Belief in yourself begins and ends with your understanding that you can talk yourself into or out of anything. Which wolf will you feed?

I saw the tears well up in the eyes of this grown man, as he kissed his little girl goodbye when she boarded her international flight as an unaccompanied minor. His eyes told a story of heartbreak for that little face he would not see for a while. 

“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone”, is a song that resonates. It was a constant battle cry from a Dad who would miss his little girl who went to live with her mom across the country. 

Broken relationships leave a lot of collateral damage in their wake. Broken hearts rarely ever heal — they end up creating a new normal.  

The coffee shop was in the process of closing at Dulles, as I stood in line to board my outbound flight. I asked for a glass of water — not coffee, no chai latte’s and no food — just water. 

I was told by a flippant employee that it would not be possible. The plastic glass and the running tap were both within each of our reach. I even offered to fill it myself. I was categorically told NO. 

In my culture and my country, giving water to a thirsty individual is a birth right and a basic part of Gods work. Yet, for Starbucks, not so much. Not that they care, but they lost my business forever. 

Anne Lamott reminds us that “NO is a complete sentence”.  Of course, it’s a matter of context.  In business, NO could be a “maybe”, a potential YES, or for the mavericks — “let’s make it happen”. 

However, in personal relationships, NO means NO. 
NO questions.  No discussion. 
No latitude.  NO is a complete sentence.  Let’s remember that, and honor that. 

He was the quintessential gentleman.  Always immaculately dressed, he carried himself with a touch of class and polish. Kind, soft spoken and gentle in his manner, he was the epitome of suave elegance. 

Mr. Jerry Divers passed away recently, and I was swept with this deep sadness that the world had lost a fine human being. I spent some quality time with him as we travelled the world through a program I direct at The University of Tampa.  

He was incredibly appreciative of every little experience we shared over the years. He always wrote me a handwritten thank you card after every trip. His sincerity, gratitude, and genuine kindness shone through his words.  

His impact in the business world is well documented.  I wanted to shed some light on Jerry, the man. He was one of the true gentleman I had the privilege to meet. I will miss our many conversations over an occasional evening cocktail. Rest well Sir — the world is a lesser place without you in it.  

Evil begins when you start to treat people like things.

Terry Pratchett

Step into the arena. Make the call. Take a decision.  Don’t hedge your bets.  Failing is better than doing nothing. When we try to please everyone by doing nothing, we end up damaging relationships and lose credibility.

Do your research, trust your gut and follow your instincts.  Make the call.  “A person’s greatest limitations are not genetic, but imposed by self-doubt, insecurities, indecision, and timidity” – Kilroy Oldster

When we take chances, we may win or lose.  When we take no chances, we always lose.

Today I celebrate 34 years of marriage and 34 years of service as a Professor at The University of Tampa. Talk about getting old!

On the personal front, the credit goes to Rohini my life partner for being my rock, and keeping me grounded. The fact she didn’t flee after 34 days (or so say 34 hours)  says a lot about her ability to “hang in there”. I owe her more than I have to offer — but my efforts will continue. 

As an educator, it’s been a ride of a lifetime.  In our transient, “let’s chase the new star” world, I found a home that gave me an opportunity to practice my craft and hone my skills.  As a teacher, the reward has been the students and our mutual ability to touch each other’s lives. Spartan blood flows in my veins. 

I am counting my blessings today, and there certainly is a lot to celebrate. Time to pop the bubbly, and let the dream continue. 

They steal our jobs — the jobs that no else wants.  They are quietly among the hardest working  people in America. There are no airs about them. These are the transient Mexican laborers that sustain the construction industry, among others.

I watched them intently as they worked on replacing a roof. A team of seven, each one of them went about their business without talking or minimizing their effort.  The fact that it felt like  a hundred degrees in the hot blistering sun, without an iota of shade, was unnerving.

These Mexican laborers speak no English, don’t ask for tips, and do all the tough dirty work that no one else will do.  They work the strawberry fields, cut yards for 8 hours a day, and work in every aspect of construction.

These are the tough young men and women that are accused of stealing “our” jobs. Shame on these migrants for doing the dirty work so we can sit back in our air conditioned homes and offices.

Time for a reality check folks. Our economy would come to a standstill without their contributions. And then we would be in a whole lot of trouble.

One of the things that I’ve LEARNED on this JOURNEY is that GRATITUDE and SORROW are not mutually exclusive.

Regina King