Positivity

It's now March in 2009. My two sons had birthdays on March 5 and 7th turning 13 and 16. Man they grow up fast. I now get to watch my oldest experience the freedom of driving while the other goes through puberty. Two milestones that I'm looking forward to.

Positivity is a word that blends the word "positive" and "activity" therefore resulting in a new word symbolizing positive action. I've been trying hard to make daily progress in sharing positive thoughts and being the light for those in need. Interesting enough, it's been working! I have actually noticed others doing the same and being more conscientious about their own demeanor in dealing with others.
The scary thing is to think if I'm able to do the same with my wife, kids, and friends, how much of a difference it would make? What if everyone did this? Would we have more peace? Happiness?

I'm trying to think of a way to share my thoughts and vision with the world. I know this blog is a small glimpse into my mind but I really need to focus an effort on changing people and possibly their lives as well. Could it be possible that such a small change in our paradigms have significant results?

I plan on sharing more details of the paradigm on my next post so come back soon. I'm headed to a domain name registrar to see if I can develop a new web site or just expand this one in regards to my vision.

Peace, love, and harmony.....isn't that from the seventies? Is that a song?
C ya soon.

2009 Brings Challenges and Opportunities

Ok, we're now living in the worst economic times since the Great Depression. January saw 100,000 people lose their jobs in the USA. Companies are closing everyday or announcing huge layoffs of thousands of employees. People can't afford homes or cars while everyone is cutting back on expenses and clipping coupons.
Our new president is Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States. He is faced with the greatest economic challenge since Hoover.
The government is trying to pass a stimulus package of 850 billion dollars to help the economy and prevent another depression. The auto industry is on the verge of bankruptcy while the banking industry had to take advantage of a bailout.

I'll celebrate my 25 year reunion with my High School classmates this year. Everyone is on the Facebook craze and posting messages everyday. Social networking may never be the same.

My family lost a loved one today. Kelly, our cat, passed away peacefully after spending 23 years with us. Thats right. 23 years.
I never thought when I found her my sophomore year in college that she would be around until my kids were 15, 13, and 10. What an unbelievable gift from god.
She gave us so many memories that we'll never forget. We're going to miss her but know she's always with us in spirit.

Many people are anxious and scared right now. I have to admit I think about it everyday but choose to look for the blessings in my life. My family, pets, assets, resources, relationships, etc....

2009 is going to be a ride and I'm glad I get to be on it.

Happy New Year! and on to 2009.....

Another calendar year has passed and is now in the history books and our memories. So what will you remember about 2008? Good times? Bad?
Can you actually remember all the events? I think a good exercise to help us chronicle our life's events is to keep track of our good and bad experiences as they happen in the year. Why would we want to do this?
I believe we should appreciate our blessings and seize the opportunities to learn from mistakes and tragedies. Both of these actions will better prepare us for what life has to offer going forward and hopefully tilt the scales more towards good memories than bad.

Please take the time to take stock in your life as we end 2008. What do you want to accomplish in 2009? What do you want to experience? Make a list? Put them on your calendar and to do list on a weekly or monthly basis. Write down your commitment and hold yourself accountable for accomplishments.

We would all have very fulfilling lives if we simply go out and do what we want to do....
Our biggest challenge is deciding what we want to do......

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays?

Did you say Happy Holidays?  

Ok, we're now in the worst recession since the Great Depression.  Unemployment is the highest in over 25 years, the big three automakers are on the verge of bankruptcy and need to borrow money from the government to survive, numerous financial companies have died while others borrowed money from the government, foreclosures are the highest on record, companies are laying off thousands of people daily, the dollar is now the weakest it's every been as a currency.  Did you say Happy Holidays? 

So how on earth can we begin to be happy beings living in America?  How can we possibly feel confident in our futures?  How are we supposed to feel when everything we see, read, and hear is about negativity?  How are we supposed to enjoy the holiday season amidst such turmoil?

The message I've been sharing with everyone I speak with is to count your daily blessings.  Did you open your eyes this morning?  Were you able to get out of bed and walk around your home?  Are you able to eat some food everyday?  Do you have a car to drive?  TV to watch? Roof over your head?  Friends or family members?  Clothes to wear?  Someone to love? Someone that loves you?  Someone that cares about you?  A pet that depends on you?  

I try to remind everyone how blessed we are yet we fail to realize it.  We seem to get caught up in the drama, media, and chicken little syndrome. (the sky is falling)

Everyone needs to find their center, peace, strength, and calm during storms.  This may be a relationship with our maker, music to listen to, books to read, friends or family to speak with, or just silence.    Try to recognize your blessings each and every day and be grateful at the end of each one when you close your eyes to sleep and awaken to another one.  

Let's bring 2008 to an end and launch 2009 like a rocket.  End one with appreciation and grace and launch the other with hope and courage. 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all.  

Presidential History and our future......

This week on November 4th, the United States nominated the first African American for president. Many in the world celebrated this moment as an indication that we finally moved beyond our history and evolved into a colorless society. Nations and countries were excited thinking that our country's elitist paradigm would dissolve and they would receive benefits from the United States.

The popular vote was close. I'm both excited and nervous about our new president. Will he make history by leading out of the worst economy on record since the Great Depression? Or will he falter by implementing radical changes that have never been tested on such a large scale?
Will other nations and countries receive too much charity at the expense of our own?
Will we embrace socialist programs that negatively impact the fabric of our democratic foundations and a capitalism?

I hope our new president takes us where he says he can. A better economy, country, world leader, and society. At the end of the day, people care about themselves first. We have to. We want to experience good days every day. We want to hear and read about good things in our media. We thrive on positive energy. We want to end our days each day with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
If our new president can provide this, there's not telling what our country can accomplish and evolve into.

So for all of us, I congratulate President Obama and wish him the best with his new role and responsibilities.

Youtube link to Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk


Youtube link to President Obama's victory speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXkBuWNx88&feature=related

Fall, Football, Halloween, Holidays.....

Well, it's beautiful October and the seasons are changing for the better.  Crisp cool air combined with the arrival of football season, Halloween, and Holiday season can only bring good times.  

I was thinking why it's been so challenging for me to blog as frequent as I used to.  Yes, my schedule is very busy but I think it's simply due to poor time management.   

As conscious as I am about enjoying every moment, even I fall prey to complacency regarding prioritizing my time.  

I need to develop a system that will help both me as well as the millions of others who simply let time go by.....

I'm not sure if we need a visual reminder like a bracelet to wear?  How about a watch with special features?  What about a system that calls or emails us every day with reminders?  How about all three?  

My boys are playing football and having great seasons this year.  I video their games and post highlight clips on Youtube for my brother and his family to watch from a far.  They live in San Francisco.  My daughter is cheerleading and just growing up too fast.  In this regard, I want time to slow down or just stand still and keep her 10 years old forever.  She loves to spend time with her daddy and is a daddy's girl.  How much longer will that last?  

My wife has convinced me to have a haunted house for Halloween this year.  We've done this for about 8 years now and it's a lot of work, especially for about three hours of fun.  

I do it for my kids and must admit I like the fact that the neighborhood and community look forward to our efforts to provide something fun for the kids to do that night.  

The economy is the worst since the Great Depression and everyday brings bad news.  We're trying to elect a new president.  Both candidates have drawbacks and are really not worthy of the oval office but we have to pick one of the two.   I'm worried about the Democratic candidate winning on charisma and charm.  He doesn't really seem to have much substance and some of his ideas are very socialist and scary.  The Republican candidate is too much like our current President and supports the policies and paradigm that put us in today's economic mess.....so he's scary from the standpoint that we won't change and improve either.  

All of this bad news is tainting the upcoming holiday season and the forecasts for toys and good cheer.  Unemployment is high and growing by the day.  People are worried about their incomes, retirements funds, job security, etc.....

They think things will improve in another year.  The question is whether or not we can wait that long.  

I can only hope our kids aren't permanently scarred due to some economic crisis that negatively impacts their qualities of life.  I know that sounds protective but why shouldn't we be concerned about that?  I don't mind educating my kids on sound economics and reality but not to the point that they worry about their existence.  

OK, that's enough for this blog.  I plan on improving my time management and getting back to a more frequent posting schedule.  

Don't forget to go to my Youtube links.  If anything, they're entertaining and help pass the time. One day my kids will find this and I hope gain an insight to my love of life, my love of them since they are my life, and my wife's importance to my existence.  

Thanks for reading. 

Natural Disasters in Texas

Sorry for the absence....
At the end of August, Hurricane Gustav decided to scare the Gulf coast of Texas and then hit Louisiana. Texas was spared a direct hit and fortunately, I seized the opportunity to purchase some Hurricane items like bottled water, 5 gallon gas cans, crank radio and light, some batteries, and a generator.
Once we were cleared from danger, I contemplated returning the items hoping they we wouldn't be needed.
Unfortunately, on September 12, Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Gulf coast as a category three storm and heavily damaged the City of Houston and Galveston like never before. The items I purchased would eventually be invaluable to my family.
We were without power for 13 days. My family was able to have AC, TV and DVD player, refrigerator, some lamps, and ability to wash clothes.
I look like a hero to my family and our new Hurricane kit will always be ready if we ever need it.
We managed to learn a lot from this disaster.
Our reliance on power and energy is critical to our creature comforts in modern society. Stores couldn't open. Gas was unavailable. Traffic lights were dead. It was as if the world had entered a chaotic era with no end in sight.
Trying to imagine the conditions of developing countries is almost impossible in a civilized and superpower country. We take so much for granted.
On a good note, our family was able to spend a lot of time together without distractions and get back to some basics: reading, drawing, playing outside, etc.....
Many people did not have the amenities we had and really suffered through the storm. I put together some relief packages and distributed them to some of my employees on the southeast side of town which was the hardest hit in hopes of providing some relief to their pain.

In the end, the city will rebuild. Material items will be replaced. Lives will be redefined. Some families lost lives and will never be the same. We pray for God's compassion and strength in their lives.

Once again, we're reminded of our mortality, what's really important, and the value of each and every day.

The Bucket List

I mentioned this movie in an earlier post and finally got to see it. I now own the DVD and downloaded it to my iphone to watch at my convenience. Needless to say, I love the movie. It's everything you'd expect from two great actors, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and then some.
I know many will think it's cliche and predictable, but I appreciate the expression and characterization of how we forget to live until we know we're out of time.
I would say that everyone should watch this movie once a month to remind them to go out everyday and live the life they want.
I'm going to add a link to the video of John Mayer's song "Say" from the movie to my favorite links section.

This could be the best movie that expresses what a "Lifetimer" stands for.

Have a great day!

Kids Sports Memories

Well it's been a while since I've had time to post. My son's baseball team that I coach ended up winning every tournament for the past 5 weeks and played in the Eastern US Pony Championship Game down in Tampa, Florida.
Although my kids' activities require a lot of our time, we couldn't imagine it any other way. The lessons and memories they experience will last a lifetime.
As I've said before, I only have so much time to actively participate in their lives and I don't want to miss a thing.

The Olympics started last week and we've been mesmerized with the majestic ism of China and the games.
Unfortunately, during the same time, Russia and Georgia went to war putting a strain on Russian/US relations. Both sides are now jockeying for political positions and declaring a return to the Cold War days.....

Amazing sequence of events. The opening ceremonies of the Olympics always seems to bring the world together with a common endeavor of athletics. It reminds us of our shared interests and smiles.
In the blink of an eye, two countries can decide to engage in the primitive act of war and argue over territorial rights while killing innocent people and children.

I'm reminded of the quest for world peace and how even though we seem to get closer every year, we then take two steps back.
I wonder if this endless chaos and strife are essential particles of our universe. Good/Bad, Black/White, Life/Death, God/Devil, etc........

Are we doomed and burdened with eternal conflict? Will we ever experience an extended period of time of peace and joy? If so, what would it look like? What would happen? What could the planet accomplish? Would we then know what Utopia is?

My other thought is that we are not burdened with the negative yings and yangs but rather with the perpetual pursuit of this Utopia.
Maybe our creator knew better and felt we would accomplish even more in the endless pursuit of perfection without the possibility of achievement than with the spoils of our efforts.

Summer is such a great time. The kids are out of school, we're enjoying the outdoor activities, and loathing the beginning of school. It reminds me of our inherent appreciation for quality time, enjoyment, and leisure activities. Those times without responsibilities, deadlines, schedules, etc.....

Again, we need to do everything possible to enjoy every minute of every day.

Vacations and Family

I recently took a vacation with my wife and kids. We decided to visit a resort in Texas where we would spend quality time with each other in lieu of one that was based on amusement and entertainment like Disneyworld. Don't get me wrong, we love Disneyworld and going there.
I just thought we needed some time together. My three kids are so active that like most families, we spend our days going from one activity to another for each of them without much time for the family unit as a whole.
This vacation was meant to isolate us and not have to worry about commitments or distractions. My cell phone and laptop could not maintain a signal so work was put on "hold".

I love Austin, Texas. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and lived there for about 5 years. The first day included a visit to one of it's more popular summer attractions. Barton Springs.
My wife and kids spent some time in the cold natural waters while I took pictures from the surrounding mounds. We drove around campus and shared some memories with the kids so they would always have an understanding of our pre-family times and our youth.
The rest of our visit included a lazy river, movies by the pool side, horseback riding, and river rafting. We had a great time.

I think we all should take a time out and eliminate distractions from our core. There is nothing more important than our relationships. Too often we ignore this in the pursuit of what we perceive to be important.
Reach out to your loved ones and reconnect. Spend quality time with them. If you have kids or a significant other with reservations, MAKE them do it. You will not regret it.

Take Time to Make a Relaxation List

I'm sure we've all heard this one in passing but have you ever sat down and tried to compile a list of things that help you relax?  You should.  Summer is here and you may find between the economic woes and price of gas, you may need some relaxation.  The best news is that you may not even have to leave your house.....

I'll list some activities that sound great to me and hopefully inspire you as well.  Try some of these ideas to rejuvenate your body, renew your mind and refresh your spirit. 

Reread a favorite book

Visit a nearby park

Spend an afternoon at the public library

Help out a stranger

Try a new food

Take a nap

Enroll in a class

Do something you've always wanted to do

Contact someone you've been thinking of or miss

Sing in the shower

Walk in the rain

Give something away

Spend 15 minutes playing with your pet

Call a friend

Treat someone to lunch and linger over good conversation

Take a walk or ride a bicycle

Look at the stars

Browse through an antique store

Organize a small corner of your life

Pop some popcorn and rent a movie

Turn off the TV and talk to someone

Draw a picture

Bake something

Send a card to someone for no reason

Clean out your wallet or purse

Look at old photographs

Walk barefoot in the grass or yard

Visit a lonely person

Encourage a young person

Go for a swim

Start a new project

Volunteer some time to a good cause

Fly a kite

Have a picnic with a special person

Spend time with people who like to laugh

Have breakfast in bed

Take a different route home from work

Watch the sun set

Teach yourself something new

Throw a party for no reason

Get a spa treatment, massage or facial

Go on a spontaneous day trip with no preplanned  destination

Fix something that's been broken

Meet someone new

Ride a horse

Play a game

Listen to your favorite music

Dance like nobody is watching

Count your blessings

Last but not least, take a mini vacation without going anywhere.  Sit in your chair, relax, close your eyes. Take a deep breath in and exhale slowly. Repeat as you think about your favorite place, the beach, woods, mountaintop, under a shade tree, wherever you like to go to escape from it all with friends and family.  Consider the sights, sounds, smells and things you feel in that place.  Let your mind dwell there a re minutes.  Smile.  Then take another deep breath and open your eyes to return to your routine. 

I'm sure you can think of other things to do that really touch your soul.  The key is to identify them and DO THEM! 

Whether you choose to travel across the world or stay in your backyard, make the most of your time, resources, and opportunities God has provided. 

Vegas Baby!

I was fortunate enough to go to Las Vegas this week for a business trip.  It was my first visit and I didn't know what to expect.  

I only knew that I wanted to really take advantage of the opportunity and see as much as I could in the short time I had.  

All I can say is WOW!  I really think ever adult should take the time to visit Las Vegas.  I'm not a gambler so my enjoyment wasn't about money.  It centered around the amenities and atmosphere. 

I stayed at the Bellagio hotel which was absolutely gorgeous.  The architecture is unbelievable. You really believe you're staying in a European setting.  I know the hotels in Vegas have a diverse range of amenities and pricing, but you have to really appreciate the fact that the 13 largest hotels in the world are located on the strip.  So regardless of your price range, there's something for everyone. 

As I toured the strip, I enjoyed the people and structures.  Everyone seemed to be in a festive yet adventurous mood.  There's not many places in the world where adults can go and literally dress however they want, tour incredible buildings that replicate various themes from history and the world, and be entertained by musicians, acrobats, magicians, entertainers, or dancers.  

Did I mention that almost all the venues are open 24 hours?  

So my recommendation for everyone is to visit Las Vegas at least once.  You only need three days to really have a great time.  Visit online resources and develop an agenda or itinerary.  

Outside options also include a visit to the Hoover Damn or Grand Canyon.  

I will definitely go back and take my wife.  I plan on seeing multiple shows, touring the hotels, and relaxing by the pool during the day.  

One last thing, the theme "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" is appropriate for adults. 

You can dress, act, and experience in ways you only imagined.... and make memories for a lifetime. 

Miracle

My friend who had brain surgery last week is now at home recovering from his injuries.  It appears that he will regain all of his brain functions with little distress.  

Absolutely amazing!  47 staples, 5 plates holding his skull together, broke 3 ribs, punctured his right lung, broke his right scapula, eye socket, tore his rotator cuff, and of course brain damage. 

Words can't express my sentiments regarding his recovery and blessings.  His family and many others prayed for this and obviously were heard.  

All I can say this week is thank God for miracles...... they may not happen often enough, but when they do, they show us a world we don't know and endless possibilities.  

 

Close to Home....

While at work this week, my phone rang.  When I answered it, my wife was hysterical on the other end.  My immediate thought was that something bad had happened to one of my kids.  

She then proceeded to tell me that one of my close friends had fallen off a roof and had been taken to a hospital where he was going to have brain surgery and they didn't know if he would make it.  

I immediately got in my car and went straight to the hospital.  It was true.  He was in surgery and they were performing brain surgery on him to repair his fractured skull and stop the bleeding.  They weren't sure he was going to make it.  

The Neurosurgeon came out to brief us after the surgery.  He didn't know the extent of the damage.  We would need to wait and see "who" would come out of this.  His awkward statement indicated that there was a chance there could be some physical or mental impairment.  

I was able to visit him that night and see his injuries first hand.  I was scared.  All I wanted was for God to give him a chance.  Let him live and begin the recovery process.  I prayed for his health and asked God to heal his injuries, give him strength, courage, and time.  

Over the past couple of days, I've been visiting my friend and his condition seems to be improving.  I continue to pray for a full recovery and thank God for every blessing. 

I've been thinking about my own mortality even more this week.  I hope it subsides with time. 

I want my friend to come out of this tragedy with his health.  I want him to return to his daily blessings.  

I personally want to come out of this tragedy with more appreciation for my own daily blessings.  Friends, good times, family,  etc.  

Please pray for my friend and everyone who needs strength, faith, and healing.  

Please count your blessings.  There are many.  We just need to open our eyes and see them in front of us.  

  

What's Happening In The World?

What an incredible series of events we've experienced in the past couple of weeks.  Our planet has been rocked by natural disasters.  

The tsunami that devastated Myanmar with a death toll close to 100,000 people only reminded us of the same natural disaster that hit Indonesia and killed 250,000 people.  

Then the US experienced tornadoes that killed 22 people and injured hundreds more across multiple states.  

Then an overpopulated region in China experiences an earthquake that may have killed another 100,000 people.  

These natural disasters make many wonder "what's going on?".  Why are these things happening? Is this a sign from our maker?  Are these events leading us to Armageddon?  

Everyday, the inhabitants of this planet experience losses of life, tragedies, and events that not only change our lives, but dampen our spirits.  These events also test our beliefs, hopes, and faith.  They challenge our minds, spirit, and souls as well as the pillars of our societies.  

How we respond is an individual choice.  Everyone has different perspectives on these moments.  Reactions are as varied as the languages we speak and places where we live.  

However, all of us have something in common.  The value and measurement of TIME.  

When time is up for someone or something we appreciate, we feel a sense of loss.  Our own mortality is magnified for a fleeting moment.  In the process of mourning or experiencing a loss, we are reminded that our own time can be taken away within seconds.....

Take a moment, if you watch the news, read the paper, or stay current on world events... appreciate your own time.  Commit to living every moment like it's your last.  

Some people stay away from the media or negative communication.  They feel this insulates them from these tragic events and somehow spares them the grief.   

I would advise you shouldn't avoid these events.  You should embrace them as unfortunate events that only magnify our own mortality and challenge our faith and paradigms about life.  

Appreciate everything you have and take nothing for granted.  

Carpe Diem!  Seize the moment!  Live it like it's your last.....  you never know.... it may be. 

Happy Birthday!

I happen to manage a large workforce in my current occupation.  Probably around 350-400 employees.   Every month, I sit down and personally sign Birthday cards for my employees. While I'm doing this, I sometimes wonder if they even read them or care.  

Then, as I visit my stores and locations, an employee will approach me and thank me for their card.  And there it is.....the answer I need.  Yes, they do appreciate my effort to recognize the most important day in one's life.  

Happy Birthday!  What do you think about this day?  Have you ever thought about it?  Is it the most important day in a life?  Do you recognize and remember to wish someone Happy Birthday?  

On April 25, 1966, God brought an angel into this world.  She was born in Wheeling, West Virginia.  She would later move to Houston, Texas and at the age of 17, meet a lost, poor boy who would then fall in love with her forever.   On June 16, 1990, she blessed the young man with the ultimate commitment of love, she married him and took his name.  

He would never be the same after that day.  He knew that God would never had introduced an Angel to him if he didn't believe in him and have bigger things in store for his life.   She would be by his side providing him with love, support, and the inspiration to grow up and become a successful man.  Successful in college, business, life, and as a father and husband.  

So this week, on April 25th, I once again thanked God for my Angel as I do every night before I go to sleep.  Her birthday is a day that I recognize as a gift.  It is the most important day in her life and means as much to me, her parents, siblings, children, and close friends, as to her.  

My Angel has blessed me with three other Angels.  My children.  So you can now see why I consider a birthday to be the most important day in life.  It can change many lives, generations, and the world.....

Now go out there and commit to recognizing the birthdays of your loved ones.  Haven't they changed your life?  How hard is it?  

Happy Birthday!   

CEOs, layoffs, self employment, LIFETIMERS.......

This past week, my employer decided to reduce staffing to "improve shareholder value". Although we were told this was inevitable when we went public with our stock, we could never imagine the extent and depth of these reductions in the workforce.  In situations like this, the company always refers to their people as "staff" or "labor"....... Isn't that funny?  We don't just say "people", we refer to them as workforce, labor, or staff.  When the news or media question the reason for the reductions, the company always says it's what's best for the shareholders.  

These are the people that have invested their money in company stock and look and expect a return on their investment. 

This business model is really interesting.  CEOs basically take over companies and have to improve the bottom line.  The quickest and easiest way to do this is reduce expenses or staff. The remaining workforce must perform more work for the same pay.  This improvement in productivity is then "recognized" by the CEO and shareholders and everyone is told what a fine job they're doing.  

Then, months go by, the stock isn't moving like the Board of Directors expects so the CEO announces another round of reductions...... and so the vicious circle continues.  

The share price goes up, the Senior Managers or "shareholders" get richer, more people lose their jobs.  

I don't blame the CEOs for taking advantage of this model and maximizing their compensation. 

I only took this opportunity to once again remind myself how we need to really take actions to insure our own financial independence and freedom.  This decision will probably not include being employed by a company.  Employment really is another way of defining forfeiture of our freedom or destiny.  We let an entity and it's representatives dictate our financial position. 

A major issue with this model is that when the employer or representative is dissatisfied with our work or output, we can be disposed of and replaced.  

Now look at self employment.  If you run your own business, you may upset one or two clients but you're able to rebound and continue if you diversify your customer base.  

Which business model seems to be the wiser choice if one's truly concerned with managing their "lifetime"?  

Let's all get out there and figure out how to generate income in a new business model where we call the shots and control our own destiny.  

My Last Lecture

On the front cover of today's Parade magazine there is the story of Randy Pausch, a Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Melon University. He is 48 years old and diagnosed with Terminal Pancreatic Cancer and given only 3 months to live.
He is asked to give his Last Lecture as a Professor and decides not to cancel, instead putting himself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for his children.
He shares a couple of priorities we all should embrace:

• Always have fun
• Ask for what you want
• Dare to take a risk
• Look for the best in everybody
• Make time for what matters
• Let kids be themselves

Rather than try to steal his thunder, I recommend that you visit www.Parade.com and search for the article. There is a link to the video of is last lecture on youtube. I will post it on the left side of my blog under favorites for you. It's about an hour and worth watching. How often do we get to give a last lecture or prepare a legacy speech for our family and friends.

This may be an exercise we all should perform. Prepare a Legacy Lecture.

I'm going to start working on mine......

Easter TIME!

Easter is an interesting time of year for me. My mother passed away on Good Friday and I couldn't help but ponder the coincidence of her passing. She had sacrificed her family to come live in the United States and raise my brother and I. I now appreciate her sacrifice more than ever and even own a pendant in honor of her. The story of the resurrection is often debated and misinterpreted.
I was watching some sermons on television Easter morning and couldn't help but notice a couple of good ones.
The pastor was talking about the importance of Easter and the validity of the story. He went on to make the observation that every person in this country recognizes the story of the resurrection throughout everyday of their lives. How you ask?
By looking at the date or day of week. Our calendar is based on this act. We believe this is the beginning of "time" and mark it as AD. (After Death) We consider all of time before this event as BC (Before Christ).

I thought this was a very interesting observation and it made me appreciate the story of our most popular maker even more. It reminded me how important it is to give thanks on a daily basis for our blessings and live life to the fullest. I could now tie the Date with my opportunity to express my gratitude.

The second sermon was regarding how we should live our lives. The pastor said that there seems to be too much emphasis on living a "humble" and mediocre life when translating the Bible. He went on to say that this was not a teaching of the Bible and that our maker wants us to maximize our lives in every way. This would include our wealth, resources, happiness, family, love, fellowship, etc.....

Again, we only have so much time on this planet, let's make the best of it while we're here in all facets of life. We should pursue joy and not have any regrets or reservations due to other people's sentiments. Just make sure we shine our light on others as we move through time....

Marriage and Kids.....do we need them?

I was talking with a fellow parent this week about raising kids when it made me think about their role in this world.  

Have you ever thought what would the world be like with no kids?  What about without marriage?  

Do we need either to enjoy our lives and live to the fullest?  

Many people are single today and some have kids and some don't.  I'm not sure there are any studies that indicate either one is happier than the other.  

Now I have read studies that married couples are happier, have more sex, memories, vacations, etc......but that's another story.  

Do you think we as humans were designed to be single or married?  Are we supposed to have kids or not?  Is the idea of staying with one mate our entire life outrageous?  

Many people that are married with kids often think about what it would be like without them and many singles wonder about marriage and kids.  There's a movie out there that touches on the topic with great comedy yet impact.  Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni star in it, The Family Man.  If you haven't rented it, please do.  

I personally can't imagine life without my wife and kids.  Sure it gets stressful and is full of responsibilities and sacrifices.  Fortunately for me, my wife shares my values for family and purpose.  My legacy includes my wife and children and hopefully I can provide them with plenty of content for future discussions and words of wisdom once I leave this earth.  

Either way, married or single, parent or not, go out there and leave your legacy for your families and friends.   At the end of the day, JOY is what we want and may find it in mysterious places.  We may find it in solitude, or in crowds or groups.  

At the end of the day, if you don't look for and pursue it, you many not ever find it.