Loving some neighbors is hard especially when they put out the wrong political yard sign. I struggle to even tolerate them this time of year. And yet, these are families I know and love, so I work harder at it. Then I wonder about people across town and in other parts of my state. Do I have to love them too?
Experiences, like choices, do matter. They guide, coach and teach us throughout our lives. But as Albert Camus says, “You must undergo it.” Undergo it is just what a small group of 14 boys and dads from Troop 55 did this summer. They spent two weeks hiking the trails of Philmont Scout Ranch, a 137,000-acre Boy Scouts of America high adventure base, located in the rugged mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico.
Years ago, I made the choice to own a pickup truck. Of course I knew friends would want to borrow it, for moving to a new home, taking stuff to Goodwill, or bringing home their huge Christmas tree, but that didn’t stop me. My truck is a simple F-150 4×4 regular cab, short bed with a manual transmission. There is no carpet, and only crank windows with large wing vents for a great breeze on a summer day. The one luxury is an old cassette deck. The truck is twenty years old, simple and mine …
A fresh group of athletes from 176 countries are arriving in Rio de Janeiro to compete in the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games. From September 7 to September 18, competitors will go for the gold in 528 events – and, dare I say, with more courage than the participants who recently moved out of Olympic Village.
In the short time following the game’s release on July 6, 2016, Pokémon Go has gained over 10 million American users. These gamers are now outside, walking around parks and noteworthy places in their neighborhoods, searching for Pokémon, instead of sitting inside on their sofas. That’s right, the players are up and moving – walking! Getting EXERCISE, even if they don’t realize it.
Many people today don’t seem to even know where they are. I am told we check our phones on average 15 times each hour. That’s once every four minutes! What are these head down phone checkers missing? For sure they miss the beauty of the new day and the opportunity to spend time in the moment.
Do you wait before beginning a new venture, only to miss the opportunity? Do what you want to do, but stop only getting ready. Planning is important but, “Ready, Fire, Aim – with Trust” could be the best advice. That way you can keep aiming after you have already begun, trusting the process. Take for example, my friend Larry …
As we enter the general election season, I’ve decided that I have had enough. Too many sound bites, too much hysteria, and too little deep discussion of complex issues is as bad for me as too much sugar. The 24-hour news cycle has overloaded my head, like Twinkies once overloaded my stomach.
Summer is my favorite season. I have more cherished memories from these warm months than any other. Maybe I remember these times more fondly because summers seemed more relaxed, and my family spent more time together. The days were longer, for one thing, so we could go for ice cream after dinner. Whatever the reason – I love summer.
Can something like delivering bread be the key to business success? You bet! Sometimes, you may be just the person to do the simplest job. Case in point. Even though every customer was important, it was always special when I got an appointment with the president of my largest distributor customer. Those meetings could turn to gold – overnight. That day, Howard, Jr. was giving me his complete attention, at least until his phone rang …