Christmas is over, but the new year is here.
You enjoy Christmas presents, it’s time to enjoy a New years gift.

I don’t believe on New Years resolutions I believe in doing.

Give yourself the gift of ambition.

Dream.
Make plans.
Believe in yourself.
Go for what you want.
Find a way to do it.
Get someone to help you find a way.

What gets in the way?

Do you get distracted from your goal?
Find a reliable accountability partner.

Do you get lazy?
Find a goal with a benefit that is better than your excuses.

Yesterday was my wife Amy’s birthday. 

Amy is one of the most caring and unselfish people I know.  She is often a benchmark of selflessness.  More than once I thought I should wear a W>W>A>D> bracelet to remind me to ask myself, “What Would Amy Do?”, in order to overcome some of my natural selfishness.

What is one way that I can intentionally give up some of my selfishness today?

I try to have high moral standards, but I think that question is a fair question to ask every day.

My selfishness unintentionally compromises the health of my relationships.

9493 days ago I met this really cute blond girl in the lobby of her college dorm. A couple months later I was thrilled she agreed to go out with me.  You can read more about our relationship here.

As Amy and I started dating it became clear that she set a benchmark of kindness, humility and thoughtfulness that far exceeded my own.

Amy does not pursue unsolicited attention for her actions, but I watched and wondered, “Could I ever be like her?”

I am the grandson of a depression survivor.  My maternal grandfather Ray Brausam was frugal man.  I admire how he found ways to save money. 

One of the ways he saved money was finding uses for things other people discarded.  He sold cans and newspapers to recyclers to earn extra cash.   My dad later helped me to do the same thing.

By Nature I Am A “Saver”

I am no where near as frugal as my grandfather, nor as smart as my dad, but I did manage to take the saving strategy to an extreme in the wrong direction. 

Recently I’ve written about the value of self-esteem insurance. I think it’s important to access our strengths first.

And, admit your weaknesses second.

Some people admit their weaknesses easily.  Sometimes it’s one of their strengths; for others it’s a weakness.

People who are or are becoming emotionally and spiritually healthy see weaknesses for what they are, challenges. 

People who are not becoming emotionally and spiritually healthy see weaknesses as problems that cause pain they want to avoid, deficits to deny, and shameful secrets to conceal.

You, on the other hand, are still reading.  Congratulations!  You want more for your life than denial and lies.

Recently I’ve written about the value of self-esteem insurance.  Access your strengths first.  Admit your weaknesses second.

Bad Habit, Deep Roots

Friday while helping friends move I saw Marla’s Caribbean Cuisine.  I wanted a menu.

For no apparent reason when I pulled into the parking lot I thought to myself, “I’ll just say I just moved into the neighborhood. They’ll gladly give me a takeout menu.”

It made no sense.
– If they had takeout menus, they would gladly give me one.
– If they did not, saying I was new to the neighborhood would not create one.

Limits Drain Me

Actually that title was just a clever word play.  The truth is some limits drain me, other limits free me.

Let me tell you about my drain problem.

Our washing machine drains into a tub in our laundry room.  A couple days ago we discovered the sink that the wash machine drained into was stopped up. After we whined, tried to assign blame and avoided the problem we began to conquer our drain problem.

After two days later we finally conquered it.  Now our basement looks like this photo.

Yesterday my wife Amy & I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary.

Thinking back to when I asked Amy’s dad Ron for permission to marry his youngest daughter I can only imagine his thoughts.  Having had three children already married lessened the shock, but it’s a huge risk to say “You have my blessing” to a relative stranger.

I never asked, but I imagine he must have though many things including:

“She’s our baby!?!”

Yes, Amy is their youngest child and a dearly beloved daughter.  in fact, Amy’s name means “Beloved” and she is and was the beloved daughter of Ron & Rose Fayas.