Tip: Always be gentle with everyone first.
Every year at the end of September and the beginning of October, the Texas State Fair is held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. If you have never been, I would encourage you do so because it is one spectacular…
Tip: Feelings and emotions are your friends.
When I was growing up, I experienced a variety of feelings on a daily basis. Sometimes I would feel happiness and excitement, while at other times I would feel sadness or frustration. I did not know how to understand my…
Tip: Hire race horses, not donkeys!
Years ago, while I was working on a Master’s Degree in education, I took a class on how to run a successful school. I will never forget one of the lectures. Our professor, who had many years of school experience,…
Tip: Put “understanding” on the top of your list!
I have talked before about “finer distinctions” as they relate to different topics, but with every passing day, I see their value even more. This Tip is about the distinction between knowledge and understanding. When I understand something clearly, I…
Tip: There is always something for which you can be thankful!
As most of you know, here in the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. I realize that this Tip goes to many other countries where Thanksgiving is celebrated at different times. Regardless of where you live and when…
Tip: Forgiveness is giving up the hope of a better past.
All of us have had experiences in life when we felt as though we got the “short end of the stick.” Someone did us wrong, let us down or damaged us in some way that caused us to have hurt…
Tip: It’s okay to rest, but don’t you quit!
Life can be challenging at times. Dr. Scott Peck, the famous Psychiatrist and author once wrote, “Life is hard and then you die.” That statement seems so pessimistic. His point was, however, that if we expect life to be anything…
Tip: There’s a big difference between a preference and a conviction.
Words have a specific meaning. When we understand what a word really means, it makes a big difference in how we act or react in any given situation. In this Tip, I want to differentiate between preference and conviction. I…
Tip: Storms have a purpose.
Several years ago, I was in Cancun, Mexico, with my daughter Rachael and son-in-law Tim. The weather was beautiful when we arrived, but we were warned that a hurricane could possibly be heading our way. As each day passed, the…
Tip: Hope for the best; plan for the worst.
The older I get, the more of a realist I become. I have lived long enough to see that having an optimistic, positive attitude is the best way to go through life. However, at the same time, I must be…