THE EDITOR Letter from By Debby Zelman Rapoport Some months are more trying than others, and when things aren’t going smoothly, stress settles in. Because of an illness of a loved one, last month was one of those months for me and my family. And when stress settles in, we need to remember what’s really important and what’s not – and not to sweat the small stuff. Life is what you make it, and all the little choices add up. Improve the quality of those choices, and you will improve the quality of your situation. Since we each deal with stress differently, we have to remember to rely on tools that effectively work for us individually. A few weeks ago, my sister, Darcy Alter, sent me the following words, written by Ralph S. Marson, Jr. She was thinking about our mother at the time, and felt they may help to motivate her and do what was necessary for her to rebuild her strength. The words are direct, have clarity and totally fit the situation on a physical level. Not only did I feel they were spot on, but I also felt that they applied to me, as well, and can apply to each of us in most situations. Here’s what Marson wrote: There’s some little something you can do, some little change you can make today, that will make your life better. Go ahead, give yourself a positive gift, and do it. There’s something you know you’ve been doing, or neglecting to do, that’s been holding you back. This is your opportunity to change it. You don’t have to change the whole world to make a noticeable difference in your life. Even a small change in what you do can make a big improvement in the way you feel. As comfortable as your old habit may be, it’s not taking you where you want to go. Very soon, you can be just as comfortable, and a whole lot more satisfied, with a new, more positive habit. Life is what you make it, and all the little choices add up. Improve the quality of those choices, and you will improve the quality of your situation. Get the moments of this day working in your favor by making more of your actions work in your favor. Improve some little something you do, and experience the power you have to change your life. The message is short, but pointed. Where do you want to be, and where are you now? Whether overcoming a physical or emotional obstacle, we can each push ourselves just a little bit each day to make things just a little bit better. Small chang- es build up to something big, and big changes improve our lives. Copyright 2015 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. Used by permission. Originally published in “The Daily Motivator” at www.dailymotivator.com. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. – Martin Luther King, Jr. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. – Lao Tzu The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…. One step at a time. – Rande Wilson March 2015 n Beachwood Buzz 3