TODAY IS VETERANS' DAY - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 166

In the USA November 11 used to be called Armistice Day and then was changed years later to Veterans' Day.  It is a time to pause, reflect, and be thankful for all of the men and women who have sacrificed so much up to and including their lives so that we have been able to live free for over 200 years.  We should also be thankful for the spouses, parents and children of the people who have served or are serving in our military forces.  They give up so much when a spouse or parent is away while children are growing up. When a life is lost they all grieve and must carry on.  We need to remember that.

When I see in the news that too many young boys are attacking people for no reason, playing a game called Knock Out; it makes me ill.  They think they are being macho, but if they want to find out what macho really is then they should enlist in the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force.  They would quickly find out that they really are just punk hoodlums and not tough guys.  They need to get a grip, get a goal, and grow up to take their rightful place in society.  No matter age, education, health, or wealth, all of us can do something to make our country a better place.

On this day I encourage everyone to be thankful and to think of ways to

BE PRODUCTIVE!

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 PAY ATTENTION OR NOT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 145

Are you going through life on auto-pilot?  Are you paying attention to everything around you?  Are you paying attention to all the people who cross your path each day?  Do you really pay attention to your spouse or your children?  Do you know anything that is interesting about your neighborhood, your town or city, your state, your region or your country?  Do you know all of the types of jobs or hobbies that are available to you?

Part of the reason young children and teens get bored and into trouble is because they have no idea what is around them or who is around them.  Marriages fall apart sometimes because one or both just get bored so they blame the other person rather than realizing that they themselves might be boring since they are not paying attention to life.  Some individuals suffer from terrible loneliness because they do not pay attention or take advantage of life.

Do yourself a huge favor and:

EXPLORE LIFE!

ARE THERE MEAN PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 91

There are many mean-spirited people in the world, and we all know at least one or more such people. There are people who abuse others physically, sexually, verbally, mentally or emotionally.  It can be difficult to get away from them sometimes because they can be parents, foster parents, step parents, spouses, bosses, classmates, co-workers, teachers, pastors, priests, scout leaders, neighbors, caregivers, bullies, gang members and criminals. If you are in a situation from which it is not possible or easy to escape because you are too young, too old, or too frightened you still have an option.

The world has many more good people than mean people, and you can help yourself by seeking out those who are kind and caring.  Even one kind person can make a huge difference in your life especially if you are truly being harmed by a mean person.

Kind people are out there so look for them, pay attention to the people around you wherever you are, and open yourself up to get to know them.  Do not let shame, fear, or pessimism prevent you from surrounding yourself with as many kind people as you can find.  Do not let fear prevent you from telling someone if you are being harmed or threatened.

Today's message is:

SEEK KINDNESS