Embrace what may and love it!

I went to visit Bianca in Connecticut for ten days from June 17th to June 27th. It was too short but sweet. I loved getting more acquainted with my cute granddaughters and their new addition so I can’t wait for our upcoming family reunion later this month. I normally don't write on this blog while I am away from home but today is the exception. I have been away for much too long. 

 As soon as I arrived in Argentina this morning, Daniel and I turned around and flew to Uruguay. We should go back to Buenos Aires on July 1st. As I got on that small plane, I thought about the many times I felt fear of the unknown. What if this little plane were to crash?  and that is when I thought about a book I read a few years ago about security because security is something we all long for. 

We all want to feel safe and secure. We want the same thing when dealing with our financial state, in our job. Security in our relationships. We look for security in certainty – in knowing what to expect each day, in knowing what our tomorrow will look like, in knowing what future we are securing for ourselves but that is not the reality of life. When you think about it, there is really no such thing as security in “knowing” because reality is that everything in our lives is uncertain.  And the more we try to seek security in the certain, the more insecure we will find ourselves, because life just isn’t.  So how then can we feel secure? The answer is: embrace what may and love it! 

In Deepak Chopra’s book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success he states:

“The search for security is an illusion. In ancient wisdom traditions, the solution to this whole dilemma lies in the wisdom of insecurity, or the wisdom of uncertainty. This means that the search for security and certainty is actually an attachment to the known. And what is the known? The known is our past. The known is nothing other than the prison of past conditioning.  There’s no evolution in that, absolutely none at all. And when there is no evolution, there is stagnation, entropy, disorder, and decay.

Uncertainty, on the other hand, is the fertile ground of pure creativity and freedom. Uncertainty means stepping into the unknown in every moment of our existence. The unknown is the field of all possibilities, ever fresh, ever new, always open to the creation of new manifestations.  Without uncertainty and the unknown, life is just the stale repetition of outworn memories. You become the victim of the past, and your tormentor today is your self left over from yesterday.

Relinquish your attachment to the known, step into the unknown, and you will step into the field of all possibilities. In your willingness to step into the unknown, you will have the wisdom of uncertainty factored in. This means that in every moment of your life, you will have excitement, adventure, mystery. You will experience the fun of life, the magic, the celebration, the exhilaration, and the exultation of your own spirit.”

 Those words really got to me. I had always been a person searching for security, and that passage made me realize that I needed to find my security by getting comfortable with the notion of uncertainty.  I needed to embrace the uncertainty of life as a gift rather than something to fear.  And I needed to rely on faith that I could get through whatever uncertainties lied in store for me in the future. I am embracing uncertainty as we prepare for our new adventure in a land not so familiar to me but one my husband loves so much and for that I am grateful to make my new home in Argentina.  

Con amor,

Vero

La Pampa

Wow, is the only word that comes to mind describing “la pampa” the most fertile land in the world! Daniel took me to the amazing Church farms. I feel so blessed to know all what the Church is doing to prepare for the future and alleviate hunger all over the world. We went on Friday and I must say, this assignment is going to be different.  I can’t help to compare areas whenever I move so here is my observation thus far. 

The people: Members and employees of the Church are very kind and professional. They like to do things the right way from the start. Outside on the streets of Buenos Aires is another story. I would say, it's the survival of the fittest! 

The food: Yum, food is fabulous! I love Italian cuisine so I am in heaven. 

The climate: It’s four seasons and that means it gets cold. We are experiencing the start of winter so not a good time to visit. 

Housing: You get a lot less for your $$$ if you want to live in a good neighborhood. Finding a niece place to live is as expensive as New York.

The traffic: We can drive in this city and not feel so overwhelmed even on heavy traffic. 

The Habitat: South America South area is absolutely breathtaking!  I am already in love with all of what this part of the world should offer for tourists. Come on over! 

Politics: Like many developing countries, there is clearly a good deal of corruption in Argentina. They are having elections in a few months so it’s tense. One Party in particular has created a great deal of entitlement among the people. 

Economic stability: Very Volatile. The dollar is strong now but that could change. In only 18 months, the dollar exchange went from 20 to 50 pesos for a dollar but now it went down again to 42 pesos to a dollar. In other words, there is no rhyme or reason why it goes up and down all the time. 

Sports:  The favorite sport is soccer. We are currently watching a game Uruguay Vs. Ecuador so we are finally in a country where people are big fans of soccer, Daniel’s favorite sport. Gooool!  

Health care: I never knew this but in Argentina health care is 100% free if you are an employee. This is a good place to get sick but we don’t plan on it of course J

Over all, like any place, it has its pros and cons. On Sunday, we woke up to a rare phenomenon of a huge block out in all of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and even parts of Peru and Brazil. It had never happened before but we didn’t feel it because our Hotel has a generator. From our window, we could see all the streets around us without any electricity, it was raining hard so we stayed inside all day. 

What I like about our new assignment is that we are only a three to four- hour difference from Salt Lake depending of time of year. Daniel’s mom and family are a lot closer and easier to visit and there are direct flights to many cities including, Miami, Orlando and New York. Yay! Tomorrow I will be on my way to meet baby Isaac, so you can only imagine how thankful I feel to be relatively closer and travel a lot easier. What a tender mercy! 

Con amor,

Vero

A Father's legacy

“God himself, He who is highest of all, chose to be addressed simply as Father.”

 – A. Theodore Tuttle

I do an ABC gospel book for each one of our grandchildren and currently I am making one for baby Walter. For the letter D, I got a quote on the page that reads. “Anybody can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a Daddy.” 

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day but sadly, we live in a world where the role of father is too often belittled, diminished, or treated as unnecessary. Just look at the entertainment in movies and television shows that too often present fathers as incompetent silly men who add little value in their homes. I know it brings out an easy laugh from the audience when fathers get represented that way, but I also can’t help but wonder how much that representation of fathers has impacted the respect the role of father receives anymore and I also can’t help but wonder how much that representation of fathers has impacted the self-worth of the fathers themselves these days. I can’t help but feel that perhaps we should all be more vocal about the value and importance of good fathers.

My husband wouldn’t be the person he is today without his father in his life. Hermes, his dad, has been his rock. He gave Daniel only good advice, he was a fantastic Patriarch. Hermes helped Daniel set his emotions aside during those times he had to make tough choices, he was an example for all who knew him and that sentiment is also extended to someone like me who never met him but the memories of him are still alive. 

My father Manuel was a good person too and an honest man. He lost his dad very young and had a hard life. He had to work so hard to help support his widowed mother but what people remembers about him is that he had a good heart. He helped a lot of people. As an adult, he became available and a lot more easy- going and less stressed out and so fun to be around. He loved to travel the world and enjoyed family time. 

I have great respect for those who become fathers by choice when they get married to a woman who already has children or adopt a child. I believe that all children need good fathers. I want to give a special shout out to my husband Daniel who is a wonderful dad and grandpa. Our children consider him one of their very best friends as well. I was listening to Vale yesterday talk to him on the phone and I love the way they tease each other. It’s so wonderful to know that our children can count on him. He will always be there for them no matter how far we are physically. I know the Almeida children wouldn’t be who they are today without their father.

To our sons and sons-in law, you are all the best! I have watched our grandchildren’s little eyes never stop watching you and the example that you set. You are needed. Your role is important. And I think I speak for all when I say a good father is irreplaceable in the life of a child. I have such tender feelings about Fathers and the importance they play in our own lives and in the lives of their children. 

Finally, I want to give tribute to all the good dads out there and let them know that they matter far more than they could ever imagine in the lives of their children. Your children depend on you, they look up to you, and they desperately need your love and approval. 

Happy Father’s Day to all the good fathers, potential fathers, fathers working to become better fathers, fathers in Heaven and God, The Father! 

Con amor,

Vero 

Marriage tips

I love that my nephew Alex is engaged to a wonderful girl and thinking of them, I read this article that helps couples navigate through marriage. This is one is for them. 

“Any longtime couple you know will agree that marriage takes work and that showing respect and kindness are key to a successful union. Here's more to ponder.

1. Never underestimate the value of asking your partner how his or her day went. Niceties don't become any less nice just because they become routine. At the end of the day, even if you felt like no one cared about anything you did, at least you know your partner will not only care but want to know details.

2. Some fights are just fights. They don't have to be deal breakers.

You can be madly in love with a person and still be mad at that person. Fights don't have to spell The End. Couples that stay together choose the relationship over the conflict.

3. Accept that relationships come with obligations.

You might not want to do everything your partner wants you to do with him or her — work events, watching sports he or she likes, even errands — but you also know it makes them happy to have you by their side, which makes doing those things totally worth it.

4. But be honest about which events you feel strongly that your partner attend.

Not everything can be a must. He or she knows to tell you that it's really important you attend a family birthday party every year but will live if you decline an invite to his or her friend's Super Bowl party. You should both be fair about it.

5. Little surprise purchases go a long way.

Does your partner love mint chocolate chip ice cream? Picking some up while you're at the store shows you were thinking of him or her even while going about your boring everyday chores like restocking the milk.

6. Don't force group or double dates when all couples aren't friends.

You don't have to share the same friends. It's OK to still go out one-on-one with your girlfriends, even if you all have significant others. The guys don't have to be friends just because you are, and not every conversation is a group conversation anyway.

7. Kiss hello before doing anything else when you get home. Kiss good-bye when you leave. It's always just the sweetest if he or she has to go to work extra early but stops by to kiss you quickly while trying not to wake you. Or when he or she walks you to the door when you head out. And an immediate kiss when you reunite at the end of the day means you care about each other above all else.

8. Sometimes you have to say no to invitations so you can spend time with each other. Just because your calendar is blank one night doesn't mean you have to agree to plans if someone asks. Life is busy. It's nice to use that free time to just be together.

9. Treat his family like yours.

They love to know you think of them as family. And your partner will love to see you treat them like your own. Call or text from time to time. Hang out with them when your significant other isn't around.

10. More "I love yous" are better than fewer.

Three words that just never get old. You're seriously not going to say it too much.

11. Be sympathetic when your significant other is sick.

Maybe it means canceling dinner plans and picking up soup. Maybe it means running to the drugstore for more cough drops. Don't complain. No one gets sick on purpose, and if the situation were reversed, you know he would take care of you.

12. Take on more of the errands/household chores when the other one is swamped at work. No, you don't want to do laundry, but you do it to make your partner's life easier. And by checking things off your mutual to-do list, you'll be more likely to do things you actually enjoy together when his or her schedule frees up. Plus, you'll have a crazed period at some point too, and it all evens out in the end.

13. Don't make jokes at each other's expense.

Be respectful and think about what he or she would want you to share with a group. They're your partner, not your punch line.

14. Be on time.

So many meaningless fights can be avoided by being on time. Start getting ready 20 minutes earlier than you think you need to. Chances are either you or your partner, or someone in the party you're meeting, is sensitive about punctuality, so be there when you say you will so you don't seem rude.

15. If someone talks badly about your significant other, defend him.

Even if you're generally too polite to correct people or call them out on rudeness, sometimes you have to make an exception. After all, you're supposed to be each other's biggest supporters.

16. Keep each other informed of your individual plans.

You're going to stop by and say hello to a friend on Saturday? Great, have fun. But let him or her know where you're going to be so (1) they don't worry and (2) they know you won't be around if he wants to make his own plans. It's not a matter of asking permission — it's a matter of being courteous because you always want to rest easy knowing your partner is alive and well and not in trouble.

17. Choose not to fight when you travel.

The nice hotel you booked turned out to be not so nice at all. Or he or she forgot to pack your toiletry kit like they said they would. You can get cranky and be That Couple having it out at the airport, or you can realize you'll have a good story or inside joke in the future.

18. Be spontaneous.

Make a dinner reservation for just the two of you at the last minute. Or just wander into your favorite restaurant and eat at the bar. Surprise him or her with baseball tickets. Keeping things unexpected makes being with the person you love even more fun.

19. Love each other unconditionally.

Sometimes it really is just that simple."

I think it all boils down to being kind with each other.

Con amor,

Vero

Arriving in Buenos Aires

As we arrived in Buenos Aires after a three day travel that consisted on four airports, three long flights and an over night stay in a hotel reminded me that Change is a constant but not only is constant but it’s also scary too. it’s trading the known for the unknown. It’s leaving something behind without knowing of what lies ahead. It’s wondering “Will I like it as much?” “Will it ever be as good as it was?” “What if it’s not?…What then?” I remember vividly feeling this way four years ago when we moved from the Dominican Republic to the Philippines and now we know it was an awesome place to live because of its people. But what about now? 

Thoughts of the unknown drive feelings of fear and uncertainty. But this time is different because for Daniel this time around is very familiar to him. He has been here before, he speaks their language and by that I mean he speaks their cute accent so I know that as much as we loved life before I know it is only going to keep getting better.” “I am so excited for this change! What a great adventure this is going to be.” “It’s so awesome to know that the best is yet to come!”  Buenos Aires is a marvel of a City! It’s so beautiful and I think I am going to like it! 

I keep telling myself that our thoughts control our feelings, therefore if we allow ourselves to think of change as a hard thing then it will be just that. However, if we decide that change is something exciting and fabulous we will feel completely different about it – we will embrace change and be excited for it because we know that with each change that happens it is taking us somewhere better!

I heard this statement the other day when someone was referring to change: “Think of it like a road trip where you are guaranteed that each new exit along the highway will take you to a place more beautiful than the last. Each new exit will introduce you to more and more fabulous people that will further enrich and bless your life. Each new exit you explore will teach you more than the last one did. Each new exit you visit will give you more experience and wisdom than you ever had before. With every new exit, you are guaranteed the opportunity to become a better person. That highway is our life…and change is nothing more than arriving at the next exit with its great big sign that says: “It only gets better from here”   

So, what is going to be our game plan this time around? Get out there and enjoy what this part of the word has to offer of course. It will only get better from here!

Con amor,

Vero

Our last night in Asia

Flying has become so routine for us that getting from point A to point B on a plane is about as exciting as catching a bus except when you receive an email stating that your flight has been rebooked due to a 16 plus hour delayed and that is when the excitement begins! We are taking our flight from Manila to Hong Kong where we need to spend the night or most of the night since we need to get up at 3:00 am to take our flight early in the morning.

We have no control over these types of situations so we are trying to make the best of it and Hong Kong is a good city to be stranded for a day. Most people when they leave Manila go on a real vacay to explore the rest of Asia anyway so this is a blessing in disguise.

I am so glad we are enduring this journey together. I hate it when this sort of thing happens when I travel alone. We will have time to catch up on much needed rest. Another adventure is waiting for us in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile so we need to charge our batteries for what will come of us. 

Con amor,

Vero

THOSE TOP 37 THINGS YOU’LL REGRET NOT DOING WHEN YOU’RE OLD.

Today is Cristi’s 37 birthday so to honor her special day here are 37 things you will regret not doing when you are my age. 

1. Not traveling when you had the chance.

Traveling becomes more expensive and as you get older, traveling is harder on you if you are not physically fit. 

2. Not learning another language.

You’ll kick yourself when you realize you took three years of language in high school and remember none of it.

3. Staying in a bad relationship.

No one who ever gets out of a bad relationshiplooks back without wishing they made the move sooner.

4. Forgoing sunscreen.

Wrinkles, moles, and skin cancer can largely be avoided if you protect yourself from the harsh sun. 

5. Missing the chance to see your favorite musicians.

You might say: “I’ll catch them next time they come through town.” Not!

6. Being scared to do things.

Looking back you’ll think, What was I so afraid of?

7. Failing to make physical fitnessa priority.

Too many of us spend the physical peak of our lives on the couch with no quality of life. When you hit 60, and beyond, you’ll dream of what you could have done. 

8. Letting yourself be defined by gender roles.

Well, it just wasn’t done back then, but you could have been first in line. 

9. Not quitting a terrible job.

Look, you gotta pay the bills. But if you don’t make a plan to improve your situation, you might wake up one day having spent 40 miserable years.

10. Not trying harder in school.

It’s not just that your grades play a role in determining where you end up in life. Eventually you’ll realize how neat it was to get to spend all day learning, and wish you’d paid more attention.

11. Not realizing how beautiful you were.

Too many of us spend our youth unhappy with the way we look, but the reality is, that’s when we’re our most beautiful.

12. Being afraid to say “I love you.”

When you’re old, you won’t care if your love wasn’t returned — only that you made it known how you felt.

13. Not listening to your parents’ advice.

You don’t want to hear it when you’re young, but the infuriating truth is that most of what your parents say about life is true.

14. Spending your youth self-absorbed.

You’ll be embarrassed about it, frankly.

15. Caring too much about what other people think.

In 20 years you won’t care about any of those people you once worried so much about.

16. Supporting others’ dreams over your own.

Supporting others is a beautiful thing, but not when it means you never get to fulfill yours.

17. Not moving on fast enough.

Old people look back at the long periods spent picking themselves off the ground as nothing but wasted time.

18. Holding grudges, especially with those you love.

What’s the point of re-living the anger over and over?

19. Not standing up for yourself.

Old people don’t take crap from anyone. Neither should you.

20. Not volunteering enough.

OK, nearing the end of one’s life without having helped to make the world a better place is a great source of sadness for many.

21. Neglecting your teeth.

Neglecting your teeth.Brush. Floss. Get regular checkups. It will all seem so maddeningly easy when you have dentures.

22. Missing the chance to ask your grandparents questions before they die.

Most of us realize too late what an awesome resource grandparents are. They can explain everything you’ll ever wonder about where you came from, but only if you ask them in time.

23. Working too much.

No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office, but they do wish they spent more time with family, friends, and hobbies.

24. Not learning how to cook one awesome meal.

Knowing one drool-worthy meal will make all those dinner parties and celebrations that much more special.

25. Not stopping enough to appreciate the moment.

Young people are constantly on the go, but stopping to take it all in now and again is a good thing.

26. Failing to finish what you start.

“I had big dreams of becoming a Real Estate agent. I even signed up for the classes, but then…”

27. Never mastering one awesome party trick.

You will go to hundreds, if not thousands, of parties in your life. Wouldn’t it be cool to be the life of them all?

28. Letting yourself be defined by cultural expectations.

Don’t let them tell you, “We don’t do that.”

29. Refusing to let friendships run their course.

People grow apart. Clinging to what was, instead of acknowledging that things have changed, can be a source of ongoing agitation and sadness.

30. Not playing with your kids enough.

When you’re old, you’ll realize your kid went from wanting to play with you to wanting you out of their room in the blink of an eye.

31. Never taking a big risk (especially in love).

Knowing that you took a leap of faith at least once — even if you fell flat on your face — will be a great comfort when you’re old.

32. Not taking the time to develop contacts and network.

Networking may seem like a bunch of crap when you’re young, but later on it becomes clear that it’s how so many jobs are won.

33. Worrying too much.

As Tom Petty sang, “Most things I worry about never happen anyway.”

34. Getting caught up in needless drama.

Who needs it?

35. Not spending enough time with loved ones.

Our time with our loved ones is finite. Make it count.

36. Never performing in front of others.

This isn’t a regret for everyone, but many elderly people wish they knew — just once — what it was like to stand in front of a crowd and show off their talents.

37. Not being grateful sooner.

It can be hard to see in the beginning, but eventually it becomes clear that every moment on this earth — from the mundane to the amazing — is a gift that we’re all so incredibly lucky to share.

So there you have it. I hope your day was amazing! 

Con amor,

Vero

Less is more

For the last six weeks since we found out we were moving we have been preparing our departure which included taking every item we owned and send it either to Salt Lake to be stored or Argentina which is a little tricky to do since we don’t have a home yet in Buenos Aires so we don’t know how much to send. Chances are, we are moving into a very small apartment.  

As the weeks went on of working in chaos with a lot of stuff everywhere, things all scattered throughout the house, with piles of stuff here and there, I noticed that the worse the mess I became the more anxious so much that when Daniel’s friend decided to come visit us right in the middle of this chaos I felt grumpy. There was just no sense of order in our home to be entertaining guests. 

But after the packers took all our stuff and we got rid of all the messes, there is this feeling of peace in the home and my disposition has improved tremendously so you are lucky to see me today because I am not grumpy anymore. I am finally at peace. 

What I learned from this experience is that organization and cleanliness bring such a great feeling of peace. A clean space always makes it easier to focus and it allows us to accomplish much more. Moral of the story, less is more! 

My home feels so good with the bare essentials and I think this is true also in the office. We want to focus on the essentials in order to do more with less. 

Con amor,
Vero

Salamat, Merci, Gracias, Thank you!

It is our last week in Manila so we are attending the temple to give thanks to our Heavenly Father.  We normally don't go on Saturdays because the space is limited. It will be the last Saturday session at 5:00 pm and even if only one sit is left somehow we will manage to get us both in. On Saturdays, every seat is always taken plus a few extra folding chairs. They even give us earphones because the session is in Tagalog. What a good way to end our time in the Philippines. 

On Sunday we will attend the Buen Día ward to say good bye to our dear friends and On Monday we plan to attend the Family Home Evening with the missionaries before we take off Tuesday morning.  

On Friday at the Directors Seminar, I will share a power point of ABC words describing my time in the PHILIPPINES with corresponding photos from July 2015 to June 2019.

Here are the words that came to mind in the wee hours of the morning:

A-  Area plan, Awards

B-  Beehive

C-   Cebu, Cemetery, Corregidor

D-  Donations

E-   Español, El Salvador 

F-   Family History, Face to Face

G-  Groundbreaking

H-  Humanitarian

I-    Incredible Traffic

J-    Jeepney ride

K-   Kilus

L-   Lion King, La Isla, Legazpi

M-Mission Leadership Seminars

N-  Nostalgia

O-  One Hundred Stakes

P-   Pathway 

Q-  Quezon City

R-  Review of Area

S-   Seventies 

T-   Temple Day

U-  United Nations

V-  Volunteers

W-Welcome Home

X-   X-mas Light the World 

Y-   Youth camp

Z-   Zoom to the skyline of Manila.

Con amor,

Vero

Moving Date

It is finally sinking… We are leaving Manila for Buenos Aires. Yesterday and today a crew of men came into our home to help us pack our stuff. They are sifting through our drawers, papers, photographs, shoes, clothes, and yes, even our underwear. 

 The sound of ripping tape, crushed brown butcher papers and boxes everywhere has become a too familiar scene in our almost 10 year of married life. Same sound, same situation but a lot of stuff and a different destination. It seems like we were doing this yesterday. 

This time around we took time to decide the number of clothes, number of days left and the impossible equation of what goes to Salt Lake, what goes to Argentina and what stays. Many of our things have found new owners. For someone like Daniel who likes order and hates making mistakes this may hurt his brain. For someone like me who loves to keep things and hates to throw anything away can drive me to insanity. It did the first two times I had to do this but somehow this chaotic scene is becoming so familiar to me now that experiencing this falls into an order in my life that makes sense and weirdly makes me feel like life is good and the way it should be. 

Today is Daniel’s mom’s birthday and as crazy as this day might be, we don’t want to forget it. During these times, there are a lot of lesson that are reinforced in my mind. First, everything we own is just stuff. I can live with or without it. Whatever it is, it might survive the move or might not. No worries. We should be o.k. if something is missing.

 Second, I can live with a lot less than I think, getting rid of stuff feels good because it makes room for more important things J Most importantly even when we still don’t have a home in Buenos Aires, (the one we found received a better offer) My husband is the core. He is my constant. He is true to me and I am true to him. Our love and devotion for each other is the only thing that matters and never changes. 

 I don’t mind looking at our stuff all boxed up. Go ahead and box anything you want. I only have one thing that can’t be taken, broken, or lost. My amazing husband.

Con amor,

Vero 

This is me

Daniel and I took the Clifton survey test today. We had been asked to take it as part of the training for the Director's seminar to see what our 5 personality strengths are and after answering over 150 questions here are the results for me.

This is me:

Belief: Core values are important to me. I value family and to me success is more than money and prestige. I value responsibility and high ethics. My friends call me dependable. " I know where you stand" they say. I am easy to trust. 

Connectedness: I believe that things happen for a reason. We are part of something larger. We are part of a larger picture so we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. I am considerate, caring, and accepting. I am a bridge builder for people of different cultures. My faith is strong. 

Responsibility: I follow through with completion. I like to do things right and are known to have impeccable ethics. Utterly dependable. My willingness to volunteer may sometimes lead me to take on more than I should. 

Harmony: I look for areas of agreement. I believe there is little to be gained from conflict and friction. When I know that the people around me has different views, I try to find the common ground. When others are imposing their opinions, I hold my peace. When others strike out a direction I will willingly, in the service of harmony, modify my own objectives to merge with theirs (as long as their basic values do not clash with mine) When others start to argue about their pet theory or concept, I steer clear of the debate, preferring to talk about practical, down-to-earth matters on which you can all agree. In my view we are all in the same boat, and we need this boat to get where we are going. 

Input: I collect things. I collect information, words, facts and quotations or tangible things too. I collect them because it interests me. I like to travel because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. I don't feel confortable throwing anything away. Why are they worth storing? No one knows when they might become useful and perhaps one day some of it will prove to be valuable. 

I marvel at what it said about me and have to agree. It's all true. Each one of us will have an opportunity to influence many people during our lifetime. So the question we must ask ourselves is, " when we have opportunities to influence others how are we going to use them? What will we do when we are given a moment to show you we are? What impact do we desire our example to have? 

My mission is life is to serve others so wherever I am given a moment to do that, I hope I am able to effectively use my unique talents to accomplish that mission. Each of us has each of has an opportunity to influence an untold number of people during our lives.Let's use those opportunities to inspire others to do good.  

Con amor,
Vero