Financial hardships can bring extra stress in life. But financial freedom doesn’t bring enduring happiness either. How do we live so that the amount of money we have doesn’t keep us from flourishing? Happiness with less isn’t just a good sentiment. It really is true that people who have less tend to have a level … Read more
Giving “experiences” instead of things has become a normal part of conversation. I hear about it from blogs, books, and family personal stories. It makes sense and I often think about it around Christmas and other times of the year. I recently read The Myths of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky. The author several reasons why … Read more
“When your values are clear, your choices are easy.” – Thad Allen When our values are really clear, the choices become more limited. A simple example might be our value to be honest. Because we value honesty, we don’t make the choice to cheat on our taxes, our timesheet, or other things in life. This … Read more
How is it that some people are never late and others always are? How can an issue always arise that creates the conditions for being late? There may a few good reasons, but overall, the leader sends some certain messages when they are late. I’m far from perfect in this regard, but I do have … Read more
When I was younger, I heard the Mark Twain quote: “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” It stuck with me. It was inspiring. I don’t know how often kids and students get an opportunity to read quotes, but here’s a … Read more
I lived with my grandma during a college internship. She let me borrow her car when mine was in the shop. I returned home that evening and thought I would scare her a bit. I joked, “Your car really shakes when it gets to 95 miles per hour.” She calmly said, “I know, honey, it … Read more
Clutter will congest the opportunity to fully enjoy life. As someone who naturally keeps too much stuff, I’m speaking from experience. During a couple decades of marriage, I’ve watched my wife naturally keep things simple, leaving me with a small pile of stuff in the basement that I haven’t been able to part with. I’m … Read more
Here’s a call and reminder for Father’s this weekend: Run To Jesus I recently caught a bit of a sermon online about the official who traveled to Jesus to see if he could heal his son (John 4). His young son was so sick, he didn’t even bring him – he was counting on Jesus … Read more
I remember reading when I was a child. I remember my mom reading to me and my brothers. I remember my dad reading Dr. Seuss Books with funny expressions, mostly reading the crazy phrases really quickly. I have vivid memories of several books I read in grade school and junior high. Trapped was about a … Read more
In her book, Grateful Leadership, Judith Umlas contends that next to survival, acknowledgment is the greatest human need. Leaders live with broad vision in general. But on a daily basis, this must translate to acknowledging those who are part of helping to make it happen. In living this way, which takes courage and confidence on … Read more