Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was in the news again last week as he spoke at the Kansa City Fed’s Annual Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Mr. Bernanke went as far as to say that the Fed will do what it takes to support an economic recovery, but didn’t hint if the Fed will need to act. Mr. Bernanke said that the Fed did favor additional purchases of long-term securities.
“In particular, the Federal Open Market Committee is prepared to provide additional monetary accommodation through unconventional measures if it proves necessary, especially if the outlook were to deteriorate significantly,” Bernanke said.
The economy has been slowing since the middle of the 2nd quarter and the recovery that began in March of 2009 is showing signs of stalling. With interest rates near zero the Fed may not have many bullets left to combat the slow down.
However, many economists believe that despite the report the Fed still has some ammo left to fight the downturn. The most obvious strategy is that the Fed could purchase longer term securities. Another tool would be lowering the interest paid on excess reserves, which may influence banks to lend out more or its money.
A final tool would be signaling that the Fed will keep short term interest rates close to zero for longer than what the market currently expects, or for an “extended period.”
As far as the labor markets, Mr. Bernanke said that the unemployment rate is expected to fall “slowly” in 2011. The housing market took a noticeable downturn in July with homebuyers moving to the sidelines after the expiration of the tax credit. We will have to wait to see if the housing numbers for August improved.

Did You Know?
CNN reports that the current economy is the biggest stress on married couples in the past 60 years.
With that said, be sure to take the time to acknowledge the good in your life and thank the loved ones around you.

Life is so interesting. I often hear people say how much they enjoy sitting at the airport or the mall and simply watching other people live their lives. I believe that we are so interested in watching others because we ourselves are searching for something. Searching for what makes others happy so perhaps we can become happier. Maybe, we a stuck in a rut and aren’t quite sure how to get what we want out of life so we look to others for a glimpse of hope. I have always wondered how we know for sure if we have found our calling in life. You will sometimes hear people say, “This is what I put on this earth to do”. How do they know this? How do you find your true calling or your true passion in life? There is already enough stress in our lives, how do we have time to find the one thing we were put here to do. Well, I found this article a while ago and I like to revisit it, because for me it has made the daunting task of finding your true passion in life a little easier to swallow. I have included it in this months blog in hopes you enjoy it and perhaps it will help you get that much closer to finding your true passion in life.
By Frederic Premji
According to a recent survey, about 75% of the population do not know what their true passion is. Clearly, almost everyone seems to not be doing what they were meant to do. This is an eye-opener because doing what we really love is absolutely necessary if we want to be fully happy. Perhaps this is why there is so much unhappiness going on in our society, people just aren’t doing what they are here on Earth for. Finding your true passion isn’t as simple as it may seem. For some, yes it does come naturally, but most of the time, you have to ask yourself some questions to pinpoint exactly what you were born to do. Here are my 7 questions that can guide you to finding your ultimate passion:
What puts a smile on your face?
Is there a particular event, a particular topic that makes your whole face just lighten up? Whatever it is that makes you smile, and makes you happy whenever you encounter it, this is a sign of something you are passionate about. I truly believe that happiness and passion walk hand in hand. Both require each other. So following what makes you truly happy is a wonderful way to figuring out what you were put on Earth for. Think about something that you do or that perhaps you used to do that brings total peace to you when you do it. Peace is happiness, and happiness is passion.
What do you find easy?
Usually, what we find easy for us to do, will be related to what we are passionate about. It’s very hard to hate something that is very easy for us! For example, let’s say you are naturally good at playing the piano, you will find the activity easy, and this ease makes it much more fun for you. Fun leads to happiness and happiness is synonymous with passion. So assess everything that you do, whatever it is that you find really easy and fun, this may very well be your passion. And don’t think that anything is off limits or silly. Some people have taken their passion for skateboarding, drawing, or collecting to full fledged careers. Remember this, you can make a career out of anything you are passionate about.
What sparks your creativity?
One of my passions growing up was hockey. It’s not too surprising, being Canadian and all, but I remember playing for hours and hours, and always coming up with different plays, and different methods to score goals. I was always full of creativity when playing hockey. Later in life, I developed similar creativity in business. Think about something in your life where you seem to always expand its horizon, always coming up with new, fun, and exciting ideas relating to that subject. Whatever makes you creative, is probably something that you are very passionate about.
What would you do for free?
In this society, we are ruled by the almighty dollar. That’s the way the system works, and that’s the game we have to play. The problem is, this leads many people to seek making money first, instead of what makes them happy. I have read countless number of stories about stock brokers and doctors for example, leaving their high paying positions to follow what they really love. There is a reason for that. I truly believe that if you follow what you are passionate about without thinking about if it will make you rich or not, you will end up being successful. Doing what you have a passion for brings out your best, and this leads to greatness. Greatness breezes to success. Do you think that the most successful people in the world got to where they are because they wanted to get rich? Absolutely not, they did what they were so passionate about, and their immense success was just a byproduct of their dedication. So think about something that you would just love to do, even if you were not getting paid. Think about something that you look forward to do, something that you wish you could do all the time.
What do you like to talk about?
The topics of conversation we have can definitely tell what we are interested in, and this is a good way to find out what we really enjoy in life. Most of the time, we aren’t totally aware of this. This is why, a very good way to figure this out properly, is to ask your friends. Ask them what they believe you like to talk about the most. Ask them what topic makes your eyes brighten up, and changes your entire behavior. I can guarantee you that some of their answers will be surprising to you. Some of these things weren’t that clear to you, but your friends can see the reaction on your face that you can’t see yourself. Try it out, it’s a very insightful exercise, and one that can direct you closer to figuring out your passion.
What makes you unafraid of failure?
When we do what we are passionate about, we have total confidence in our abilities. This makes us not worry about failing, because in our mind, how can we fail when we do what we love? Doing what you love is a success in and of itself, so failure is like an impossibility. Think of something that you just do or want to do, no matter what. Something that you do not have second thoughts about. Think about something that you feel you must do and that failure is not even a concern of yours, because the mere act of doing it is like the journey and the destination all wrapped up in one. This may very well be your true passion.
What would you regret not having tried?
We all have these dreams, and somehow, life pushes us in another direction, and next thing we know, we are far from those dreams we used to have. If you were at the end of your life, what would you regret not having pursued? What would you have liked to do, that you didn’t get a chance to? Think about what that might be. Whatever it is that you may experience regret now or later on for not having tried, this is a good chance to be your true passion. There is nothing worse than arriving at the end of the journey and having regret. This is why finding your passion, and following it is so important. Live your life so that you do not have regrets.

This past weekend, I spent some time at a friend’s cabin near Estes Park. It is a peaceful setting in a beautiful valley, surrounded by Ponderosa and Blue Spruce. It was a weekend that could have easily been booked with activities, but I found myself alone and enjoying nature and the quiet.

As my mind raced to list the things I “could” be doing – writing this letter, visiting a friend, answering e-mail, I finally settled upon just sitting and enjoying the precious quiet.

I realized how long it had been since I had just stopped and paid attention to my inner world, my inner voice.  Here are my best excuses for not taking the time to be quiet – you may recognize one or two:

• I’m too busy to take the time
• I get bored, I need to do something more “productive”
• What’s the point – where’s the value
• It seems like just a waste of time

In spite of all the reasons not to, when I do take the time I have found so many benefits to the quiet that allows listening to my heart’s wisdom:

• Being quiet slows down your racing energy from the tasks of the day
• Being quiet actually helps you solve the problems that are taking up so much energy
• Time to be quiet slows down reactivity – helps you be more measured when there are crisis situations
• Taking time to be still gets your body’s rhythm back in sync…you’ll feel more calm and centered
• Being quiet allows access to your creative voice – good for business and personal life
• Being quiet helps you focus on what you want, not what you don’t want
• Allowing quiet time gives you emotional relief from the daily static and stress of your life.

This habit of taking time to be quiet should be as automatic and as important as sleeping or brushing your teeth – so why don’t we do it daily? 

It’s our choice…choose to put aside time to be still and to listen to and respect your inner wisdom and watch your life improve.  I love the thought that I can choose to take time to be quiet every day!

We all know that change occurs in our life when we change our thinking. One has to change thinking before anything else changes. If you change your thinking, that, in turn, changes your feeling, which then allows changes to your behavior.
One way to change our thinking is to get new insights. The way you get new insight is to deliberately put yourself in the way of people, information and awareness’s that are insightful and cutting edge. For me that is primarily by reading books.
One such book that has challenged my thinking: “Killing Sacred Cows, Overcoming the financial myths that are destroying your prosperity” by Garrett B. Gunderson, and
The publisher writes: “Our financial lives are directly connected to our societal contributions, and we must be financially free in order to achieve our potential. Many, however, are kept from living their ideal lives because of misguided traditions in the world of personal finance. Garrett B. Gunderson challenges destructive myths. Learn how to create safer investments that are collateralized, cash-flowing, controllable, and aligned with your expertise, passion, and purpose. Learn the proper definition of debt and how this understanding can increase your prosperity. Killing Sacred Cows is a must-read for mission-driven individuals who: want to learn the rules that the truly wealthy live by, question common financial assumptions and teaching, mistrust the follow-the-herd mentality, desire a purposeful, passionate, and prosperous life.”
Here’s another must read, “The Answer” by John Assaraf
At a young age he was told that if he didn’t get a college degree he would not be able to take care of his family! For him that was the beginning of opening up his mind. I went to a seminar at 19 that changed way I looked at things. “I learned that when you change the way you look at things – the thing changes.” … You all know of someone who is not as smart as you are, but doing better than you. And someone smarter that is not doing as well – “I learned it was not about intelligence or IQ like they taught us in school.” What is the “answer”? It certainly is worth finding out!

These books motivated and encouraged me to change my thoughts, my beliefs, and consequently my reality. I can recommend them to my friends who are serious about growing — their business, their purpose, and their future.

Below is an excelent summary of the stuggle that our country faces in the wake of compounding debt and the impact it will have on interest rates moving forward. Barry Habib is one of my mentors in the economic and mortgage arena and has provided me with a wealth of knowledge over the years. I hope you enjoy his take on where we see rates headed and why and as always we love to hear your comments and get your feedback. Enjoy!

David Vindiola

By: Barry Habib, Chairman, Mortgage Success Source

So the Fed stopped buying Mortgage Backed Securities, and people are wondering if this will affect mortgage rates. There’s been plenty of whistling past the graveyard, guesswork and denial, where so-called experts have been trying to tell us that there will be minimal – if any – change to rates.That pipe dream is just nonsense.

Let’s look at what we can expect for mortgage rates and the overall Bond market in the months ahead. During the past fifteen months, the Fed purchased $1.25 Trillion in MBS, which represented 80% of the mortgage market. Prior to this program, mortgage rates were above 6%. Now that the Fed program has ended, it’s reasonable to assume that mortgage rates will rise back towards those levels.  Just How Much Money is $1.25 Trillion? In today’s financial headlines – the word Trillion is often casually thrown around. So much so, that it’s easy to lose perspective on how much money this really represents. Picture a stack of $100 bills. It might surprise you to know that it only takes a stack four inches high to be worth $100,000. So $1,000,000 would be a stack of $100 bills 40 inches tall. How about a Billion? Well, you would have to stack $100 bills up to the top of the Empire State Building…twice…in order to reach a Billion. So to picture $1.25 Trillion represented by a stack of $100 bills – that stack would be 850 miles high. If you could turn that stack on its side and were able to drive alongside it, it would take you longer than 14 hours to reach the end. If you laid those $100 bills down side by side, they would travel around the world 50 times. We’re talking about a lot of money here.

The Fed’s purchasing influence has been significant. And now in the absence of this safety net, Bond prices and mortgage rates will experience greater volatility and a gradual worsening. Adding to this is the fact that the Fed will, albeit gradually, begin to sell some of their mortgage holdings, as they reverse their quantitative easing measures. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this will pressure Bond prices…but read on, because there are additional factors at play, which will influence Bond prices lower and mortgage rates higher.
What Moves Mortgage Rates?  Mortgage Rates are not pegged to the 10-year Treasury Note, as some have reported in the media. Those in the know do understand that mortgage rates are based on the pricing of Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS)…and these Mortgage Bonds are influenced by many different factors.  They respond quite well to technical signals as well as Stock market volatility, as money can be drawn from or parked into Mortgage Bonds. Certainly, the news and inflation implications also play a heavy role in influencing Mortgage Backed Securities.  And just like the aforementioned influential factors, Treasuries can also play a role in the price direction of Mortgage Bonds. Last year, the 10-year Treasury Note was at approximately 2.2% and has since moved towards 4%. During this time, mortgage rates have been virtually unchanged. But now, Treasuries are offering yields that are close to the current Mortgage Backed Security rates, which are offered to investors.  Let’s take a moment to understand the difference between the mortgage rate a borrower pays and the coupon yield on a Mortgage Backed Security that an investor receives. If a borrower pays 5.25% on their loan, only 4.5% of that is passed on as a coupon yield to the investor. This is because the mortgage loan servicer (that’s who you make your payment to) takes a piece of the action. Additionally – the aggregators of these loans, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac take a piece as well. And let’s not forget the folks on Wall Street, who need to get paid for underwriting, securitizing and selling this paper.  We know that Treasuries are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government and are free from state income tax. And the 10-Year Treasury Note, while clearly not pegged to Mortgage Backed Securities, does offer investors a competitive alternative with a similar maturity period to Mortgage Backed Securities. But because of greater safety and tax advantages, the 10-Year Note will always trade at a lower yield than Mortgage Backed Securities, and therefore put a floor beneath how low Mortgage Backed Security coupon yields and corresponding home loan rates for borrowers can go.  The US is spending at an unprecedented rate – and its spending money it doesn’t have. This means that more and more Treasuries will continuously need to be auctioned off. And in order to entice buyers to keep absorbing this supply, yields will very likely need to continue higher, just as they have for over the past year.
Additionally – sovereign debt has come into question. Downgrades in the sovereign debt of both Greece and Portugal are a warning to the US that the same can happen here, which would drive the cost of borrowing much higher. Our government currently spends $1.49 for each $1.00 it brings in. Our debt is now 57% of GDP…and rising. Does anyone really believe that Treasury yields are headed lower? As Treasury yields move higher from their current levels, mortgage backed security coupon yields will also need to move higher in order for investors to want to purchase them.

The Ever-Important Carry Trade
While the Fed’s end of the MBS purchase program and eventual selling of MBS – along with an almost certain move higher in Treasury yields – all tell us that mortgage rates are headed higher, there is another important element that could have an even greater influence in moving yields higher and prices lower throughout the Bond market. It’s called an unwinding of the “carry trade.” The low interest rate environment in the US has provided fertile ground for the carry trade, where large investors can borrow at very low rates, and leverage into higher yields, resulting in huge returns.
Let’s take an example: An investor wishes to purchase $1M in Mortgage Bonds yielding 4.5%. This would provide $45,000 as an annual return. In order to make the purchase, the investor puts up only 10% of $1M, or $100,000 in cash – and borrows the other $900,000 at the Fed Funds Rate + 2%, for example – which would be a borrowing cost of 2.25% or $20,250. This investor receives a $45,000 return, but subtracts a $20,250 cost to borrow $900,000 – leaving them with a net return of $24,750. Remember, the investor needed only to invest 10% of the $1M purchase – or $100,000 in cash. This gives the investor a whopping 24.75% return on their investment in a boring little old Mortgage Bond. And of course, this “carry trade” can be used in other securities as well.  While the investor understands that there are always market risks at play – the juicy 24.75% yield cushion gives them much added comfort to stay in the trade. But the biggest risk for the investor is if their borrowing costs – which are based on the Fed Funds Rate – were to rise.  When the Fed starts to hike rates, it will signal the beginning of a tightening cycle. A few Fed hikes can cause the yield cushion to quickly evaporate…and the decline in Bond values from overall higher yields could turn the trade from highly profitable to highly costly in a very short period of time. So why do these carry trade investors have such a care free attitude and confident air? It’s because Ben Bernanke and the Fed have assured them that there is nothing to fear. How did the Fed do that?  Via “Fed Speak,” these carry trade investors hear that “conditions warrant exceptionally low rates for an extended period of time.” Translation: your biggest fear – that a hike in the Fed Funds Rate, which increases your borrowing costs and wipes out your gains – won’t happen anytime soon. It’s this “extended period” verbiage that is keeping the carry trade in place. When the Fed removes the “extended period” language, this will signal that hikes will begin in the near future, and that risk will prompt investors to begin to “unwind” their carry trade holdings. This will include the selling of Mortgage Backed Securities, which will assuredly push yields higher still.  When will the Fed remove the “extended period” language? It may happen sooner than you think. Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig has officially dissented to the “extended period” language at the last two Fed meetings. And recently, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, while yet to officially dissent, has stated that he feels “extended period” is inappropriate language and should be replaced by “data dependent.” And there have been grumblings from other Fed members, who are growing more concerned that leaving rates too low for too long can spawn asset bubbles or inflation down the road.

What It All Comes Down To
When all the factors are considered – the chances of higher interest rates are a virtual lock. And anyone in the market to borrow should consider acting sooner rather than later. With such low rates still in our hands…and all these various factors pointing at the inevitable fact of rates moving higher…you have to wonder what people sitting on the sidelines are waiting for?
It brings to mind the closing scene of the movie “Dumb and Dumber,” where two good-hearted but incredibly stupid heroes Lloyd and Harry are hitch-hiking, when along pulls up a bus full of beautiful Hawaiian Tropic models in bikinis. The models tell Lloyd and Harry that they are looking for two “oil boys” to lube them up before each of their photo shoots on the tour. Lloyd and Harry explain that there is a town down the road, where they should be able to find two lucky guys to help them out. As the bus pulls away, Lloyd and Harry look at each other and declare that one day their opportunity will come – they just have to keep their eyes open.
Here’s hoping you have your eyes wide open to take advantage of this fleeting opportunity…before it’s gone.

Spring is a great time to renew, reevaluate and start anew!  Clutter and things on your to-do list can stifle creativity and progress.  What a better time than now to look at those things and start getting them done!  Why not make it a ritual that each spring you take a renewed look at your finances!

Do you spend the time, at least once per year, to really take a look at your finances and evaluate where the money is going?  Do you create a household budget? Do you know how much you spend on eating out each month?  Do you know how many years until your student loans are paid off?  Do you get a monthly or yearly statement from your life insurance company?  The answers may shock you.  We often go through the years not really knowing where we are with our finances or how long it will actually take us to pay off that spontaneous purchase or even the car or credit card.

One of the things on my “to-do” list that I have been putting off is getting all of our bills onto our bank’s online bill pay process.  Doing this will save me a couple of hours a week going through our mail, paying bills and filing, but for YEARS I have had this one thing on my “to-do” list and for YEARS I have failed to make it happen! Finally, we decided to change our bank accounts from one bank to the other and I finally took the time to set up our automatic bill pay.  Now, this is a work in progress, BUT it took LESS time to set up than I thought and will ultimately SAVE me a LOT of time each week. 

We have been spending a large amount of time coaching our clients on a new loan product called the Home Ownership Accelerator ®.  One of the things that has become apparent through this process is the power of money over time because any money in the Home Ownership Accelerator ® account decreases the principle you owe on your home loan, ultimately saving you thousands of interest on your mortgage.  This product really is a revolutionary way to be the BANK of YOU!

Whether you are a current client or just someone interested in taking a larger look at your finances, your mortgage and your goals, give us a call for a yearly mortgage review.  We would be delighted to help you renew, reevaluate, and start anew with your finances and your mortgage!

Also, visit http://www.homeownershipaccelerator.net/ and watch the 5 minute HOA movie.  If you visit this site and report back that you watched it, we will send you a FREE t-shirt!

By David Vindiola

MVM Mortgage Group is excited to introduce a revolutionary product called the Home Ownership Accelerator that could dramatically improve the speed and lower the cost of paying off your mortgage. It does this by replacing your mortgage and your checking account with one new combined loan/checking account that puts the cash that you usually flow through your current checking account to better use.

How does it accelerate the pay-off of my mortgage?

 If you are like most people, you flow most of your cash through your checking account to pay for your monthly expenses. While this cash sits in your account waiting to be spent, it earns 1% or less in interest. Your bank takes that money and lends it out to other folks at 6% or more, giving them 4%+ profit on your cash. By combining a checking account with a mortgage, you take the bank out of the equation and keep that 4% profit. How? You “lend” your cash to yourself, parking it against your mortgage balance until you need it to pay your bills. This reduces your mortgage balance, saving you interest charges. So, your cash “saves” you 5-6% in mortgage interest, rather than earning 0-1% in a standard checking account.

 If I flow my income through my mortgage, how do I pay my bills?

 The Home Ownership Accelerator is actually a big home equity line of credit with immediate access to your equity. The loan allows you to directly deposit your income into the account, which immediately reduces your mortgage balance by that amount. Then, you use ATM/debit card, checks, bill-pay or automatic debits to pay your bills, just as you do today with your traditional checking account. These withdrawals are simply added back to your mortgage balance.

 How does putting my paycheck against my home loan balance save me interest charges?

 Mortgage interest is calculated by multiplying your loan balance by your interest rate. With this loan, we calculate your interest charges daily and add them to your mortgage balance at the end of the month. Each paycheck deposited immediately impacts how much interest you have to pay because it reduces your loan balance until you pay your bills. If you pay your bills at the end of the month, you could save up to 30 days of interest charges on the amount of your paycheck.

You actually save interest in two ways. First, the money you don’t need for expenses saves you interest by keeping your mortgage balance lower. Second, the money you do need for expenses saves you interest while it is waiting in around in the Accelerator account to be spent.

 What do I need to change to make this loan work?

 One thing you DON’T need to change is your spending habits. If you have positive cash flow now, your current family budget could allow you to almost double the rate at which you pay down this mortgage versus a traditional mortgage.

You will have to change how you view your mortgage. Some key differences are:

• Your paycheck and other deposits are all mortgage payments. You do not write a separate check to “pay the mortgage” every month, unless you max out your credit line.
• The interest you owe is paid automatically, added to your balance on the due date. You do not write a check to pay interest charges either, unless you max out your credit line.
• Your spare cash is in your home instead of in a checking account. Your cash is, in effect, converted to home equity until you need it, saving you interest until it is spent.

 What’s the catch?

 There is no catch, however there are some differences between the Home Ownership Accelerator and the loan you may currently have:

This loan is not a fixed-rate loan. It is a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with an adjustable interest rate. The interest rate is tied to the 1-month LIBOR financial index.

This loan has a range of margins available, (the fixed portion of an adjustable interest rate that provides the lender its profit) and the lowest possible margin will cost a fee to obtain

The loan has a small annual fee of $60 to cover operational expenses just like other HELOCs.  However, the benefit of saving 5-6% on the cash you park in your Accelerator account should far outweigh the additional expense of obtaining a low margin and the annual fee.

 How do I know if this loan is right for me?

 You won’t until you discuss your specific situation with our certified Home Ownership Accelerator professionals and run your scenario through our Accelerator loan simulator. However, refinancing into this product, or buying a new property with it, could result in tremendous financial benefits. If you haven’t already talked to us about this exciting new loan program, call to set up a time to discuss it in more detail.  The results we are seeing with many clients are very exciting to say the least.

As we fly into the New Year I am reminded of the 20 important rules that I try to live by.  I thought I would share them with you:

1. Be in the moment
2. Everyday be thankful for the small things
3. Make someone else feel special each day
4. Recognize everyday miracles
5. Breath deeply
6. Think before you speak
7. Revisit your goals everyday
8. Mean what you say and say what you mean
9. Be clear when you speak

10.  Do what you say you are going to do

11.  If you do something good or nice, do it because it feels good to your heart, not to get recognition

12.  Be humble about your accomplishments – get your satisfaction from yourself, not from others

13.  Use your ears twice as often as your mouth

14.  Be your best in EVERY moment

15.  Focus on improving yourself, rather than “fixing” others

16.  Accept others for who they are

17.  Don’t make mountains out of mole hills

18.  Learn to let go of things that cause you pain or frustration

19.  Ask questions

When the seasons change it is a sign of bigger changes to come.  Something happened last week that rocked my confidence in people.  When I get a shake like this I begin to wonder what I am doing and how I might be able to avoid that punch in the gut again.  My initial reaction is to not trust others, to only rely on myself and to keep all others at an arms-length.  Then I remember why I am in this business – to help others AND to provide a place for others to make a living. 

It is hard when someone you know and trust and think of as a friend, disrespects the opportunity you have given them and therefore affects you and your business.  What do you do?  I cannot change the way in which people act.  I cannot make them be a more professional.  I cannot make them act (what I perceive to be) appropriate.  I cannot make them thankful for all that I have provided them.  I cannot make them understand why their behavior had such an effect on my business or on me.  I can only accept and ultimately forgive. Ah, and that is the hard part.

When I am rocked to my core, I begin to evaluate my life, my job, my purpose and my passions.  If I am in business to help people and provide a place for others to make a living, how can I attract the people who see this as a special opportunity and who will treat it with respect?  How do you find good people who will share your vision and passion and be an extension of that when they are out doing business?  How can we trust anyone with that big responsibility?  You must.  I must.  I must continue to trust and to have confidence in others.  I must remember that everything happens for a reason and that reason is yet to be determined.  I must see the good in people, even the ones that have hurt me.  I must look beyond me and my business to that person’s bigger picture.  I must continue to do and be the best I can be, even if they are not doing and being their best.  And, I must forgive. 

So, this is a healing for me.  As the seasons change, so do our businesses.  We do not question the change in the weather or the season, we accept the change with, perhaps, a little sadness, but none the less, we accept the change and then move on. 

I was riding my bike through some of the farm lands North of Grand Junction, Colorado yesterday morning with one of my triathlete friends.  This time of year it is so beautiful – green pastures, beautiful horses, fresh air and the Colorado National Monument as the backdrop.  This particular morning the air was a bit crisp, but the temperature was perfect as we warmed our legs and got to our cruising speed.

My friends asked me “aren’t we lucky”?  Yes, yes, I responded, absentmindedly, as I focused my mind on my spinning legs and burning lungs. 

About 30 miles later, near the end of our ride, she said again, “we are so lucky”!  This time, I paused to take in the attitude that she was projecting and really think about the words she said.  That is when I realized “we ARE lucky…oh my goodness, we are SO lucky”!

I write about the things that I notice in my life and how they relate to the bigger picture.  I continually feel a sense of gratitude toward my life and the events that unfold, but sometimes I forget to really stop and appreciate my immediate circumstances as much as I could.

What would happen if we all paused in our daily lives to appreciate the small things in life?  What if we really took a moment to be thankful for each blessing as they unfolded?  What would happen if each of us felt that sense of luck as we lived our daily lives?  If we think about it, nothing is too small or too insignificant to appreciate!  Start right now.

“In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer