Giving<\/em>, on the other hand, flows from the inside, out. We\u2014and we alone\u2014are in charge of our own resources. We are designed to be ever discovering, assessing, developing, and investing them. Like precious gems, they are waiting to be mined. Like laughter, they multiply when shared. Like a muscle, they get stronger with resistance. Like money, they grow when properly invested. Like a mountain stream, they are determined to forge a path to pour out where most needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May we be ever giving where we are suited to meet needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This, too, is counter intuitive. All human resources boil down to 3 categories: Time, Money, and Energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Money<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most common mantra, \u201cIf only we had more money, we could\u2026\u201d Let\u2019s take a closer look. Financial resources are not like a pot of gold to be divided equally among the leprechauns. Money, like love, is ever regenerating itself. What one woman gets is not what the next woman loses. Quite the contrary, what one woman gets can become the seed that enables many women to get. Our actions affect our financial resources. We have a measure of control over our money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We have a measure of control over our energy. Great misfortunes such as illness and accidents occur all too often, no doubt. But rare is the adult who cannot affect their own energy level. Modern medicine has taught us that good nutrition for our bodies is as critical as quality gas to a car. If we pour maple syrup into our cars, we can expect problems. If we work our heart and body with a bit of resistance, we grow stronger. In addition to nutrition and exercise, our alcohol and substance consumption, our sexual encounters, and our sleep habits greatly affect our mental and physical health, and our energy levels. There is so much we can do to affect our own energy level. Our actions affect our energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Good News: Everybody gets the same 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bad News: When it\u2019s Gone, it\u2019s Gone. Use it wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May we use our time wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my experience, I believe people would rather hear bad or hurtful news in love than hear nothing at all. It takes courage to deliver bad or hurtful news. It\u2019s an encounter we seem to be wired to avoid. Let\u2019s face it; we\u2019re cowards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative behaviors include ignoring the problem, avoiding the person, making excuses, lying, arranging to be absent, etc. It can be valuable to process the situation confidentially with a trusted friend who is anonymous to the people involved. But the most hurtful and common path is to express the problem to someone else inside the situation<\/em>. Double destruction. Like throwing a lit match in dry leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because it\u2019s true does not mean it must be spoken, but if it must be spoken, may it always be spoken in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is an act of love, and our personal responsibility, to make decisions about how we want our end days to unfold. We do our children no favor to leave them with a bevy of difficult decisions to make on our behalf in a time of great stress, fraught with emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A basement or attic full of our treasured \u201ckeepsakes\u201d leaves them the responsibility for all our possessions in the midst of their grief. This is the opposite of love. Let them take what they want during our healthy years. Get rid of the rest. Storage units are a sign of the times\u2014we\u2019ve got way too much stuff.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make decisions about end-of-life care and life support. Purchase a funeral and write down wishes for the service. Make a will and keep it updated. All are easier to do when we are healthy and of sound mind. These steps are acts of love that can help our loved ones avoid huge, unwelcome tasks at the very least. At best, it will help them avoid unnecessary surprises, hurt, misunderstanding, and deep relationship chasms to deal with on top of their grief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May we love our loved ones by taking responsibility for the inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTime is Our Most Valuable Commodity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Speak the Truth in Love<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Planning for Our Death is Part of Loving Our Children and Loved Ones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Genius is a Noun, Not an Adjective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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