Merry Christmas John!

You have challenged us again with a great thought, and not only in understanding our past, present, and future opportunities. For me, you gave us a great example of how we should be openly aware of any possibility to learn and grow. How many times have we read a book or watched a movie to "tune-out" and miss the latent lesson(s) that await us?

And in that context, we can look back on the past and present of those events, even those books, movies, or minor life experiences, and allow them to shape us more positively by seeing them in a different light. (Not to neglect the major lessons we've been through as well). As with Scrooge, it may take a series of "wake up calls" to take any event and transform our lives into a more meaningful existence that impacts others. But at the least, if we can reflect often throughout each day of our past and present with an eye to the future, we can change our trajectory and appreciate what life has given us in shaping better lives for us as leaders and people, even if we didn't appreciate it before.

Have a tremendous 2017 my friend! Thank you!

Paul