reflection

Making A Case For Travelers

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It was August, 1974. I was standing on a bluff. Behind me was Accra, capital city of Ghana, one of sixteen countries forming Africa’s 4,000-mile western edge. Below and stretching outward to the horizon was the Atlantic Ocean.

Except the water wasn’t the expected blue. Instead, it was light brown. Not until about a mile out did the brown end and the blue begin.

Suddenly, logic was giving me mixed signals. As a tourist, my thinking was that surely the ugly, disgusting, and repulsive brown wasn’t what I thought it could be. As a traveler, I was hoping that wasn’t … Read the rest “Making A Case For Travelers”

On The Rocks

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It had been another day of driving on western roads, the kind where what looked so close up ahead was actually much farther away.

I finally quit at 5 o’clock not because I was ready to call it a day but rather because the distance to the next town was too great. Even then, it wasn’t much more than one of those “wide place in the road” communities with a sign that says: Welcome! We are glad to see you! and another sign that says: Come back again!

There was one motel. A bell on the counter summoned an elderly … Read the rest “On The Rocks”

Life’s Four Levels Of Learning

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Logically if not methodically, we begin to learn as soon as we are born and continue to learn until we take our last breath.

At first, it’s primitive like fussing loudly until someone changes our wet diaper or eagerly reaching toward food that’s about to be given to us. No matter how simple or direct our efforts, we are rewarded.

That’s the beginning of the first shelf of learning — what we learn from family. Not until later do we realize how many opportunities are provided by family members: the uncle who is an auto mechanic, the cousin who is … Read the rest “Life’s Four Levels Of Learning”

An Unprecedented Happening

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Yes, what I am about to describe to you has never happened before.

I am writing this at 3 A.M. on Wednesday. My latest column about timing was posted early yesterday and by late afternoon I had already received a note from a reader in Arizona who told me how much she enjoyed reading the column. 

Fast forward to a few minutes ago deep in the middle of the night when my sub-conscience confirmed that yes, it was a good column except I hadn’t gone far enough. That is, as soon as one recognizes that the time is right, it’s … Read the rest “An Unprecedented Happening”

No, You Aren’t Alone

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Most authors of columns such as this probably think of themselves as being merchants of knowledge — educating, informing, urging, enlightening, and in some cases, even offering support.

Aside from serving intellectual or uplifting mental food to the masses, however, they are prompted to keep it more personal, recognizing or describing small particles rather than chunks of this event we call life. 

At first, my only reason for creating the website was to inform people of my first book. Soon afterward, however, I recognized it as a chance to share with others much of what I’ve learned over the years as … Read the rest “No, You Aren’t Alone”

Then There Is January

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It’s ten minutes after midnight. You decided to stay up long enough to see the ball drop in Times Square. Now, it feels good to turn out the light and slide under the covers. You feel relaxed even if some fireworks are still being set off by some of your neighbors. 

Then comes a lull followed a few seconds later by a dazzling flash of light and a really BIG BANG, then nothing but quiet. 

You smile as you realize the folks had purposely saved the loudest for the last. In dramatic fashion, it signaled that the old year was … Read the rest “Then There Is January”

Hanging Loose While Pulling Tight

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No one lived up to that title better than Wade, a guy I met while serving in the U.S. Army. He began the day happy, and insisted on staying that way until the lights went out that night. There was nothing fake about those smiles or him. As a person, he was genuine.

That, however, was only half the story. Although he often laughingly and sometimes with a dash of daring tried to put elastic into a normally hard and fast rule, he never broke one. Fact is, he cast a dim view toward anyone who did.

Looking at Wade … Read the rest “Hanging Loose While Pulling Tight”

Two Bits of Smarts

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Want to become rich and famous? For a price, hundreds of thousands of books, videos, lectures, and motivational speakers will tell you how.

The magic, however, may lie in forgotten, ignored, or unknown strategies so plain and simple they come for free, so powerful you may never forget them.

Here’s the first one.

Sometimes, someone who seems to be low in self esteem will ask me for help. They’re unable to see, much less imagine, how much talent they have to offer the world. Rather than me doing the heavy lifting, I challenge them to discover that for themselves.

I … Read the rest “Two Bits of Smarts”