WHAT IS YOUR M. O.? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 164

What is your method of operation?  Are you a person who anticipates and prepares for things ?  Are you a person who waits for things to happen, then does what has to be done and hopes for the best?  The way to avoid stress and almost always guarantee success is to

ACT - DON'T REACT!

THREE IN ONE - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAYS 119, 120 AND 121

As you can see by the title, today I am going to catch up as I have missed posting for a couple of days. Usually when I skip something it is because I either forgot, I was sick, or I had too many medical appointments in one week.  While I did have 6 appointments last week they are not the cause of my falling behind in blogging.  Actually this week I have been preoccupied due to the death of an old friend and colleague.  Martin  lost his long, painful, valiant battle with lung cancer.  He and I were diagnosed with lung cancer about the same time, and I was so fortunate that my surgery was successful and due to early detection I did not have to have chemotherapy or radiation.  Martin was not so fortunate as by the time his cancer was discovered it had already spread.

He was younger than I, married to a wife he adored, and a wonderful father to three beautiful daughters and grandfather to an adorable little girl.  He had more faith, hope, and courage than I have ever seen, and he touched many, many lives in his lifetime.  He was a dear friend to all of us who knew him and he will be sorely missed.

The three messages I am tardy in writing are ironically so appropriate for the way Martin faced his illness, and he was an inspiration to all who knew him.

I AM BLESSED!

HEART WIDE OPEN

NO WHINING

IF NOT YOU, WHO? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 36

What is your hope?  What is your dream?  What is your goal?  What is your passion?  What is your need?

Don't sit around waiting for someone else to fulfill your hopes and dreams, to achieve your goals, to fuel your passion or meet your needs.  Even if you just take the first step that is progress, and then a second step, and then a third, etc.  Have confidence in yourself, and believe you can do it.

Today's message is:

Make it happen!

FOREVER IS SUCH A LONG TIME - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 14

For many years I worked at Neiman Marcus starting in Dallas, Texas when the company was still a four-store, family-owned business.  Stanley Marcus was one of four brothers, and he was at the helm of the company for many years.  Touted as a Merchant Prince, Mr. Stanley was someone who taught us many things.  He was wise and interested in everything even up to his final days.

One thing he said which became ingrained in my thoughts is, "Nothing lasts forever."  Not only did he mean that embracing change is a good thing but being flexible is essential in business and in life.  If in life you find yourself in a predicament or situation with which you are unhappy and feel you cannot escape it, try to remember that indeed nothing does last forever.  Everything changes.  If you cannot change the situation at the very least you can change how you deal with it (this is especially true in matters of health).

Take hope and remind yourself frequently:

It will get better!

The Government Is Stealing Our Joy

In re-reading my last two posts, it is abundantly clear that I am allowing the U. S. Government and state of the nation and the world to steal my joy.  I am confident that there are many others whose joy is also being stolen by our government.

The lies, the cover-ups, the irresponsible behavior, the lack of leadership, the dishonest media, the hidden agendas, the loss of jobs, the poverty, and loss of homes have become a steady diet and an unhealthy one at that.    Not only are these specific things stealing joy from the lives of so many people, but since the government is behind all of these things and the do-nothing Congress continues to do nothing we will continue to be stressed, unhappy, getting poorer, and the laundry list of problems we face grows longer each day.

SO...........I am proposing that all of us whose joy is being stolen take a stand now and stop allowing the government to do this to us.  For those who believe in a higher power, focus on that and the power you receive from your faith.  For those who have dreams and ambitions still unfulfilled, focus on those.  For those who have brought new lives into the world, focus on those wee ones and concentrate on bringing them up to be the best possible human beings.  For those who are struggling financially, who are unemployed, or who are underemployed......focus on your strengths, abilities and skills you bring to the table of any employer.  Focus on how you can utilize those talents in a different setting.  For those of you who are lonely, focus on reaching out to someone each day be it a neighbor, a co-worker, a fellow church goer, or someone waiting in line with you for fast food.  For those of you feeling helpless and hopeless, focus on the good news and the good people instead of the bad news and the evil, wicked people (not all of whom are politicians).  For those of you who are fearful of what the new day will bring, think of what is the worst thing that can happen and decide if you can deal with that you can deal with anything that comes to you that day.  For those who are totally fed up with our government and the leaders, focus on writing your representatives and protesting their actions.......focus on talking to others to get them to do the same............sign petitions to stop things from happening...............start  thinking about the possible good people you can vote to elect in 2014 and remember to never again vote for an incumbent.

Let us wake up each day with a sense of hope, a feeling of courage that we will not allow the government to deprive us of our joy much less our rights and freedoms.  LET'S TAKE OUR JOY BACK AND HOLD TIGHTLY TO IT.  HOPE AND JOY WILL GET US THROUGH THE DAYS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

Memorial Day Means More Than A Holiday Party

As the long weekend begins many have plans for parties, BBQ's, heading to the beaches, attending parades, catching up on household chores, or even working.  At some point during this weekend I hope all of us will pause and remember what Memorial Day means.  Teach our children and grandchildren what it means.  Let us remember that it is not just a day off from school or work.  It is a day to pay our respects to all of the military people who paid the supreme price to serve our country and protect our freedoms.  It is a day to pay tribute and give thanks for all of them and for all of their families and friends who lost their loved ones.  It is a day to give thanks for all of the men and women currently serving in our armed forces, facing danger and death, giving up precious time with their spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends.  We must also remember to ask blessings for those spouses, children, parents, siblings and friends who struggle to make ends meet based on low pay for high risk duty, who have babies alone, who raise children alone, and who relocate frequently, and who are unappreciated or acknowledged.  Last but certainly not least, let us give thanks for all of the men and women who are suffering from life-threatening and life-changing injuries.  Let us offer prayers for their healing and relief from their pain, for renewal of their spirits and hopes for the future, and for the never-ending love and support of those spouses and children whose lives are also forever changed.  May they all have faith, hope, love, courage and strength to keep on going and to never give up no matter what.

Hope Is A 4-Letter Word

Are you filled with hope?  Have you ever been filled with hope? Do you really know what it feels like to be truly hopeful for your life, your future, and your children?  I realized recently that because of all of the negative news emanating daily from every type of media organization we are losing hope by leaps and bounds.  Think about the negativity with which most media coverage suffocates us.  I am encouraged because during the weekend I made a list of people who are eliminating some negativity and replacing it with hope for all who literally or figuratively meet them.  As I navigate the Internet and Social Media I have become an ardent fan of a number of young people who are bright, creative, enthusiastic, positive and generous in what they share while trying to build their own businesses.  Through their blogs, videos, products, courses, advice, life experiences, interviews, warmth and humor they serve to remind us that all is not lost ..........youth is not wasted on the young....................there is much to be proud of and great success to be achieved if we open our minds, our eyes and our hearts in everyday life.  There are so many young people whom I have not yet encountered, but I am going to keep my eyes and ears open so as not to miss them when perchance they cross my real or virtual paths.  Shortly I am going to listen to an audio program on line as a group of these terrific young people gather to talk about their businesses and share ideas to help other entrepreneurs.  Small businesses have been the cornerstone of our country since the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker were in every small town and city that sprang up as settlers moved across America.   Look everywhere for the goodness in people and especially in young people who truly are our best hope for the future.

P.S.  I am going to share the names on the list I made............watch for the next blog post!