Ok I Gotta Say This

But not sure how.  It’s kinda deep, and yet it’s not. It’s important, but most don’t see it.

Why? because people are afraid.  Fear is a survival tactic that was bestowed on early humans to help them avoid being eaten. What caveman wouldn’t want that?

Want you to know, upfront, that this has only been a revelation in the last year or so for me. And it is the five-a-day blog writing that has awakened the truth. And the truth is, most of us lack courage.

There are true alpha dogs in the human pack, but not nearly as many as you might think.  I digress.

Ever listen to people offering advice about what’s important? Next time listen more closely.

Do you hear them using their own examples, struggles, triumphs,? Or do they use someone else’s?  Or maybe no examples at all, just theory?

My theory is not much has changed since we lived in caves, except fewer of us get eaten when we walk outside.

First Match

Last weekend I began to teach our son:

  1. How to strike a match
  2. How to light a fire
  3. How to be respectful of fire
  4. Which side of the fire to approach

We have a campfire pit in our yard and this is the time of year for using it.  We burned enough yard and tree trimmings to make an excellent cooking fire.

He was hesitant to strike the match.  Perhaps even afraid. He’s nine.

As a Father, it seems intuitive to be the one to teach him certain things that will be taught by others, if I don’t beat them to it.

Striking a match is just the beginning.  Ya with me?

Happy Thanksgiving To All

Happy Thanksgiving to every single one of you. It’s a wonderful time of the year to remind ourselves of everything we have to be thankful for.

Since this is the last of the five-a-day blogs I’ve written today, all sharing the thanksgiving theme, I’ll simply share them here with you.

If you already follow the others, here’s something new. It’s your choice, every day, to be thankful. This is one of the first rules adults should teach children.

And the best tip for teaching children, is for your life to be your message.

West Orange Times

What motivates and inspires people to take action?  Words, and phrases.

Here a few from last Thursday’s West Orange Times.  Our small town newspaper is mailed once each week.  There was a center page section full (13 total) of ads.

  • Building Life-Changing Christian Relationships (Church)
  • WELLTRAX (Wellness Center)
  • Reinvent Yourself! (Education)
  • your next level (advertising)
  • Elevate Your Image (advertising)
  • Strengthen Your Brand (advertising)

Phrases and words have some sort of magical power to travel to the part of our brain that says, “You can do better.”

With New Year’s Eve six weeks away, people begin asking, “What can I do better?”

What is one of the craziest , or perhaps high impact New Year’s Resolutions you’ve ever made?

The Fear of Living

What?

Yep, that’s our biggest fear.  But it never shows up on any list.

Why?

Because no one will admit it.

How do I know?

Because, think about it, if the fear of living wasn’t our biggest fear, why was this phrase – carpe diem – invented?

Carpe diem translates to:  “While we’re talking, envious time is fleeing: seize the day, put no trust in the future.”