Hello Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Saying hello is to acknowledge the existence of another.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon so I decided to go for a bike ride. We have a great trail that runs for approximately 50 miles along tree-lined paths called the Iron Horse Trail. No, I didn’t ride 50 miles, only about 20 miles round trip, but it was still a good ride. As I was riding along, I don’t know why, but I got the bright idea that I would say hello to everyone I met on the trail. I thought this would be an easy thing to do. However, as I rode, I quickly found myself being a little uneasy, especially with the various responses.

Some people kept their heads down. Some acted like they didn't hear me. In some cases the reason they didn’t hear me was because they were listening to music on their IPod, (at least that is what I would like to think.) Some looked at me like I was strange. Some said hello under their breath, with nary a smile. I think some were taken by surprise that someone would even say hello. All in all the majority of the responses were positive.

The best part of the ride was when there was a group of riders approaching. Before they got to me I said out loud, “Hello everyone.” They all said in unison "Hello!" with big smiles on their faces.

My take-away from the experience is that I am not responsible for how people respond; it is my job to be kind and courteous. Whether on a trail, in a grocery line or in a café, we all have a responsibility to be kind.

You may never know the impact a simple hello may have on someone. Try it, you will like it!

Can a man, by worrying, add a day to his life?

“Every evening I turn my worries over to God.  He’s going to be up all night anyway” Mary C. Crowley

Have you ever seen the Traveler’s Insurance commercial where a dog takes his bone and tries to find a safe and worry-free place to place it?  He tries to bury it.  Then he places it in a safety deposit box.  That night he tosses back and forth worrying about the bone until he can’t take it anymore.  He then returns to the bank and takes it out.  Worry!

My mother used to always tell me not to worry about anything until you have something to worry about.  I love that!  So many of us allow ourselves to worry about things that have not even happened yet.

We start to build in our minds scenarios of what can possibly happen to us as a result of something that is going on around us. We think of the worst possible outcomes and then may even find ourselves unwittingly working towards making them happen.  Have you ever heard someone say, “I am a worry wart?”  It’s almost like they wear it like a badge of honor.

During one of my speeches I asked the attendees how many of them were filled with worry, anxiety and fear?  Several of them raised their hands.  I asked, “How is it working for you?”  They all started to laugh.  Laughter, that’s a good thing.  Laughing at things you cannot control takes some of the power and sting out of the situation.

The next time you are tempted to worry, think about giving the following a chance to help you overcome the temptation:

·         Ask yourself, what is the worst that can happen?  Then develop a game plan so in the event the worst happens, you are prepared to face it head on.

·         Don’t sweat the small stuff!  Don’t let the small stuff be bigger than it is.

·         Fill your mind with positive thoughts!  Displace the negative with the positive.

·         Remember:  This too shall pass!  Whatever you are going through will not last forever.

·         Lastly, pray and read your Bible.  Filling your heart with God’s soul food will leave you full and satisfied.

Although life will never be completely worry free, remember, worry never solved a problem or added a day to your life. 

The Pursuit of Happiness

“The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.”  Author Unknown

How many of you are enjoying life?

Are you happy?

I can imagine that before you answer these questions many of you are thinking about your life and weighing the good and bad things going on in your life.  If you have money and a job, maybe you are enjoying life.  If you have lost your job, maybe life is not good.  The holidays often stress people out which can lead to depression.  While speaking to a group of individuals this past week I asked them the same question.  Out of 70-80 people only 10 raised their hands.  Wow! Only 10 said they were enjoying life.

This economy has taken its toll on many lives.  The loss of jobs, homes, retirement nest eggs, and its impact on families leaves so many afraid, fearful and angry.  The threat of increased taxation, fuel and food prices only further the feelings of uncertainty.  How can one enjoy life and be happy with all of the cares of this life swirling around them?

Keeping life in perspective is the key to happiness and joy.  I find that when I want to grumble and complain, simply thinking about the positive things that are going on in my life resets my thinking.  My faith in God is the number one key for me living an abundant life.  My happiness and joy is not predicated on my circumstances, but my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

If you are one of the ones worrying and anxious, I have one question for you, how is it working for you?  Place your trust in the only One who is able to bring lasting joy and happiness.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert


Zig Ziglar—how many of you know the name? Zig Ziglar is known by many to be one of the greatest speakers of all time. Many who knew him said that what made him great was his enthusiasm for life and his positive attitude. Those close to him said that they never saw him in a bad mood. Most, when they hear that, would say that they do not believe anyone could live life and never be in a bad mood or have a poor attitude.


Someone asked him his secret and it was quite simple. He said he possessed an “Attitude of Gratitude.” Each day, when challenged to give in to a poor attitude, he simply looked around and gave thanks for all the good things in his life, (his family, the rain, his health and much, much more). As a child his father died when he was 6 and he grew up in poverty. His mother taught him the value of hard work which carried him through life.


We all can learn a lot from Zig Ziglar and people like him. Living a life of gratitude positions the mind for success and happiness. When you are focused on negative circumstances and pining for the things that you don’t have, it can be torment. Not having what you think you need and not being able to have it will leave you in a constant state of discontentment.


Zig Ziglar filled his heart and mind each day with an “Attitude of Gratitude” and he was able to power through life in a constant state of joy. The impact of his life and who he was is still felt today.


When your happiness and joy is not based on your circumstances you can live a victorious life!

It's All In How You Look At It

Two men John and Ken had been working for a company for over 15 years.  They both were well thought of employees and dedicated to the organization.  Over the past several months they had seen several employees laid off.  However, due to the length of their employment and the quality of their work they were not concerned about losing their jobs.  It was a Friday afternoon and they were looking forward to spending the weekend with their families.

It was about two o’clock in the in the afternoon and each of them were called into their manager’s office.  The manager explained that due to a poor economy the company needed to make some tough choices.  One of the choices was to lay them off.

When John heard the news he could not believe it.  Something cut him deep down inside.  For a brief moment he did not know how to feel or what to say.  There was only shock and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He asked, “Why me?  Was my work not satisfactory?”  His manager reassured him that it was not his work, and that the company would be offering a two month severance package along with transition assistance.  He restated that the reason was purely financial.

John wrestled with how he would break the news to his wife.  With kids in college and very little savings John was overwhelmed with the thought of what he would do.  John quickly crawled into a shell of despair.  He started to question his worth and whether he would ever find another job in this economy.  Paralyzed with fear of the unknown, John was stuck.

Ken on the other hand took the news differently.  Ken was definitely disappointed in the loss of his job; after all he loved his work and the people he worked with.  However, understanding that the loss of his job was not due to his inability to do the work or the quality of it, he looked at the loss as an opportunity.  He had always thought about opening up his own small business and now this gave him the opportunity to investigate it further.  After telling his wife and family about being laid off Ken put a plan of action in place to position himself for his next opportunity.  He figured he had two months of severance and unemployment insurance to get his business up and running.

After four months Ken opened his new business, and although it is not making money, he believes it is only a matter of time.

Two men in the same position, one chooses to give in to fear and anxiety and the other looks at the situation as an opportunity.  To be clear, John is not wrong to feel the way he feels.  It is said that losing a job is like a death in the family.  There is a grief cycle that one goes through.  The key to coming out of it is not to lose faith in your abilities and experience.  When John and Ken lost their jobs the company did not keep their skills and their experience, they took their skills with them.

Remember your accomplishments and your successes.  Trust yourself and focus on the goals you have set for your future.

It‘s important to remember that all of us will be faced with significant challenges in life.  In order to navigate through them it will take fortitude and perseverance.

You have the ability to create a new reality for your life.  It is not just about your ability to get the next job.  It is about positively impacting the lives of those you come in contact with on the road to your next job opportunity.

Remember:  It’s all in how you look at it.