Is Your Life Interesting?

“While I was lying there, my whole life passed before my eyes. And you know what scared me more than anything else? It wasn’t even interesting!”
— Sgt Edward Garlick in “Good Morning, Vietnam” as he describes his thoughts after falling off a bicycle and nearly getting run over by a truck
We have all heard the [...]

Why Hold Back?

I was watching the Disney Young Musicians concert, and was struck by their incredible passion; the emotion that flowed out of them; the JOY they displayed for what they were doing .  they let their heart & soul do the playing.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I watched. They were not only good musically, they were so much FUN [...]

A Child has Died

Recently a child my kids went to school with accidentally died. This is the seventh child I either knew well, or knew the parents well, who has died. Now I have to prepare myself for what has often become the  sequel – the dissolving of a marriage.
Of the children I have known who have [...]

Saving a Moth

Last night as I let the dog out, a large moth flew in. This morning it was banging against the bedroom window and I felt sorry for it. I took the screen out, cranked the window open and waved my hand behind it to shoo it out the window.
As it flew [...]

Epiphany #1 - Have no Expectations

“If I have no expectations, I will never be frustrated.” — Dave Laxton
There are three emotions I absolutely hate. Those are Guilt, Failure and Frustration. Over time, I have found that mine are not too different from most people’s. It is pretty easy to do something about eliminating Guilt - don’t lie [...]

Trust is the Hardest to Gain and the Easiest to Lose

Why does an affair damage a relationship more than anything else.  It’s not the sex.  It’s the broken trust.  And why is that so damaging?  There are lots of other ways that we mistreat our relationships.  Lack of respect.  Lack of fiscal responsibility. Lack of support regarding raising the kids.
Trust is the hardest thing for [...]

Rude = Self-Centered

I recently read The Ten Commandments of Cell Phone Etiquette (InfoWorld).  Gosh, this is a perfect description of Self-Centered people.  At first glance, they simply appear to be rude people.  I think the cause of all rudeness is self-centeredness.  Rudeness is simply the outward display.
My mantra for the past week or so (I try not [...]

Self-esteem is #1

“If I had more self-esteem when I was younger,” she said, “I wouldn’t have been caught up with such a rotten man.” — Kimberly Bell, Barry Bond’s former mistress
Having raised five of my own kids, five step-children and having over twenty foster children in my home at one time or another, I absolutely [...]

What Are You Made For?

“Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships were made for.” – William Shedd
My wife says the word “content” or “contentment” should be banned. Why would anyone settle for a life of contentment?
Oh, I know. It’s nice and it’s mellow and it’s low stress and it’s … well, [...]

Oprah Changes After Her Dog Dies

I recently read about how Oprah is slowing her life down because she realized that living life at a fast pace (like her dog did) was not good. I don’t agree. Her dog lived life HER WAY. Oprah says that she was “always so full of joy”.
So why would you want to [...]