Focus on the solution

This morning the Today Show had a segment on driving safety in hazardous, winter conditions. They gave several tips. One thing really caught my attention. But not because I plan to drive on icy roadways anytime soon. When instructing what to do when in a skid, they advised "Look in the direction you want to go - not in the direction you are skidding. In other words: Focus on the solution - not on the problem." Good advice for driving. Great advice for life.

Often we focus only on our problems. We bitch and moan about our situation. We find fault with everyone. We have a pity party. So we continue in our skid - heading for a crash.

Instead we should focus on the solution. We should look in the direction we want to go. Visualize where we want to be. There we may be able to maneuver our way to a straighter path.

Focus on the solution - not on the problem.

Remembering Paul

Life has been so busy, I haven't found time to blog. Actually I've hardly had time to think - so there were no real thoughts to share. But I did want to take just a moment to remember my friend, Paul. This past Monday would have been Paul's birthday. We celebrated his last birthday in a hospital room at UAB's cancer center.

A few days earlier I had given him a NY Yankees Santa hat. I had ordered the hat much earlier to be part of his birthday present. But I gave him the hat when I went to visit after his surgery for a brain tumor. That might have been the best used gift I have ever given. Because his head had been shaved for the surgery, he wore the hat often in the hospital. He wore it as we all crowded in his room to celebrate his birthday. We took the other gifts we had purchased. Some were "nicer" gifts. But I think that hat was his favorite and most useful.

We knew last year that the situation was serious. But I am not sure that any of us had accepted that this would be the last birthday we would celebrate with Paul in this world. He left us much sooner than expected.

So December 10th arrived. For the first time in nearly 2 decades, I had no reason to search for some unique Yankees gift. Alicia seemed sad as the day approached. But now we have been through this milestone.

Rather than being sad, we are to celebrate the life of our loved one. So today I remember Paul - my good friend. A good and loving father and grandfather. A hard-working, dedicated businessman. A kind and generous soul. A well-respected gentleman. A person with a positive attitude. A special person in my life and a great influence on Alicia. Here is to a life well-lived.

To Paul - we love you and miss you.