Lives are lost, and the severity of the damage done is something I think we cannot imagine. I think many of us are too distant to understand the nature of problems. My friend, Sid Jacobson, returned to New Orleans yesterday, but I think he’s going to be stuck at O’hare in Chicago.

Whenever we have problems, some of us tend to sink into sadness. Others tend to wallow in pity. We need to consider that our lives are sometimes flooded with mental hurricanes. I know I’ve felt some of those before – the kind that shakes our foundation, that rips apart our feelings, and leaves us just a shell of a human.

Let’s stop for a while and really re-connect with who we are and what we are all about.

Do you think you are at your peak? Performing at 100%? If you are not, then what’s stopping you?

1. Clarity. Without clarify of our values, we will be a boat in the ocean with no chance against a perfect storm.
2. Compassion. Without this, each interaction with another human being will be nothing more than just another ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ relationship.
3. Conviction. I think we all need this. What is it that we truly believe in that we are willing to die for? It is conviction that drives us to show the world what we are about, and that we will not bend no matter the result.
4. Contribution. With the basic respect for humankind and the ability to contribute, I know we will be able to reach people more effectively. This sometimes means we go beyond the normal social norms of contribution. We have to extend ourselves to help other people, then and only then can we start seeing miracles happen.