No we are not. It’s only an angry and vocal few plus Washington politicians conducting business as usual. We have a nation with an economy at risk and where our national security is a constant concern. We need our leaders and wanna-be leaders to put aside their campaigning for another year or so and just plain address themselves to the problems we all face. If some in Washington have “got it made” and feel exempt from the problems of everyday Americans, they ought to look at the issues facing our nation through the eyes of their grandchildren and get on with creating a legacy of positive action to rebuild our national confidence and pride. 

You know me, I usually write upbeat blog messages. Well, I’m a little ticked off at those who spend their time trying to figure out how to embarrass their political opponents and block any progress whatsoever. It’s time for the United States—not the Divided States of America.

Which is it?
“If I had more money, I would save more money and do more fun things, and then I’d be happier.”
Or, is it?
“If I am happy, my work will be more productive and I’ll save more money, then I’ll have the money to do what I love to do.”

Which is it?
“If I only had more friends, I could do more fun things, and I’d be happier.”
Or, is it?
“If I am happy, I’ll get out and do more things, and I will create more friendships.”

Have-Do-Be thinking is wishful thinking. Be-Do-Have thinking is to “own your happiness.” The doing is always important, but your state of being is more likely to motivate you to do it than is your wishing.

As we have watched events unfold in Haiti, we have all witnessed the best of humanity. As the Haitian people pick up the pieces of their lives and communities, we have seen their expressions of faith and hope where there could have been only bitterness and despair. We have seen the generosity of the human spirit in the record outpouring of service, resources, money, and love from all corners of the globe. At a difficult time for America, our nation and our people have been on the frontlines in reaching out to our Caribbean island neighbors. It is all remarkable. It is an ageless truth that the worst of times often bring out the best in people.

Martin Luther King’s message of vision and hope echoes at a very important time. There are two manifestations of hope. One is about “hoping” and basically boils down to wishful thinking. It is not wishful thinking that brings about needed changes. It is the other manifestation of HOPE, which is an expression of faith. This faith motivates action. It is about believing that all things are possible. It is this hope for humanity that we know the world needs in the face of political turmoil, economic setbacks, and the great losses the people of Haiti are experiencing. Faith, Hope, and Charity are timeless virtues that help us to move forward with a spirit of optimism, determination, and generosity.

The catastrophe in Haiti is certainly fearsome. Recently in the news, we also learn that US Intelligence experts are experiencing “palpable angst” about possible new terrorist attacks. Fear is what terrorists love to create. It can be needlessly crippling for some. Yet, facing fear is a fact of life. My dad used to tell me that if everything we fear were likely to happen each day, many of us would never get out of bed. A person could become too afraid to drive a car or preoccupied with the fear of catching the flu or unnecessarily fearful about earthquakes.

The truth is most of what we fear never happens. This is a proven fact. And, often, the fearful things that happen could not have been prevented. What is the answer? Be prepared and respond well when difficult things occur. It may sound too easy to say and difficult to do, but wisdom says, “Be wise, be strong, and prepare for life’s challenges.” Such readiness is about staying in good health, spending money prudently, and setting aside what may be needed for a rainy day, a checkless payday, or an emergency situation. If and when “stuff happens,” be there on the frontlines solving problems and caring for others.

If you want the best reference I know on how to be less fearful, even FEARLESS, read the book by my great friend, Steve Chandler, entitled, Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can.

Isn’t it amazing how the world perspective can change in one minute? I look on CNN.com and see that every major news story is: “Haiti.” I sit in my comfortable office contemplating Caribbean red papaya and organically-grown whole wheat toast for breakfast, while millions plead for a bottle of water as they try to rescue or bury family members and friends. I have no idea what it must be like for persons and families to lose so much in just one minute. At least the news about Mark McGuire, Sarah Palin, and Leno-Conan has subsided. Many of us will go forward with new thankfulness for our blessings and do what we can do to help our brothers and sisters who live just off the coast of our blessed land.

To be speechless is to be humbled by something so tragic that very few words are appropriate. I can only sit in silence and then hang my head as I read the news from Haiti. I have no idea what it must be like for so many to lose so much. We may each ask, “What can I do to help?”

We have just completed the first week of the first year of the second decade of the new century. How did it go for you? It’s been busy for me. The “news” is always a challenge with air travel security issues, health care reform, and unemployment taking up so much air time. Perhaps we would all do well to spend less time on “the news” and more time on our own news. Here’s my news report for the New Year thus far…

My health is good. There’s peace in our neighborhood. I’m blessed to have work to do. We’ve got smog in Utah that needs to be cleaned up. There’s snow in the mountains that sustains our winter tourism business and which means we’ll have water in the spring. Sharon and I just enjoyed a PBS presentation entitled “The Emotional Life.” After a discussion of all the “self help” formulas out there along with the hard evidence about what actually makes humans happy, the conclusion of the program was that the greatest secret is really no secret. It is that, more than anything else, humans need to be connected with each other in meaningful ways to be happy. As my age and wisdom increase, I do believe that there are two ways we find our greatest joy: through meaningful connections to each other and by regular connections to the wonders of nature around us. 

With 51 weeks remaining in 2010, I plan to connect more with others to give service and to enjoy their company. I also plan for more running in the sunshine and more walks in the woods.

Let’s start a life-saving movement. We are all beginning to realize that to text while driving is as deadly as to drink alcohol while driving. As my children have travelled about during the holidays, I have enjoyed sending them texts and receiving their replies, however, I sometimes worry that they may have received my text while driving and I DO NOT want them to feel obligated to reply to me while driving. So, when I think they might be on the road, I will add this abbreviation: “NRWD,” which stands for “No Reply (or Reading) While Driving.” We can create a nationwide code word with “NRWD” that reduces the number of times our friends and loved ones feel they must respond immediately to a text they have received while driving. Let’s all agree that, when a text is followed by “NRWD,” the reply (even the reading) can wait until you’ve stopped driving and have reached your destination. Join me to help reduce accidents and deaths from “texting while driving.”

Note: It is very difficult to come up with an abbreviation that is totally unique, so perhaps NRWD will work for most of us and will stick. If not, let each family or circle of friends come up with their own code to add at the end of text messages that may dangerously distract those who are driving.

I offer just one word to guide and stimulate our thinking about the New Year and it’s a word that has appeared in many of my blog postings. The word is CREATION. What a powerful word it is. Everything is a creation. The new economy will be our creation. Health, prosperity, and happiness are our creations. The word CREATION is the ultimate expression of the spirit of ownership and self-determination. What 2010 will you create? What new decade will you create? If we all cast aside our complaining and criticizing and get on with creating, all will be well with our worlds.