"All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' In The Sun,
Talkin' 'Bout The Things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done...
But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All Ran Away And Hid
From One Little Did."
-- Shel Silverstein
***
When you say "would have,"" could have," or "should have," you are speaking the language of regret. Regret can be big or small, it can be short-lived or life-long, and it can have minimal effect or be totally devastating. Regret is about missed opportunities, it about the people you never met, the places you never went, and the things you never did. It is about failed dreams and dashed hopes. Simply put, you didn't take action when the opportunity presented itself.
When I go by a cemetery, I often think to myself how much unused potential has been buried in the ground. How many people could have been doctors, teachers, scientists, or how about the artists, musicians and ministers? How many people could have been so much more? What would they have become if they only took action. I wonder how much regret is buried in those graves?
Regret results from inaction. What is holding you back? Today is the day to take action. Start by embracing positive self-talk: "I will," "I can," and " I shall." Positive self-talk will result in taking some type of action. Action is the beginning of eliminating the woulda-coulda-shouldas in your life with and replacing them with the "one little did."
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Life is Like Riding a Bicycle
"Life is similar to riding a bicycle, you'll go nowhere unless you're willing to do the peddling."
-- Michael J. Dillon
***
POINT TO PONDER: It's your bicycle (life)! You're responsible for where your bicycle goes, nobody else. Your bicycle can take you anywhere you want to go. The two wheels on your bicycle know no restrictions. Where you take your bicycle, and how far you take it, will be dependent on how much you're willing to peddle. If you're not willing to peddle, your bicycle is going nowhere; no peddling means no movement.
Life is full of twist and turns, detours and obstructions, and mounds and hills. You can handle life's twists and turns if you stay focused, keep your eyes on the road, and keep peddling. Understand that life's detours and obstructions are meant to challenge you and help you grow. You can handle life's detours and obstructions if you're willing to accept change, learn new and different routes along the way, and keep peddling. You can make it up life's hills and over life's mounds, if you maintain faith, learn to practice self-discipline, and most importantly, keep peddling. Keep in mind, it's also important that you take time to relax and enjoy those moments when life allows you to stop peddling and coast for awhile; just don't coast too long, because in life in order to get somewhere you have to be willing to do the peddling!
Keep peddling and enjoy the ride!
It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD
-- Michael J. Dillon
***
POINT TO PONDER: It's your bicycle (life)! You're responsible for where your bicycle goes, nobody else. Your bicycle can take you anywhere you want to go. The two wheels on your bicycle know no restrictions. Where you take your bicycle, and how far you take it, will be dependent on how much you're willing to peddle. If you're not willing to peddle, your bicycle is going nowhere; no peddling means no movement.
Life is full of twist and turns, detours and obstructions, and mounds and hills. You can handle life's twists and turns if you stay focused, keep your eyes on the road, and keep peddling. Understand that life's detours and obstructions are meant to challenge you and help you grow. You can handle life's detours and obstructions if you're willing to accept change, learn new and different routes along the way, and keep peddling. You can make it up life's hills and over life's mounds, if you maintain faith, learn to practice self-discipline, and most importantly, keep peddling. Keep in mind, it's also important that you take time to relax and enjoy those moments when life allows you to stop peddling and coast for awhile; just don't coast too long, because in life in order to get somewhere you have to be willing to do the peddling!
Keep peddling and enjoy the ride!
It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tattle-Tale: A Lesson About Character
"People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world, but because they refuse to be changed by the world."
-- Michael Josephson
Professional Golf Association (PGA) Rules call for a two-stroke penalty when a player moves any impediment with the start of the player’s backswing. On April 18, 2010, the penalty was imposed on Brian Davis at the Verizon Heritage Golf Classic played at the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The penalty was imposed on during a playoff round between Davis and eventual champion, Jim Furyk. The penalty cost Brian Davis the championship and over $400,000 in winnings.
The infraction was so slight that it was not witnessed by Furyk or PGA officials. However, Davis said he felt something on his takeaway swing. Davis immediately called for PGA officials and reported his own infraction. After reviewing the videotape several times in slow-motion, it was determined that Brian Davis did indeed strike a reed in his backswing. Jim Furyk was declared the winner.
It is refreshing to know that there are professional athletes that still play by the rules. In today’s society we’ve developed an attitude of "win at all costs." From youth sports to professional sports we have heard numerous stories where coaches and players have disregarded the rules for the sake of winning the game. In the business world, corruption is rampant. We are living in a “do whatever it takes” culture: lie, cheat, and/or steal in order to come out on top.
The story of Brian Davis’ honesty at Harbour Town overshadowed the win by Jim Furyk. The buzz wasn’t about Jim Furyk winning his 15th PGA Tour event. No, it was about a golfer telling the truth; a golfer whose self-reported violation cost him a chance at his first PGA Tour Victory. The story at Harbour Town was about a golfer who put honesty and integrity above money and winning.
We can all learn a lesson from Brian Davis. Davis’ display of true sportsmanship reflects what is really important in life; being a person of character. Character is doing the right thing at the right time even when nobody is paying attention. Our great President George Washington once said, “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." What Brian Davis lost of the course, he gained by strenghtening his character.
Remember if you use deceit to gain advantage, even if it is “just a little,” you may win in the short-term, but you’ll lose in the long run. You’ll lose, because even the littlest of deceit chips away at your character. It today’s culture it is easy to get caught up in the quest for winning. But remember, when the game of life is over, you’ll be judged not by the number of wins you’ve accumulated, but solely upon your character.
Brian Davis you’re my new hero!
***
-- Michael Josephson
Professional Golf Association (PGA) Rules call for a two-stroke penalty when a player moves any impediment with the start of the player’s backswing. On April 18, 2010, the penalty was imposed on Brian Davis at the Verizon Heritage Golf Classic played at the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The penalty was imposed on during a playoff round between Davis and eventual champion, Jim Furyk. The penalty cost Brian Davis the championship and over $400,000 in winnings.
The infraction was so slight that it was not witnessed by Furyk or PGA officials. However, Davis said he felt something on his takeaway swing. Davis immediately called for PGA officials and reported his own infraction. After reviewing the videotape several times in slow-motion, it was determined that Brian Davis did indeed strike a reed in his backswing. Jim Furyk was declared the winner.
It is refreshing to know that there are professional athletes that still play by the rules. In today’s society we’ve developed an attitude of "win at all costs." From youth sports to professional sports we have heard numerous stories where coaches and players have disregarded the rules for the sake of winning the game. In the business world, corruption is rampant. We are living in a “do whatever it takes” culture: lie, cheat, and/or steal in order to come out on top.
The story of Brian Davis’ honesty at Harbour Town overshadowed the win by Jim Furyk. The buzz wasn’t about Jim Furyk winning his 15th PGA Tour event. No, it was about a golfer telling the truth; a golfer whose self-reported violation cost him a chance at his first PGA Tour Victory. The story at Harbour Town was about a golfer who put honesty and integrity above money and winning.
We can all learn a lesson from Brian Davis. Davis’ display of true sportsmanship reflects what is really important in life; being a person of character. Character is doing the right thing at the right time even when nobody is paying attention. Our great President George Washington once said, “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." What Brian Davis lost of the course, he gained by strenghtening his character.
Remember if you use deceit to gain advantage, even if it is “just a little,” you may win in the short-term, but you’ll lose in the long run. You’ll lose, because even the littlest of deceit chips away at your character. It today’s culture it is easy to get caught up in the quest for winning. But remember, when the game of life is over, you’ll be judged not by the number of wins you’ve accumulated, but solely upon your character.
Brian Davis you’re my new hero!
***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD
MJD
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I Get To
"There is a huge price tag on grumbling for you and everyone around you. The antidote is always gratitude."
- Unknown
Grumble, grumble, grumble! Why grumble? Grumbling never solves problems, it only makes them worse. Grumbling is contagious! Not only will it bring a grumbler down, it brings others down too. Because the grumbler's sole focus is on the consequence(s) of a problem, the grumbler becomes blind to a resolution of the problem. Grumbling is negative energy at work. Negative energy will dictate a grumbler's thought process. Hence, the grumbler continues to dwell on and complain about what is wrong.
Are you a grumbler? Do you know someone who is a grumbler? In order to break the grumbling habit one needs to stop focusing on what is wrong in their life and focus on what is right. I bet if you really thought about it, you'd find a lot more things right in your life than wrong. So, I encourage you to stop focusing on what you don't have and appreciate what you do have.
The next time you're faced with situation in which you feel compelled to do something, don’t grumble and say, "I have to ..." Instead, enthusiastically say," I get to …!" When you say "I have to" it becomes an obligation. When you say "I get to" it becomes a privilege. There are many people who are significantly less fortunate than you. People less fortunate than you would love to "get to do" what you feel you "have to do." For instance, in today's economy, don't say, “I have to go to work,” Instead, say "I get to go to work." Think of the number of people who are out of work right now. I bet if they were offered a job they wouldn't see having a job as an obligation. No, they would see it as a privilege! They would "get to" go to work. When you really think about why do we say, "I have to go to work?"
Make it a point to change everything in your life from "I have to" to "I get to". Listen to the words you use. If you hear yourself say, "I have to …,” change that to "I get to…" "I don't have to go to work; I get to go to work." "I don't have to work-out; I get to work-out. "I don't have to walk my dog; I get to walk my dog." Not everybody is as fortunate to "get to" do what you get to do - always remember that! When you take on a "get to" philosophy you'll experience the power of possessing an attitude of gratitude. The positive energy of gratitude will change not only the way you look at a problem, but will change the way you see the world. And, guess what, you’re the one in charge of the way you view the world. “Have to” or “Get to” the choice is yours!
Gotta go now - gotta a few things "I get to" do before the day is done!
It’s your life: live it, love it and celebrate it!MJD
Grumble, grumble, grumble! Why grumble? Grumbling never solves problems, it only makes them worse. Grumbling is contagious! Not only will it bring a grumbler down, it brings others down too. Because the grumbler's sole focus is on the consequence(s) of a problem, the grumbler becomes blind to a resolution of the problem. Grumbling is negative energy at work. Negative energy will dictate a grumbler's thought process. Hence, the grumbler continues to dwell on and complain about what is wrong.
Are you a grumbler? Do you know someone who is a grumbler? In order to break the grumbling habit one needs to stop focusing on what is wrong in their life and focus on what is right. I bet if you really thought about it, you'd find a lot more things right in your life than wrong. So, I encourage you to stop focusing on what you don't have and appreciate what you do have.
The next time you're faced with situation in which you feel compelled to do something, don’t grumble and say, "I have to ..." Instead, enthusiastically say," I get to …!" When you say "I have to" it becomes an obligation. When you say "I get to" it becomes a privilege. There are many people who are significantly less fortunate than you. People less fortunate than you would love to "get to do" what you feel you "have to do." For instance, in today's economy, don't say, “I have to go to work,” Instead, say "I get to go to work." Think of the number of people who are out of work right now. I bet if they were offered a job they wouldn't see having a job as an obligation. No, they would see it as a privilege! They would "get to" go to work. When you really think about why do we say, "I have to go to work?"
Make it a point to change everything in your life from "I have to" to "I get to". Listen to the words you use. If you hear yourself say, "I have to …,” change that to "I get to…" "I don't have to go to work; I get to go to work." "I don't have to work-out; I get to work-out. "I don't have to walk my dog; I get to walk my dog." Not everybody is as fortunate to "get to" do what you get to do - always remember that! When you take on a "get to" philosophy you'll experience the power of possessing an attitude of gratitude. The positive energy of gratitude will change not only the way you look at a problem, but will change the way you see the world. And, guess what, you’re the one in charge of the way you view the world. “Have to” or “Get to” the choice is yours!
Gotta go now - gotta a few things "I get to" do before the day is done!
It’s your life: live it, love it and celebrate it!MJD
Thursday, May 6, 2010
From Can't to Can
"The human spirit is indomitable"
-- Roger Bannister
***
Today marks the anniversary of Roger Bannister being the first person to run a mile under four minutes. At the time of the feat, running the mile under 4 minutes was believed to be humanly impossible. Doctors and scientists believed that anyone who attempted such a feat would die trying. On May 6, 1954 in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister ran the mile in a time of 3:59:4 seconds. Due to Bannister's passion, belief, focus and work ethic, what once was thought to be impossible became a reality.
MJD
-- Roger Bannister
***
Today marks the anniversary of Roger Bannister being the first person to run a mile under four minutes. At the time of the feat, running the mile under 4 minutes was believed to be humanly impossible. Doctors and scientists believed that anyone who attempted such a feat would die trying. On May 6, 1954 in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister ran the mile in a time of 3:59:4 seconds. Due to Bannister's passion, belief, focus and work ethic, what once was thought to be impossible became a reality.
Roger Bannister demonstrated to the world what the human spirit is capable of. It only took 46 days for another runner, John Lundy, to break Bannister's world record time. Since Bannister's eventful day in 1954, hundreds of other athletes have run a sub-four minute mile. The current world record for the mile is 3:43.13
Bannister proved to the world, “The human spirit is indomitable.” When cultivated appropriately, even scientific research can be proven wrong by a determined human spirit. If the human spirit can prove scientific research invalid, just think what it can do to the cynics and naysayers in your life. Christopher Reeves once said, "“For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it… for everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it… for everyone who said, ‘It’s impossible’… see you at the finish line!”
Life can be compared to a race. It has a starting line and a finish line and time is a determining factor. In a race we measure time by duration from start to finish. A champion is declared solely by who had the fastest time. The “Race of Life” is different. Time is measured by the quality of time you spent from start to finish. Your success will be determined solely by the manner in which you spent your time. Don’t let others rob you of your destiny; believe and achieve!
As we continue in our “Race of Life,” we need to remember the story of Roger Bannister; the man who believed what couldn't be done could be done. You can become a champion in the “Race of Life” by following the example of Roger Bannister: challenge yourself, invoke the human spirit, and believe that things can be done even when other say they can't. And, if you need a little help, remember this powerful verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13.
Runners to your mark, set, go!
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
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