Timing is Everything

We've all heard this before that timing is everything.  Whether we are discussing a sporting event, school, or work.  People always want to use that phrase.  Why is timing everything?  Shouldn't it really be that each of us have planned and been diligent to make things happen so that timing had little to do with it rather it was all the planning and prior work that caused the event to happen.

I don't have a crystal ball and can't predict the future, but I do know that the harder you work and the more you plan the likelihood of having events come true improve dramatically.  Similarly, the work life balance doesn't come without planning and work.  Families need to work at striking that delicate balance to earn a living while nurturing a family.  I'm not always good at this, but I do plan and work at it to try and find the proper balance.  Although browsing the web you will find a great deal of individuals with all sorts of formulas to sell you on how to find the right work life balance I would stay clear of advice you need to pay for on this subject.

Each of us know what we need to do in order to find the right balance and it probably isn't the same for each of us.  some families may like when one spouse dominates the earnings working 80 hours per week while others may find the right balance with each spouse working part time.  In any case, it is up to your own family to find the right balance.  Begin today and you won't regret it.  Also, remember that what you do in your family your children are watching and learning by your actions.  If you create balance, the next generation will have an easier time finding balance. 

I've said before and I'll say it again.  No one on their death bed breathing their last breath is going to say "...if only I worked 80 hours per week I would of had balance."  Similarly, no one is going to breathe their last breath uttering "...don't forget to clean the toilet."

Find your work life balance and then we can begin to discuss how you add into that mix training for an Ironman.  The motto becomes I can sleep when I retire.

Until next time...

Possibilities

Possibilities are everywhere.  However, not everyone takes the opportunity to explore the possibilities that they come across daily.  This is unfortunate since some opportunities present themselves and we often are so busy to recognize them that the opportunity vanishes before it has a chance to materialize.

I've said it before in my ramblings to take time for yourself.  Seize an opportunity and make something out of it no matter how small it may be.  Just think what would have happened it people would have responded differently to the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico.  Did the oil rig violently explode or were there warning signs prior to the worst environmental disaster this country has ever seen?  No one knows for sure except for the souls that were lost.

As 200,000+ gallons of oil daily continue to pollute one of this countries greatest natural wonders we should all take a moment and pause to see what possibilities we see every day that can lesson our demand for oil.  I don't have any magic answers, but each of us see possibilities in their daily lives where they can effect their own usage of oil.  Every little bit helps.

Just think if each of us were to stop drinking bottled water?  Did you know that one machine can pump out over 10,000 plastic bottles an hour.  You may wonder how eliminating bottled water would reduce the need for oil.  Think of it this way.  In order to manufacture bottles the raw material (polyethylene) needs to be shipped by truck to the bottle manufacturing plant.  After the bottles are created, the bottles need to be shipped to the water bottling company where filled bottles now hop on a truck to a distribution center.  After waiting at the distribution center for a few hours or days the filled bottles are trucked to their final retail destination.  This isn't all.  The consumer "drives" to the retail outlet where we purchase these bottles and transport them to various events and dispose of them in a garbage or recycling bin.  At this point, another truck picks up the discarded bottle and ships it to a recycling center or a landfill.  

That one water bottle logs about 300 road miles and fuel to complete its journey.  Just think about the other 9,999 bottles per hour that one machine can manufacture and the amount of fuel it takes to move those bottles through their journey.

Just think of the possibilities and next time reach for the tap!

Moms!

What would the world be like without all the wonderful mothers!  Once a year to take the time to thank moms for all they do is not enough.  Just think if moms went on a revolt for a day.  What do you think would happen...

You would see a great number of individuals wearing the same clothes they had the day before since laundry wasn't done.  The restaurant industry would have their single largest sales day in history since lunches wouldn't be ready to take to school or work.  Pets around the globe would go without food and water for the day.  Children would eat pop tarts or some other sugary thing before school only to crash hard an hour into the day (Remember, these same children will go without lunch since no moms were there to make it for them).

Basically, moms hold this country together and should be recognized for it.  Hopefully, you all thanked the moms you know for being moms and all they do.  If not, there's always today, tomorrow, and everyday to thank them.

Great work moms!!