Some years ago, when I thought about traveling overseas to live for the first time, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was enjoying my life in America, but there was definitely a desire in me for more. I wanted more than I had, more love and more money and more adventure. And I knew it had to be out there, just waiting for me to find it.

I recognize the same desire for something more in the children I work with. They are completely content with the toys they are playing with, until they see a toy someone else is playing with. I love watching their eyes grow big and then invariably they reach out to grab that toy.

Last week, I talked about expectation and how developing it can create positive action toward a desired goal. Well, this week I was watching a bit of TV and my program was interrupted by a commercial for Red Lobster, an East Coast seafood chain that serves some great food. It also happens to be one of my favorite restaurants. The commercial proceeded to display larger than life dishes of succulent crab legs being dipped in butter, juicy shrimp basted on the grill with garlic and parsley, tender lobster tails split open, and salmon dripping juice as it roasted on a cedar plank. It was only an hour or so after dinner, but that commercial made me hungry. I sat there on the couch and my mouth was watering! I could almost taste the crab and lobster I wanted it so bad.

When I was eight I had my first blood test. The nurse could see that I was really nervous when she pulled out a needle that looked like a sword. I like swords, but I wasn’t looking forward to having this one slowly inserted into my arm. She told me to hold my breath and watch the whole thing, it would help ease my fear. I followed her advice and when she finally pulled out the needle I let my breath go. And then I passed out.

I have never been good with needles since that day and so any time I have to get a shot or get my blood drawn, I am real nervous. I get sweaty palms and feel like I am going to faint before that needle even gets whipped out. Yes, I know, it is sad. I am a big baby when it comes to needles.

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and I am excited. I love any holiday dedicated to eating. But I also love the idea of being thankful. I have always worked in people oriented businesses and have seen first hand how a thankful attitude can affect others. It is more fun to work with someone who appreciates the things and circumstances around them. I also find that I am happier the more I realize how many things I have to be thankful for.

With this in mind here are some of the things I am thankful for: tea, baseball, hunting, New York, being born in America, being born male, computers, the internet, HDTV, hotdogs, lobster, butte

I have never been too keen about going out to a movie with a friend and having to pay twice to see it. Think about it. I can rent a movie for about four dollars—one payment—and an innumerable amount of people can watch it with me, all for that price. But when I go out to the movies, it costs my ticket price and their ticket price. With today’s prices, if four of us go, it is forty dollars to see one movie. Maybe that doesn’t bother you, but it does bother me.

What makes this unbearable is when you go to a movie you think is going to be good, and it is awful, as was the case with The Box.