On the Bright Side

Our world is changing at a pace we simply are not accustomed to. Just when we figure out how to use some piece of innovative technology, a newer version comes around making the old one obsolete. On a larger scale, the same is true for many of the jobs and institutions that have stabilized advanced societies since the end of World War II, making it difficult to keep up. The increased speed with which we humans are being asked to adjust to is shocking to our collective system. Future historians will analyze the forces at work at the turn of this century and, with the benefit of hindsight, will write books, teach classes and update curriculum so that future generations can learn from our mistakes. We, on the other hand, are living through it. Every day we are inundated with loud, frustrated, even angry people yelling at each other and blaming each other for something that, I believe, is really bigger than all of us. No one has “the answer” for how to “fix this” because, once again, we hu...

Globalization. Scholars weigh the pros and cons. Politicians take sides about how it impacts ‘us.’  You would think globalization is a 20 th century concept but, really, it’s been happening since the beginning of time. When you think about it, the center of anyone’s universe begins with the self. The extent to which our world expands and interacts with others depends on the transportation technology of the time period. We started on two feet, and now we have rockets. You get the picture. Roughly 2300 years ago, Alexander the Great traveled outside of his world and found that, in fact, there were some other pretty sophisticated places out there. He found powerful kingdoms in Egypt, Persia and India, sharing (and imposing) Greek culture with those he encountered and bringing with him some very cool items and ideas he found in each region. His travels and conquests resulted in a blending of cultures historically referred to as Hellenistic and it was the largest example of globaliz...

I have joined the ranks of what is commonly known the “Sandwich Generation.” My mom and dad are, fortunately, still very healthy, but they are midway through their seventies and the clock stops for no one. At the other end are my almost grown kids. Both in their twenties and living away from home, but nowhere near flying solo just yet. While they may not need me on a day to day basis, they most certainly still depend on my paycheck and health insurance. And my parents live in New York. They used to come visit me and my busy life, but they aren’t as foot loose and fancy free any more, so visits from them are less and less frequent. Ever wanted to be in two places at once? So I took a leap of faith and made a gigantic career move. I left the brick and mortar classroom for the virtual world! Technically I still have to work from Florida, but at least I can leave mid-day on Friday and come back early morning Monday and not miss a beat. This would have been impossible to do twice a mo...

There are very few places you can go today where the internet is not available at least in a local cafe and everyone, regardless of social class, has a cell phone. I’ve traveled enough to know that, even in some of the least developed cities, the internet is often better than the water. Except in Cuba. Cuba sits squarely on the cusp between two centuries. The cars famously remain from the pre-embargo heyday of American auto manufacturing and they are a sight to behold. Almost all of the taxis are some version of 1950s Chevy. And while tourists are apt to seek the perfect selfie, locals are virtually cell-free! No internet cafes, no GPS… just friendly people always willing to direct you or even show you how to get to where you want to go. Of course, everybody “knows a guy” who can get you what you are looking for, but that is the spirit in an emerging marketplace creeping ever so gingerly away from a command economy to a free market (think China in the early 1980’s).  Maybe Cu...

On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, two political rivals came together to commemorate the “day that will live in infamy.” Both men served in combat during the second world war and were inspired toward a life of public service as a result. Then, despite being on the same side of the political aisle, they became bitter political rivals later. During the 1988 Republican primaries, Dole publicly confronted Bush, demanding he “stop lying about my record.” (If only this were still an example of bitter. But I digress..) Bush went on to win the general election and, despite their rough, gloves off campaign, Dole went on to serve as the senate majority leader in his administration. He explained, “Many people doubted I could serve the president since we had a rather rough campaign.” But that turned out not to be the case and the two put their differences aside and got to work. Dole explained that, “At that time you turned the page and said, ‘OK, I can either go backw...

My favorite New Year’s resolution started two years ago and is still going. I begin by writing down four annual goals. I figure one per quarter is reasonable, since these goals are above and beyond what needs to be accomplished in the grind of daily life. Then, on January first each year,  I put 52 marbles in a jar on and have a second, empty jar, next to it. Beginning on the first Monday of the year, and every Monday thereafter, I move one marble from the first jar and place it into the second jar. As the weeks and months pass, the marbles become a visual reminder of time passing by. Sometimes I will add mini-goals along the way, and allow one month to complete a task (clearing out my closet, for example). It works like a charm for knocking things off the To-Do list. Especially when I include a little reward for myself for meeting my goal. My newly organized closet now boasts an adorable mini-chandelier as a result of my focus and dedication. But there is a difference betwee...