WILL YOU BE THE NEXT VICTIM? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 152

There was a time in this country when a murder was a rarity in most cities and towns, and killing seemed to be confined to wars.  When a murder occurred it was on the front page of every newspaper, and before TV it would also be on the radio news.  Today it is no longer a rarity but rather an epidemic. Gang members are killing other gang members.  Children are being abused, assaulted and killed.  College students are being killed, spouses are being killed by spouses, significant others are killed by significant others, neighbors killing neighbors, and now young children are killing parents, teachers, and students.  This is not about owning guns. This is about parenting, education, mental health, accountability, and responsibility.

We have arrived at a time when too many people no longer respect or value life ..........not their own nor the life of anyone else.  If you are a parent have you taught your children to respect life, to value life, to love life? What about you?  Do you respect and value life?  Are you participating in their education?  Do you give them responsibility and hold them accountable?  Do you hold yourself accountable?  If your answer to any of these questions is negative, then it is time you started to do the right things..  If you have grandchildren are they being taught to appreciate life and to know how fragile it is?  If you do not teach them who will?

I am saddened to say this, but we have become a nation of pigs.  Greed and self-absorption abound at all ages and in all occupations and professions.  Lies have become the coin of the realm.  The anger and rage which are rampant, and the total lack of respect for anyone or anything exhibited by far too many people today will become the downfall of all of us.  Think about our children and grandchildren.  What kind of life can they expect to have?  Between the pigs and the ridiculous politicians we are paying to treat us less well than they treat themselves, I fear their lives will be a living hell.

Only we can change things, and the first thing we must believe and share with others is that

LIFE MATTERS! 

DO YOU THINK OF GIVING UP? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 150

Are you having thoughts of giving up whether it be on a relationship, a business idea, a job, or even life?  I know there can be many things which can cause a person to feel great despair, to feel hopeless, and to just run out of the energy to keep trying or keep going.  If you are feeling that way, I first will say I am so sorry that you do.  Then I will say no matter what do not give up.  

Remember that changing your mind is not giving up.  If you decide that someone is really not the person for you, or if you are in an abusive relationship then it is smart to get out of the relationship and distance yourself from that person.  If you have an idea for a business but in doing your research you find that it may not be as profitable as you would need it to be, then deciding not to pursue it is a smart decision.  If you are in a job that makes you miserable each day or has no future growth, then perhaps you do need to keep your ears open to hear about other companies or opportunities.  However, in this economy when so many are out of work it is not smart to just quit your job without another one to go to.  As long as you are employed try to do your best each day, try to be honest and determine if you may be part of the problem and what you can do to make the situation better.  Then keep job searching.  

If you are in a period of grieving for the loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship, allow yourself a time to grieve and realize that is part of the process of life.  If you are gay and have not yet come out, or if you have a substance abuse problem, realize what you can do and should do for your own well being.  These are all serious and painful situations, and there are professionals who can help you.  Grief counselors, therapists, rehabs, AA, clergy, parents, grandparents, and friends who can and will help you through these dark times.

One of the things we learn as we grow older is that everything changes if you wait long enough.  Remember that 

IT GETS BETTER!

WHEN DO YOU RELAX? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 147

Do you ever get totally wrapped up in family or personal matters, business commitments, volunteer duties, and just life in general so you feel as if you are spinning in circles or even out of control.  I know I can allow myself to  get into that predicament.  Try to reel yourself in and think of all that is right in your life, of all that is important but not critical to that day, of what you actually must do yourself or what can be done by someone else.  When you do that you are able to realize that you are not spinning anymore, and you can take a huge deep breath, relax, and tell yourself

ALL IS WELL!

ARE YOU PUTTING OFF HAPPINESS? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 137

Sometimes we put off more things than we should.  We think the time is not right.  We think we cannot afford it.  We worry about what others will think or say.  We think the current status of our life, career, family or business is not yet where or what we want it to be.  We think we have not yet achieved enough success or made enough progress.  Well, truth be told we should not wait to acknowledge and appreciate where we are in the present moment.

We should not wait too long.  There may not be a better time.  We should step out in faith and

CELEBRATE NOW!

DO YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 131

When we are young we take our lives for granted, and we think we will live forever. If we are unfortunate and lose a parent, sibling or good friend we start to think more about the value of life.  We hear tragic news daily about young gang members being killed in drive-by shootings or another person who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time being killed.  Yesterday a 17-year old high school football player died of a stroke, and the number of people losing their lives due to hit-and-run car accidents is unbelievable.

Why am I starting the week off on a somewhat "down" subject?  I suppose for two reasons.  The first is that last week I lost a very dear, old friend to cancer.  He loved his life, his family, and he fought valiantly to keep living.  The second reason is this morning I had an early-morning appointment at the hospital lab to have some blood work done.  As I looked around at all the people waiting for various tests it was evident that many of them are very ill.  I was reminded to be thankful for not only my life but the lives of the people I love.  I am a cancer survivor, and I am very thankful for every single day I have.

I hope you will make the most of each day and never waste one because

LIFE IS PRECIOUS!

NOW OR LATER? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 114

I have learned this lesson very late in life, and I wish I had learned it when I was very young.  Instead of enjoying each day for itself, I used to always be looking forward and waiting for a future date.  You know those things we tell ourselves to justify postponing things we really want to do or need to do.  We say we will do it/them when we have enough money, when the children are older, when life is not so busy, or when we have enough time.

By putting things off we often miss opportunities, damage friendships, wait to repair relationships until it is too late, and prevent ourselves from knowing the joy that each day can bring.  We postpone our joy until some future date, and because life is fragile we truly never know if we will be around when that future date arrives.

Today's message is:

ENJOY THIS NOW!

HAVE YOU STOPPED DREAMING? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORLDS - DAY 110

A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep................... or so the lyrics from a song in Walt Disney's Cinderella told us.  What about the dreams we have when we are awake?  The dreams of going to college, of becoming a doctor, of becoming a professional athlete, of having a family, of escaping poverty, of saving the world or at least a part of it, or of owning your own business are just some of the dreams people have when they are awake.  Then as life and reality happen some people give up on their dreams, but it is so important to remember that it is never too late to dream or to pursue a dream.  Why did you stop dreaming?

Today's message is:

DREAM ON!

WILL YOU WASTE THIS DAY? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 102

Each morning when we awaken we have an important choice to make.  Will we fritter away the day, will we spend it doing mundane things, or will we make the most of it?  I remember the first time I saw a Latin sign with today's message on it.  I did not know what the words meant so I asked the person in whose office I was sitting.  He told me the sign meant SEIZE THE DAY.  Ever since then I try to remind myself each morning of those words so that I will not waste another day of my life.

Life is precious, and the days of our lives are fleeting.  Remember today's message:

CARPE DIEM!

HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 98

Everyone goes through periods of feeling down whether it be about relationships, work, finances, or just life in general.  The surest way to make yourself feel better is to get outside of yourself even for a little while.  Do something for someone else.  Give your time, money, or talent to a good cause or a needy individual.  It will lift your spirits and make you appreciate your own circumstances.

Today's message is:

DO GOOD DEEDS!

ARE YOU AN UPPER OR A DOWNER? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 77

It is no secret that most of us prefer the company of people who are positive, upbeat, and optimistic about life and the future.  People who are negative, always unhappy and complaining, and pessimistic about everything can be toxic to others.  If you are one of the people whose companionship is preferred, then good for you.  If you are one of the other types, then make a decision to change your attitude and change your behavior.  It will ultimately benefit you.

Today's message is:

UPLIFT THE WORLD!

LIKE IT OR LOVE IT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 49

When you are young your life stretches out in front of you as if you are going to live forever.  As you get older you learn that time flies by and life is fragile so you should not waste any of it.  Since adults spend most of their waking hours working, it makes sense that the work you do should be something about which you feel very passionate.  When you are really following your passion it won't even seem like work.

Today's message is:

LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 24

Everyone needs to take breaks from business, from home, from blogging, from life................if you want to feel invigorated and happier then take a break and

Go out dancing!

Whether you go to a club, a ballroom, a block party, or just to your own living room...........listening to music and moving to the music will refresh you and cheer you.............try it.  If you don't like to dance or you think you are not a good dancer, no problem.  You don't have to be a great dancer...... just sway or bounce or step to the beat of the music you love.................

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN - CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 11

Are you one of the people who hesitates to make any changes in your life for fear of the unknown?  From my own experience I know that feeling.  I stayed in a marriage longer than I should have because the known was unpleasant but not as scary to me as the unknown.  Finally when things got much worse I decided that no matter what happened in the future it could not be any worse than what I was experiencing right then.

Now when contemplating changes I ask myself, "What is the worst that can happen?"  If I can deal with that then I can deal with anything between my present situation and that so I move forward and make the change.

In life, in business, or in love.............we must be willing to take risks..............so today's message is

Take a chance!

CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 8

Sometimes life' twists and turns can really get you down.  If you are feeling anxious about anything or sad about something, get up and get moving.  Even if you cannot move easily or quickly, get up and briefly get out of your head and over yourself.

Not only can movement distract you from worrisome thoughts, but enjoying fresh air and outdoor scenery can help to change your perspective.  It is good for your health to walk, and it is one of the simplest ways to clear your heads.

Today's words are really simple:

Go for a walk

Life Is What Happens When We Are Making Other Plans

Whoever coined that phrase knew about what he or she was speaking.  I have always been a person who plans, makes lists, utilizes planners and calendars and schedules.  Although since my surgery I have tried to resume those habits, I seem to be lagging behind in getting back on track.  I make a plan, and then I have to change it because a medical appointment must be kept.  I make a plan, put it on the calendar and find I must cancel it or reschedule it.  I now write things in pencil because I have to change plans for various reasons.  Unexpected visitors, too many phone calls from pollsters and/or telemarketers, as well as other interruptions have totally discombobulated my plans.

All that being said, however, I know it is really up to me to take charge of my time and get back to business.
I have begun listing new items on our website www.malcolmfortots.com and our ETSY shop www.malcolmfortots.etsy.com so please check back on both sites frequently to see what progress has been made.

The holidays are rapidly approaching so my mind swirls with ideas and plans for the various special celebrations of the season.  As I add them to my ever-lengthening lists, I also am thinking of new things to include in my blog in 2013.  I so much appreciate the thousands of page views my blog has had since its inception, and I hope to broaden its appeal in the New Year with the changes I am contemplating adding.

Thanks so much for continuing to read my posts.

Fortune Cookies To Love

What would a night of Chinese take-out be without the included fortune cookies?  Not only do I actually like the taste of fortune cookies, but I think there is something fun about going around the table with each person sharing the prediction from his or her cookie.  One of my favorite "fortunes" has been taped to the top of my computer monitor for several years.  It simply says.................We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.  Today life has thrown me a curve ball like no other I have ever experienced, and I am hoping that very soon a great opportunity will appear on my horizon.