One night I was driving from Newark to Wildwood, NJ with a guy who worked for my Dad. In that moment, he provided a building block for years of driving to come.

I have to fess up. I started writing this column three different times over the past year. Even as I type these words, I'm giggling; you'll understand why as you read.

I have a friend who gave up desserts a few years ago. She was feeling great. Between her personal fitness plan and her altered diet, she felt empowered in her body. Ironically, though, whether attending one of her husband's business dinners or having lunch with close friends, she found that everyone strongly encouraged her to have "just a taste" of the cheesecake, crème brulee, lava cake, etc.

When I was in my 20's I had a friend who would call periodically for me to "talk her down off the ledge." This was code language for "please listen to how I feel and help me to make sense of what's happening in my life." When I felt on the edge, I called her with the same plea. Every once in a while, though, I could sense in her voice a mirror of my own feelings...it's hard work to be responsible to bring someone back to safety.

In the recent TED talk, "Reconnecting With Compassion," I heard journalist Krista Tippett redefine compassion as the "Spiritual Technology" the future of humanity needs to connect us as one human race.

It takes courage to make lemonade. Squeezing the lemons inevitably results in a little bit of juice on your hands, clothes, or face, and sometimes a squirt lands in your eye - ouch! And whether you're making lemonade in the literal sense, to quench your thirst, or in the metaphorical sense, spinning a challenge on its axis into something positive - the result is highly satisfying.

Making an impact seems to be a sticky wicket for many of us.  Consider your own experience.  As you walk down the street and meet eyes with a smiling woman, do you find that your mouth starts to curve upward?  Do you wonder what's wrong with her that she's smiling at you?

If you read the "Trying Times" column in the November newsletter, you might have been surprised to learn that I now have a relationship with the martial arts. Well, no one was more shocked than me! I love the spell check feature, and use it faithfully, but every once in a while martial stands in for marital and all I can really do is groan.

Do you ever get into a "trying" cycle? You begin feeling like The Little Engine That Could,"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Personally, I find it exhausting! I wish I could tell you that I catch myself right away and switch tracks to an easier route, but occasionally I just keep trudging up the steep hill carrying the weight... until I don't.

Michael Douglas never played James Bond during his film career, but we all learned something about the actor a few weeks ago that makes him MUCH cooler than James Bond could ever be. Michael Douglas believes in bonding!

“If you're not using it everyday, you haven't really learned it.” The phrase conveys a personal truth for me. While I may learn something, unless I am practicing it daily - using it in my life, I haven't fully grasped the teaching.

How much time do you spend wishing you could change the people you love? Even the simple things...if he would just put the dishes IN the dishwasher...if she would just kiss me good-bye...if he would only listen to what I'm really saying...if she would stop nagging me about that, then: things would be so much easier...I would be okay...we wouldn't argue so much, etc. Does any of this sound familiar?

Recently, I read a Boston.com article about what makes for a memorable vacation. The author made some interesting points, supported by studies and data, explaining that the quality of your time off largely depends upon the intensity of your vacation activities - not the number of days you cobble together.

In a recent meeting with one of my mentors, I picked up two tidbits to share with you. First, he suggested: "forget everything you know about what you can't do." Right about that time, my brain melted. Noticing my scrunched face, he gave a couple of examples, and I'll offer the simplest of them here.

When I was in my 20's I used to steal stuff. Not illegally. The people I took things from were my friends, and they always knew about it, even if they didn't like it. I think it felt like I had a little piece of my friend, even when the actual person couldn't be with me. Kind of sweet, in a misdemeanor kind of way.

Ever notice that super heroes have their special powers rooted in their bodies? Superman can fly. Aquaman can breathe underwater. Even The Incredibles each possess a spectacular physical ability. And, to save the day, they combine their unique strengths with a moment of inspiration. Then there's the nemesis.

The phenomenal power of inspiration dazzled me after seeing "Invictus," the film based on true events of Nelson Mandela and the Springbok rugby team.

I invite you to consider your unique gifts. In my experience, these talents often seem ordinary to the person who possesses them. The ability feels so completely natural and easy, you might not even consider it special because the assumption is that “everyone has/can do that!”

Facial cream, hair dye, Botox injections, plastic surgery: modern day substitutions for the Fountain of Youth? The other day in the shower (where all of my best ideas drop in), I had a flash about the real secret of youth.

One of my business partners occasionally says, "In my experience, people are more likely to tell you how often they had sex last week, than to share how much money they have in the bank or how much debt they've accrued." Is Money the Last Taboo?