I was just standing on line at a large coffee chain – yes, that one – and the lady in front of me was playing a game on her phone. I couldn’t help but think how technology has gone way beyond convenient and into territory where we use it to fill even the smallest of spaces. I don’t know that lady. Perhaps she just bought the phone yesterday and her friend recommended the game, and it’s only her second day ever playing it. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting to remind us all about balance. I am just as guilty as the next person of picking up digital distractions.

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We all live in this consumption-based society. Buy something to eat, drink, smoke, wear, improve your looks and all will be well. If you really want to feel better, buy yourself an opportunity to be of service. They’re everywhere. Donate your time, money or energy to help someone else and you’ll really feel good. Plus, it will last a lot longer.

In this down economy, forget T-bills. Invest in karma. I can’t promise that it will pay off in future lifetimes. But I personally guarantee that it will yield dividends in this one.

Just when you think you have life all figured out, that will be the very moment that it throws you a curve ball. But know that just because you will eventually have to swing in order to get a hit, doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to take a couple of pitches. Use your eye and wait for YOUR pitch. Then swing for the fences.

It is the day after Steve Jobs – inventor, icon, visionary – has died. It is also only a matter of days before the iPhone 4S is slated to be released. This is significant for multiple reasons, not the least of which is that it’s the first time in the company’s history – under Jobs – that he was not at the helm for this latest creation. A businessman, stockholder, passionate inventor and great micromanager, to be sure, his continued involvement is unquestionable. But I believe that his ceding the throne to former COO Tim Cook had an impact on his condition.

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One of the great truths in this life is that all things change, whether we want them to or not. No matter how good or bad a given moment, day, week or year appears, it will eventually shift. However there are things we can do to maximize the positive and minimize the negative. One of these things is to increase our awareness. By recognizing this core nature of life, when we are feeling positively, we are less likely to take it for granted. And when we are feeling negatively, we can take comfort in knowing that if we make the right choices the darkness will eventually lift.

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