The Value of Appreciation

It’s tax time. Instead of allowing paying taxes to be a burden, let’s look at ways to see it as a blessing. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., proclaimed that, “taxes are the price we pay for civilized society.”

I recently attended a Get Motivated seminar with renowned speakers like Zig Ziglar, Tim Timmons and Krish Dhanam. Krish is from India. As a child he dreamed of coming to the United States to live the American dream. Upon arrival he was disheartened with the pervading attitude of complaints and ingratitude. To the axiom of “the grass is always greener on the other side,” Krish said that a good eighty -percent of the world’s population knows the harsh reality that there is no grass on the other side. Krish noted that American’s complain about having nothing to complain about. I wanted to dismiss this assessment despite an inner agreement of conviction and sadness.

Garland and I had the wonderful opportunity of taking a cruise to Veracruz and Progresso, Mexico. When it came time came to debark, there was a rush to exit the ship back into the rat race. It takes a long time to wait for 2000 tourists plus luggage to go through the narrow hallways and down a gangplank, and even more time at customs. The complaints were abundant. I whispered a prayer for those weary souls who vacationed without being re-created. I also said a prayer for me to be patient with the impatient and to not be judgmental of the critical.

In years past I had the awesome privilege of being Education/Outreach Minister at Victorious Life Church in Waco, TX. Although I was staff and had a regular salary, income tax was not withheld. I set my own schedule and operated like contract labor. Having been self-employed before, I knew the value of deductions and kept accurate records of mileage, travel and entertainment expenses. When my CPA did our taxes, these deductions were not applicable, stating that since I had an office at the church away from my home-office those items were “un-reimbursed employee expenses.” Imagine my shock at owing a few thousand dollars immediately to the IRS.

I sat quietly to think about this predicament before responding. My CPA voiced surprise at my calm acceptance of this pronouncement of deductions annulled and funds owed.

Here is my thought process:

• Arguing and angering will not change the situation
• We have good credit
• The high road is always the smoothest road
• I had a responsibility to find out if I truly was contract labor and had tax privileges rather than assuming what someone else said was accurate
• I have a job that I love, working with employees that I love, being able to help others
  I am thankful to be an American

I continued to work in that position for five more years until starting my own consulting and training business in 1999. In the grand scheme of things, living in a country with income tax is a small price to pay for our freedom, abundance and many blessings.

DON’T COPE, OVERCOME:

“In all things give thanks and for all things give thanks.” (Ephesians 5:20 and I Thessalonians 5:18)

“WHAT? In all things and for all things give thanks. Surely you jest! Are you telling me that I am supposed to be thankful for hardships, rejections, toil, death and taxes? Are you telling me that it is God’s will for sickness, handicaps, accidents, rape and murder?”

I am suggesting that a thankful spirit for the mundane or the ordinary sets us up to be healthier and happier and to avert discouragements and disorders. I am suggesting that it is God’s will for us to be thankful – not for the difficulty - but even in the midst of difficulties. I am suggesting that a thankful spirit in spite of the devastating results of a sinful world sets us up to overcome even in times of tragedy.

TESTIMONIALS: What others say about Mona’s seminars

“Mona is multi-talented. I have listened to other speakers and looked at my watch, hoping they would soon be finished. But Mona is so interesting, as well as encouraging class participation, that I am never wishing it would end. She is informative, witty, smart, and very sincere.” NJ

“I can see things in my life as your speak and can instantly begin to apply these principles and solutions to my problems. Your seminars are very effective and fun as well. As you said, 'Learning is fun' and I had fun learning.” Seminar participant

ASK MONA: Insights into perplexing questions

Q: “How can I develop an ‘attitude of gratitude’?” Seminar participant

A: The first step to any life-style change is to become aware of a need for change. Actively pay attention to how you respond to all situations and to feedback from others regarding how you respond. Monitor your thought processes: do you think like a victim or a victor? Monitor your self-talk: is it negative and depreciating or positive and problem solving? Look for life-lessons to be learned from difficulties and allow character qualities to be developed. Over time, this outlook can become the foundation, not only for a pleasant attitude, but also for wisdom.

Better Late Than Never

Where does the time go? Can you believe it is March already and daffodils are blooming? Seems like yesterday we were making, and breaking new years resolutions. With everything green and growing, seems like yet another opportunity to make or renew commitments. Here are a few thoughts to ensure your personal and business success.

Be realistic about the time frame needed for accomplishment. Perhaps your plans have not materialized because you stopped too soon. The resolve was for accomplishment within a calendar year. On Good Morning America, Robin Roberts and Dianne Sawyer are just now getting around to beginning to fulfill their new years resolutions. Robin’s goal was to organize her dressing room, a feat that could be accomplished within a few days of intense work. Diane’s goal is to fit into a smaller skirt size, a task that by its very nature requires a deeper commitment and longer time frame.

Give yourself room to grow. If your goal is not beyond your reach, then it is not a true goal. The distance between what you are already doing and what you want to do is called growth. Life is about tension. We need challenges that are invigorating; yet not so challenging they are frustrating. Yet, the distance between challenging and frustrating is called growth.
I have planted bulbs and wildflower seeds. In order to grow they need good soil, nutrients, water and sun. What do you need in order to grow? As the seedlings grow, they need to be thinned and replanted or discarded. What needs to be pruned from your life that will allow better growth?

Develop tenacity that overcomes tiredness, discouragement and unbelief. Suppose you were given a bucket of 100 oysters with the promise of finding two pearls. Would you take on the task of opening them? Most would readily exclaim, “Sure! Give them to me!”
In theory that sounds wonderful. You eagerly begin, but oysters are tough little critters to open. You open twenty and not one pearl. Thirty - and still no pearl. Forty, fifty, sixty, and no pearl! Not one. Not even a hint of one forming. Tiredness takes over. Discouragement sets in. Unbelief rears its ugly head. All too many people give up in despair.

Take heart! There are forty oysters to go. See the experience thus far as strengthening your muscles and resolve for throughput. To open 100 oysters requires personal growth. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. And it better late than never.

DON’T COPE, OVERCOME: Remember, it is better late than never. A goal set and accomplished. An expression of thanks given. An apology rendered. A word of encouragement spoken. A relationship mended. A bucket of oysters tacked.

TESTIMONIALS: What others say about Mona’s teaching

“As we near the 7th year of our business connection, I just wanted to tell you how valued you are by our staff and students alike. Your congeniality makes everyone feel so welcome and at ease in your workshops and your enthusiasm for life proves infectious!”
Katie Garrett, M.S. Project Director, SSS
McLennan Community College Waco, TX

NEED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER: One of America's most interesting motivational speakers can be enjoyed in person in a presentation tailored to your specific need. Whether organizational, business or civic, you will be entertained with her humor, challenged with her gift of uncommon insights, and motivated by her thought provoking poems. Mona has developed a dramatic series of life changing, solution principles that address the universal needs of people.

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

ASK MONA: Insights into perplexing questions

Dear Mona,

During a routine water baptism, our young, dynamic and much-loved pastor was electrocuted. If God is so good why did he let him be electrocuted? Why did God not intervene?

Sorrowful congregant

Dear Sorrowful,

My deepest concern for you and your fellow parisioners.

May I start off with an insight: When God created the universe, he put certain laws into effect and they work regardless of who uses, or misuses, them. One of those principles is that electricity and water does not mix. This principle was in effect before it was discovered by man and before being harnessed into electricity. Note Benjamin Franklin and the key and the lightening.

God is good and he is fair, even though we may not understand or agree. God gave each of us the wonderful gift of a free will and he chooses to not take our choices away from us regardless of the consequences. To do so would make him a bully. We often question the goodness of God when difficult things happen, but take it for granted at all the blessings received. We do not question him as to why he is so good to us.

It is easy to remember the resurrection and overlook the cross. God did not spare his own son the effects of the ravages of sin. God is so fair, he allows sin to show its ugly head so it will show itself to be what it truly is – evil and destructive.

God is always with us in our suffering and he shares our pain, even though he does not try to
explain it. Never forget the suffering Jesus went through and how God’s heart was broken. To deny suffering is to deny who Jesus is.

May you rest in God's comfort,
Mona