“The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence.” – John F Kennedy

The ancient Greeks were a bunch of pretty smart people. They left behind a legacy in art, science, and philosophy. In fact, it has been said that modern philosophy is little more than a footnote to Greek philosophy. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise to find a lot of wisdom in this statement.

I think what the Greeks were really trying to say is that to be happy you must use whatever talents you possess. But more than that, you must not only use those talents but use them wisely and well.

It is amazing to me that this concept has been around for centuries and how even today how few people actually follow this simple piece of advice. Instead, I see people who pursue a job or a career that they think will provide them with a good income. The income does not mean much if you have to spend forty or fifty hours a week being miserable. Those forty hours a week will first turn into a career and then a lifetime of misery.

I have seen people who really enjoy their work; they do it because they love it. They are happy. They enjoy doing the work, and learning more about it. These happy people use their enthusiasm to improve themselves, and their work, and it shows. Interestingly enough, most of these people are almost always making a very good income. They may not be rich, but they aren’t homeless and broke and most importantly they aren’t miserable either!

Sometimes, appears we have become a society that cherishes the promise of a large income over happiness. For what its worth, I hope this malady doesn’t apply to you.

“Although I conquer all the earth, yet for me there is only one city. In that city there is for me only one house, and in that house, one room only; And one woman sleeps there, the shining joy and jewel of all my kingdom.”

Anonymous, Ancient India

The first time I read it I knew exactly how the writer felt; all the world comes down to one person. That person was and still is Amy, my wife.

I still remember the first time I saw her. More than anything else I noticed her eyes and her smile. Those incredibly beautiful eyes whose soft gaze melts my soul and that magnificent smile. I still believe when she smiles all the angels in heaven smile with her.

Believe it or not, I don’t carry a single picture of my wife. I don’t need to. I have spent hours memorizing every aspect of her face. I know every curve and every line. Videophones are for talking to people you don’t know – I know Amy. When talk to her on the phone, I can tell by the sound of her voice exactly her exact facial expression.

There is so much to say about her. Her tendency towards shyness is often mistaken as being aloof. The woman has a way with children. She draws, paints, decorates cakes, sings, and dances. Sadly, she also severely underestimates each one of her many talents.

She supports and encourages me, and our children, in so many ways. When my grandmother died Amy was pregnant and sick - really sick. She had 24-hour a day morning sickness. Despite this, she stood in below zero freezing cold weather to hold my hand during the funeral service. The wind chill was incredible and she was so weak I had to help hold her up against the force of the blowing wind. But nothing was going to prevent her from being where she felt should be.

I could go on for a very, very long time about what a wonderful person you will find hidden behind that veil of shyness. But I can tell you everything you need to know about her by telling you a brief story about what I believe will happen in the future.

One day God will call together all of his angels and discover that one is missing. Being THE Good Shepherd, just as it says in the Bible, he will leave the ninety-nine to go search for the missing one. When he finds this missing angel he will return her to the flock and there will be much rejoicing.

The world will be able to tell when this happens because when that happens, my wife will be taken from me and returned to her rightful home.

Happy Anniversary Amy
Love,
Mr. Doug

Interest:
(1) The profit in goods or money that is made on invested capital (2) a charge for borrowed money generally a percentage of the amount borrowed (3) a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects.

- Webster’s Dictionary

I have been thinking a lot about interest lately. According to Webster’s Dictionary there are three definitions of interest.

In the first definition, “Interest” means a type of profit. In the financial world the concept of interest – specifically compound interest is fascinating. The power of compound interest to create wealth is unparalleled. A relatively small amount of interest grows and grows until the amount you started with has doubled. In fact there is something called the “Rule of 72” which states that if you divide the number 72 by the interest rate it will tell you how long it will take to double your money. For example, if you are earning 7.2% interest, in ten years you will double your money without adding anything (except interest) to the original amount. That is the power of compound interest working for you!

Of course the opposite is also true. According to the second definition, “Interest” means an amount charged to borrow money. When you pay interest on any type of debt it increases the amount of the debt. Consider this: If you buy a $50,000 with a 30-year mortgage at 5% interest the total cost of that home will be $96,627.60! You end up paying almost double the original amount because of Interest. That is the power of compound interest working against you!

Now lets look at the last definition of “Interest”; a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects. According to this definition, “Interest” is something that holds your attention. We’re talking about paying attention to something that holds your Interest. We’re not talking about money – or are we?

In a financial sense, Interest can either make you rich or make you broke! I believe what we think about can have the same affect – it can make you rich or make you broke also. What is it that holds your attention – or interest? In other words, what holds your interest? What are you thinking about?

As you can see from the first two definitions, interest is something that can work for you or against you. Are you interested in (or paying attention to) things that can work for, or against, you? When we focus on negative things we end up paying a charge because we are borrowing time and energy that could be used for something positive and constructive. We are taking that time and energy and directing it on something that is negative and even potentially harmful.

Instead of paying interest, make your interest a source of profit. Profit in life comes in many forms besides money such as good health and healthy, strong relationships. Perhaps you should lose interest in the TV and gain interest in some form of exercise. The exercise is a form of interest that brings profit while watching TV is a form of interest that brings a charge that you pay in medical costs.

I have read from many different sources, “we are what we think about.” We all tend to think about things that hold our Interest.

For what its worth, get interested in things that will bring you profit.

Digging a Well

I apologize for not having updated the site for a while, but I’ve been busy digging a well – sort of. Allow me to explain.

A friend of mine has a book on his desk by Harvey Mackay called, “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.” I haven’t read the book, but I really like the title. It got me thinking that most of us don’t bother to dig our well until we are thirsty – really thirsty!

What I’m talking about here is planning ahead. I’ve noticed recently that society doesn’t really encourage us to plan ahead. Why should we? If you run out of milk just go to the 24-hour grocery store. If you don’t have enough cash, just hit the ATM on the way.

If you really stop to look, you will see this lack of planning – a planning crisis is everywhere. I’m still amazed at the number of people who don’t bother thinking about dinner until their hungry and all of the restaurants are packed!

Last night I went through some road construction (ah Summer in Illinois!). I deliberately left enough space between my car and the vehicle in front of me so I could more easily change lanes if necessary. When I realized that I needed to be in the other lane, it was easy to maneuver into the other lane because I had left myself some room to move. I passed three other drivers who were trapped in the wrong lane until the vehicle in front of them moved forward so they could move.

What I observed wasn’t really “gridlock” as much as a lack of planning. You see I knew there was going to be road construction so I left a few minutes early. So the five minute delay caused by the road construction didn’t lead to me being late, an ulcer, or road rage – it actually got me to my destination five minutes early!

So you see, I’ve been busy “digging my well.” Last night, after I checked the weather forecast I laid out my clothes for today. As a result, this morning I had time to write this before getting ready for work. I thought I was doing pretty good planning out the next section of the classes I am currently teaching. Then last night I spoke with an instructor who is already putting material and test questions together for next semester!

For what its worth, this all reminds me of something I read once. The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today!