Do you know someone for whom the holidays are not merry, and
a new year does not inspire hope nor a fresh start?  Several recent incidents reminded me of how
enormous a role despair and sadness play in the hearts and lives of many, many
people.  They often see little or nothing
to celebrate.  They may even cling to
desperation.

We mustn’t presume that because we may have a supportive family
or close friends or strong faith that others do also.  Especially in these times of insane
divisiveness, we all do better when we take even a moment to encourage someone
else.

In my book “Encouragement: How to Be and Find the Best” I remind readers (and Audiobook listeners) that lives are greatly improved when we “trade in our cynical hopelessness for cynical hopefulness.  If we must be cynical, choose hopeful over hopeless.”  Interesting thought since hard knocks throughout our lives impact us whether we recognize it or not.

Fairness in Life is rarely dealt out fairly.  I strongly believe we were all born to be
what I call Encouragers.  What we un-learned
as we grew up can be relearned.

In 2020, I hope all of us feel confident enough to take
ourselves on as worthy projects.  Let’s
all commit to doing all we can to be more encouraging and to surround ourselves
with Encouragers.

For anyone who has not yet seen the “Encouragement” book, Amazon is letting me do a special Kindle Countdown Deal on the ebook edition.  (Sorry, but I couldn’t discount the paperback or Audiobook editions, but they’re all on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Encouragement-How-Be-Find-Best/dp/1939220475)  Anyone who buys the ebook edition on Monday, January 6, 2020 will save 84%!  True!  The book will only cost $.99 on that day.  Then, as the week continues, it will inch up, $1 per day back to the full retail price of $5.99.  So, Monday is the BIG savings day. 

If you know anyone who could benefit by a little or a lot of
encouragement, please share the word before the Countdown begins!