Is Today Your Birthday?

No? Give yourself a gift anyway. You deserve it. It's actually important to your well-being. And the gift that you can give yourself is to do a good deed.

Yes, really. Doing a good deed for someone else is giving yourself the gift of happiness and pride. When we do something for someone else, when we add to their happiness, we get a little happiness in return. And we can feel a bit of pride that we took some time and energy for something beyond ourselves.

So, whether it is your birthday or not, go do a good deed, a small act of kindness. If it IS your birthday, why not share some of it with someone who needs a little cheering up?

There are countless ways to be kind, to act with kindness, not just think kind thoughts. Some days it may just be smiling at people, no matter what you are feeling. Or maybe you call someone who doesn't get out much or you haven't seen in a long time just to check in and see how they are doing. Maybe they need to know someone thinks of them, cares about them.

Or maybe you can make the opportunity to go out of your way for someone to help them with something. I'm sure if you start thinking about good deeds, start looking for opportunities you will find plenty things you might do. If you are really stuck you can go back through some of my earlier posts from last year when I talked about acts of kindness and had lists at the end of each post.

And when you do for others, all are blessed. You, the person you do the deed for, and anyone who sees/hears about it and is inspired to do something for someone else. It spreads out and touches the world around you.

So make a difference with a good deed, an act of kindness, a gift.

And I'd love it if you shared what your good deed was. I can add it to my list of ideas! And maybe another reader will be inspired.

So, Happy Birthday! - or Happy This Day!
.

If There Were No Eyes

"If there were no eyes, there would be no light." An interesting concept. Follow that thought as if it were truth and realize who you are.

Whether there was a big bang or not, humans are a miracle. YOU are a miracle. You make light and sound and touch and fragrance possible. Imagine.

What, then is your worth? And how are you investing your value in today's world? 

Be amazing!

You Are One

The Power of One

You are one. What are you doing to use your power to create love in the world?

Really. What ARE you doing?

What did you do yesterday? What did/will you do today?

What will you do tomorrow?

Notice how you use your power.

I Can't Sleep!

Having a sleepless night is unusual for me, at least these days. I've had plenty of times when I couldn't sleep, but that hasn't been a problem recently. So what's the deal?

I couldn't seem to discipline my mind to stop worrying about this and that. Worry isn't my natural state. But this night I'm worried about our country and the direction it is taking, or at least the direction our new administration is taking.

I've other worries, too. But that's the biggie, the one I don't sense I can do anything about. And usually if I can't do anything to fix a problem I let it go and focus on other things. That's just not happening this night.

I feel like I'm caught up in the middle of a storm, a destructive storm. What can I do? What would I do in a weather storm. Hunker down and wait for it to pass. But this seems like a really BIG storm that will last a long time and wreak havoc around us all. I don't think stocking up on canned food and bottled water is going to work.

Am I the only one who feels this way? I know that my fears are probably unrealistic in the short term, at least. But our Ship of State is changing direction. Big ships turn slowly, so we have some time to correct course. But once committed to a turn it isn't easy to turn back. So we need to do what we can to get back on course, the sooner the better.

If you are concerned about how things are going, make your concerns known. Make Noise! Call your legislators, write letters, participate in protests, start/sign petitions. Run for office. Get involved. Together we could turn this ship around.

Let's take a course of compassion for those in need and investment in truth tellers. Support the mainstream media. We are doomed without a free press. Demand accountability.

O.K., I'm stepping off my soap box and going to bed, hopefully to sleep!

Let me know how you plan to help us get on course.

I Can't Keep Quiet

We must make noise to be heard

and to make change.

What do you want to change?

How are you making noise to change it?

Can You Hear Me Now?

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there, does it still make a sound?

Actually, yes. But sound only registers if there is something to receive it. That doesn't mean it isn't there. Right?

Where am I going with this? Well, there are things happening in our country right now that should be making a lot more noise than they are.

I'm wondering if anyone is here to hear it.

The Secret to Changing the World

Do you have the courage it takes to change the world?

This is a powerful video that tells us how.

Who will you invite to your home?

I Must Confess

I am feeling discouraged.

My life's mission has been to make a positive difference in the world. And I believe that, for the most part, I have lived that way.

But lately I find the behaviors of so many people to be overwhelmingly negative. And I'm discouraged. Last month we saw the movie Hidden Figures. It depicted the way whites in our nation treated blacks for generations. The disrespect, violence, discrimination, oppression of an entire race of human beings continues even today. While it might not be as openly hostile as it may have been a hundred years ago, it still exists. Why?

And then this past week we watched the nine hours of a program on television about the struggle of LGBT people in our nation, When We Rise. It exposed the same kind of disrespect, violence, discrimination, and oppression that was directed toward blacks being directed toward LGBT people. While that too may be somewhat better, that oppression continues. Again, why?

We are all of the same species, yet we treat each other so terribly. People seem so ready to hate and hurt those who are not like themselves. The nation has become more divided rather than less. Violence against Jews, Muslims, gays, transgender persons continues to happen more frequently. Hate is visible everywhere. What will it take for us all to realize that we are more alike than we are different? And that simply being different in some respect does not mean we must fear or hate each other.

I find it overwhelming at times. And it is most discouraging for me. When I consider what little I can do in the face of so much negativity I see my efforts falling way short.

I started this blog with the hope that I could encourage others to join me in making the world a better place for us all. And yet I have no sense that anyone is reading my posts, as I get no feedback. I want to know if the blog is making any kind of difference for anyone but me.

I use it to keep my focus on a better world. I'm just not sure if that is enough of a reason to continue posting.

If you are reading this, and/or other of my posts, I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Better You = Better World

The best way to create a better world is to start with yourself. As you become better you do more to create a better world.

There are changes you can make in yourself that would make a positive difference in the world. If you are ready to start, this article may help. "How to be 1% Better Every Day (The Kaizen Approach to Self-improvement)"* 

http://www.iamwire.com/2017/02/better-everyday-kaizen-self-improvement/148918#.WKtjn_wDGlQ.email

“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. 

When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement

in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. 

Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. 

That’s the only way it happens — and when it happens, it lasts.” — John Wooden

One day at a time is what works. Which day will you begin? And what do you want to change?

*[Author: Thomas Oppong. Thomas is the founder at Alltopstartups.com 

(resource site for young entrepreneurs starting and growing businesses today). 

He is a contributor at Entrepreneur.com. He has been featured on Smallbusinessheroes.co.uk 

and Evancarmichael.com as a top source of resources for entrepreneurs.]