Your family probably has some great Thanksgiving traditions. Turkey. Pie. Football. Many families go around the table to share something that they are thankful for. But why? Does it really matter if we “give thanks”? In a word… YES. Social science research that clearly shows how gratitude positively impacts our own happiness, energy level, relationships, … Continue reading Does it really matter if I give thanks?
Do you ever feel like time is flying by? Hopefully, that means you’re having fun. But often I find that it means I’m simply busy! Even as the seasons fly past us, there are times of life that are a new start and times when things are winding down. We are in such a season … Continue reading How do we “finish well” as Paul did?
Everyone experiences different seasons of life. While our life seasons are not as predictable as the seasons of nature, we can predict that eventually they will come. We will know summer: sunshine, happiness, fun. We will move into autumn, a season of change, busyness, and diligence. Eventually, we experience a season like winter, cold, dark, … Continue reading Finding rhythm in a new season of life
How “adult” do you feel on a daily basis? If you’ve been grown-up for a long time, this may feel like a silly question. But there is a new trend in our culture of young people “adulting” – acting in a way that an adult would. Reading through recent Twitter posts about #adulting seems to … Continue reading The hard work of adulting
The U.S.A. celebrated the Fourth of July this week – a holiday known for cook-outs, pool parties, and fireworks. This is our nation’s Independence Day! We gain value from the past when we not only reflect and remember, but when we also put into practice the lessons learned. Here are a few tidbits of history … Continue reading Looking back at the Fourth of July
Did your parents teach you to say please and thank you? Are you teaching these courtesies to your kids today? Hopefully, the answer is yes. We train our kids to say these things as a picture of the kind of heart and character that we are trying to instill. Our goal is to create a heart … Continue reading Developing a Heart of Gratitude
All of us want to enjoy life. We want meaning, happiness, and satisfaction. Sure, we know there will be seasons of hardship, but we also know that life can be so much more. Perhaps the best way to answer this title question is by answering a few questions about your own life: What is the … Continue reading How does someone live a full, abundant, good, joy-filled life?
Have you used this cliché? We all recognize it. Most of us have probably used it. But not all clichés are good, true, and accurate. So, what about this one? Is this a true statement? Like many things in life, the answer depends on the situation and context. If a situation is very time-sensitive, then … Continue reading “It’s better late than never”
It is a big deal to be a parent. To be a mom is often more obvious and more celebrated in our culture than to be a dad… and of course, the nine months of pregnancy and the child’s birth day have something to do with that! But for moms and dads alike, parenting is … Continue reading What kind of Dad are you?
It is easy and sometimes tempting to live life day by day, simply looking at the choices right in front of you and making decisions that benefit you and your family. But is that how we are meant to live our lives? If your daily choices are not shaped by the virtues you hold dear, you … Continue reading What are the virtues that define your life?