Sunshine Report: Taking Action

Jay Lucas
Sunshine Report
Get Started!

Have you ever had a great idea? Something very important? That you really wanted to accomplish? But you found yourself stuck. Perhaps procrastinating — pondering how to make it happen. So, you never got started. Sadly, time passed — and it never came to be? It’s a familiar story for so many people with seemingly great ideas and ambitions. But thankfully, there is a pretty straightforward — although not always easy — solution. The key is to just get started. Take that first step forward. Take action!

If you’re a regular reader of the Sunshine Report, you’re probably familiar with my great respect and admiration for the 26th president of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt. For those who aren’t, a good portion of my own personal philosophy and outlook on life is due to the wisdom and vision that he seemed to carry with him throughout his life. Importantly, there was a particular insight he once shared that I often think of and use, especially in difficult moments. It helps me not only make decisions – but it generates a positive power to get started and take action.

Roosevelt said: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” In other words, you will never find the perfect time or the perfect conditions to move forward. But that’s O.K. Just get started. Make the best of what you have and where you are – and good things will happen. It’s a particularly subtle phrase from a man who is so often quoted, but it’s a quote I believe to be one of his most powerful. It also has incredible staying power even in this day and age where the desire for perfection can sometimes hamper us from achieving our goals.

The value and power found in his words lies not with just ‘making due’ but with being resourceful and being able to maximize what we have in any situation. When we make the most of what we have, we not only tend to go above and beyond what we thought we were capable of, we also create opportunities that might have otherwise been overlooked. This helps encourage our own creativity and ingenuity. When we’re in a position where resources are limited, constraints often compel us to find solutions to problems we otherwise would not have come across. This can inspire innovation that itself leads to new opportunities.

Even further, by following Roosevelt’s philosophy, we also train ourselves to become more resilient and adaptable. As we each know, life can throw curve balls our way at any second, altering or even changing plans we had all together. But when we take a “do what you can” approach as I like to call it, we teach ourselves over time how to navigate challenges and setbacks. In doing so, we increase our chances of turning what may at first seem a negative into a net positive, all while fostering personal growth and continued self-improvement.

This isn’t to say that ‘doing what you can with what you have’ doesn’t require patience and some good old fashioned hard work, and there may even be days where you wonder if it’s even the right approach at all. But the truth is, oftentimes when we feel circumstances aren’t ideal or we don’t have enough resources at our disposal or the work is too hard, inaction and procrastination can settle in, which have their own adverse effects. Even when we take small incremental steps, we’re still making progress. When we take those small steps, focus on what we have in front of us and stay determined even in the face of adversity, the real reward isn’t only what we gain when we’ve reached our goal, but the lessons we learn along the way.

Please a moment to think about a few key objectives you have in your life – even now – and see if by addressing them with a ‘do what you can, with what you have, where you are’ approach might just give you the progress and inspiration you need in finding success!

Hero Pups: Taking Action to Help Veterans and First Responders

Here’s a story about a woman who has ‘taken action’ and is having a positive impact on the lives of so very many deserving individuals. As a result, in Stratham, New Hampshire, a group of remarkable canine companions known as the ‘Hero Pups’ is providing vital help and care for people suffering with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). These specially trained service dogs play a vital role in providing support, comfort, and assistance to those who have experienced trauma.

As a Wounded Warrior mom, Laura Barker (yes, that’s her real name) saw the need for specially trained dogs for our Veterans who suffer from PTSD. So, she took action and started Hero Pups, a 501©3 non-profit. Over time, this program has been expanded to include First Responders and even Comfort Dogs that police departments utilize in community service and emotionally challenging situations for victims. Hero Pups has been operating for seven years and has paired more than 200 dogs with recipients at no charge while operating with a 100 percent volunteer staff.

Service dogs are essential for individuals living with PTSD due to their unique abilities to sense and respond to emotional distress. Hero Pups are specifically trained to recognize signs of anxiety, panic, or emotional distress in their handlers. By responding with gentle nudges, pawing, or even leaning against their handlers, these remarkable dogs provide a calming and grounding presence during challenging moments.

Furthermore, the bond between a service dog and their handler is invaluable. Hero Pups not only offer practical assistance but also emotional support. They become trusted companions, providing unwavering loyalty and companionship. The presence of a four-legged friend who understands and accepts without judgment can greatly enhance the quality of life for individuals with PTSD.

Hero Pups are changing lives by empowering individuals with PTSD to regain their independence and reintegrate into society. These extraordinary dogs and their dedicated trainers are true heroes, demonstrating the profound impact that service dogs can have on mental health and well-being.

It is crucial to recognize the importance of service dogs in supporting individuals with PTSD. Their unique abilities and unconditional love help to alleviate symptoms, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall quality of life. Hero Pups serves as a shining example of the positive impact that these remarkable animals can have on those in need. And how one person can ultimately change the lives of many for the better!

To learn how to apply for a dog, donate, volunteer, learn about local events or perhaps form a group of coworkers to help the cause, go to www.heropups.com

Theodore Roosevelt in New Hampshire

Theodore Roosevelt earned the well-deserved reputation as a ‘larger-than-life’ historical figure and did so in large part, due to his willingness – even an ‘eagerness’ — to always be taking action – from his time leading the Rough Riders charging up San Juan Hill in Cuba – to his exploits as a real-life cowboy, a political reformer, trust buster, founder of the Bull Moose Party and more. He is also well-known for his endeavors to preserve American history such as the American Museum of Natural History, the American Bison Society, and the creation and expansion of our National Parks. But few probably know that his adventures also brought him to New Hampshire and his creating a piece of world history right here in the Granite State.

Known by many as “Teddy,” (a nickname he actually disliked, preferring the name TR), Roosevelt was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1900. He then became President shortly thereafter due to the assassination of President McKinley in 1901.

One year later, in 1902, while campaigning during the midterm elections it was then that he came to New Hampshire and other New England states to rally support for candidates across the region. And that is when his relationship with the Granite State began. While in New Hampshire as President, he visited his Secretary of State John Hay at Hay’s beautiful estate, known as ‘The Fells’ on the shores of Lake Sunapee, in Newbury, New Hampshire.

Also on this trip, he visited nearby Newport as well as making a stop in Manchester. Interestingly, while in Newport, Roosevelt ‘the hunter’ made a trip to Corbin Park – a well-known hunting preserve on the outskirts of town. As it turns out, around the same time, a naturalist who worked at Corbin Park named Ernest Harold Baynes had just started raising buffalo in nearby Meriden, NH to supplement the declining herd in the west. Roosevelt was intrigued by the New Hampshire based ‘buffalo or bison initiative.’ And, in true ‘TR fashion’ got so excited that along with Baynes, he helped found the American Bison Society. And, of course, not surprisingly, due to TR’s enthusiastic nature and force of personality — Roosevelt was named president of the organization.

Several years later, in 1905, Roosevelt’s relationship with New Hampshire made it to the world stage. Russia and Japan had been at war – and Roosevelt — consistent with the TR persona, decided to take action, be a ‘force for good’ and bring the two parties together. Selecting Portsmouth, NH as the location for negotiations, both parties made their way to the state’s seacoast city – and held highly productive negotiations, skillfully orchestrated by Roosevelt. The negotiators met at various locations around Portsmouth including the famous Wentworth Hotel. The result – a smashing success – known as the ‘Treaty of Portsmouth,’ agreed in 1905. It not only brought peace to the two parties – but also earned for Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize and secured for America a well-deserved position as a ‘player’ in international relations.