You know kids, one of the things I've learned by letting more people know what's going on inside my head is that once you do people expect you to live up to what you've put out there. I've sort of learned on the fly here that using this knowledge as a burr under the saddle that is my life accelerates my growth. Where I used to piddle (piddle's a FUN word to say...) around on things that I was working on internally and hadn't publicly disclosed, it's become clear to me that if I make it wide spread knowledge that 'this is an area I'm working on getting better in,' you guys and girls let me know when I've missed the mark.

Thus becoming yet another source of motivation. The basic philosophy here being you sharpen me, I sharpen you, we encourage, lift up and motivate each other.

With this in mind I'd like to suggest a few things that we might all collectively work on . Hold still a minute would you. I need you to be my sharpening stone. In the new millennium and beyond here are just a few of the things you can look forward to from me. If you'd like, you can join me in reaching for greater success in any or all of these areas.

Let's appreciate more of the things that tend to go unappreciated. The little things we take for granted. When was the last time you really stopped and considered the fact that there are people who have never 'seen' and never will? When was the last time you were thankful for it? The gift of sight is no little thing. Is it?

Lets be an example of what it is to be Christ like. Which do you think is better? To say with your lips that you subscribe to and follow the teachings and example of someone you admire, or to actually do it with your actions.

Let's do more of the things that are worth doing, and less of the things that aren't.

Let's listen more often and more actively. It has been said that small people monopolize the talking while big people monopolize the listening. Let's all be big people. As my grade school teachers constantly reminded me, it's hard to learn while you're talking. And of course we all know this whole thing is an exercise is in learning.

Let's work during each day to be a better person at the end of the day than we were at the beginning. And while I'm on the subject, if this is not the case with each of us then what's the point of going through the day?

Let's all raise our standards so that we expect the best for and from ourselves and those that have been placed under our influence.

Like I said these are just a few things it might be good to focus on doing better. The list could go on and on. I was just thinking this might be a good time for some real personal evaluation. A time to get refocused on doing this thing better.

I thank you in advance for your help in sharpening me.

Thanks for listening.

Live some. Love some. Learn some. Everyday.

C...