Goal for the Day: Be a Star

You don’t have to be famous or wealthy in order to be a star. Any of us can approach the world each day as if we’re a celebrity.


Does that mean demolishing hotel rooms and running over valets? No. That means that we can all go into the world knowing that we’re each remarkable in our own way. It means looking and acting your very best. And, it especially means that we have the ability to share our gifts with those around us. Part of being a star means giving of yourself—give your time and your talents to make the world more comfortable, more enjoyable and more fulfilling.

You may not get a marker on the walk of fame or put your footprints in cement, but you’ll always be remembered as a generous and exceptional person.

Goal for the Day: Focus on the Good

The negative facts that creep up on is every day are hard to deny. From major catastrophes to minor inconveniences, we have a lot that we must deal with on a daily basis. But, through it all, though they’re quieter, we have a lot of happy moments that need celebrating.


Today, try to silence the chatter of the negative and focus on those good things that life brings to your door each moment. When you examine each day, it’s easy to see that the collection of minor triumphs is always far greater than the few setbacks.

Goal for the Day: Accept Unexpected Challenges

King George VI with a friend
The Royal Collection

Just as George VI had to accept unexpected responsibilities that he didn’t really want, so must all of us adapt to circumstances and set aside out own desires for the greater good. Very often, life tosses us a surprise which can mean a total change of life. To deny these challenges would be doing a disservice to ourselves and the people that we love.

We can take on these obstacles without losing the parts of ourselves which make us unique. Face each challenge in your own special way and make the best of it. While you may falter along the path, you will always be triumphant simply by trying.

Goal for the Day: Back to Basics

Our pets instinctually know how to take care of themselves. They listen to what their bodies are telling them. If it itches, scratch it. If you’re hungry, eat. If you’re sleepy, take a nap. Dogs and cats don’t worry about things that aren’t immediate. Squirrels need barking at. Bellies need rubbing. Water wants drinking.


I’ve always contended that we can learn a lot from our pets. While we have a good many other things which need our attention, a dog’s simple philosophy carries considerable weight. If we’re satisfying out basic needs as mammals, we’re putting ourselves in a better position to deal with our other human responsibilities.

So, today, listen to your body. Scratch what itches. Be glad when your people come home and, always, remember the simple joys of life.

Goal for the Day: Find Your Symbol

Within each of our homes is an object which represents your life. From a particular work of art to a piece of furniture, there’s some iconic object which is a symbol of your life, your work and your values.


Around here, there are several pieces which are iconic of the home of Joseph and Bertie. The mother-of-pearl inlaid center table is a staple of the front hall and has become a representative of the house. The painting by Alexandre Marie Guillemin (seen on the masthead of the site) is symbolic of my work with Stalking the Belle Époque, the portrait of the mysterious woman in blue by Kollard represents my writing. The Royal Souvenirs are evidence of my interests and passions.

Even Bertie has iconic possessions. The stuffed cow that’s as long as he is and the squeaky parrot known as “The Lory” both represent his personality and interests.

Today, find those iconic items which you feel most represent who you are and what you cherish. Give them a place of prominence and importance in your home so that each time you see them, you will remember what matters the most to you.

Goal for the Day: Stand Up For Yourself

Each day, we encounter people who would have us bend to their wants. Sometimes, there’s no reason not to cooperate with the people around us. However, other times, we need to assert our own rights and protect our own interests.


Like many of you, I spent many years working in an environment wherein my “superiors” and coworkers insisted that their “truth” was the only way of life. Any attempt to point them in the direction of reality was met with derision and emotional manipulation. Thankfully, I’m no longer involved with any of that foolishness, and it’s a wonderful feeling. However, when you’re in a situation like that, how do you deal with the people who are stripping you of your dignity in exchange for a paycheck?

Sometimes, you’re not able to assert yourself, but you can always stand up for yourself in a polite and professional way. If your livelihood is threatened by the irrational whims of those around you, you can always preserve your dignity by stating, “I’ll do what you insist, but I don’t agree with it.” Try though they might, no one can fault you for that. All the while, you can actively be seeking another path for your life—a path which will remove you from that tyranny. After all, sometimes the best way to stand up for yourself is to stand alone.

Goal for the Day: Embrace Quiet

We’re surrounded by noise. Constant media stimulation has made us accustomed to a never-ending barrage of data. Not only do our ears absorb noise, but our eyes do, too. We are always accosted by some kind of stimulus. However, sometimes, the best thing for us is a little peace and quiet.


Today, make some time to distance yourself from the onslaught of information that you usually face. Turn off the television, the iPad and the phone and embrace some quiet. Reacquaint yourself with your home, pets and family. You’ll soon remember that the best stimulation is what you already have close by.

Goal for the Day: Find Unity

We’re a society of splintered people who communicate via devices instead of faces. Our speech is reduced to 140 characters, abbreviations and a lack of personal depth. Today, take some time to find unity with your community.


Take a walk around your neighborhood. Get to know your community. See who lives around you. Make a point to visit local businesses and see what your corner of the world has to offer.

It’s also a great day to find unity with yourself. Examine what you think and feel. Try to reconcile your differing thoughts. Sometimes black and white really do come together to make a beautiful shade of gray.

Goal for the Day: Forgive Your Enemies (Reposted from May 12, 2011)

To say that we have real “enemies” is rather melodramatic. Few of us have a Dickensian nemesis these days, but we all have people who have treated us poorly and made our lives difficult and unpleasant. The first order of business, when possible, is to remove yourself from these people. Sometimes it’s not possible to do so because of circumstances, but when the opportunity arises to extract yourself from the companionship of negative forces, it’s always preferable.


The next step is to find a way to forgive the offending party. No, you shouldn’t forget what they’ve done, and you if you’ve successfully avoided them, there’s no point in finding them again to give them an apology. However, letting go of the hurt and resentment is an excellent way to lighten your own burden and free your spirit.

Object of the Day: “Mac,” by Cecil Aldin, 1912 (Reposted from Thursday, May 12, 2011)

Several years ago, when my Bertie came to live here with me, I purchased a series of loose pages which had been extracted from an antique book. I wasn’t sure what they were, but they featured beautiful drawings of a West Highland White Terrier in the style of Herbert Dicksee. I wasn’t sure who had drawn the images or who had written the book—or even what the book was. But, I loved the images and framed them to hang around the room where Bertie keeps his toys and dishes.


A little terrier-like investigation revealed that the pages were from an 1912 book called Mac with images and text by Cecil Aldin. Published in England, the book is written in Scottish dialect and follows the adventures of “Mac,” a Westie and his other canine friends.

Aldin, a contemporary of Dicksee who drew images of Caesar for the King Edward VII book “Where’s Master?”, was born in Berkshire in 1870—the son of a Kensington home builder. He studied under the well-known illustrators John Leech and Randolph Caldecott and became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1898.

These charming illustrations capture the true spirit of a Westie—curious, stubborn, playful and bright. I appreciate these pictures because they remind me of Bertie. This is one of my favorites. One of Bertie’s games is to steal my shoes—sometimes right off of my feet—and hide them. Shoes, to Bertie, represent the act of my leaving, so they are his natural enemy. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught him in this very pose.

Goal for the Day: Make a Suitable Marriage

No. I’m not talking about finding a human mate. I’m referring to the combination of decorative items in your home. If you’re looking for a way to display your favorite possessions that has visual impact, you should consider combining items in artful ways.


For example, this antique Mercury Glass vase is quite handsome on its own, but when combined with a crystal cake stand, it is given greater visual importance and weight. The vase—being a tasty confection—looks great atop the cake stand, and the unusual marriage of items is eye catching.

Today, as you unwind after your day, look through your collections and find items which you normally wouldn’t think of marrying and see how they fit together. It’s a fun way to relax and change your décor at the same time.

Goal for the Day: Figure Out What Relaxes You

We’re a society of people who are always “on.” We are called upon to be ever-alert, ever-vigiliant and ever-engaged. But, sometimes, we need to be “off.” A human body and mind can only go so long without rest.


Because we’re so accustomed to constant stimulation, very often, we forget how to relax. We bombard ourselves with continuous information which can make our minds race. Today, do yourself a favor and remove yourself from some of the barrage of feelings and actions which we face each day. Remember how to relax. Spend some time revisiting the ways in which you can relax. Moderate exercise, arts and crafts, music, reading, meditation. Give yourself a chance to breathe so that, tomorrow, you can be at the top of your game.

Goal for the Day: Accept What You Can’t Change

Some days, it seems that nothing goes your way. Perhaps you’ve been struggling to reach a particular goal and it’s “so-close” but, for some reason, you just can’t reach it. Evaluate the situation. Often, there are many factors that are within your power to influence. You should always try all you can to get closer to your goal. However, sometimes circumstances just get in your way.


When that happens, what can you do? You can tear yourself apart with wishes and grief, but that’s not the most productive way to react. A better route is to keep trying, all the while accepting those circumstances that are out of your control. Instead of weighing yourself down with angst and panic, try to find solutions or alternatives and, if all else fails, the old adage really does hold true—“good things come to those who wait.”

No situation is ever truly ideal. But, it’s up to us to find the happiest path on even the rockiest of roads.

Goal for the Day: Commemorate Your Milestones

While most of us don’t have the opportunity to celebrate fifty years as Sovereign of a major world empire, we can celebrate the small victories that we achieve each year, and even each day. Whether it’s seniority in a job or the anniversary of moving into a new home, each week brings reminders of our triumphs. These can be honored and observed in a variety of ways.


Whether you cut some flowers from your garden to create a pleasing arrangement in honor of the day or finally begin that scrapbook you’ve been talking about, by doing something to remind yourself of the wonderful things you’ve accomplished, you’re also giving yourself a chance to realize even more great moments.

Goal for the Day: Remember Mother’s Day

The Nest
John Everett Millais
The Lady Lever Art Gallery

Mother’s Day, in the U.S., is this Sunday. It’s a wonderful time to remember all that your mother has done for you from giving you life to guiding you through it. Make sure to honor your mother on this special day.


If you’re not able to be with your mother on Mother’s Day, there are still a variety of things that you can do to honor her or her memory. Today, if you can, take some time to look through old family photos and remember the happy times spent with your family. By remembering where we come from, we’ll have a better sense of where we’re going.

Goal for the Day: Allow Yourself the Opportunity to Explore

We all have interests and, in our own ways, we’re all experts in a particular field. So often, the details of daily life prevent us from exploring our fields of interest. However, it’s important to foster your expertise and give yourself a chance to learn as much as you can about the things which most excite you.


Make time each day to take a break from your many responsibilities and explore your interests. While some priorities are more pressing, increasing your level of knowledge should always be near the top of the list.