Daily Reading from Calendar Books by Allen James' "Daily Guide to Success" series

Sorry I missed posting over the President's Day weekend.  I was not close to my computer.  I'm posting for all four days along with today's.  : )

"Keep your desk orderly" is the thought for February 15th.

Everything about humanity and the trappings of humanity has an order. Earth is placed in the perfect order in the universe for humans to be able to exist. The seasons are ordered to provide the perfect cycle for flora to thrive, rest, then thrive and rest again.

We and our spaces are meant to have order. Humans demand boundaries, order.

Keeping ourselves and the places we live, work and play orderly provides us the environment to thrive and reach personal success.

Keep looking up. :) AJ


 February 16th's thought comes from "A Graduate's Daily Guide to Success"; "Observe and Learn".

Learning from past mistakes, learning for the sake of learning, or learning to acquire new skills or information requires one key element: attention...observation....awareness.

In many respects this is THE most important skill we can possess. Paying attention to the world around us and then either making application of what we observe or steering clear of those things which we see are not in our best interest can impact personal success enormously.

Having this "alertness" doesn't come easy for everyone; it has to be conditioned for many. Making a conscious effort to pay more attention will aide in our journey to become a more positive individual in a world which too often appears to be filled with negativity. Like all things in life...it is a choice to be attuned.

Observe and learn...once we get this down so much more good comes our way.

Keep looking up. :) AJ


 From "The Journey: A Calendar Book" for February 17th..."Be prepared to relate".

Life throws some interesting curves at us from time to time....well...actually our actions tend to stir up quite a wind affecting the trajectory of those curves.

I've always been a fairly easy person with whom to get along, however; there have been at least three times in my life when I was confronted with individuals who for one reason or the other just didn't "click" with me. As uncomfortable as these times can be, having the ability to relate to their point of view can change how we handle the discomfort.

Relating means, although we may not agree with their perspective, we can put aside emotional biases and attempt to understand where they're coming from.

Relating to others allows less negativity. Having the ability, courage, and humility to set aside our ego builds personal success.

Remember...although it's not always about us...it is in the long run. Protect yourself against negativity. Be prepared to relate to others. It goes a long way toward building positivity.

Keep looking up. :) AJ


 "Have compassion for those with whom you work."

Today's reading from Calendar Books by Allen James' "Daily Guide to Success" series is not always an easy pill to swallow. Having compassion is not only having love for, but having a feeling of empathy for as well. Degrees of love are a human trait, however being able to, as Harper Lee wrote in "To Kill a Mockingbird", "walk around in their shoes" and "relating" to what they are feeling (yesterday's reading).

When confronted by co-workers who aren't the most agreeable individuals, showing them compassion is modeling personal success. Not "killing them with kindness", which is a manipulative tool, but sharing with them the skills of a warrior of personal success.

By being the model of positivity we share the goodness of ourselves, not only assisting them in their journey, but encouraging ourselves in our journey.

Keep looking up. :) AJ


 Daily reading for February 19th from "The Journey: A Calendar Book", "Enjoy time with family".

Coming from a large family, I certainly realize the challenge today's reading is for many. Having an extended family gathering can be quite a production. Congregating parents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents under one roof can test the nerves of even the best intended individuals.

My father's perspective toward family in the 1970s was interesting to say the least. He expected everyone to be together not only for meals, but in the evening when watching television as well. Although we had a small house for such a large number of people (10 including parents, children and grandmother, who lived with us for several years after breaking her hip at 72), we would all be required to find our spot. As we children reached adolescence this was not a "cool" thing to be doing; we wanted to listen to our music or talk on the black utilitarian phone with the very long cord hanging in the hallway. It was challenge to be sure.

However; the bonds formed over the years follow us through life. Family is where we learn to connect. Family is where we learn character. Family is where we acquire the skills to be productive, happy, personally successful members of society.

Enjoy time with family, even if you have to fake it at times.

Keep looking up.  : )  AJ