While electronic communication makes it possible for us to exchange information rapidly, it falls short when it comes to the caring and feeding of personal relationships. Relationships occur between two people and people need periodic personal touches from the other person if the relationship to remain vibrant. If your relationships are well maintained and you…
It’s a fact of life; if you follow the crowd, you’ll never be highly successful. On the other hand, the minute you step away from the crowd, you invite criticism-people judge you and make disparaging remarks about your ideas and dreams which can be hurtful. So, how do you deal with criticism? The answer is…
The above is a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. These three short sentences form the foundation for a happy and meaningful life. Be Silly tells us to relax, have fun and let our foolish side show itself once in a while. Be Honest tells us to be comfortable with whom we are and let our…
One of my daughters recently emailed a quote to me that read, “Happy people are those who continuously evaluate and improve themselves. Unhappy people are those who continuously evaluate others.” What this means is that happy people are focused on personal growth–trying and learning new things, going to new places and making new friends. For…
I subscribe to a newsletter called Napoleon Hill: Yesterday and Today. The most recent issue contained an article titled “The Advantages of the Habit of Going the Extra Mile.” In this article, Mr. Hill listed 12 distinct advantages you gain from regularly going the extra mile. I’d like to share a few of these with…
One of my daughters recently emailed me a quote from Beverly Sills. It read, “There are no short cuts to any place worth going.” What this means is that if you want to experience a high level of success, you have to be willing to pay your dues–to start at the bottom and work your way…
In a recent blog post, minimalist Joshua Becker asserts that for far too many people, the desire to impress others is the major motivator in their life. This desire determines the cars they buy, the clothes they wear, the technology the embrace and so forth. He goes on to say that this often proves to…
Today, most of us are busier than ever–so much so, that we don’t want to take the time to listen to those around us. The problem with this is that all of us need opportunities to share our stories–our joys, problems and sorrows–with someone who cares. Being able to share our stories is what helps…
Over the weekend, I re-read Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. It’s a true story about Mitch paying weekly visits to his old college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease. During these visits, Morrie passes on some wonderful life lessons from the perspective of a dying man. At one point, he…
My wife was walking through a park the other day when she noticed a grandmother walking with her young granddaughter. Instead of making the most of an opportunity to spend quality time with her granddaughter, this woman chattered away on her cell phone the whole time while completely ignoring her little granddaughter who trailed behind…