by Skip Cohen

On June 1, I shared my plan to post less and put Sunday Morning Reflections on a back-burner. Well, here I am, making a change and bringing back the series. I miss writing and sharing on Sunday mornings, especially when my thoughts are rarely about business and marketing.

This morning, I'm not going into the frustration I know all of us feel over what's going on in politics, but I did find a perfect quote that I wish more of our wannabe leaders would consider...

No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are,
how you treat people ultimately tells all.
Integrity is everything.
Unknown Author

Following that quote, Lou Mitchell went on to write:

...true character is reveled through our interactions with others. Regardless of our achievements or status, it is our integrity and the way we treat people that defines us. This perspective encourages us to prioritize kindness, respect, and honesty in all our relationships, understanding that these qualities are the true measures of our worth.

​What I find funny is that most of us already learned this when we were kids growing up with the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  
And here's my point on this first Reflections post after a short break. Just as much as I hate the bizarre behavior and lack of integrity on the political scene, I dislike people on social media who have decided their opinion is the only one that matters. Integrity is getting harder and harder to find everywhere, not just in politics.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that gives you time to appreciate those people you're closest to; the ones that treat you with respect, love, kindness, and support. Go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about with the people you love the most. They help keep you grounded and remind you what's truly important is what's in your heart, NOT the negativity in the outside world.

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

by Skip Cohen

A few weeks ago, I announced I was putting Sunday Morning Reflections on the back burner and taking a break for a little while, but it's Father's Day, and I can't let the day go by without a "Happy Father's Day" to all you Dads out there.

I already ran a tribute to my Dad earlier in the week, so today is focused on all of you...with just one story about my Dad. 

I was around seven years old when my mom found out I'd ridden my bike with the Jackson boys over the railroad tracks about a half mile from our house. The train tracks were on the 100% taboo list. Mom was furious and screamed, "Wait until your father gets home!"

Dad got home, heard my mother's request for my punishment, and came into my room with his fraternity paddle from college. We talked about what I had done. Whether I was really filled with remorse or in fear of the paddle; he knew I wouldn't do it again. So, the conversation went like this:

"Your mother wants me to paddle your butt...I know you'll never do it again, and you've learned your lesson. So, when I hit my leg with the paddle, you better scream and cry like there's no tomorrow!"

He hit his leg, and I screamed...he hit it a second time, and again, I screamed and cried...on the third time, my mother beat on the door - "That's enough Ralph, let's hope he learned his lesson. My performance was flawless, and had there been an award for best supporting actor in a home parenting drama, the Oscar would have been mine.

And that was my Dad - it never mattered to him how the lessons were learned, only that he achieved the results that helped me grow. Hanging on the wall of my office is his paddle, and next to it, my grandfather's pocket watch, a Gruen that still keeps perfect time. The paddle represents one of my favorite memories...and sharing the story opens the floodgates for more stories, and that's what great memories are all about.

Happy Father's Day everybody. Cherish the moments that got you here because they go by too fast, and before you know it, they're gone.

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time to kick back and chill. Tomorrow isn't going anywhere, so why worry about it? 

And to my Dad, who I miss every day - you gave me a foundation of memories that have made you a legend. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't cherish growing up with you by my side.

​Love ya Pop!

May there be just enough clouds in your life to create beautiful sunsets!
Author Unknown

by Skip Cohen

​On January 1, 2017, I wrote my first Sunday Morning Reflections post. It was something I wanted to try - sharing something more personal with topics miles away from business and marketing. Now, 8 1/2 years later, I'm finally running out of things to write about.  

Thanks to all of you, I've managed to survive crossing the line into topics the "experts" say you should never blog about - you know, the stuff in our lives that really matters. (LOL)  As readership grew, Sunday mornings became a time for sharing thoughts on the lives we're all trying to live outside of business.

NOTE: If it seems like I'm headed down the road of sappiness, it's only because I am.

I realized this week that maybe it's time to slow down a bit, and this will be my last Sunday Morning Reflections post. I'll still be sharing a few marketing posts and, of course, Throwback Thursday, but less frequently. I turned 76 last week, making me officially an old fart, putting me in good company with other residents of Sarasota County, typically considered the oldest per-capita county in the United States.  Which, by the way, explains why so many people drive at 11 mph with their left turn signal on!

So, this morning's post is a giant "THANKS" for your support, feedback, and never-ending enthusiasm for an industry I love dearly and a life I feel so blessed to be able to share. In the second Reflections post in 2017, I shared  an outstanding quote, along with the one above:

While it may seem small, the ripple effect of small things is extraordinary.
Matt Bevin

by Skip Cohen

​Remember, it's Sunday, and I never talk about business when writing Reflections! It's my time to share and remind you about something entirely outside the daily stress of being a business owner. Today's subject is a perfect example.

There's a small porch off my home office, and it's ideal for anything that grows with minimal attention and high heat. I'm not sure why the original owners added it to the house because it's enclosed on all sides without any cross-ventilation.  At least eight months out of the year, it's too hot to be on. That's where Sheila decided to put a few cactuses...and she was right!

This week, my own private desert came into bloom. In all my travels over the years, I've never caught the desert in bloom. But having a few cacti in the family has given me a front-row seat to what it must be like. (And while I did give the image above one little tweak in Luminar, it was just to play with the background.)

As I've gotten older, it's the little things I appreciate more and more every day. Looking out the window yesterday and seeing a cactus flower made me smile. The color, the irony of something that beautiful, which has pretty much been ignored of any care, including water or even fertilizer, is a mini-miracle.

There's so much we take for granted and miss! We walk right by all the little things because we're too busy and stressed to notice. After all, how can you take time to appreciate a flower blooming when the world is falling apart?

​If you look at the big picture, you start losing your focus on the little things.
Julius Randle

There are so many little things in my life that give me joy...my day starts with Sheila and I getting up together and taking care of the pups...we take them out, get them brushed, and then they get a treat to start the day. Later, Sheila and I have breakfast together - almost always avocado toast with an egg over the top. Meanwhile, the house is always filled with music, and you can never predict what's going to be playing - starting the day with Spa Radio and finishing it with Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Ed Sheeran, CSN, or some other random artist, usually from the past.

Here's my point - pay attention to the little things that make you smile. On the toughest of days, there are always little things that add to your life and give it that extra seasoning, just like the spices you put on a steak before you throw it on the grill.  Looking for a little respite from the big pressures in your life? Take the time to notice all the little things - they'll become magical.

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead. If you're in the US, it's Memorial Day weekend and most of you have the Monday holiday to kick back and enjoy all the little things together with the big ones in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about...they're little things that have big meaning because they're reserved for those people most special!

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

Happiness is finding joy wherever you can.
Unknown

by Skip Cohen

​In the last few months, if you've followed me for even the shortest time, you've probably noticed me writing more about my work supporting Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.  Having lost so many family members to the disease, it's a topic near and dear to my heart.

It's Sunday, and Reflections is consistently about something other than business and, most of the time, more personal than my regular posts. Well, when I read the quote above, all I could think about was a comment my Dad made when dealing with my mother's last couple of years with Alzheimer's.

"I'm going to hang onto every moment of joy we get, squeeze the damn juice out of it, bottle it, and save it for the bad days."  

And Dad did just that...he hung on to every moment where, as we used to describe it, the sun came out from behind the clouds, when my mother was back to being herself, even if just for a few minutes. He was angry, frustrated, and sad so often - he was losing his best girl after 60+ years, and there was nothing he could do to slow things down.

Fast forward twelve years later, and technology is slowly catching up on the disease. There are treatments now available that, if Alzheimer's is caught early enough, they slow it down. There's no cure, but there is a giant speed bump being created by infusion drugs like Kisunla. As a result, the word "hope" is becoming a part of the Alzheimer's vocabulary.  And along with hope, joy is a little less elusive.

And there's my point—it's an expression we've all heard so many times over the years: life is only what you make it. You can complain that roses have thorns or rejoice that thorns have roses. It's all in your perspective. In spite of the chaos in the world and the insanity of what we read, hear, and see happening, the quality of your life is still mostly dependent on you.

Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with joy, smiles, and time with family and friends you love the most. For us, we've got good friends coming over for this afternoon, and I'm already anticipating that wonderful ache you get in your gut from laughing too much. Don't forget those eleven-second hugs with the people most important to you—they're the ones that help you keep things in perspective and focus on joy.

And to my best buddy and wife, Sheila, who helps me stay focused on the joy in our lives...

Everything changed the day he figured out
there was exactly enough time for the important things in his life.
The Story People

It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. 
Abraham Lincoln

by Skip Cohen

Sunday Morning Reflections are ALWAYS off the topic of business and marketing. However, the same thing happens almost every Sunday morning: I sit down at my computer, rarely knowing what I'm going to write about, and then, like a lightbulb going off over the head of a cartoon character, something relevant hits me.

That quote above took me on a trip of reflection. I can't deny I've seen a change in my energy level as I get older. I creak for ten minutes when I wake up in the morning, but nothing changes in my outlook for the day ahead..."the life in my years." Life just keeps getting better, as I do my best to take time to smell the roses. Life is pretty remarkable, from things Sheila and I do together to time with the pups, working in the butterfly garden, to time with new neighbors or old friends.

While my energy level is slowing down a little, my smile time is going up. My appreciation for close friends, keeping in touch, and feeling at peace is always on the rise. Even Facebook, which most of us have a love-hate relationship with, is proving better and better as a tool for keeping in touch with friends on the other side of the world. 

Life is simply what you make it, and while I've heard that expression hundreds of times, it's so true. We all know too many "Chicken Littles" who are so preoccupied that the sky is falling they miss the pure joy of everything around them. 

Here's my point—stop procrastinating your life away! If there's something you miss doing, someone you miss talking to, or some place you haven't been to in a long time, MAKE A CHANGE! Life is too short to have regrets.

A few days before my good buddy Duncan MacNab passed away, he said, I've got no regrets because I did it all. Everyone who knew Duncan knows how much he treasured life, his family, and his friends. He lived life to the fullest.

If you're waking up every day feeling like something is missing, take some time, kick back, chill, and think through what you need. What will it take to make you smile more every morning?

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.
Paul Valéry

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with smiles, peace and the ability to focus on getting more life into your years. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with those people you cherish the most. What do you need to make your dreams reality?

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

by Skip Cohen
​
It's Sunday morning, and I always jump the tracks from my usual topics and wander off, usually into new territory that is NEVER in line with business topics.

Last week, I wrote a post just on my Facebook page. It was April 1, and I realized that it had been 16 years since I resigned from Rangefinder Publishing/WPPI and started my own company. The response from friends was remarkable. A few days later, I shared a post about the Alzheimer's event I was involved with in Sarasota. That post resulted in a phone call from an old friend who simply said, "You just don't slow down, do you?"

In the process of deciding what I wanted to share this morning, scrolling through Facebook, there was a quote from Anthony Hopkins:

I am fully aware of my mortality, but at 87 years old, I still wake up every morning with the desire to misbehave. Age is not a barrier when you find passion in what you do. The real secret lies in keeping your curiosity alive, continuing to learn, and not letting the fear of time stop you from enjoying life. Every day is a new opportunity to create, to laugh, and to show that it is never too late to move forward with enthusiasm and joy.

As I've gotten older, my priorities have changed. I've learned to hit the mute button on the "negators" in my life. I've accepted that I creak for ten minutes when I get up every morning. I'm well aware that I sleep better when we eat dinner early, and I finally understand my grandparents, whom I made fun of as a kid for eating at 5:00! My list of growing limitations goes on, but one thing NEVER changes - my passion for the day ahead.

My passion for life is right in line with Anthony Hopkins' comment about curiosity, learning, and not worrying about growing older. But I couldn't do it by myself. It all starts with Sheila's support and, here and there, a kick in my ass reminding me to "stand tall." Then there are two pups, Lucy and Belle, who expand my cheerleading squad. Finally, expanding my support team, there are some amazing friends, most of who are part of this incredible industry I stumbled into so many years ago. 

And here's my point this morning. Aging ain't pretty, and it's not easy, but the greatest lesson I've learned in life is that none of us are alone. We can't stop the clock, but we can slow it down by taking the time to savor every moment and keeping curiosity alive. Taking time to smell the roses, isn't just an expression, but a solid rule to live by.  

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with passion, reflection, and curiosity. Don't waste time worrying about tomorrow and missing today. Take the time to laugh, not just a light chuckle, but one of those from the gut laughs that fuel more laughs and smiles. And when you're giving one of those eleven-second therapeutic hugs to someone you love, think back to a time you two were together that made you both laugh.

"It's never too late to move forward with enthusiasm and joy!"

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

Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.
Henry David Thoreau

When everything seems to be going against you,
remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it!
Henry Ford

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 about to jump the tracks from topics like marketing and business. But unlike most Sundays, I woke up today knowing exactly what I wanted to write about - tradition and friendship. While I know I've shared the story in the past, it's too much fun not to share again.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and with it comes a tradition that kicked into gear over five decades ago! It was our freshman year at Miami University, and my good buddy, Rich, and I started drinking green beer at the Purity Bar at 7:00 am. Rich had this giant Viking-style pewter tankard we took to the bar. In a college town like Oxford, Ohio, there wasn't a whole to do, so we weren't alone celebrating. When a couple got up to dance, we'd grab part of their beer and fill the tankard.

By 11:00 am, friends from the dorm came to the bar and literally carried us back to our rooms. By midday, the two of us were "driving the porcelain bus."  We were both sick as dogs. It was the first time being drunk for both of us. I'm not condoning the stupidity of what we did, but looking back, it created a tradition I cherish.

And here's where that tradition comes into play. All these years, we still battle it out over who's the first to call the other on St. Patrick's Day. Every call is the same: we laugh about what we did, marvel over the abilities of our youth, and stay connected. While we still talk to each other every couple of months, St. Patrick's Day and the laughs we share border on being epic.

Like the quote above, our connection is about the tradition of joy and a friendship that's stayed intact regardless of where we both lived. 

A best friend is a treasure chest of memories and laughter.
Unknown
A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden.
Unknown

These are two quotes that say everything I want to share about great friendships, especially my good buddy, Rich. We've only seen each other a handful of times over all these years, but that's never changed the friendship, the laughs, or the joy. 

Wishing everybody a day ahead with time to enjoy your own traditions with great friends. You can never go back, and you can't live in the past, but a walk down Memory Lane with a good pal is meant to be savored.  Sometimes, especially today in a world that's gone upside down, a great memory becomes a point to cherish and much-needed stability.  

Don't forget to make a few new memories with those people most special to you. Today's special moments will become tomorrow's most loved trips back in time.

Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. And to Rich - I'm determined to make it two years in a row when I beat you to the punch! Talk to you in the morning...early!!! 

All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.
Chinese Proverb

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, the one day that I completely deviate from business and marketing. It's my time to write about something other than the challenges we face along our career path every day. This morning, my thoughts are focused on great quotes.

While there are moments when I hate social media and miss the simplicity of the life I grew up with, the Internet has made the world a much smaller place. It gives us an opportunity to harvest old and new ideas to help expand our thoughts on virtually any topic that pops into our heads. It's given us access to everyone from Confucius to SNL's Jack Handy, and the quote I grabbed this morning is a perfect example.

I read the above quote and loved how it took one of my grandmother's sayings and gave it a touch of class. One of her favorites was, "You reap what you sow."  But the Chinese took it a step further and gave it a far more supportive and positive spin.

At the risk of actually sounding like Jack Handy, we're all gardeners with the ability to plant whatever seeds we want. And done right, the things we do now to secure "flowers" in the future are the definition of planning, hope, and fulfilling our dreams—plant no seeds today, and nothing will grow tomorrow.

Here's my point: Find a website with quotes about whatever interests you the most. Pick any challenge you're dealing with right now, and Google will open the doors to the arsenal of diverse thoughts on the topic from all over the world. Then, appreciate the way technology has expanded our lives with so much information at our fingertips. But be careful in what quotes you share:

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

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and as I said to Sheila, "I have no idea what to write about," it dawned on me that having nothing to write about was the perfect topic.

Like any small business owner, there are times when I simply have no agenda and nothing in particular I need to do. As I got older, being busy every waking minute became a badge of accomplishment. I remember talking with one of my favorite people in the industry, Julieanne Kost at Adobe, who, when asked once to be involved in a new project, simply said, "I'm sorry, but I'm out of bandwidth." 

Today's one of those days when I've got a lot on my mind, but nothing requires any deeper, more complex thoughts than bacon or sausage with breakfast! In fact, Sheila and I are going to go out for breakfast and then hit the nursery to check out plants for the butterfly garden. Just the anticipation of a relaxing, do-nothing day is clearing my head and setting the stage for projects I want to accomplish in the week ahead.

It's March 2 already, and Spring is in the air. It's the perfect time to kick back and chill. I'm not wasting time; I'm using it to recharge my battery and do a little light planning for what I want to accomplish next.

I've written a lot over the years about recognizing burnout BEFORE it knocks on your door. One way to ensure Burnout loses your address is to take breaks that combine doing nothing and savoring time with the people you love the most.  It sounds so simple, yet it's one of the most missed activities we allow ourselves to enjoy - doing nothing!

​Wishing everybody a day ahead that allows you to appreciate having an "empty plate." Take the time to relax and appreciate the hard work you've done to learn to step away from the stress of business...and life. Enjoy the silence, even if it's just in your head. Take the time to smell the roses!  Don't forget those eleven-second hugs with the people most important to you that I always write about.  Remember to give yourself a hug, along with a big pat on the back for everything you're working to accomplish.
​
Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

Love the life you live.
Live the life you love.
Bob Marley

by Skip Cohen

Sunday Morning Reflections started years ago as a series of posts in which, once a week, with your help, I run amuck on the regular topics of business and marketing. It's my time to share something that's hopefully relevant to you, my readers.

Bob Marley's quote above might seem incredibly trite, but it carries with it a reminder that life isn't a dress rehearsal, but time to let your heart soar. And if your heart just isn't in the game, you can't live the kind of life you want.

Here's a great example, and it pushes the envelope of getting personal about my life, things the "experts" say you shouldn't post about: It's no secret that I'm estranged from my family. There's virtually no contact - and while the reasons aren't important here, the foundation is all seated in horrible communication. And while I have regrets, years ago I had to make a choice - live my best life or spend all my time being a right-fighter.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else.
You are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

At some point, thanks to Sheila, some incredible friends, a little therapy, and two pups, I realized that playing the role of the last angry man was accomplishing nothing except holding me back from living a life I loved. They say that with age comes wisdom. But wisdom is the result of all our experiences, and being angry all the time is one of the repetitious acts that accomplishes nothing. 

I learned to let it all go—not that I still don't have a short fuse on certain topics, but being happy is a life choice. I'm still a work in progress, but life is simply too short. As you age, your ability to focus on what's truly important changes—you don't let yourself get distracted by things that take you off the path you want to travel the most.

Here's my point: If you're living with resentments, let them go. You're only hurting yourself, and like a patient with tunnel vision, your peripheral view is restricted—you're missing everything there is to see and feel along life's journey. 

Wishing all of you a day ahead that's jam-packed with the things and people you love the most. Make a few new memories with the people most important to you. If you've been holding onto anger/resentment, let it go - you don't have to forget what started it, just forgive. You can't live the life you love if you're buried in a lot of emotional pollution...and it takes a lot of chlorine to clean up the "swamp."

Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people most special in your life. And as my Dad loved to say, "Illegitimi non carborundum" - "Don't let the bastards grind you down!"

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

by Skip Cohen

I woke up about 5:30 this morning and stayed in bed trying to think about what I wanted to write about today. I came up empty! When I'm stuck for a topic I grab one of a half dozen daily motivational books to see what a few of my favorite writers chose for thoughts over the last few days.

Lou Mitchell in his book on positive thinking hit the perfect thought a few days ago - "Act Without Delay." He started with a quote for February 13th:

"Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future.
Act now, without delay."
Simone de Beauvoir

If you wait for all the lights to turn green, you'll never get started on your journey.
Zig Ziglar

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
Eric Hoffer

Death ends a life, not a relationship.
Dan McCullough

Here's my point - we can't slow down our own aging process, let alone the aging of our friends and loved ones. Dealing with the death of a great friend, you find yourself running through the Memory Lane time warp. It's our memories that keep those special relationships alive, and our photographs have become proof of our ability to stop time and even turn back the clock, if only for minutes.

Wishing everybody time today to appreciate those people you're closest to in your life. Take nothing for granted because we've got no control over when life can change. Whether shooting with a real camera or memory-based "neurochromes" - cherish every moment. All those special moments combined become the story of your life.

And to Simon, who was my BFF long before the expression, buddy, you will be missed. But all the stories we'll share will keep your memory alive and the smile on my face. I'm forever grateful you were part of my life!

Jodi Picoult's quote that I've used so many times is so appropriate:

When I was five 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

​It's a typical Sunday morning, and Reflections is ALWAYS off the topic of marketing. I ran across the John Lennon quote above, and it's so relevant to my life today. Sure there have been a few emotional speed bumps along the way, and being happy has always been important, but I never thought of it as the key to life.

Everyone thinks that wisdom comes with aging, but the truth is, wisdom is simply the result of lessons learned. And with many lessons, my internal navigation system, just like GPS on a wrong turn, needed to readjust the route to the goal. What makes looking back on my "routing" so interesting is that I never really thought of happiness as the ultimate goal.

Many years ago, back in my Polaroid days, I met a motivational speaker, Ed Foreman. I remember him telling an anecdotal story, which I'm doing my best to paraphrase...

A couple is talking about taking a great vacation, and the husband says, "Just wait until we get into our new house. We'll have so much fun." A few years later, they still hadn't taken that vacation, and he said, "Just wait until we get the kids out of the house and in college, then we'll really have fun." A few years later, it was, "Let's just get the wedding paid for, and we'll be able to relax and have fun." A few more years, it was, "As soon as I retire, we're going to have so much fun. Finally, he was in his casket on the way to his grave reflecting on his life when he thought, "Oh my God, I forgot to have fun!"

Here's my point—take the time to look at your goals. Are they in line with all the things that make you happy? Do you recognize those moments of joy in your life, or do they get missed because you're overly focused on the wrong goal? Does happiness get put on the back burner, replaced by putting all your energy into building your brand, business, or something completely material?

I'm not suggesting you give up your goals—just take the time to make sure they don't block whatever makes you smile, inside and out.

Wishing everybody a day filled with things that make you happy. Take the time to think about the goals you're pursuing. Check to see if your internal GPS needs a little rerouting. All along the way, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about. Those special people on the other end of those hugs are the ones to help you find happiness, regardless of how obscure it might sometimes be.

The bottom line - Don't forget to have fun!

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

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do
than by the ones you did do.
​Mark Twain

by Skip Cohen
​
It's Sunday morning, and it's the one time of the week I never write about marketing. Why? I like to share something outside of business because it's therapeutic. It's like a quick charge to prep for the new week ahead, and there are rarely boundaries I don't cross.

I've mentioned a few times over the years how Sheila and I got in the habit of reading something motivational each morning. At the start of the year, we both pick a new daily meditation book and read the thought for the day over breakfast.

Well, it's a new year, and my book for 2025 is a Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Daily Stoic. Thanks to two great authors and some of the world's greatest minds, there's a lot of practical wisdom. One of my favorites is the author's interpretation of a statement made by the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius...currently "alive and well" in Gladiator II.LOL

"The more things we desire and the more we have to do to earn or attain those achievements, the less we actually enjoy our lives, the less free we are." 

For years, I measured my success by my W-2. My happiness seemed to be based on my earnings, but something was missing: I wasn't always enjoying my life. My priorities were all about accumulated things. Over the past several months two major Florida hurricanes, their horrific devastation, followed by the California fires, literally starting in my old neighborhood, Pacific Palisades, have led to a lot of time assessing what's really important in my life.

Like many of you, each disaster has contributed to a series of what-would-we-do conversations, each time helping to enforce and clarify our priorities. It's a hypothetical lifeboat drill about what's most important in our lives. Nothing would stop the heartbreak of how we'd feel if we lost everything, but our definition of everything has changed.

Here's my point—my definition of happiness these days starts with waking up with a smile, followed by my health and a clear vision of the day ahead. That vision is dominated by Sheila and two outrageous pups, close family, and good, good friends. The use of two "goods" is intentional, not a typo! 

Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo,
but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
Oprah Winfrey

It's hard to write about great friends and not get sappy, but it's thanks to some special people whose inspiration and guidance help keep me focused. At a time when most people my age have retired, I still wake up with the enthusiasm of a kid on his first day on a new job. It's those special people who have helped me redefine success and purpose. The fun of it all is that while we often lose touch, the connection never goes away, and neither do the laughs and the stories when we cross paths next.

Here's my point—we all have days when we feel alone, dealing with whatever challenges life throws our way. But it's our friends who help us navigate through the tough stuff as well as celebrate our accomplishments. And the best thing about still being active in photography, my new role in the fight against Alzheimer's, and social media is all about friendships—old, new, and yet to evolve. 

Wishing everybody a weekend with time for family and friends. Just for the fun of it, think about one old friend and one new one - then think about how they came into your life. I'm betting there will be some great backstories that put a smile on your face that lasts all day long.

We've got a sign on a wall here at home of photographs of friends over the years:

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

PS And to Brittany - thanks for sharing that quote!