My mom used to say, "A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour."
​Gregory Benford

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and as usual with Sunday Morning Reflections, I'm way off base from the usual topics. Why? If you're new to the SCU blog, this is my day to write about whatever's on my mind...and it's never marketing and business. It's become therapeutic to have fun sharing something besides what we should be doing tomorrow at work!

Looking for some great quotes to share this coming week, I ran across the one above. It got me in a reflective mood and thinking about my life...most of it has been a detour. In fact, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up - which is why I love this industry so much. It's always changing - there's always a new challenge, technique even a new audience.

And with every change we tackle, which are the "detours," we get a chance to enjoy the "scenery." That scenery could be anything...like new friends and associates who come into our lives because of a new direction. Then there are new techniques we can try because of technology. And there's new gear, applications, and even trends in our business - all detours from where most of us started and thought we were headed.

Take a second and look at your life over the last ten years. Think about how many detours you've made where the "scenery" was remarkable. For me, I suppose it's got something to do with my outlook on life and just playing the cards I'm dealt. Although I'm a terrible gambler when it comes to Vegas - with life, it's about savoring each moment and like cooking, seasoning it with good friends, and maximizing time to smile!

Yeah, it's hokey, sappy, and simplistic, but it's so true. It took me many years to learn that everything always works out for the better, along with that old line about one door closing and a new one opening.

Wishing you a day filled with smiles and just being plain old happy. "Happy" is one of those words we often forget to recognize when dealing with baggage! Make it a day when you let nothing get in the way of enjoying the moment! Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with whoever you're with, and cherish the fact that it's the detours in life that make it interesting.

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

PS The photo I wanted to include today is an old house in Madrid, NM, but I had some fun with Luminar's presets in their "Dramatic" collection. So I suppose it's another detour...playing with presets and allowing myself the fun of being a filter junkie for a few minutes!

by Skip Cohen

It's the first convention of the new year and my schedule is already jam packed with people I'm catching up with over the next three days. The anticipation is incredible. While I know it's only been a year since the last IUSA, it's also been a long year with minimal contact with great friends and associates. 

Plus, ever since the pandemic had us all hunkered down - like so many of you, I've missed contact. Zoom, Skype, Facetime even a phone call are great - but nothing beats actually being with friends and the buzz in the air when a good show is about to kick off.

But there is a sidebar challenge - it's recognizing faces but hitting the wall when it comes to names! Twice, last night on our way back to the room, I bumped into people I know well - did bro-hugs, the whole nine yards and couldn't remember their names until ten minutes later! So, whether it's aging, overload or too many lost brain cells at concerts in the 70s or 80s - work with me if I bump into you today! 

Oh, and one more point - if I look lost, it's probably because I am. This Gaylord Hotel is so big that their phone app has GPS. I didn't download it originally, but twice now I've realized the bread crumbs I was dropping to and from our room weren't necessary!

The bottom line is right there with Carly Simon's song - these will become the good old days the minute we leave Nashville.

If you're here, I hope to catch up to you...and if you're not at IUSA make it a great day and your own "good old days" to savor tomorrow and beyond. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people most important in your life and take nothing for granted.

These are the good old days.

​

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and if you're just tuning into the SCU blog for the first time, here's a warning - I always go off track from business and marketing when I write Sunday Morning Reflections. And I never know what I want to share until I put my fingers on the keyboard.

It's a new year, and I've noticed how I look at friendships has changed dramatically. I'll blame my buddies Duncan MacNab and Bob Thompson for igniting my savor and cherish genes. I posted about Duncan and the trip Bob and I made a few months ago - but here's my point. Duncan was simply always there, and I took it for granted. I never thought about losing such a good friend.

With IUSA coming up in two weeks, I catch myself wondering who's going to be there. There are so many people I've missed seeing, and phone and zoom calls just don't cut it. And whether it's politically or health-supported, I'll be going for the hugs...with fist bumps only when necessary!

Even now, in my day-to-day interactions with old and new friends, I find myself picking up the phone more often. Even short conversations become these wonderful little smile-inducing elements during the day.

And here's my point - it's a new year, and I'll be damned if anything is going to get in the way. My grandmother always said, "Life is too short," but I didn't understand the real meaning until I was older. That's where my savor and cherish genes come in. Like a fine wine, you don't chug; you sip and appreciate it. 

So savor and cherish those people most important to you. Don't waste time taking them for granted - make 2023 a year of no regrets, never missing an opportunity to stay in touch. Take the time today and do an inventory of people you've missed. Then lay out an informal plan for catching up to them, preferably in person!
​
Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with great friends and looks in the rearview mirror that bring back the pure joy of each of them being in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, and don't waste time - it's your most valuable commodity!

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

May the holiday season bring only happiness,
joy and plenty of laughter to you and your loved ones!
Skip, Sheila, Lucy and Belle

by Skip Cohen

 ​It's Sunday morning and the first day of the new year. I hate the resolutions we all make and rarely stick to. However, I do have two at the very top of the list...Laughing more and posting Sunday Morning Reflections. The laughing more is there for obvious reasons. We live in a bizarre world, and there are too many people who take things too seriously! So it's time to stay focused on fun with a work hard - play hard mentality.

Then there's Sunday Morning Reflections - while they've always been a labor of love, there are mornings when it's hard to bring my thoughts into focus. Then again, that's why I've said these posts are therapeutic. They help me recharge for the week ahead.
 
In keeping with my resolution, here's the backstory about the images above. Most of you know I don't make a living as a professional photographer. My passion has always been the business and marketing side, and while I have plenty of gear and will match my love for the craft with anybody, my skills often need to improve.

Sheila was shopping and spotted family pajamas. The next thing I knew, we were all dressed for the occasion; Lucy and Belle included. So, for this year's holiday card, I set up two soft-boxes on either side of the bed and my camera at the foot. I was shooting with a LUMIX G9 and the 14-140mm lens, one of my favorites. I had problems with remote shooting, but I think it was my phone rather than the camera.

No big deal, I set the timer and figured I'd jump in...after all, ten seconds is more than enough time. Well, we got nothing but funny out-takes, including me falling over as I tried to move into position with Lucy. But, unfortunately, we could never get the pups to look at the camera. 

We recorded the dog show on Thanksgiving and put it on to play. The TV was right behind the camera, and we were making progress. They love the dog show. But, still, no remote, and ten seconds just didn't cut it. So, I switched to 4K video and grabbed a few single frames - *poof* - minor work in Luminar, and we had our shot.

But the real fun of the five video clips and dozens of individual frames left us laughing to the point of tears!

And there's my point - there's nothing worth stressing over this year. I'm not saying you can ignore the challenges in your life; just appreciate what you're learning along the way. Joy beats out stress every time, and nothing can top those special spontaneous memories we all can create...and capture! And if you still don't get it, Melody Beattie does - Please read yesterday's Saturday post!

Make it a point to hit those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with everyone you love...and make it a day to savor, cherish, and create memories to energize you in the future. Today's most incredible memories will be your best look in the rearview mirror weeks, months, and years from now.

Happy New Year!

by Skip Cohen

​It's a typical Sunday morning, and I'm entirely off-track from marketing and business about imaging. However, another segment of the arts is on my mind...music. There's virtually nothing I do on any day that isn't accompanied by music. 

Over the last four years, we've accumulated six Alexas - they're all synced and on all day. Hooked to Pandora radio, we can pick an artist, and she plays everything in that genre...and whatever's playing tends to support the mood we're in. The day always starts out mellow and finishes louder, brighter, and often more vintage.

Sunday mornings always start with something gospel or more contemporary because that's what Sheila grew up with. And at noon today, depending on our mood, it'll be anyone from Willie Nelson to Crosby, Still and Nash, Jack Johnson, Adele...we never know.

Yesterday, Alexa was playing Pandora, and "Forever Young" was on. Rod Stewart recorded it originally, but the lyrics got to me and were so appropriate this time of year. Regardless of your beliefs, the words seemed so poignant at the time:

It's Sunday morning, and it's certainly nothing new for me to run amuck from business and marketing topics. It's also holiday time and, without question, my favorite time of year. I'm guessing that the brain waves in my head if transferred to anything visual, would look like spin art! When that happens, and I can't focus, Melody Beattie comes to the rescue.

I found a short paragraph that I loved...​

We trudge the road searching for power, learning about our own. Somewhere on the journey, we begin to see the truth. It awakens quietly within us, shaking our soul, transforming our vision, teaching us what we knew all along. The power that lasts, the power that stays in the power of the heart.

​And here's my point. What I love about this time of year is that it's all about those twelve words above. It's about joy and appreciation for being here at this point - right now. And no matter how tough or insane the year has been, there's something in the air - a unique form of kindness that simply has a calming quality...sort of a Xanax for the soul.

It all boils down to gratitude. I won't apologize for getting sappy and sounding pretty hokey. I so appreciate all of you who support me...your feedback...and simply the time to share the scrambled mess inside my head every Sunday morning. 

Wishing everyone a day ahead filled with family, friends, or whatever makes your heart soar. It's holiday time, and nothing tops that special energy all around us. As always, go for those long therapeutic hugs with the people who mean the most to you.

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

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and I couldn't be more off-track from business and marketing. I'm not sure where my topic today would fall, but it's between admiration and sarcasm. So, consider yourself warned.

The topic is Publix Supermarkets...I consider the staff at our local Publix #1639 completely "top-shelf". It's a smaller store filled with the most wonderful group. They've only been open a few years, but they're just a mile from our house and they never miss a day. They got us through the pandemic, a hurricane, and the craziness of day-in-day-out living. They never do anything halfway and have supported the community with the same dedication of first-responders.

When the pandemic hit, I did all the shopping because I had fewer issues should I get Covid than my wife. So, no big deal - I'd shop early in the morning. I got to know the store, the inventory, and all the staff. From Nancy, "Boston," "Colonel Bill," Tony, Jack and the list goes on and on - It's simply a great team.

Now, let's move to their marketing department and wrap it up with one bizarre product.

Yesterday I got an email congratulating me on my "Half-Birthday." Entering my phone number at checkout, I'll get a container of their frozen yogurt or a cake. While it's a nice gesture, at some point in our lives, we reach an age where we don't need to be reminded that time isn't slowing down! And if I'm trying to watch my sugar, which also goes with aging - don't give me a free cake.

I don't want to celebrate my half-birthday, let alone even know about it! LOL If anything, give me senior parking like Walmart in Bozeman...or just send me a note wishing me a great holiday season and a certificate for a fully loaded death-defying, artery clogging, Italian sub.

by Skip Cohen

What I love most about Seth Resnick's Facebook posts is they're always so relatable. This past week, he shared the post below about losing his Dad. Just to say it "hit home" would be a huge understatement.

Time does heal wounds, but the scars don't go away, and they shouldn't. Like Seth, I lost my Dad seven years ago this month. While we lost my Mom, physically a few years earlier, Alzheimer's robbed us many years before.  But Dad never slowed down being by her side and fighting to savor each random lucid moment of joy. 

And with me, through all of life's challenges, he was always my best buddy. He was always there for me, and I miss the conversations, stories and especially the laughs. I love those memories of him laughing. Something would hit him that was so funny, he'd laugh until the tears started to roll. I have so many wonderful memories that bring the smiles and the tears.

Just like Seth, there are things that catch me off guard and a tear appears...usually it's something outrageously simple. For example, seeing the snow storms back east on the news this week, got me thinking about our gas grill when I was a kid.

We had a hard-wired gas grill. With that first snow storm in November, Dad was surprised. "Look at that - there's a 12 foot circle around the grill where the snow didn't stick!" It was then he realized the grill had been on low since Labor Day! Remember, this is back when gas was cheap and I don't think he ever noticed the tiny spike in the bill.  

It's the memories, combined with those old photographs that gives those loved ones we've lost their immortality. And to quote Seth...Tears and a smile.

​Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead.  Take the time to appreciate not only the people you love who are here for you, but those who are no long around for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs. But here's the thing, they are around in your heart, and they are watching over you. The tears are simply gateways to memories and smiles.

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

​My heart and mind are in a myriad of thought pointing back to Japan. It was 7 years ago that I was teaching a workshop in Japan and received a call that my dad who was healthy died in his sleep. When my father died, I tried so hard to be strong and show everybody how resilient and tough I was but that act doesn’t last. Pushing the pain below the surface so no one can see it is exhausting. We take a lot of strength from our parents, so when you lose one of them, it’s crushing.

Sometimes, you will be doing OK and managing your grief, when something catches you off guard. And then suddenly a surge of powerful emotion hits you like a tidal wave.

​For me I think the most challenging times have been when something has reminded me of my dad. The difference seven years later is my tears well up but so does a smile. It is a beautiful experience and I think about both my mom and dad and then I am OK until it happens again.

Someday’s I think I should be past this by now and I don’t know why I still cry at random times, all these years later but it is ok. As I am writing this it becomes one of those moments. Tears and a smile.

I miss my parents so much but I am I’m grateful they both touched my life in such a powerful and beautiful way.
​
Love you DAD!

Don't downgrade your dream to fit your reality.
Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.
Author Unknown

by Wesley Simpson

The Perfect Sofa.

Manifesting the life you want is like ordering the perfect sofa. You can choose to have a cheap one fits all next-day delivery or you can choose to understand that if you want your dream bespoke sofa that matches your perfectly designed interior and vision, things might take a little longer, and you might have to focus and work a little harder.

The same applies to your life, work, health and relationships.
​
Remember, when things are falling apart, they might be falling together. Sometimes you lose, and sometimes you learn. But keep going.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and I'm getting a little help from a good buddy in the UK, Wesley Simpson. And while I did try and track him down on the other side of the world to ask permission, I decided to go ahead and share it anyway.

He posed these three shots yesterday on Facebook with his post above, and I loved how to the point he was. Then, I did a little fishing on my own for the two quotes.

Most of us need to spend more time visualizing our dreams. But then, things get busy, life gets in the way, and suddenly a front and center goal is on the back burner with the heat on low!

Wesley and I have never really met. We've been following each other on Facebook for years. In February, he won Wedding Photographer of the Year 2022 and Wedding Photographer of the Year North West at The English Wedding Awards. We catch up on short IMs now and then, and I'm hoping one of these days, he shows up on my doorstep here in Florida. 

And here's my two-part point this Sunday morning - First, never let anything or anyone stand in the way of chasing your dreams. Take some time today and dig a few of those dreams out of storage - we've all got them, often allowing time to bury them under what we think is reality.

​Second, the world has become a tiny place thanks to social media. It doesn't matter that Wesley and I have never had a beer together - the friendship is built on a foundation of respect and admiration. And today, when I needed a little help, his post was right there for me! 

And for those of you who are part of the more senior crowd...

You're never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.
Clive S. Lewis

Wishing everybody a perfect day ahead. The kind where you get time with the people most important to you. And make it a goal to find time for the most important person in your life...YOU! You need time to feed your soul in order to be there for everyone you love. Always go for those eleven-second hugs with those special people - you'll feel the therapeutic action right around the seven-second mark!

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

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and as usual, I'm miles away from my typical marketing and business topics. This is my day to recharge and remember there's a whole world out having nothing to do with photography. Yet, it's ironic because I often need photographs to make my point. 

Halloween is tomorrow. It would be my Dad's 100th birthday, but that's not my point. For me, Halloween marks the kickoff of a long series of great traditions, some old and some new. On the more vintage side is dressing up for Halloween. The cowboy shot was when I was five. Today an outfit like that would get my parents arrested, and me sent to CPS! The spaceman suit was when I was nine - there was no Star Wars, just spacemen.

Last but not least, the Viking was just a few years ago. The costume is pretty amazing and thanks to the salesforce back in Hasselblad days. It brings back its own collection of memories. And Dad's costume as Michelangelo's "David" I just used for a neighborhood party last weekend.

​There's candy in the house in the traditional Halloween bowl with our favorites deep at the bottom in the hopes that we don't get enough kids, and Sheila and I are left with a few. Why does our thought process work this way? We could easily pick up candy at any time of the year, the week, or the day. But we don't - and it wouldn't taste as good. LOL

Then there are new traditions - for example, Sheila and I have a blast decorating through the holidays, and Halloween is no exception. Our front porch is set up with pumpkins, a ghost, a flying witch, bats, and spiders. Inside the house, there are elements that scream Halloween everywhere. As a kid, we never did anything but put Sheila and me together in a store like HomeGoods, and there's a whole collection of themed decorations headed home.

So, it starts with Halloween and rolls into Thanksgiving and right through the December holidays and New Years. All along the way, there are memories that flow as easily as turning on the kitchen faucet. And with each story, which we've shared with each other so many times in the past, it's as if we've never heard them before. From recipes to decorations to stories and laughs - it's simply a fantastic time of year.

And that hits my point - whatever traditions you have in your family, savor each memory. Share the stories, enjoy the flashbacks and recognize the business most of us are in. While we help people capture memories and turn the intangible tangible, we're self-serving, capturing our own memories and creating traditions that last a lifetime.

Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with those traditions that give you the biggest smile. This is a time of year when nothing beats a look in your rearview mirror. And always go for those eleven-second hugs with those you love who have become part of the traditions in your life.

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

by Skip Cohen

​As everyone who follows my Reflections posts knows - I always run amuck from business and marketing on Sundays. It's my way of reminding myself there's a whole world out there, not just my in-a-bubble universe.

The world has become a pretty screwed-up place. We're all frustrated with the challenges humanity continues to create, and then along comes Mother Nature to add her touch to the mix of sadness and pain. And I've noticed our own private worlds are nothing more than mini-versions of the rest of the world. 

But here's what seems to help me a lot...It's not always easy, but I try to stay focused on joy - all the good things in my life. When I was a kid learning to drive, my Dad told me to "just watch the left front fender." He only wanted me to focus on where I was on the road. Well, I've taken that and, over the years, tried my best to stay focused on what really matters.

I've written you can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your own heart isn't in it. Well, you can't be there for your friends when they need help if you're not maintaining your own emotional health...and there it is again, learning to cherish joy.

This morning before writing this, I read Melody Beattie's thought for the day, "Cherish Joy."

Joy is not a fleeting emotion based on outward circumstances, a transitory feeling of the moment, a reaction to the scenery around you...Joy is a runoff from the wellspring within you. And sometimes it is a delightful, surprising contrast to the scenery around you.

Embrace joy. Relish it. Even if those around you don't have it right now, you can feel your joy. You don't have to be disrespectful of their feelings, nor do you have to let their lack of joy diminish yours.

Cherish joy. It's your treasure. You've found it. You've earned it. It's yours.

And there's my point - no matter what you're going through, choose joy. Dig deep because your heart deserves a break, and you can't help the people who need you most without an appreciation for simply being here. Joy is about delight, happiness, jubilation, triumph, and glee...pick one!

Wishing everybody a day ahead where you can choose joy over whatever you might usually feel. Put away your frustrations with the world, and beat them at their own game. Cherish the people you love the most and be there for those who need you the most - but hang onto your own joy - it's your most valuable resource. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, especially with friends and loved ones who need them the most.

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

If you can't control the current of the river,
then don't fight it. Just go with the flow.
Anonymous

by Skip Cohen

​Sunday Morning Reflections is always about something on my mind outside of marketing and business. Well, this morning I woke up completely blank. I started to write this post three times and then gave up...until Sheila pushed me to stay on track with what's become a favorite Sunday tradition for both of us.

I think I've figured it out. I've underestimated the stress of the last few weeks. Hurricane Ian came blasting through, and we evacuated to the other side of the state and were safe. While it took six hours to get home (usually three), we came home to minimal damage. Since we've been home, we've cleaned things up and life is back to normal.

But throughout the entire time, I worried about keeping Sheila and the pups safe. And in those isolated moments when I wasn't worried about my family, I was wasting energy on the negative, preparing for the worst with our home. I'm grateful we're all okay, but that doesn't change the overwhelming sadness for thousands of "neighbors" just an hour south who lost everything. Our house is at 9 1/2 feet - had the storm turned just a couple of degrees north, it would have been Venice/Osprey/Sarasota in the news, not Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, and Captiva.

And here's my point - I'm feeling numb, apathetic, and anything but creative. Instead of fighting it, I realized I had to just go with the flow. I have to accept how I'm feeling instead of wishing I could take a happy pill. It's okay when we're off our game.

A few minutes ago, I stopped moping around, sat down, and played with the pups. The two of them share an oversized bed, and I crawled into it and started telling them, "You always jump in my bed - well, why can't I curl up in yours?" The two of them went nuts, trying to squeeze in with me. That short burst of laughter changed what I was feeling enough to write today's post.

If you just go with the flow, no matter what weird things happen along the way,
you always end up where you belong.
Tom Upton

Wishing everybody a day where you can go with the flow. Life is simply what it is, but it's how we deal with the challenges that make each of us unique. You don't need to go through anything alone, and that's where those therapeutic long hugs come in that I always write about. So, whatever you feel as I write this, go with it. And if you're offbeat a little, don't worry about it. 

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

When it comes to life, the critical thing is 
whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.
G.K.Chesterton

by Skip Cohen
​
If you want to develop a keener sense of gratitude, appreciation, thankfulness, and simply feeling blessed - go through any kind of disaster. A week ago Friday, we arrived home after a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Ian. Things are relatively back to normal for us, but not for thousands of people south of us.

From friends who still don't have power to those whose homes were completely leveled and who lost lives, it's an experience so beyond humbling that I don't know what to call it. And while we were lucky, it doesn't change the concern that less than thirty minutes away, it will be years before there's any sense of normalcy.

If you've followed me for even a few Sunday Morning Reflections posts, you already know I write with my heart and rarely about business and marketing. But honestly, I don't know how to describe my feelings. I hug Shiela and the pups a little tighter than usual; I wander around my yard and our neighborhood with an appreciation for still having a place to walk; I find myself incredibly sappy with so many friends who have checked in to see if we're okay.

I have noticed a greater appreciation for how little "stuff" really matters. We spend our lives accumulating things that don't really matter when the only things that mean anything are those people (and pets) who own a piece of real estate in your heart. It's that piece of each of us that no outside force can touch.

We were out to dinner last night with a wonderful friend, who we love dearly. She lost her husband and our good friend over a year ago. I wrote a post about it. While Frank is gone, it doesn't change how important she is to us or the feeling of Frank's presence at the table.

And here's my point - pay attention to what's truly important in your life. If you look closely enough, you'll find the key to success is in the people who make you smile from the inside out. These are the people who represent the foundation of who you are and build your love for life.

Sadly, it took a disaster like the last couple of weeks to sharpen my sense of gratitude, but I suppose that's simply how life is. We all get caught up in the rat race, and we miss the point along the way.

The best things in life are the people we love,
the places we've seen and the memories we've made along the way.
Anonymous  

Wishing everybody a day ahead to make some great memories with people you love. They don't have to be big events, just times when you open your heart and recognize how much you have to be grateful for - regardless of whatever pain you might be in. Those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've been suggesting for years were never more important than today.

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

Time flies when you're in the place you're meant to be.
Anonymous

​by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and as ALWAYS - I'm jumping the rails and going off track from business and marketing. But as usual, hopefully not far from something you can identify with.

I'm amazed at how fast time flies. Losing one of my very dearest friends this past week, Duncan MacNab, I found myself looking back on so many incredible memories over a thirty-five-year friendship - and they seemed to have happened in a blink of an eye. This is why I love our industry. All my photographs are now cherished mile-markers along life's journey. But today's post isn't about missing a good buddy.

We all know the line about time flies when you're having a good time. The older you get, the faster it all seems to go by. But I've also noticed a lot of influence from the outside world speeding things up:

• A week ago, Costco had an entire aisle of holiday decorations, including Christmas trees!
• The number of catalogs is now running 3-6 daily in snail mail. The world wants us to order earlier each year as every company fights for our attention.
• The ads coming up on my Facebook notifications page have increased dramatically, and it's everything from watches to clothes to lobster tails. I get that FB tracks everything I've ever looked at, but I didn't realize how much it caught my attention until it was presented.

Then there are things in our own house that contribute to the hands of the clock spinning even faster. The puppies turned three this summer - just like watching your kids grow - we don't know where the time went. And we're already planning our trip to Nashville in January for IUSA and thinking about so many friends we want time with, and the list goes on and on.

But the true measure of how fast time flies might be finally watching Game of Thrones. We were out of things we wanted to watch, and our kids had given us the 8-volume set of DVDs. We never got into the series initially, and today we'll start season seven. By Wednesday, when our favorites come back on the air, we will have completed all 80 episodes in just two weeks!

It's not bad that time has flown by - just that it goes so fast. There's nothing more precious than time, and there's no way to slow it down. You don't have to do something every minute of every day, and it's okay to kick back and daydream. Getting off-track a little and bringing in another topic today - daydreaming is simply advanced planning.

Day dreaming heals the heart, soothes the soul
and strengthens the imagination.
Richelle Goodrich

And here's my point - you can't stop the clock. But you can make every minute count and that doesn't mean you have to change the world. You just need to sustain things that make you happy. So whether it's for your own soul right now or building a stash of memories for the "winter,"  take the time to day dream when you need it. Enjoy every minute with those people most important in your life. Go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about and now and then do a random inventory of great memories, people you miss and everyone who's helped make you who you are today!

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

Change begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Roy T. Bennett

by Skip Cohen

Sunday Morning Reflections is always about me running amuck. I rarely write about anything related to marketing and business, although today touches on a challenge we all face from time to time - making changes. I've used that title before, but I had this great shot of a Tiger Swallowtail from our trip to Ohio a few weeks ago, and the quote is so relevant.

In terms of the shot itself, there's nothing unique, except it's harder to find a relatively young butterfly that's complete in all its glory and color. The top image is a female, while to the right, is a mature battered male. The location is along a little trail in Painesville, OH, right off the main drag. I shot it with a LUMIX G9 with the 14-140mm lens, and that's clean, right out of the camera. With the exception of cropping - there's no manipulation.

I made a decision this week regarding a big part of my career for the last eight-plus years, and one of the hats I wear. I decided it was time to do something different, and my co-host, Chamira Young, and I recorded my last Mind Your Own Business podcast, scheduled to run this week. At this point, I estimate Chamira and I have done 130+ podcasts, including Mind Your Own Business, Beyond Technique, and Tamron Recipes.

And here's my point - I have no idea what I'm going to do next; just like leaving Rangefinder/WPPI in 2009. I have no idea where the next butterfly will appear. I'm not tired of podcasting; just considering a new direction. How many times have you kicked back and said, "I need to mix things up a little?" 

Change is scary for all of us. Like a favorite pair of shoes or slippers, we get comfortable and don't want to break in a new pair. I know it sounds trite, but it's no different with our lives - most of us are creatures of habit and resist change. But there's that old line about when one door closes, another opens.

Wishing you an incredible day ahead and Labor Day if you're here in the U.S. Make it a weekend to appreciate everything and everyone in your life, but don't be afraid to walk through some new doors - you might just find your butterfly.

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

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and if you're new to following me, I always jump the rail on Sunday mornings. For me, it's therapeutic to step away from marketing and business, and for you, at the very least, I hope it's entertaining and, here and there, thought-provoking.

We've got two pups, each three years old, Belle and Lucy. Unfortunately, it's also the rainy season in Florida, and Belle is totally schizo when it comes to thunder. So, the minute the thunder starts to roll, it's time for her "Thunder Shirt." I laugh every time it goes on. Like a little kid with a superhero cape, she suddenly becomes invincible. The shakes and hiding under the coffee table in my office disappear.

Well, here's my point - What if somebody made a Thunder Shirt for adults? We don't need it for protection from thunderstorms, but the media, politicians, telemarketing calls, bad neighbors, over-opinionated friends, hold times with Dr's offices, Comcast, and vendors who don't care...and the list goes on and on. Think about it for a second - instead of getting aggravated and wondering if you took your blood pressure medication, you'd put on your Thunder Shirt, and nothing would bother you - it would all roll off your back!
  
I can't help but wonder if we really could take a lesson from the pet community. Then again, maybe the pet industry got it from us - when the shirt doesn't work, and Belle is too upset over really loud thunder, we've got CBD edibles that mellow her right out. Willie Nelson might have even been on the development team! 

Hey, it's just an idea, and it's my blog.  At the very least, I can dream!

Wishing everybody a day ahead when you don't need a Thunder Shirt! When nothing gets on your nerves, and you have time to simply love the people closest to you and realize that even when you feel like whining about the world, you're still so blessed. Go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about - they really work almost as good as a Thunder Shirt.

Happy Sunday - or Monday if you're following me from the other side of the world!

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and I always jump the rail and go off topic from marketing and business. And just as a warning, today is one of those days when I get a little more personal than you're supposed to be in a blog post.

Last week, no matter what I did, I felt like I was spinning my wheels - simply stuck on what to do on so many different fronts/projects, including blogging. And the more frustrated I got, the more I dug myself in - just like getting my grandfather's car stuck in the mud when I was a teen. 

Well, Melody Beattie came along, and her timing couldn't have been better:

When our car gets stuck in the mud or snow, we immediately try to get out. Sometimes we have to spin our wheels to a get a rocking motion going. Sometimes we have to try harder, then try again before we can get out. Sometimes, spinning our wheels digs us in more deeply. Then in frustration, we let go, relax. Soon we find ourselves doing what we need to get unstuck. We ask for help or figure out another approach.

That's how it is on our journey. We may find ourselves in a situation we don't know how to handle. So we start spinning our wheels in frustration, confusion, or fear. What we know is we want out. Sometimes we need to get through that time of spinning our wheels in order to get to the next place, the place where we slow down, figure out what to do next. Sometimes our frustration helps generate energy to get momentum going in the general direction of solving the problem. Putting forth that energy gets steam built up, tells us and the universe we're ready to free ourselves.

If you find yourself spinning your wheels, be gentle with yourself. Slow down, get a nice rocking motion going that's rhythmic yet powerful enough to free you, then put the car in gear, step on the gas and gently drive out of the muck.

Sometimes we need to spin our wheels. It helps us get unstuck.

So my point this morning is in two parts - with a bit of help from Sheila, I was able to get out of the rut - it just took talking about the things that weren't coming together. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

And the second part is about feeding your brain and soul regularly - Sheila got me into reading something inspirational every day. We each pick a favorite book/writer at the start of each new year. Then, right after breakfast, we share a little outside inspiration, which always helps. It's not always earth-shaking - just a reminder that whatever we're feeling together or individually is perfectly normal - just like spinning your wheels!

Wishing everybody a spin-free week ahead. Time with family, friends, and the people you love the most, will always get you out of the muck! And those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about are the same as easing off the gas when you're stuck in the snow!

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

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and as usual, I'm miles away from writing about marketing. Actually, I'm literally miles away from Florida and my home office too. We came back to Ohio for a milestone high school reunion, which once you get past thirty years, they all become a walk down memory lane...and the older you get, the slower the walk. 

But being back where I grew up has profoundly impacted me - all as a result of the nostalgia brought about by simply being here. It's a beautiful but bitter-sweet feeling to look back and realize how much things have changed.

• We got here three days ago, and driving around town every turn brings back a memory - all of them good. My old neighborhood brought out memories of baseball games in the street, playing army in the woods, sleep-outs in the summertime, and my Dad tying a rope on the car's bumper and towing us on sleds in the winter. He'd be arrested today for child endangerment.
• Driving by my grandmother's house, I could taste the raspberries she'd send me to pick in her backyard. The roses I planted last year at our home in Florida are a spinoff of watching my grandmother care for her rose garden when I was a kid.
• Being at the reunion last night, which sadly was small (250+ in the class and under fifty showing up), made me feel surprisingly proud in a "still standing" sort of way. Seeing a few old friends was fantastic, but it was more about who we are today than who we were yesterday. Although, I had to laugh over one classmate reminding me how hot my wife was and asking me how I got the cheerleader! Seriously, at this point, the playing field has been leveled, and everything we thought was important back then just doesn't matter today.
• All around us have been turn-back-the-clock kind of events this weekend. For example, the Friday night car show in the town square was a kick. It was loaded with muscle cars from the 60s, owned mainly by guys in their 70s. It was simply a trip to take in. At night when we turned on the TV in the hotel to watch something for a few minutes before going to sleep we were sucked into those Time/Life infomercials, again turning back the clock. Our two favorites were 150 classic rock songs from the 60s followed by the Ed Sullivan classics in rock - introducing every group from Elvis to the Beatles to the Stones. All supported with the video recordings of each group - it again took us down Memory Lane.

​But the best moments came from being with our friends, "Hoss" and Melissa. Before the pandemic, we'd be here at least once a year and stay at their home. Each night there's an almost sacred routine of sitting on their back porch and sharing the backstories of our lives - both current and past. The laughter is often pushed to the max as tears roll down my cheeks. It got me thinking about how my Dad would lose control when something hit him that was beyond funny.

Life is too short, but if you don't learn to cherish the past, you can never appreciate your ability to savor the present. And here's my point - today's smiles are tomorrow's most valuable memories. You can't slow down the clock, but you can make sure you don't miss a minute of being in the present. And those long, poignant views in your rearview mirror help you to appreciate the journey yet to come.

Wishing everybody a day to kick back and spend time with the ones most special in your life; make a few new memories and start writing the next chapter of backstories for your own walk down Memory Lane years from now. As always, go for those long eleven-second hugs, and don't waste a minute worrying about what you have to do tomorrow.

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