We’re about to get into that time of the year that is very happy for some and very, very sad for others. The time of the year where many of us will want to help others get through it. That’s a very admirable trait, unless you forget about taking care of yourself too. Too often we keep saying things like “I’ll be fine” or “I’m good” when we know good and well that we’re not. The need to help others is so big in fact, that many times we focus so intently on others even though we know it’s to our own detriment. So what are supposed to do, we need to help these people, right? Think of it this way…I call it the “Airplane Effect.” On a plane, the flight attendant during the safety speech always says “If you’re traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, place the mask over your nose first.” Why? Because if you don’t take care of yourself first, something bad might happen to both you and them! This makes so much sense to us while we’re on the plane but somehow, as soon as we step off and into our regular routine we focus all of our attention on helping someone else and completely forget about taking care of ourselves. Just answer this…Would you be able to give better advise, to understand more, to see more signals that might be being sent out and/or to facilitate more if you took better care of yourself? Of course you would! More sleep, more prayer or meditation, better nutrition or maybe just eating at all, as opposed to not eating (which is often common) all fall into the “taking better care of yourself” category. The drive to help others is amazing and commendable. It’s one way we can all make the world a better place. Make sure though, that you’re not causing yourself a problem where down the line, someone just might have to take care of you. “I’m not indestructible” is a mantra we can all benefit from telling ourselves. Give yourself the same advise you’d give to someone someone else. So….. Take care of yourself so you can take care of them. Take care of yourself so you can take care of them. PEACE …..Gregg

As I grow older and the days behind me grow longer while the days in front of me dwindle, I wish I would have understood the phrase “Thank You” much earlier in life. Not just understood it but also come to terms with it’s power.  I’ve come to realize that every time we say the words Thank You, they should be said with reverence and honor. Sadly, so many times we utter this meaningful phrase, it’s both without meaning and is simply a filler of some kind because “That’s what was expected.”  When is the last time you’ve closed your eyes and just kept saying thank you until you truly believed it?  Until you truly felt the thankfulness?  Until you found yourself smiling completely and totally due to that wave of thankfulness that washed over you?   Imagine how you’ll feel when you actually say thank you to someone and mean it. Imagine how they’ll feel knowing it’s heartfelt.   Even the smallest child doesn’t have time for insincere Thank You’s.  Thank You it turns out, is a kind of portal that can take us from an ordinary place to one filled Gratitude, honor and respect in an instant.  Thank You is simply another form of love in one form or another.  So Thank You,  not for anything in particular, and at the same time, for all the very specific reasons that need to be said. You honor me by accepting my thanks and passing them along to others. I sincerely hope they’ll do the same for you.  Peace & Thank You         ……Gregg 

Love vs complacency. One will fill you up, the other will rob you of everything that really means anything.  With all the strength and resolve that you have, don’t allow yourself to become complacent and take love and/or loved ones for granted.  Tell them how much they mean to you at every opportunity.   Make an effort to show them how important they are to you.   Hug them with meaning and warmth even when you’re running short on time or patience or don’t have a “good reason” to hug them. The reason to hug them is because you love them!   Life is always taken for granted, no matter how much we try not to let that happen. That doesn’t mean that living has to be taken for granted though.  Don’t accept the fairytale that there will always be time for this or that. At some point time will run out. The fact is that we don’t know when that time will come.  Live life and more importantly, appreciate others living their’s. Help others live their lives. Be grateful for all the precious instants that make up your life. (Especially those moments that others say don’t deserve gratitude.)  Allow the brightness of your love and empathy fill any room you’re in, any place you visit and and heart you come in contact with.   Peace       ……Gregg