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Prices reflect solid colois matte or gloss $329 45" Diameter ROUND DINING TABLE 2599 Crumb Rd., Commerce Tvvp. Wed. Sat. 10 6, Sun 124 • 669-0066 - $259 36 X 36 SQUARE COCKTAIL - $1299 72" X 72" TRIO WALL UNIT - $329 24 X 48 INSIDE WATERFALL COCKTAIL TABLE J $1299 5 pc. QUEEN OMEGA BEDROOM SET -; Includes: 72" dresser or 72" armoire How Sincere Detroiter Finds Order In Old Ben ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR A n American inventor who died more than 200 years ago has a lot going for him when it comes to under- standing modern dilemmas, Dr. Michael Loren believes. Benjamin Franklin's 12 values for self-improvement are as rele- vant and enlightening as when Franklin first composed them, Dr. Loren says. "They just go right to your heart, the way it feels when you recognize the emes (truth) of things." Several months ago, Dr. Loren, a Detroit native, applied one of those virtues — industry — to his concern about values and Amer- ican youth, and he wrote a book. Called What Counts (Overland Park Press), it's based on Franklin's system for self-exam- ination. It all started when Dr. Loren, an allergist who now lives in Kansas City, Mo., took to heart his wife's frustrations. A teacher, she began commenting more and more frequently that "many of her kids were getting out of con- trol," Dr. Loren said. "But she also told me, There's no way we can teach values and virtues. Our hands are tied." Dr. Loren decided to help her out by making a poster. It wouldn't get into sticky religious issues, but would instead focus on something that had nothing to do with the separation of church and state and everything to do with good moral character. His inspiration was Benjamin Franklin. Having just read the famed in- ventor's autobiography, Dr. Loren says his first step was a slight re- working of Franklin's values, to bring them more up-to-date (Franklin's "temperance" became Dr. Loren's "alertness.") The final collection: alertness, silence, order, resolution, con- servation, industry, sincerity, jus- tice, moderation, health, calmness, friendship and mod- esty. The poster also asked a morning question: "What good shall I do this day?" and an evening question: "What good have I done today?" The poster proved such a suc- cess that Dr. Loren expanded it to include a book, a kind of hand- book about how to go about achieving each goal. Is a lack of resolution your problem? Dr. Loren recommends ways to tackle your "To Do" list, how to imagine successful completion and how to clear your mind of stress, so as to have energy for the problem at hand. Do you actually believe your mother's assessment that you are the smartest, best-looking and most creative human being alive? In his chapter on modesty, Dr. Loren recommends ways to bet- ter listen to others, take stock of "daily reminders of our vulnera- bility" and become involved in charity, work. Though initially prepared for teachers, his book is applicable to everyone from "a small child to a Dr. Michael Loren takes a cue from Ben Franklin. business executive," Dr. Loren says. "It is for everyone who wants to be the best person he can be." Accompanying each chapter are quotes, which Dr: Loren re- searched for months. He didn't want anything bitter or sarcas- tic. His sources range from Mal- colm X ("Armed with the knowledge of our past, we can with confidence charter a course for our future," in the chapter on alertness) to Chaim Weiziiiann ("Miracles sometimes occur, but one has to work terribly hard for them," in the chapter on indus- try). Dr. Loren has done more than merely write a book. He lives it. "My biggest problem is that I'm impatient," he says. "Every day I think, 'My life is almost over with.' " (Hence his special inter- est in a chapter on calmness.) Although all virtues are im- portant, Dr. Loren believes the single most critical is silence. "We make mistakes all the time and we always will. Most of the harm in this world occurs be- cause of words," he says. "With words, we can make or break a person. We must choose our words as though they were bullets coming out of our mouths." ❑ What Counts is available at to-, cal bookstores includuag the Book Beat and Bo e