A Better Life

The most amazing part of my work day is the walk I take around a pond which is situated between a bunch of office buildings. No matter how bad my day may be going, I always look forward to seeing the ducks. They are usually swimming, resting, eating or just talking to each other (I don’t know what they are saying but I imagine it is dreadfully interesting). The weather does exact a certain influence on their festivities but they just seem to not have a care in the world. How much more would we accomplish if we could just be like the ducks? How many hours have we wasted worrying about things we cannot control? In my life I have never accomplished a thing worrying but I have spent a great number of hours with this worthless activity. To be honest most of what I have worried about never came to pass. How much better would my time had been spent with family, friends or just focused on my job? Now I try to remember that no matter how bad things get the ducks just swim about without...

As the day of reckoning (election day for your mere mortals) we are faced with a barrage of media hype to sway our vote for that faithful contest to determine who will get to put their feet up in the grand White House.  Along with many other Americans, I have registered to vote but for the life of me I have no clue who to vote for so I may be writing in my selection.  For my money I believe Mickey Mouse would be a better candidate than either of the Bozo's we have to choose from.  Mickey runs a multinational corporation.  He has dealt with foreign relations on a grand scale (ever considered the logistics and nightmare of distribution for a worldwide release?).  He is heavily involved in settling conflicts not only between races but between species.  He has an extremely high approval rating.  Can either candidate boast that they ever negotiated with Steve Jobs of Apple, Inc. and won?  No, I did not think so.  I have very serious doubts about w...

Throughout my life I have found inspiration in many different places. Sometimes it is while doing something totally mindless like walking down stairs, brushing teeth, shaving , etc. Other time it is more serendipitous like working on one task which isn’t going anywhere and getting an idea that has nothing to do with the task at hand. My favorite ways to be inspired involve observing others. I used to go to a mall, the bigger the better, sit on a bench and just watch people as they strolled by sometimes even hearing bits and pieces of conversations. This can lead one to think about who are these people, where are they from, what are they doing here and will I ever going to see these people again. I find it helpful just to wonder and imagine a story for each of these people, especially the more interesting ones. You will see couples, triples and even throngs of people making their way from one store to the next with nothing more on their mind but what should I get Uncle Jerry for ...

How many times have you been asked “What Do You Want?”.  This could be with respect to what to have for dinner, what movie to watch or what college to attend.  How do you answer these questions?  Do they really want to know what you want or for you to agree with what they have already decided?  So many times I believe this is not so much a question for honest input but more for affirmation for a decision already made.  This puts one in a very awkward position how they should answer this particular question.  Personally, I find the most appropriate answer is the honest truth.  You will know immediately if they were really wanting the truth or for you to agree with their predetermined choice.  In my dealings with people I try to keep this in mind and when I ask this question I am honestly wanting them to tell me what they want not what I want them to want.  Makes life much easier.  However, if your goal is to not hurt their feelings there ...

Six words that send chills down my spine, What is in it for me? Recently while conversing with a close friend these words were uttered and it made me think about the human condition. This really sums up most of our motivations doesn’t it? We always want to know that if we invest in this person, event or idea that we will be rewarded. Our time and effort do have worth but is that really all there is to life? Do we really have to put a dollar value on everything we do? I believe sometimes you spend time and effort on people, places or things just for the reward of doing it. The fun is in the journey not the final destination. I would love to think that most people look beyond what they can get but in reality we are a pretty greedy bunch. For instance, taking a walk around the neighborhood can be seen as a waste of time but in actuality you would be amazed how much good can come from this simple event. You get exercise, fresh air and you never know who you may run into as you s...

This past week has been one of the most difficult I can remember.  This includes the 2 years of anguish I suffered that culminated in my divorce.  First I had lost a cousin I grew up with.  We would go over to his house to play, he would come over to our house.  We went through Junior High and High School together.  I knew his wife, sister and his mother is one of my favorite aunts.  As losses go, this was a hard one.  He was was also one of my step-fathers favorite nephews.  My cousin worked for the railroad, same one my step-father worked for and enjoyed very much.  The other thing is my cousins father died when he was a baby and was someone my step-father looked up to.  His father had been fighting in Korea and contracted a disease which presented itself as cancer which also killed my cousin and is now affecting his sister.  So, going to a funeral which was a tragedy but when we (my girlfriend had accompanied me for support) arr...

Ever been approached to do something you just know is wrong but yet find yourself considering doing it anyway just to avoid conflict? I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me. Ironically it usually involves someone I should be able to trust. It is amazing to me how often people will use a personal relationship built on trust or at least the illusion of trust to pursue their own agenda. No matter what pain this may cause the other person they have no problem manipulating and beating down the other person. Would this be so bad if it was a perfect stranger? Is the problem amplified because of the betrayal of trust? I believe it is a matter of opportunity more than anything else. I find it more painful that someone would betray my trust rather than thrust upon me one scam or another. In light of the fact that a trusting relationship has been betrayed it is even more hurtful when they use privileged information to further their cause to take what is not theirs. Amazingly...