2010 - The Next Episode

Here goes – 2009 was the most challenging year of my adult life.

First the loss: my mother, my sister-friend’s mother, Michael Jackson, and Ted Kennedy. Two people I actually knew and shared time with and two others who shaped my life and countless others without even knowing my name. Others included one coworker from a job I had a lifetime ago and the most recent – A good guy and longtime employee at the flower exchange whose single vehicle car crash on the way to work Christmas Eve resulted in two young girls losing their dad during the holidays. There were some near misses with some people close to me battling serious and chronic illnesses that at times left their lives in peril.

Now the truth: life happens all day, everyday. What can you do about that? Not a thing – you just have to jump in and ride “it” until the wheels fall off. What I discovered in this year of transition is that not every situation is for you and sometimes you have to look at it and let it go. Not every person is right for you – that includes spouses, near-spouses, never to be spouses, family, friends, business partners, and colleagues. Don’t be afraid to distance yourself from entities that are not helping you be your BEST self. What does that mean - people and situations that help you to be physically and mentally healthy, strong and a positive force here on this earth. If you are always in a complex space, that means something or someone is making it hard for you to keep it simple! If you are the one adding to the complication with jealousy, naysaying, hateration, and narrow focus, be man or woman enough not to let your insecurities get in the way of someone else’s light.

What’s next – as always the chapter has not been written, however, I am doing whatever I can to build a solid foundation for the next episode. I have completed my requirements for my MBA which opens up new doors. I am also taking a good long look at people and situations in my life and making sure I am the best I can be for others without being weighed down by the unnecessary burdens and dramas of others. It’s a liberating space to be in and I hope that all of you will aim to get there and be happy in it.

Here’s to all those have been a part of Team “G”. It’s with love and complete gratitude that I wish you all the best in this next decade.

G

New Year, New Direction

Greetings and Happy New Year to All,

It has been quite a ride since my last post – still caught in the euphoria of an Obama win but understanding the magnitude of what he has to undertake. Once again feeling hopeful about the future, but watching an economic crisis balloon by the day. Knowing that the world was ready to welcome the US back into its fold but seeing long simmering conflicts once again take center stage as tensions boil over in Gaza. On top of it all, local government officials find themselves the subjects of innuendo, indictments, and incarceration, casting more doubt on the system during the President-elect’s attempt to launch a movement that would mark a cosmic shift in the political landscape. No doubt about it – we find ourselves caught in a perfect storm.

So what do we do? It is very easy to lay low or put your head in the sand. It’s much more effective to reflect on how you and yours came be a part of solution. Much of what you can do starts right at home – understand the definition of LOYALTY and be loyal to those who have been there for you along the way; RAISE your kids; provide a safe haven for your family; be conscious of your finances, and take steps to be and remain healthy. It is also important to stay informed and well read because for everything you know, there are two things you don’t know. Believe me – ignorance is an affliction that you want to shake with every ounce of your being.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G