"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength." -- Charles Spurgeon
Indeed, too much worrying and not enough strategic planning can deplete our minds of the strengths we possess.
Set a goal and some implementating strategies.
Worry can spur us into action, though.
As Larry McMurtry so aptly wrote, "Optimism is a form of courage."
Optimism is the best philosophy in contending with adversity.
But too much worrying isn't the best answer to action and reaction.
Overcoming adversity involves faith, courage and an optimistic game plan.
So keep the faith. Pray. Stay focused. Be courageous. Make plans and implement them.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Don't worry, be happy
I'm an avid worrier.
When things don't go according to original plans, I fret.
I have a tinge of paranoia ingrained in my cranial attic.
But I've been blessed recently.
My prayers of contrition and seeking help on earth for my worries have been answered.
Last week a homeless man who I befriended once and let sleep on my couch one night returned to rent an apartment.
His grandfather passed last Christmas and his mother received a very healthful settlement.
Instead of giving him money, she told him she would pay for a year's rent.
So because of my benevolence he's returning the favor and will be paying $3,950 in pre-paid rent, plus pro-rated August rent, $15 application fee and $200 security deposit. That's $4,269 in one day.
Not bad for a rookie manager.
Maybe I'll be remembered for the sloppy manager who still manages to rent out apartments.
My gentle and agape spirit shines forth again.
This is definitely reciprocal altruism in action and reaction.
Bless the Lord and praise God for bestowing this very opportunistic venture on my door step.
When things don't go according to original plans, I fret.
I have a tinge of paranoia ingrained in my cranial attic.
But I've been blessed recently.
My prayers of contrition and seeking help on earth for my worries have been answered.
Last week a homeless man who I befriended once and let sleep on my couch one night returned to rent an apartment.
His grandfather passed last Christmas and his mother received a very healthful settlement.
Instead of giving him money, she told him she would pay for a year's rent.
So because of my benevolence he's returning the favor and will be paying $3,950 in pre-paid rent, plus pro-rated August rent, $15 application fee and $200 security deposit. That's $4,269 in one day.
Not bad for a rookie manager.
Maybe I'll be remembered for the sloppy manager who still manages to rent out apartments.
My gentle and agape spirit shines forth again.
This is definitely reciprocal altruism in action and reaction.
Bless the Lord and praise God for bestowing this very opportunistic venture on my door step.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Coping
A squib in the newspaper caught my eye and my heart.
Marrie Harris, a New York City ad executive, said she didn't have any cash when a homeless man asked for some, so she let out-of-work real-estate man Jay Valentine use her American Express platinum card instead, adding that he returned it after buying deodarant, body wash, cigarettes and water for $25.
To trust a homeless man with an American Express card is overwhelming.
But what's most significant is that the homeless man only spent $25.
Yes, he bought a pack of cigarettes, but still he didn't overindulge.
Just helping out in a pecuniary way can bolster one's low self-esteem.
In other glad moment which turned out to be sad, one of our tenants helped me Sunday and spent eight hours getting our apartments market ready.
I paid him more than we originally bargained for but he was steadfast and dutiful.
Alas, he went to court yesterday and the judge sent him to jail because he said he hadn't been doing his community service.
According to his wife he did the community service but there was a communication miscue.
All we can do is help and hope for the best.
Marrie Harris, a New York City ad executive, said she didn't have any cash when a homeless man asked for some, so she let out-of-work real-estate man Jay Valentine use her American Express platinum card instead, adding that he returned it after buying deodarant, body wash, cigarettes and water for $25.
To trust a homeless man with an American Express card is overwhelming.
But what's most significant is that the homeless man only spent $25.
Yes, he bought a pack of cigarettes, but still he didn't overindulge.
Just helping out in a pecuniary way can bolster one's low self-esteem.
In other glad moment which turned out to be sad, one of our tenants helped me Sunday and spent eight hours getting our apartments market ready.
I paid him more than we originally bargained for but he was steadfast and dutiful.
Alas, he went to court yesterday and the judge sent him to jail because he said he hadn't been doing his community service.
According to his wife he did the community service but there was a communication miscue.
All we can do is help and hope for the best.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Take a chance
"Some men see things as they are and say why? But I dream things that never were and say why not?"
Robert Kennedy borrowed that one from some other great thinker.
That scenario applies to me and Henry Ho.
Henry inquisitively approached me one morning after we had slept on the Ole Main lawn, and said, "I'd like to do something but I just don't know what to do."
I really didn't have an extravagant game plan to impart to him, nor did I foresee the future.
But a spark of hope came through when Henry took me and Bob Wright out to breakfast at The Rolling Pin.
Not only did that meal fill me up physically but it eventually filled me up spiritually.
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." -- Proverbs 11:23-24.
Indeed I gave freely when I was prospering and helping others cope with life.
But eventually poverty intervened.
Then a generous man aided me in my transformation from tent dwelling to an apartment manager's position.
So I'm refreshed thanks to the kindness of a Christian.
Robert Kennedy borrowed that one from some other great thinker.
That scenario applies to me and Henry Ho.
Henry inquisitively approached me one morning after we had slept on the Ole Main lawn, and said, "I'd like to do something but I just don't know what to do."
I really didn't have an extravagant game plan to impart to him, nor did I foresee the future.
But a spark of hope came through when Henry took me and Bob Wright out to breakfast at The Rolling Pin.
Not only did that meal fill me up physically but it eventually filled me up spiritually.
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." -- Proverbs 11:23-24.
Indeed I gave freely when I was prospering and helping others cope with life.
But eventually poverty intervened.
Then a generous man aided me in my transformation from tent dwelling to an apartment manager's position.
So I'm refreshed thanks to the kindness of a Christian.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Helping any ole way I can
Lately it's been my pleasure to accommodate six sets of new tenants.
They're so excited to have their own space to call home.
It almost brought tears to my eyes to see a young man and his mother see his new furniture which arrived yesterday.
His mother said he was very excited to be moving into his own apartment.
Another couple are moving in to get closer to work.
So, in some small way I'm able to help folks enjoy the comforts of their own home.
It's appeasing and cathartic after all the stress I've endured lately.
They're so excited to have their own space to call home.
It almost brought tears to my eyes to see a young man and his mother see his new furniture which arrived yesterday.
His mother said he was very excited to be moving into his own apartment.
Another couple are moving in to get closer to work.
So, in some small way I'm able to help folks enjoy the comforts of their own home.
It's appeasing and cathartic after all the stress I've endured lately.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
simplicity
The simplicity of complexity.
Sometimes we blow things out of proportion.
We get bogged down on trying to be perfect.
I want to be a perfect apartment manager but I can't figure out how to please everyone.
I can finally balance my books but I can't make every apartment market ready to please our quality control.
I can rent an apartment and please a new tenant because they want their own space.
But the specifications of compliance for the complexity of making managers happy wouldn't fulfill their expectations.
But the simplicity of making a tenant happy is easy.
All they desire is a place to live long and prosper.
I can deal with reality.
Let it be.
Just try and make the tenants happy.
Simply spoken. Make the people who rent from you happy campers.
Sometimes we blow things out of proportion.
We get bogged down on trying to be perfect.
I want to be a perfect apartment manager but I can't figure out how to please everyone.
I can finally balance my books but I can't make every apartment market ready to please our quality control.
I can rent an apartment and please a new tenant because they want their own space.
But the specifications of compliance for the complexity of making managers happy wouldn't fulfill their expectations.
But the simplicity of making a tenant happy is easy.
All they desire is a place to live long and prosper.
I can deal with reality.
Let it be.
Just try and make the tenants happy.
Simply spoken. Make the people who rent from you happy campers.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Narcissism
Who is the world's greatest narcissist?
Was it Nero who fiddled while Rome burned?
Was it Kim Jong Il who published "The Popularity of Kim Jong Il"?
We all love ourselves but Lebron James is my candidate for the most narcissistic person I don't love anymore.
Seven or eight years ago he seemed like a nice guy.
But my credo "Nice Guys Finish With Class" won't synchronize with Lebron's protracted announcement he was going to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat.
LeBron had a full hour to talk about the Boys and Girls Club which was supposed to be the beneficiary of this production.
With idolizing boys and girls in the audience eagerly awaiting this stupendous decision. LeBron focused on himself.
When the interviewer finally got to a question about whether it might be hard to share the spotlight with Wade and Bosh, LeBron responded, "It's not about sharing. You know, it's about everybody having their own spotlight."
It's not about sharing!
Gadzooks!
So, I idolize George Washington Carver.
He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.
He spurned a $100,000 offer from Henry Ford.
He preferred to be creative and invent peanut butter.
So which would you rather do, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and thank George Washington Carver for his altruistic gift to mankind, or worship LeBron James who doesn't want to share. He just wants everybody having their own spotlight.
Albeit, James was the son of an ex-con who was never there.
Now he conned the whole sports community into believing he might be loyal to Cleveland.
Nope. He's not about sharing or caring.
He's the most narcissitic member of the Narcissitic Basketball Association.
Was it Nero who fiddled while Rome burned?
Was it Kim Jong Il who published "The Popularity of Kim Jong Il"?
We all love ourselves but Lebron James is my candidate for the most narcissistic person I don't love anymore.
Seven or eight years ago he seemed like a nice guy.
But my credo "Nice Guys Finish With Class" won't synchronize with Lebron's protracted announcement he was going to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat.
LeBron had a full hour to talk about the Boys and Girls Club which was supposed to be the beneficiary of this production.
With idolizing boys and girls in the audience eagerly awaiting this stupendous decision. LeBron focused on himself.
When the interviewer finally got to a question about whether it might be hard to share the spotlight with Wade and Bosh, LeBron responded, "It's not about sharing. You know, it's about everybody having their own spotlight."
It's not about sharing!
Gadzooks!
So, I idolize George Washington Carver.
He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.
He spurned a $100,000 offer from Henry Ford.
He preferred to be creative and invent peanut butter.
So which would you rather do, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and thank George Washington Carver for his altruistic gift to mankind, or worship LeBron James who doesn't want to share. He just wants everybody having their own spotlight.
Albeit, James was the son of an ex-con who was never there.
Now he conned the whole sports community into believing he might be loyal to Cleveland.
Nope. He's not about sharing or caring.
He's the most narcissitic member of the Narcissitic Basketball Association.
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