Saturday, April 26, 2008

Every Day is a New Day


Hi boys.

I woke up excited this morning! I'm going to China!

I didn't go to sleep this excited last night. In fact, I went to sleep exhausted and agitated and nervous. I was exhausted because I haven't had much sleep in the last few days. I was agitated because I had one of the worst travel days yesterday that I've had in my career of travel days. I was nervous about the long flight to China and how I will survive it.

But that was last night. Today is a new day. I woke up excited! My hotel was two blocks from the ocean, and I got to stop and take some sunrise pictures over the Atlantic Ocean- including this one. That made me feel good.

Life is like that a lot.

We have bad days in our house. Boy, do we! We get angry and frustrated about things. We say things we regret to each other.

We make mistakes, every day of our lives.

But, the good news is that every day is a new day. A new fresh opportunity to have a good day.

Make that your attitude. Wake up every day expecting it to be a good day.

Say a prayer to God as soon as you wake up to thank him for the new day he is giving you.

Say "Good Morning Mom" with a smile and a hug.

Every day at school is a new day as well. Go each day expecting to learn something new and to enjoy your friends and your teachers.

Life is good - mistakes and all. Enjoy each new day. And make the most of your opportunities each new day.

I'll be gone a long time - almost two weeks. But I love you and I'll be thinking about you each day as I travel. I'll have stories and pictures when I get home.

I'll see you when I get home.

Love you both. Dad.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Know when to Work and when to Play


Hi boys.


I was thinking about you this week as I was driving around the South for my business trip. As you can see by the picture, I had a rare treat this week in my rental car - a convertible sports car! I knew it was going to be fun sometime during the week, but not right away.


First, I had to make my sales calls and I couldn't arrive all windblown and mussed. It wouldn't be professional and it wouldn't help me in my job. So, I kept the top up and the windows rolled up during the day as I went about doing business.


But, when the sales day was done I put the top right down and hit the highway after hours. It was fun, driving with the wind blowing through my hair and feeling like I was outside. I could even stop and take pictures easier along the road with the top down. I had a lot of fun this week driving that convertible.


Having that car to work in reminds me of a good lesson in life. It's this:


You have to know when it's time to work and when it's time to play. It's a balance.


(Another way to say it is what you've heard me say all of these years: "You have to do what you have to do before you get to do what you want to do!")


Getting that lesson right is one of the keys to happiness in your life. Trust me on that.


You have to put this lesson into practice even now in your life. There is a time to work, and that is going to school, doing your homework, and doing chores around the house. And there is time to play: at recess, after school, and on weekends.


When you are young, as you two still are!, the balance is in favor of more time to play. Enjoy this time of your life, and play when you have the chance.


When you're older, as your mother and I are, there are more times to work than there are times to play. You will someday have more responsibilities and be the ones to raise your own families. It's a lot of work. And it helps a great deal in getting this right if you set the habits now while you are young.


Enjoy this time now in your life. Play, when it's time. But get your work done first.


I'll be home soon.