It only takes a tiny spark to start a fire. But before you are rewarded with the warmth and glow of a massive blaze, you must invest the time and effort to help that tiny spark grow into a beautiful flame. Just like a person, that spark needs air and fuel to grow, but with care and dedication, it is sure to become the fire that you desire. Invest that same care and feeding in…
As I have gotten older, and life has slowed down just a tad, I have begun to get a clearer image of my life. And what I have discovered is that over the last few decades, I have accumulated a great many things. Some have been gifts, others have been purchased, and a few might have just snuck into my house. But as I have taken a mental inventory over the past few months, I…
A very wise friend told me that a parent is only as happy as his or her least happy child. And with an only child, that seemed to place a lot of pressure on him to keep us all in good spirits. But what I have come to see is that a parents role really doesn’t change when a child reaches adulthood. We are still the ones who try to be the voice of reason,…
Happy Labor Day to readers in the States, and Happy Monday to readers who are starting their week in another country. In the U.S., we are taking this day to honor the American labor movement and all it has created in our nation. But I would also like to ask everyone around the world to take a few moments and think about what I consider to be the most essential Labor of Love in our…
We are always going to have naysayers in our lives. Someone who is not going to have too much belief in you and your abilities. I know about that personally, having dealt with discrimination and rejection because of my learning disabilities. Someone didn’t think I was going to be educable. Someone believed I wasn’t going to have the capability to be independent. Someone believed the best jobs I would ever have were low paying ones…
There are so many things that we take for granted each day as “just a part of life,” when that is not the case for everyone. I’m not talking about luxury vehicles, spacious homes, or an abundance of things. I’m referring to important things, like the ability to see the smile on the face of a loved one. Or that look of joy in that special someone’s eyes when you return home each night. Or…
There are many times in life when you will question yourself or a choice that you have made. But on the hopefully rare occasion when a loved one turns his or her back on you and walks away, never give up on yourself, your ability to love again, or your worthiness to accept someone else’s love. No one is perfect. And we must offer our love knowing that and accepting that fact about anyone whom…
No one lives the perfect life. That is just not a reality. And to believe that another person’s life is perfect is naïve and unrealistic. This is just a simple fact that all adults must come to terms with. Once that challenge is met, the second step is to accept the fact that you need to find comfort, satisfaction, and happiness when your life is good enough. This is not to say that you must…
We are each but a tiny vessel navigating our way across the sea of life. We can choose to visit many ports to gather experiences and knowledge. But we also have the ability to set sail and leave any port behind. Once we make the decision to go, it is our own choice what we choose to carry with us from each port. We must choose wisely and never carry too much weight/baggage from a…
Never saddle yourself with the responsibility and weight of the mistakes that others make. If someone has treated you poorly, it was that person’s choice to do so. We all have the ability and responsibility to choose how we act, even when wronged, hurt, or mistreated. By lashing out, retaliating, or hurting others, we are choosing to allow someone else to influence our actions. Walk away knowing that you have made a choice to retain…