How to Say “I Love You” Without Saying It

The radio legend Paul Harvey shared a story about a man who expressed love in a most memorable way – a way we might want to emulate and a way I shall never forget.

  • Often the words “I love you” are empty or hard to say for some people.
  • But Harvey shared a stellar example of how to communicate this powerful emotion without having to say it.
  • He told the story of this husband who put a note in the glove compartment of his wife’s car right next to the insurance card and the owner’s card.
  • She probably would never see it – unless …
  • On it, he wrote her a note that said he was so sorry that she had to be in an accident, and that she was not to worry how he would feel about the damage to the car. After all, she was fine and that is all that mattered.

Imagine opening the glove compartment of your car in a stressful situation like an auto accident to read the premeditated reassurance from a loved one that the most important cargo is you and not the mangled metal.

Steven King says:

“The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them”.

I hope this is shareworthy.

The Advantages of Smiling

There was a wonderful guy who was a disc jockey and later program director of WFIL in Philadelphia.

It was memorable to watch Jay Cook work.

As soon as his microphone went on, he put a smile on his face.  Then he talked.

There’s no doubt that smiles change the way others see and respond to us.  But they also change us.

You can’t be mad with a smile on your face. Or down. Or unhappy

Smiling is a real tool to bring about positive change initiated by you and not dependent on others going first.

As Tom Wilson said, “A smile is a facelift that’s in everyone’s price range!”

Kobe Bryant’s Key Motivator

Kobe Bryant spoke publicly and lovingly about his Lower Merion, PA high school teacher who taught him a key driver of motivation:

  • “Rest at the end not in the middle”.
  • Bryant joked that sometimes he actually listened in school – judging from his basketball career, he really listened.

If you liked this pass it on to others.

Your Personal “Election”

It seems we’re caught up on what other people think of us especially when we post things on social media and wait to see how many thumbs up, likes or comments others do.

Our lives are not up for a vote – we should not be asking others to “like” what we do or say.

The more we try to treat our lives like an ongoing election, the more unhappiness it brings.

It doesn’t really matter whether others like us – do we like us?

Holding a virtual election on who we are as a person always ends in defeat.

Live life as if no one gets to vote on how you live it.

Finally, election news you can use – go ahead and share.

Zero Pressure

Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla before kicking off the current NBA basketball season said he feels “zero pressure” to repeat last year’s World Championship.

Never mind that the Celtics have won a total of 18 banners in their storied history.

“We’re all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn’t matter anymore. So, there’s zero pressure.”

“”There’s nothing anyone in this circle can do to me that’s going to impact my identity and who I am as a person or a coach. We’re either going to win or we’re not, and 40 years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral and that’s it.”

It’s blunt but it’s true.

Like life all the good things we do carry over from year to year.

If there’s one thing never to forget it’s what got you to success.

Added pressure does not help.

So many life lessons in sports – feel free to share.

More for Less

The makers of Ruffles and Tostitos is planning to add 20% more chips into their bonus bags.

Ruffles and Tostitos were losing market share at Walmart while their own brand Great Value has been growing in chips and pretzels.

Many consumers feel the pinch but companies usually don’t until sales decline begging the question what’s a fair deal.

In human interaction when we promise more and do less, it usually doesn’t end well.

Maybe it doesn’t apply to food brands but when you make a promise and deliver more ahead of schedule, you are always going to come out ahead.

That last line could be life altering, feel free to share

New Friends

4 in 10 people have not made a new friend in over a year.

We’re constantly told how social isolation is a bad thing and yet this long after the pandemic, it’s seems even harder to find new friendships.

The research was conducted for CheapCaribbean Vacations so you can understand their interest in surveying the marketplace.

But the time with a friend has no clock on it – in fact, more important than the number of friends we have is the time spent present — focused on what each other is saying.

I saw research recently that said to avoid social isolation even one friend fits the bill.

This fascinates me, if you find it helpful feel free to share.

Family Leave

If you’ve been born into a happy family accept it and enjoy.

If not, family does not have to be based on genetics.

I considered someone not related to me a close brother and some who were distant – other people feel the same way.

Thanksgiving is coming, a time when families get together and either have a ball or melt down – the beauty of relationships is that the people we trust, feel close to, enjoy and can get along with are family.

Celebrate the joy of healthy relationships and feast on their many benefits not the obstacles that often last a lifetime and make us feel unhappy.

I live these DayStarters which is how I can write them – please, share.

The Future of Work

Sam’s Club believes the store they are opening in Grapevine, TX is the store of the future – soon to expand in 30 locations.

A robot sweeps the aisles, takes inventory, and checkout lanes are replaced with apps that allow customers to purchase goods without human contact although some human’s will standby.

Then there’s Costco – a company that values their employees who love to work for the company and will continue to serve samples of food in person to make your Saturday.

The long lines will remain, humans will ring you up, you will bring your own bags and boxes and any robotics or AI used will likely be behind the scenes.

You can replace some tasks, but not people as the future will show us.

Never be afraid of AI (artificial intelligence).  AI is just our best thinking scraped by algorithms – not our next thinking.

Share with a non-robotic tap below.

You’re the Solution

I asked one of my college classes to write a paper on the most difficult person in their lives as of two weeks ago.

Out of 25 students, 3 said they were the most difficult person in their own lives.  The rest cited family, friends and associates at work or internships.

We are not the problem.

We have problems – everyone does.

But we are the solution to whatever challenges come into our lives.

Just reminding ourselves from time to time of the power we have to make a difference is the difference.

Share with someone you think might appreciate this thought.