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.

Making ourselves miserable because of something that happened in the past is useless.

What happened then has already occurred, we cannot change, edit or alter it.

If you want to put regrets, insights, awakenings and everything that seems to occur as a result to good use, look forward.

The past is a guidebook.

What to do.

What to do differently.

What to let go of.

What to embrace.

Regretting the past just feeds more regrets.

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it – why not put life’s lessons to work in the future?

Embrace fear.

Turn it into something powerful.

Let it inspire bravery.

Make every fear thought transformational.

“It’s okay to be sacred.  Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.”

1. Before getting out of bed November 25, think of 3 people who love you.
2. Then think of 3 people who are the most in the world to you.
3. Wherever you go to celebrate or whatever you do, smile at 3 people without saying a word.
4. Find 3 people you can catch doing something awesome like making Thanksgiving dinner, spending time with you or making some kind of sacrifice – say something publicly to shower them with the appreciation of others.
5. After losing a loved one close to this holiday, I decided to display a picture and tell someone about them so they could be with me that day and in the future (it was my mother and I told how she made broccoli in garlic and olive oil every Thanksgiving).
6. Before bed, love yourself by thinking of 3 things that you are proud of doing and then close your eyes.

In the days of vinyl, the record business used to say this about a song or album:  if it’s in the grooves, it’s a hit.

Yet the same thing is true of other things where substance is more important than anything else.

Good relationships are based on shared values but you don’t have to have the same personality – in fact, we know that opposites often attract.

A great career is not usually the one that pays the most money.

When searching for satisfaction, look first to what’s already there – “in the grooves” – instead of trying to become something different.

1. Self-doubt multiples exponentially.
2. There is never a reason to talk yourself down – even a mistake does not make you incompetent so avoid damaging thoughts when things go wrong.
3. You are your own advocate – it isn’t necessary to accept criticism or criticize yourself to be better.
4. Love yourself before asking someone else to.

With all the things that bombard us, it’s hard to get in the right headspace to do certain important things.

Interesting thing about radio and TV talent – they can snap right into the right headspace no matter what happens in the outside world away from the studio.

I knew a radio newsperson who was fired from their job and was asked to work their entire shift – the one that would be their last.

They did it – professionals have a way of rising to the occasion even under duress.

I think of that example a lot when I am finding it hard to get my mind focused on what’s in front of me through all the distractions.

A positive attitude does not require everything to go your way.

Be concerned about the people who are here, not the ones who have chosen not to be.

So often in our lives we pursue the unavailable to the detriment of those who grace our lives.

Focus attention on those who are available to you in your life rather than waste it on those who are not.

It just sits there until you open it.

You wouldn’t leave a birthday or holiday gift unopened and expect the joy and to experience the excitement of what’s inside and the same is true of every new day.

Those who complain about how bad things are aren’t seeing that special gift of life that is often left opened.

Given the choice of trading your problems for someone else’s, time after time people choose to keep their own problems.

So, every day is a gift if it is opened and enjoyed.

Otherwise it’s a missed opportunity.

Why do we resolve to make changes on New Year’s Eve instead of before the end of the year?

The average person gives up on their New Year’s resolution by February 1 — 68% say sooner than that.

New Year’s resolutions should be made before Thanksgiving so there are at least 30 days to change the habit and achieve the result.

Then at New Year’s you can celebrate accomplishing your goal with 12 full months ahead to enjoy the intended benefits and zero likelihood of giving up on it before January 1^st.