Be grateful for those who make us happy.
Marcel Proust

by Skip Cohen

​My process for writing on Sunday mornings is almost always the same. I wake up about 6:30, and before Sheila wakes up, I'll stay in bed and start thinking about a topic for Sunday Morning Reflections. The challenge lately is fighting the urge to rant over everything each of us is dealing with daily.

But this morning I started out looking for a great quote, and when I read the one above, it gave me a good way to turn my wanna-be rant into something more positive. Think about this for just a second -- It's our friends who make us happy and prevent us from being crushed to death by the outside world. It's the people who make us laugh and remind us of how special life truly is, even through the storms.

This is a short post this morning, dedicated to laughter. But I'm not talking about chuckles, I'm talking about those big, deep laughs that are so intense you start to tear up in the process. It's those laughs that become aerobic, pushing your heart to keep up with the pace that often takes your breath away.

Author Lou Mitchell, along with the quote above, went on to write:

Marcel Proust reminds us to appreciate the people who bring joy and positivity into our lives.  These individuals often go unnoticed as we navigate our daily routine, yet their presence and actions significantly impact our well-being and happiness. Taking the time to express gratitude for their contributions not only strengthens our relationships but also enriches our own sense of fulfillment and connection...Reflect on the people who make you happy. How often do you express your gratitude for their presence in your life?

So, my post this morning is one of gratitude for all the friends who have made me happy in the past, present, and future. It's thanks in part to you that I wake up smiling and maintain an almost childlike wonder about what each new day will bring.

My list is too long to share here, but you know who you are. And since aging can never be slowed down, I know there are people and events I've forgotten—but that doesn't change everyone's contribution. We're an industry of artists who watch each other's backs. In turn, new memories are always being made, built on a foundation of laughter and, here and there, completely poor taste! LOL

So, wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with joy and time spent with those who help you smile—even on days when joy seems out of reach. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've been writing about for over ten years, and channel that rant-energy into something uplifting for the day!

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

Note: The collage of pics above is the best I could do on short notice, but it's just a small percentage of the laughs in our lives!

by Skip Cohen

If you're new here, a quick note: Sunday Morning Reflections are rarely about business. I use Sundays to share personal thoughts you might relate to, steering clear of the daily hot topics.

At a time when all of us are dealing with the stress of the world, we also have our routines to keep our sanity and love in our hearts. As sappy as that sounds, it's what Sheila and I are doing. Here's something that helps, especially on Sunday mornings...

Sheila grew up with a grandmother who took her to church on Sundays, and her life was filled with old-style gospel music. She started a tradition in our house, Sunday morning gospel music. In recent years, it's evolved into Lauren Daigle, and she plays all morning long. It's uplifting, and while the two of us grew up with completely different backgrounds, we both believe in God and have faith that the craziness of the world right now doesn't belong under our roof.

Music had become the great equalizer, bringing a sense of balance to us both. During the week, the days start out with something new age and mellow. For example, Enya, Yanni, and Kitaro radio, all from Pandora. Mid-day, it all changes, and it'll be contemporary artists, but my point is, there's ALWAYS music playing in our home. We've got six Alexa devices, all synced, and we take turns deciding what to listen to. On any given day, it might be Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Eva Cassidy, CSN, Pink, the Who, even a Broadway sound track or Andrea Bocelli - there's no way to predict what we'll be in the mood for.

Music is a powerful therapeutic tool for mental health, offering solace, emotional regulation, and a way to express the inexpressible when words fail. Key figures like Oliver Sacks describe it as a "tonic" and "necessity" for neurological and emotional well-being, capable of lifting depression and calming anxiety. From Google AI

Whatever your musical tastes, don't underestimate the power of music to help you focus on what's most important in your life. When we've got music in the house, the "drawbridge" stays up, and the trolls can't get in! Yeah, it really has become that simple.

At the risk of sounding like a leftover hippy from Woodstock...I'm wishing you a day of peace, love, and time with the people in your life who mean the most to you. Don't let anything or anyone get in the way of the bond you feel with those lovable knuckleheads whom you cherish. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about and keep the outside world where it belongs...OUT!

Wishing you a happy Sunday—or a great start to your week, wherever you are.

I am a part of all that I have met.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

by Skip Cohen

Sheila and I were talking last night about today's post. With all the protests around the world yesterday, I was feeling compelled to write about "We the People," but I knew I couldn't do so without sounding like a rant. Plus, I'd only be adding to the NOISE you hear all day, every day. She reminded me that my readers stop by on Sundays to read something that's not in the news; has nothing to do with marketing; is more personal and outside the norm.

The quote above is one of my favorites, reminding us that each of us is a composite of all the people who have come and gone in our lives, combined with all our experiences.

Twenty-nine years ago today, Sheila's brother Alan was killed in a road-rage incident in Tucson. Thirty days earlier two of her brothers, Wally and Jimmy, were killed in a car accident. A year or two later, her father died, and after that, her mother. Sheila lost five family members over five years.

But sharing this story isn't about her enduring tragedy; it's about how it made her the warrior she is. Through the entire process of grief, she never lost her zest for life, and belief in God. Everything that's happened in her life has made her who she is today.

At a time when most of us would have would have fallen apart, she got stronger, determined not to let tragedy grind her down. That's what became the foundation for our friendship, which later became our love story. It was her never-ending appreciation for life that helped set the pace for building our relationship.

Think about your own experiences and the people who have come into your life. It's their impact that's made you who you are today. Based on a poem by Brian Chalker, there's a sappy quote that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. In my case, Sheila came into my life for a reason and stayed a lifetime.

They say that with age comes wisdom...I'm not sure it's really wisdom or simply lessons that can only come from longevity. It's our capacity to learn from the past and, in turn, enhance our journey going forward. And while it's a sad day to look back on her losses that started in 1997, it's the memories of the good times that hold the focus best.

When we built the water feature in our butterfly garden, (pictured above) I suggested the three monoliths represent Sheila's three brothers. Over a year ago, we added the sculpture of the two boys playing, representing two other brothers she lost in recent years. Together in the garden, loaded with milkweed and Monarch butterflies all summer long, the "Boyz," whom I never knew, maintain a reminder that love doesn't disappear when somebody passes. There's a great line from the movie "Tuesdays with Morrie"...Death ends a life not a relationship.

Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with time to look back on the memories of people who came into your life and brought with them something that stayed with you -- some aspect that helped make you who you are today. That old line about "it takes a village" couldn't be more appropriate when you look at why you are who you are. For those people in your life who stayed a lifetime, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about.

And to all of you, thank you!  Whether you're here for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, you are part of my story. Your inspiration and friendship are helping to navigate an upside-down world together.

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

"The darkest nights produce the brightest sunrises."
Unknown

Despite everything that's wrong—or at the very least challenging—in my life, so much is right. Yet, amid the stress of living, I've wasted too much time focusing on what's missing instead of what's in front of me. Maybe the difference between a curmudgeon and a dreamer is simply more sunrises. Perhaps how a day starts matters more than watching the sun drop below the horizon.

I recognize that I'm sounding a little too much like Jack Handy from years back with SNL, but this morning I have a feeling I don't want to lose. I can choose to celebrate that thorns have roses, or be miserable because roses have thorns—it's all in perspective.

Wishing everyone a day filled with memory-making moments and inner peace. Treasure those who bring you happiness, and share an eleven-second hug with the one who matters most. Make today meaningful.

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

by Skip Cohen

​Most of the time on Sundays when I sit down to write Reflections, I really don't know what I want to write about until I start typing...then, it's whatever's in my head that spills onto the keyboard.

Before I could get started this morning, I needed to visit the Hulu website.  In early February, we made what we thought was a terrific decision. We wanted to get rid of Comcast/Xfinity and go back to Frontier/Verizon, which we had 9 years ago. In the process, our Hulu account expired and needed to be linked to our new accounts. 

Here's where the madness comes in: the marketing departments at Frontier and Verizon don't talk to each other. Every few days, there's another special offer to bundle your phones, Internet, and entertainment. Then, just to add a little more spice to the mix, there are multiple offers within each category. For example, on Hulu alone, there were 10 different bundles to choose from.

And to go one step further, when you start searching for what you thought you wanted, you're pitched something else. God forbid you should ask for help by phone. It all starts with every company's robot that needs to know why you're calling. You're led to believe there's going to be some logic applied, but whoever you finally speak with, you can NEVER connect again.

So far, just at Frontier alone,  I've talked to "Judge," "Brandon," "Sam", "Joy," and "Thomas," and I've written one letter to Frontier's CEO. Thomas is the ONLY one to actually help, but he was my last stop, working through the executive office of Frontier. And on Verizon, it's ongoing as I learn various discounts don't show up until the 2nd or third billing cycle.

They say you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone...Well, I want to go back to the days when I was a kid. We had just three stations, and they all signed off at midnight with the test pattern to the right. We got the "Chief," and nobody complained about not being woke because a Native American appeared on your TV screen, essentially telling you to go to bed!

No choices beyond that, and if you wanted to figure out what you were going to watch on any given evening, the TV Guide was on the coffee table.

Today, in an effort to make our lives easier, more fulfilling, and less expensive, we've switched to YouTube TV.... Then there's Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Prime Video, Disney+, and 100+ live channels. Trying to reach most of the shows we enjoy watching becomes a giant WTF moment. In fact, if it wasn't for the F-bomb during the search for something we'd like to watch, Sheila and I would be mutes!

But the confusion doesn't end... as contracts between studios and networks change, so does the platform on which we want to watch. Or we can search for what we want to watch, but can't access it without signing up for an additional entertainment provider.

Will somebody STOP THE MADNESS! Imagine if your doctor switched to dentistry, or your cardiologist became a proctologist and didn't tell you until you were in the dental chair or examination room. Which reminds me of a Tony Corbell joke:

A woman goes to her dentist. She says, "I don't know which I hate more: having my teeth drilled or having a baby." He replies, "Well, make up your mind so I know which way to tilt the chair!"

Wishing everybody a day ahead with nothing but easy choices. No matter what you choose to do or who to be with, remember: what's most important is the peace and love they bring into your life. That's why those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about become even more valuable—especially when you feel like you're about to be lost at sea... a sea of choices and decisions!

Our world is filled with too many choices. And no matter what you choose, there's always another offer waiting in the wings. It's choice overload, and I've got a headache just thinking about it. So, time to take a couple of Tylenol...if the government hasn't found my stash.

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass.
​It's about learning how to dance in the rain.
Vivian Green

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and even if you're relatively new to following this blog, you know that one day a week, I go with whatever's on my mind. And even though one of the fundamental rules of social media is to not get too personal, that's what Sunday Morning Reflections are all about.

I first read the quote above many years ago, and it became part of my personal mantra, along with I do it because I can, I can because I want to, I want to because you said I couldn't! Whatever the crisis I was dealing with, whether personal or business, my goal was to always be dancing in the rain. But as I look back on the last year or so, I'm hardly alone - everyone is living in a flood zone!

No matter who you are, when or where you grew up, everyone has someone who tried to teach them any one of dozens of one-liner how-to-live-your-life quotes. One of my grandmothers loved "Every cloud has a silver lining," while the other was "A stitch in time saves nine," and "Don't cry over spilled milk." The list goes on and on.

We're living in a volatile world, and EVERYONE has been learning to dance in the rain. From a government that's forgotten about "We the People" to the challenges in the economy, the war in Iran, and Mother Nature's wrath with plenty of real rain and severe storms, we could all win "Dancing With the Stars" based on how we deal with each new challenge.

With the quote above, Lou Mitchell wrote, ...Instead of postponing happiness until the perfect moment, find joy amid the chaos. Learn to adapt, grow, and find beauty even in the stormiest times. This mindset shift can transform how we experience life, allowing us to thrive regardless of circumstances.  

And there's my point this wonderful-to-be-alive Sunday morning. They say that with age comes wisdom. In all honesty, I don't think it's wisdom so much as the ever-growing list of experiences, the people we meet, and the shifting priorities in our lives. I've learned that I could never stay positive by myself - it really does "take a village."

For me, that village is Sheila, two pups, and a very small group of very special friends.  It's about appreciating every day, and those intense walks down Memory Lane. I've learned to savor my past, and so many people who came into my life along parts of my journey I never anticipated. And looking forward to the future, I cherish each morning with the enthusiasm of a little kid wondering what the day ahead is going to bring.

It's hard not to get sappy this morning, because even with the highs and lows, I love my life. It's not the life I imagined I'd have, and I hate being estranged from my family, but that doesn't take away from how lucky and blessed I feel for everything I have.  Each of us has a different story to share, and nobody got here today following the same path as anybody else. Yet here I am, happy, content, and so grateful for how many of you have played a role.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with peace and positivity. In a world that's upside down, each of us can only work on our little piece of it. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, and with your "huggee," think about how important they are in your life. What would your life be like without them? Better yet, how can life get even better with them in it?

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

by Skip Cohen

If you're joining me for the first time today, Sunday Morning Reflections is rarely about business and marketing. It's my time to simply share whatever's on my mind. As I've learned over the years, none of us are alone in what we're feeling when it comes to so many of life's challenges.

Whether on Sunday mornings or any other day, just because I don't write about the insanity in this country doesn't mean I don't care about what's going on. I just hate the idea of adding to all the noise in your life. From social media to family, friends, the news, and television, we're all bombarded with WTF moments every day.

Sheila and I work hard to keep the trolls out of our lives. I'm using 'trolls' in the broadest sense, essentially anyone sharing news that's simply idiotic! While sometimes it's unavoidable, Sheila suggested I share the things that work best for us:

• There's music going on all day long. We start with "Spa Radio" or a facsimile each morning. In the afternoon, we switch over to something more contemporary, and there's no way to know what we might be in the mood for. From classical to country to artists like Pink, Phillip Phillips, One Republic, or a classic band from the past, music is going all afternoon. And on Sundays, until noon or so, it's gospel or a facsimile, because that's what Sheila grew up with. The point is that it's always something uplifting.
• We have a set routine every day....we get up around 7:00, and the first activity is getting the dogs out. They then get brushed with a little lovin' time. Sheila goes to her computer, and I go to mine.
• Breakfast has become a daily tradition that is rarely missed. It's always around 9:00 am, and then it's a little more puppy time with Belle on Sheila's lap and Lucy on mine. The conversation is usually about something we've read that's newsworthy.
• Just after breakfast and before puppy time, we each read something motivational out loud. We each pick a new author at the start of each year.
• After breakfast, it's back to our computers...until we sneak in a short nap for the four of us around 11:30. I recognize that as old farts with a pretty open schedule, we can do that...but if you're a whole lot younger, think about it as a solid break to just chill. The quote below says it all - everyone needs time regularly to just do nothing!

Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.
Doe Zantamata

• We try to exercise for 20-30 minutes every day. During the winter, we'll take the pups for a walk, and when it's warm, we swim. Obviously, living in Florida, we can swim often, but the point is the importance of exercise.
• Dinner is anything, although we enjoy time at home just relaxing.
• We record the news and watch it, fast-forwarding through stories we know have no meaningful updates since the topic first aired. But having recorded the news gives us the ability to skip the commercials.
• We'll watch television in the evening with our favorite shows, movies, etc. With the day ending at 8:00 with a little puppy time, then they're off to bed. We usually wrap up the day around 10:00 PM.

Throughout the day, we've learned to ignore all the trolls out there and we do our best to laugh a lot! We've stopped answering telemarketing calls and text messages from trolls who think they have a right to our time. In fact, I've stopped reading or answering posts on Facebook that can't be substantiated. Every now and then, there's one that sucks me in, but a little research and I'll learn it was all AI-produced and fake. At that point, I usually unfriend the bonehead who posted it.

Essentially, we've learned to raise the drawbridge and keep the trolls out. Life is simply too short, and just this morning Sheila said, "I miss the world we grew up with!" We're not putting our heads in the sand and ignoring what's happening in the world, just not giving up energy to deal with all the BS. 

And just for the record, even though I don't post directly about this stuff: It's still the Gulf of Mexico, Canada has never been our enemy, gas is NOT under $2.00/gallon, costs for just about everything are up, the Rose Garden should never have been paved over, the money being spent to build a ballroom is absurd when kids don't have healthcare or lunches; the members of the cabinet are not smarter than a fifth grader and Congress, while individually there are some remarkable people, as a group they couldn't manage a pretzel stand in a ballpark.

Trust me when I write, that's just the tip of the iceberg - there are times EVERY day when the pride I've had my entire life at being an American is replaced by the embarrassment of everything that comes out of the president's mouth!

So, the way we cope is a routine of positivity, supported by each of us, including two pups and a very small circle of friends. We go for those eleven-second hugs I've always written about and spend a lot of time being grateful for the life we have, even with the trolls that keep trying to take it away.

Make it a great day filled with memories you can document and appreciate later on. Spend time with the people you love the most and do your best to never take them for granted!

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

by Skip Cohen

As I've explained so many times in the past, I rarely know what I want to write about when I sit down at the computer on Sunday mornings. I've stayed true to my original vision for Sunday Morning Reflections, which was simply to go free-style (keeping with an Olympic theme) without focusing on my weekday topics of business and marketing.

Every morning, I start with my email, and today the message on the right came up first thing. The subject line was, "Happy Anniversary," and the words "Cheers to another year" were what hooked me, as I struggled to remember what milestone deserved celebrating.

I burst out laughing when I got to the rest of the text. First, it was a reminder that 14 years ago yesterday, I used OpenTable for the first time. From there, I had to rack my brain for what the event was. Thanks to Sheila, I got through the mystery.

It was during WPPI and Sheila, and I had dinner with Rob Nowell, then from Sprout Studio. They had a booth at the convention, and the Steak House at Circus Circus, at least back then, was one of the best-kept secrets in Vegas.

But it's not Throwback Thursday, and my point this morning, mixed with a little sarcasm, is about the information highway we're all stuck on. Seriously, I love looking back and taking a walk down Memory Lane, but celebrating my first time using OpenTable doesn't make my time-to-celebrate list of ANYTHING!

I've never received anything from OpenTable, except for dozens of restaurant reservations over the years, and only for that particular reservation. But here's my fear... if OpenTable, along with hundreds of other online companies I've used over the years, is about to contact me every time there's an anniversary, I'm in serious trouble. I'm about to be caught in a pile-up on the information highway.

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!