Dorothy Law Nolte has famously written, “Children Learn What they Live!” Among other things she says, If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with sharing, they learn generosity. If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness. And so it is true that children learn what they live. But it is also equally true that children live…
To a very large extent, our future is influenced by our present, and without a past, there would be no present. In a very profound way, our past, present and future are all interconnected, and without our direct intervention, could easily become a straight line for better or worse, and usually for worse. Some of us are specially blessed to have a past of which we are totally proud. Most…
Most people want to succeed, however they define success. By the same token, most people will say that they are not successful, or at least not as successful as they would like to be. Quite often they still are cherishing the dreams they used to have, but they are so far off course, that frustration has now gotten the better of them. Then they meet me… and almost in a…
This is my first public expression of appreciation and gratitude to all my Toastmasters leaders, friends and colleagues in Districts 47 & 81*, who, in one way or another, directly or indirectly contributed to my truly memorable Vancouver Experience at the 2017 World Championship of Public Speaking. We did not produce the World Champion… this time. But take my word……
Life is a journey that is measured in two dimensions – time and distance. Most of us spend about the same time on our journey. But for at least two reasons, there is usually a huge discrepancy in the distance covered in our journey. The first has to do with route planning and goal-setting. But the one on which I wish to focus today is consistent speed. Life seldom creates…
Like so many other things, “never too late” is not always true. It is always too late to make a first impression, the second time you meet someone. Fortunately, in some very important areas, it is true that it is “never too late”. You have ambitions and goals in life. For one reason or another you may not have achieved what you wanted to achieve by your present age. But…
To a very large extent, our future is influenced by our present, and without a past, there would be no present. In a very profound way, our past, present and future are all interconnected, and without our direct intervention, could easily become a straight line for better or worse, and usually for worse. Some of us are specially blessed to have a past of which we are totally proud. Most…
Every time little Johnny kicked a ball, he announced that he had scored a goal. That is because there were never any goal posts. We know better. Goals have to be futuristic, specific, identifiable, measurable, time-sensitive and rewarding. We increase our chances of attaining our goals when they can be incremented into long, medium, short and imminent targets. We are all familiar with the New Year’s Resolutions syndrome. Those can…
“Children live what they learn”. Sub-consciously, in our early development we are heavily influenced by those persons in our lives to whom we attach significant importance. A baby born to Chinese parents will speak perfect Spanish and no Mandarin, if adopted at birth by Spaniards and taken to live in Spain. As we grow older, the influence by example becomes less automatic and more selective, as we consciously evaluate examples…
The fundamental laws on which this universe is built include “cause and effect”. Every effect has a cause and every action has a consequential reaction. Ultimately, the inquiring mind must ask, “What caused the first effect when it was still a cause?” At this point Evolutionist scratch their heads. Christians answer, “God”. It is debatable as to whether or not God micromanages every detailed cause and effect, or if He…