by Skip Cohen

It's been over ten years since I started writing Sunday Morning Reflections. I started it because I wanted to write about what I was feeling outside the business of photography. Going off track has become as much for me as it is for you. Often, a Reflections post is a blueprint for how I'll spend my Sunday.

This morning, I had a hard time deciding what to write about. I made the mistake of doom-scrolling through Facebook, which took me down a path of frustration and even depression. The world is a mess, and I simply didn't want to write about what so many of us already feel.  That's when it occurred to me that it had been a long time since I'd shared Melody Beattie's wisdom. She's an incredibly talented writer, and just like most of you who need that first cup of coffee in the morning, I needed something inspirational to get me going. ​

Sheila and I have declared today a "slug-day."  No plans ahead except a great breakfast and chilling with the pups. We're going to kick back, enjoy a day that's wholly stress-free, and play. We're going to follow Melody Beattie's lead and take the time to smell the roses!

Wishing all of you a day when you can put aside the noise of the outside world. Make whatever's in your heart a priority and take the time to recharge your battery! As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs, and if you're tuning into this blog late, I read an article in AARP Magazine many years ago that talked about the value of hugs lasting at least eleven seconds.

And if you're dealing with something stressful in your life, take some time to step away. Find yourself a place in the shade of low-stress. Look around, and I'm betting what's really most important in your life is right there in front of you. Sadly, it's often hard to find under the baggage that the world has left on your doorstep.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

When I sit down to write on a Sunday morning, I rarely have a topic in mind. I usually start by scrolling through FB notifications a bit and see if anything catches my eye. Next is a few minutes to procrastinate and play with the pups. Then it's back to the keyboard, and if there's still nothing in my head, I just start writing.

There's my warning to today's post, which may or may not finish with a message. This is the equivalent of a Sunday drive with no particular destination in mind - I'm just out for the ride.

There is a message here...I'm overwhelmed with the state of our country right now. I can't seem to find a "destination" where there's no one whining, complaining or screaming, even then it's justified. It's tough because I agree with so many of their posts. But it's not what I want today.

I want to find a place of peace that lacks the stupidity of so many different people. Even the Super Bowl, which I've always loved, has the nonsense controversy of Bad Bunny at halftime. The guy won Album of the Year, and he's a remarkable entertainer. And who really cares about the half-time show, when half the audience is watching to check out the commercials!

As I scrolled through Facebook, I had to stop...I was doom-scrolling - each post was more depressing than the one before it. And nothing will change until Congress grows a set and stands up for "We the People."

We're not putting our heads in the sand---we just want a day of rest---a break from the reality of the world! A day to appreciate what we have as a family, and we'll cope with the chaos of the world mañana. Right now, our biggest decision is the menu for watching the Super Bowl. We're going tapas-style with a little of everything we enjoy.

Here's my point: I'm wishing everybody a terrific day ahead, one where you can pull the plug on all the negativity in your life. Ignore the trolls even though they're everywhere. Definitely do your best not to get sucked into their fights... and if somebody posted something you really need to respond to because your heart just won't sit still, save it for tomorrow!

Meanwhile, stay focused on the people most important in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, and don't let anyone trample on your optimism and appreciation for life.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
Helen Keller

by Skip Cohen

Remember, Sunday Morning Reflections is rarely about business and marketing. It's my time for a little therapeutic writing, and I tend to wander wherever the keyboard and my heart take me. This morning, I'm having a hard time staying away from any topic related to how the world has turned upside down.

I don't want to share the same thoughts we're all being bombarded with every minute from social media, friends, and the news. However, there is one good thing to come out of the political scene, an expanded vocabulary. For the first time in history, more people know the word "sycophant."  And if sadly, you're still in the dark, it's an "ass-kisser," lately they're in the news all the time!

Meanwhile, in Florida, it's 38 degrees this morning. The cold weather has forced me to put on sweatpants and even socks! At the same time, like most Floridians, we're rationalizing, because in our hometown of Painesville, Ohio, it's only 7 degrees! Even the pups, Lucy and Belle, were quick to wrap up business when we took them out this morning.

The good news is that it's warm enough to light a fire and pretend we're surrounded by the charm of being at a ski resort. And there's more good news, we didn't get the 10% chance of snow that was in the forecast!

So, as Mother Nature and the government continue to turn the world upside down, I'm left with the Serenity Prayer with a slight modification...I'm accepting things I cannot change for the moment only. I know we can't change the weather, but together we can create our own "winter storm" in politics and keep the pressure on a government who's forgotten about "We the People."

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with peace and time with the people you love most in your life. If you're somewhere cold today, those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about have a practical application... staying warm! Most important of all, keep your spirit warm because that's what gets us through every crisis in life. Don't let anyone trample on your dreams!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life.
When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down "happy."
They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.
John Lennon

by Skip Cohen

Remember, Sunday Morning Reflections is rarely about business and marketing. Although today's quote is a foundation for everything we do.

​There's nothing I need to add to John Lennon's quote above, except to wish everybody a wonderful day ahead with time to savor those moments that simply make you happy! Lately, they seem to get harder and harder to find, but they're out there, too often buried in the baggage of the world that interrupts the peace in our lives.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

Eight years ago I wrote my first "Sunday Morning Reflections." The premise has never changed - it's my day to run amuck. In my second Reflections post I wrote, As usual, I'm off track - far from the topic of photography. However, if you're joining me then you already know the direction I take on Sunday mornings. And, from your response it seems the more I go off track, the better. 

I went digging through my archives this morning and here's what I wrote eight years ago in one of my first posts in the Sunday series:

As I've gotten older I've noticed how fast time seems to fly by. I'm aware of how quickly one memory seems to melt into another, and another. I've found myself caring about things that never mattered and being concerned about issues that always seemed so far removed.

The current scare over the flu epidemic is a perfect example since I'm now old enough to be close to the danger zone. In fact, just watching the news and seeing one tragedy after another has me holding Sheila just a little tighter when we snuggle up at night. 

None of us know what tomorrow will bring, and that takes me to my point this morning. We've got to do the best job we can of living our lives to the fullest. There's a unique level of awareness that comes with age. I realize just how short life really is, and how fast time literally flashes by.

It's fine to recognize things you should have done differently in the past, but life isn't about what's in your rearview mirror. It's about the journey ahead of you. Learn from your regrets and move on to that next special moment.

Looking back eight years, the only thing I remember about the flu epidemic is all the hand sanitizer stations everywhere at the hotel at IUSA in Nashville. Since then, we've lived through the pandemic, which none of us could have imagined in 2018. And, we're witnessing an increase in childhood diseases like measles, which for my generation disappeared years ago.

These days, when I hug Sheila "just a little tighter," it's usually after watching the news, not health issues! The world is upside down with a government that's forgotten about "We the People." I remember hearing somebody commenting after the last election that they were going to live in a snow globe for the next four years. Well, we love our "snow-globe," the life we've built, and do our best to maintain.

And living a life with no regrets is virtually impossible. The key is to keep your regrets in perspective, living for today and tomorrow, and accepting that nothing can change yesterday. We still have our dreams, visions, and goals. Sure, I creak a little more than I did eight years ago when I first get up in the morning, and I move a little slower...but I still refuse to act my age!

Wishing you a day filled with peace, love, and memory-making moments. Take the time to remind those people most important to you of the special role they play in your life. Go for those therapeutic eleven-second hugs. And, just to play off of one of my favorite sunset photographs above - great sunsets can't be a part of your life if you don't take the time to look at them.

Happy Sunday...or Monday, if you're on the other side of the world.

Memory...is presence in absence; it is speech in silence;
it is the endless return of a past happiness to which the heart gives immortality.
Henri Lacordaire

by Skip Cohen

Since most of you are involved in photography, I don't need to add very much to the quote above. However, author Lou Mitchell added the following:

Memories have a unique power to bring the past into the present, allowing us to relive moments of joy and connection. Even in silence, memories speak to us, offering comfort and a sense of continuity. They remind us that the happiness we've experienced can live on in our hearts, providing strength and warmth even when those moments are physically gone.

Think about how every click of your camera has captured a memory. Now, take it one step further and think about family and friends you've lost over the years. Each old photograph brings with it a backstory, allowing you to relive those moments of happiness from the past.

I rarely miss posting on Throwback Thursday. It's not because it's such a popular topic, but because old photographs and their backstories take me down Memory Lane. As I've gotten older, I've lost more friends. It simply goes with aging...but my friends live on, thanks to the miraculous power of imaging. Photography is about magic, turning intangible moments into tangible memories that last a lifetime.

It's a new year with new memories to be made and captured. In a world that's completely upside down, we'll all be taking walks down Memory Lane. We can't escape our responsibility to do whatever we can to help get the world back on course, but those great memories from the past captured digitally, on film, or even on "neurochromes," are the energy supplements to help us hold focus on our values.

Wishing everybody a great day ahead and one that allows you time to cherish a short look back, while moving forward to create and capture more memories and have a life well-lived. Don't forget those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about - the people on the other end of those hugs are there to help you be a gatekeeper of the memories you cherish the most!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

Note: Just to make the point, I scrolled through past posts and grabbed a few memories of favorite people and times. Each photograph represents multiple backstories, and as I look back, with each one, the smile on my face gets bigger. 

by Skip Cohen

​Remember, Sunday Morning Reflections is my time to recharge and share whatever's on my mind, and today I'm a mess.

I usually start thinking about a topic when I wake up. It was around 5:30 AM, and Sheila was still asleep. I was thinking about writing about how so many of us set new goals, and make a New Year's resolution or two. It seemed a perfect topic, considering this is the first Reflections post of the new year. But the more I thought, the more the state of the world kept interrupting my thought process.

I don't want this to become a rant, but when does Congress wake up and grow a set? We're now at war with Venezuela...and I don't believe it has anything whatsoever to do with the war on drugs. And we're going to run this South American country??? Hell, the government can't run our own country right now!

This is about oil, and a president who believes he can do anything he wants. And it doesn't matter what side of the fight you're on, Trump lies...Portland isn't on fire...they're not eating dogs and cats in Ohio, gas isn't at $1.99 and never was...food costs are skyrocketing...he's "not falling asleep in meetings" as he blamed the stories on photographers who caught him blinking when they clicked the shutter (except he was caught on  videos.)...and for ten years the incredible health plan for America he's promised doesn't exist. Speaking of health plans...all the childhood diseases that disappeared when I was a kid are all on their way back, including measles!

Sheila has a great expression she regularly uses, "Thank God we're old and won't have to deal with this that much longer!" I painfully laugh each time she says it, usually after watching the news. But even knowing that she's right doesn't change my passion for this industry. 

In a world that's upside down, imaging and capturing those memories with the people you love has become even more important. And building a business model around the high points in life and the things we can control is an incredible opportunity to help change the world, one little community at a time.

I've quoted Lou Mitchell a lot lately...in his book for January 2 was this quote: ​

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis

Here's my point: the world is insane, but nobody can take away our goals and dreams. I'm not suggesting it's easy to ignore the outside world. However, there's a quote by an unknown author I've used numerous times in my posts about Alzheimer's..."There is one thing Alzheimer's cannot take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory - it's a feeling that resides in your heart and soul."

Well, I'm looking at the current government much the same way... they've forgotten about "We the People," but they can't take away the love we have for family, friends, and, yes, career paths, all of which are in our hearts and souls. I know it's sappy, but you're the magicians of the world, capturing intangible moments in everyone's life and turning them into tangible photographs and videos to last a lifetime. Imaging can stop time, capture memories, and help everyone remember what their top priorities in life really are.

You know how to hold focus with a camera in your hands...now it's time to use that same skill to help people remember what's most important in their lives!

Wishing everybody a day ahead when you can shut out the noise of the outside world and appreciate everything you have that makes you smile. Whether it's family, good friends, or pets - they all deserve those eleven-second hugs I always write about. And as nuts as the world around us is, we'd be lost without them.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. 

Life is long if you know how to use it.
Seneca

by Skip Cohen

I'm not sure how long ago it started, but Sheila and I both have motivational books with daily passages we share every morning after breakfast. We started with Melody Beattie's readings many years ago, and our routine has evolved to include books by a variety of motivational writers. This year, my book was The Daily Stoic, which, at times, is a little difficult to get into.

However, yesterday's meditation really hit home:

They say age is just a number, but to some people it's a very important one -- otherwise, women wouldn't lie about being younger, and ambitious young men wouldn't lie about being older. Rich people and health nuts spend billions of dollars in an effort to move the expiration date from around seventy-eight years to hopefully forever.

The number of years we manage to eke out doesn't matter, only what those years are composed of. Sadly most people waste the life they've been given. Only when it is too late do they try to compensate for that waste by vainly hoping to put more time on the clock.

Looking back over the years, there were plenty of times that I wasted various aspects of my life and opportunities. Whatever issues were eating up the clock always seemed so relevant. Now, years later, looking back, they seem so irrelevant.

They say that with age comes wisdom. But is it really wisdom or just the variety of experiences that come into our lives the longer we're on the planet? I do know that I'm not interested in putting "more time on the clock," just the joy of appreciating everything and everyone in my life today.

I've written a lot about aging over the last few years. As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate days when I don't creak for the first ten minutes of waking up in the morning. It's true: "age is just a number," but as we get older, so do all our friends... and the older we get, the more friends we lose.

With each loss, there's always a period of reflection, filled with memories and what we've learned on life's journey, thanks to the departed. For me, and I'm guessing many of you, it starts with surprise and sometimes shock, then come the tears, followed by the memories and most often smiles and especially stories from the past.

The closer the friendship with whoever we've lost, the bigger the hole in our hearts, and the more stories and thoughts we share as we all take the same generic trip down Memory Lane. While sadness is always an ingredient, it brings with it such prolific memories and, yes, wisdom.

Here's my point this morning... don't waste time worrying about the past; you can't change it. Appreciate your "right now," and the love for great friends and family who create a never-ending supply of memories and that contribute to building your outlook on life.

Abraham Lincoln wrote: It's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.

I'm proud to be at the age where I'm considered an old fart. I'm also proud of the life Sheila and I have built together that includes some pretty remarkable friends and two knucklehead pups, Lucy and Belle. It's not always easy or fun, but it's a life well-lived and loaded with an endless supply of memories.
​
Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, authors of the The Daily Stoic, went on to write:

Wishing all of you a day ahead that's filled with memory-making events. It's a busy hectic time of year, but there's always time for hugs and an appreciation for the time we've each been given. I know it sounds pretty sappy, but don't lose focus on those things that make your heart soar and put a smile on your face. Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've written about for years with the people you love the most. Last but not least, cherish everything you have!

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.
Abraham Lincoln

by Skip Cohen

​This is the third time I've started today's Sunday Morning Reflections. I didn't have a topic to write about. The world is a mess, and out of chaos come more opinionated people who share both positive and negative news, but at least half the time, it's fake. We rarely see anything truly earth-shaking that we actually believe to be true. From using Snopes to Google searches for repeats of the same stories, it's the only way we're able to get at the truth... and even that's subject to challenge.

We do, however, watch the weather and travel reports, since Mother Nature is never without integrity! And it's obvious, we've finally pissed her off. Our hometown in Ohio is covered in snow with hazardous driving conditions, yet here in Sarasota, the only danger on the road is the nonstop old farts driving at 11 mph with their left-turn signal on!

There are so many of you traveling today. The government shutdown and its impact on the FAA and air traffic control now pale in comparison to weather challenges and Boeing's recall to update the software on thousands of jets. As Roseanne Roseanadana used to say, "It's always something!"

Despite this being the weekend from Hell for travel, there is a certain wonderful peace this time of year. But to appreciate it, you have to shut off all the negative noise in your life and stop listening to all the negators out there. It's not easy to do...you have to think of yourself as living in a snow globe!

The reality is, tomorrow is December 1.  If each of us stop a few times a day, turn down the volume outside the snow globe, and count our blessings, it just might make a difference for everyone. A few times over this past Thanksgiving, I've talked about being grateful...well, it's something we all need to do more often. We need to be thankful that thorns have roses, rather than lamenting that roses have thorns.

And there it is - today's point. I'm tired of all the Chicken Littles out there constantly in need of telling me the sky is falling. Yes, it's true, it really is... but life is not a dress rehearsal, and the only one we've got. I'm not suggesting you stick your head in the sand (or elsewhere)...just take the time you need to slow down worrying about what you can't control. Stop being the neighborhood alarmist and live the best life you possibly can with whatever you've got to work with.

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead. If you're traveling, do your best to be patient. The reality is you're going to make it home eventually, and years from now you'll be able to tell your kids or grandkids about travel in 2025 and what brought you to the decision to stay home next year! And about those eleven-second hugs - everyone needs one, so give them out to anybody you think is in need!

Happy Sunday... or Monday... and stay safe, warm, and patient.

by Skip Cohen

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Back in the "old days," it was truly a time of family and giving thanks. When my kids were in college, it was a time when everybody was home for the holidays. My folks even came up from Florida a few times.

I remember being disappointed the first year my folks decided the travel was just too much for them. I didn't understand how getting on a plane and coming north was such a big deal. Well, today, as I approach the same age they were when they slowed things down over the holidays, I get it! 

This year, with all the chaos over travel following the government shutdown, I know a lot of you are headed out early, especially if you've been forced to drive. So, I'm doing my Thanksgiving post a few days early, but that doesn't change the sentiment of my appreciation and extreme gratefulness at all your support.

Despite all the garbage the government delivers to our doorsteps every day, Mother Nature's wrath with storms around the country, and an economy that's upside down...we still have so much to be thankful for. For example, we're here, now, and healthy enough to be spending time connecting with friends and family through social media. 

For me, social media, especially Facebook, has made the world a tiny place. It's become the glue that holds us together. I'm in touch with so many friends daily... put social media together with my phone and FaceTime, and the world is at my fingertips.

So, as Sheila and I share our list of the things that we're grateful for, besides our love and support for each other, the appreciation goes farther outward, like the ripples from a stone being tossed in a pond. 

• We're grateful for our friends, especially those who have become family.
• We're thankful for our relatively good health..."relatively" is a word we use more and more as we get older. It takes into account the everyday challenges of aging and knowing there are people with more serious health issues than we're dealing with.
• Then there are the two pups in our life, and although they're six years old, the puppy spirit and energy never slow down. Happiness truly is a warm puppy! (Thank you, Charles Schulz) 
• My gratitude extends to all of you, (especially my wife who's become my muse) who have supported my craziness and obsession as I somehow morphed into a writer. You've followed me, watched my back, and so often been an inspiration. I so appreciate your presence in my life.

Just for fun, I typed into Google "things to be thankful for." This is what AI gave me: You can be grateful for a wide range of things, from necessities like a home and clean water to simple joys like a good cup of coffee or a beautiful sunset. Other areas to consider include your health, relationships with family and friends, personal growth and resilience, and the natural world.  

What's funny is that none of us need AI to figure out what makes our hearts soar, puts a smile on our faces, and puts a unique sparkle in our eyes. Thanksgiving for me is a time when the craziness of the world is upstaged by the happiness and appreciation for simply being alive, here, and resilient.

Wishing everybody a day and week ahead that's filled with memory-making moments. Don't forget to capture a few images when you're together with the people you care about the most; in a few years they'll become your favorite throwbacks! And if you can't be together physically with the people you love the most, remember, everyone is still connected emotionally and there in spirit. Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people most important to you that I always write about.

Happy Sunday...and Happy Thanksgiving week!

by Skip Cohen

Remember, it's Sunday and Reflections I rarely write about business and marketing. It's sharing whatever is on my mind, and today it's appreciation for the pups in our life!

As I sat down to write this morning, I noticed Lucy over on the love seat in my office. In her usual spot, she was comfortably curled up and content to wait for me to finish my Sunday morning routine. She looked at me for a second, knowing full well that she'd hooked me into coming over for a conversation and to scratch her ears.

​What is it about the way our pups understand us? What is it about their ability to love unconditionally, always knowing when we need a hug?

Some time along life's journey, Sheila and I became a dog family. I'd never had two dogs before, and when we lost Molly the Wonder Dog, I doubted whether or not pups would ever be a part of my life again. Nine months later, Sheila said we should get two dogs, one for each of us. Here we are celebrating six years since Lucy and Belle came into our family...no, they BECAME our family.

Our day starts the same every morning - up at 6:45 am and getting the pups out. Then they get brushed and we do the "Kibble Train." It's something Sheila started, and it makes us laugh every day. The pups are on top of the washer and dryer, and Sheila takes a big handful of kibble and makes a line across in front of them. They sit patiently waiting for the line to be constructed. On the word "Okay," they start in on their own section of kibble with all the focus of Al Pacino doing a line of cocaine in Scarface. Tails wagging and us laughing is the kickoff to every new day.

I've written a lot about dogs over the years, but I continue to be fascinated by their intuition and ability to sense whenever either of us needs a hug. If we're not feeling well, they're there to check on us. If we're frustrated or sad, again, they're by our side. And nothing tops the chart of smile-making moments like asking if they want to go for a ride. Just hearing the word "ride" sends them running to the back door. And God forbid they should hear the word "cookie," and they're instantly waiting by the cabinet where their snacks are kept.

Here's my point this Sunday morning - our dogs make our lives richer. They're emotional gummies filling our hearts with love, even when we're tired and running on empty. They understand us better than we know ourselves, and there's never a moment when they're not there for us.

So, we became dog people. They're with us almost all the time, and while they have their own bed, even the end of the day has its own routine when Sheila tucks them in for the night. And out of all the daily routines has come an incredible bond, making life more fun and filling us with a never-ending barrage of smiles and laughs.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with time with the people and pets you love. Those eleven-second hugs I always write about aren't exclusive to people. In fact, Lucy and Belle both know the word "hug." Sitting down with them, within seconds of saying it, they're up on their hind legs with both paws reaching for our shoulders. They may not be officially registered as emotional support dogs, but living in a world that's currently upside down, they help us forget the problems and focus on what's most important - the love in our home.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

​"I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source."
Doris Day

There are only two ways to influence human behavior:
You can manipulate it or you can inspire it.
Simon Sinek

Wishing everybody a day ahead with time to appreciate the people most important in your life. Make it a day when you don't let what's happening in the world outside into your bubble. None of us can escape the daily challenges, but just as a caregiver needs respite, make today a time to take a break. Cherish the people you love the most and make those eleven-second hugs a few seconds longer - everyone needs the extra time.

​Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world!

Life is different when we discover what is deeply important to us.
Stevphen Covey

by Skip Cohen

​My second favorite blog day of the week, right after Throwback Thursday, is Sunday. Why? Because I always step away from business topics. It's my time to violate the rule that the "experts" say you should never share personal things outside what your readers might consider the norm.

I started out writing about being estranged from my family and, on checking, saw that I had written about it just a few months ago. Next, I considered Alzheimer's, then, learning to step away from trolls, and a half dozen other topics, which, upon checking, had all been covered this past year.

Great quotes always come through for me, and finding the Stephen Covey quote above, it hit me hard with how appropriate it is...right now...today! Lou Mitchell, along with the quote, wrote, "By focusing on what deeply resonates with us, we can navigate life's challenges with greater purpose and resilience."

For all of you 50 and under, as you get older, your priorities change. From how you react to the challenges of life to your drive for success, everything changes.  The things you worry about most change dramatically. For example, I have two good friends whose wives are both fighting the most extreme types of dementia, one with FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) and the other with Alzheimer's and FTD. In both cases, I've known both couples for over thirty years. Up until a few years ago, I never spent much time worrying about my health or Sheila's. Now, I want to do everything I can to focus on our health...and I tear up after every phone call with either of the friends above.

Politics is another area that I've always ignored. After all, there was rarely anything I could do to have an impact beyond dinner conversation or an evening out with friends. That's all different now...My feelings about everything from the stupidity of the government shutdown, taxes, to social security, health benefits, housing, school lunches, fires, floods, and the homeless, just to name a few, have all made me feel differently about life.

As you get older, you discover that the things most important to you at the start of your life as an adult, start to drop down the list. Your outlook on life is constantly changing. Your priorities and appreciation for so many things you took for granted change. Time becomes your most valuable commodity, as each day the hands of the clock spin like the passing of time in an old Hollywood movie, and there's no Back-to-the-Future vehicle to let you make changes from the past.

Sheila and I live a relatively uncomplicated and simple life. We've learned to shut the door on family drama. Our commitment to each other and the pups is at the very top of the list. We do our best to exercise every day following our doctors' guidelines for good health. We get a full night's sleep, even sneaking in a 45-minute nap every day (why should kindergarten kids have all the fun? A short nap is the perfect way to recharge!) And sometimes we just kick back and talk, sharing how we feel about so many different topics.

Here's my point—I hope you can take a little while today to think about who and what are most important to you. A great life is all about having minimal regrets. Do the people most important to you know the role they play in your life? Do they know how much of your heart they occupy? Yeah, it's sappy, but that's what all of this is about - loving your life and the people in it! 

Wishing you a day ahead with plenty of time to focus on the things that make up your core values. Take the time to turn back the clock ten years and consider how much you've changed. And who were the people who have never let you down? The ones you can always count on to be there for you.

Somewhere along the line we stopped believing we could do anything.
And if we don't have our dreams, we have nothing.
Billy Bob Thornton

by Skip Cohen

Sundays are always my time to jump the tracks from topics like business and marketing. It's always been easy to find a topic that was on my mind to share outside of what I usually write about. But this morning is tough, as I find the outside world interrupting the peace and joy of the bubble I consider our home.

I find it hard to ignore my anger and frustration with politics. We all know that if you want to end the government shutdown, then hold back the salaries of the members of Congress! Seriously, whether red or blue, it would be incredible how quickly they'd figure out how to work together! 

I'll spare you my feelings on everything else, because for the most part, I'm betting most of you are on the same page, and we're all tired of the insanity. So, I'm changing directions and writing a reminder to myself as well as all of you - never let go of your dreams. As we're bombarded daily with the negativity in the world, it's more important than ever to focus our energy on our dreams.

Author, Lou Mitchell, came through today with the quote above and the following...

..."It is crucial to rekindle our aspirations and hold onto the vision of what we can achieve. Dreams give our lives meaning and direction, fueling our passions and creativity.  By nurturing our dreams, we can regain our sense of purpose and motivation, transforming our aspirations into reality."

Here's my point - no matter how frustrated we are with the world outside our control, if we let go of our dreams, they win!  It's our dreams and visions that keep us focused, motivated, and bring the energy we need to our creativity. It's not easy, but I'm slowly learning to tune out the outside world's noise and focus on what's within our control, and things important to me and Sheila.

For example, the Alzheimer's organization has asked me to be one of their representatives at a county legislature meeting next month reviewing healthcare. And on Monday, I've been asked to capture a group shot of the staff of the Senior Friendship Centers at their local retreat. This is a group of people who never stop working to make the world a better place. We can't change anything outside our control, but we can contribute, even in baby steps, to helping make our communities better.

So many of you are doing similar things with organizations in your communities that are fighting to make the world a better place, one zip code at a time. That's the thing dreams are made of, and I refuse to let the world grind us down!

Wishing everyone a day ahead with time to focus on the different aspects of your dreams.  Woodstock may have been 56 years ago, but the need for peace and love is even greater today. I know it sounds sappy, but together, all of us really can change the world...starting with our own little piece in our community. 

​Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
Booker T. Washington

by Skip Cohen

As always on Sunday, I refrain from writing about business or marketing and strive to cover a topic that everyone can relate to. It's my time to share something more personal, and in the process, over the years, it's become therapeutic.

Four months ago, I wrote my first blog post for the Alzheimer's Organization's Florida newsletter. Going through this horrible disease for three generations of grandmothers, I wanted to give back to a community that was always there for us. Here's the link to the four posts as of today, and hopefully, my next installment will be coming in October.

Even though in 2025 there are an estimated 7.2 million people with Alzheimer's in the US and 55 million worldwide, when you're fighting the battle you feel so alone. So, I called the series The You're Not Alone Chronicles.

But as I sat down to write today's post, it occurred to me that feeling alone is universal to so many of our frustrations. I was thinking about the challenges and the state of the world right now. The reality is, with whatever challenges any of us face, we're only alone if we choose to be. Pick the toughest, most frustrating thing you're feeling right now, and if there isn't already a formal support group out there, you'll always find friends who can relate to what you're going through.

But here's my point - you're only alone if you choose silence. Over the years, from personal issues to business challenges, social media has become the mortar that often holds us all together. So whether you're fighting Alzheimer's personally or as a caregiver, frustrated over politics, worried about financial, health, or relationship issues, dealing with the death of your dog, or a thousand other challenges, there are people ready to come to your aid, the minute you say, "Help!"

Wishing you a day ahead that's filled with reminders of all the support you have around you. You're truly not alone in anything, unless you let pride get in the way. Those people ready to give and receive an eleven-second hug are there, but nobody's a mindreader. You have to share the love and ask for help, even if it's just for a friend to be a sounding board and get you through the storm.

​Happy Sunday...or Monday, on the other side of the world.

​Go back. Go back in time. Everyone's life is a chain of memories.
In each chain there are shining links, happenings where this element of wonder...was very strong.
Why don't you reach out and relive some of those memories? If you work at it,
remembering the wonder can revive your ability to live life as it should be lived.
Arthur Gordon Webster
​

One minute you're young and fun.
And the next, you're turning down the stereo in your car to see better!
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday and my day to share whatever's on my mind, and it's NEVER about the business and marketing of photography. Today's post is a perfect example.

Last night we went to a Bradenton Marauders game. The Marauders are a High-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates that plays in the Florida State League. We had an early dinner with our son and daughter-in-law, and then we headed to the game. We got home late (well, late for us), going to sleep just after 11:00 pm, and today we both feel like we ran a marathon.

And there's my point, when did we become our parents? When did aging become a challenge that we need a slug day following an evening out?

So, to further make my point, you might be a true senior if you can relate to any of the following:

• We eat dinner early, often before 5:00 pm. Why? Because we sleep better. Late dinners keep us both awake, and it's a challenge going out with younger friends for dinner. I remember catching every early bird special in Florida when visiting my grandparents when I was a kid. I promised myself I'd never get into early dinners when I got older!
• Everything in our freezer is dated and marked. We kept finding mystery meat - any protein that's been frozen long enough to look like the remains of a frozen woolly mammoth from the ice age.
• I've stopped drinking anything after 5:30 pm...why? Because I wake up to pee at least twice a night. Okay, I admit it's TMI, but when I turned sixty, I recall asking my Dad why he hadn't warned me that I'd be waking up multiple times a night to use the bathroom. His answer, "At least you wake up!"
• For the first time in my life, I own more bathing suits than I ever did suits and ties. All spring and summer, my daily attire is a bathing suit and a t-shirt. But the best part is not caring how I look when I have to do an errand. Often I'll ask Sheila, "Can I go to the store like this?" Her response: "You'll fit right in at Walmart!"
• Nap time is a daily event. Look, I'm tired of 4-5-year-olds having all the fun. Every day, usually around 11:30, you'll find me, Sheila, and the pups in our bed for a quick power nap. Lucy and Belle even know the words "Nap time," and head to our bedroom the minute they hear the words.
• We now keep a list of all the movies and shows we've watched on Netflix, Paramount+, and Hulu. We're tired of watching something for an hour only to realize we've seen it already!
• "Alexa, how old is____?" Watching any awards special, we often hit pause and get a little help from Alexa on the challenge of celebrity aging. So often, we'll find out a Hollywood star is younger than we are but not aging very well. The comment is always the same: "Hey, we look pretty good for our age!"
• "There's no place like home!" Dorothy said it first in The Wizard of Oz, but we've become very comfortable just being home. By most of society's definition, we live boring lives. But there are lots of daily highlights - Amazon deliveries and being surprised like it was Christmas, because we forgot what we'd ordered.

I could go on with lots more, but the bottom line is we laugh a lot. We're growing old, and in all honesty, it's pretty terrific. It's anything but easy, and we both creak for ten minutes when we get up in the morning, but each day is like a sitcom. So what if now and then it's like "Fifty First Dates?"

Wishing all of you a day ahead that's filled with laughter and smiles with the people you cherish the most in your life. Take a minute or two to think back to the funniest thing you've ever done with your spouse or a best friend. Then, don't listen to people who tell you that you can never go back. The reality is, you can go anywhere you want, and the older you get, the easier it is to get away with it!
​
Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

I'm at an age where my back goes out more than I do!
Phyllis Diller

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and if you've followed me for even the shortest amount of time, I always run amok when I write a Reflections post. It's my weekly therapy to step entirely away from business and marketing and focus on something more personal and different. This morning's post is a perfect example.

We're all conditioned to capture images of beautiful sunsets, but we rarely photograph the sunrise. In fact, looking through all my photographs from the last couple of years, I only have one series of sunrises, and it was taken while on vacation. My standard routine is to look west at the end of each day; rarely do I look east. 

This morning, when we took the pups out, I looked behind me, and the shot above was unfolding. It's not a perfect shot, but you can't argue with the power of the colors and the clouds as the sun raised its head for a day predicted to bring more rain and thunderstorms.

Here's my point - a simple change of perspective completely enhanced the start of a new day. I broke routine, grabbed my phone, and walked out our front door to get as much of an unobstructed view as possible. When I showed it to Sheila, her first comment was, "Stairway to Heaven."

There's so much that we miss every day because of life's challenges and the stress they bring. Whether it's business, politics, Mother Nature's wrath, family squabbles, financial worries, or our health, we don't take the time for our own respite!

I've been writing a lot for the Alzheimer's Association, and in a recent post, I wrote about the importance of respite for caregivers. You can't help your loved one if you're not taking care of yourself first. We all know the routine of a flight attendant in the event of an emergency and the importance of putting our own mask on before trying to help another traveler. Well, it's no different in our daily lives - we need to make taking care of ourselves a priority.

I'm not suggesting you abandon your worry list - just recognize that a different perspective can help charge your battery. However, it only works if you recognize the signs that you're running out of gas in the first place. 

Alfred E. Neuman had it right long before most of us. Worrying only reinforces the negatives in your life, but looking in a new direction might just give you a different perspective and a spectacular view you would have missed if you hadn't broken the routine!

If you're in the US or Canada, it's a holiday weekend, making it the perfect time to tune out the noise that steals your peace. Make it a weekend with time to recharge and appreciate the beauty around you and everything that makes you smile, laugh, and your heart soar.

Yeah, it's hokey and sappy, but it works!

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's packed with nothing but smiles and appreciation for those people in your life who mean the most to you. Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I write about. They really do work and when done regularly, can become a part of keeping things in the proper perspective. Don't let the stress of the world dominate your dreams...even the little ones.

​Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and Reflections is never about business. It's time for me to go off-track and share something that's on my mind. This morning, as I write this, Lucy was feeling left out and wanted to give me a hand. She's sitting in my lap, while I'm typing. She's put herself into the "action," and I guess it's pups on my mind this morning. 

I've written about Lucy and Belle many times in the past, but this morning their ever-calming influence is so much on my mind. Up until these two came into our lives almost six years ago, I had never had two dogs at the same time. There's nothing wrong with having one dog, but when you have two, they play together constantly. They share their toys and bones, and when there's a storm, they're snuggled up together in the one bed they sleep in every night.

But it's their sense of awareness that amazes me most. If either Sheila or I isn't feeling good or just tired, both pups will come over to share a little love and try to lift our spirits. If we're frustrated over something, they're there for us. Yet, they have their own personalities and quirks.

For example, Lucy loves to watch television, especially commercials with dogs in them. She started today as we went through Facebook reels of stories about dogs. Belle, on the other hand, isn't into TV, but when we're watching, she'll spend a lot of time hunkered down next to Sheila.

So, with the pups on my mind, I went off to read some great dog quotes...

My point this morning couldn't be more obvious, or for that matter, simplistic. Our pets never stop showing us unconditional love. No matter what the weather, our frustration in politics, the economy, or even changes in our health, there's no way to measure the richness they've added to our lives.

Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with unconditional love, laughter, and time with the four-legged furballs in your life. Our lives are fuller thanks to these two little knuckleheads. While we slow down as we age, Lucy and Belle are the secret ingredient to keeping us young and smiling almost all the time. And yes, as always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about - they work on dogs, just as much as family and great friends!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

​And the best quote of all: