Who Doesn’t Need a Fresh Start?

I think we all realize we’ve made mistakes in the past, whether with spouses, children, parents, coworkers, etc. Sometimes the only person “injured” by the mistake was ourselves.

One great thing about the end of the old year and, more importantly, the start of the new year, is the perfect time for a new beginning – a fresh start. We don’t necessarily have to make resolutions, but we might decide to take advantage of the fresh start today! The fact that it’s the beginning of the year is a bonus.

I've been thinking a lot about what's really important and how much I do that just isn't. I'm becoming much more aware that the time I spend on that stuff really steals from the time I would spend on what matters to me. One thing I want to do starting today, is to focus more on what matters most. 

I like quotes and pithy sayings, and one of my favorites goes something like, "No man ever said on his deathbed, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'" The quote is attributed to the late Senator Paul Tsongas but I'm not sure if it originated with him. Either way, it serves as a checkpoint for me when I'm all caught up in some project that starts to absorb me. When you really like what you do, there's a risk that you'll fall into the "too much of a good thing" trap. Yes, that's the voice of experience.

I've developed a new appreciation for balance in my life. This will be one of my primary goals for 2011. Part of that goal is to have a clearer picture of the things I value most. The other part is to identify the things I spend time on that don't have to be done at all, or at least don't have to be done by me.

So I'm finished with this post, and I'll tweet it for anyone interested, then I'm off to play a video game with my sons. They like it cuz I'm "easy pickings". I like it because we're spending time together and whether we should have passed or blitzed or whatever, isn't the only stuff we talk about. :-)

How will you start 2011?

How do we know what’s inside us without being tested?

I went to visit my Mom while she was connected to the Ventilator (breathing machine) in the Intensive Care Unit. At the time, she was breathing on her own, but she was unconscious and unresponsive. In fact, she was at death’s door. I knew she might leave this life at any moment, and I was already feeling the loss that seemed inevitable.

While I watched her labored breathing, I began to think about her battles with so many forms of cancer, and the grace and strength she had shown since her first cancer nearly forty-five years ago. I also thought about the example she set for me and her influence on my life.

I now believe that a person cannot be the same after a close encounter with death - either their own, or that of a loved one. It makes us face our own mortality and evaluate our priorities. This is one of the questions that came to me that day.

How do we know what’s inside us without being tested?

How does a person develop the ability to go forward when everything around them says “give up”? What prepares some people to be “heroes” when called upon? The size of the person inside has nothing to do with the size of the person outside. How can a person suffer terribly, yet keep a smile on their face? How can they look past their own problems and worry about other people’s needs?

What do I really believe, and believe in? What could cause me to turn back? Will I press on?

What do you think?

What is the meaning of Life?

I decided to have a question of the day as my theme. Okay, maybe I could have started with something a little easier, like "What is the meaning of poptarts?"  But this is my first blog post afterall, so maybe you'll give me a break.  Besides, I'll get the tough ones out of the way while no one is following.


So what is the meaning of life? No easy answer for sure, but it seems the answer must include some notion of purpose, loving others, giving of oneself and finding satisfaction in oneself. It's hard to ponder something like that without touching some notion of God.


Maybe my question should have been, "What is my purpose in life?"  Maybe, "How do you know what your purpose in life is?"  I would offer that a purpose should inspire energy and action.  It's the kind of thing that makes you want to improve something or help someone.  And not because you might get something for your actions. You feel like doing it because it's the right thing to do.  Doing it IS a reward.


Without pulling a "bait & switch" make you'll allow me to change the question to, "What is the meaning of MY life?"  I've decided that I have a lot of things I want to do in the time I have left, and I need to be a little more active in doing them.  I don't think I have just one purpose, but having a purpose, or "cause" isn't hard.  What's hard is getting your purpose turned into values, and your values into priorities, and your priorities into actions.


That's my take for today.  Please help me by sharing your views.


thanks!