Being married to a teacher, you learn a lot about students today and how different they are than past generations. The things they say and do are things that we probably had never even heard of during the same time in our lives and you have to wonder how much technology plays a role in that. Have we advanced so far that the mere idea of a casual conversation, self discovered creativity, or imagination and wonder have almost ceased to exist? Have machines replaced social interaction to the point where it has created a generation of socially awkward people, or have we just created a whole new way to communicate while failing to understand the consequences of that communication?

I remember when my mom first learned to text. It was only a few years ago and when I got my first text from her it was strange. Our generation had been exposed to texting for much longer, but not that much. Her generations hold on the aptitude has only been years long in the making. However, the thing I remember most about that experience is when she said to me, “Does this mean I won’t get phone calls anymore”? I promised her that it did not and to keep that promise the phone calls have only increased rather than decreased. Unfortunately, that is not the same with all families.

Last night I was having dinner with one of my friends and colleague and we were talking about greeting cards. Now you know that greeting cards are near and dear to my heart as a part of the Bring Smiles program. She made the statement that she still loves sending and receiving holiday cards and she hopes that they do not go away and get totally replaced by technology. I concurred and noted that the card deliveries have definitely decreased over the last few years and less and less people find the will or energy to keep the time honored tradition going.

Technology has done so much good for society. We can now keep in touch and even see those that are thousands of miles away. We can reach more people in a faster amount of time and deliver messages to a much broader audience. This blog is a great example of that. As with anything though, it is the nefarious and bad use of all this new technology that gives us pause and causes us to question exactly what we are doing to our society.

As long as there are power hungry individuals in the world, and their have been since the beginning of time, it will be incumbent upon those that try to sow good to out pace those individuals. Messages of right, just, compassion, love, peace and the desire for a better world have to become louder, bolder and more numerous. It will be up to us to drown out the drumbeat of war and divisiveness that constantly tears at the fabric of our souls. It will be up to us to ensure that technology remains in its proper place and is used wisely and appropriately. There is a place where the cultivation of the appropriateness of technology starts and that is at home.

Technology may change the world, but the human spirit will be needed to guide us where we ultimately want to go. It starts with the generations now at home and that puts the burden squarely on us to do right by the students and leaders of tomorrow. It is our responsibility to give them the tools they need to make our world as great as it can be. Are you up for the challenge? I know I am.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles and learns today.

Ron

Have you ever heard the saying, “be careful what you say, someone may be listening”? A conversation with my good friend Jann this weekend got me to thinking about this when she said, “sometimes the little things you say can change the trajectory of someone’s life”. I thought back about all my encounters over the years and it was amazing to me how many times I could point out something someone said to me, word for word, even thought it may have been many years ago. Then I thought about the impact that comment had on me and I was astounded how many times I could count when someone’s comment or act had a profound impact on where my life went.

There are many times in our lives where we speak or act without thinking. What we are often unaware of is the impact that may have on others who are the recipients of those words or actions. This is especially the case with children who tend to be particularly emotionally susceptible. While this may seem to be a burdensome responsibility, in fact there is a pretty easy rule to live by – think before you act or speak and consider the consequences of your words or actions.

I have heard from many of you that my daily writings have had a profound impact on some aspect of your life. That makes me feel good. That is exactly why I started morningswithron.com. I try never to portray that what I say should be considered right by everyone. However, my hope is that it creates a little thought provoking in your own life that helps you reevaluate or reconsider something that may be causing you angst for some reason. Or perhaps it serves a reminder of something that you already knew, which is equally beneficial.

I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give someone is a gift, tangible or intangible that does something to nurture their soul. Often, we are all looking for that little something to get us through the day or that little piece of information that helps us with our own daily life struggles. If that is what I am doing with this daily post, then my goal has been met.

Hopefully, today’s post serves as a reminder to be a little more careful with what we say and do. What makes us feel better may not always have the same effect on someone else. Our words do matter and there is no question that someone is always listening.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

We all have dreams and aspirations, but how many times in our life do we tell ourselves that we are too old, too much time has passed, or it is just not possible any more? Because of limitations that we put on ourselves, we decide that what we want is unachievable – we just can’t do it. However, the reality of the situation is that putting up a wall in front of us that keeps us from what we want is completely ridiculous. If we truly want something, and are willing to put in the work to get it, then nothing is out of the realm of reality.

Our lives don’t stop because we reach a certain age. The things we desire are not out of our reach because we do not have as many years as we used to have, or as much energy to put into it as we used to. Nothing is out of reach if we are willing to do what it takes to make it happen.

When I started Bring Smiles to Seniors, I had no cash, no followers on Facebook and no senior communities in which to deliver cards. All I had was my grandmother’s nursing home and their residents to whom I could deliver what ever cards I could muster up. Almost three years later we will deliver almost 40,000 cards this year alone, have amassed a network of card donors and decorators and have delivered to almost 200 senior communities in all 50 states. We have involved numerous individuals, schools, civic and corporate groups in helping us bring smiles to seniors every day. If I had given up at at every adverse situation we encountered along the way, the dream would have never been realized.

Part of the issue is that many people expect things to be handed to them on a silver platter. Unfortunately, it does not happen like that. Success requires dedication, perseverance and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve your objectives and goals. That is not hindered by age, time or other socioeconomic situations. It is only hindered by our own self doubt and unwillingness to put in the work necessary to achieve that which we truly want.

Whatever we desire is possible if we truly believe and are willing to make the commitment. We are are the ones that have total control over our success or failure. If we truly believe in what we do and put in the work necessary to see it to fruition, nothing can stop us. Here’s to your making your dreams a reality.

Have a great weekend and remember to be the reason someone smiles today.

Ron

Do you ever feel like your past is holding you back? There are just certain things that you can not shake and for one reason or another they tend to keep you from moving forward with your future. We all have things in our past that we would rather forget. Some minor unfortunate ones, others are things that had a profound impact, but we just can not seem to let them go. No one is immune from being haunted by the past.

The key word in all of that is the word past. It happened, it isn’t happening and the sooner we let it go, the easier it is to move on to the next chapters of our life. We don’t have to forget, that is almost impossible to do. However, when we use our past as a learning tool and stepping stone for the future, our past becomes a tool rather than a hinderance. I know, easier said than done. It takes practice, hard work and dedication to get there.

The one important thing to always keep in mind is that WE CAN NOT CHANGE THE PAST. As much as we would like to go back and do it all over again, we are not afforded the ability to travel back in time to change what has already happened. Our only opportunity is to deal with it and use it to make our lives better going forward. The beautiful thing is that our future is totally in our power. We have the ability to make it anything we want it to be and use our past mistakes as a guide to a more productive and soul nurturing future.

We all have our days where we can’t quite seem to get out of the mire of our past. No matter how hard we try our past conjures up self doubt, makes us question our self worth and does everything in it’s power to bring us down. However, in reality we are stronger than our past. Whether or not it has the ability to affect us and alter the course of our future is completely up to us. No one can keep us from moving forward, just like no one can force us to let go of the past. That power lies solely within us.

If you have been down lately because you are dealing with your past, take this moment to look at that big beautiful clean slate that you have sitting right in front of you and begin to plot your future. Make a dream board and chart a course forward. In the architecture of your future, leave out those things from your past that you know will keep you from meeting your goals. There is a bright new today and tomorrow staring us right in the face. Grab it, love it and live it.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

The thing about birthdays is the older you get the faster they seem to come. When we were younger it seemed to take forever for another birthday to arrive. However, now before you know it you have gone through a whole series of holidays throughout the year and you find yourself adding another digit to the total.

Because my birthday falls around Thanksgiving, every few years it is actually on Thanksgiving day. However, it is always within the Thanksgiving celebratory season, which gives me the opportunity to reflect and be thankful for all the wonderful things that my life has brought me. I have a loving family that is still a major part of my life. My spouse and I have been together for 19 wonderful years. I have a good job and amazing friends that are an integral part of my life. Those who travel, celebrate, laugh and cry with me and yes even those that put up with my Mah Jongg madness at times.

My friend Elena once wrote a paper about the dash in your life. At the end of our lives we always see peoples’ birthdate and date of passing with a dash in the middle. She said the most important thing about our lives is what that dash represents. All the things that happen between those two dates are what we are remembered for. What we want that dash to be is totally within our power.

For those of us that were born around the holidays, our birthdays often get lost in the season. I was fortunate to have a family that never let that happen. My nephew was born on December 26th and we always make an extra effort to ensure that his birthday is celebrated. This week I became a Great Uncle for the first time when my niece and her husband gave birth to our newest addition to the family, Carter on the 26th. We will strive to do the same for him.

The thing about birthdays are that you get 24 hours to be the center of attention and then once that day has passed you slip back into every day life. It is important to use those 24 hours to celebrate you, look back on all you have accomplished and count your blessings for another year to have the opportunity do even more good in the world.

As I turn 56 today, mentally I feel much younger, some days physically I feel much older. However, I will celebrate the fact that I have this amazing life with all those around me working hard to ensure that others have a just a little brighter life as well. In my down moments I will remember the path before me and honor the path ahead of me. I will know there is always tomorrow and God willing only 365 days until I get to celebrate it all over again.

Happy birthday to all my fellow November babies. Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

Today communities across the country are celebrating #GivingTuesday.  #GivingTuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a movement to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.

This year Facebook and PayPal are joining together to match the first $7million in donations that come in starting at 8:00AM EST today. If you are considering donating to a charity on this #GivingTuesday, we hope you will consider Bring Smiles to Seniors.  Donations can be made on our Facebook page at facebook.com/bringsmilestoseniors or on our website at bringsmilestoseniors.com. We appreciate any support.

Ron Tyson – Bring Smiles to Seniors

“A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE.  REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM” EIN 81-2548045 REGISTRATION NUMBER: CH48309

When you watch the daily news, you would think that is absolutely impossible for the world to get along with each other. You would assume that everyone hates everyone, every country is in a constant battle and people genuinely dislike one another. For those that take solace in their televisions and use the news to learn about the world, they take that to be truth because they know no different. Because it comes from the news, they assume it to be gospel. However, that could be farther from the truth. The one thing they forget is that news programs need ratings. To get them sometimes and often the truth has to be sacrificed.

I have been all over the world visiting many countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, North and South America and beyond. My travels started when I was a senior in high school and have not stopped. I have never been in a country where I have not been made to feel at home, greeted with kindness and had people genuinely interested in me and where I come from. They want to learn, not harm.

Most people that you interact with in your travels aren’t people in positions of authority that are just hungry for more power. These are every day people just trying to get along and live the life that was dealt them, dealing with the same messy governments as the rest of us. I have been welcomed in homes in many continents where I sat with locals, broke their bread and was treated with nothing but respect and often admiration. The news would lead you to believe that it isn’t safe to step outside your door. However, there is a big beautiful world out there for the exploring if only we take the opportunity to do it.

There is no question that bad things happen around the world. They happen right here at home as well. But if we allow those things to keep us from experiencing what the world has to offer, then the bad guys win and that is just something that can not happen. When I visited Egypt two weeks after a group of bad people opened fire on a bus load of German tourists outside a temple, my family tried hard to get me not to go. Many thought I was just young and stupid, but I could not allow evil to alter the course of my life and keep me in a box where I did not want to be.

I am sure that many of you have done your share of traveling. I hope that you can agree that the world does not hate us. The majority of people are just like us, working hard to exist in a world increasing in complexity. There is a big beautiful world to see out there, if only we believe in the good of humanity and afford ourselves the opportunity to explore it.

Have a great day, take a grand adventure, even if only around the corner, and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

The turkey has been eaten, the pie is gone and the dishes are washed. Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror. We now enter into the season that brings bright lights, carols, shopping, parties and a myriad of things that go along with the upcoming holidays. It is a time where moods are lifted, spirits brightened and for at least this point in time, the world usually seems to get along, hopefully!

Many will celebrate religious events, others others will see it as just a festive season and unfortunately there are those that will experience it in solace due to unfortunate family situations, no longer having family left, or just being on their own. It is a time where we need to be a little kinder, reach out to those that are in need and share a bit of our own holiday spirit to help make others lives just a little brighter.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It is an opportunity for those that celebrate their holiday based on their religious beliefs to reconnect with that faith that drives them every day. It is a time to see beauty, giving and compassion in others that we may not see through the rest of the year. It is a time to be with loved ones and share stories, food, revelry and love.

Christmas has different meanings to different people. It is also important that we honor those for what they believe, just as we expect others to honor us for our beliefs. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and all the celebrations are part of the tapestry of life that make us all unique, special and wonderful. Each of our own contributions in our individual unique way contribute to a whole that is magical and wonderful.

The few weeks of the season will fly by and soon we will be in a new year and start it all over again. Embrace this time and enjoy it. Be kind, compassionate and remember those that are not as fortunate as others to have people around them to celebrate. Take this opportunity to reach out to someone in need, do a little something special for them and give them and you a season to remember.

Have a great weekend and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

Once Halloween goes by it seems that the holidays just all run together. We now find ourselves at Thanksgiving, a day traditionally set aside to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with. In reality, every day should be Thanksgiving if we truly look at what is good in our lives and give thanks for those things each and every day.

This past year has had its share of good and bad for many people, including me. Facing dad’s Lymphoma diagnosis was certainly not something that I expected. However, seeing him through the path to a stabilizing hemoglobin was not only challenging, but rewarding at the same time as I got to meet and interact with a whole new group of people through the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. The Lightning Community Hero Award opened up new doors and opportunities for the Bring Smiles to Seniors Program. I remained in good health, traveled, got married, am about to become a great uncle for the first time and got to do some wonderful projects side by side with my brother.

When you look back over a year it is incredible how much can get packed in 365 days. When you stay as busy as I do, it is an ever constant challenge to see how much you can pack into a 24 hour day. However, I am thankful for that and all the things that I get to do that keeps my life full, complete and ensures that my soul is nourished.

On Thursday many of us will sit around the table with family and friends, hopefully avoid politics and controversy and have a good meal. Take that time to truly enjoy those you are with. Ask them questions about things in the past that you would want to know while you have them. Hug them, love them and celebrate what it means to be a friend and family member. However, we also know that there are many that aren’t so lucky to still have family around or involved. Remember them, reach out to them and wish them a day of blessings as well.

This Thanksgiving I am especially thankful for all of you. This community of people have come together to deliver almost 33,000 cards this year alone and we aren’t done yet. The holidays are going to put us very close to 36,000 or more. The power of we, coming together for a common cause where there is an enormous amount of need, is truly amazing. Every day I count my blessings for each and every one of you and today I wish you the most amazing Thanksgiving ever.

Have a wonderful day, eat lots of good food, enjoy and love each other and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

On Saturday evening I had the opportunity to attend the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” event. It is an evening where supporters and survivors come together to join in the fight for a cure for blood diseases, in the hopes that they will one day be eradicated. It is a celebration of all the hard work that many people put in raising money for LLS to help them continue the good work they do. As I stood among the 4,000 people I started to think about my journey to that spot, on that night.

Several years ago, if you had asked me anything about Leukemia or Lymphoma I would have stared back at you with a blank face. I knew very little about it. Then in the span of two years it hit close to home for me, first with my good friend Jann and then a year later with my dad. Suddenly, I was faced with needing to know all I could learn about these diseases that were so foreign to me. The more I studied the more that I learned that unfortunately Leukemia and Lymphoma know no age barriers. It affects the young, middle aged and elderly generation without discrimination. The fortunate thing is that because of research and development, many people have a much greater opportunity for addressing the disease today than those who may have faced it in the past.

The most amazing thing about this experience for me has been how many things have come together to assist me in dealing with this new unknown. Because my dad’s medication costs almost $11,000 a month, LLS has given him grants to help pay his copays, which are more that he could otherwise afford. At the same time, I received the Lightning Community Hero Award, which afforded me the opportunity to donate $20,000 of my grant to LLS in honor of my dad and Jann. That in turn provided me the opportunity to be standing in that park on a brisk Saturday night and be a part of something incredible taking place around me.

In the LLS walk people are given lanterns that light up. You carry a gold lantern if you are walking in memory of someone, white if you are a survivor and red if you are a supporter of someone with Leukemia or Lymphoma. The first lanterns to go up were gold in memory of those that succumbed to the disease. Then as we were gathered in a circle, in the middle were all the white lanterns with the many survivors. All the survivors were surrounded by the red lanterns who were there in support of someone that they knew that was fighting Leukemia or Lymphoma. It was truly one of the most beautiful things I had seen.

This journey called life often takes us to unexpected places where we are faced with things that we never dreamed that we would have to deal with. Those things usually come unexpectedly and we are faced with needing to learn about things that we could never have imagined. The most important lesson I have learned is that we do not ever have to do it alone. There are resources and people having gone through similar situations that are there to guide us if we just let them.

On Saturday I got to light the night in honor of my friend Jann and my dad. I got to be a very small part of something much greater than me. In doing so, for that moment in time, I got to give a little more food to my soul.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles today.

Ron