Just Because

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Some things in life are worth doing just because they’re the right thing to do. The world is full of crossroads where commercial interests and human concerns seem to point in different directions. Today’s sunny note is simply a reminder to take the high road.

Do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.

Not every action needs an obvious “return on investment.” It’s inevitable that some of the things we do for the people in our lives will go unnoticed or even unappreciated. Yet we do them anyway. Not for pats on the back or commercial rewards, but simply because we care.

In fact, caring turns out to be its own reward, making each of us happier at the end of the road.

Drive safely – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. In response to last week’s Sunny Note, Cheri Young sent in a great suggestion that I asked her permission to share with you today. Here is Cheri’s recommended alternative to "resolutions." Thanks Cheri!

>>>I find that most resolutions are good for about 3-4 days, after that we are crabby and discouraged. I make a list called "less and more." This way I can celebrate improvement and failure never happens unless I quit trying.

Instead of the usual, I want to lose XX pounds. How about:

I want to eat more real fruit and less refined sugars.
I want to eat more lean protein and fewer fast food hamburgers
Supporting actions:
• Change purchases at grocery store, we tend to eat what is at hand.
• Eat Grilled chicken salads instead of fried foods at restaurants.

I want to spend less time on routine cooking.
I want to spend more time entertaining.
Supporting actions:
• Double the recipe on "routine" foods and store/freeze for another day.
• Pick one weekend a month and invite friends for dinner and cards. (Friends bring the wine and fruit-based dessert.)

I want to save more money.
Supporting actions:
• Increase your retirement savings by one percent and eat out less often.
• Throw change in a cookie jar for the next vacation instead of using your credit card.
• Invite friends to dinner and cards instead of going out, put saved dollars in cookie jar.

As you can see, some actions have multiple results! This is way more fun and successful than promising to lose 10 pounds. Best Regards, Cheri

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com

Count Down

Good morning,

This is such a great day as we get to say goodbye to 2010 and look forward to a brand new start in 2011. I love this time of year...you know…with all the "resolutions" about how we're all going to work out more to get healthy. (I admit that's on my list.) But ultimately it's not the planning that counts, just the doing. So here’s my toast to all of us for 2011.

Make it count.

Plan the work and then work the plan, because far more important than making a resolution is being resolute.

Happy New Year – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan."
Margaret Thatcher

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com

Traffic Jams

Good morning,

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope your holidays are going well and all the hustle and bustle translates into peace and joy. This week’s flurry of activity has reminded me about an important ingredient to a peaceful and joyful life.

Patience.

Admittedly, I am one of those people always in a hurry, trying to pack 25 hours into the day. But over the years I’ve learned that in order to thrive or even just survive, all the rushing around needs to be deliberately sprinkled with patience. Deliberately, as in consciously choosing to slow down or even back away when necessary to let the situation breathe. Frequently, the recipe for patience includes a dash of flexibility and a pinch of creativity.

You know…like when the store you’re trying to reach is hemmed in for blocks by cars all trying to turn left into the same place and you’re stuck in the middle of an intersection five blocks away when the light turns red and if only people would stop cutting you off you know you could get where you’re going or at least get out of the intersection before cross traffic blows you away…and then it suddenly occurs to you that buying the thing at the store is not what the holidays are all about, so you wave a friendlier gesture than previously contemplated to the guy who cut you off and pull away into the emptier right lane to find a different thing at a different store at a different time, and instead of white-knuckle driving you slow down, call a friend and turn traffic jam time into quality time talking with someone you love.

We’ve probably all heard Benjamin Franklin’s warning that haste makes waste. Often rushing actually makes things take longer (think of the traffic jams people cause by cutting each other off!) and impatience always makes them feel longer.

This morning let’s take a deep breath – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.” Barbara Johnson

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com