Caught in the Act

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“We can be incredibly disconnected in this day and age with computers and cell phones.”  Marcia Gay Harden, actress “What are you doing, Panpaw?” she asks with an obvious tone and look that reveals her complete disapproval. My granddaughter Caroline catches me looking at my Smartphone in the middle of our conversation. Family and friends are gathered in the salon of The Great Gab-Sea, now parked at the Pirates Cove dock. Earlier we had traveled from our home slip in Terry Cove past beautiful … [Read more...]

The Secret to Life

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“The ONE THING shows up time and again in the lives of the successful because it’s a fundamental truth.” Gary W. Keller Answer these questions with complete honesty: What is left undone in your life right now? What is nagging at your very heart to get done? What is pleading with you not to forego another year? If you are not lacking in any of these vital aspects of life, I congratulate you because you would be considered as a universally rare individual. Almost all of us have something that … [Read more...]

Theme

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“We must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don’t know where you’re aiming, you don’t have a goal. My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die, someone can say, she cared.” Mary Kay Ash How are you doing with your goals for this progressing new year? Did you set any goals? Are you working on objectives that mean the most to you?  If your world is as busy as the rest of us, there is much to accomplish, yet possibly not enough time to finalize meaningful … [Read more...]

Leaning Pine

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“Grandmas are moms with lots of practice.” Author unknown  “In the next three cranks, one, two . . . and there he is,” I exclaim with glee and pride! The nice bend in my light action rod and reel is evidence that my prediction is exactly right. Archie and I are crappie fishing on Mitchell Lake, which is part of the Coosa River tributary in the State of Alabama.  The ‘Leaning Pine’ is a special fishing spot named by my dad’s family. A large pine tree on the shore edge, that had fallen into the … [Read more...]

If I Just Had Five More Minutes

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“I am definitely going to take a course on time management . . . just as soon as I can work it into my schedule.” Louis E. Boone Are you busy? Who isn’t in today’s world? Do you really have time to even read this article? It will take you less than five minutes. Still, it represents part of your day. How often within an average week are you confronted with a situation or decision where you wish you just had five more minutes to contemplate? ‘If, I just had five more minutes, I could … [Read more...]

Journaling

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“I write in a journal daily. This extraordinary ritual has revolutionized my mindset, transformed my heart set, and generally influenced my life exponentially.”  Robin S. Sharma, J.D. In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the importance of keystone habits to a successful life. According to Benjamin Hardy, author of Willpower Doesn’t Work, the best keystone habit is journaling. As someone who journals, I can personally confirm how it has made a huge difference in my life. Hardy identifies … [Read more...]

Timeless Truths

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“So with old age is wisdom, and with length of days understanding.”Job 12:12 Once a week, I schedule some time to scroll through the Facebook postings from family and friends. A great way to get updated on the news of the special people with whom I like to communicate. Sometimes, it provides inspiration and challenges. A post from Sharon Kling, a special friend for over four decades, caught my immediate attention -- she shared a Tibetan Proverb: “The secret to living well and longer is: … [Read more...]

More Production In Doing Less

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“Improved productivity means less human sweat, not more.” Henry Ford In our busy world, we are often faced with the challenge of not having enough time needed to accomplish all the tasks that require our attention. Like it or not, we end up making choices.  In pondering the challenge of time, I found an article worth investigating, titled 7 Things You Need to Stop Doing to be More Productive, Backed by Science.  I was compelled to read the article because of two elements in the title:  … [Read more...]

Powerful Practice

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The most powerful success principle of the 21stCentury is available to you right now – you can start using it today.  I was reminded of this powerful practice during a recent weekend when our oldest granddaughter, Gabrielle, brought four of her friends to stay with us during their visit to Mobile. I love to interact with young people. And, the experience is a bonus if one of the guests happens to be a grandchild. One morning, while eating breakfast, I asked if any of them were involved in … [Read more...]

Your Future

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“Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now.” Mattie J. T. Stepanek (1990-2004) Strategy is one of my favorite topics. For as long as I can remember, I have always thought in the long-term.  In grammar school, I can remember wanting to one day be a business entrepreneur. Setting goals for the future is definitely one of my strengths. It is in my wheelhouse. Even if you do not relate to my passion for this topic, or lack skills in this area, most of us … [Read more...]