❤️A handmade fleece jacket helped Sarah Edgar discover the things she couldn’t see. Dallin Cooper learned from a dead baby sheep that miracles start happening when we stop assuming the worst about others and start expecting to see the best. And Ashlee Stratton shared a powerful story her father told her as a young teen that continues to shape who she is today.❤️ Such is the power of stories to shape who we are, and how we can influence those…
Elisa and I find little ways to celebrate our anniversary during the entire month of February. One of those ways, at least for 5 years now, is a daily note I write, sharing a little bit of what makes our love the kind of love that is “Forever & Always.” While the majority of these little notes are just for Elisa, I share today (with her permission) the one I wrote for her on Saturday, February 17th, the actual day…
In the realm of leadership, being intentional serves as a guiding force that propels individuals to create meaningful impact and lasting change. Intentional leaders understand that success isn’t merely a product of chance but rather a result of deliberate actions rooted in core values. In today’s conversation, we will delve into the essence of intentional leadership, illuminating the pivotal role of foundational values. From fostering trust through unwavering integrity to cultivating inclusive environments driven by empathy and crafting visionary pathways…
We broke our promise… Our promise to leave no one behind… And that’s exactly what we have done in Iraq and Afghanistan. LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND Every branch of the military has its version of the Warrior Ethos. Common to each, at least in principle, is the promise to leave no one behind. This is the core focus of the Warrior Creed for the Army of which I was part for 24 years. I will always place the mission first….
If you want to change your life, change your environment by surrounding yourself with better… ❤️Better Places ❤️Better People ❤️Better Pictures ❤️Better Patterns ❤️Better Positions ❤️Better Perspectives When you surround yourself with better you will find yourself more often surrounded by greatness. And the most important greatness will come with the confidence of the voices inside your head. In last week’s Monday Morning Boost, we explored the power of words to “Build or Destroy.” We specifically considered how the words…
Do your words build or destroy??? Build or destroy what you may ask… People. Fellow humans. The people who spend the most time around you… at home, at work, in your neighborhood… And let’s not forget the people who read/hear your words online. What about those words… Do they build or destroy??? As you ponder your answer, ponder this poem (which can easily be printed on a 4×6 photo paper if you want to keep). Build or Destroy By Les…
Are goals dead? Or do they still work? Is there a better way to create a better life? I think so! If you are like most people, your New Year’s resolutions are already forgotten. We mean well when we set them. We have good intentions. But good intentions are not the same as being intentional. Which are you? Changing is hard, especially when real life shows up with its normal vengeance and we feel forced just trying to survive. Somewhere…
Now that I have decluttered some of my physical space (as I shared in last week’s Monday Morning Boost), it’s time to clear out some of the mental clutter. As the old adage goes… “Out with the old, in with the new!” But what is “the old”? Old is anything that clutters, detracts, or confuses your direction in life. This could literally be the old stuff you no longer use, like all the piles of stuff I cleared out last…
Stuff can become a little overwhelming at times, especially when we let the stuff build up. Too often, we simply just deal with it, at least until it becomes too much and we have to dive in and tackle it. This year, I allowed my busyness to overwhelm my systems, and my office became a cluttered mess. Feeling surrounded by clutter created a mental mind block I had to work really hard to not let it become another level of…
The story of Christmas is also the story of community… A community of family, friends, and neighbors uniting together to Light the World with a little more hope, love, and peace. We help Santa out and shop till we drop and hope we remember one for everyone on our list. We wrap up the gifts to put under the tree and fill the stockings that have been hung up with care or tossed on the couch without much care. We make…