We choose…

Every day we make choices, we choose to:

• be patient or impatient
• be kind or unkind
• actively listen or passively wait to voice our view
• be selfless or selfish
• be forgiving or resentful
• act with humility or behave arrogantly
• be honest or deceitful
• be loving or not to love
• smile or frown

Notice that I said “we choose”.  I did not say we “can” choose.  We do make these choices every day, whether consciously or subconsciously.  How do you choose?

Barbara Bush 1925 – 2018

Our country, and the city of Houston, lost an incredible woman this week.  Barbara Bush leaves an inspirational legacy.  People from all walks of life have spoken kind words and remembrances of her. Yes, she was the wife and mother of former Presidents, but you do not need to have been the First Lady to have positive words spoken of you.  You simply need to treat others with kindness, dignity and respect.  That is the theme of what is being said about Barbara Bush this week.  From small Houston business owners, former Secret Service agents, and all in between, the theme is consistent.  She treated people with kindness. 

We are, and will be, known most prominently for how we treat others.  That alone can bring praise from the people we encounter, both while we live and after we are gone.  Barbara Bush actually said it best herself…

“Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success is how you treat other people.”

-       Barbara Bush

In honor of Barbara Bush go out and be kind this week.  In honor of yourself and others continue doing so in the coming weeks as well.

Three Kinds of People

Most people have heard the old saying about the world being comprised of three types of people…

• Those who make things happen.
• Those who watch and/or follow what happens.
• Those who ask what happened.

Hopefully we are not always #3!  But, in certain aspects of our life, we likely are the one who asks “what happened?”  It’s just hard to always be #1 regarding every aspect of our lives.  To me the key is which one of the above are we regarding what really matters?  When it comes to family, marriage, faith, parenting, or whatever may be of absolute importance to us, what are we then?  It is okay to be #3 about entertainment or fashion maybe even current events.  It is not okay to be #3 on things of significance.  When it comes to the things that really matter we need to strive to be one of those who make things happen!

Make something happen this week!

Impatience

In this day and age we have become very impatient people.  I should know because patience is a serious weakness of mine.  We are impatient in lines at the grocery store and in traffic (Traffic is the most difficult for me.)  We are impatient with doctors healing our illnesses and lawyers solving our problems.  On a bigger picture level, we are impatient to achieve, to achieve our goals and achieve our definitions of success.  We are focused on the destination and the outcome, not the journey or preparation.  Consider this quote…

“Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation”

Robert H. Schuller

The problem is that we do not want to spend the time it takes in preparation to achieve.  It does not matter what you want to achieve, it will require preparation.  Whether it is financial success, good grades or athletic prowess, you have to be willing to devote not so glamorous hours and hours of preparation.  Preparation may not be fun, but the rewards of achievement can be spectacular!  Try not to be so impatient. 

Live Music

A headline from last week…

Live Music May Help You Live Longer, Research Finds

A new study finds that music improves emotional well-being by more than 20%.

Isn’t that great news?  I really enjoy live music.  Last weekend I was blessed to experience some really talented live musicians two nights in a row.  Live music just makes me smile.  I have no musical talent, none.  But I really respect, admire and enjoy those who do. 

Music is a powerful thing.  It can bring you to tears or laughter; take you to new places or back in time; open new friendships and strengthen old ones, and it is especially powerful live and in person.  It does not have to be a big name at a large venue.  It can be a local band at a neighborhood pub. We are blessed in The Woodlands with some great music venues including the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion which attracts fabulous national headliners and Dosey Doe which is a wonderful small dinner show listening room.  There are many others as well.  Find a live music venue near you and check it out.  You will enjoy it and you never know where it will take you.