With Regard To Life

Suspending This Blog

What is it the candidates say when they announce that they are dropping out of the race? "I am suspending my campaign." I would not call it 'suspending my blog', but I do plan to post fewer of them for the next several weeks. I wrote in some recent posts that I am trying to write a book. I am at the point where I feel I need to give it more of my time and attention. I am excited about the project and want to finish it. I hope to share it with you once it is completed. I hope you have a great weekend. Today's Winning Thought: "Without focus, little of significance is accomplished." -- Richard A. Swenson, M.D.

Sense of Urgency

I received a telephone call this morning. I was expecting it. It was from my surgeon's nurse. She had good news. The results of my biopsy showed no signs of cancer. Thank you, God. Thank you. While I am understandably happy about my report, I am deeply saddened because many of my friends have received much different reports. Some of them, or a member of their family, are fighting this horrible disease right now. I saw an old friend today who told me that he lost his wife to breast cancer last week. Lately, even before my recent biopsy, I cannot get the words "sense of urgency" out of my mind. I think that is the way we all should be living - with a sense of urgency. No matter how many days we have left, we must live in such a way as to make them count. It is trite, and perhaps a bit cheesy, but today really is the first day of the rest of your life. Don't waste any heartbeats. Don't walk right past an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. Today's Winning Thought: Beginning today, strive to live with a sense of urgency.

Building A Book

I drive by a few construction sites every day. There is a fire station, a school, some industries and a football stadium. Building projects like these take time. You cannot rush things. In the early days of the construction it is hard to see progress. Then you see things start to take shape. Then there is fairly rapid progress. And finally, you see the finished project. I am amazed at the skill and craftsmanship of the workers. I am trying to build a book. Like the buildings and the stadium, you cannot hurry it along too much. I am making my way through file after file of notes. I am beginning to visualize what the finished project might look like. I hope to be able to share it with you one day. I hope you have a great week. Now, back to my notes. Today's Winning Thought: "You were born to win. But in order to become the winner you were born to be, you have to plan to win, prepare to win and expect to win." -- Zig Ziglar

Don't Forget Where You Came From

Martina McBride and George Strait performed a concert in my hometown last night. I was reading the article in this morning paper about the concert and thought the last paragraph was worth sharing with you. Martina is a Kansas girl, so what she was quoted as saying is not surprising. She said, "Growing up here was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I think it is one of the reasons I am where I am today." I think she is right. This is where Martina grew up, where she learned her values and work ethic. It helps when you are blessed with the talent she has, but it is still work. And she has worked hard. Martina McBride hasn't forgotten where she came from. We should not either. Today's Winning Thought: Remember where you came from, and the people who were around you. Be grateful for what you learned. Give back something when you are able.

Notes and Quotes

I was cleaning out my inbox today and found many quotes I have not deleted. I have shared a few of these here from time to time. Here are a few more. "The big rewards come to those who travel the second, undefended mile." -- Bruce Barton. "There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or you're out. There is no such thing as in-between." -- Pat Riley "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." -- Proverbs 27:17 "If you rarely give a little more, should you really expect to get a little more? -- Sam Parker "To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." -- Elbert Hubbard "As yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your modus operandi and change your world." -- Annie Lennon "Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.'" -- Mary Kay Ash Today's Winning Thought: Do not pretend that people are important. Of course, they are. Every person you meet IS important. And every person we meet can teach us something.

Would You Like To Dance

Those who know me best, know that I would never ask that question, unless it was a joke. I hate to dance. I don't have anything against dancing, I just don't do it. The only time in recent memory that I can recall dancing was at the wedding reception of a friend, and only then because my daughter grabbed me by the arm and nearly pulled it out the socket in an effort to get me on the dance floor. Well, today I am ready to dance. I read a few business blogs, including one by a young lady named Stephanie Melish. In her most recent blog, she was writing about Whitney Houston's death. While her death was tragic and preventable, it was also a lesson in team building, according to Ms. Melish. And a lesson in surrounding yourself with people who will make you better. It is hard to know who was on Whitney Houston's team, or if they put forth any real effort to protect her or push her to be better. It appears that she was in the company of people who enabled her. Ms. Melish asks the question, "Who are you dancing with?" Who is pushing you? Who is not giving up on you? Do you have somebody in your life? Are you someone's somebody? Here is what Ms. Melish said you have to do to be a dance partner in someone's life. You have to PRAISE people, PUSH them and PROTECT them. Ms. Melish believes that Whitney Houston died because she did not have a partner. Today's Winning Thought: Find someone to dance with. Then, praise, push and protect them. And don't give up.

Ripping The Fabric of America

I have had the honor of working with several people in my community in the fight against illiteracy. Together we created a task force about four years ago. Our focus is literacy and mentoring. At one of our first meetings, I mentioned to a reporter that I believed there were four things that are ripping the fabric of America: Illiteracy, Drugs, lack of personal accountability and poor personal money management. Those problems are slowly tearing many families apart. What will save them? How can we - all of us - deliver the poorest and lowest performing kids and their families, and break the cycle of poverty and mediocrity which is stealing the life right out of them? I suppose you start with one person somewhere. It would be nearly impossible to change the life of every kid and every adult. But we have to try. Find a cause that fits your skills and passion. Then invest in it and serve with them. Today's Winning Thought: Mark Sanborn, in his book UP, DOWN, OR SIDEWAYS, writes, "The greatest bankruptcy you face in life in not about finances; it is a loss of hope. The loss of hope doesn't just cripple you and keep you from moving; it keeps you from thinking that moving would make a difference." Share a ray of hope with someone today.

Blessings and Hope

I am working on a book about my daughter and our life with a child who was born with Down syndrome. One of the chapters is about hope. I have been sorting through some quotes to include in that chapter. I found this one from Dick Gorham, a retired pastor I met recently. I wanted to share it with you. "Blessings often come in unexpected ways and in difficult circumstances." Are you walking through a trial today? If you are not, you will one day. Down syndrome was unexpected, and at times, difficult. But there have been more blessings that I can count. I am going to keep looking for them because I know there will be even more. Today's Winning Thought: Pay close attention when looking for blessings because they might not appear that way at first.

Wall of Champions

I was sitting in another gymnasium again this week. I noticed the Wall of Champions. There are a lot of pictures on that wall that go back several years. Who is on your personal Wall of Champions? You can easily start that list today. Keep adding to it as more names come to mind. Who are your true champions? Who works tirelessly to help you succeed? Who encourages and inspires you? Who teaches you? Who loves you? Who helps provide for you? What friend is closer than a brother, or sister? What mentor made you better? Who is your spiritual champion? Who is on your wall, the wall of your heart? Today's Winning Thought: While you are thinking about that, would you be on someone's Wall of Champions?

You Are a Teammate

You are are someone's team. Family. Work. Church. Organizations you belong to. You are on one or more teams. This week I have shared what I have learned from John Maxwell about teams. There are some laws you do not want to break. The Law of the Edge. The difference between two equally talented teams is leadership. The team withe better and stronger leaders had the edge. Does your team - do your teams - have an edge? The Law of High Morale. Nothing hurts when you are winning, according to Maxwell. The Law of Dividends. This is what some people miss. When you invest in your team, it will compound over time. Today's Winning Thought: Play, and work, in a way that helps your team win.