You are the message Recently, I was having dinner with a friend, and we were talking about one’s life being the message they send to the world, and that got me thinking about the title of an old political book I read years ago by Roger Ailes called You Are the Message. For me, it was a book for those considering a life in public office to remind us that every deed, every word, every action is a reflection of who we are and how we would be seen by others. From the Amazon website about, the book, it says, […]
Encouragement for Your Life
The Emotion of Shame
I am continuing with my theme of emotions, which are causing you harm because I want you to understand that you are more than how you feel and that you can (with help) heal the damaged places in your heart and mind. So, let’s continue… I started the series with the emotion of anger because anger is a cancer to your soul. So, to have any chance for a successful and happy life, friend, you have to let it go. And then I spoke on jealousy, that green-eyed monster that will wreck your perfectly happy home and make you (a […]
Your Two Most Valuable Assets
In an article in the Wall Street Journal, hotelier Ben Weprin said, “The best business advice I’ve ever received came from Sam Zell, who told me the most important thing is Shem Tov, which means your name and your integrity. Make all your decisions upon protecting those. I am an avid reader, and I love the WSJ for the front page and the weekend edition listings of all the amazing homes for sale. In the Life section, they feature celebrities and a listing of about twenty questions. In one of the questions, the idea of business advice was posted, and […]
Do What Is Best for You
I was listening to a story about the famous basketball player Rick Barry and his underhand free throw shot that he made popular back in the day. It was a great story that he told about why he crafted his underhand toss and how it became a force for free throw points for his team. He recounted for the reporter that his underhand toss never took off in the big leagues because of the simple fact that no one wanted to be seen as doing a “granny shot.” Imagine being so cowed by others that many basketball players would not […]
The reason most people give up…
Today, I want to encourage you to keep on keeping on. I saw a quote recently that said, “The reason most people give up is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go instead of how far they have come.” And isn’t that true? Most people do give up because they tend to look at how far they still have to go instead of how far they have come. For many of us, we become discouraged at what seems to be either a lack of progress, how slow the journey has been, or how long […]
If only our eyes saw souls
“If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how very different our ideals of beauty would be.” ~ Unknown I came across a funny video the other day about how young people view older people. I’m posting the video here. How funny to watch the youngsters act out how an “old” person would walk across the street, text a message, or do a jumping jack. And then to see them blown away by the attitudes and actions of these elders is simply a fun way to waste a few minutes of your day, and it shows us all how […]
Push Against the Wind of Anger
This is part of my series on emotion. Recently, I was on a flight that felt like a roller coaster, with the wind jostling and jerking the plane to the right and the left. After a while, we did even out, and the flight was typical, but in those few moments, I began to think about how to overcome the turbulence we were experiencing. A few years ago, I took a few flying lessons to see if I was cut out to pilot my own plane to my speaking events, and in my private flight lessons, I learned pretty quickly […]
Keep Your Eyes on the Stars and Your Feet on the Ground
I came across two different accounts of people who have come to realize that their hero wasn’t what or who they thought they were. So, with truth in hand, these wise (albeit hurt) folks walked away. Not bitter, not really angry; mostly hurt and embarrassed that they fell so fast for the ideals that were portrayed to them as truth, but in the end, they realized that empty promises are just that–empty–so it didn’t matter what was offered since it was nothing but words without meaning. Those stories stirred me. I realized that although I admire many people, in the […]
No Act of Kindness Is Ever Wasted
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted! Aesop Well, I am back to my favorite theme again—kindness. And I am pretty sure you’ll agree with me that the world at this very moment could use a little bit more kindness. Why? Because, friends, kindness matters—today, tomorrow, and the next day. We just had Mother’s Day, and I hope you took the time to show kindness toward Mom, whatever your relationship. Today, I want to talk about not only the value of kindness towards others but also for you, as well. I love the quote that no act of […]
