Ted Schneider on "Improv Leadership" on WRLR 98.3 LP FM

 Light bulbs 4/23/22 -  I was thinking the other day how human beings are similar to light bulbs.  Light bulbs illuminate the space they are in.  Some people light up a room when they enter, some live their lives in the spotlight, some have sunny personalities, while others can provide warmth and a glow simply by their smile.  Some light bulbs are more efficient than others are.  Some people are more efficient than others are.  Light bulb lifetimes can vary and unfortunately, the same holds true for people.  Compact fluorescent lights contain small amounts of mercury - eat enough fish from certain areas and you will too.  Light bulbs come in various wattage, which dictates how much energy they use per hour.  Based on the shape you are in, the food you eat and other factors will determine how much energy you will consume in an hour.  Light bulbs are fragile and at some level, most human beings are fragile or at least a little vulnerable.  Light bulbs come in different shapes and sizes - as do people.  Incandescent bulbs contain gas (people do too).  If a bulb is not in the socket properly, it is wobbly and can flicker.  People are the same way; they need to be grounded and firmly in place to function at peak.  Lastly, light bulbs eventually burn out and so will people if they are not careful.  

Unrealistic expectations? 4/16/22 – I recently have been told I have unrealistic expectations.  Perhaps because I expect technology to work flawlessly (and I work in IT, although I am not an IT guy).  Perhaps because I expect things to run smoothly, without delays and expect simple things to be simple.  Perhaps because I expect to achieve certain milestones each day in terms of exercise.  Perhaps because I expect drivers to signal their intentions, play nice with regards to merging and overall be courteous.  My expectations were put to the reality test recently when I stopped to get a COVID test at a pharmacy for a friend. I had to show my prescription card and driver’s license several times.  They had to fill a form out and I stepped back and forth several times (did not count my steps but it was a very, healthy event).  When I was finally handed the box, I mentioned it seemed like a long time BUT I qualified it with, “I have unrealistic expectations.”  What’s the moral to the story?  Perhaps the pace of the world (or at least my world) is so fast that anything slow is unacceptable.  Perhaps I need to have a tiered approach to expectations (color coded levels, like yellow, green and red).  At the end of the day I am going to have to manage my expectations better by, giving myself some time, adapt better to changing situations, prepare for problems and maybe even discussing expectations with others.  Lesson learned, expectations are somewhat of an illusion, they can be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses.  Expectations can energize you but they can also drain you – be careful how you set them. 

Life 4/9/22 - The definition of life, “the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change preceding death.” Not exactly an answer that totally satisfied me especially the death part (low on my to-do list). I understand capacity for growth (evolve/develop over time like a character in a movie), reproduction (I have three children so check that box), functional activity (accomplishing things, getting things done etc.) and continual change (things are always changing). But what is a good life? Is it a longevity contest (I lived longer so I win)? Is it about how much you have or how much money you made? I hope it is about what you have done with your life, what you have become and who you are. Life has been an excellent teacher and there have been many lessons presented (and in some cases presented and relearned again and again). In no particular order, some things I’ve picked up along the way, 1) Life is not fair but can always be worse, 2) There are peaks and valleys, enjoy the ride up and hold on when the dip comes (usually with no ‘Dip Ahead’ warning sign), 3) Things happen for a reason (although it might take a while to understand why), 4) You will come in contact with many people, most for a reason and usually there are takeaways from every encounter no matter how small, 5) Life is a combination of ‘tudes’, fortitude, aptitude, attitude, gratitude, longitude, latitude and on occasion solitude, 6) family is very important, 7) friends are to be cherished and make sure you tell these people what they mean to you, 8 life is an investment, you will have more in your account if you put more in, 9) time accelerates the older we get so don’t put off what you really want to do for too long, 10) when taking the ‘life test’, don’t copy from anyone, fill in your own answers and find your own way, 11) start each day with a smile, a positive thought and a kind heart and see where it takes you 12) there are no guarantees or warranties and we all come with an expiration date so live it to its fullest and enjoy it while you can.

Hot water 4/2/22 – We take a lot for granted, including some basic things, such as hot water. We use it to bathe, shower, wash our dishes and hot water is best for removing germs and heavy soil when doing laundry (I personally prefer using the cold/cold setting but I digress). Thursday morning when I was showering the water didn’t seem like it was warming up so I made it a VQS (very quick shower). Upon examination, the pilot light was out on the water heater and after several attempts I was unsuccessful in lighting it. My mind quickly shifted to the pioneer days – they didn’t have hot water and they survived, so what’s the big deal. In addition, I work from home and didn’t plan on being next to anyone for a few days so I figured I got this covered until a professional can take a look at it. By Saturday morning before the water tank was to be replaced, I was washing up by the laundry tub (kind of like the creek in the old days) and I thought all was going well until I went outside to get the newspaper. Suddenly, vultures appeared and circled overhead as if they sensed someone had died or was near death. That was a clear sign it was time to break the shower fasting, stop telling people I gave up showering for lent and take a hot water shower. It had only been about a day and a half but I appreciated the shower more than I can ever recall. Sometimes in many aspects of our lives, we have to have something we take for granted, taken away, to see it differently and more fully appreciate it.   

Two sides of a coin 3/26/22 - We all have a collection of beliefs, notions, ideas, thoughts and opinions we hold to be true.  Based on this mix we can easily be judgmental at times.  In addition, for every side you take, there is someone who easily takes the other side.  What highlighted these differences is a work meeting I attended last week.  We were talking about gas prices and someone from California made the statement, “I hope gas prices go to $15 a gallon.”  I was astonished, but instead of being judgmental (and instantly labeling him as mentally unstable or just another crazy Californian) I asked him for more information to better understand his statement.  It turns out he drives an electric car and he feels everyone should have one too.  I left the topic alone at that point to keep people from rioting in the streets.  The point, many times I rush to judgment without asking any questions first and I need to do better. The moral of the story is best illustrated by a Walt Whitman quote (that depending on your research he may or may not have said) that Ted Lasso has made even more famous, “Be curious not judgmental.”    

Pause / Rests 3/19/22 - The use of a pause in music is to create silence for a period.  Silences help to distinguish different sections of the score, allowing listeners to shift their attention.  Rests indicate how long the silence should last.  These two aspects of music (along with other components) allow it to flow as intended, and listeners better understand it and enjoy it.  The idea of pausing and resting in your daily life has similar benefits.  Pausing in a conversation allows those listening to absorb and understand the notes.  Pausing during that same conversation allows the other person to contribute making it a more meaningful composition.  Pausing occasionally while you work, allows you to rest, refocus and singing a better tune after you resume working.  Getting adequate rest recharges you, allows your body to repair itself and functions like a healthy refrain.  Overall, pausing on occasion and resting, enables you to make quality music and others will more fully appreciate what they are hearing.   

What’s on my mind 3/12/22

Looks like warmer weather will soon be here,

That’s pretty clear.

I am hoping things can get back to normal like before the virus mess,

We’ll have to see I guess.

The big news lately is that prices are high for gas,

Hopefully this will soon pass.

And Russia is waging a terrible war overseas,

With Ukraine it’s trying to seize.

Hopefully this situation will soon result in peace,

And hostilities will cease.

On a more happy, personal level, I am looking forward to summer, taking some time off and more sun,

Basically having some fun.

It will be great to spend more time with friends, family and those I know,

The grass I will need to mow.

Living in the Midwest we have a limited amount of time in the summer,

To waste it is a bummer.

Overall, I am hoping things calm down in the world and people learn to be nice to one another,

Treating everyone like a brother.

 Little boy 3/5/22 – We have all heard the phrase, “there’s a little boy trapped inside his body.” Usually this is because a man acts childish or has childish dreams. In my case that little boy is living quite comfortably in my body. That little boy’s dreams, aspirations, energy, hopes and imagination is still with me. Don’t get me wrong there are days a grumpy older gentleman makes an appearance but for the most part that fun loving child comes out as often as he can. This isn’t a recent phenomenon; I can recall growing up and always hearing from my parents, “he thinks everything is a big joke.” Some of my first corporate annual reviews stated something to the effect, “there is a time and place for humor in the workplace” – my response deep down inside was, “yes, all the time.” The point for me is that life can get pretty serious when you get older and based on what you have seen and what you have experienced and what you have to deal with at times, why not have some fun. Why not joke around with people, why not interact with others in a positive and even silly manner. Let that little boy or little girl come out as often and as appropriately as you can. Life is too short, so have fun, laugh and let that little child run around without adult supervision.

Reminders 2/26/22 – We get numerous reminders today including upcoming doctor appointments, auto service visits, Facebook birthday notifications, personal calendar reminders and for some, medication reminders which can have positive health benefits.  My memory is still sharp so being inundated with reminders by text, email and phone calls gets to be a bit much at times.  Although, some studies have shown that simple reminders may be effective because they “act as cues to counteract prospective memory failures” – OK I get the need.  But thinking about it a little, maybe we should send even more reminders, such as, be thoughtful while driving and use your signals, treat strangers you meet in public with respect, give people, in general, a break because you don’t know what they are dealing with and lastly maybe even a simple reminder to be kind to your neighbors and resist the urge to invade their country.    

The Mind 2/19/22 - The older I get the more I realize the mind is a very powerful tool.  A healthy, positive mind assists with exercising, work related meetings, projects and tasks, the mood you are in and even keeps you focused on the habits you want to make a consistent part of your life.  For example, if you want to do a number of pull-ups, or pushups or lift a certain amount of weight or run a particular distance, being in the right mindset will assist you in achieving your goal.   There are times when you dread Mondays or an upcoming presentation or report you have to create – if you can put your mind in the right place, it will help you overcome your fears, hesitation or doubt.  For me, there are many times when my mental state has more strength and capability compared to my physical abilities.  Perhaps as we slowly decline physically, if we are able to focus on increasing our mind’s potential we can achieve what we focus on.  As long as you are able, unleash the power of your mind and remember the simple motivational quote, from DJ Khaled, “To succeed, you must believe, when you believe, you will succeed.”    

Actions have consequences - 2/12/22 - On Oketo Ave. (going north) there are two signs right before Lawrence Ave., “Don’t Block the Alley” and “Don’t Block the Driveway” (to a restaurant).  As I approached there was a car blocking both so I left some space between us.  Some might say, “What’s the big deal?”  Well, as we were waiting for the light to change an older woman pulled up and because I left room in front of the car ahead of me, she attempted to turn into the driveway but missed the entrance.  She had to back up (blocking two lanes of traffic (and two cars) because the light changed).  As she started to move forward I tapped my horn and put my hand up to ‘Stop’ because she couldn’t see the three cars moving quickly on the right lane next to me since they would have broadsided her.  After the three cars passed, I signaled her to go.  Meanwhile the light changed to red and me along with 5 or 6 other cars behind me had to wait for the next light.  Based on one person not following the rules or being courteous, nine other drivers were directly affected.  The driver blocking the driveway made the light and went on his merry way but there was a wake caused by his actions, he delayed nine other drivers, almost created an accident and caused at least one woman some stress that she shouldn’t have experienced simply attempting to pull into a restaurant.  It’s important to remember that there are times when we disregard the rules and only think of ourselves, that others can be impacted.  It’s unfortunate that everyone doesn’t see the real message these signs are attempting to convey – be courteous and we all win.  If we take others into consideration, we can make life a little easier, a little less stressful and a little more pleasant for everyone.

12 reasons I love Winter - 2/5/22

·  No grass to cut, no leaves to rake and no bushes to trim.

·  You can wear a hat and don’t have to take it off inside (which would reveal that your hairdo is now messed up).

·  If you turn the thermostat down you can sleep better (if you turn the thermostat down in the summer you freeze).

·  You appreciate the sun coming out (even though it is still secretly attempting to cause skin cancer).

·  The frequency of a bird pooping on your car drops significantly.

·  You can easily spot when owners don’t pick up after their dogs on your lawn.

·  If you put on a few pounds you can simply say you are wearing long underwear under your jeans.

·  You can make noise early in the morning with your snow blower and get even with the people that made noise late at night during the summer (parties, loud music or a noisy car).

·  Sound travels farther in cold air (faster in warm air) so you can yell outside without too much effort and people can hear you.

·  Your electric bill (in the Midwest or East) goes way down.

·  You can buy refrigerated items and not worry about setting any land speed records getting home before they spoil.

·  You always have a valid excuse (again in the Midwest or East) not to go somewhere (it’s cold out, my car won’t start, my winter coat is at the dry cleaners, I only have summer tires on my car, I just washed my hair and prefer to let it air dry, the roads are icy etc.).

Who has made a difference? – 1/29/22 – I like to think that I am focused on making a difference and having a positive impact (at work, with friends, family and in the community etc.).  Although it occurred to me, have I told people that they had a positive impact on me?  Have I let people know that they made a difference in my life?  It could be a friend, a co-worker, a significant other, a family member, a coach or even a teacher.  It’s important to let people know the positive impact they have had on your life.  Too often, I take things for granted or assume the person knows already.  Going forward, I plan on being open and timely with letting people know how they have affected me.  I want them to know how they changed my life, made me shift my paradigm, made me smile, lifted me up when I was down or overall made me a better version of myself.  I encourage you to do the same – let people know the positive influence they have been in your life and thank them for it.      

How we can fly 1/22/22 – I spotted a hawk floating in the sky yesterday and wondered how they do it so gracefully.  I looked up the four forces that affect things that fly – weight, lift, thrust and drag.  If we want to get through life in a similar manner, we need to deal with these four forces.  Weight is the force of gravity.  In life, in order to break free of things that are weighing us down sometimes requires a new focus and letting go of whatever it is that is prohibiting us to take off.  Lift is created by differences in air pressure.  As we travel through life we all experience different pressures, such as financial, emotional, physical (and sometimes even sinus pressure).  Depending on the pressure we experience it can definitely impact our ability to soar and feel free.  Thrust is the force that propels a flying machine (engines produce thrust).  We need a strong heart and mind along with a dash of grit, a little perseverance and some resolve to propel us and keep us going in the direction we want to go in.  Drag is the force that acts opposite to the direction of motion.  Drag is caused by friction.  Sometimes in life there are things that work against us moving forward, like fear, doubt or skepticism.  We need to identify the things that are working against our forward progress and keep them under control.  I won’t predict that humans will ever be able to float effortlessly in the sky without a plane, a parachute or a jet pack but if we understand how to work with these four forces, we can glide a little easier through life. 

Childhood adventures – 1/15/22 - Growing up on the NW side of Chicago in the 1960’s the world was a different place at least from the eyes of a young person.  Even though there was political turmoil, assassinations, the war in Vietnam, and a myriad of protests (complete with hippies and yippes), my friends and I were focused on other things.  We rode our bikes everywhere, played games outside like “Tag, you’re it”, or “Off the wall” with a rubber ball on the school grounds, and we would go to the Riis Park lagoon where we caught crawfish with bologna (we found out they didn’t make good pets because they always died shortly afterwards).  We would go to the Dolly Madison day old store and buy small cartons of milk along with Koo Koos, Razzys and Googles (years before the Internet we were buying Googles!).  We also went to the penny candy store and left with small paper bags full of sugary delights.  Lastly, we would play kick ball in the intersection of Mulligan and Palmer and the only interruption was the arrival of the Good Humor man (smartly dressed in a clean white uniform).  Ice cream treats were delivered right to where we were playing and it didn’t require a cell phone, or an app, a credit card or an account to get frozen goodies on demand.  Life was simple and life was good.   

Dr. Seuss quote – 1/8/22 - In a movie I just watched a character stated, “Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened” (it turned out to be a Dr. Seuss quote).  It made me think of times when I was younger, playing games of ‘tag’ or “against the wall”, riding bikes, going to the Riis Park public pool and summer days that almost never ended. It brought back memories of high school and college and made me reflect on past relationships. I thought of parties, concerts, weddings and other events I attended, holidays, family get-togethers and people that I have lost or have lost contact with. There have been times when I’ve had feelings of melancholy or been sad because something ended (a relationship, an event, sold a car, sold a home and moved or even when I changed jobs). The lesson, in this quote, is to recall the fun, excitement and happiness I had while the event was going on or that I shared with the person.  Going forward, I will focus on how I benefited from the experience or the relationship. I will smile because I was able to be a part of their life or a part of that moment.  I know that as long as I can recall what occurred, what we shared, what I learned, how I felt or what I experienced, it never really ended because it is a part of me.  

Focus in the New Year - 1/1/22 – It’s a new year and instead of a resolution why not a personal New Year’s focus.  Going forward, focus on what you love to do or what you do for a living or dabble in as a hobby and look at it as unique, significant and exceptional as you are.  Some examples, you are training to improve your tennis game, you play guitar in a band, you restore bicycles, you make delicious fudge, fly drones or act in movies, ride horses, minister or ride along with the police, you are retired, you run a health food store, are a keto expert, read Tarot cards, enjoy traveling to Las Vegas, work in a pharmacy, you’re a pilot, maybe you’re a nurse, you do improv, you umpire, you volunteer, you play golf, you love to dance, you deliver packages (FedEx or UPS), you are a mother, a father, a grandparent, you cook Italian dishes quite well, you say “Hello” a lot, you’re a photographer, you do leadership training, you work for an airline, you are a writer, you paint pictures, you love little dogs and/or love living in Florida or you simply like to exercise regularly.  Whatever your passion, whatever you like to do for fun, or do to make money or do as a side gig, have fun with it, be proud of who you are and what you can do no matter what skill level you are at because it is YOU!  Don’t compare yourself to anyone, truly be yourself.  If you make the time to do it, be it and live it, it is as special and important as you are.  Happy New Year!

Christmas Carol - 12/25/21 – I was thinking about the classic movie, A Christmas Carol (the old, black and white version).  Scrooge is visited by ghosts of the past and future and they teach him valuable lessons about the results of his actions and life in general – primarily how he interacts with others and treats them.  We are all aware of our past ghosts (mistakes and hopefully lessons learned, missed opportunities along with moments that we could have done more or been better human beings).  The movie should serve as inspiration of the way we need to conduct ourselves.  The takeaways for me, keep the spirit of Christmas alive (how we treat others) for the upcoming year not just the next few days, be aware of the present in your day to day interactions and don’t dwell on the past but instead use it to shape your future.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! 

Week before Christmas - 12/18/21   

Twas a week before the big Christmas day,
Don’t know what to say,

Because I hadn’t bought gifts yet for all those I had on my list,
Made me a little pissed.

I meant to start early online, but everything I wanted to buy,
Was out of stock in a wink of an eye.

Something about a virus, shortages and stalled container ships,
Too much to come to grips.

Then I thought I’ll go to the store,
But that was quite a chore.

Staying away from others, wearing rubber gloves, bathing in alcohol wipes and wearing a mask,
Was quite a task.

Then I thought I’ll just give them all a bunch of cash,
But thinking about that gave me a rash.

Then I thought I’d stop by their home and sing them a carol,
I sounded like a cat that was feral.

At the end of the day I thought the best thing to say,
Was that I would pray,

That they would stay healthy, be happy, safe and have fun,
Then I’d consider myself done.  

Hypnosis – 12/11/21 – Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion. It is the act of putting someone into a mental state like sleep, in which their thoughts can be easily influenced by someone else. Hypnosis only affects the brain, controlling the thoughts and actions of the person being hypnotized. In the past you had to be a hypnotist to induce hypnosis. Today you just need to give someone a smart phone and/or develop a popular social media app to put people in a similar trance-like state.  

 Price of Wisdom - 12/4/21 - The definition of wisdom is, "the soundness of an action or decision with regards to the application of experience, knowledge and good judgement."  In order to gain experience and knowledge you must have lived life and been witness to a number of birthdays.  During this time you have encountered joy, sadness, sunny days, storms, illness, injury, death, love, anger, disappointment and laughter (to name a few).  Along the way you have been in a variety of situations that have tested you, made you stronger, made you question your resolve, made you happy, made you regretful, made you triumphant, got you excited, made you cry or brought you peace of mind.  The price we pay for wisdom is the sum of all that we have seen, felt, accomplished, decisions we have made, emotions, knowledge, education, training, careers we pursued, connections we have made with others, relationships and an assortment of other influences.  Wisdom comes with the passage of time and it isn’t easy or cheap.   

Reaction – 11/27/21 -  I was reading about the effect stress has on our bodies and on our overall health, along with the variety of physical symptoms you can experience.  But what is the root cause of stress?  Does it just appear in our lives out of nowhere?  I would argue that the majority of times stress is the result of how we react to something.  Unless you are confronted with a life-threatening situation, most of the time it is how we respond to a situation, an event or our circumstances.  Our response is what triggers our elevated heart rate, anger, irritability or anxiety.  Other times it is our mere thoughts that produce stress, anxiety, depression etc.  The take-a-away, a good starting point to reduce stress is to relax your mind a little and cancel your negative mindset and/or doubting voice.  The other thing is to become aware of what triggers your stress (a person, a situation or even a particular task or responsibility) and start to control your reaction.  Realizing what can trigger your stress, should allow you to proactively calm down and (unless it is life-threatening) react in a more appropriate manner.  I believe we can eliminate a large portion of stress in our lives if our thoughts remain positive and we can control our reactions to things that might otherwise trigger stress. 

Find my way home – 11/20/21 - The theme of our spring 2022, Class of 76, get together is “Find my way home.”  I was thinking about what that meant and it made me go back in time to a simpler time, a time when I was younger and a time when life was a little less complicated.  Find my way home is a way to examine your life – understanding why and how you turned out the way you did.  If you go back in time to the environment you grew up in, your family, friends, school and other related events that occurred, you get back to your roots.  Just like the roots of a plant, this was your support, what gave you nourishment and what enabled you to grow.  Going back to your roots allows you to study your beginnings and it explains how things got started.  If you fast-forward to the present, you come to realize that your roots are still there.  Similar to a mighty oak tree, the only reason you are standing, thriving and alive is because of your roots.  They still provide sustenance, stability and keep you grounded.  Every once in a while it is a worthwhile exercise to find your way home, to go back in time to reconnect to the past because it can answer some questions and reacquaints you with yourself.    

Mosaic - 11/13/21 - A friend of mine created a mosaic using small pieces of stone and glass. As I studied the picture it reminded me of a human life. We are made up of all the experiences, emotions, highs, lows, thoughts, and events that have occurred in our life. All of these things are small pieces glued together to make the picture of us. Like some mosaics, in life, some pieces come unglued and fall off and we either put them back on or we replace them with new pieces. Years ago, when I examined my own mosaic, it reminded me of when I was younger and in art class and I was never really comfortable with what I had produced. Today, if I look at my life’s mosaic, I am comfortable with what I have made. It might not be perfect or special enough to hang in the Louvre in France, or even the Art Institute downtown but it is my masterpiece. It is real, it has been created over a long period of time and it’s me.  Take a step back, once in a while and examine your own life, your own mosaic and be proud of what you have created.

Consumption 11/6/21 - Most of us are aware and are focused on the food and drink we consume. We make choices with regards to the calories, the nutrition and hopefully attempt to achieve a balance in our diet. But what about the other things in life we consume such as social media, news and other forms of information and stimuli? Some people don’t realize how much they are consuming and the time involved along with the influence it can have. I read something the other day that described the ‘opportunity cost’ involved (the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen). I have been deliberate in the choices I have made for many years regarding the food and drink I consume. I am now attempting to be as focused on my consumption of social media, news etc. due to the time involved, the influence it has along with deciding if there other, more productive, uses of my limited time.    

Vacation 10/30/21 - I took a week of vacation this week and went out of town for a few days. It was a pleasant break from my normal routine but immediately when I returned, I quickly found myself back in my routine. While I was out of town, it was OK to sleep a little later, not exercise as intensely and not log into my work computer (I left my work laptop at home but did regularly check my email from my phone). But as soon as I was home, I quickly reverted back to daily mode (exercising, getting things done around the house, logging into work, sleeping less etc.) even though I was still on vacation. Is there some type of electromagnetic field that exists near my home that alters my physiological makeup? Is it because I am home that my body’s “location services” switches and kicks me into a different gear? What happens when I eventually retire (will I have to constantly be out of town not to get the itch to be immersed in exercise, work and other home related activities)? Someday I will cross the retirement bridge and can’t always be out of town.  As a result, I will need to find a way to achieve some type of balance or wear a cloak of aluminum foil to block that pesky electromagnetic field that keeps altering my behavior. 

Now I understand 10/23/21 - With the passage of time I have come to understand many things I couldn't fully comprehend when I was younger.  Over the years, here are just a few things I have come to better understand; 1) that your heart stores memories in addition to the ones your brain keeps, 2) what’s truly important and to prioritize accordingly, 3) the stress and worry associated with waiting for the results of a medical test, 4) what it means to get older (physically and emotionally), 5) the challenges of dealing with aging parents, 6) the responsibilities of being a parent, 7) how relationships work and how they shape your life, 8) how important humor and a positive outlook in life is, 9) how important diet, exercise and sleep are to your well being, 10) all about taxes, paying bills, and the price of goods, 9) how important it is to follow "the golden rule" 11) that I am past the point of being "middle aged" unless I live to be 130 and 12) that the world doesn't revolve around me and it's important to get involved in something much bigger than myself.  

Co-pilot 10/16/21 - A particularly handy feature on my car is the Lane Keeping Assist System. When activated, it keeps the car driving in your lane automatically and if it determines the vehicle is deviating from the center of a detected lane with no turn-signal activation by the driver, it will attempt to steer the vehicle back into the center of the lane. I finally decided to test this feature last week when I received a Teams instant message from a co-worker. I also recalled that Illinois has a “hands free’ policy when it comes to driving so, I figured I could legally drive with no hands. I replied back to my co-worker and since the car was doing a remarkable job of driving by itself, I thought I should take a little nap since I recently read that a mid-day power nap provides some real health benefits. Unfortunately, it was only a mini power nap because every 10 seconds if it doesn’t detect you touching the steering wheel it alerts you to do so (I was really disappointed because I could have used the power nap). I guess this old saying still holds true when it comes to driving, “if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.”