“How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world” Ann Frank. I’m sure any sane person today would admit that the world is changing in many ways and I’m, not talking about “Global Warming” but technology, relationships, expectations, and cultures. Is it because the way things were was bad and needed to change? Is it just routine or normal progress and change or is it because certain segments of society are taking control? As a student of history, I’m not sure we are heading in a better direction in many areas or ways. I think what Ann was implying in her quote is that the majority of us can’t let the minorities take over and control what everything will look like in 20-30 years or each of us as individuals can do our part to ensure that certain values, beliefs, circumstances or cultures don’t lose what is right and good and have them replaced with what is wrong and bad. I am not referring here to any single group of humanity in general, but we all are responsible directly or indirectly for our actions, roles, and contributions, or lack of them to our personal and possibly community environment. What are you doing to preserve some of today’s values or are you expecting others to do your part?
“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” H. Ford. Have a best friend? Several? Not sure? What are friends anyway? People who agree with us, support us, challenge us, respect us, or something else? As I look back over my life I used to have High School best friends, College best friends, and then career-best friends, but fortunately or unfortunately only a few of them are still in my life. All but three of my best friends from high school have passed on. As I am in what I consider my last life chapter I have to wonder has the definition of friendship changed over the years. Yes, I have 14,000+ LinkedIn connections, family members I stay in touch with, past clients who I am still communicating with, and a few business relationships I value but are any of these folks in the “best friend category”? Well again it depends on how we define best friends and I’ll wager that many of us define them differently. I heard a comedian once say we all need at least 6 close friends so they can carry out Casket at our funeral. Well, I decided to be cremated just in case I fall short of the number. So – how do you define best friends? How many do you have?