Tag / success

by Blog Writer

Giving back

“The Lord does not require us to succeed. He just expects us to try.”  ~Mother Teresa

I’m a big believer in this. It’s not all about you, what you drive, the eye candy on your arm, or your net worth. When you came into the world, you found it in a certain state. Like a good Boy Scout, leave it better than you found it. 

The ways in which to accomplish this are countless. Extend kindness and emotional support to others. It costs you nothing, and most likely you’ll never know how much of a difference it will make. Twenty-five years ago, a gentleman in town wrote me a thank-you letter for helping his daughter and son-in-law. I didn’t recognize how much my assistance meant to his family. In the same way, he never knew how much his letter meant to me. Yet here I am, twenty-five years later, writing about it. 

The same can be said when forgiveness was extended to me for an error in judgement. Whether we extend kindness, forgiveness, a loan, a donation, or a simple compliment, at the end of the day we are better for having done it. Becoming a better person is part of “getting a life”.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”  ~Winston Churchill

by Blog Writer

4-7-8 Breathing

“Believing in yourself is a choice.”  ~ Jack Canfield

I take no credit for coming up with this technique. I read about it somewhere, tried it, and it works. So I’m passing it on. In high anxiety situations, it’s difficult to focus with good critical thinking skills and weigh options. High anxiety makes it easy to overreact, shove both feet in your mouth, and in general, show the red eye. 

A method to quickly get control of your emotions is to simply inhale through your nose for a count of 4 and hold for a count of 7, then exhale for a count of 8. It only takes two or three breaths to calm down. No one knows you are doing it, then you get a better grasp of the situation. No, you won’t be a zen master, but you’re less likely to make an ass of yourself. Do this breathing technique, get the confidence back, and believe in yourself. That in itself is another step toward “getting a life”.

“Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problem.” ~ Nelson A. Rockefeller

by Blog Writer

The purple pie place

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”  ~ George Elliot

Vacations have always been a big deal to me. Wherever we go, we establish rituals that everyone looks forward to. It might be daily trips to that special coffee shop every morning, letting the kids explore for money in the pool (making sure there is some to be found), or an ongoing game of Monopoly. One vacation that still holds special significance for me was a trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota. My parents had flown in to meet us. Dad was ill and we knew his time was growing short. We discovered a unique establishment that sold homemade pie and ice cream called “The Purple Pie Place”. A daily evening visit became a much anticipated event for all of us. Even today, years later, I’m so glad we took the time to establish that ritual. Learn to take the time for rituals. It’s not too late to start the habit. Put some thought and effort into it. You’ll find yourself ‘getting a life’.


“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

by Blog Writer

You don’t have to come in first to be a winner

“Sometimes it will be like driving through the fog, where you can only see the road 10 yards ahead of you. But if you keep moving forward, more of the road will be revealed, and eventually, you will arrive at the goal.”  ~ Jack Canfield

Our culture celebrates only 1st place. Anything less and you are viewed as a loser. Think about how our society views the 2nd place team at a Super Bowl and a World Series –  losers. There used to be a commercial that referred to the Olympics. While I don’t remember the product, I do remember the line, “You didn’t win the silver, you lost the gold.” Take a few moments and think about what that is saying. Here’s my interpretation. On a given day, an athlete delivered the 2nd best performance in a sport on the planet. Yet they are diminished and labeled a loser. 

This philosophy is pervasive in our society. We can never have enough, be enough, or accomplish enough. There will always be someone who has more and on some level, we’ll continue to think of ourselves as losers. This sets us up for a lifetime of unhappiness, resentment of others, envy, and in general, a self-defeating, unhappy existence. Objectively and critically viewing this can only lead to one conclusion. People that subscribe to this philosophy are getting a dangerously high reading on the dumbass meter. Unlike Wimbledon, in the game of life, there is more than one winner. In fact, we all can and should win at the game of life. I should not view your success as in any way diminishing me. In turn, my success simply involves playing the hand I was dealt. My job is to take my circumstances and find ways, large and small, to improve things on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly scale. Winning is not about being #1. Winning is about constantly improving! To be happy, consciously decide what winning is for YOU rather than letting our culture set the rules. When I need an emotional lift, I will go back and look at old goal lists, sometimes years old. As I review them, I’m reminded of how much things have improved and how much has been accomplished. This helps re-energize and inspire me. Adopting healthy attitudes combined with constant improvement in all parts of your life will equal “getting a life”.

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”  ~Booker T. Washington

by Blog Writer

Buy fresh cut flowers weekly

“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”  ~ Franz Kafka

I have a passion for nature, and quite enjoy the beauty of trees, birds, flowers and attractive landscapes. For me, it provides a kind of positive therapy and energy which promotes a healthier mindset. In fact, bringing nature’s beauty inside my home has been a huge plus.  A few green plants or fresh cut flowers make a home feel more alive. In my area, an inexpensive bouquet of cut flowers cost between five and ten dollars. I believe the colors symbolize success, beauty, and give the feeling of pride that our home is attractive and warm. The positive impact on your family may be pleasing to you as well. Making your home a beautiful and positive place is another part of “getting a life”. 

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” ~ Arthur Ashe