I need to remember my blessings more often. We are constantly reminded of what we don’t have. Ads, whether they be TV, radio or in print tell us we need this and we need that.

There are the common fears - fear of failure, fear of acceptance, fear of dying, fear of public speaking. Then there are the phobias of flying, heights, snakes, bugs, etc. that list is endless.

Life throws obstacles in my way all the time. I am coming to the conclusion that my best plan of action is to be as resilient as possible. To be as capable as possible to bounce back from crisis.

Richard Branson anticipated his 1.5-hour flight to space for 17 years. He announced his intention to make a space plane in 2004. Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000 with the goal of human spaceflight.

At Toastmasters we open our meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. I also have it hanging in our lobby. I need the reminder. I do take my freedom for granted. I feel safe and every day I exercise my rights and obligations as a citizen. However, I feel that the news we are exposed to make extreme efforts to divide us, to point out the lack of liberty and the lack of justice.

Recently I sat in a meeting with a family who had lost the founder of their fast growing family business. During the meeting I was focused on business. After the meeting the sadness hit me. The founder should have been in that meeting. The energy, the drive and the laughter were missing. He lived his life to the fullest.