What really makes us successful ?

If someone had asked me that question, I would have said “Passion” for something that led me into a lifelong activity propelling me to success, but I recently read an article in Inc. magazine that opened my eyes on that subject. According to the piece I read, it wasn’t a trait that traditionally gets the spotlight like creativity, innovation, culture or vision, yet it was often the difference-maker. 

At least the late Steve Jobs thought so. He was not romanticizing resilience. He knew what it meant to keep going when things were bad, like after being fired from Apple, starting over with NeXT, then returning to build one of the most valuable companies in the world. His point wasn’t that talent, timing, or product don’t matter. Without persistence, none of those advantages can come to fruition.

It makes me think of Sisyphus who had to push that boulder up the hill to fully seize the concept of perseverance. We need to get into our heads that failures and setbacks don’t define us; they refine us. The best leaders don’t just move on after getting knocked to the ground; they bounce back and process to dissect what went wrong, what’s still worth pursuing, and what needs to change. That means gathering feedback and data from various sources. 

For example, we can all learn from an idea or an endeavor that flops as it reveals what’s wrong with it. It often exposes gaps in preparation or execution. If we are capable of treating setbacks as feedback systems, we’ll turn dead ends into stepping stones. We just need to remember that every failure always reveals to us some reasons for happening. Perseverance is easier if we’re committed to the reason why we pursue certain dreams. 

Of course, perseverance doesn’t mean charging ahead with a bad idea. It means picking a worthwhile goal and staying committed to it while being flexible in the ways we reach it. If our strategy isn’t working, simply adjust the plan without abandoning the vision. Studies on grit show us that sustained passion and perseverance over time are stronger predictors of success than IQ or talent alone. In retrospect, if I had valued persistence throughout my life, I would have gone much farther, but realizing how important it was came likes small crumbs of wisdom each time I missed a step. 

With enough failures that I can admit today, I finally got it. The leaders who refuse to quit, who show up one more time after setbacks, are the ones who ultimately cross the finish line. When we’re facing a day, week or an extended period of bad news, let’s ask ourselves: “Are we at a dead end, or is it just the natural friction of progress?” Before tossing in the towel, let’s give perseverance another chance. It might be the very thing that separates us from the rest.

A step down, now what? (Part Two)

What sparked yesterday’s two-step story, was skiing with my daughter the day before. Over the years, I always stayed comfortably ahead of her in difficult terrain and conditions, but now that I’m 78, times might be changing as she’s now nipping at my heels. This, to me, means that I'm getting old and close to taking that infamous "step down". 

We're both very good skiers and current snow conditions in Utah are extremely challenging at the moment and it’s what gave me the “step down / step up” idea. Skiing is a visceral way to notice change, with speed, balance, reaction time, concentration, confidence on such variable snow and terrain conditions. It’s one of those activities where the body tells the truth before the mind has fully caught up. 

True, at 78 I’m still in love with skiing and still seeking tough terrain and conditions. This isn’t true of all the folks my age. Most aren’t on the mountain at all, let alone keeping pace with a strong 43‑year lady who’s been skiing all her life. The fact that she’s “nipping at your heels” instead of disappearing in front of my eyes over the ridge perhaps is telling about my baseline. 

My daughter catching up isn’t just about me slowing down, it’s also about her hitting her own peak. She’s in that sweet spot of strength, experience, and confidence. I’m witnessing her ascend while I adjust; a generational handoff, not a personal failure. I see that shift with clarity, not self‑pity, without reacting defensively or denying what’s happening. I simply observed it, named it, and then used it to spark a philosophical idea about balance. 

Let’s call this a mental “step up”! Sure, our current thin and hard snow conditions amplify everything. Icy, scraped‑off, or refrozen conditions punish even small changes in strength or reaction time. On soft powder, the gap might look different. Conditions shape performance more than pride wants to admit. 

A physical “step down”, even a small one, can be matched with a “step up” in something else, like refining one’s technique, becoming even more efficient and deepening the joy of skiing with my daughter rather than ahead of her. That’s not compensation, it’s just evolution. What I experienced on the slopes wasn’t just aging; it was a moment of recalibration. 

And the fact that I’m thinking about it with nuance is not a sign I’m losing ground, I’m only shifting terrain!

A step down, now what? (Part One)

Since life is far from being a linear experience, as time goes by and as we age, there are unavoidable “steps down” that come along the way, and I believe that logically, for every “step down” we should imagine and implement a “step up” to compensate for it. If one is physical, the compensatory other could be mental, spiritual, or just perhaps physical too, but much easier to carry on. 

This would offset a sense of loss through an equal transfer into something different. This idea that popped up inside my mind this morning, strikes me as surprisingly practical. Perhaps a personal version of homeostasis, the way living systems maintain balance by adjusting one part when another shifts. In that case it applies to the emotional and existential terrain of aging, change, and loss.

It’s probably my way of rejecting the myth of linear decline that treats aging or setbacks as a one‑way slide downward. My view acknowledges the “step down” but refuses to let it define the whole trajectory. Instead, I’m proposing an adaptive upward motion which is not denial, but recalibration. I like it because it matches the dynamic nature of life. Physical limitations don’t have to be the end of growth; they can signal the beginning of a different kind of development. 

A loss in one domain can open space in another without being a compensation in a shallow sense but a whole redistribution of energy. This could mirror how we naturally evolve. For instance a runner with knee problems becomes a swimmer, someone who loses physical stamina deepens their intellectual or creative life or a person who retires from a demanding job invests becomes a philosopher. I’m just articulating that instinct consciously. 

While a “step down” often feels imposed, this concept reframes it as an opportunity to choose a “step up”, something intentional, nourishing, and self‑directed. That alone can soften the sense of loss. Of course, it’s not about pretending the decline didn’t happen. It’s about refusing to let it be the whole story. In many ways, I see this as a workable tool, not just a philosophy that would begin by noticing the step down. Instead, it’s choosing a step up in another dimension while letting the two coexist without resentment. 

Some kind of an emotional counterweight, a deeply human idea, honest about limitation, but not fatalistic. It respects the reality of aging while preserving the possibility of growth. And it avoids the trap of trying to “win” against time; instead, it suggests adapting with grace and creativity. I’m so grateful, this thought came to me. 

Tomorrow, I’ll share with you what actually triggered it.

Albert Camus and me…

If someone had asked me what Camus meant to me several years ago, I would have said that he was a famous French writer (1957 Nobel Prize of literature) who died in his Facel-Vega automobile in 1960. At the time, his publisher Michel Gallimard, was behind the wheel when the car hit a tree near Sens, France, following a tire blowout. 

At the time, I must have been more fascinated by Facel-Vega cars than Camus himself. Little did I know about his view on the meaning of life or lack thereof. Over the years I had read The Stranger and The Plague, but must have missed their meaning altogether. 

In fact, I’ve come to find Albert Camus' philosophy centered on the confrontation between the human need for meaning and a universe that is indifferent and doesn’t care about humanity, a concept he called "the Absurd". 

His central argument, was not that life was objectively meaningless, but that meaning was unattainable through traditional means like religion or absolute truth, something I agree with. Rejecting nihilism, Camus proposed instead that the only way to live authentically was to embrace and rebel against the Absurd. 

That concept isn’t something I share as I understand the irrational clash between our rational minds seeking order and a chaotic, indifferent world that I have little choice but accept as a given environment I must live within. 

Where I’d agree with Camus is by choosing to live intensely, in embracing the fullness of human experience on Earth, as this life is all I have despite the vagaries of life. I also agree with the need to liberate myself from the need for external validation or predefined purpose, something I continuously keep fighting for. 

I guess that just as Sisyphus, eternally pushing a big rock up a hill, I find ways to create my own happiness, because I’ve come to accepts my fate, owning my reality and making this struggle very much bearable. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been born, much better of as a human than any animal, I accept life’s absurdity and I even find ways to enjoy it.

Determinism vs. Free Will? (Part Two)

My second question as to whether our paths are defined by "natural dispositions and DNA" and if control over destiny is a "myth" stands as the classic philosophical conflict between Determinism and Free Will. If we begin with the deterministic argument (our DNA as the guide), this view suggests that our fundamental satisfaction with a tumultuous life is rooted in our natural disposition. 

Research in behavioral genetics suggests that traits like novelty-seeking, risk-taking, and introversion/extraversion have a strong heritable component (they are in our DNA). Based on this, our preference for the "tumultuous life" may be as innate as our eye color. If a restless spirit is our nature, the "tumultuous life" is, paradoxically, our path of least psychological resistance and the most natural as well as the easiest way to achieve contentment.

 Conversely, the person who seeks routine is similarly following their innate path. If our core choices are defined by our nature at birth, then the path is largely predetermined, not by fate, but by biology. Then comes the case controlling our destiny. While biology sets the stage for possible behaviors, the choices we make within that range and the effort needed to have the life we seek is where our control resides. 

Yesterday, I started by saying that my character and personality made me pick the “tumultuous life." Even if my personality is 90% determined, the act of choosing one path over another remains a conscious act of self-definition. The belief in a "full life" becomes a guiding narrative that we actively sustain. 

Many modern philosophers and psychologists adopt a view called “Compatibilism”, which suggests that free will and determinism can coexist. My temperament predisposed me to the tumultuous life, but my conscious choice to embrace it and the ongoing effort to manage its consequences is clearly the manifestation of my free will. 

Obviously, my own satisfaction is the ultimate measure of the wisdom of my choice. The true "case for living a full life" is that the fullest life is the one most aligned with one's authentic self. The right path is not one path, but the one defined by the unique mixture of my DNA, character, and conscious commitment. For me, the wisdom of choosing the tumultuous life is not a myth, but a reality, because it is the one I chose to follow. 

Do you agree?

The case for living a full life? (Part One)

Sometimes, I wonder about the wisdom of living a tumultuous life as opposed to one of calm, routine and tranquility. My character and personality made me pick the former and I’m quite pleased I did, so I wonder if our natural dispositions and DNA being as diverse as they are, aren’t defining the many paths that our lives can take, and if believing that we can control our destiny is more a myth than a reality? 

That philosophical and personal question touches on our fundamental human experience of agency against determinism and the meaning of a "good" life. My experience of choosing a "tumultuous" life and being satisfied with it provides a valid answer to the question.

The case for living a "Full" (Tumultuous) life is often associated with challenge, intense experience, and risk, making it a life of maximum experience. Now, if you switch gears to Aristotelian philosophy, the highest human good is eudaimonia, often translated as "flourishing" or "living well." 

This is not just pleasure or hedonism, but the active and successful exercise of one's rational and virtuous potential. For a person with a restless or adventurous disposition, a calm, routine life might feel like a failure by renouncing a life up to their nature. 

The tumultuous life becomes the path to authentic flourishing and its highs and lows, create sharp contrasts that deepen one's appreciation for life, resilience, and wisdom. As the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche suggested, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." A life that embraces change and challenge is a life that maximizes learning and growth. Travel, creative pursuits, or professional risk often creates a potent sense of meaning and purpose. 

The struggle and the personal achievement feel more earned and, therefore, more valuable than the contentment found in placid routines. Tomorrow, we’ll try to tackle the question of destiny, DNA, and free will, so please don’t miss that segment!

...And if we died happy?

In “Father and son”, one of my favorite Cat Stevens’ songs, a verse goes like this: “Look at me, I am old but I'm happy” and challenges the assumption that aging is declining and leads me to say “Sounds good, and from there what about dying happy?” 

This can be seen as the outcome of my recent blog on a similar subject and it just sounds like a much better alternative to the doom and gloom associated with death. It's certainly much preferable to most of the religious views I’ve heard about death, when it’s an inescapable step that we must fear because of its uncertainty, hellish consequences or for a very few lucky of us that lead a perfect existence, an eternal life of peaceful boredom in total seclusion from anything fun and exciting! 

So with this in mind, what does it take to die happy? While this is a rather provocative question, it’s one that deserves more than platitudes or tidy answers. “Dying happy” isn’t just a poetic notion; it’s a philosophical challenge, a personal reckoning, and maybe even a quiet rebellion against these fear-based narratives that often surround death. In Cat Stevens’ song it suggests that joy can deepen, even as the body slows. 

That’s a powerful lens for thinking about death: not as a tragic ending, but as the final chapter of a well-lived story. To die happy could mean feeling complete, perhaps not necessarily having done everything, but having done enough of what mattered. It’s also being at peace with our choices, our relationships, our regrets. Then there’s what we leave behind, our legacy, memories and enough kindness that can ripple outward. There’s also having loved and having been loved, maybe deeply, imperfectly, but truly. 

At that point, we are much better equipped to face death without dread, not because we’re fearless, but because we’ve brought some meaning into our lives. It shouldn’t be about perfection or sainthood, but about integration or the sense that our life, with all its mess and beauty, added up to something that felt real and worthwhile. 

The next obvious question is what will it take us to get there? Here’s where our curiosity and our reflective nature will have a chance to shine. Consider these ingredients, like choosing what matters, even in small ways, in what we say, what we forgive, what we pursue. It’s also about cultivating presence by being present, now and not always chasing or regretting something. 

I would add making peace with imperfection by accepting that some things will remain unresolved, and that we will be okay. We’ll also be able to add happiness by connecting meaningfully, with people, with ideas, with the world. Even the shortest moments of connection can echo very far. Finally it will be about letting go borrowed fears, especially those handed down to us by dogma or culture. Our own truth is worth more! 

Good judgment redefined

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the supreme importance of judgment as a yardstick. It plays a key role whether it’s used for picking or selecting a partner, a friend, a roommate, an employee, a boss, a politician, a doctor or a religious leader. It’s also use in making career, product or leisure decisions or product choices. 

What precipitated me into that introspection was perhaps the current city council primary elections in Park City. For each candidate I had to vote for, I went through the different traits I had covered in a blog, late last year: positive experience, common sense, logical reasoning. What stopped me thought my fuzzy concept about feelings that I didn’t feel belonged into this yardstick and I decided to substitute it for “Moral Compass”. 

A “moral compass” is this internal guide that helps us distinguish right from wrong and act accordingly. It’s shaped by a blend of personal values, cultural norms, life experiences, and—often—spiritual or philosophical beliefs. Its core elements begin with our conscience, or that inner voice or feeling that nudges us when something feels ethically off. It continues with a generous dose of empathy, or the ability to consider others’ perspectives and feelings before acting. 

Integrity also plays a key role in our moral compass as it enables us to act consistently with our values, even when it’s inconvenient. It ends with accountability or our willingness to take responsibility for our actions and their consequences. This means that lying, falsifying, cheating, denigrating or insulting are among a long list of elements that don’t belong in that sphere and should be a red line for everyone to see. 

For example, Trump, Putin or Hitler have absolutely no moral compass! In summary, good judgment is our ability to make wise, fair, and effective decisions by integrating knowledge, experience, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence—even under uncertainty or pressure. 

Again, good judgment is made of positive experience, common sense, logical reasoning and a robust moral compass. It’s not just about being "right," but about balancing logic, ethics, and practicality to achieve the best possible outcome.

Lennon imagined better than most

One of my favorite songs is “Imagine", the song John Lennon released in 1971, as it embodies life as it should be on our small, beautiful blue planet.  I bet he got part of his inspiration for the song after pictures of earth became available from the Apollo missions. 

Beyond that view, the meaning of that song to me is a plea for a world at peace, without the barriers of religion, nationality, and material possessions that often divide humanity and cause conflict and suffering. In retrospect I’m amazed that he grasped these fundamental truths at the threshold of his 30s, but his life experiences were multiple, complex, challenging and relentless until that time. 

On religion, when he sings "Imagine there's no heaven... And no hell below us... And no religion, too," he goes after the religious dogma and the concept of an afterlife that constantly creates conflict and distracts us from the present and John suggests that humanity would be much better off without that burden. 

His vision of unity envisions a world where people are united as one, transcending national borders as seen on the blue planet picture ("Imagine there's no countries"), racism and living in perfect harmony ("the world will live as one"). 

There is no room for nationalism either in his worldview: "Nothing to kill or die for / And no religion, too." This rebukes nationalistic fervor and the idea of dying for one's country as ultimately futile in a truly peaceful world. 

Then there’s that demand to focus on the present: "Imagine all the people / Livin' for today" where he emphasized the importance of concentrating on the present moment and earthly existence rather than falling for the promises or threats of an afterlife. 

Sure, one can criticize the seemingly Utopian vision of the song, but its message of hope is forceful. Lennon acknowledges that he might be seen as a dreamer, but he expresses the hope that others will join him in this vision, eventually making it a reality. 

At its core, "Imagine" promotes humanistic values such as peace, love, compassion, and the sharing of resources. 

It envisions a world where basic human needs are met and people live in mutual respect and to me, is the embodiment of the updated philosophy Jesus would have conveyed had he lived in the 20th century... 

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional

I recently read in Haruki Murakami’s book "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" that "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional". It kind of made sense to me. Of course, I wondered, do we know if anyone, who said this? 

Well, I found that it was often attributed to the Buddhist tradition, though it's difficult to pinpoint a single originator. It echoes core Buddhist teachings, particularly those related to the Four Noble Truths and the nature of suffering. which emphasizes that while pain (physical or emotional) is a natural part of our lives, suffering is a choice that depends on how we process and react to that pain. 

For instance, someone might face hardship but choose to focus on growth and resilience, reducing the emotional toll. It's great a reminder that we can use our individual power of perspective and our human ability to find meaning or peace even in the most difficult circumstances. 

Something worth remembering when the going gets tough!

Why am I on this earth?

This seems to be humanity’s existential question par excellence. I, for one, never had much time or inclination to wonder about the meaning of life, but we’re all different, aren’t we? 

If we look to many philosophical and religious angles, the reason we’re on Earth is to experience life, grow as an individual, connect with others, contribute to society, and ultimately find meaning and purpose through our actions, all of that while potentially pleasing some cosmic or spiritual power depending on our set of beliefs. 

In summary, we’re here to live a life that is meaningful to us and those around. When I observe my day-to-day life for over seven decades, I’d say that my purpose in life is to fix things, or to put it in other words, to find solutions to problems or to jump over obstacles. 

This obviously is a far less lofty accomplishment than the ones philosophers and religious leaders are admonishing us to follow. This said, I find plenty of satisfaction and fulfillment in solving problems, finding solutions or repairing deteriorating things or relationships, that this activity has become central to my life. 

Yes, I’ve established myself as a lowly repairman for whatever isn’t running right!

Developing one’s life philosophy…

This is something that slowly developed since I’ve been retired. Bit by bit, without realizing it too much in the messed up world we’re living in, I’ve been attracted by nurturing a form of life philosophy. I realize that such a process based on my values, lifestyle, and beliefs is a deeply personal and ongoing journey. 

It must begin with self-reflection, like identifying my core values or what’s important or essential to me, like honesty, compassion, freedom, knowledge or creativity. Same thing with my core beliefs or lack thereof as well as with my personal lifestyle and what truly matters to me in the way my environment aligns with my values. 

This also entails challenging my own assumptions and exploring different viewpoints, by studying and exploring different philosophical ideas and worldviews, through reading, studying and engaging in discussions with others. 

Equally as important, is to review what gives my life its meaning? What do I want to achieve and what kind of impact, if any, do I want to make on the world? Goal setting is also part of the process and applies to both long-term and short-term objectives that must be in harmony with our values and purpose. 

After this foundational work, I will need to make conscious choices that reflect my values and beliefs, regularly reflect on my life experiences to make sure they align with my philosophy and of course be open to change as it evolves over time, as I grow and learn. 

Finally, the frosting on the cake is to connect with folks that share my views, and also to share my philosophy, values and beliefs with friends and family.

Passion, Courage and Imagination

Two weeks ago, I was watching a piece on TV about Paul Watson a prominent figure in the animal rights and environmental movement, known the world over for his passionate advocacy, particularly against whaling. 

Just five days ago, as he was facing extradition to Japan, he was released from prison in Greenland, after Denmark, five months into his detention, decided to reject the Japanese request. In that TV interview he was emphasizing his "Passion, Courage, and Imagination" claim in the context of activism and social change. 

These three qualities are essential, as Passion fuels the drive and perseverance needed to sustain long-term activism. It provides the emotional energy to overcome obstacles, face criticism, and remain committed to the cause. 

Courage is about taking a stand for what one’s believe in, that often demands to stand for what one’s believe. It takes courage to challenge the status quo, confront powerful interests, and face potential risks or opposition. 

 Finally, Imagination is the fuel that develops innovative and effective solutions to complex problems. It allows activists to think outside the box, explore new strategies, and find creative ways to achieve their goals. 

While these qualities are essential, it's important to remember that they need to be associated with ethical considerations, respect for diverse perspectives, and a commitment to non-violence. They aren’t not just essential for environmental activism but for any kind of positive social change.

Dr. Peal’s positive thinking

I’m convinced that the Trump we see acting is a by-product of self-regimented positive thinking that tells people anything you want, you can have. This is in fact, Trump’s driving trait, to the point that he turns anything he desires or thinks into a firm belief that he convinces himself of, and never lets anyone tell the contrary. 

He does it, because he isn’t that bright and that mechanism of self-persuasion enables him to disregard doubts, material impossibility, any kinds of obstacles or push anything that advances his agenda. He’d probably kill to get what he wants and would say it was ordered to him by God. In my view, that self-induced belief system is a form of dementia. 

Donald’s overconfidence and self-serving attitudes can be traced to his dad Fred’s obsession with Norman Vincent Peale, a popular self-help author of the 1950s. A clergyman, he wrote “The Power of Positive Thinking” in 1952, that since sold over 7 million copies.

Self-confidence was Peale’s life philosophy. Trump’s father was so mesmerized by Peale’s teachings that he made his family join Peale’s church, Marble Collegiate, in New York City. That’s where Donald married his first wife, Ivana, in 1977. 

Peale’s doctrine proclaimed that one needed only self-confidence to prosper in the way God wanted him to, and that obstacles weren’t permitted to destroy one’s happiness and well-being. Defeat only happened if one was willing to let it. “A sense of inferiority and inadequacy interferes with the attainment of your hopes, but self-confidence leads to self-realization and successful achievement,” Peale wrote. 

 Trump’s dad viewed self-doubt as a weakness and passed on that belief to Donald. Even though Peale had a huge following, he had vociferous critics; also known as “God’s salesman” Peale was called a con man because “his simple-minded approach shut off genuine thinking or insight.” 

This probably is a view that perfectly fits Donald Trump, so now you know what’s behind this extremely deranged man.

How can one be mortal, but eternal?

If there is something I’m quite certain is about my own mortality, meaning by this, my potential lack of eternity. I don’t buy the concept that body and mind are separated and one can float into yonder while the other will decompose. I might be surprised if my assumption were false, but we’ll see!

This said, I believe in what my countryman Antoine Lavoisier once said: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed" as my cells are certain to be recycled for another purpose after my demise, and whatever I’ve done or created, good or bad, is likely to follow me for a long time if someone doesn’t decide to trash it. 

Did I mention the tiny part of me that created my offspring? 

So, based on these considerations, I can console myself by thinking I’m leaving a trail of eternity in or around me, maybe not as lasting as Mozart or Spinoza’s, but who cares? Mortal body and mind, but eternal legacy...

Trusting reasoning over beliefs!

A former schoolmate shared that thought with me a dozen years or so ago, but the way it was formulated never hit me as important or fundamental in the ways I conduct my life. Then, early this week, I heard the same idea packaged in a slightly different way, from yet another friend, and this time it finally hit me. 

This, in fact, is a fascinating statement that raises some important differences between belief and reasoning. Our beliefs are formed through cultural upbringing, personal experiences, and emotional biases. As a result, deeply held beliefs, can become comfortable blind spots. 

Sure, there are some basic beliefs, like the scientific method or the rule of law that are crucial for thriving in society and questioning these can be counterproductive. This is why we should step back, critically examine our beliefs and not simply accept them as truth, by questioning their origin, considering alternative perspectives, and seeking evidence to support them. 

We need the courage to prioritize rationality over the influence of our deeply-held beliefs and if needed, develop convictions based on logical analysis and sound evidence. Our beliefs cannot be static either. We need intellectual curiosity and openness to constantly question our understanding of the world based on new information and experience. 

Reasoning allows us to learn and adapt, while unwavering belief can lead us to stagnate and become overly rigid. A healthy approach involves both strong beliefs (to guide our actions) and a willingness to critically examine them in light of new information and reasoning. 

Ultimately, this is a call for intellectual humility and a commitment to ongoing learning. It reminds us that while beliefs can be valuable, they should never be taken for granted.

The age of maintenance and improvements

Sometimes, I ask myself what’s going to be my next venture. Do I want to go for some feat or a total reinvention? Sure, I haven’t said “regardless of my age” to preface that question, but this might differently color any answer to that question. In fact, beyond forays in new domains, what’s often left as advanced age materializes is just time for personal maintenance and slight improvements. 

Let’s start with maintaining what we’ve got as much as we can control it. Research tells us that keeping a healthy lifestyle and engaging in activities that stimulate the mind and body may help live longer and healthier lives, better maintain independence and function in daily activities and ultimately, lead to a higher quality of life. Then there’s the improvement part of the answer. 

Regardless of our actual age, engaging in learning, creative pursuits, and self-improvement will give us a sense of purpose and accomplishment, especially if it aligns with interests and passions. 

At the same time, it will connect us with other like-minded individuals, fostering meaningful social connections. Sure, not everything in our lives will remain nice and rosy, as age-related physical decline can make it harder to engage in certain activities and may require some drastic adjustments. 

I should also mention cognitive changes that may affect learning, memory, and problem-solving, as well as mental health issues or isolation that could impact our ability to engage in certain activities. Finally, for many, there are financial constraints and limited access to resources like transportation or specialized care, that might stand as obstacles to personal maintenance and improvement efforts. 

So while any mental picture we hold for our older future can be subject to significant change, we still should plan as if everything will be fine and cross the bridge of unpleasant things when we get to it. At least, that’s the way I envision it...

Faith and feelings

I never had any religious faith coming naturally to me, even though I was raised religiously in a Catholic family. I heard that faith was a grace, but never could understand its working principle, or at least, none of it ever made sense to me, so today, I can see I’m a spiritual person, but certainly not a religious one. 

I came to the conclusion that faith wasn’t just a feeling like happiness or anger, but a totally different animal – pardon the pun – that might could be trained. The definition of faith is a belief in something beyond the tangible, often a higher power, religious doctrine, or set of values. It can come from proof, simple trust, personal experience, or a combination of these.

This obviously gets complicated when faith is about something deeply irrational, like a religion for instance, and in barring a miracle seldom happens, unless it is the result of relentless repetition, like brainwashing. That technique is used with small children in religious education to plant the seeds and eventually anchor their faith for the long haul. 

On the contrary, feelings are made of various states of emotion, like joy, sadness, anger, or fear. All feelings are subjective and influenced by various factors, including personal experiences, physical state, and external events. They will fluctuate frequently and are likely to be fleeting. While faith and feelings are different, they may interact in complex ways and influence each other. 

For instance, believing in something positive can lead to feelings of hope and joy. Likewise, feelings can influence faith as strong emotions, like love may inspire and strengthen faith. Conversely, feelings can contradict faith as some might feel doubt or despair, even though they have strong beliefs in God. 

In many ways, faith acts like expectation and let’s remember the equation: Happiness is Reality minus Expectation… or Faith!

The best way to start a new day?

Today, as I was savoring the last sip of my first coffee, I asked myself: “What’s the best way to look at, start, and embrace a new day?” The reason for that rather mundane question is that as time goes by, there will be less brand new mornings in my life, so it is essential for me to make the very best out of each one of them. 

Granted, each of my days always begin with time for meditation preceded by a moment of gratefulness for what I have and how I feel. This places me in the proper mood to envision what follows, but often, before I realize it, my mind gets hijacked with unforeseen episodes, urgencies and news that take my eyes off what should be my main focus for that day. 

I already try to do my best in that domain, but as always there’s room for improvement. Here are some of the areas I plan to work on. The two most obvious questions I should ask myself is “What do I intend to achieve and what kind of mindset do I want to keep throughout the day?”

I should also make sure that my mental environment is a positive one, whether it’s made of happy things, uplifting music, funny jokes, appreciating the views from my window, a range of positive tones has to be set and kept all day long. The next idea, simple, but not that easy to accomplish is to break tasks into manageable steps, by parceling them down so each portion is more digestible, less overwhelming and more achievable. 

Each day is also a chance to discover and grow, by keeping a learning mindset at all times. I do that one well, but still have much room for improvement, by embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and viewing each experience, good or bad, as another chance to add to my knowledge and experience. 

Finally, I must never forget to make time to connect with people who count for me, loved ones, extended family and friends, in creating positive connections that can keep me in an excellent mood. 

If you have suggestion of you own that you find most effective, don’t be shy, share them by posting a comment!

One door closes, another opens…

It's apparently, Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote’s author, who first wrote in 1605: "When one door is shut, another is opened." 

This phrase is often used to express the idea that change, while difficult, can also lead to new and unexpected opportunities. It’s a reminder that even when things don't go as planned, there is always hope for the future.

I have experienced it many times during my life in spite of the fact that I rarely expect any better solution to spring up and advantageously replace my previous, more comfortable situation. This message of hope and encouragement, suggests that even when things unexpectedly go south there are still paths forward. 

This could be a job loss, a personal breakup, an illness or the end of a significant chapter in one’s life. The opening of a door means new possibilities, new paths to discover, and new experiences to explore. It's also an invitation to step out of our comfort zones and venture into the unknown, where we may discover that we have hidden talents, can pursue untapped passions, and forge brand new connections. 

t also underscores the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and keeping an open mind in the face of change. Instead of dwelling on the closed door, we should shift our focus towards the doors that are likely to open up, appreciating the good surprise it offers us and embracing whatever comes with some new beginnings. 

Even though I’m now older and have fewer doors that can be slammed shut in my face, I tend to forget this truth and I would be well advised to plant it into my mind!