If a branch from a dead tree falls on my roof, I’m tempted to just think about when it fell and blame the wind.  If I do, the next storm is likely to blow the rest of the tree down and do more damage.  If I really thought about the cause, I would realize that where I slipped was in not cutting the dead tree down and I could correct the problem without any more damage.

I have heard of students who didn’t have their project ready to turn in on a Friday makes excuses that something happen...

“I’ll bet you a nickel that if you give me a dime, I’ll give you a quarter.”  Most people are willing to take me up on this bet, figuring that I’ll end up with fifteen cents in exchange for the quarter.  But, as soon as I get the dime, I say, “Congratulations.  You won the bet,” and hand over a nickel. 

We often get so focused on wanting to be declared the “winner” that we don’t really consider what is being won, and what i...

This quote is from a cartoon character who has a wooden leg.  That doesn’t really make him different from other people; we all have imperfections.  His physical problem may be more visible than some of our other weaknesses, but none of us are good at everything, so there is no reason to be ashamed of who we are or who we are related to.  Shame or pride should only be side effects of what we actually do.

    Movies and TV often spend most of their time building up to a disaster that is averted by a grand heroic action at the end.  That is not the way the real world gets improved.  Most lasting improvements grow from small individual acts that encourage others to take similar actions. 

For example, the federal Fair Housing Act would never have passed Congress unless a large numbers of individuals across the country had formed friendships with members of other racial groups.  It doesn’t tak...