"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source." - Anais Ninn

Life is a like a book. Every day is a chapter with a beginning and an end. The good news is that you are the author of your book. You get to decide how your day will begin and how it will end. Yes, there are those pesky things called Surprises which will sometimes surface and throw you completely off guard. It's what you do with them though that matter. Before you get angry, ask yourself what your role is in the situation. Change your perspective. Say for example, you've asked your spouse or child a dozen times to do something for you and you start your day with the discovery that it still has not been done. You have a choice: You can get angry at him/her for not doing it, OR you can change your perspective and think about what YOUR role is. Are you asking too much? Is he/she not feeling well? Is he/she depressed? Stressed out? Preoccupied with personal issues? Perhaps there's a good reason that he/she failed to do the task or perhaps, he/she just needs some of your attention. If you can't find a reason, try to find a solution that is fun and creative. Did something need fixing? Place the tool box in front of the coffee maker with a happy face on it and perhaps even a card with a promise of a "reward" if it gets done. Is it a mess that needs to get cleaned up? Try this: On a large sticky note, write the following:

"Messes, messes, the (room, house, garage, etc) is a askew

The bugs are a'coming, the rodents are too.  

Please be a sport and do your fair share, 

And when you are done, you'll find a (hug, smile, reward, whatever you think will motivate them) waiting there."  

Place the sticky note somewhere obvious where they are sure to see it. The bathroom mirror or refrigerator are good choices, then sit back and enjoy their response. Fun reminders work best because they take the conflict of the equation and allow for a non-confrontation dialogue.  The old adage, "you get more flies with honey than vinegar" is surprisingly accurate.

So make today a great chapter. Do something fun, something creative, something honest and something helpful. Above all do and be your best and tomorrow's chapter will be even better than today's!

V. K. Lindsey:  http://sites.google.com/site/vklindsey