If you could see the future.....

If you could see the future, would you want to?
At this time of year, I begin reflecting on the past year and how amazingly different things are today than they were just a year ago. At our end of yearly gatherings, I always tell our staff and collaborators 'We're going to be amazed at where we are a year from now'. Without fail, each year we are indeed amazed.
Would we liked to have known? Would we have chosen to see exactly what was going to happen?
While it may been have nice to know that a risk was worth taking or that a tough time would lead to unexpected rewards, I love the surprise of it all. Perhaps that's because the year has been overwhelmingly successful and rewarding in so many ways. But there were also some very tough and stressful times; just enough to make the rewards seem that much sweeter.
Knowing exactly how things would turn out may have spoiled it somehow. The unexpected surprises are often the most treasured. It's like opening that one gift under the Christmas tree that was totally and wonderfully different than you expected. Part of the joy of Christmas is the anticipation and not knowing what gifts there may be.
Perhaps life is sweeter as we prepare to be amazed. We watch for it. And in the preparation and the anticipation, we create the amazing things that come. It is, itself, an energy that lifts us into the amazing. Because we are watching for it, we celebrate it. The celebration creates more and reminds us to anticipate more amazing things.
Today, I am thankful for the journey and the unexpected. It's a time of celebration.

Town was closed today! Thank you.

Today was Thanksgiving day. Late morning I drove through downtown Franklin and marveled at the beauty of Liberty Street heading toward the courthouse with all the Christmas decorations. Then my attention was drawn to the fact that every downtown store and restaurant was close. And I was thankful!!! Owners, employees and their families were together today. Our town closes on Thanksgiving. You will see the same on Christmas. YEAH!!!!
There have been years I was traveling on those days to get home. I felt bad when I stopped for gas or paid the toll and realized that person was working instead of being home with their family. While in the Air Force, there was only one holiday spent with family and only because my sister happened to be in the same state at the time with a husband in the Army. It was painful at times.
So, today, I am thankful for perhaps an odd thing - town was closed today. Yes, there were a couple of gas stations open. One place was serving Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, the hotel was open. But everyone else paused for a day of giving thanks and time with family.
There is a slippery trend to start "Black Friday" early with large stores starting Thanksgiving eve or sooner. As a small business owner, I can understand the temptation to reach for opportunity where it may be but this small business owner will focus on a day of giving thanks and being with family. There is something worth much more than a dollar. And I will celebrate seeing a quiet street on family days as I imagine togetherness.

Stop Poking!

People of all political persuasions are expressing weariness with the tone of discourse in the country. It's draining. We're not exchanging ideas or thoughtful discussion. It's more like eye poking and taking sucker punches. It's full of soundbites and one liners intended to provoke rather than provide a forum for contextual information exchange. It's emotionally charged rather than fact based.
How do we stop it?
We stop poking and sucker punching. WE stop.
In recent days there have been silly "poke in the eye" memes that crossed in my feeds. You know the kind; a graphic with a tiny body and big head and some statement that groups a bunch of people in that group as being something or other. Another patting themselves on the back for not being mobs or rioters like that group. The temptation is to poke back with equal venom and stereotyping. Maybe say something like "no, your group just sends bombs and shoot people in churches or synagogues." And that's how we keep things going. Punch - counter-punch.
If we really want to stop all this, we have to stop. First, don't post provocative graphics. It doesn't help to try to walk back the tone in later post discussion. We already poked somebody in the eye. They are looking at the walk back with one eye now and it's seeing red.
Don't poke back when a post annoys you. They don't need to know it annoyed you. If everyone ignores them, it will stop eventually. Get thicker skin.
Finally, if you do have fact based information that isn't emotionally charged, consider sharing it on your own page - not theirs. Let their snarky posts inspire you to be educated about the related subject. Check a variety of sources. Focus on facts. Be ready for a possible discussion - in person. It's quite likely that person is not seeking greater context than what they saw on Facebook or heard from their favorite commentator. If it becomes a discussion someday, be ready to name sources and provide valuable information that may cause them to think about the issue differently. Be sure your position is fact based and logical. If it doesn't change their mind, let it go.
Once in a while you will discover a person of opposing view who has actually done their homework. That's cool. Be open to it and take it in. That's how we resolve differences; by learning to understand and hear each other. We solve problems by looking at them from all perspectives. When we can get to a point where we want to solve problems together, we make America Great Again.