May 15, 2025 - Believe the Truth

One of the things which we come to see as we grow older is we are the people who decide what we believe. While parents, grandparents, teachers, church leaders, group leaders, friends, and even people we do not know all have the potential to influence what we believe, we are the ones who actually decide what we believe, so it matters for us to be thoughtful when it comes to our core beliefs.

May 14, 2025 - Hope & the Little Things

Part of what I'm talking about today is something I have talked about before, but in light of the impact of one of the ridiculous executive orders which targets the trans community, I wanted to again post a short video to encourage and to hopefully provide some facts. Now as I have said, I am not a lawyer, but I am able to read and I looked up some information to get the facts on trump's executive order banning gender-affirming care and learned the following . . . 

May 13, 2025 - You Are a Person of Worth

Back in March I talked about National Each Person is a Person of Worth Day, but I believe this is true each and every day - you are ABSOLUTELY a person of worth, so I'm talking about it again today. I want to "recognize others’ worth and how this recognition impacts them. Self-worth is a universal trait, but how we gauge others’ worth also stays the same around the world. So today I want to recognize the worth of everyone, and in doing so, encourage you to please appreciate your own worth." So with this in mind, let's look at how to build our own self-esteem from Psychology Today -

May 12, 2025 - Love Yourself Today & Every Day

On February 13th I talked about how it was "Self-Love Day", but I absolutely believe every day should be "Self-Love Day", so today I want to talk about loving yourself again. What is "Self-Love", well Nationaltoday.com said - "Self-love is one of the most powerful forms of love. It is something we all have coded inside us. Proponents of self-love believe it could strengthen a person’s feeling of being loved." So what is Self-Love - and what isn't it? Consider the following . . .

May 9, 2025 - Spend Time in Nature!

 

I have talked about finding strength by spending time in nature, and since Summer is nearly upon us and the weather is finally getting warmer - although as I write this it is currently only 33 degrees outside here where I live in Michigan, I thought I'd recommend spending time in nature again as it is absolutely a way to help you find comfort and strength. I found a wonderful article on this from the Mayo Clinic and thought I'd share it again - just look at some of the ways nature helps us -

May 8, 2025 - Make a Difference

As we go through our lives there are many important questions for us to ask ourselves - some of them include - "What do I care about?" "Who do I care about?" "How much do I care?" "What am I willing to DO in regards to what and who I care about?" Yes, these are questions for each of us to ask ourselves and then to make the choice to care and act so things will be better. When we know what, who, and how much we care, then we will be able to take action to make a difference - this matters because taking action matters. I want to encourage you to find a way to make a difference - in big and small ways. You could start by making a difference in the lives of your family and friends - be sure they know how much you love and appreciate them, look for ways to help and encourage them and just be a "difference maker" in their lives.

May 7, 2025 - The Truth is You Matter

Every day I say, "You matter." I say this because it is absolutely true, but the thing about this is while it is true, it is also something we need to hear over and over because it is all to easy for us to think we do not matter. When we start thinking this, it can negatively impact everything. So, please let me say it again - you matter. This is absolutely the truth. Please believe me. You matter and how you feel matters, too, so the thing I want to say for today is, as you go through life, how you feel and the things you experience matter. Your feelings are valid. Your feelings matter. If people tell you to "get over things" or to "look on the bright side", you need to feel the freedom to feel whatever you feel because your feelings are legitimate and they do matter.

May 6, 2025 - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Several months ago I talked about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and today I want to talk about it again. Each and every day I say you deserve to be loved and I talk about how you deserve to feel at peace and experience safety because these things are absolutely true. Today I want to talk a little about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was signed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, France on December 10th 1948 and which is a defining document in history outlining 30 articles affirming individual rights. You will find an article about it and a full listing at this link, but I want to highlight just a few of them - 

May 5, 2025 - Start the Week with Love

In far, far too many cases those who are left out, bullied, deal with physical/mental challenges, and/or are part of the queer community live their lives on the receiving end of unkind, even vile words and often feel unloved. Well, today I want to take time to let you know how dearly you are loved and encourage you once again to surround yourself with people who see your value and who stand with you.

May 2, 2025 - A Message Which is True

Today I want to talk especially to you. I want to say some important things - things which are absolutely true and ask you to please listen and take these things to heart. First of all - you deserve to be loved. I know there are people in our world who disrespect you, but please, please listen to me. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to be treated with respect. You are lovable. You are loved. Please, please do not listen to anyone who says otherwise. The absolute truth is, you are loved - dearly loved.

May 1, 2025 - Today is Global Love Day

Certainly every day is a day to be sure we love all others, but today is especially a day set aside to do so. Nationaltoday.com says, "Global Love Day is dedicated to the spreading of love and peace to all mankind, Global Love Day is observed annually on May 1. This day was created by The Love Foundation to encourage unity and celebrate humanity through unconditional love. The world would be a much better place if we all showed just a little more love to each other, and this day is a big step in this direction." I'm sure we all agree with showing love to others, so let's look at some ways to do this . . . 

April 30, 2025 - Peace & Finding A Balance

I've talked before about how things which are in the news may leave us afraid and/or angry. This is completely understandable and how you feel absolutely matters. When I feel afraid and angry, I don't feel like I have the "power" in my life, which makes me feel worse, so today I want to talk again about doing things to help us feel peace and strength and like we are able to make solid decisions which will put us in the best place to move forward.

April 29, 2025 - Love Yourself

I often talk about loving yourself because you absolutely deserve to be loved, but I know it is all too easy to forget this - or even not believe it, so I want to take this day to encourage you to remember to love yourself and to hold tightly to those who love you. Life is difficult at times, and may feel this way more often right now, but when you hold on to the truth of how you are loved and deserve to be loved, take the time to love yourself, and hold on tightly to those who love you, you will find you are stronger than you may think you are and you are able to move forward with a life of joy and peace.

April 18, 2025 - Some Dos & Don'ts

As we start another week, and are about to end another month, I'd like to encourage you to make the choice to do what you can to make life better today. To help you with this, here are a few dos and don'ts to consider - first let's consider some "don'ts" . . . 

April 25, 2025 - Priorities

Today I want to talk about the things which need to be priorities for us so we are able to live a healthy and joy-filled life - and yes, it is possible for us to live our lives in healthy and joy-filled ways. I know there are many things happening right now which are scary, and we do need to know what is happening, but we also need to prioritize those things which make us healthy and bring us joy. Consider the following priorities -

April 24, 2025 - More Support is Available

As I take time to talk with you I have been hesitant to talk much about Jesus and His love for you. The reason for this is because I know far too often people who claim to love and follow Him, do not do what He did or talk like He did - Jesus made it clear by what He said and what He did how very much He truly loves everyone and wants those who follow Him to do the same. Today I want to talk about this because it matters. 

April 23, 2025 - Encouraging Words

While we may not receive encouraging words very often, and sadly, some of you may receive unencouraging words, we all benefit from being on the "receiving end" of encouraging words, so today I want to share encouraging words with you. Please know I absolutely believe and mean every word I'm about to say - I hope you will be encouraged!

April 22, 2025 - I'll Say it Again, Hold Tight to Family & Friends Who Love You & Have Your Back

I know I often say it is important to hold on tightly to your family and friends who love you and who have your back, but today I am saying it again. Hold tightly to your family and friends who love you and have your back. With all the things happening in our country, you may feel stressed, frightened, worried, and angry on a daily basis - or even many times a day, but it is essential for you to surround yourself with those who love you so you are able to take care of your own mental health and do the things which bring you peace. If you have parents, grandparents, extended family, and friends who love and care for you, then hold tightly to them and love and care for them, too.

April 21, 2025 - Increase Your "Happiness Chemicals!"

I talked about this several months ago, but increasing your happiness matters, so today I'm once again talking about ways you are able to increase your peace of mind and overall health by increasing your "happiness chemicals" - yes, they are a real thing and yes, there are actual things you can do to help you experience happiness.

April 18, 2025 - Choose to Spend Time with Those Who Love You

I realize when you feel alone, are being bullied, have to deal with physical and/or mental challenges, or are part of the queer community - especially if you are Trans or non-binary, "choosing peace" may sound like a nice thing, something you would love to do, but may feel quite difficult - if not impossible to actually accomplish. But, the first step to this is to choose to spend time with those who love you. It may be easy to just isolate and keep to yourself, but it is a healthy thing for you to spend time with those who love you - doing so makes you stronger and gives you joy.