One Thing To Do

“The reality is that doing good unto others actually does more good for you.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

It is cold in Boston this particular morning as I start my rental car. The dashboard reveals a single and solitary digit of 1 degree Fahrenheit. Yes it is cold, but that one digit reminds me that each of us should accomplish ONE act of kindness each and every day.

Every day, every moment, we have an opportunity to do, say or attempt at least one good thing. It isn't a difficult task nor does it require intense planning. All that is required is the desire to leave others with something positive in their own lives.

... a smile ...
... holding open a door ...
... allowing another driver to enter the freeway in front of us ...

Each are small acts of kindness we can perform.

... buying someone a meal ...
... tip the waiter a little more than usual ...
... donating regularly to a charity ...

Each are greater but still easily accomplished acts of goodness.

The one thing you can do each day is to give it from your heart. No matter how small it may seem, when done from the heart it will have a huge impact on others. So create goodness in your daily life by creating one good thing in someone else's life.

Stay inspired my friends.

How Do You Measure Security

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller

I guess that security in life is really a relative thing. What one person feels is security makes another person quite insecure. It might be simple locks on a door, a few dollars in your pocket or having someone in your life that gives you that sense of feeling safe.

Others may find that a gated community isolates them from any and all dangers within the fenced in property. There are so many different levels of sense that people have regarding what security is. Too much, too little; too invasive, not invasive enough. How do you truly measure it?

Traveling recently through the world's busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield, the varied looks and attitude of people passing through security always catches my attention. Each have their own view of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and the role being performed by those TSA agents.

It made me realize that security is relative to each of us in our own personal way.

Do I wonder and get frustrated at the lines? Sure.
Do I wonder if all the security measures truly make a difference? Sure.
Do I wonder if I am really that much safer? Sure.

But I also know that I can not crawl into a dark secluded room and hide from what life has for me. To know that life is full of risk and adventure is what pushes me past the wondering part when it comes to security.

You may wonder if I take too much risk.

Certainly not all, I always measure the risk value of what I am doing. I wouldn't walk into a dark alley at 2:00am by myself for obvious reasons. Yet I wouldn't miss the opportunity to travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil because some feel it is a dangerous city. There is so much to do and see in this world; the adventure can be well worth the measured risk.

So how secure do you feel in this life?

Do you feel secure in the amount of money you have?
Do you feel secure in the relationship you have?
Do you feel secure in the home you live in?

These are questions only you can answer. But you have to first feel secure in yourself before any of the other questions can be answered. In fact, many of those questions will be answered once you answer it on the inside.

Believe in yourself, be secure inside first and the rest will be answered. Stay inspired my friends.

Three Leg Stool

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost

A question came up recently in which I was asked why a milking chair has only three legs. The milking chair of course being a short chair used to hand milk dairy cows. The person making the inquiry knew I had grown up on a farm and wondered why there were not four legs. The thought was that four legs were stronger than three.

The answer to this question is very similar to what I have enjoyed the past eighteen years at my place of employment. For many years, there have been two men that together with myself formed a three-legged stool. Our job was to go in when all else was hopeless and recover a customer. Some would call us a "flying team" because our engagements were typically last minute, get on a plane situations.

We always called those our "Friday crud sandwiches" because most escalations were handed over to us late in the week. This made scheduling family events or other activities a roll of the dice. You just never knew what was coming and when. But it was thrilling and we enjoyed most every one of them.

As a team we solved quite a few cases in places all over the world. When you left, you never quite knew if you would be gone a couple of days or a couple of weeks. Most times it was only one of us on location, but the other two were always available to support the one. A three-legged response that took the job seriously and worked quite well.

And now with the retirement of one and the changing job roles of the other two, the three-legged stool is about to be hung up in the barn. It will hang there for many years, unused and collecting dust and cobwebs. Then one day, someone will come along and ask the question, why were there only three legs on this stool?

The answer is because a three-legged stool works much better on a crooked floor. When the situation is found to be uneven, three legs will provide a more sturdy base. It will not rock back and forth like a four-legged stool. You will be more sure of your placement and accomplish the task given.

So yes, we were a three-legged stool always placed into uneven situations. We provided the stability until things could be smoothed out once again. I will miss working as part of that stool but as Robert Frost says, "...life": it goes on."

Stay inspired my friends.

Never Too Old

"Age is a matter of feeling, not of years." - George William Curtis

There are times we tell ourselves that age is a limiting factor. We may tell ourselves that we are too young to accomplish things. Later in life we might say that we are beyond our time. Some will say that you can not teach an old dog new tricks.

If we feel that age has taken over and we are unable to keep up with the demands of being successful, than we have given in to old age.

The following video gives a glimpse into someone that is not "giving into" old age. She is a remarkable woman and.... I'll let the video explain.



Live life to its fullest and never let age get in the way of achieving what you want in life. Believe in yourself whether young or old. For while you live in the natural, there is still time to achieve great things.

Stay inspired my friends!