Our lives are seasoned by tidbits of wisdom blessedly given from elders--particularly from family members.

Sometimes these are annoyingly acknowledged by youths wanting to rush out the door to the next adventure; sometimes met with vacant stares from minds not yet savvy enough to catch the depth of that morsel.

Regardless of how they are accepted, these offerings are planted in our minds and eventually (prayerfully) their profoundness hits us and we STOP and remember the moment...and that "Ohhhhhh! I get it now" look blossoms across our face.

My wife's mother entered the next phase of her life this past week and the "Wannie-isms" abound-- they always have but more so this past week. My most cherished is when faced with a challenge "Do the hard thing first." Thank you Momma.

In my life I'e had passed to me: Find something you LOVE to do and someone willing to pay you for it and you'll never WORK a day in your life. I've lived that.

When dealing with the rumor mill: Believe NONE of what you hear and only HALF of what you see. No doubt.

On necessity of honesty: It takes a thousand truths to make up for a single lie. Whew...heavy.

The one that perhaps resonated the most profoundly is "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all!"

So simple yet poignant. Ron White said it like this "Never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut!" 

Throughout my life, I've loved to people-watch. You can tell so much about someone when you observe them in candor-- funny but also kind of sad at times.

This life is so short, the last 10 minutes is gone...it is life and time you don't get back. Why waste it on anything other than love or joy.

It is all too easy to get caught up in the "keeping up with the Jones" or 'Life is not fair".  Carpe diem-- Seize the day...live the now, LOVE the NOW. Tomorrow is not promised. It is a gift-- that is why it is called "The Present".

I've always encouraged my sons to leave a meeting with a friend with them feeling like "Wow, that was enjoyable!" or "I feel good about myself" or "That was time I really enjoyed". It is simply a matter of effort...make that effort!

My grandfather always reminded me that life is GOOD and when I showed signs of feeling sorry for myself for one reason or another...he quipped "I cried because I had no shoes-- TILL I met a man who had no feet".

Live Happy Happy Joy Joy....carry on.