Not What You Think
The Groundwork In previous years, I was reluctant to write about this topic because it is the other subject, besides politics, that you are not supposed to discuss. But it is too important, and I hope you trust me enough to hear (read) me out. In my prior years’ posts, I realized that I had […]
Birds of a Feather
Flock Together Noted author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn is correct: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” While I have previously addressed the importance of our associations, this year I want to ensure I have not overstated causation to the point of ignoring the more significant correlation. […]
Yes, Self-Centered
Your initial reaction to this title is that it is a criticism, an insult. We need to distinguish between self-centeredness, being grounded by your values, and selfishness, when your actions are indulgent to the point of being unnecessarily detrimental to others. Self-determination By definition, self-worth can only be judged by oneself. This issue is our […]
Warden or Teacher?
We spend fruitless time looking in the rearview mirror, ruminating over things we cannot change, and futilely hoping for a different past. Self-inflicted Sometimes we use the past as an anchor. We think we have been someone or someway for so long that it is our destiny. Remarkably, we do not have the same attitude […]
Keep Pedaling
Following last week’s post, I realized I needed to make one clarification and add a companion concept. Another Way You may need to keep moving forward so that a single insurmountable obstacle does not jeopardize your entire endeavor. Sometimes, you need to flow like a river and navigate around obstructions. An entrepreneur told me he […]
Quit? Of Course!
In our hustle culture, they tell us never to quit on our dreams, lest we give up right before achieving success. They proclaim Winston Churchill’s famous words, “…never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in…” but omit these words said in the […]
Shamed into It?
After exposing my cluttered garage and pontificating about disposing of unused stuff, I had to act; otherwise, I wouldn’t be an authentic 52 Stepper. Even though I proclaimed the virtue of giving things to those who could use them, my immediate motivations were to show you I could do as I say, escape the yoke […]
Necessary Release
Despite our awareness that we benefit by forgiving others and ourselves, we deny ourselves by surrendering control over our forgiveness decisions. Them Often, our most significant stumbling block to forgiving others is making it contingent on the offender’s remorse; “I will not forgive him until he apologizes.” However, requiring repentance is the equivalent of asking […]
Bewilderment Continued
Send Them Back We both praise and vilify the country’s leader for doing the job our laws require. Ironically, the deportation zealots would have been better off drafting President Obama back into office. In both terms, he deported (removed and returned) more illegals than the current President did in his original term. Why didn’t President […]
I Don’t Understand
For those unaware, this type of message is an invitation to contemplate, not an assault on my dear readers. When I use “we,” I refer to a segment of or our entire society. I understand that not everyone belongs to the group I am referring to. Selective Interpretation We argue the Second Amendment right to […]