Get more nature into your life

 A stroll along Lake Huron in Michigan on a frosty winter day.

When was the last time you took a walk in the woods? Strolled a beach at sunrise? Took some gear - a bike, skis, running shoes, roller-blades – and found a trail to explore?

Nature keeps us grounded.

Communing with nature is more delightful to me than dining at a five-star restaurant. It stimulates all the senses. It’s food for my heart - I often find myself saying, "I love this place.” Nature rewires my brain – at times I find solutions to perplexing problems that have troubled me. The majestic scenes of towering mountains, verdant pine trees, a pattern of stones in a rocky path ... all these visions become absorbed into my soul and my psyche.

Whether it’s immersing myself into the cool, clear water of Lake Michigan on a hot day or trying to get my footing on a tricky rocky path along Mount Rainier, touching – the feel of the place – further makes it an indelible experience. Listening to the sounds of nature – the roar of a waterfall, the tweeting of a bird, the soulful sound of a frog … these add to the wonder of being in a natural setting.

You don’t have to travel far to get immersed in nature. Heck even NYC has Central Park. Check out what’s around your neighborhood and in your community. One of my favorite places to walk is at a nearby school complex that is close to a track yet also has woods and a pond.

While everyone else is at the mall battling crowds to get the latest technology gadget as a gift, why not go to a local park or woods and just explore? Set a new tradition for the holiday season – infuse some nature into the crazy focus on consuming, buying, rushing and never having enough time to do it all. Let in a breath of fresh air with a walk on the wild side. Report back on your experiences – what did it do for you?

How to grow the U.S. economy

I'm not an economist or a politician, simply an American who wants the best for our country and its people. Here are some of my ideas to get the economy humming again and put people back to work.

1. Fix the infrastructure: roads, bridges.

2. Build mass transit where needed (metropolitan areas where traffic is a headache).

3. Private/public investment in sustainable innovation: indestructible road surface,  health care advances, etc.

4. Better ways to connect buyers with sellers (internet market places).

5. Export more goods.

6. Maintain dominance in industries/products that are in demand and pay workers a living wage.

7. Provide ways for people to stay in shape: pools, parks, courts, playing fields. (This will give them energy to be active and stay healthy.)

8. Promote culture – make it an integral part of life that is easy to access for people of all economic statuses.

9. Nutritional classes and cooking classes for all.

10. Free mentorship for small business owners. (combination of private/public sector)

Life is good

The great thing about getting older is that you know what you want. You know what sports you are good at and what you like to do for fitness. Give me a pool and a tennis court, a scenic place to walk or hike, and a bike path with no cars and I’m a happy camper. You know what kind of food you like to eat. You know which friends to call when you want to go on a double-date or out to lunch; play tennis or watch a baseball game; attend a concert or go to the art gallery; or just sit on your porch and have a great conversation.

Hopefully, you have a job or business that you enjoy. One that not only pays the bills but allows you to live the lifestyle that you makes you happy. Is happiness overrated? I have found that happiness is the side effect of working hard, playing hard, making plans, setting goals and reaching them, being with loved ones on a regular basis, and doing all the things that I like to do as often as I can.

When life becomes too much to bear – consider this: Are you in prison? Are your movements limited by someone or something?  Are you impoverished? Are you alone or just lonely? If these things don’t apply, then maybe you just need to look at the bright side. Appreciate. Enjoy. Savor what you have on a daily basis. Then you will recognize that “life is good.”

One thing you should never do on vacation

Everyone knows how hard it is to break in a pair of shoes. I remember getting a pair of very comfortable looking Liz Claiborne slip-on sandals right before a trip to Washington, D.C. They had crisscross straps and were flats. They seemed like the ideal travel shoe. I thought, “Why not take them along?”

I stayed at The Latham, a stately hotel in Geogetown that was within walking distance to several intriguing sites.

Day one, I slipped on those comfy Liz Claiborne sandals and set off to find Dumbarton Oaks, a mansion surrounded by lovely gardens. It was only about 12 blocks from the hotel – a fair distance but doable. Those sandals were fine at first. But as I walked on the uneven brick sidewalk that hot afternoon, the right shoe started to dig into my foot beneath the big toe. Step. Ouch. Okay, let’s try sliding the foot. Umph! Step. Ouch. Slide. Umph! Every step that I took began to feel like I was lancing my foot with a knife.

When I finally stumbled upon what I thought was the estate – I was dismayed to discover that it was the wrong tourist spot. I didn’t cry like a baby although I really wanted to. Instead, I set aside my embarrassment and limped inside to the gift shop. There, I politely asked the cashier if they happened to have a band-aid. I must have looked like a refugee on the verge of tears, because the cashier rushed to get some band-aids and thrust them into my hand.

It was just in time. Without one, I would have walked barefoot back to the hotel. That plastic encased square of cotton was my salvation. With the band-aid firmly in place, I clip-clopped back to the hotel. Once inside the hallway to my room on the 7^th floor, I took off those sandals, dug my feet into the lush carpet and sighed deeply. Then I hurled those sandals down the hall.

Let this lesson save you from some travel pain. Never wear new shoes on a trip without thoroughly breaking them in before you go.