Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2012.  I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone.  The reality is I say the same thing every year.  In any case, my best to everyone.

I also want to thank everyone for their cards, emails, and calls following my heart surgery on  October 28th.  I was overwhelmed and humbled by your caring and support.

I know at this time of year we make resolutions.  One of mine is to blog more often.  I admit that I’ve said this before, but I hope to do better in this area.  I enjoy writing and I enjoy sharing ideas so I don’t why it is so difficult for me to blog on a regular basis.  I guess I just have to make it a habit.  Hold me accountable!!  :-).

I will leave you with a quote I was just reminded of the other day:  Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  Today is a gift.  That’s why it’s called the present.  

Popular??

I was thinking the other day about the word “popularity” and what it means to be “popular” and I said to myself, I wonder how many people keep striving for that “popularity.” So here’s what I did: I looked up the word “popular” and it said, “well-liked, accepted, admired.” I said, “Okay. That’s not a bad definition.” I mean most people want to be liked, accepted and admired. I get that and I’m okay with that. So then I looked up the word “popularity” and it said that it means “fame, status, reputation, well recognized, and well known.” Okay is that always a good thing. I don’t think so. People can be famous “popular,” well recognized and/or well known because of negative things and just because someone is any or all of those doesn’t mean to me that they are necessarily a good person. So, I had to sort through it a bit. So, let me elaborate and clarify what I’m getting at. I think that we should all strive to be not necessarily “popular” but to be liked, accepted and respected by people that we like and respect. I guess what I’m trying to say it that I think that some people do things that they really don’t want to do or like to do or know is wrong to be “popular” because of the peer pressure from people who I’m not sure they really need to please. In fact, in my opinion, doing things to please others or behaving in ways that are not right is not necessary, nor advisable just to be popular with anyone. People should like us because of who we are and how we treat others not because we do things to be “popular.” There’s an old quote that says: “What’s right is not always popular and what’s popular is not always right.” I prefer well liked and well respected and that’s what I think we should all strive for. That to me is a quality person. Don’t strive to be popular. That’s not where it’s at. Someone may be “popular” but that really doesn’t tell me anything about that person’s character and integrity. Well-liked and well respected tells me a lot more about them.

Our Work Ethic

I think we all look to be successful in whatever we do. One of the keys to success is our work ethic. Our work ethic is the effort we put into our work, our schooling, our personal life and any other activities we participate in. We all expect everyone’s best and we should get everyone’s best. When I go to the doctor, I expect the doctor to be competent, caring, conscientious, and committed to his or her work. When I am a passenger on an airplane, I expect the very best from the pilot. We have to look at ourselves every day and ask the following: Are we honestly and sincerely doing the very best we can in whatever we’re doing or are we looking to get away with as much as we can by doing as little as possible just to get by? The answer to that question will tell us much about you as a person and will determine your true character and makeup.

It’s Time Folks!!

I’m not very happy with the way the economy is going and I do believe that it is repairable if everyone – politicians from the left and the right, the business community, and others would truly work together to come up with some viable solutions. I understand that sacrifices need to be made on everyone’s part for the common good. (Do we remember from the Constitution “the common good,” or have we all forgotten that term and become so self-serving and self-absorbed and replaced “the common good,” with the, “what’s good for me?” Sometimes it seems that way). Come on folks; let’s get this done. It is not just about you or me. It is about all of us. We are “The United States of America”. We can get this done. We need to get it done. We have to get it done. At some point, if we don’t, it may be too late and many, many more people will get hurt and suffer. That is not acceptable to me and I hope it’s not acceptable to you. Now is the time to move this economy forward. All options should be on the table. We cannot afford to wait any longer.

Remembering September 11

As we approach the 10th year of the 9/11 attacks this weekend – specifically on Sunday – I cannot in my heart call it an anniversary -because to me an anniversary is a happy occasion and celebration. This is not that in any way, shape or form. This is a remembrance and reminder of a horrific attack on our nation. Thousands of people, including my family, lost members of their family and lost many dear friends on that horrible day. We must be reminded of this event and ensure that we as a nation not forget this day ever and be aware and vigilant in our efforts to thwart any future attacks on our nation. Thank you to all of our military personnel, federal agencies, first responders and all law enforcement agencies across the country for everything they do to keep us safe.

Welcome Back!!

Welcome Back: To all students, teachers and other staff members: Welcome back to the 2011-2012 school year. I hope that you all get off to a great start this year and maintain it throughout the year and beyond. It is important for all of us to have a good, positive attitude, work hard, not give up and always continue to do the very best we can in whatever we do. To students: Please remember that your teachers and other staff members are there to help you, guide you, encourage you and support you. Take advantage of all of the opportunities provided to you by your school. To teachers, administrators, counselors, and other staff members: Please give every student every possible opportunity to be successful and do whatever you can to assist, motivate, inspire and support your students. I wish all of you a great school year.

3rd Printing

Thank you, again, to everyone who has gotten a copy of my book. I appreciate your support. We just did our 3rd printing and I am very happy so far with the response to the book. Thank you to those of you who have provided me with feedback. I appreciate your time and efforts in doing that.

I Don’t Always Agree With My Wife On Everything

This philosophy or belief that even within one’s own political party you can’t disagree is almost like or similar to a cult mentality. No one can possibly agree with everyone on everything. I don’t always agree with my wife on everything. So we discuss it, compromise and work it out. We are becoming a nation of extremists on both the right and the left and we all need to move to the center. Extremism is never productive and, in fact, is counter productive, and in the worst-case scenario, dangerous. We are called a democracy for a reason. We elect people to do what is in the best interest of the nation as a whole, not as to what is best for the most extreme wing of one’s political party.

It’s called COMPROMISE

Have any of our elected officials ever heard of the word COMPROMISE? Check the history book, folks. Remember Henry Clay, the Great Compromise, etc. If my personal finances were in the same horrible shape that this country’s finances are in I would have to do 2 things simultaneously: I would have to cut my expenses and increase my income (revenue). That’s a duh. So when our Republican “friends” come to the table and say, “No tax increases,” then they have totally eliminated one of the two necessary solutions to this problem. What’s more important: Getting re-elected or saving this country from an economic collapse. Is it more important to defeat Obama or have us all go down the tube? I just wish that at least one of our Republican “friends” would just have the courage and guts to stand up and say, “My country first. Let’s all work together and compromise and get this done.” I believe it was Harry Truman who said, “It’s amazing what we can accomplish if we don’t care who gets the credit.” Elected officials: Please don’t play with my future or my children’s future.

Happy 4th

Happy Birthday, USA. As we celebrate another 4th of July, let’s remember what freedom means for all people and let’s all work together to ensure that all members of our society have the same opportunity to participate in our democracy. Our opportunities should not be limited by our zip code or for any other reasons. We all deserve a chance to participate in our democracy. Thank you, America, for the freedoms we enjoy and for the opportunities this great country provides. We need to work together to ensure our continued success. Let me close with this quote: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, working together is success.”