Go With Confidence

“The hours of Garfield’s life are numbered – Before this meets your eye, you may be President, ‘the letter began.’ The people are bowed in grief ; but – do you realize it? – Not so much that he is dying, as because you are his successor.”

Julia Sand: A Woman That You Never Heard Of Influenced A President That You Never Heard Of. And What We Can Learn From It.

Part One

The quote at the head of today’s blog is from a letter that Julia Sand sent to Chester A. Arthur while he was Vice President of the United States. The year was 1861 and this quoted is from the book: The Unexpected President by Scott Greenberger, page 167.

AND ONE PART IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER

Patent model, miscellaneous parts. 1997.0198.22. https://www.si.edu/object/patent-model-miscellaneous-parts:nmah_687620

With the world wide pandemic of the corona virus everyone has a part to play in combating this disease. And no one part is more important than any other part.

It is true that medical professionals are on the front line fighting this…

START YOUR DEFENSE NOW

Direct capture

Boy with Broken Tambourine https://www.si.edu/object/boy-broken-tambourine:saam_1990.27

With the COVID19 virus infecting the world. It is important for us to have a way to defend ourselves against the hard feeling that we may experience. Below are some things to try.

First, change you physical demeanor. Sit up strait. Stand up strait. Your mind will…

YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO THRIVE

While many of us are restricting our activities. We need to find ways to not only survive the COVID19 virus, but thrive in our environment. To do that we need to feed our bodies, our minds, and our spirits with the best available fuels.

This is in no particular order all three areas are of equal importance. I will pick out bodies first. Feed you body with the…

YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS, AND ANYTHING ELSE

Tough times test us. They can bring out the best in us. Take the Broadleaf Plantain pictured above. It is growing in a tough place. The asphalt that surrounds it gets incredibly hot during the day. It can only get enough nutrients in its root system that can be had in the crack that it grows. It get stepped on by those that walk on the path that it…

BEAT WORRY BY DOING SOMETHING

Award. 1996.0324.20.

From National Museum of American History ID Number 1996.0324.20 https://www.si.edu/object/i-caught-you-doing-something-right:nmah_1428271

As many of us around the world are quarantining in place. It is natural for worry to start to set in. One can’t help but see the devastation that the corona virus has already inflicted on the world. And one…

YOU HAVE THE TIME.

Parkinson & Frodsham Box Chronometer From The Smithsonian Museum https://www.si.edu/object/parkinson-frodsham-box-chronometer:nmah_1277064

With so many of us at home during the current pandemic I just want to let you know that now you have the time.

You have the time to learn that language that you always wanted to learn. You have the time to start exercising. You have…

TOUGH TIMES CAN TEST YOU ABILITY TO THRIVE…YOU CAN DO THIS!

Feed your body, and feed your mind with good things. While we are engaging is social distancing it is easy to help calm our fears and our anxiety by consuming comfort foods, comfort habits, and comfort thoughts.

We all know that we should stay away from comfort foods like cakes, candies, mashed potatoes, etc. But we should also…

THE WORLD IS YOURS

With much of the world having reduced mobility due to the corona virus. Take this as an excellent opportunity to make change, to complete projects, to grow.

Many of us are required to work from home or are forced to be home due to loosing a job. With that come some temptations, and some opportunities too. Some of the temptations are, eat snacks throughout the day. Be…

Take The Stairs

With the COVID19 virus sweeping the globe, I suggest going out of your way to take the stairs. My experience is that when I take the stairs, especially when I have to go out of my way to access the stairs, I am the only one in the stairwell. Taking the stairs have several benefits over taking an elevator, or even an escalator.

First, you can distance yourself from others…

Embrace The Stumble Forward

Curtiss D-III (A19280009000) at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum. Photo taken by Eric Long. Photo taken on October 7, 2014. (A19280009000.T8A9404) (NASM2018-10207).

Often times we have goals. However, we don’t have enough resources or information to confidently move toward those goals. We may feel that we don’t have enough education. We…

"I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief." ~ Gerry Spence

ADD SOME HEALTHY SKEPTICISM IN TO YOUR LIFE

From Pictorial Artistry: The Dramatization of the Beautiful in Photography From The Smithsonian Institution

Start questioning things! One of the most dangerous answers you will here in business is: “We have always done it that way.”

It may just be the correct way, and then again it may not. What made sense at one time may not make sense today.…

"Dead people can be our heroes because they can’t disappoint us later; they only improve over time, as we forget more and more about them." ~ Veronica Roth

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE A HERO

Credit Line National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist Artist Gardner Cox, 22 Jan 1906 – 14 Jan 1988

Many of us do not stand up for what is right, not because we are afraid, but because we feel that we are not worthy to make the stand. We think that because we are not perfect, we should hope that someone else will make the…

“Each of us can make a positive difference if we commit ourselves to do so.”~Dr. Cornel West

And You Don’t Have To Be Famous To Make A Change In The World

People often think that they are too small to make a change that can affect the world. Often we think that we have to be famous in order to make the change that we see is necessary. However, history shows that often it is people of little or no fame, but great courage and determination that have made change.

A number of year ago…

"The very word 'exist' derives from "to step forth, to stand out. "~ Erik Naggum

Feel Strong Enough To Stand Out!

The berries above stand out. They are vulnerable, they show their color, and they show their imperfections too. And yet they stand out.

When we stand out we are at risk for many things. We are at risk for being made a target. We are at risk of loosing friendships. We are at risk wrong. None of those are pleasant outcomes. However, growth is slow or…

“Listening is about being present, not just about being quiet.”~ Krista Tippett

ARE YOU AN ACTIVE LISTENER?

I find when reading self-help books that effective listening is not given enough attention. Through effective listening you are not only learning things, but you are showing respect. Effective listening is an active, not a passive endeavor. You are doing something. And that something is valuable.

Often times we listen to respond. Don’t beat yourself up about…