Greet This Day...

Years ago, I punched a cop right in the mouth. No lie. He had said something stupid about my family - trying to get a rise out of me. I rose all right. I rose up out of my chair and said "You need a mother REALLY BAD". And proceeded to punch him square in the mouth.

Ummmmmm. Just so you know, if you punch a cop, you get taken to jail.

He was a dirty cop. He's since been fired for - guess what - abusing his power with women. Following two torn rotator cuffs, multiple bruising, and, um, his "abuse of power" I found myself court ordered to attend an Anger Management class.

I graduated Anger Management (I have a Certificate to prove it). However, I left more angry than when I entered. The class was filled with domestic abusers that need a mommy really bad. I wanted to smack them right in the kisser and at times the teacher and I did NOT see eye to eye.

However, I did learn that anger is a secondary emotion and I have learned to not head directly to that fire. I've learned to take a moment, gather my senses, and figure out what's really going on in the warped mind of Linnette Deason.

When I'm super tired, reading is more than difficult for me. I absolutely-beyond-a-shadow-of-doubt LOVE to read. When the not-being-able-to-read-at-night hammer fell, Mark picked up the slack and began reading out loud to me.

One of our first books was The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. I absolutely loved this book. According to andyandrews.com the premise is:

Forty-six-year-old David Ponder feels like a total failure. Once a high-flying executive in a Fortune 500 company, he now works a part-time, minimum wage job and struggles to support his family. Then, an even greater crisis hits: his daughter becomes ill, and he can’t afford to get her the medical help she needs. When his car skids on an icy road, he wonders if he even cares to survive the crash. 

But an extraordinary experience awaits David Ponder. He finds himself traveling back in time, meeting leaders and heroes at crucial moments in their lives—from Abraham Lincoln to Anne Frank. By the time his journey is over, he has received seven secrets for success—and a second chance.  The Traveler's Gift offers a modern day parable of one man's choices—and the attitudes that make the difference between failure and success.

Let's be honest. I'm not really in to self-help books. When Mark and I treat ourselves to Barnes & Noble, we immediately separate. I begin my own book adventure and he heads straight to the self-help section. The arrogant part of me secretly smiles and I think "Dude, there aren't enough books written to help you."

Turns out, after reading this book, I need a TON of help.

Mark and I loved this book so much, that we moved on to read several books written by Andy. He penned The Seven Decisions and talks about reading several biographies from successfully-great people. He picked the bones of greatness clean and found seven common threads that enabled success.

Og Mandino is mentioned. Have you heard of him? I hadn't. He authors the WILDLY successful book The Greatest Salesman in the World. Mr. Mandino published the book in 1968 and The Greatest Salesman continues to fly from the shelves to this day.

Og writes that in order to get rid of bad habits, they have to be replaced with good. To make an action a habit, the practice must exist for thirty days until it becomes second nature. The new habits are found in scrolls. The book resides on my desk and while pulling up my computer I read my scroll for the day.

I'm only on the first scroll - The Scroll Marked II. The Scroll Mark I is a kinda-sorta guide on how to make the scrolls work for you. The reader is admonished to read the individual scroll three times a day for thirty days before moving to the next.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

That's the first scroll. I'm working VERY hard to replace my anger with love. According to the scroll if you just THINK the words, "they will shine in my eyes, unwrinkled my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and an echo in my voice..."

The challenge moves forward to YOU, my friend. Try this. If you feel like it, go buy the book. It's a SUPER easy read and a mere 111 pages to peruse. You get halted on page 63 as your work begins for 30 days.

If you're not ready to read the book, you don't get out of the challenge. Sorry. Too bad for you.

Greet this day with love. Silently. And to yourself. Love everyone.

I promise. It will change your life.