renascence -

renaissance -

revival -

regeneration -

metempsychosis -

reincarnation -

reborn -

resurrection -

rejuvenation -

renewal -

restoration -

recovery -

revitalization -

resurgence -

When you are pursuing your next career adventure like I am one of the things you do is talk to a lot of people. Of course I talk about my business experience and my desire to make a positive difference in the world. But…

I have found myself using a new term for me, I like to say in the realm of technology that I am an ‘applied technologist’ meaning what I really care about is what you can do with a technology and not so much the technology itself.

So I thought I would throw on my blog here a photo of my home-office tech rig (Click it to enlarge). What you can see is my 15″ Dell laptop, a 22″ Acer Monitor, a Motorola Xoom tablet and my Livescribe pen. Not present is my DroidX phone which is busy take the photo.

Comments on use of each:

The laptop is my main typing device, I still use it portable occasionally if I know I will need to type a lot. I have found the Dell to be a great machine, 2 years old and runs flawlessly.

The large monitor I use when needing to edit something or just want to be able to have mulitple displays of some content at the same time. I find have two monitors really ramps up the pace of which I can do work on the computer.

The Xoom tablet I got last year as we (AWH) were starting to push our software development into the mobile world, I found it easier to speak with employees and clients about applications if I actually had a device as the hub of conversation.

The Livescribe has really come in handy when I have only have pen and paper, with it I can capture notes, record the conversation and easily review and share it with others, it also turns out the Livescribe is also a software platform and all for $99.

My DroidX (not shown) has become a real workhorse, it is my primary email device, phone of course and reading platform, documents, kindle books, dropbox files and there are apps for LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+, not to mention camera, camcorder, scanner and more. It is getting a little slow so later this year I hope to upgrade to a faster processor.

Ok, friends, family and visitors there’s a brief look at the tech stuff you all chide me about.

Belonging is part of being human….Growth in human beings is like the growth of plants and of trees. We need to be rooted in earth, nourished by this earth and by the sun, water, and air in order to grow and to reach fulfillment, to bear fruit and give new life.

If this ‘earth’ is a place of language and a culture, it is essentially made up of people, people to whom we are bonded, committed people who love and appreciate us, people who call us forth to healthy relationships, openness, and love. Without other human beings, we close up in fear.

Our personalities deepen and grow as we live in openness and respect for others, when weakness is listened to and the weak are empowered; that is to say, when people are helped to truly be themselves, to own their lives and discover their capacity to give life to others.

Fear closes us down; love opens us up…

Social Media, the latest form for practicing love and respect.

I have always been one of those people who had dreams for my life, I used to dream I was a Blue Angel pilot, a professional baseball player, a world famous architect, a renowned public speaker and on and on.

I think each of us should have dreams, especially young people, in fact when they do I find their dreams inspire my own. Late last school year I attended the last concert of the year of Medina High School’s five different bands, two jazz and three symphonic bands. They are all awesome and always blow me away with their talent.

During this concert all of the seniors in the bands were recognized for their achievement and one of the things each shared was what they were going to focus on in college or a profession, in other words their dreams. Here is a small sample:

• Run my own business
• Get my law degree
• Become a Pediatric Nurse
• Become a Middle School Teacher
• Become a Worship Arts Pastor
• Become a Physical Therapist
• Design and Write a Magazine
• Become a Commercial Pilot
• Become a Band Director
• Become a NY Police Officer
• Pursue a career as a Novelist
• Manage a Hotel in Fiji
• Become a US Congressman
• Work for the FBI or CIA

It is so cool that these great kids have dreams. I have always believed that you move toward what you think about, a dream is a good place to start. Of course these days it is so sad because so many of us have no dream and many kids don’t believe they are even entitled to have one.

My dream is to help others have a dream…

What is yours?