Categories
motivation

Why It’s So Important to Count Our Blessings

Quote: "The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." Eric Hoffer
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It’s been such a challenge lately to count our blessings. Then again, when is it not a challenge? There is something within all of us that longs for something more, even when we are richly blessed.

John D. Rockefeller was one of the richest men of his time. When someone asked him, “How much money is enough?” he replied, “Just a little bit more.” As the reference states, he was also quite a philanthropist and a person of faith. Still, few people have ever reached the level of success and wealth he possessed. Yet, he was tempted to keep pursuing more.

We can be so busy pursuing wealth and success that we forget to be thankful for what we have. When that dissatisfaction affects our mood and actions, it can actually backfire. We may be tempted to pursue get-rick-quick schemes. We may decide to cut corners or cheat when we feel we must do what it takes to get a little more.

Counting our blessings is a remedy for that. It reminds us of what we already have. Yet, today’s quote states, it can be the hardest arithmetic to master.

Here are some reasons to count our blessings

  • It reminds us that there are some things to be thankful for that we didn’t earn
  • We are reminded to thank the people in our lives that have made a positive difference in us
  • It can lift our mood when we are going through a hard time
  • Counting our blessings reminds us to take care of what we already have instead of pursuing something that may cause us to neglect loved ones and things dear to us
  • It can actually motivate us to keep pursuing excellence
  • Gratitude leads to generosity and generosity leads to abundance to the people you are helping and yourself

Counting our blessings will not cause us to become complacent and stop excelling. On the contrary, gratitude opens us up for more blessings. No matter where you are, take some time to be grateful today.

www.brainyquote.com/s/a_19c26
Categories
motivation

A Lesson on Timing and a Morning Run

Three Florida Flowers

It was my second day running in a new environment. The humidity was as thick as molasses. I ran past several dog walkers, an occasional fellow jogger, and an intrepid walker wearing a mask. Some waved. Others made sure not to make eye contact. 

The sun was rising. It was a great start to the day. I got some great photos of local flowers. It was much different from the day before. 

Yesterday

  • I ventured out two hours later
  • The sun was blistering hot
  • The road was busy with speeding commuters
  • I ran out of water within two miles
  • The end of the run couldn’t come soon enough

Today

  • The clouds displayed pink and orange hues
  • I didn’t feel the effects of the sun
  • It was easier to find the flowers
  • I ran two miles further
  • I felt I could go another two miles

I had plenty of excuses the day before to wait.

  • My daughter was going to work and she needed the bathroom
  • My wife and I drove through the night to reach our destination
  • My running shoes were tucked somewhere it the luggage and I didn’t want to make a ruckus while my wife slept
  • I hadn’t figured out my route

My hesitation made for an unpleasant run. I was glad when it was over. The next day, I was glad I got out early and was ready for more. It was a great reminder for me that procrastination just makes a any task harder. It can even make an enjoyable activity more difficult.

Will I need another reminder of this in the future? Of course I will! Our feelings betray us many times. And there are times when it is okay to relax and not feel the pressure of getting out there. Still, if there is something I know I need to do, this day will be a great reminder for me.

What are you putting off that is only making a task more difficult? I urge you to take the reins and put yourself in control instead of letting your feelings make you miserable before and after a task.

Three Florida Flowers
Categories
motivation

When pride and haughtiness blinds us

Cartoon of a boy who is about to fall into a manhole. Another boy says, "I'm sorry you were proud. Just stop!"

Our society has tried to make pride a good thing. Perhaps it is because it is too broad of a word in the way we use it today. We tie pride to our self-worth, joy, dignity, and delight. But it can also be used to describe an inflated ego, haughtiness, disdain toward others, and a refusal to consider another’s opinion.

When I drew this cartoon, I thought of the many times I let pride trip me up. It has caused me to look down on others. It has also caused me to be too stubborn to change for the better. It’s why I value this proverb so much:

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)

Pride gets us in trouble when we can’t see the other person’s point of view. It leads to our destruction when we can’t work with others and refuse to grow because it may cause us to admit we were wrong about something.

I am proud of my wife and kids. I am proud of the work I have been able to do and the living I have made the last several decades. But may I not be too proud to learn from someone else. May I be humble enough to admit when I’m wrong and change course. May I keep my nose down and open my eyes before I fall into a manhole. And may I not be so proud of missing the first one, that I fall into the second one.

Cartoon of a boy who is about to fall into a manhole. Another boy says, "I'm sorry you were proud. Just stop!"
Categories
motivation

Why I admire Dandelions

Photo of a backyard with two dandelions among green grass

I admire dandelions because they keep coming back in spite of man’s best efforts to put them down. May we learn a lesson from them on perseverance.

Last week, I saw the first one. In a sea of grass, a lone dandelion popped up from the ground. It isn’t supposed to be there. The place we rent from does regular fertilizing and weeding. In fact, when I look to the left and right, I see no evidence of another weed. There is nothing but a sea of green grass…except right there!

Then last night, I saw that the lone dandelion had a friend. In spite of man’s best efforts, a dandelion plant is thriving and producing two flowers. You have to admire that kind of determination in spite of the best efforts of men with sprayers and spreaders.

Even as a child, I’ve always admired dandelions. They kept me from focusing on baseball and soccer. They were always more interesting than the games. I loved picking them and proudly presenting them to my mom. My grandmother would harvest them and make dandelion greens. Yes, the greens are edible. And if you like spinach, you’d love dandelion greens. Don’t laugh until you try them! Here are some legitimate recipes:

Life Breaks Us

We all have discouraging moments. The last three months have been ripe for disappointments. If you live for any length of time, one of the following will happen:

  • Your heart will be broken
  • Loved ones will disappoint you
  • You will develop an illness
  • Friends will come and go
  • You will be passed over for a promotion
    • It may be because you’re too good at what you do now
    • Or it may be because someone doesn’t trust you over a thing you can’t control like:
      • Race
      • Gender
      • Age
      • Not in “the” Clique
      • Your personality
  • You discover a “stable” job was not that stable when you were laid off
  • A total stranger will say something hurtful, whether they intended to or not

Unfortunately, we live in a broken world that tends to break people.

We have a choice

  • We can choose to let those that break us define us
    • Unforgiveness leads to bitterness
    • Bitterness leads to hurting others
    • We stay stuck
  • We can forgive, persevere and rise above the brokenness
    • Instead of hurting people, we become healers
    • Instead of going with the crowd, we become changemakers
    • Instead of staying stuck, we move on and become a light to the world

I admire dandelions because they just keep coming back in spite of the best efforts to keep them down. May we learn a lesson or two from them on perseverance.

Photo of a backyard with two dandelions among green grass
Categories
Business Business Cartoons motivation

Customer service is turning lemons into lemonade.

sliced lemon fruit in glass picher
Photo by Julia Zolotova on Pexels.com

If you are in customer service, you’ve had to face a lot of lemons lately. It has been nearly impossible to give customers exactly what they want when the whole world has been turned upside down. Yet customer service is turning lemons into lemonade.

When I drew this cartoon, I didn’t realize how sales and customer service do this daily. Instead, I wondered how even a humble lemonade stand owner could benefit from customer service. I didn’t know about the sour events customer service representatives face daily. Yet, this view can be compelling.

One of my friends works in the hospital billing department. She has fielded calls from people who have been affected by the financial hardships of COVID-19. For example, two couples in a family have lost their jobs. Or maybe someone just wanted to talk about the disease. She’s done a lot of listening. She’s shed tears with customers who are going through tough times.

About a year ago, our plant was going through some capital improvements. We hit some snags when installing and testing the new equipment, which caused jobs to be late. Our customer service department had a very rough time because they had to field the calls of frustrated customers who were used to excellent service. I was impressed by those in the department who took the time to listen and be helpful even when they may have felt there was little they could do.

Excellent customer service looks like the following:

  • Treat each customer the way you want to be treated
  • Taking the time to listen to the customer even when they may disagree with them
  • Offer solutions that may not be precisely what they wish but involve compromise
  • Being an advocate for the customer while avoiding making unattainable promisUltimately

In the end, if we’re in business, we are all in customer service. Everyone wants to know they are being listened to and that the other person cares about their plight. Consider listening to the customer and becoming an expert at turning lemons into lemonade.

Cartoon of a boy at a lemonade stand and a girl. the girl says, "How's your customer service?"