Well, it's great to be back, and I apologize for the lengthy delay in getting started. By way of explanation, I have to tell you I had a little difficulty in getting the mind process for this going again. I had several false starts and some trouble getting focused on the task at hand. I also found myself questioning my reasons for sharing at this level, as well as my expectations. More to the point, what was I going to get, and what did I think I would, or could, give to this process. While doing so I was reminded of a point early in my career in cable television.

            It was during the early 80's and if memory serves, we were in a recession. During this time we experienced a period of cost cutting measures. The company called it "Performance Plus". The goal was to identify means to realize cost savings in every functional group in the company. It was also to identify and eliminate any non-critical positions at the management level. In short, all hourly, operational positions were safe, but virtually every other line item had to be questioned.

            Later in my career, at a different company, I was the General Manager of a system, and as such was responsible for the entire budget. The second or third year I was there we were directed to develop a zero based budget. This meant to discard all previous or existing thoughts about what it may take to run the business, and start with a blank sheet of paper, developing a budget based on the analysis of what we were delivering, and what it would take to deliver that product in an efficient, cost effective manner.

            These two examples were the kinds of thoughts going through my mind after Will agreed to let me start this going again, and as I will explain, led to a lesson I feel I have learned as a result. Here's what I expect to give to the process: My honest and frank discussion of life lessons that I have learned along the way, along with some explanation of what those lessons were and how they impacted my life. Here's what I expect to get: The satisfaction in knowing that I may have some positive impact on someone else's life with no expectation that I may ever know if I did.

            So, what lesson did I draw from this? From the day we are born we absorb information and experience, it shapes who we are and who we become. As we gain more experience and knowledge we "know" more, and more. At some point, most of us start to make assumptions based on all of this experience and knowledge. This is not necessarily a bad thing; we do have to "economize" some of our mental processes.

            However it can lead to a "stiffness" in our thinking, and to errors in our judgments. You need not look too far to see what I believe is evidence of this. Prejudice and bigotry are two glaring examples. The red and blue states of American politics are two others. Children don't think like this – thankfully they haven't learned to yet.

            So what's the point? I believe I am better served when I don't make assumptions based solely on my "vast" experience and the knowledge that I have acquired over the years. I regularly need to return to thinking like a child, accepting new experiences without preconceptions, and perhaps enjoying the "moment" a little more. That doesn't mean discarding all previous knowledge and experience – we do need to discern and avoid potentially harmful situations – but we can enjoy much more satisfying and nurturing lives by opening ourselves to life without all the baggage of our preconceptions.

            I hope that you try to lighten your load by zero basing your life occasionally and discovering what's truly important to you!!