Vow #3 - I Vow to Start Every New Day With A Plan

The world will always determine your worth by the deeds you do because it is action that gives to life its strength, its joy, and its purpose. Who can measure your talents by the thoughts you have or the emotions you feel? And how will you proclaim your abilities if you are always a spectator and never a player?

Take heart and know that activity and sadness are eternal opposites. When your muscles are straining and fingers are gripping and feet are moving and your mind is occupied, you have little time for self-pity and remorse. Action is the balm that can heal any wound.

But remember that no one will act for you. Your plan will remain no more than an idle dream unless you rise up and fight against the forces that try to keep you still. To take action is always dangerous, but to sit and wait for the good things of life to fall into your lap is guaranteed failure.

Everything that lies between the cradle and the grave is marked with uncertainty. Laugh at your doubts and move ahead. And if it is leisure you seek, realize that the more you do, the more you can do, and the busier you are, the more leisure you will have.

Make a plan and act now… or you will be acted upon!

Never again will I greet the dawn without a plan.

Vow #2 - For I am One of Nature's Greatest Miracles (from Sept 19th, 2004)

I am having a hard time writing this. In the early hours of the morning, while I sat at my computer working on my list of Ten Vows, my wife came out of the bedroom in tears, gasping for breath. I immediately ran to the garage and got our emergency oxygen bottle. I woke the kids and rushed off to the emergency room at Mission Hospital – once again.

As many of you know, my wife is trying to recover from major lung surgery. And it has not been going well. In my heart and because of my faith, I know she will recover eventually. But that doesn’t stop the knifing pain that runs through me when she cries out for help. The doctors are doing their best but I’m not going to stop praying for God’s help anytime soon. That’s for sure!

Yes, I am worried. But the worry in my heart has reminded me once again that everyone one of us is a unique miracle of creation. If we recognize that, we can gain the strength and courage to overcome anything. However, sometimes it takes another person, someone who truly loves us, to help bring out the strength and courage that is inside us. My wife and I do that for each other. She helps me to believe in myself when I am struggling. And I help her to believe in herself when she is in pain. And now more than ever, she needs to know that she is one of nature’s greatest miracles and that she still has a lot more to accomplish in her life. I believe in her and I am there for her. She needs to be strong and I need to be strong for her. We will overcome this problem – together!

We were formed in the image of God.

There is nothing we cannot achieve, nothing we cannot overcome.

10 Vows for Success and Happiness - Vow #1

(Originally Published September 5th, 2004)

Even though I have been extremely alone at times, I have never felt alone or that I was without love in my life. I was fortunate to be blessed with very loving parents who taught me about God’s love and also taught me how good life can be when we give our love to others. Today, I often joke that I “irritate” my family most mornings because I always wake up in such a good mood. I guess they don’t always appreciate my enthusiasm, but I can’t help it, I am happy… because I am loved.

Therefore, every single morning when I wake up, I repeat this particular vow out loud by saying, “I will greet this day with love in my heart”. It makes me feel good to make that commitment and even when I fail at times, I know that each new day is another new chance to succeed!

Always should we bathe our days in the golden glow of enthusiasm,

giving of our love to others.