Front Porch Thoughts

Front Porch Thoughts: A Thankful Day, A Thankful Year, A Thankful Life

Steve's-Front-Porch-Thoughts

Here are a few big … and a few small … things for which I’m thankful.

For the good food and cheer I’ll share this Thanksgiving with my next-door neighbors and the many new friends I’ve made from Victor, Montana.
For being born in the United States, where despite the current challenges, is still the best country on Earth. I define best as the place with abundant individual freedom and great personal opportunity to live the life you choose to live.

Front Porch Thoughts: Election 2012 Post Thoughts

Steve's-Front-Porch-Thoughts

I fell asleep watching the election returns. But I did so knowing that my candidate was in trouble. When I awoke, it was over. I was disappointed for about five minutes, and then I concluded that life goes on.
I finished my last post by writing, “The reality is whoever is President should not greatly affect any one individual’s success and happiness. In the United States, we all have an equal opportunity to create the life we want to live. So, whoever wins should not individually matter.”
Here is the good news – I truly believe that. I believe we have the power to create the life we want to live. Individually, we choose our own success and happiness. I am an optimist!
About six weeks ago, a speaker friend said, “It doesn’t matter who wins the election. If the Democrats win then certain types of businesses will do well. And if the Republicans win, then another group of businesses will prosper. Our job is to work for the businesses that are doing well.”
I’m glad I took the time to think through and publicly express why I felt one side offered a better long-term vision for the challenges facing our country. Would not caring be a better strategy? Nah … I’ll still care.
I’m optimistic. I refuse to believe that America’s best days are over.
Now it’s up to both sides to work out the solutions. You guys asked for the job. You have been elected. Now go do the job!
Despite the fact that we are a divided nation, I choose to remain bullish on our future. I believe that both sides agree on 60% … it’s the 20% on each edge where the disagreement occurs. Why not acknowledge the 60% and get started on solving some of our country’s biggest challenges?
In Governor Romney’s graceful concession speech, he said, “This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.” Me too. God bless America!

Next Blog Title:It’s Been 3 Years, 3 Days, 3 Hours, and 3 Minutes
Next Blog Date: November 8, 2012

Front Porch Thoughts ? Happy Thanksgiving!

Steve's-Front-Porch-Thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving 2011 to all! I hope you have a fantastic day spent with family, friends, and good food.
I’m especially grateful this Thanksgiving. More then in years past, this year the Holidays seem to arrive at the perfect time.
Maybe in past years I was so busy running I didn’t want to slow down for the holidays. Or maybe I just took the holidays for granted … and all of the good things that were coming my way. Not very grateful
This year I see more clearly that the goodness and abundance coming my way are things for which I’m truly appreciative. Thank God!

On the lighter side …

Front Porch Thoughts ? Summer 2011

Steve's-Front-Porch-Thoughts ?

In the last post,?I defined front porch thoughts as ?quiet and reflective thoughts. They are thoughts focused on the big picture, the meaning of life, and how life?s thousands of details fit into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.?

And during the last twenty months of regular blogging, I occasionally would deviate from my regular themes of Gumption, Personal Responsibility, and Life Lessons from the movie Forrest Gump and write something specific about my own life?s journey. Sometimes they?ve taken the form of goals for the coming year and sometimes they?ve been an update on a specific aspect of my life. They are all listed as a group under the Steve?s Journey?category.

Today, I?m introducing a new format. Consider it a subcategory of Steve?s Journey. It will simply be called Front Porch Thoughts and will be accompanied by a specific date or time-frame reference. Front porch thoughts will be an opinion, an update on my life, or an update on my business philosophy ? sometimes it will be all three. Sometimes there will be answers ? sometimes there might only be questions.

Sound good?

Here are eleven front porch thoughts as I sit and ponder during the summer of 2011.

Front Porch Thoughts

Front-Porch-Thoughts ?

In my previous post?I wrote, ?It sure is safer if you simply stay seated on the front porch. But, then think about all the living you?d miss.? ?This was a direct reference to Forrest Gump?s run across America. The run started when Forrest (who was deep in thought on the front porch), tired of sitting, stood up, and simply decided to go for a little run.

In that single moment, everything changed.

Front porch thoughts are quiet and reflective thoughts. They are thoughts focused on the big picture, the meaning of life, and how life?s thousands of details fit into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Just before he started to run, Forrest was seated on the front porch deep in thought. He probably felt some despair over Jenny leaving him again. He might have been feeling sorry for himself. He no doubt was wondering, what was the purpose of his life?

From those front porch thoughts, Forrest made a single decision that changed everything. He stood up and started running. The run started to energize him. The run gave him a new purpose. The action of running offered a new perspective that eventually helped him put the past behind him.

Action is what ultimately makes things change. But the front porch thoughts are where the plan for action originates.

What are your front porch thoughts telling you what to do with your life?

Are you willing to follow your front porch thoughts and start running toward your goals?

Or, are you going to stand up and walk back into the safety and mediocrity of your house and television show?

Next Blog Title:? Steve?s Front Porch Thoughts ? Summer 2011

Next Blog Date:? July 28, 2011

Front Porch Thoughts

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