#HappyNewYear #2026 #NewYou #resolutions The calendar-year change often leads to soul-searching. We ask ourselves: What have we done that was good? What have we done that was not so good? And, what do we need to do to make things better? We ponder these things at this time, likely because we’ve freelanced our way through the last 12 months. Freelancing can be good. It can take us to places, and prompt us to do things, we may never have considered. It can also prompt us to do things we should have never done. Some things have been put upon us not of our choosing. But, some choices we’d made may have been ill-advised, though they may have sounded right at the time. Dealing with the put-upons can show strength. Shrugging off the put-upons as inevitable can show resignation and weakness. The calendar change is a reminder to take stock of all those things and, perhaps, become a new you in 2026. Self-examination is never easy. It can be extremely difficult for some. But, the only way to successfully move from Point A to Point B in life is to determine your best way to get there. The BEST way is not always the easiest. Often, taking the longer, harder way can lead you to places you may have never thought to go, but are rewarding when you see them. Getting good advice, or, merely, asking for help is almost always a benefit. But, in the end, YOU have to make good choices. When you seek a leader in areas in which you are not familiar, choose that leadership wisely. Some leaders may seem strong, or may seem to have good intentions, but may not be looking out for YOUR best interests. In short, follow someone you trust. If he or she breaks that trust, cut ties with him or her. Also, remember who is REALLY important to you. Those people deserve your priority. If an offer seems too good to be true, it may be a scam. Be wary of inappropriate generosity. You may see gains and losses. Manage both as properly as you can. The new year may bring celebrations and setbacks. Briefly relish the former, and, over the long term, overcome the latter. Remember the things you did that you should not have done, and strive never to repeat them. Remember the things you did that you should have done, and keep doing them. But, even with pitfalls, see life as good and let hope and optimism overwhelm fear. Happy New Year! Peter
#rich #smart #wealthy #SmartPeople #RichPeople #DoGood #BeAGoodPerson If you are so smart, why aren’t you rich? Those who would wage war on smart people would ask this question. Obviously, there is more to intelligence than the ability to make money. In fact, some not-so-smart people have made a lot of money. But, those who are smart often want to use their intelligence not to enrich themselves, but to help others. Some would even use their own intelligence to help others get rich. People who are just plain rich tend to be self-centered. If there is nothing in it for me, the attitude goes, there is no point in doing it. But, truly smart people see a need – perhaps an obligation – to use their brain power to change the world to help others succeed. Certainly, if they get wealthy in the process, they won’t complain. They may even donate a portion of their wealth to help those much less fortunate. To put it succinctly, they give and they get. They don’t take. People who are just plain rich have no problem taking. In fact, many will take things they are not entitled to take. They will use their wealth and power to dominate those who are less powerful. Smart people who use their intelligence to help others ignite jealousy among the not-so-smart rich. Smart, noble people tend to be popular. Those who are just rich tend to be not so popular. The unpopular rich want to own the popular smart. Unfortunately, history has countless, horrible examples of human beings owning other human beings. Wealth and power in the wrong hands can be devastating to many, if not all, of us. Some of them will literally take from the meager incomes of the many simply to line their own pockets and satisfy their greed. Why? Because they can. If we have the power to do so, we shouldn’t let them. The suffering of the many can actually amuse those in power. What type of human being can get a thrill from the suffering of others? It’s hard to determine where their humanity is. But, chances are, their wealth and power did not cause their inhumanity. Likely, they’ve always had it. They will try to say that empathy is a weakness. Alas, it is a virtue. So, let’s all try to be as successful as possible by helping, or at least not hurting, others. Strive to be someone children can, and should, look up to. Children, in fact, do not learn nearly as much from our words as from our actions. If you are fortunate enough to attain great wealth through noble pursuits, share that wealth generously, and effectively, with the most needy. Attaining great wealth should not be a goal to reach at all costs. It should the a bonus for doing good, and being a good person. When we all strive to do good, and be good people, everyone benefits. Peter
#surrender #peace #Russia #Ukraine #PeaceDeal #cowardice #weakness #strength #courage Surrender is not peace. CNN anchor Fareed Zakaria stated that on his GPS show Nov. 23. 2025, talking about peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Proposals being offered by the U.S., acting as mediator, appear to call for Ukraine to surrender territory Russia took from it by force. Ukrainians overwhelmingly do not want to do that. As Zakaria’s comment implies, surrendering territory just to stop another country from attacking you is not a peace deal. There are other parts of the proposed deal that European allies do not agree with, such as Ukraine agreeing never to join NATO, the European-American alliance designed as a backstop to Russia’s potential aggression. Russia recently softened its position on this, reports say, After all, if Ukraine cedes part of its sovereign territory to Russia, what’s to stop Russia from attacking other nearby European allies? But, let’s break down what peace is, and what it is not. Peace is more than just a stoppage of fighting. Certainly, both sides likely want the fighting to stop. The war is doing serious damage to both countries. But, in Ukraine’s case, it not only wants all its land back, but it also wants assurance that no further attacks will be forthcoming. Trading land for peace is not a deal. It is a surrender. In any negotiation, both sides give something and get something. And, in any negotiation, some things are not negotiable. If what is not negotiable for one side is untenable to the other, there is likely no deal to be had. Ukraine is a smaller country than Russia. It’s larger neighbor attacked it. It is fighting a noble battle, mainly against soldiers, military targets and economical targets to try to inhibit Russia’s ability to keep attacking. Russia, on the other hand, is attacking soft civilian targets, like residential areas, schools and hospitals and energy infrastructure, hoping to turn the Ukrainian public against its own government. This shows weakness, not strength. It shows cowardice, not courage. But, Ukraine has fought hard to get out from under Russia’s grasp for years, and has built a vibrant, democratic country. Russia also resents the fact that many smart Russians have moved to Ukraine in search of freedom. Russia, meanwhile, wants Ukraine back under its empire, and may want other former satellite states as well. So, if peace is achieved, the two nations have to live in the same region, with some guarantees against future attacks. That will not be easy to achieve, given the attitudes of the players. But, anything less will be something other than real peace.
#push #shove #peace #compromise #disputes #ResolvingDisputes #strength If push comes to shove … has come to mean that things could go from bad to worse. Or, it could mean that if someone pushes you, you might shove back. Does anyone WANT to get pushed, or shoved? A push, actually, could be positive. A parent, teacher, friend or coach could push someone to be a better version of himself or herself. That person may shove back by offering resistance, even if they know deep down of the pusher’s good intentions. On the opposite side, someone may push you to do something you don’t want to do. You may shove back by saying no repeatedly, as the pusher keeps at you. Technically, push and shove could be synonyms. But, as we understand the words, a push may be gentler than a shove. That brings us back to the expression. When one is gently pushed, he or she may shove back more aggressively. We use the expression usually in context with conflicts with others. When the dispute comes to a head, what will we do next? Some people plan their moves carefully. They anticipate that a dispute will come to a climax, and they have the next move in their back pockets. Others genuinely don’t know what to do when conflict reaches a point that requires “the next move.” They could go with their gut and do what comes to them at the time. They could walk away in defeat. Or, a level-headed person could just say enough is enough. Let’s stop fighting and find common ground for peace. In today’s polarized world, we need more level-headed peacemakers. The great poet and orator Maya Angelou once said. “we are more alike than we are unalike.” Certainly, we will disagree, perhaps about a lot of things. But, when push comes to shove, what will we do next? Will we agree to disagree, move on and find agreement on other matters? Will we avoid discussion of topics that provoke disagreement? What if the topic that promotes disagreements MUST be discussed? Avoidance can be a form of cowardice when it comes to those mandatory topics. In those cases, the noble peacemakers look for common ground. They find compromise. They believe that compromise is a form of strength, especially when sticking to your guns can get you shot down. While others see weakness in compromise, the noble among us not only see strength in it, but also see it as the best, and only, way to resolve conflict. Defeating others through force is not only weak, but also cowardly and lazy. Peace via compromise is weapon for good. Though in such cases no one gets everything he or she wants, everyone gets something. That leads to, as the late President Ronald Reagan put it, “peace through strength.” So, the next time you face a situation in which push comes to shove, what will you do? Peter
#secrets #HidingThings #information #stress Hiding things takes great effort. One has to make sure that wherever he or she hides something, no one else can find it. Also, one has to make sure that there is no other source for whatever is being hidden. If there is demand for exposure, people will hunt relentlessly for it. Many times, the information comes out in pieces, sometimes out of context. Saying repeatedly that it is not true is not a solution. Any crisis manager would advise that if there is something bad that one wants to hide, and there is demand for transparency, it’s better to get it out, take the lumps and move on. If the lumps are severe, they likely would be more severe if the exposure were delayed. For many, keeping secrets causes insomnia. It’s tough to sleep under that much pressure. Secrets – particularly those for which there is a large demand for transparency – cause often immeasurable stress. Certainly, some things should be kept secret. Parts of one’s everyday life should not be displayed for public scrutiny. But, other secrets, particularly those of prominent or privileged people, should be exposed. The consequences of some actions can have real victims, many of whom will never get back what may have been taken from them. They also may never get over it. Their only solace could be transparency and accountability for those who wronged them. Never underestimate the healing power of transparency and accountability. Though some secrets are harmless, even joyous – surprising a spouse with an anniversary trip, for example – many secrets can be devastating. Keeping secrets can create corruption. When they do, the victims of the corruption suffer. The public square has very little room for secrets – good or bad. In the public square, knowing that a secret exists enhances the demand for transparency. When we know something, but don’t know everything, as humans we usually do not stop looking until we know everything. Once we know everything, we can determine any accountability that’s required. We cannot determine accountability until we know what, or whom, should be accountable. Almost everyone is keeping a secret. Most are harmless. Some are fun. Some are even proper to keep. Keeping a secret in which there were victims is not proper. It is also very difficult when demand for exposure is great. When you have a secret, determine whether it is harmless, fun and whom it may be hurting. Then, decide whether the stress of keeping it is worth it. More importantly, determine whether its exposure could contribute to healing. Peter
#homeless #HomelessFamilies #rents #housing #AffordableHousing When you think of people being homeless, is your first question: What did they do wrong? If so, you probably believe their behavior somehow put them in that position – not wanting to work, addiction etc. First, many mentally ill people have nowhere to go. They’ve been abandoned and the number of treatment facilities has dwindled over the years. But, watching CNN’s “The Whole Story” November 2, 2025, we learn many homeless people work, have families etc., but just can’t afford skyrocketing rents. Many of the homeless adults and children interviewed for the program, based on homelessness in New York City, are articulate, resourceful and have great inner strength and resilience to endure their hardship. Most of the adults are working. Most of the children go to school. Many have been homeless all, or most, of their lives. They take advantage of all or most of the resources that can help them – shelters, school meals etc. It appears, in most cases, they spend their limited income on other necessities besides an apartment, which could eat up most, if not all, of their earnings. Some people are, indeed, homeless because of their behavior. But, the homeless population is much broader than a few, single misfits having a hard time. One could come away, after watching the program, thinking that the strength and resilience of many homeless people are untapped resources for better things. Many of them showed more of those characteristics than some others much more fortunate. The homeless cannot solve their problems alone. They need resources. They need ideas for more housing. There are many people who care and want to help, but it may take a nationwide push to really mitigate the problem. In the show, there were some good endings for some of the people. But, it is a large problem not only in New York, but nationwide. In fairness, there are homeless folks who just want to stay off the grid. They would much rather be independent than go to a shelter on a cold, or hot night. But, the show documents that many are just working families – often single mothers with children – who are shelterless for financial reasons. It was uplifting to see some of the children with musical or other talent. What a future they might have if they had their own roof over their heads. There is no typical homeless person. Many are doing the very best they can, for themselves and their families, with what they have. Without an address, there are only so many opportunities in the job market. In fairness to landlords, they need to charge rents that cover taxes (high in NYC), repairs and maintenance, and have a little return on their investment. If you are a landlord, or employer, it may be worth some thought whether your employees are making enough to live a decent life, and whether you can work with tenants on rents they can afford. Peter
#PNCBank #NamingRights #RaisingChildren #CostOfRaisingChildren #parents #children A child graduates from his or her school. Instead of announcing him or her by name as he or she gets a diploma, the master of ceremonies announces the name of the company who bought the rights to that child’s name. The parents in the audience cheer. Farfetched? PNC Bank is using that scenario in an ad to show how desperate parents are to cover the cost of raising children. PNC Bank, of course, suggests better ways to improve a family’s financial position. The idea of selling the rights to a person’s name to a company comes from the naming of stadiums and arenas, where sponsorship makes more sense. But the ad highlights a deeper problem. It’s getting more difficult financially to raise children today than in past decades. On top of that, it’s getting more difficult for those children, once they become adults, to leave home because they are not making enough money to live independently. In past decades, it was a parent’s goal for his or her children to live better than he or she did. Today, for many generations, that is almost impossible. The cost of food, energy, housing etc. has gotten out of reach for many people, regardless of background. Raising a child requires a lot of investment. If they play sports, or participate in other activities, there are often big costs involved. You want your children to pursue activities in which they have skills and interests. Even if they don’t have great skills in those activities, parents recognize that the social interaction, teamwork lessons etc., can be valuable to a child as they grow into adults. You also want them to feel the joy of holidays with gifts, which also can be expensive. When you add those things to the necessities of life, even before a post-high-school education, raising a child can drain a family’s finances. When the parents of that child also want to save for their own retirement, in an age in which employer retirement plans are few, dicey financial decisions abound. As they grow, children can learn to help their families cover their activities through part-time jobs etc. But, if that child plans to pursue higher education, parents will want that child’s earned money to go to that purpose. Of course, as PNC says, it’s better for a family to have a financial plan with a good adviser the family trusts. But it’s difficult to blame parents for trying creative ideas to enhance the family’s financial position. Hard work, good behavior and good character are still the cornerstones of any child’s success. The toughest parenting job may be to keep the child from getting discouraged when he or she does everything right, yet still doesn’t achieve what he or she wants. The solution here is to have a plan early in a child’s life, in which savings can accumulate and earn dividends over time, then spending it very selectively at the correct intervals of a child’s life. If a family is fortunate enough, it can create a separate fund for the parents’ retirement. Of course, either of those is easier said than done. But, with some creativity, good advice and discipline, it can be possible. Peter
#wealth #opportunities #HardWork #inheritances You may love your current life, but, deep down, wouldn’t you want to be wealthy? You may rail against the fat cats who get all the breaks, but, secretly, you’d love to be among them. Who gets wealthy, and who doesn’t? One may inherit wealth. One may get wealthy through luck (think lottery winners). But most people who get wealthy on their own have a certain mindset. Usually, they actively look for opportunities to get wealthy. And, usually, they never stop looking. It becomes a mission. Once they find the opportunity, they do what they need to do to make it happen. Often, they will do things others will not do. They have the determination to keep doing those things into perpetuity to maintain their wealth, since they know that if they stop, their wealth could go away. Certainly, people who are not wealthy will work hard, and have the determination to keep working hard. The difference is the opportunity. For many, opportunities either never cross their paths or they don’t see the opportunity if it is presented. Some may actually fear opportunity. Some, perhaps, would see the opportunity, but not want to do what it takes to take advantage of it. Wealthy people, generally, do not prioritize security. An old financial services TV ad tells its viewers that it wants people looking for opportunities, not guarantees. In the modern age, security in the workplace is hard to come by. So, some folks keep their “secure” jobs, while looking for and taking advantage of opportunities on the side. When the side opportunity starts to work out, they may quit their “secure” jobs. Some people get wealthy off the backs, or at the expense, of others. It’s tough for most people to sleep at night if they’ve made a lot of money by screwing over other people. Often, wealthy people are no different from those who are not wealthy – except for their passion to look for opportunities. Also quite often, if a wealthy person somehow loses his or her fortune, their mindset will allow them to build it all over again, perhaps with a new opportunity. Opportunities are different from circumstances. Those who are not wealthy, but are envious of those who are, tend to blame circumstances for their lack of wealth. The wealthy person tends to brush off circumstances and actively look for opportunities. Even in the quest for wealth, luck can play a part. But those with the opportunity mindset do what they must to make their own luck. In short, uninherited wealth is not given. It is made. Hard work alone will not make you wealthy. But the combination of hard work, determination to look for opportunities and making good decisions in life can put you on the path to wealth. It doesn’t happen overnight, in most cases. As the saying goes, it could take you 40 years to be an overnight success. To be wealthy, you have to be always looking. You have to want more than what others would settle for. You have to be more than content. You have to want to be happy. Money doesn’t buy happiness, the saying goes, but, as an acquaintance used to say, it can certainly help you work out your problems in style. Peter
#dining #FineDining #HighEndRestaurants #EatingOut #food When you eat at a “high end” restaurant, do you come away wondering whether it was worth the price? Some such restaurants are, indeed, worth the price. Others are just overpriced. Most of us know the difference, especially when our meal is finished. (Warning: If you know you can’t afford a high-end restaurant, don’t eat there). Some restaurants like to up-charge because of their atmosphere. They may have white or black linen tablecloths and napkins, fancy dishes and silverware or even a dress code. None of those things, by themselves, are worth paying extra for. In fact, having a dress code may be a reason NOT to eat somewhere. Some restaurants may think their food is so good that they only need to give you little bites, or tapas. In such cases, one either walks out poorer and hungry, or orders too many separate things just to get satisfied. Tapas restaurants have their place, but there is only so much one should be willing to pay to eat there. A good rule of thumb here is if you are in the mood for a good steak, you do not have to go to a high-end steakhouse. Many moderately priced restaurants have just as good steaks for much less money. But the restaurants that are clearly worth the high prices give you food you can’t find many other places. They give you plenty of it. In fact, they may give you enough to take home for a separate meal. Two meals for the price of one makes paying big bucks more palatable. Some may have unique locations that you know they have to pay high rent for. Dining overlooking the water, or some other great view, has to be factored into the price. Still, some high-end restaurants’ food is so good, and so plentiful, they can locate in a strip mall and still draw diners. If you don’t know whether an expensive restaurant will be worth the price, ask people who have eaten there. Did they come out feeling good about splurging? It may be a good time to give a shout-out to those restauranteurs who serve good food at a reasonable price. Most diners will opt for that, but there are occasions when people want something out of the ordinary. Sometimes, experiences are more valuable than things to give as gifts. If you splurge, make sure your splurge is worth it. Dining out is something most people like to do. Most people work hard for their money, so they want to spend it carefully. Dining at high-end restaurants should not be a regular activity for those of modest income. But, sometimes, putting loose change into a jar can add up to a nice dinner out when the jar is full. Just make sure, as best you can, that the experience will be worth the price. Peter
#optimism #BrokenAmerica #resist #fight #BetterAngels It’s easy to feel hopeless today. In fact, even the most optimistic among us are thinking that what is being undone from a normal world can never be redone. Axios CEO Jim VandeHei outlines a strategy for college students to act and think more optimistically. He outlined it in a Sept. 21, 2025, article in The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He writes that we are being duped into “thinking America is more broken, more unfixable and more hostile than it actually is.” Various media are competing for our attention, he writes, but most people are not actually paying attention. He’s not saying, according to his column, that America doesn’t have legitimate problems. But, if we paid less attention to media, and more attention to our own lives and situations, we might become more hopeful. That may be easier said than done, of course. But we are seeing that when people push back on the bad things that are happening, it can slow the downfall, if not stop it entirely. It IS important for people to watch and read what is going on. An informed public has more power than an uninformed one. You can be a voracious media consumer and not get sucked down rabbit holes. You can discern what is right and what is wrong, even from media that may want to push you in a certain direction. Remember, those who want to take down the U.S. are looking for a citizenry that is demoralized, capitulating and weary. But, if the citizenry becomes determined, engaged and wary of things being done, it can win the battle. There are many versions of the adage that says, “Don’t let the bad guys get you down.” That, too, is easier said than done. But, instead of throwing up one’s hands, one should keep his or her hands – and minds – engaged and, if necessary, enraged. The decks may look stacked against the average person, but average people with the same idea can mobilize against the colossus. The colossus may be trying to take your weapons, like your right to vote. They may do it by throwing roadblocks between you and the ballot box. But, such obstacles can be overcome with determination to go around them. So, as VandeHei writes, we have big problems, but optimism isn’t, or shouldn’t be, dead. When those who disagree with you become disagreeable, find those that are not. When debate turns to violence, look for better angels. When corrupted power tries to corrupt you, resist, resist, resist. It may be easier said than done, but it CAN be done. Pete
