Birds on a String

Driving to work this morning, I saw some birds overhead. They looked like they were suspended in mid air. It seems that they were really just sitting on a thin telephone wire. Since traffic was at a standstill, I had time to  stare at them. They were all motionless, just "chilling out". The odd thing was that they lined themselves up equally distant from each other. The same amount of space in between each bird. Did they do this to account for their wing span? Or do birds, like humans, just need their personal space.

Robots

I read on the internet that there are now a variety of gadgets that can monitor your home when you are gone. They can tell you if your dog needs to be fed, your refrigerator door is open, your washing machine is done washing, your lights are off, etc, etc. Your home can now run without you. I do not know why we have to know everything that is going on elsewhere if we are not in the vicinity. The more that we have done for us, the less we will have to use our brains. Soon they will shrink to the size of a pea. You learn responsibility through errors. If you never have to use the cognitive part of your brain, you lose the skill to think out and solve a problem. The next generation is heading towards being robots. Hooked up to their machines, letting electronics make their decisions. The other day, one of my receptionists called me because she did not know how to solve a simple problem in the office. I guess her ipad didn't know either.

Lyrics and Lectures

I listen to an oldies station when I drive to work. Simple tunes recorded in simpler times. Some of the lyrics are silly, like the song "My boy lollipop. He makes my heart go giddy up". This morning the stations choice of songs was great. I listened to the songs as if I was listening to a lecture. The words made so much sense to me. It started off with the Louis Armstrong song "When you're smiling". What could be more true than the thought that if you smile, others will too. The next song was Frank Sinatra singing "I've got to be me". I listened to every word of that song and realized that if you were reading it instead of singing it, it could be a true commentary on leading a self fulfilled life. Maybe in one of my future lecture series, I will incorporate the topic of "Lyrics and our Lives". I would certainly have an abundance of material to work with.

TLC

We all know the expression TLC. For most of us it means tender loving care. For people in the New York area it can refer to a television station called The Learning Channel. I use these initials when I lecture but I have a different meaning for them. Take it, Leave it or Change it. TLC. Your choice in life. When you come across a situation that is not to your liking, there are always three choices. When you are unhappy at work, you can sit there in silence, quit your job or figure out what is needed to make things better. When you are having trouble in a relationship, you can stay and be treated poorly, say goodbye or sit down and discuss what went wrong. Some people see things in black and white. Take it or leave it. Truly happy people see things in grey. That's what "change it" is all about.

Family

Last night I was at a beautiful wedding. At the last minute the venue decided to have the ceremony outside. Just as the sun was setting, the ceremony began. The air was perfectly cool and you could hear the sound of the waterfall in the background. After the cocktail hour we went into the main room and waited for the bridal party to be announced. First came the parents of the groom. Next was the bride's mothers. Plural. Next came the bride's mother. Singular. Next came the bride's mother and father. Confused? So was I. I took out my wedding program and tried to match up the names and figure out who was who. I could not seem to do it. No one else could either. Then I thought about it. Did it really matter? However odd the number of people, they all loved the bride and were her parents. She was a beautiful, happy, educated woman, who was marrying a man she loved very much. Families came in all shapes and sizes. Love binds them together.

Wedding Bells

Today is a beautiful day! Yesterday's storms cleared the path for warm sunshine and clear skies. I am happy about this for two reasons. One of the reasons is that everyone loves a beautiful day. The other reason is that early this evening I will be attending the wedding of my good friend's son. They deserve to prepare for this event with the sun shining on them. I have known them for many years, as our older sons met in middle school. Throughout the years they have remained two of the nicest people you could ever meet. Always kind and caring and wishing the best for other families. Last year at this time I was preparing for a wedding. My day was as beautiful as this one. Tonight, I will help celebrate a new beginning for a lovely couple and wish them every happiness that life holds.

Mindset of Happiness

Today is the last part of my lecture series for the New York Public Library. I had so much fun doing them. In September I will find out where I will do this lecture again. Today's class is on Mindset and Perception. Mindset is the way you think about things. If you change your mindset and perception, you will change the outcome of events. To change our mindset, we need to change some old habits. A positive mindset can change every decision we make, for the better. Since we can only focus on one thing at a time, focus on the positive not the negative. If you have only been taught a negative point of view, it is time to unlearn it . It is never too late. Don't talk negatively to yourself. Encourage yourself and say, "I can do it". Face your fears and go forward. If you look back, you will fall into your old ways, because that's what you know. If misery loves company, stay away from miserable people. Life is like poker. You have to know how to play your cards right in order to have a winning hand.