80% of your income. Once you have done this, work to eliminate debt, work to a point of being able to pay in cash as opposed to credit card. Your stress will go down, you will be able to enjoy more things since your savings will grow. Life will be better all around. I am confident that each of you can do this.

David Bach is quoted as saying, “Before you can really start setting financial goals, you need to determine where you stand financially.” He has several books out but one that caught my attention was Start Late, Finish Rich. It helps to take away any doubts that you are too old to help your situation.

His book is good but know that there are several out there. Go to your local library or look online, maybe go sit in your local bookstore. The key is to find something that you are comfortable with, find easy to understand and will get you on a path to improving the financial spoke of your life. Just do it tonight, don't think about it, just get started...you've been putting it off too long.

Balancing Your Life

Back in July I wrote about thinking of your life as divided into six spokes on a wheel. In Chart Your Life, there must be balance among these areas of your life. In doing so, a 'well-rounded' wheel or 'life' rolls much easier, gains momentum and is efficient. Your life benefits from having all six areas in tune. But it takes work to achieve this balance.

Those six areas of life are;

• Physical and Health
• Mental and Emotional
• Spiritual and Moral
• Family and Home
• Social and Cultural
• Financial and Career

Recently I wrote about the area of your physical well-being and health. In coming articles I will write about each of the spokes. Giving you my take on them and giving you the opportunity to make a decision for your life.

“If we put the emphasis upon the right things, if we live the life that is worth while and then fail, we will survive all disasters, we will out-live all misfortune. We should be so well balanced and symmetrical, that nothing which could ever happen could throw us off our center, so that no matter what misfortune should overtake us, there would still be a whole magnificent man or woman left after being stripped of everything else.” - Orison Swett Marden

Healthy Attitude

Today I decided to work on one of the spokes of my life regarding health. My health centers on high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A visit to my doctor for a check up is one step in trying to stay on top of both issues. In previous articles, the spoke of health is necessary to maintain a balanced life. All of us had, have or will have health issues to deal with. It comes down to you and when you make the decision to address them.

Like many other folks, I have a hectic work life, busy family and just 'stuff' going on all the time. It can be very easy to neglect one's health when feeling good. In fact, I can be very reactive to my health as opposed to proactive. I'm not sure where that comes from knowing that in my line of work, being proactive is the best thing you can do.

Yet I live in a reactive world, I work in a reactive job, while struggling to set goals and visions. To be certain, it is one's health that will tend to get the short end of our reactive lives. Credit does go to those that can maintain a healthy life. But for many of us that struggle to work out this area of our life is difficult. The thing health professionals will tell you is to simply realize that good health is important.

Many may sarcastically think, "wow, that is an earth-shaking statement!" But many of us tend to forget how important good health actually is. When feeling good, what need is there for concern. The same goes for your mind, soul, spirit, job, family, attitude or any of the other facets of life. Each must be nurtured to keep it in good shape and to keep the wheel of your life in balance.

Good health is important to that balance, so keep it important in your life. As Thomas Fuller wrote, “health is not valued till sickness comes.” Work to maintain the spoke of good health, it will help you in the other areas of your life. A healthy body and a healthy mind for a healthy attitude.

WTC In Memory

The world as we knew it changed on September 11, 2001 - a day that not only changed for Americans but for all people that value life and reason. For a moment in time, people stood still trying to understand what depth of evil could lay in the hearts of a few.

On September 11, 2001 there were 2,749 innocent people that lost their lives. From the World Trade Center to the Pentagon and finally to those brave passengers on Flight 93, people that arose that morning full of life were cut short.

Many around the world experience and continue to experience horrible acts of a despicable nature. Those that do these things will claim it to be in the name of their God or for a belief that they fervently live by. For all that know and live life with the understanding of our fellow man, it is different now.

The evil that lives in those that would choose to destroy others must be understood and put down. A world that changed is one that each of us must work to make better. In small ways, in small steps, all that you do to make it better is an honor to the innocent lives through out history.

Persevere and continue to move forward. Take time today to reflect, to remember and then go and do something good for another person. Live so that the memory of others will go on. For that memory, never forget.

Five Bad Attitudes

With the wrong type of attitude, you can pretty much guarantee non-success in your life. An article by Yvonne Finn discusses five attitudes that will help you avoid being successful. I list them here but encourage you to read the article for her take on each attitude.

1. Be cynical and skeptical of everything and everyone.

2. In Business be quick to jump from one opportunity to the next without giving any one a reasonable amount of time and effort for success.

3. Never take responsibility for your own failures, it is always someone or something outside of your control.

4. Give the impression that you know everything and belittle other people's ideas, opinions and contributions to projects and your life and success.

5. Always take full credit for successful ventures.

I could add commentary to most any of these. But I do believe you will recognize why these are not good attitudes to embrace. Be a person of great attitude and see success come your way.

Setting and Achieving Goals

"Every Goal has a cost." - Dean Sweetman

Many times we go through life looking for that quick fix. The thing that will enable us to easily obtain that which we want. It may be buying a lottery ticket to get that big payout so we can pay off our debt. It may be answering the call to a get rich quick scheme. Only to be thrown into deeper misery when it wasn't what it seemed.

No, every goal in life does have a cost associated with it. I truly doubt that we could call it a goal if it simply came to us. For every goal we set will require some amount of effort and probable change in you. It will require you to be of good character...The type of person that will complete the task when no one else is looking.

Character can not be something that we put on when others are around. Character is not a convenient accessory to parade in public. Character is who you are when no one else is around. What are the traits of good character?

Character is moral strength that is proven to stay true.
It is commitment to your values.
Patient endurance when life is going badly.
Honesty at the price of punishment.
Integrity in secret.
Reliability and predictable behavior.
Stability because consistency has power.
Commitment to do what you said you would do.
Being faithful to the goal even when it hurts.

Your goals in life are attainable with the right attitude, the right level of character and the willingness to see the bigger picture. Be a person of change, be a person that achieves and be a person that impacts others. The goals you set will become reality.

Labor Day - Reflect on the Year

This weekend is a three-day event here in the U.S. because Monday is a holiday. This one for us is called Labor Day and is typically a summer ending holiday which marks the end of summer vacations and the start of the school year.

It is also a good time to renew oneself to complete goals that were set at the beginning of the year. Remember those, the things you wanted to accomplish back on January 1st when best intentions were spilling forth. So how have you done? What was that goal you had in mind?

From a recent article I read, five items were pointed out relative to goals:

(WHAT) A goal should be specfic.
(HOW MUCH) A goal needs to be measurable.
(UNDER PROJECT/OVER PERFORM) A goal should be attainable.
(HOW) A goal should be realistic.
(WHEN) A goal should be tangible.

Evaluate what you have done so far this year and see what you can do in order to accomplish your goals. You will be a far better person for having accomplished a goal both in the eyes of others and more importantly, in you.

“The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get.” - Jim Rohn

Simplify Your Life

From John McPherson, a talented and funny artist. The life each of us lives can be summed up this way. I do imagine you can go back in time a few years or even hundreds of years to see the same type of busy schedule people lead.

There are ways to simplify your life and it comes down to determining what is important to you. Each of us make choices everyday to commit to various things which fill our day. Not all commitments are bad and circumstance can yield the same harried and complicated life.

So enjoy life the best way you can. Look for ways to set priorities in your life and take time to (as the saying goes) "stop and smell the roses" once in a while.

Have a great day everyone.

Thankful For Apologies

Life doesn't go by without there being at least one moment in which you are wronged. The act of something happening to you, perceived or real is something that occurs. How you deal and react to this is very important. Do you allow yourself to be brought down, to ruin your day and effect all that you do, hopefully not.

Yet it is how we react the apology another gives us that can have a great impact. Many times, when someone tells you they are 'sorry' for what they have done, how do you respond? A great many people will respond with, 'not a problem, its okay.' And why we say that when many times it did effect us is an odd thing.

That person whom is wishing to extend an apology is attempting to 'right a wrong' and acknowledge that you were hurt or offended. If you respond as noted above is diminishing or making light of their attempt. In one way, it is returning a hurtful message that the apology is really meaningless to you.

You should respond with kindness and thankfulness to that person. A simple thank you to them acknowledges the apology and it begins a process of reconciliation of the relationship. All of this will allow you to let go of the 'wrong' and move on with life. Not doing so will allow the issue to linger, which will impact both your life and that of the other person. Apologies are like gifts, be thankful for them.