For those of you who have read my book;

“Jewels in your Crown – Mining the Treasures Within”

you may recall Chapter Seven entitled “Mentoring.”  The main focus of my mentoring examples was a man named Frank.  Based on his affinity for smoking a pipe, my kids fondly and respectfully referred to him as “The Pipe Man.”

When I wrote the book, Frank had been retired 17 years. Nevertheless, he was still mentoring and helping me and countless others. He ALWAYS led by example. Long before the wristband WWJD became fashionable, when faced with a challenge, I would find myself asking, “What would Frank do?” That question would provide important guidance in my decision-making as well as in my daily life.

Frank was never critical of others.  And I can positively tell you I never heard anyone say anything critical of Frank.  He was kindly called “Father Frank” by everyone who knew him.  Not because he was Catholic, which he was, but because he was such a fatherly figure to so many.

He shared many valuable “pearls of wisdom” over the years. Here are just two.

“There is no such thing as constructive criticism.  All criticism is destructive.”

I quickly learned that criticism breaks someone down and causes other things to break down as well. Instead, Frank only offered constructive, positive feedback.  He would provide options to take the place of actions already taken or about to be taken.

Another favorite Pipe Man quote:

     “There are no levels of integrity, you either have it or you don’t.”

This powerful quote became a lifelong credo for me.

I’ve used both those pearls hundreds of times through one-on-one conversations or in large audience presentations.

He lived the textbook definition of the “Ripple Effect.” There is no way to measure the number of people whose lives he affected in a positive way.  My life was forever changed by the wisdom Frank shared and more importantly by the way he walked his talk.  He was my supervisor who became my mentor and then my friend.  A friend for life.

I recall a conversation with my son while writing my book.  We were talking about mentoring and the conversation logically went to “The Pipe Man.” My son began telling me stories he remembered of Frank. He related how he utilized what Frank taught me in his own work and home life. I remember thinking my son was a teenager when I worked with Frank, yet he was implementing what Frank had taught me those many years before.

 That conversation taught me the magnitude of Frank’s caring heart and the indelible impression he had on everyone he helped. What an enormous impact his life lessons had as they were learned and shared from one person to the next from one generation to another. To me, the essence of Frank’s time on earth are captured in a quote from Albert Paine.

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us.  What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

I, among hundreds of others are blessed to have been touched and taught by Frank.  His eight children didn’t call him “Father Frank.” They were even more blessed to call him Dad.  In this season of Christmas, it seems fitting to remember Frank was a gift given to everyone who ever had the honor and pleasure to meet him.

A few years back I blogged on my website about nonagenarians.  I focused particularly on my co-worker who had just turned 90.  He’s now 94 and still working seven days out of every two weeks.  Quite amazing.

A great deal can happen in four years.  Sadly, at my age many happenings deal with sickness and dying. In the last four years I’ve had dear friends lose parents, spouses and children way before their time, just as my brother – who lost his wife.  A week rarely goes by without a mortality reminder hitting the local obituary columns.

I’ve been blessed.  Both my folks are still alive and independent. We recently celebrated my dad turning 90.  Despite his neuropathy, his health is above average for someone moving into their eleventh decade on earth.  My mom deserves a great deal of credit for their good health.  For nearly 72 years she has provided three meals a day.  Meals that would make Aunt Bea envious.  The table is always properly set with placemats, silverware and napkins.  Doesn’t matter if it is breakfast, lunch or dinner.  She even makes paper plate meals look special.  The pantry and refrigerator are always stocked and if you stop by there is always plenty for everyone.

My dad has provided many memories as you would imagine, for someone who has done and seen as much as he has.   I can’t say he changed the world, but as a man in the grocery business for 50 years he was an integral part of the health and well-being of his customers. I suspect he was good at his job, because each time a new grocery store would open in the Midwest we would move to the town where the new store was located.   I went to five different grade schools.  I used to joke that we moved whenever the rent was due.  My mom didn’t think that was funny.

Once he went into the consulting business life settled down. Sort of.

There was the time when he was showing someone how to create a store display, fell off a ten foot ladder and broke his ankle in two places.  He still has the screws to prove it.  Then there was the time he was heading back from a store in a rural area and a fully loaded logging truck with no brake lights stopped without warning and my dad came home with a wrecked Plymouth and a broken collarbone.  He seemed to handle major things with a calm demeanor as a young man.   I remember him coming home about 5:30 a.m. on Halloween morning to let us know his dad had passed in the night.  He showered and headed back to his folks house to await the coroner.  I was truly taken by his calmness.

Like many fathers raising kids in the 60’s my dad played catch, football and basketball with his kids as well as the neighbor kids.  He also taught us how to play ping-pong, pool and golf.  Three activities I continue to play for exercise.  As he got older, his game waned but he still stayed involved. On his terms of course. For example, when playing catch if he couldn’t reach the throw and it would sail or skip by him, the thrower was the one who would have to retrieve the ball.  He became  the permanent quarterback in touch football.  Basketball games changed to either free throw shooting contests or HORSE where he would stay in the same location the entire game. His hook shot was the talk of the neighborhood.

He continued to play golf till his neuropathy forced him off the fairways.  I would encourage him to putt on the putting greens and had fun watching him doing that until a few years ago.

My dad has always put family first.  Rarely did my folks go away on their own. Vacations usually included whoever still lived at the house.  As grandchildren came along they would take them to Disney World or to my mother’s favorite vacation spot – Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Dad doesn’t travel much anymore.  Frankly, I think it’s because he doesn’t want to be a burden to those who have to load him in and out of the car and take care of his walker. We tell him it’s our pleasure but he still refuses.  Little does he realize the extra five minutes it take to secure his place in the car will be sorely missed when we don’t have the opportunity to do so.

As I said, I’m blessed.  It’s rare to have your parents both around for more than 70 years.  I tease them a great deal and have used them as examples in many presentations, but I’m the lucky one. It was truly gratifying to see the number of people show up for my dad’s birthday party recently.  It made me realize that other people understand how lucky I’ve been as well.

Until next time…

In today’s political environment it’s easy to get frustrated, depressed, overwhelmed and underwhelmed by what we all see and hear. I am to the point where I don’t know what to believe. It’s more and more difficult to be inspired by our “leaders.” Yes, the word “leaders” is in quotes because it is a very suspect moniker for politicians.

Having said this, I’ve found it essential to look elsewhere to be inspired. What inspires me?

• Courageous people. People who fight diseases with a positive attitude, a faith, and a resolve that I can’t imagine.
• People in military or law enforcement uniforms. Women and men who protect us at home and abroad. Who risk their lives regularly so we can feel secure.
• Creative people. Those gifted with the ability to build, repair, paint, sing, play an instrument, write or any other talent that brings others joy.
• Everyday heroes. Those people, who when faced with an unexpected challenge, rise to the occasion and save a life. Or at the very least make a difference to the person(s) they helped.
• Selfless people. People who put their needs in the background and focus on the needs of others. A dedicated mom or dad, teachers, clergy, a mentor, are all examples that quickly come to mind.

The above list could go on, but take a moment to think of people you know that fall into one or more of these categories.

I am in contact with people under each bullet. My life is replete because of these people. They cause me to pause and reflect. I marvel at their gifts and talents. Their accomplishments and results make me smile. It’s always gratifying to connect with someone from my list, so I reach out to them as often as possible. They inspire me.

It’s so important to look for ways to inspire yourself. Stimulating conversations, a good book, a memorable song, a touching story, art, and reconnecting with a long lost friend all inspire me. They enrich my life, improve my perspective and enhance my spirits.

When your environment starts to frustrate, overwhelm or depress you, do all you can to find and relish in things that inspire you.

Until next time…

I had a week to myself recently. For seven years I’ve looked at an old warped, wretched, brick sidewalk. I sat on the front porch pondering what I would do with my free week. The wobbly sidewalk stared back at me like a dog wanting me to play fetch. I stood up from the rocker and said to myself, “today’s the day.”

So I got the proper tools and begin excavating the bricks one-by-one. The sidewalk was not level, some bricks were placed sideways, just to take up space. My first concern was where to stack 450 bricks. I did a little measuring on the driveway and plotted out how many rows and stacks I would build.

The temperature was in the 90’s so I had to work smart. I’d pick bricks for an hour and take a break to refresh myself. About halfway through, a rush of despair began to overwhelm me like a storm cloud on a sunny day. The ground below the soil was not filled with roots as I had anticipated. It was just pitted and rock hard. The roots I had hoped would explain the bumps in the bricks were really just years of erosion.

I would need lots of dirt and machinery I didn’t have to level the space. It was at that point I decided to call in the cavalry. I wrote two text messages and one email to three people whom I had worked with before on outside jobs. It buoyed my spirits to think once I had the bricks removed a professional would replace the bricks in magnificent fashion.

I finished my removal process, began raking the hard ground and waited for the text messages or emails to come my way. They never came. But later that evening rain did come. I turned on the porch light to see how the dirt path would sustain the downpour. To my pleasant surprise it held up very well.

DAY 2

The next morning, truly at the crack of dawn, I removed the old timbers bordering the bricks and headed for Burney’s Hardware for new timbers and paver stone.

The timbers slid into place and I began to replace the bricks – ten to a row in a horizontal/vertical pair pattern. After six rows the distance between the timbers narrowed slightly. After eight rows it narrowed more dramatically. My steel trap mind alerted me to something being wrong. About that same time my 82 year old neighbor dropped by. He eyeballed the timbers and asked, “You got a tape measure?”

We quickly found out the timbers needed to be reset two inches over. The magic number became 37 inches between timbers. Once the trench was dug and the timbers moved the bricks had plenty of space to take their place on the remodeled sidewalk.

The first eight feet went in fine. Mainly because the ground was level. Then the challenges began anew. Four challenges specifically.

• The next eight feet began a steady incline up toward the driveway.
• The ground sloped away from the house. Two leveling challenges.
• The bricks were old and definitely not square or uniform in any way.
• Many of the bricks had been placed with concrete and it took a sledge hammer to reduce the uneven surface the old concrete created.

These four challenges slowed the process down dramatically.

But I was at the point of no return. If this was going to get done it was up to me to do it.

DAY 3

Once again I was up at sunrise. It would be 25 degrees warmer in three hours so I knew getting up early was the way to go. Brick after brick was laid on top of the paver sand. Because they were all different each brick earned a different amount of paver sand beneath it. I had to resign myself that the sidewalk would not be totally level. The old bricks and the slope of the land didn’t allow for that.

When the last brick was placed I looked over the path with satisfaction, but not glee. Several bricks had to be raised or lowered at on point or another. They were easy to remove, add paver sand and replace. That process will continue for weeks to come I’m sure.

Throughout the process and to this day I tell myself three things.

• It looks better than it did before I began
• I did something I didn’t think I could do
• I persevered despite my lack of skills, experience and talent

I share this lengthy parable for these four reasons.

• You’ll never accomplish anything if you don’t start.
• You often times surprise yourself at what you can accomplish.
• If you looking to rely on somewhere else to accomplish a goal you may be disappointed.
• If you persevere you’re very likely to get a positive result

Just remember to take it one brick at a time.

Until next time…

I enjoyed another relaxing Father’s Day. Spent the morning with my dad, treasured two phone calls from my adult children, then met up with our best friends for dinner. Neither of our friends have dads still with them. Sadly, my boyhood buddy lost his dad last month and his mom three weeks later.

As a teenager, I remember fondly the memories of these two wonderful people. Their humor, their generosity, and they way they always seemed interested in me. As an adult, those same characteristics shined brightly as they always wanted to know how things were going for my children. It was always a joy to spend time with both of my buddy’s folks.

Still blessed with both my parents it is unimaginable to lose both parents in less than a month. His faith is strong and helping him cope. Last night he shared a post with me that truly captured the essence of his folks and the love they had for one another. It touched my heart and I thought it may benefit my readers if I shared a portion of it with y’all today.

” I have always had a love for music. One of my first memories I have of music in our household came from my dad.  Vividly, I remember my father coming home from work one day and he immediately started moving all the living room furniture against the outer wall creating an open space in the middle of the room. When that task was completed he would then go find my mom and ask for her hand leading her into the living room. He would put a record on our hi-fi and they would begin to dance. Ed and Jane were Fred and Ginger.  (In fact my Dad looked a little like Fred Astaire.)

My parent’s love for each other through movement on the living room carpet gave their four children the security and confidence that is needed to go on to boundaries beyond the backyard.  The big band sounds of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey highlight the memories I have of late 50’s and early 60’s.  They actually wore down that carpet.  We were not a wealthy family (being a family of educators) so the carpet would have to do. Over the years, that carpet became a worn path of love and tenderness.  I guess that’s where the phrase “cuttin’ a rug” comes from. 

Along with the big bands, I remember the crooning styles of Perry Como, the Rat Pack (especially Dean Martin), and even Eddy Arnold.  How Roger Miller got in that mix I am really not sure.  My Dad was probably more of a Roger Miller than an Eddy Arnold, but both could satisfy him depending on his mood.  At times, my Dad could round up his herd for dinner with his “Cattle Call” or escape from pressures of his demanding job and hop the rails to be “King of the Road. “ How he ended up with Doris Day is still a mystery to me, but I am glad he did.

To this day I still put on some of that music, and I am taken back to that old house that used to be so big.  That living room seemed as immense as a ballroom, but in reality, it must have really cramped their movements. My parents were still dancing into their eighties.   Many times they were the last couple remaining on the dance floor. At wedding contests they were the winners chosen by how many years they have danced together in their married lives. They danced through their lives together, not as individuals, but as a couple doing life together. They showed their children how to be better parents and grandparents as well. My father passed away on May 17. Three days after he passed away my mom was admitted to a hospital. and soon after that, a hospice center.

At one point, she shared with her children that she had a vision of her husband. He was reaching out his hand and was summoning her. He could not go too long without his dance partner. My mom took his hand several days later. Their dance continues. 

Psalm 149:3-4 says  Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.  For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

My parents were far from being religious people, but they prayed every day and had a relationship with Jesus Christ. They understood that he died for their sins. And because of that we know that indeed they are in heaven with their Savior. They are dancing and making music to honor him.

Praise God!”

Until next time….

For the last several months I’ve been collaborating with my good friend, author and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Operations and consultant to the U.S. Defense Department, Bob Taft. We have added essays, opinion pages and podcasts to the JiYC Website. Bob has a terrific ability to take complicated issues and simplify them for the reader. While we will continue to collaborate on current topics, Bob has just created his own website.

The website is Conservative Insight and the link is below:

https://conservativeinsight.net/

On the site right now you’ll find the following essays:

A FOUR-PART SERIES ON WHAT AG BARR WILL DISCOVER IN HIS INVESTIGATION OF THE ORIGINS OF THE TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE.

AN EXPLANATION OF THE VENDETTA JERRY NADLER HAS AGAINST TRUMP AND WHY HE – NADLER – IS CONFLICTED AND BREAKING THE LAW

THE BRITISH COMPANY THAT IS TAKING OVER AMERICAN EDUCATION

WHY DEMOCRATS HAVE TURNED ANTI-SEMETIC

THE DEMOCRATS BEST WEAPON – REPUBLICANS

Plus…

QUIZ 1: WILL THE REAL FASCISTS PLEASE STAND UP – TRUMP OR THE DEMS

QUIZ 2: AMERICA’S SOCIALIST DEALS AND WHY NONE OF THEM HAVE WORKED

Each week Bob will feature one or more articles or quizzes on pressing issues. Coming in the next two weeks:

THE SYSTEMATIC CREATION OF AMERICA’S PERMANENT UNDERCLASS

THE CHINA-RUSSIA GLOBAL PLAN AND HOW TO STOP IT

A FIVE-PART SERIES ON THE REAL ISLAM PLAN FOR AMERICA AND WHY

Also check out Bob’s new book: 

Who Let the Old Fart into the Classroom – Why Globalism, Socialism and Environmentalism Won’t Work. 

This fast paced story pits a conservative retiree against progressive professors and tackles the issues students face in higher education today.  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/17980408

I know you will enjoy Bob’s website and the knowledge and information he is sharing. I look forward to additional collaboration and sharing with Bob and hearing from our readers in the weeks to come.

Until next time….

If you’ve been reading my writing for a while, you know this is my favorite time of year. I find myself thinking and talking about my feelings every Spring. The extra daylight is a big positive. The sunshine is obviously warmer and rejuvenates one’s spirit as it warms your cheeks or back. Being outside and surrounding yourself in nature is one elixir I can’t do without. Another is the people I associate with on a regular basis.

Most of the people I work or socialize with are older than me. Between ten to 30 years older as a matter of fact. Not only are they more experienced and often wiser but they have infectious positive attitudes. They possess a sense of humor and enjoy high levels of humility. They’ve been successful in past careers, but rarely do they discuss that success. They have a big picture view on life and the world around them. They respect the opinions of others but are not shy about sharing their own opinions.

Four years ago I wrote about a co-worker/friend who turned 90. I was amazed at his attitude and spirit. In a few days he turns 94. He is as energetic and delightful as he was four years ago. He inspires me to be a better person every day. And the wonderful thing is he is not the only person I hang around with on a regular basis who inspire me.

I’ve been learning from another gentleman with decades of civil service and academic experience. He has written several books and is happy to share his knowledge and perspective with others. I’ve made a decision to share my website with this gentleman.

Even at my age it’s not to late to learn, educate myself and gain a better understanding behind policy decisions and world events. With all the media outlets, both social and network, it is a great challenge to delineate between fact or fiction.

My hope is the articles, editorials, essays, and educational documents we post will serve to help my readers and others become more knowledgeable of national and international policies.

I’m approaching this new path with a positive attitude. I want to continue to share facts and policy opinions in a straightforward, honest tone. I’ve always been a fan of straight talk and strategic thinking. This new path will continue both traits and widen the scope of the Jewelsinyourcrown.com website.

Until next time…

For several years I’ve given a presentation entitled “What Difference Can I Make.” It seems to resonant particularly with people who don’t have significant job titles. We can all make a difference.

Over the years, I’ve come in contact with many people who limit their perspective to their work life. This limitation diminishes the scope of the difference they may be making in the world. Below are examples of people I know who have made a difference.

A Relative

My kid brother lost his wife just over a year ago. She was way too young to leave this world. I’ve reflected upon her passing throughout the past year. Her gifts and talents are revealed throughout our home. She was extremely creative and patiently shared her knowledge with others. Her legacy lives on in the art and crafts she created, but even more in the people who learned from her tutoring.

A Friend

One of my dearest friends lost his son last month. He was way too young to leave this world. No parent should have to attend the funeral of their offspring. His son (my friend’s grandson) delivered a touching eulogy. He said his dad did all he could to shield the family from his illness. He shared that his dad told him death happens all the time, but it just feels different when it happens to someone you know. It was so obvious to me my dear friend had raised a magnificent son who had in turn brought up a wonderful son. Both grandfather and father had left a legacy that will live on for generations. What more can you ask out of a person?

A Professional

Earlier this week, I learned of a grade school chum who passed away. Once more he was way too young to leave this world. He had developed a very successful practice as a dentist and oral surgeon. But twice a year he unselfishly would leave his practice to provide medical services in Haiti. It was his passion. And in addition to the countless lives he helped and changed over the last 35+ years, his mission work will also be his legacy.

A President

The word “Legacy” has been used hundreds of times on TV this week while describing the life of George H.W. Bush. There is no doubt he left an indelible difference in many lives. One person shared “he changed my life.” Another said, “without him there would be no me.” Every testament reflecting the legacy of a world leader and a distinguished citizen. But more importantly, the legacy of a husband, father, and grandfather who left a legacy and made a difference of enormous proportions.

Four people, four legacies. All four monumental in the eyes of those the person touched. As we head full force through Hanukkah and into the Christmas season it’s a good time to reflect on the gift of a legacy we may be leaving. We all can and do make a difference. And we can create our legacy a day and deed at a time. Be about it and live it.

Until next time…

I was receiving extra text messages last week. Short, kind, caring text messages. Some went like this:
“Is it raining there?”
“Is it still raining?”
“Are you doing ok?”
“Are you safe?”
“Is it windy?”
“Are the trees still standing?”
“Are you floating yet?”

I responded kindly to all the text messages. I appreciated everyone’s thoughts and prayers. It was called a 500 year storm, so I shouldn’t have to worry about the next one coming. We were very fortunate. We had one incident that was worth sharing.

Raindrops – So Many Raindrops

Rain started at 2 p.m. on Thursday and continued until Monday around 7 a.m. The last eight hours was the hardest rain I’d ever experienced. When daylight occurred Monday morning I went and checked the property. Stepping into the “Game Room” some 30 yards from the house, my foot felt a splat on the grey concrete floor. Ground water had seeped into the structure. The nearly two feet of rain had overwhelmed the concrete structure.

We worked for three hours to squeegee and shop vac the water out, but it kept coming in. I called two major restoration companies to get some expert advice. Understandably they were way too busy to provide help. One company did tell me it would stop coming in when the water level went down. I laughed and asked “Do you know when that will be?”

We decided to go to the local hardware store for sandbags. Probably the best decision I’ve made in quite a while. And it wasn’t my decision. It was my wife’s. The hardware store was packed with people. Most buying wet/dry vacuums. This hardware store is family owned and epitomizes customer service at its best. They were out of sandbags. But I was given a name of someone who could provide what I was looking for – advice to stop the water seepage.

I called the person and got voicemail. Totally understandable I thought, so I left a message. Within minutes my phone was ringing with his number identified. He was out pricing jobs, but could stop by in an hour. When he showed up he gave me the advice and instruction I’d been waiting for. Then to my surprise and relief he told me he could be back “first thing in the morning” to dig out and install a french drain to suck up and divert water.

True to his word he arrived with shovel in hand to begin the work. Once the trench was deep enough, the trickle of water reversed its path from inside to outside the structure. But digging the trench was hindered by the enormous amount of cedar and magnolia roots which had grown against and under the concrete block foundation. With loppers, a bow saw, a handsaw and a chainsaw we painstakingly removed the obstructions. The trickle became a stream as each root – some over ten feet long and four inches around were yanked from the watery ditch. Mike Rowe would have enjoyed this “dirty job.”

By the afternoon the six ton of rock were holding the drain in place and the game room was drying out with the help of a neighbor’s fans.

THE REST OF THE STORY

I relate this “mini-crisis” for several reasons.

* We were fortunate. The damage and inconvenience we experienced were miniscule when compared to thousands of other people.

* We were present. Had we not been there the water would have continued and the damage would have been far greater.

* Great neighbors still exist. I hear all the time about people not knowing their neighbors. That is not the case here. During the storm we all kept communicating with one another and when our issue arose our neighbors responded quickly.

* Coincidence or a Godsend. Was it a coincidence we just happened to go to the hardware store at the right time? Or that we just happened to run into an employee who provided an expert resource? Was it a coincidence the resource was available to resolve the issue within hours of it occurring?

The answer to all three questions is “no.” It wasn’t a coincidence. It was a Godsend. Things happen for a reason. Reasons we often don’t understand right away. But in time they reveal to us and cause us to pause and reflect.

Maybe the terrific and talented resource will help me with another project someday. It could be that he will help my neighbors – who came by to meet him and check out the work. Someday he may need help in some form or fashion from me. We don’t know how it will all play out. But I know there is a message and a lesson to learn.

In the midst of a crisis, a challenge, or an obstacle it’s well worth the time to reflect on how we faced the situation and what fruitfulness came our way as a result. I contend there is always goodness coming from within an event. We just need to take the time to see and understand what we have been given.

Until next time…

Many years ago, the late Andy Rooney penned a poignant piece entitled “A Bad Case of the August Blues.” He wrote how August was always the most depressing month of the year for him and many others. Among the examples for his opinion were lines like this:

• The vacation is over, but the bills to pay for it are just coming in.
• The grass, which was so lush and green and actually fun to mow is now turning brown and mowing has become a chore.
• The heat, which was a welcome change in June, is now oppressive and often overwhelming.

Mr. Rooney’s piece really resonated with me.

As a kid I recall the depressed feelings I would get once the county fair was over. It usually began the first weekend in August and concluded the following Saturday. Once it was over, I knew the school year would begin and the carefree days of summer would be over. I didn’t mind school, but I hated losing summer. That feeling continued into my adult years, but for a different reason. The end of summer signaled the beginning of winter for me. Winter in the Midwest, unless you like snow, ice and biting cold, was always something to be endured, not enjoyed. As an adult, once Jerry Lewis sang “You’ll never walk alone” on the MDA Labor Day Telethon, I knew autumn would soon be here.

Today, August still has a tendency to get me down. I look around and see all the things I want to get done before the days grow even shorter. Recalling June when it stayed light longer and realizing my minutes are slipping away. I notice this feeling in other people as well. Maybe, as Mr. Rooney pointed out, it is the “oppressive” heat that helps make August overwhelming. After all, it usually is the hottest month of the year. Add in high humidity and breathing becomes far more difficult. I’m no doctor, but I know lack of air to the lungs and brain causes panic and all kinds of issues to the body. Even the dog isn’t crazy about going for an afternoon walk in August. I know it’s time to turn for home when his tongue starts to drag the pavement.

So how do we deal with August? How do we keep it from overwhelming our body and mind?
Here are a few suggestions:

• Take one task at a time. If you have a list, that’s fine, but don’t try to complete the entire list in a day. Space things out and celebrate each successful task.

• Plan your day so your biggest tasks are done first when you’re fresh. Setting priorities is always the best way to accomplish things. It reduces stress because you’re taking care of the most important things that lie in front of you. Just like the old adage of putting the big rocks in the jar first so all the little rocks can fit in as well.

• Don’t stress about what isn’t getting done. If it’s on your list, in priority order, it will get done. At the end of the day, assess what you accomplished and feel good about yourself. All too often, we let what we haven’t completed overwhelm us and that leads to a defeatist attitude. Remember the sidewalk cracks filled with weeds will disappear in December. So if you don’t get to them, don’t worry about it.

• If you have outdoor tasks to complete, do them in the morning or right before dusk. That way you do your best to avoid the oppressive heat. When forced to do outdoor activity in the heat of the day, take frequent breaks, drink plenty of fluids and work in the shade as much as possible.

I’ve learned the secret to defeating the overwhelming feeling of August is to find the shade. It rejuvenates your spirit, refreshes your mind and helps you breath. Shade allows you to pause, reflect, and assess what you’ve accomplished. It makes you feel cool.

You’ve heard the phrase “In the heat of the moment.” It seems to me we rarely react the way we want to “in the heat of the moment.” If we had the wherewithal to step back into the shade, I’d venture to say we’d have much more success with our decisions and our outcomes. The same is true for life. Particularly life in August. Prioritize, pace yourself, don’t stress, and find the shade.

Until next time….