Sometimes you must wear your black hat and be the “Bad Guy” to benefit yourself and others — “Can you help me out just this one time?” I arrived at work and hadn’t even taken my coat off, and there was already someone waiting there who wanted me to solve their problem for them. Although this specific issue was no fault of my own, the bigger picture was…

The surprising things you can find in Oamaru on the South Island of New Zealand. — The ocean waves crashed on the shore and tossed the tiny swimmers up onto the rocks like any other flotsam. But these brave souls treated it like just another day at the office. They picked themselves up, shook off the water, and began to waddle, hop and jump from the…

The only thing I know is that I don’t like it and am not certain about that either. I have a problem with uncertainty. The problem is, I think there is too much of it in my life. …

Knowing your philosophy of life can make all the difference, but can you articulate it in twenty-five words or less? I was reading Martin Seligman’s book Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being, where he tells about being challenged to write a twenty-five-world philosophy of life. He was…

I was the fool always getting ready to live, but never living — until now. For years I wanted to visit Bryce Canyon in Utah to see the unique spires of stone, watch the light and shadows change as the sun rose, and hike the iconic trails. I had high…

All it takes is five seconds of courage to make all the difference. — “I can be brave for five-seconds,” I told myself. “That is all it will take is five-seconds of courage.” I said this in my head as a young, attractive blonde woman tied my ankles together. “Stand up,” she said. I stood up, feeling a little unsteady with my feet bound…

We are told that confidence is the key to success, but is it? Can you name all 46 US presidents? Take a minute to list all the names that come to mind. How did you do? If you got more than eight, you did better than the average American. The…

If you think the surface landscape of New Zealand is amazing, try going beneath the surface. — Going into an extensive cave system is not an endeavor to be entered into lightly. These subterranean worlds contain dramatic scenery, wet irregular floors, tight and narrow spaces, deep crevices, and darkness so absolute it plays tricks on your mind. In our native Colorado, the caves can also be home…

Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere can be a bit of a Humbug for those from the Northern Hemisphere. — It’s a warm, sunny day as spring matures into summer. Everything is lush and green. The flowers are blooming, and the booming surf beckons. …