Boredom: A Crucial Signal Of Poor Work-Life Balance

I motion to abolish the phrase "I am bored"!

(How's that for an opening sentence?)

I remember growing up as a kid in a middle class family.  We weren't poor, but we certainly weren't rich.  Every time a new toy came out, we had to settle for a cheap alternative, wait for a sale, ask around for hand-me-downs..  or find a way to build it ourselves (YAY construction paper, glue, empty boxes, and building blocks).

Fortunately, I was pretty mature in my young, tender years.  I understood that my parents were struggling paying for private school and the exorbitant costs of living in New York City.  As such, I tried not to make a big stink about not having all the cool things my classmates had.  I tried to be grateful for whatever I had (it wasn't always easy since kids tend to think there is some magical money tree out there.. and I still can't find it - DARN).  Better yet...

It taught me how to use my imagination.

Truly, I feel blessed.  Nowadays, I find great joy and contentment in the simplest of things.  I do not take anything for granted like I sometimes did in my more innocent, naive years.  I try to make the best out of here and now, though I do plan ahead too.

But I worry about today's youth because they are always "bored"...

I am bored - WAAAAHHH!

Father's Day Is Really About The Kids

While Father's Day may be over for those of us on the East coast, I'm sure many of us dads are still pondering the day's events, while dads on the West coast may very well still be enjoying some family festivities.  Whether you're a father, a mother, a mother that's also a father, or just a curious soul, I'd like to share some thoughts about the future of our world: our youth and the role of fathers.


For Father's Day, I got the neatest little time piece.  Admittedly, this gift was quite compelling and I had to choke back some tears.  As the man of the house, I try to stay strong for the family, even when I may be breaking down inside.  That's what we REAL men do, right?


This gift was truly touching and I hope I really expressed my gratitude (sometimes we forget to really be sincere and let loose, be a little vulnerable, when it really counts).  I sometimes feel that my family does not appreciate my work or even listen to me.  Being a creative engineer, as I like to call it, it's hard to explain the urgency of your life's work (as Stephen R Covey would say, First Things First) and get others to buy into it.

"You'd be surprised to find out who has been listening when you finally stop to listen yourself." 

Apparently, someone was paying attention.  I'm an organizational nut, sometimes to a fault, so things like notepads, writing/drawing utensils, organizers, whiteboards, reference books, etcetera, etcetera..  These are the things that truly excite me (I'm a geek, after all).  The time piece came with a simple inscription stating "The Greatest Dad".  Wow..  Did THAT tug on my heart strings.