Every one of us is getting older, which is a natural process. Time is constantly moving on, second by second. Nothing can stop it, but what we can do is use our time properly; that is in our hands. Whether we believe in a spiritual tradition or not, we need to use our time meaningfully. If over days, weeks, months and years, we have used our time in a meaningful way – when our last day comes, we’ll be happy, we’ll have no regrets.

1. What you do matters – they are watching and learning.

2. You cannot be too loving – this means true affection and not giving material possessions in exchange for love.

3. Be involved in your child’s life – yes this takes and time and it’s hard work. It could mean rethinking and rearranging your priorities.

4. Adapt your parenting to fit your child – just like you are not your parents, your child is not you. Adjust to thier needs.

5. Establish and set rules – A rule of thumb is to be able to answer these three questions: Where is my child? Who is with my child? What is my child doing?

6. Foster your child’s independence – parents mistakenly take their child’s independence with rebelliousness or disobedience. Learn to see and work with their independence.

7. Be consistent – Make your authority based on consistent wisdom and not on power. Your child will challenge it less.

8. Avoid harsh discipline – this is like putting in bad fuel in your car – it will backfire.

9. Explain your rules and decisions – They don’t have the priorities, judgment or experience that you have so teach them.

10. Treat your child with respect – What goes around comes around. Give your child the same courtesies you would give to anyone else.

If you are going to achieve excellence in big
things, you develop the habit in little matters.
Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing
attitude.

Colin Powell

Excellence is in the details. Give attention to
the details and excellence will come.

Perry Paxton

Excellence can be obtained if you:
…care more than others think is wise;
…risk more than others think is safe;
…dream more than others think is practical;
…expect more than others think is possible.

Anonymous

Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy.
— Tony Robbins:

Over the years, I’ve been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept: the Ant Philosophy. I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy.

Here is the first part: Ants never quit. That’s a good philosophy. If they’re headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they’ll look for another way. They’ll climb over. They’ll climb under. They’ll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy-to never quit looking for a way to get where you’re supposed to go.

Second, ants think winter all summer. That’s an important perspective. You can’t be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants gather their winter food in the middle of summer.

An ancient story says, “Don’t build your house on the sand in the summer.” Why do we need that advice? Because it is important to think ahead. In the summer, you’ve got to think storm. You’ve got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun.

The third part of the Ant Philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, “This won’t last long; we’ll soon be out of here.” And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they’ll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can’t wait to get out.

And here’s the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the “all-you-possibly-can” philosophy.

Wow, what a great philosophy to have-the ant philosophy. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.