I don't know about you, but I usually don't plan very far ahead. I mean, I visualize and meditate on the very far-off future. But I don't plan. Too much 'life' can happen between now and 20 years from now, right?

It's interesting what a 20-year High School reunion did to change my perspective. For the first time, I'm able to look back at a chunk of time and say 'that's what 20 years is like' and actually semi-understand it.
I guess it isn't surprising that stepping out of High School, nobody asks "What Shall I Do With the Next 20 Years?" No one decides to live a rich and rewarding life so as to have good stories to tell at their reunion.

In the variety of life stories I did hear, I think that was evident. A couple of my classmates even said the words, "It's amazing but I feel like I really haven't done much in 20 years." "How weird that it took me 20 years to do what I just told you in 2 minutes." "I guess life can go by and you don't realize it..."

Thankfully, stepping out of the High School Reunion, I felt quite different. All of a sudden I realized, "What Shall I Do With the Next 20 Years?" is just as good a question for now as before! If I missed asking it then, I don't have to miss asking it now. The next time I see ANY of these lovely ladies, we'll all be eligible for discounted senior citizen fares for the bus. What stories will we have to catch up on then? Nothing much exciting? Something extraordinary? If something in between, will we be done telling it in 2 minutes?

And wow, you know, we only really get 4 or maybe 5 units of 20 years, each --

I never used to believe people when they said time moves faster as you get older, but now I do. 20 years from now I'm planning to have some GREAT stories to tell.

What would you like to have done in the next 5, 10, 20 years? How much good will you do with your one life in just the next 12 months?

P.S. Yes, that's my grad class photo. Can you find me? (Click the thumbnail photo to enlarge.) Even some of my non-High School closest friends couldn't pick me out, they all thought I was Ferida Yang. Hint: After telling Suzanne Falter-Barns which one is me - she said...

"Wow Andrea, what IS that, a Chinese afro?"

This from Capt Karen Anderson in an email just before the turn of the year:

"A fellow Marine took this photo of me reading your book while waiting to shoot on a range in Fallujah, Iraq.

I'm a reservist finishing up a year of being here and just finished my second book (The Art & Soul of Dancing Barefoot) that I want to market on the internet - I love both of your books.

Moral of the story: When you create something tangible that contains your message - coaching, training, inspiration, how-to or other - you really NEVER know where it might end up, who it might reach or how it might end up looking.

Also, for whatever reason, this photo got big points with hubby. It's always cool when you're hubby thinks you did something hip, especially after 11 years of marriage. ;-)

Thanks Karen, and let us know when YOUR book is done, okay?

Thank you to Alicia Smith who shares this photo of a sexy Pink Spoon from her travels.

Pink Spoon = A free taste of something that encourages the taster to buy more of what they've tried, a la ice cream stores and their tiny pink spoons.

Pink Spoon Marketing = A business strategy that when executed generates more sales more effortlessly for almost any business owner, and is especially effective for service or information providers to generate leads, or business owners who sell both products and services.

Under "An Adult Book Store" in the photo, the marquee reads:

FREE SEX ED CLASS
FREE SEX TOYS

FEB 10
7-8:30

Whatcha think? Did they sell a swack of books on Feb 10, or just lose their shirts (haha) giving away ze toys?