Quotes of the Week from Me:

“Patience eliminates inconvenience.”

“Sometimes it’s the escape that feels like home.”

“Never walk through an open door without leaving it cracked for those who follow.”

Quotes of the Week from Others:

“We are like books. Most people only see our cover, the minority read only the introduction, many people believe the critics. Few will know our content.” – Emile Zola

“If you aren’t tired when you go to bed and excited to wake up, you need intensity and goals.”

– Dan Koe

Quick Optimism:

Be humble enough to know you are replaceable. Be wise enough to know there is nobody else like you.

Question of the Week:

Happy New Year, everyone! 2023 was another great year and the fun continues into 2024. Like I said last week, December is a time for endings and beginnings, and even though January 1^st looks like a fresh start on paper, in reality it’s just another wonderful Monday. Another Monday for staying optimistic, for working on yourself, and for making it a great week.

Whatever you decide to take on in 2024, commit fully and with an open mind. As always, thank you so much for reading along.

 The first 2024 questions of the week are below, enjoy!

What are you doing for others?

A few days ago, I literally bumped into a stranger. I pride myself on spatial awareness, but sometimes us humans get tucked into tighter than preferred areas and social distancing goes out the window.

It was actually quite unfortunate timing. I was pushing a shopping cart full of two toddlers and some cleaning products down an aisle on my way to the self-checkout. I sped up, then slowed down, all in an attempt to create distance from the weight of a stranger’s presence next to me.

I finally committed to the inevitable and started to turn into the checkout line. Bump. The shorter, bald man turned to give me a confused look. He didn’t say anything.
I offered up a, “Please, go ahead.”

I am not sure if he felt awkward or just simply didn’t know what to say, but he went with, “Oh, hi. Uh, what’s your New Year resolution?”

Even during such odd encounters, I find I turn to thinking. At that moment I figured I should probably figure something out for the upcoming year. My first thought was a question. “What am I doing for others?”

It led to a list. Some things will continue, others won’t. Thankfully, it led to another question, my other question for you this week:

What will you do for others in 2024?

Will it be more? Less? Will it be different? It is up to you.

I am curious to see if any changes, subtle or not, impact things the way I think they will.

Finally, I really enjoyed sharing one of my favorite short stories about Santa with all of you last week. If you aren’t too hung up on your New Year’s resolution and/or helping others, please enjoy The Fleming Myth, a story about many things, but above all, the power of helping others coming full circle.

A fictional story about helping others to start the first Monday of 2024 –

The Fleming Myth

“His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. “I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life.”

“No, I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. “I’ll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy and if the lad is anything like his father, he’ll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” And that he did.

Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill.”

Make it a helpful Monday, and year!