(This should have been posted a week ago…but I went on vacation)

I really don’t travel much for my work. Not anymore. I used to. But that’s another post.

The last 10 days have been a bit of an anomaly. 10 days, 4 countries, tons of meetings, tons of new people.

Normally, I work from home. And, for those of you who do this, you know how hard that can be. You know how everyone [who doesn’t work from home] thinks it’s so great, but they never see the challenges, the isolation, and the discipline you have to have (and which most of us do – if you want to stay credible). They also don’t see how hard it is to separate work from your home life. It all becomes one.

It’s all a part of life.

One of my visits was in Germany. My wife and I lived and worked there years ago and that experience will always be one of our favorite times. (I’m sure I’ll post on that more. . . )

Going back to Germany messes with my mind. I love the way of life. The challenge of working in another language. Working/living in another culture. You can NEVER know it all when you are in a culture other than your native culture. It’s humbling.

Even more humbling is working in countries where you really don’t know the local culture or language. I had some meetings in Brno, Czech Republic. What a cool little place. This company I was working with is filled with young, energetic, animated, and hopeful employees. Not what you might expect from the Czech Republic. I love it when my attitudes are shifted to better understanding.

I’m not sure what my point is here. I’m pensive in Philadelphia, waiting for my final flight connection home. The thrill of new people, new cultures and simply touching other lives is so refreshing that it messes with all of my “what I want to do when I grow up” thoughts.

Would I give up “what” I do just to be in a specific type of environment – almost regardless of what it was I was doing to be there? That’s an interesting question.

I’ll ponder that on my next flight. Thankfully, this trip has been smoother than my last business travel.

Maybe I’ll stop all my lofty questions when I get home, hug my wife and kids, and simply be thrilled with all the great things/work/situations I already have.

That would be something.

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On the road for work. Parked at brother-in-law’s in suburban Chicago and grabbed a taxi to the airport. Interesting driver. Syrian medical doctor. Came to America to pursue the dream. Got married, nasty divorce and now his ex-wife is basically ruining any chance he has at grabbing the dream. (Screwing up his American residency.)

Obviously, I cannot know both sides of the story. (I’m sure he helped screw up the marriage too.)

What a crazy position I was in. I have the entire world in comparison to what he has. He is well educated, moved for a better life (took a huge risk, I imagine), and is at the bottom of the American food chain (or, perhaps better said, working a position far below his abilities).

He feels robbed, lied to by the American media, by Baywatch. . .(he brought that up, not me.)

His skin color continues to weigh him down in America – a land he animatedly referred to as 100% racist. (I politely disagreed with the full 100%, but do not deny that we have problems.)

He’ll likely be deported at his next immigration court date (April 13) because his visa is expired and because of some legal complications surrounding his ex-wife.

I’ve often asked myself (and God) why I was born into the (relative) wealth I was. A relatively easy life. A life that I’m so quick to complain about.

I’m trying to stop asking that question and simply give my life the best return on investment possible.

[time passes]

I finished Lawler Kang’s book, Passion at Work on the plane. In the last chapter he talks once again about all the “x-factors” that happen – things you cannot plan for – the unexpected – both good and bad. He also talks about avoiding the “victim” status. How it’s a dangerous trap that will steer you away from realizing your goals.

I wonder if I could avoid feeling the victim if I experienced the unexpected life of my cab driver.

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She drew flowers
and birds

and a sun shining bright

Her hand held mine

She said all she could -
I love you -

and smiled

She explained the vine
and how it surrounds us

She gave me a hug

and left

me better.

–
5 July 2004
1st comment below explains what I was thinking (if you are interested).

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I’ve been to two funerals in the last week. Both people left notable legacies.

One was a woman I never met directly, but indirectly through her son. What a legacy she left.

Another was a high school teacher of mine who had a tremendous impact on my life and my musical journey.

Both funerals were wonderful celebrations of lives well lived.

The thing about great funerals is that they cause you to pause. Pause and think. Think about the impact you are making and how you will be remembered.

Am I having an impact like that?

I know, it’s not right to compare, but it’s also not wrong to get introspective every now and then and think about our lives and whether we need to make some changes.

One notable is that I missed my opportunity to tell this teacher how much he impacted my life. I missed my chance to tell him it was worth it. That regardless of all the crap he put up with, he made a difference – a big difference. I missed a chance to thank him for his encouragement. To tell him how that made all the difference.

Are there people in your life that you need to thank?

If you were gone tomorrow, how would you be remembered?

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