"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” –J. M. Barrie

Rather than worrying about whether or not I offend somebody with what I say, I just keep it simple. I keep it simple by making it my top priority to just be a good news-er. 

What I mean by being a good news-er is rather than complaining about the things that offend me, I do my best to talk of health, happiness, and prosperity with everyone I meet. By making it my top priority to be a good news-er I avoid the temptation of becoming a repeat offender. 

Whenever I decide to repeat something from the news that upset me, something I heard that distressed me, or a social media post that got me burned up, I’m a repeat offender. 

“For example, we can choose to lay our anger and whining on others, but that doesn’t really get rid of it. In fact, we find that people tend to join in on our negative commentary and feed it. We end up with more. But if we give to others the feelings we really want to keep - understanding, kindness, and humor - they will share their good stuff with us too. And we end up with more.” -God Grant Me…, Hazleton Meditations 

When you hear disturbing news or are upset by the behavior of others, instead of complaining about it, see it as a signal to bless the situation or person. Complaining only highlights our fears. It’s affirming that we’re victims and so are our friends. We always have a choice between being fearful or experiencing love by extending love to others.

If you really want to be a change agent for good in your life, your community, and the world, then just be a good news-er. Every morning before launching into my day I take the time to let myself off the hook and go for it. I do this by reminding myself of my ultimate mission here on earth: to be a good news-er. 

I’ve written down in my journal, “Darrell, Today’s mission, if you choose to accept it, is to go forth humbly. In other words, forget about winning approval and looking good, just go forth to bless, encourage and uplift.” 

While I was serving in the United States Coast Guard, search and rescue was considered our main mission. We had many other responsibilities: marine safety, law enforcement, aids to navigation, ice operations, etc., but search and rescue was our top priority. Because saving lives was our top priority, compassion flowed into everything we did.

When we make being a good news-er our top priority, love flows into everything we do. By making it your intention each day to be a good news-er demonstrates your desire and commitment to keep tuning in to love. The Universe continuously broadcasts joy. Love tunes us in to it. This universal joy is a magnetic force that attracts all good things to us. When we’re tuned in to this universal joy everything seems to fall into place throughout the day. This is what is meant by, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” It makes it clear that whenever we’re complaining and resenting we’re tuning in to a lower frequency, and it doesn’t feel good. 

The good news is we can always tune right back in to health, happiness, love, prosperity, and success any time we decide to be a good news-er and resist the temptation to be a repeat offender. 

So, “Dear Reader, Your mission if you choose to accept it, is to go forth humbly. In other words, forget about winning approval and looking good, just go forth to bless, encourage and uplift.”


Artist Darrell Fusaro is a decorated U.S. Coast Guard veteran, co-host of the podcast, “Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed” and author of the book, “What if Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?” To learn more about Darrell visit: www.ThisWillMakeYouHappy.com

“How good it feels to be thanked and appreciated. It makes me enthusiastic to continue to give. Well, that’s how God feels when I’m grateful for all I’ve been given.” – My thoughts jotted down after morning meditation

Success begins when you say kind things to yourself. When doubtful, judgmental, or discouraged I have found that the best remedy is to treat myself as a kind, supportive, and loving grandmother would. 

Each morning I must kindly encourage my grumbling little self. You can not shame and belittle anybody into changing and this includes ourselves. Have compassion for yourself, especially in the morning.

How we treat ourselves upon awakening sets the tone for the day. I have developed a healthy habit that anyone can do. I get up before my wife to sit on the couch alone and enjoy a cup of coffee while I read a few inspirational books followed by prayer and meditation. 

I rarely wake up optimistic. I must encourage myself every step of the way. From getting out of the bed, to making the coffee, letting the dog out, letting the dog in, gathering up my inspirational books, and then plopping down on the couch to begin. All the while soothing the negative chatter in my head with words of encouragement. It’s often, “Everything’s going to be OK Darrell. Once you have your coffee and do your readings you’re going to feel much better.”

It works every time, and even though I’ve experienced this to be true for over three decades I still must start my day with encouragement. This encouraging of oneself is the most effective method of prayer. It is prayer in its truest sense. The Sanskrit word for prayer, pal-al, means “judging oneself to be wondrously made.” Prayer is not begging for what you want, it’s acknowledging how wonderful you already are.

Life is not about jumping out of bed and racing into your miserable day. Doing that just reinforces feelings of inadequacy, lack and self-doubt. I can’t imagine a kind and loving grandmother ever yanking a child out of bed and shouting, “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go! You’re going to be late! Now you’ll probably hit traffic! You’re never going to make it on time! Damn it! What a screw up. This is why you’ll never get ahead!” 

Self-condemnation is poison to us. It poisons our ambition. It poisons our confidence. It poisons our dignity. It poisons our relationships, and it poisons our success. 

If you really want to know how you are treating yourself just take a look at how you are treating others. This is why we must be kind to ourselves. When I treat myself with kindness, I feel good about myself. When I feel good about myself, treating others kindly seems to be a natural side effect. It’s effortless. To “love your neighbor as yourself” implies that you are as kind to yourself as you are to others.

When people are happy they’re kind to everyone around them. When people are scared or upset with themselves it brings up feelings of hostility, impatience, frustration, jealousy, envy, and blame towards others. 

Treating ourselves with the kindness that a loving grandmother would give makes us feel good, and feeling good always attracts more to feel good about. 

“A change of feeling is a change of destiny.” – Neville Goddard

For more on this topic listen to “Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed” via your favorite podcast app or visit www.DarrellandEd.com

Artist Darrell Fusaro is a decorated U.S. Coast Guard veteran, co-host of the “Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed” podcast and author of, “What if Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?” To learn more about Darrell visit wwwThisWillMakeYouHappy.com​