What is Left Behind?

e·ro·sion The group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface.

I usually don't like starting a blog with a formal definition of a word but it's relevant.

Key takeaways from the aforementioned definition?

"natural processes" and "...material is worn away"

Now, let's redefine it as it pertains to the human spirit.

The group of human processes, including jealousy, hatred, spite, gossip and envy, by which the human spirit is worn away from the inner person.

Here is the thing though...

When erosion happens to the land, what is left is usually different but stronger. A new landscape has been created. A new beauty.

The same is true when it happens to our spirit. We are stronger because of it. A new perspective has been created. A new beauty.

Look, there are always going to be natural human reactions and actions that erode our spirit. That create self doubt. That create glass ceilings. But whatever new has been created...rest assured...the inner spirit will find a way to shine.

Look at human erosion as glacial in nature. What is left behind is the key.

Time for Some Random Thoughts on a Sunday Morning

We all have the same needs, dreams, hopes, fears and desires. Once you realize you aren't alone in this world...you feel better about everything.

There is nothing better than a morning hug or a kiss goodnight from your kids.

Don't ever underestimate the value of true friends.

Love lazy Sunday mornings on the couch with coffee and music.

Bummed that football is over for awhile. Truly love that sport. It is the one true TEAM sport.

A well placed random act of kindness can rock someone's day.

Passionate people experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows. A lot of times over the same situation.

There is nothing better than listening to a local radio station and the music flow from one song to another makes so much sense to you at the time.

It is OK to look at your glass half empty...sometimes.

There really is a thing called the mid-life crisis and it affects most of us. We just deal with it differently.

The older you get...the less important it is to be with the "right" people. It is more important to be the people who make you feel alright.

Everyone who comes into your life does serve a purpose. Some will be good. Some will be bad. But there is a reason they are there.

You can't please everyone.

The more things you do first...the more second guessing you will get.

Self doubt can be a good thing.

After every challenge...there is an opportunity.

Find ways to stimulate the mind and energize the body. It will do your life good.

Unplug...stay connected.

Love the enigma that is a mechanical pencil.

Don't just exist. Live.

Chew on that for awhile and let me know what you think.

Do You Believe in Magic?

They say that magic isn't real. They say it doesn't exist.

They are the naysayers. They don't want to believe in something they feel because they can't see it.

Yesterday, I not only felt it but I saw it as well.

It was alive and well in the Magic Kingdom.

We took our boys for the first time and it was an amazing adventure.

There was magic present around every corner because we took our daughter 15 years ago and we relived every moment we had with her with our boys.

There was magic present when my oldest boy held me tight as he braved his way through a roller coaster experience.

There was magic present when the youngest would shout out "wheeeee" around every turn.

There was magic present when my youngest boy put his arm around his brother and asked if he was ok after the roller coaster ride.

There was magic present when holding my youngest boy's hand as we danced to the music that played outside of the castle.

There was magic present when watching my oldest boy slip on his Mickey sorcerer hat and wear it proudly around the park.

There was magic present when my youngest braved through the dark caves on Tom Sawyer's island.

There was magic present when my oldest boy asked a woman and her children if she needed a place to sit and offered our table.

There was magic all around.

The problem with most of us though, is that the magic dies when you leave the park. The key to life is looking for and finding those moments of magic after the bright lights of the Magic Kingdom fade into black. Imagine how your life would be if you had "magic" moments everyday.

Just imagine...

5...6...7...

Rocky Balboa



Sylvester Stallone's iconic character that spanned decades.




Remember him?

I am not talking about the ones when Stallone takes a beating and the only scars are from all of his plastic surgeries.

I am talking about the 1970's Rocky.

Remember Mickey?

Burgess Meredith was fantastic in this role (a far cry from his years as the Penguin in the Batman TV series).

He pushed Rocky. He motivated Rocky. He coached Rocky.

"So I say, for God's sake, why don't you stand up and fight this guy HARD? Like you done before, that was beautiful! But don't lay down like this! Like, uh, I don't know, like some kind of mongrel or something."

In life...there will always be times when we think we are down for the count. It has happened and will happen again...a lot. But you have to get off the mat. "Don't lay down like this!"

You have no choice. People are going to knock you down. Things are going to knock you down. Your own personal demons are going to knock you down. You have to get up. Life is too precious not to. When you are down on the mat...you spend too much time licking your wounds to see life going on around you.

Your life is just like Rocky. You will have sequel after sequel after sequel. You have to see it through to the end of the movie. That's where the real applause happens.

8...9...

Get up! There is so much more to fight for.

Orbits and Catch Phrases

As you go through life...you need to realize a few basic truths.


There will be ups.

There will be downs.


There will be times when you want to give up.

There will be times when you feel invulnerable.

There will be pain.

There will be relief.

There will be great sadness.

There will be incredible elation.

Just remember...

You can't control everything.

Think of yourself as a planet with several circling orbits. There are only three things you can control at any given time though. Yourself and the two closest orbits. That's it. Figure out what those orbits are and do your damndest to make them work. Do your damndest to make them whole. Do your damndest to make them fulfilling. Forget everything else because you can't control them.

I have a catch phrase that I use that annoys some people but brings an affirmative shake of the head to others when used.

"It is what it is."

I tell the people who hate it to find me a better one and I will start using it immediately.

They can't...because everything in the universe...is what it is.

'Nuff said.

Stuck on Idle

The other night I was standing at a bar waiting for a drink and I overheard the conversation next to me.

It was obvious to me, the bartender and everyone else around what this dynamic was all about.

It was either a first date or a bar attempt by the male species to "get to know" the young lady better.

It was going nowhere fast.

He would say something. She would politely disagree or refute his position on the topic and then he would try to backtrack and force agreement, chemistry and hope for some sort of sign of the ice thawing.

Throw me a bone here.

So if it were obvious to us bystanders, was it obvious to the participants as well.

No matter what relationship you are working on. Romantic. Platonic. Business. Casual. The communication connection points are key. You have to give up a little...but take in a lot. You have to pull them into your conversation. You have to find the tipping point where you take it from idle chit chat to engagement.

You also have to know when to throw in the towel. When it's just not going to happen. Idle chit chat...is a waste of time. You want to move it from neutral to either forward or reverse because if you idle long enough, you will simply run out of gas and then you really are going nowhere.

Look...even without the conversation (if you want to call it that)...one would probably bet against the pairing at the bar the other night but if he would've been able to engage...it might have gotten interesting. You still would've asked..."how did he end up with her" but true communication connection points of engagement can break down traditional perceived barriers.

Throw an ice cube in a glass of single malt and watch how fast it melts. Now, that is some serious engagement.

This is Your Lucky Day

A strange thing happened the other night.

The big one.

The PowerBall lottery.

The chance to win millions.




As I was standing in line at the local convenience store watching the customers gobble up as many tickets as they could, it became surreal to me. As each one purchased their tickets, the convenience store worker genuinely was wishing them "good luck." I thought to myself "why would she wish them luck when luck has nothing to do with it." Chance yes...but luck? No. I know...cynical bastard, right?

As each person went through the line though and picked up their ticket and received their obligatory "good luck" wishes, each person's face lit up with genuine hope and excitement. I thought to myself...good for her...good for them. We need to feel hope. We need to feel anticipation. We need to feel "lucky."

No one at that particular convenience store won the lottery but for one small moment, they all felt like winners. So did I.

Good stuff!