#reach #stretch #stars #goals #WhateverItTakes #foundation “Keep your feet on the ground and reach for the stars.” That was the closing line from Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40” regular, syndicated radio show. When first hearing it, it seems contradictory. How can one reach for the stars while keeping his or her feet on the ground? To reach, as many motivational speakers will tell you, you must stretch. One can certainly stretch while his or her feet are planted, but to go the extra mile, one may have to stand on his or her tiptoes. For example, when reaching for something on the top shelf of a cabinet, as a short person, you may have to stand on your tiptoes to get the item. But, what Kasem may be getting at is a bit more subtle. With one’s feet on the ground, he or she can create a firm foundation. Usually, one needs a firm foundation to reach any goal. That foundation can manifest in character, honesty, humility, generosity, selflessness or may other desired human attributes. From that foundation, one can set goals and reach for them, no matter how far, how unlikely or how difficult they may seem. That good foundation can now become flexible. It can help the person realize what he or she needs to do, and must do, to achieve the goal(s). That flexibility may require the person to do things he or she may never have done before. That may require manufacturing the courage to pursue the unknown or untried. It can manifest in reaching for the proverbial stars, as in something that may seem out of reach. Not everyone will do it, hence the adage: “do today what others won’t so you can do tomorrow what others can’t.” So Kasem tells his listeners (his show is still broadcast today in reruns, despite his death in 2014) that they can reach for the stars if they want to do what it takes. He’s also telling them to start with a good foundation. It can be a difficult message for some. It can go over the heads of others. Still, others will shrug it off. But his words will ring true to those who want to change their lives for the better. Keeping one’s feet on the ground amid life’s difficult circumstances is not easy for many. But, for some, it’s not circumstances that matter. It’s how one responds to them that’s the key to a better life. Amid the chaos of today, the stars may be reachable for those who want to stretch. Being optimistic may be the first step in that stretch. It may be the main attribute in establishing a good foundation. Peter
#vote #VoterSuppression #VoterIntimidation #EarlyVoting #VoteByMail They’re giving fair warning. They are saying that ICE agents will be at the polling places during the 2026 midterm elections. They’re hoping to discourage voter turnout, fearing a landslide defeat for the current party in power if too many people vote. But, if you’re among those who are not happy with what’s going on, the most powerful weapon you have is your vote. Don’t be afraid to vote. They can’t stop you from voting. It may take courage to vote in some places, but you must summon that courage. If you don’t want to vote on Election Day, vote early, if you can. Or, if it’s available to you, vote by mail. Visit your local election office well ahead of time to discern your options. If your area has a special election prior to November, vote then, too. By any means that you have, VOTE! Take your example of courage from the protesters in Minnesota, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and elsewhere. In Minnesota, they are braving harsh winter weather to stand in the streets, risk their lives and tell the overwhelming contingent of federal agents that they don’t want them there. They are helping their neighbors who legitimately fear capture and deportation – often illegitimate deportation – stay safe and stay fed. If we all turn out to vote, we will show that there are more of us than there are of federal agents. They will not be able to stop ALL of us – and they legally cannot stop ANY of us. You may have to brave long lines at the polls if you have to vote on Election Day. There may even be some lines at early-voting locations on some days. These are inconvenient, to be sure. But, casting your vote is paramount. Life as you know it could depend on it. Local and state officials who, by law, run elections, have to stand firm. They have to make sure EVERY legal vote is counted. They also have to protect polling places from the illegitimate presence of federal officials. They have to protect voters from intimidation from federal officials or others seeking a certain outcome. You have months to prepare to vote in November. You have months to choose your preferred candidates carefully. If you want things to change, vote for candidates that will help enable that change. If you’re among those who like what you see from your federal government, you certainly have the right to elect those who’ll preserve the status quo. Many people see unnecessary cruelty. Many people see unnecessary injury and even death. Those people want that to change. Therefore, it’s incumbent on those people to vote by whatever means suits them. Not voting is NOT an option. The legitimate power of the vote can negate the illegitimate power of those who want to suppress the vote. Don’t let them. Brave whatever you have to brave to vote. There is plenty of time to plan. Use that time, and your vote, wisely. Peter
#SecondAmendment #USConstitution #FederalAgents #AgentsInTheStreets #Resist #ResisWithDiscipline Proponents of a strong Second Amendment to the Constitution have defended legal gun owners’ rights to protect their homes from invasion. When masked federal agents patrolling the streets of cities are given carte blanche to knock down doors without judicial warrants, potential tragedy could be looming. If federal agents kick down the door of a legal gun owner, by mistake or otherwise, and that gun owner chooses to defend himself or herself from masked intruders, the outcome could be something no one wants. Given that scenario, on whose side would the staunch defenders of the Second Amendment be? Intrusions without judicial warrants are illegal. Homeowners protecting their turf is legal in most places. In fact, one of the arguments for a strong Second Amendment is allowing people the right to protect themselves from an oppressive government.. That scenario could be upon us. When Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis by federal agents, he was a legal gun owner permitted to carry. Federal officials say that the weapon on his person was a threat, and that no one should bring weapons to a protest. (He didn’t use his weapon and was disarmed before he was shot, videos show.) Kyle Rittenhouse brought a long gun to a Black Lives Matter protest. Two people were killed. He was acquitted and celebrated by the pro-Second Amendment folks. Rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, protests in Washington, D.C., also had guns, reports say. They were pardoned. The Second Amendment is enshrined in the Constitution. So are protections against illegal searches and seizures. What is occurring on U.S. city streets is NOT law enforcement. It is the opposite of law enforcement. These agents are actually arresting people at courthouses who are complying with the law. Law enforcement follows the Constitution. Those doing law enforcement always properly identify themselves. They follow the procedures enshrined in the Constitution that govern how they should conduct themselves. Those federal agents patrolling city streets today cannot be given immunity by executive order. If THEY break the law, someone, someday will prosecute them. Those protesting the actions of federal agents on their streets have the constitutional right to assemble and state their opposition in non-violent ways. Federal agents do not have the right to harm these people for peacefully protesting the agents’ behavior. Government officials themselves, many far away from the action, should not be describing altercations in the streets without proper investigation. In fact, publicly available evidence very often conflicts with their descriptions. As government officials create these narratives, they are building a credibility problem for themselves. No one – hopefully including the highest level federal officials – wants to see violent confrontations of any kind. But, their inaction to stop the confrontations is telling. But, as they occur almost daily, they raise the specter of what could happen next. It’s incumbent upon the protesters to remain disciplined. Resist non-violently, despite human temptation to fight back. Only with this discipline will they get their streets back. Citizens, businesses and anyone affected by these confrontations should resist with any legal means at their disposal. The strength and discipline of the people and their institutions is the only way to get the streets, and their lives, back to normal. Peter
#WinWin #leaders #takers #BoldMoves #BrazenMoves #browbeaters The wisest among us will often advise their children, other family and friends that if you want something, go after it. That only applies when the thing you want does not – or, at least, not yet – belong to someone else. Sure, in that case, you can offer to buy what you want from the owner. But, the owner does not have to accept your offer, or can refuse to sell altogether. Here is where honorable people take NO for an answer. Others may try to find other ways to get what they want, even if someone else has it. For example, they may try to take it by force. Usually, such measures do not end well for either party. Or, they may try to browbeat the owner into selling or giving it to the browbeater. That likely would lead to a lot of back-and-forth negotiations that would likely prove unsuccessful for the browbeater. But, what if the owner of the coveted item lets the browbeater use it as needed? That’s an honorable gesture of goodwill and a good result for both sides. In bargaining parlance, that a win-win, which is something for which most negotiators strive. But, when the browbeater feels so entitled to the item – and generally strives for win-lose outcomes — a fight could be brewing. As has been stated previously, real leaders give and get, but don’t take. Browbeaters are takers, and couldn’t care less about the outcome of the “giving” party. Browbeaters don’t care about innocent people who may be affected by such a brazen move. Takers are brazen. Leaders are bold. Bold moves produce good results for all concerned. Brazen moves generally favor only one side. Leaders want everyone involved to be satisfied. Takers want only themselves satisfied. So, are you a leader or a taker? Do you want good results for you at any cost, or do you want good results for all concerned? If you’re a taker, do you sleep well at night, knowing that you won, but someone else lost? If a sport is played fairly, there will be winners and losers. Losers usually congratulate winners, and winners usually congratulate losers on playing a good game. In real life, there will be winners and losers. But, leaders strive to win fairly, and help others win as well. A good lesson here is to go after what you want, without hurting others, whenever possible. If you get what you want, make sure you’ve gotten it fairly, with a lot of benefit – or, at least, minimal hurt — to others. Better yet, always strive for win-wins, so others can share in your success. Peter
#BabyBoomers #ChildrenOfBabyBoomers #80In2026 #RealEstateAppreciation #inheritances The oldest of the Baby Boom generation will turn 80 in 2026. The first socially conscious generation will see their children and grandchildren, in many cases, not do as well as they did financially. Mike Schneider discussed this milestone in an Associated Press story published Dec. 27, 2025, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Baby Boomers are a product of parents coming back from World War II and creating a lot of babies. Back then, starting in 1946, the country started a prosperity boom that would last many years. The middle class, if not born then, grew exponentially, thanks largely to the GI Bill, which allowed troops coming home from war to build lives – and relatively cheap homes — in what are now mostly suburbs. Those homes appreciated greatly during the lives of the children born to those families. Even the youngest of Boomers have reached age 65, which is the retirement age for many. As those Boomers die, many will pass on a great inheritance to their children and grandchildren. Boomers were also among the first to get married later and have fewer children. That trend has continued, but not for the same reasons, among subsequent generations, the article states. During the formative years of the Baby Boom, civil rights among oppressed groups advanced. Women’s rights also advanced. More kids went to college. Many women established careers, thereby often postponing marriage and/or having children. Logically, the longer people wait to have children, they will have fewer of them. Large families became unusual. The children and grandchildren of the Boomers face different circumstances. More of them are living in their parents’ home well into adulthood. To paraphrase a quote from the Schneider article, their parents were able to buy lots of stuff cheap, that the later generations cannot. Rents, groceries, cars and all the necessary things to build a life are way more expensive now than when the Boomers were young. Continual appreciation is good for the sellers, not the buyers. And the salaries for the Boomers’ kids and grandkids have hardly kept pace with the higher costs. That makes it much more difficult for young adults today to start independent lives. Some of these young adults will undoubtedly be leaning on Mom and Dad, or their inheritances, well into middle age. How they are going to have comfortable retirements remains a big question. Hopefully, they won’t squander their inheritances. Yes, America, as are most countries of the world. Is aging. Schnider points out that without robust immigration the population will decline in the coming decades. China is already seeing signs of a shrinking population despite government incentives to have more children, according to recent reports. As the U.S. cracks down on immigration, companies are looking to AI and other technological advances to do the jobs humans once did. Some people, particularly young adults just starting their lives, might be apprehensive at entry-level employment prospects, no matter how smart they are or how much education they have. The Boomers, by and large, had a good life., and many still do. But, if they wanted their offspring to have it better than they did, many will be disappointed. Peter
#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
