There is no individual, however wise, who has not at some period of his youth said things, or even lived in a way in which was so unpleasant to him in later life that he would gladly, if he could, expunge from his memory. But one shouldn't regret this entirely, because you cannot truly be certain that you have learned well unless you have experienced well. Wisdom cannot be taught, we have to discover it for ourselves by a journey that no one can undertake for us, an effort that no one can spare us.

"A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the luster of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts." -Emerson

Be True to yourself.

AFRICA 54 countries, 1000 languages, 797 million people. Wow! add China, the US, Europe, Asia, south America and we can have a heck of a big party.

We're born into a world, having inherited a struggle. To be, to do, to love, understand, give and receive. To articualte our challenges, and most importanly to experience. Each with a unique journey but all with the same destination.

Reading anxiety is the fear that there is too much to read in too little time. I can relate. Whenever I think that there's not enough time, I remember that Twilight Zone episode where the guy goes out of his mind after he is left alone with all the time in the world after a global calamity.

2002 is a vast improvement already since it's one of the few years you can spell backwards and still get right, which is great if you're dyslexic. I'm not dyslexic personally, but I'm often mistaken for being one when I've had a hard day at the office. Lots of magazines, web sites, and clueless people are making bold predictions as to what the new year may bring. My forecast is simply this: 2002 will either be better or worse than 2001.

We won't miss you, 2001.
Hopefully we can take tragedy and do good in the name of the innocent. 9/11 changed my perspective in so many ways, as it has for so many.

Happy New Year
To all of my family and friends that have made this holiday season so special for me, I honor you. I'm truly moved by the level of affection and care that I've received from all of you. I wish you all a very happy 2002 and the very best that life has to offer. Hi Mom!

Perhaps finally, hopefully, 2002 is the year that I get rich. Wow, what a splendid thought! ... The only problem is I've been saying that every new year's eve for as long as I can remember.

The world's oldest pastime
Interestingly, people have sex for all sorts of reasons, such as love and respect, caring, lust, attraction, curiosity, too much alcohol and the old tried and true it-just-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time. That is reality. Sometimes 'the sexual act' is 'just a physical one'. I suppose that humans are wired accordingly, so the truth of the matter becomes which direction will you choose (or have you chosen). Reality has also proven that most people prefer to sample all of the above.