you... You... YoU... YOU!

Hi Max!

This is an actual letter I wrote to a friend today. This friend has let the media get in her head. This friend is worried about the world's economy so much that it has affected her personal economy. She's knocked down and not knowing where to turn to next. She's not suicidal, but just down and out. With her permission, I am compelled to share this with you today.

"Dear friend,

Today, I want you to think about something. I can not change your life, only you can change your life... but perhaps I can change the way you look at your life. Right now, you are just feeling like you - lower case you. you are seeing the negative, you are mired in misery, and you are thinking only about yourself. your thoughts are on survival, your motivation is desperation, and your results are minimal at best. Shake it off. I've got the cure to your ills and it's easy - and it won't cost you a dime. Help someone else. Get your thoughts off yourself and help another. Then do it again. Then do it again. Help one person today. Help them across the street. Help them smile. Help them by connecting them to an influencer. Help them by introducing them to a friend. Don't reach out for a hand out. Reach your hand out to help. I promise it will help you. That's the beauty of the Generosity Generation and helping. You can't help another without helping yourself! Trust me on this. Take a moment to think of someone you could help (and that is anyone). Think of how you could help them. Then do it. Do it now. Because, you see, this is what you were meant to be. This is your Y.

Your why is what motivates You. In fact, once you discover your Y, you go from you to You. You are strong, secure, steady, and steadfast. You are loyal to yourself. You can make decisions easily and quickly because You know what makes You tick and what makes You... You. What is YOUR why? Write down these questions: Why did I choose my profession? Then write down, "What is important about _____ ?" and then ask yourself, "What is important about ______?" Give yourself some really strong alone time to find out what makes You tick. How do you want to be remembered when you die? What is your "life's slogan"? What will your epitaph be? What 12 words will go on your tombstone? A great coach can help you with this. Once You have established your Y, You begin to see the world differently. You begin to ask why not You. YoU. (o = zero = not).

So YoU? Since YoU know your Y, you see that anything that aligns with your Y should be yours. Why not YoU to get that promotion? Why not YoU to get that new subdivision? Why not YoU to get that award? Why not YoU to be successful? Why not YoU to get that girl? YoU start to see life as a world full of opportunities rather than a world full of obstacles. YoU start saying Why not me and it starts to come out like this, WHY NOT ME?!! YoU DESERVE SUCCESS. YoU DESERVE RESULTS, REWARDS, AWARDS, HAPPINESS, HOPE, BEAUTY, TALENT, INTELLIGENCE, LOVE... Why not YoU? Seriously. After continuously seeing that the fruits of your labor should come to YoU and DO come to YoU, YoU become YOU.

YOU is where the light shines so brightly that everyone is attracted to it. YOU is this beacon of beauty, this lighthouse of love that gives and gives and gives so much value that it could never be re-paid. And yet when you might have cared, might have wanted to take, might have wanted to keep score, or might have wanted to see the reciprocation, YOU doesn't care. YOU just continues to give. The light shines brighter, the love comes easier, more are attracted to YOU, YOU are attracted to YOU, YOU don't have time for pettiness, drama, or gossip. YOU have time for brilliance, excellence, ideas, and implementation. YOU have time for learning, failing, and evaluating. YOU think. YOU work. YOU help. YOU give. YOU love. YOU live.

YOU realize that YOU were born for a reason (you were born a winner, you beat millions of others to become YOU). YOU were born to serve the world and drowning in self-sabotage, participating in self-pity, gabbing the gossip, or dragging others into drama does not serve the world. Giving, loving, and LIVING your life to its fullest and most beautiful serves the world. Helping others, bringing value to others, and being a friend serves the world. Shining your light as bright as possible by filling your mind with brilliance, your heart with love, and your life with positive people serves the world. YOU is who I know. YOU is who I see. YOU is inside ready to burst out. When is now the time for YOU? NOW is the time for YOU.

you, You, YoU, YOU. How can I help YOU?

To Your Success,

Michael"

Hope you enjoyed this note.

To YOUR Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Wa-ter

Hi Max!

Was telling this story about you today.

This morning, you & I were hanging out. You go, "wa-ter." (You say water pretty clearly). I said, "Okay, are you ready for a big boy cup?" You nodded. I grabbed a little cup. I said, "Okay, I'm just going to give you a little bit. Are you sure you're ready for a big boy cup?" You said, "Yes, wa-ter." After putting a little water in the cup, I reached down to hand it to you. You reached up with both hands and took the cup very delicately. This was a big moment. Your first drink from a "big-boy" cup. You started to lift the cup to your lips. Then you promptly dumped it out all over the hardwood floor. You looked down and said, "Wa-ter."

Baby steps.

:)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Sunday is Son-Day May 23, 2010...

Hi Max!

Sunday is Son-Day!

Well, two weeks ago was Mother's Day and we had a good time at my sister's celebrating every mothers' favorite day. Last weekend, we went to the park and instead of playing on the most awesome jungle gym ever, you wanted to just walk and walk and walk. :) We walked all over Antioch Park - you love this park! We had snacks sitting on the war memorial and it was a beautiful 72-degree day.

Today, we did yard work. It was fun. I saw the strangest pattern in the yard though. What do you think? :)

It was a great day!

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Chumps, Chimps, and Champs - revisited...

Hi Max!

Just a quick note to remind you that Chumps (negative leaders) and Chimps (unthinking followers) look at what they are going through. Champs (positive leaders), on the other hand, look at what they are going TO. Don't look at the struggles, obstacles, or failures as something that you just have to get through. Focus on the big picture, the goal, the vision and you'll be amazed at how the distractions disappear.

Here's something to memorize:
Keep your eye on the prize
and you will soon realize
how the bumblebee flies.

Please remember that.

You're the best and I love you.

To Your Success,

Michael

Sunday is Son-Day May 2, 2010

Hi Max!

We had our Sunday is Son-Day fun day today. After 8 flights in 11 days, daddy was home and we were ready to spend some time together! Today, we decided to run some errands and part of the fun was a trip to Nebraska! Not the state, but Nebraska Furniture Mart the largest furniture store on the planet (I think). This place is HUGE! We didn't even see all of it! But you got to drive this groovy car. You weren't satisfied with just riding. You wanted to drive. =0)

Plus, you took the time to do some computer work for them. Overall, it was a great day. Best of all, it was a day together.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Your first block walk...

Hi Max!

We went for our first "walk" today. We'd played on the back deck, the front drive, and the patio, but never taken a walk to the park. I wanted to put you in the stroller, but you wanted to walk. Well, you went straight from walking to running and I walked fast to keep up. You were so excited to be out and walking. Every few steps you would stop and say "Car", "Ball", or something I couldn't understand. You walked on the sidewalk for a while and then we got to the corner. You got down on your hands and knees in the grass - it was like you were discovering the look and feel of grass for the first time. We kept walking.

You decided that walking on the grass was a lot softer than the concrete sidewalk. You kept your balance for the most part, but we walked nearly 1/4-mile before you finally let me pick you up and put you in the stroller. We went the last 1/4 mile and went to the park.

You immediately wanted out of the stroller. You nearly sprinted to the play area. Then you saw the three kids playing and you stopped in your tracks. You watched them so intently for several seconds. Seeing that it was safe and that they were having fun, you trudged in. You slid on the slide and climbed up the ladder. You ran around in circles in the mulch and discovered the rough texture and crumbling nature of a piece of mulch.

When it was time to go, you decided to make a beeline for the trees. You waddled over to the trees and then stopped to reach out and touch a pine tree. It pricked your hand and you let out a "Oh!" and looked at me with your big blue eyes. You recovered quickly and bent over to pick up a pine cone. There, squatted down for several seconds, you looked that pine cone over like it was the most interesting thing in the world. You ran your hand along the edges, you turned it upside down, rolled it in your hands, and then shook it like a rattle. Your curiosity was mesmerizing. I just stopped and watched.

I realized that I am discovering things in life for the second time. I am living again through your eyes, hands, and ears. You made me stop to re-discover the pine cone (and in fact, I kept it... as a memento of our first walk to the park). You made me stop and smell the roses today. I thank you for that. I need more of that and today was a perfect day for us to take a little walk. I can't wait for the next one.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Just wanted to stop by to say, "I love you!"

Hi Max!

You're getting so big! I hadn't written in a while - so much more fun to chat with you in person! I just wanted to stop by to say, "I love you." You have no idea how much I love you. You are so special to me. You were in this nice, peaceful daze tonight before you went to bed. You were t a l k i n g s o o o o o s l o w l y and you were so c o m f o r t a b l e. =0) It was such a joy to see you so peaceful and content.

I just had to write. You're beautiful, you're my son, and I love you. =0)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)