Sunday, July 22, 2012

Happy Birthday Christy

Today is my lovely, wonderful wife, Christy's birthday. She is alway reminding me that she is much younger than I am, by 15 months, however she doesn't seem to respect her elders when it comes to that small amount of time! Birthdays are unusual events in themselves. When you are a young child they are wonderful, very special, events that result in presents and ice cream/cake treats. That seems to slowly go away as you reach your teen years when the event seems to take forever to arrive because you KNOW that you are ready to be a full adult with all of those privilege's. The 20's and 30's seem to go by quickly and birthdays for YOU get lost in the activities of getting married and having a family. Yep, I remember that milestone 21st birthday, mine took place in the Army in Germany after I already had the privilege of visiting exotic Vietnam, but after 21 I hardly remember another birthday until I hit 40! I wonder now if those 19 actually should count! 40 starts an entirely new phase of life. You are considered by the young to be old, and by the old to be young. What's up with that? At 50 you've actually made it to "OLD" and yet you still believe you're young, even on those few days you don't feel so young anymore as things start hurting the day after certain activities. Then suddenly, very quickly, much faster tan desired, 60 arrives. Now you're absolutely locked into old but still mentally in "just middle aged"! Who lives to be 120 these days? Maybe Bibilical times weren't so bad after all if you could live to 400+ years! After pondering this subject for some time now, and with my perspective of over 60, I've come to the absolute conclusion that God has it worked out right. These "Birthday year" phases are exactly right for us. Our eyes grow dimmer yet our clarity of vision on life and important issues seems to grow much stronger to balance those things out. After all, it does seem like life is mostly about balance doesn't it? Well, anyway, Happy 59th birthday to my wife Christy. Enjoy this LAST short year before your "OLD age" is securely locked in. Now please honey, get my walker and help me up from this chair so I can eat my fiber and prunes! These are my thoughts, what are yours? Steve

Monday, July 16, 2012

Thank you Stephen Covey

The news just came across the computer, Stephen Covey has passed away at age 79.  What a remarkable life he had on this earth, and I'm certain will continue in Heaven. 
As most folks know him he was an author - many can tell you the name of at least one of his books - The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (can YOU name ANY or ALL of those 7 habits?)  - but his real contribution to this world was far greater than most folks realize.  He is responsible for creating thousands of jobs, responsible for creating thousands of possibility thinking minds by changing the way people think and react. He also lived his life as a great example for others to see and follow, without having to shout or scream about how great he was - others will say that for him - Stephen Covey just quietly went about living his moral, ethical, life as a quiet example of what to say and do plus MOST IMPORTANTLY,  how to think and how to live a meaningful life being a Blessing to others.
  In honor of the memory of Stephen Covey please take a few minutes and research the story of his life.
What better epitath could anyone ask for? 
Steve