Veterans Day pays tribute to American veterans of all wars — especially those veterans still living. So spend some time this holiday honoring their service to our country. Fly the American flag in front of your home. Teach your children what the holiday means and why we celebrate it. Encourage them to send notes or cards to veterans you know, or those in hospitals and veterans’ homes. Volunteer with your kids in...

Americans love to indulge on Thanksgiving. Can’t you just taste that juicy turkey and dressing? Well, there are people who won’t get to enjoy even the first bite of turkey. Maybe they’re unmarried and don’t have any family nearby. Maybe they’re a single mom with three kids and can’t afford all the fixings. Or maybe they’re your elderly neighbor who’s embarrassed to admit they don’t have plans. Think about people...

The world seems to provide us an easy solution to every problem.  Whether it’s organizing our work or schedule plans, we find tons of resources at our fingertips.  However, when it comes to improving our relationships, there’s not always a clear set of steps to take.  Relationships can’t be built overnight.  They take time, effort, and love.  Rather than chase after the next new app, I’d encourage you to build and...

Recently, my friend Danny and I were talking when he suddenly stopped me and asked, “Mark, how are you wired?”  I replied, “Well, I have to write down just about everything to make sure I do it. Let’s put it this way, if I need to encourage someone, I have to write it at the top of my calendar.” Danny couldn’t believe it. “You are really that robotic?” he said. “I never knew that about you.” He then suggested that...

I was dropping my daughter Emily off at school and then going to speak to a group of men about being better dads. On the way, my daughter said, “Dad, why do you teach men to be better fathers when you haven’t mastered it yet?” That hurt, but it was a good question that I wanted to answer. So I said, “I want to share with the men the mistakes I’ve made and the things I’ve learned as a father over the years.” My...

It’s the word "if." Think about it. We spend so much time worrying… "if we lose our house," "if I get sick" or “if I lose my job”… that we can't enjoy life.  Erma Bombeck said, "Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere."  And Dr. Gary Oliver says you can master worry by doing 10 things.  First, face your worries.  Second, pinpoint your worries and anxieties.  Third,...

My guess is that it’s people who accept you as you are…who don’t try to change, critique, or control you.  Have you ever thought about whether other people really like to be around you?  If not, maybe it’s because they feel, right or wrong, that deep down inside, you really don’t love or accept them for who they are…you’re always trying to change the way they do something, you’re constantly criticizing them for...