Encouragement, Inspiration and More…

I just returned from my daughter’s Symone, 5th grade graduation program…  One of her classmates said something that I hope I will never forget…

He said, “we must change our lives before what we refuse to change, changes our lives for us….”

I think that is pretty deep for a 10 year old.

Encouragement Always. 

What we have before us are some breathtaking opportunities disguised as insoluble problems. 

Encouragement Always.

This is true even if you don’t feel like it is true.  This is true even if you don’t believe it is true.  This is true even if you don’t think it is true.

Encouragement Always.

Winning isn’t everything.   The world does not come to an end if you lose.  What really matters is how you play the game.

Encouragement Always.

This morning Symone, my ten-year old daughter, informed me that when she grows up she wants to be a trash man.

When I asked her what lead to that decision.

She said it was because they only worked on Mondays.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her what they spend the rest of the week doing.

Encouragement Always.

Last Friday I did something I really did not feel like doing… I went and had a mammogram.  Yes, it was as bad as I remembered.. but so what, it needed to be done.  And doing what needs to be done always makes me feel better.

Encouragement Always.

Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.  — Al Bernstein

Encouragement Always.

Thinking about the past leads to regret and pain.

Think about the future leads to fear and anxiety.

That’s why I recommend focusing on the present moment and all the treasures that it holds.   

Encouragement Always.

Yesterday morning as I headed out the house I told myself that I would spend the day practicing staying focused on the present moment.  No matter what happens, I said to myself, I will not dwell on the past or think about what might happen in the future.

No matter what I said, I will practice loving what is happening now.

You can guess what happens next.  After leaving an appointment, I got in my car and it would not start.  

Loving the moment when you are sitting in car with a dead battery is not easy.  But, it is possible.

I was tempted to beat myself up for sitting in the car prior to the appointment and leaving the fan on while listening to the radio…  I was tempted to fear the worse “what if something is seriously wrong with the car, something that is going to cost $1 billion to repair.” 

But I didn’t give in to my temptation. I stayed focused on this question, “what can I do in this moment?”

I called for road side assistance… and within 40 minutes I was back on the road…

Encouragement Always. 

When nothing works, do nothing!

Encouragement Always.