Perhaps the criticism I have heard the most concerning the content I post here is that it dwells too much on the past... I'm not going to apologize because if you go back to my very first post I said I was going to be walking the hallways of my life and opening a few doors and looking back at what was there for me once and what is still here for me now. I'll have to go back and reread some of the archival material but somewhere in the first year I said that it's a good idea to go back to review your wins and failures like a sports team or a business and use it as a blueprint to help map your next moves and your future success... it's important not to use it as a crutch to hold on to past hurts and missteps or rest on the laurels of victories long forgotten and lost to time.
We have to except that things change and if we don't evolve with them we are going to be left in the dust clinging to old memories and experiences. As life goes forward we lose love, and friends and little bits and pieces of ourselves along the way but all of these come back in the form of new love and friends... but the death of certain people defies this rule but as a result you can with time become stronger, wiser and a more experienced and hopefully understanding you to live in the ever changing world but only if you look at these changes as some of the pieces that fill in some of the parts we lost or left behind. If we changed or gave something up solely for someone or something then I think that it's crucial that we try get in touch with who we once were and find some of those missing pieces because we are going to need them to grow and move forward. The life lessons of letting go, moving on and starting over are often the most difficult... but necessary in every stage of our life.
In my recollections on travel I think what I neglected to discuss is how I find visiting ancient sights from around the world is a way that I have found to connect to another time and place by seeing what ancient mankind saw and smelled and tasted and touched... but at the same times seeing something that has stood the test of time of thousands of years juxtaposed to the many marvels of the modern world; if you take the time to look at some of these places in context there is much to be discovered. You can find the remains of history everyplace on the planet... in North America you just have to look a little harder but it's there for the finding if you are willing to travel off the beaten path of the modern world... the most notable exception are the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
 |
| Giza Egypt |
 |
| Mercury, Venus, and Saturn aligned with the Pyramids of Giza for the first time in 2,737 years on December 3, 2012. The last time this happened, an Egyptian Pharaoh was there to see it. |
 |
| Aswan Egypt |
Sometimes if we take to time to see how something began and what it eventually has become and know the history and events of it's evolution we gain a deeper understanding and respect for what it is and what we have because of it... this is especially evident if we apply the same principle to people in that you can see what is there in the big picture but if you look beyond the surface you can find treasure. Not enough people take the time to consider where someone has been and their life experiences that have brought them to them to you and where they are on the timeline of their life.
 |
| Honolulu International Airport 1964 |
 |
| Honolulu International Airport 2019 |
Perhaps the biggest change for me and the one that has the most impact on the world is terrorism... from my perspective of the the bombing of a Pan Am aircraft in 1973 to the feelings that all of us have going through TSA and boarding a flight is sometimes fear and often anger... but if we accept that our emotions are real and natural and don't let the fear of the unknown and anger of our perceptions of the world take complete control we can still find some hope... and from what I have seen hope is one of the things that can help keep someone or something from despair and completely unravelling. As long as you have some hope you can always find a way to make a new plan if you need it. Change can be drastic and sudden or elusive and subtle... but understanding the differences and how to navigate them can be a tremendous help in strategizing the hurdles sometimes.
 |
| Rome 1973 |
One of the most important things we have to come to terms with in life is that people and situations change... and may become obsolete with time and innovation...
 |
| Kennedy International Airport 1977 |
and maybe something better does not take it's place... or that the something better has still not been introduced and is itself in a stage of evolution yet to come.
The second biggest change in my opinion is the way we communicate... when I was growing up and into young adulthood long distance telephone calling was one of my biggest luxuries...
I don't have the Trim-Line telephone anymore... but I do still have a rolodex... sadly I am no longer in contact with some of the people I used to be for one reason or another... but there are new people and with them new ideas and experiences to discuss and formulate new plans and our hopes and dreams with.. I've learned (somewhat reluctantly) that texting is an important means of communication... even though I think I was one of the last people I know to get a smart phone... I still prefer to speak with you in person... the one thing I won't ever accept is this "ghosting" business... if you are doing this to anyone you need to grow the f**k up... if you don't want to continue a business or personal relationship for one reason or another don't be a child about how you deal with conflict or potential conflict.
There were things that I dreamed about doing years ago that simply were not possible or plausible... but thanks to time and technology many of the things that we once only dreamed about have become a reality....
With everything that has changed in the world and shaped our viewpoints of who we have become and where we are going it's important not to forget some of the simple things that never change... like love, decency and doing the right thing.
So if you have dreams... get up in the morning and go out and chase them... If you have ever dreamed of visiting Venice... you need to hurry!
 |
| Venice Italy 12, November 2019 |
Before it's too late... go out and have the best life possible. It's important to have a plan and look forward to the best tomorrow you can create. If we are going to be successful in dealing with the changes in life it's important to know that like any good vacation... you come away with something new whether it's a different viewpoint or revelation but you also leave something behind by choice or necessity.
Next time I'll be talking about some ways to look and feel great without breaking the bank!
