I was chatting over e-mail with my Uncle recently (you may have heard his interview in our latest podcast), and the subject of following one's dreams came up. He expressed how sad it is that so many people wait until they retire before they pursue their dreams and goals. Unfortunately for many, he noted, that day never comes. This is coming from a guy in his mid-fifties coming off a quadruple bypass operation. He mentioned that when people actually do retire, the average number of Social Security checks they are able to cash before they die is... eighteen. I'm not sure what his source …
Maintain Perspective
Use it or Lose it
Apparently many American’s do not take all of their allotted vacation time. What’s wrong with us? I just read a very interesting article about this on WashingtonPost.com, called “Vacation Deprivation: The Lost Art of Taking Time Off.” The article pointed out, ‘workers are expected to give back 574 million vacation days in 2006, depriving themselves of much-needed breaks, according to Expedia.com's annual vacation deprivation survey. The number of vacation days employees are skipping this year increased by one over last year. On average, Americans leave at least four days unclaimed annually. …
The Urge to Discipline
You’ve been there. You’re in a public place, minding your own business, when you have the sudden urge to parent someone else’s youngster. Now, this urge doesn’t just come out of nowhere. It is always preceded by a heavy dose of non-parenting behavior on the part of that same youngster’s parent, or in some cases parents. This happened all too often in my kindergarten class, when it came to younger siblings who were coming along to ‘help’ pick up their big brother or sister from school. This also happened to me a couple of weeks ago when Jason and I were shopping for Father’s Day gifts. …
Are Kids Supposed to Make Parents Happy?
Childlike. Childish. There is a difference. Not everything about kids is worth emulating. For instance, they have a pretty good handle on being childish. (I guess that's why they call it being "childish," and not "adultish.") Children can be quite compassionate and perceptive to the needs of others, but, left to their own desires, they can also be quite selfish. They have to be instructed in the ways of sharing things like toys and candy and the backseat. It is true that grown-ups are responsible for developing a less me-centered attitude in kids (and shows like Nanny 911 thrive on those …
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Taking Things for Granted
This weekend Jason and I got a chance to see Toad the Wet Sprocket in concert. They are one of the bands that Jason and I listened to all of the time in college and have in our many iTunes playlists. Every song was a “classic.” The concert was awesome! When we got home I was listening to some of my favorites on our iPod in bed that night. One song hit me more than the others. It’s called, "I Will Not Take These Things For Granted.” It’s a slower song and well worth the 99 cent download, if you don’t already have it. The lyrics hit me because of a recent tragic death of a family friend a few …
Midnight Multitasking
Family weddings can get a little crazy, especially out-of-town weddings. As you saw from my last post my sister got married last weekend. It was a beautiful wedding with a beautiful bride! By the end of the night, after the happy bride and groom had left the reception, lots of people were helping clean-up and everyone was pretty tired, to say the least. The next morning we got up and were making our brunch plans in the parking lot of the hotel. One of the trunks got opened to put some bags in and a sweet discovery was made. The groom’s cake! …
Set-Up for Failure
Jason and I got a chance to catch an episode of "Honey We're Killing the Kids" the other night on TLC. I was, like many people, intrigued by the concept. The premise deals with the important issue of childhood obesity. In true reality TV fashion, an expert (in this case, a nutrition expert) comes into an "extreme" household and shakes it all up, giving them challenges that are meant to improve their lifestyles. Some of the challenges have included: "Sack the sugar," "Family eats together," "Set a bedtime routine," "Limit television hours" and "Exercise together." It's so sad that these …
We Belong
"So, how old ARE you?" This was not the first time I've been asked this. Being a young teacher, this was a common question, usually from parents who were 10-15 years older than me. Now, being self-employed and meeting new people all of the time, I find the same question is common. This happened just recently to me in two different situations. In one situation Jason and I were the youngest two by about 10-15 years, at a table for a business dinner. Of all of the questions and topics to bring up at dinner, apparently our age "made the cut." I should take it as a compliment, but the tone of …
The Journey, Not the Destination
Kim and I are in Palo Alto this evening, the heart of Silicon Valley. Tomorrow we'll head north to Modesto for a business conference at which I'm speaking. Amidst all of the traveling and all the neat places we've been, I've discovered that the best part of it all has to do with people. …
Hobbies
Kim and I are on the first leg of a four state, thirteen day, nine speaking engagement whirlwind. Tonight finds me in a hotel in Indianapolis. I spoke to a group of adults this morning, and about 100 teenagers this evening. Tomorrow is another group of grown-ups, followed by a family presentation. Kim and I like to play a game where she says, "Gun's to your head: where are you?" Today I passed the test with flying colors, but it might be tricky in a week. …