An important question.

A major accomplishment of a loved one?

A good medical report on a worrisome health issue?

A positive financial outcome?

Day-to-day happiness as a result of a compatible marriage or partnership?

These are just a few of the events that can bring us happiness.

I think it’s heathy to know and trigger your happiness buttons regularly!

If not today, when?

Europe could soon be welcoming a wave of well-heeled Americans, as Democratic voters facing the prospect of another Donald Trump presidency eye refuges abroad.

Interest in so-called “golden visas” has skyrocketed among US citizens since the election, according to consultants that help the wealthy migrate.

Golden visas allow people to effectively buy foreign citizenship or residence through sizable investments, including in real estate, government bonds or startups.

Henley & Partners, which claims to have invented the concept of citizenship-by-investment in the 1990s, said inquiries by US nationals via its website spiked almost 400% the week of the election compared with the prior week.

Many of these individuals don’t plan on permanently relocating to a new country, however. “The main focus for most Americans is just having the optionality… like an insurance policy,” said Dominic Volek, head of private clients at Henley & Partners. (CNN, London)

The wealthy among us always have more options!

They feel that their lives never change regardless of who wins.

They think elections are for the elitists in society.

Not one of the candidates were asked how their policies would affect poor and low wage people dying every day

The official United States minimum wage has not increased in 15 years.

It remains $7.25 per hour.

The great irony is that low wage earners perform jobs that keep our economy going!

We cannot afford to leave anyone beind.

Nope, you can’t leave home without it!

We just completed a two week vacation to Florida by car, with our dog.

It took 2 days to drive there and 2 days to return.

We used some great navigational software called Waze.

If you ever have to leave the route, it doesn’t bawl you out.

It forgives you and provides the steps to take to get back on the main route.

It has a voice and a great map that appears on your car’s screen.

It tells you if there is a police car ahead. (I don’t think it is supposed to do that!)

If there is an accident ahead, it will reroute you.

We stayed overnight in Nashville.

The software instructed us on how get to our hotel.

Don’t leave home without it.

Not today. Not ever!

BTW One spouse driving and other navigating can give the marriage a test.

ADVICE: What is said in the car stays in the car!

It begins at the crawling stage.

“No” must always mean “No!”

Discipline as well as praise must be consistent.

It’s the main principle of leadership.

The crawling stage gives the child mobility for the first time.

There are many temptations such as lamp chords, dog dishes, plants and so many others.

The child must understand some things are OK and others are not.

The learning process must begin at this stage so that at the teenager stage, “No” still means “No!”

Parenting is difficult but easier if discipline is consistent all the way and everyone knows what to expect.

Yep, a René Magritte painting depicting an eerily lit streetscape sold for more than $121 million at a Christie’s auction in New York on Tuesday –– surpassing its $95 million estimate and smashing the auction record for the Surrealist artist’s work.

As one of the largest paintings in a succession of 27 works all titled “L’empire des lumières” (“The Empire of Light”), the 1954 canvas is well known among 20th century art experts for its scale, pristine condition and subtle details.

The auction house described the artwork as the “crown jewel” of its former owner, the late American interior designer Mica Ertegun’s, collection –– part of which went on sale Tuesday. (CNN)

Thought you’d want to know!

Because we’re creatures of habit, our future may be similar to our past.

UNLESS we decide to take a different path.

Change is difficult.

But it may be necessary if we are to achieve a better outcome.

So, what has to change?

We must set new goals. It’s the only way to measure our progress.

Are you going to require special training to make the goal possible?

Should you team up with a partner?

Does it require financing?

If married, does your spouse support you in this new endeavor?

As you can see, success is not an accident.

It takes planning, courage and hard work!

Yes, some of them are immmigrants.

My grandparents emigrated from Ireland, my wife’s from Austria.

So, we all emigrated from some other country.

Back to the 146,000 NYC school kids who don’t know where they’ll sleep tonight.

Really? In America?

Those homeless kids are not responsible for their parents decisions.

Enough, with the legalities.

How can they learn if some tried to sleep on the sidewalk last night?

Maybe some had a decent bed in a shelter, but where will those kids sleep tonight?

Look at the photo above.

Those kids are the blessed, diverse story of America!

Where will they sleep tonight?

Welcome to the cult of Trader Joe’s.

Although it began in California as a health-food store, the brand has expanded across the US and now has travelers from around the world clamoring to visit one.

It’s likely a shopper heads to Trader Joe’s to try a fun snack like pickle-flavored popcorn, pumpkin spice protein bars, beer made with cookie butter (speculoos) or cheeseburger burritos.

So how did a place to stock up on produce manage to become a global sensation? Julie Averbach, author of The Art of Trader Joe’s, has a theory.

“I think that Trader Joe’s is like the Disneyland of American grocery stores,” she says. (CNN)

It’s obvious that Trader Joe’s has carved out a valuable niche in the world of groceries!

Creating a niche is the secret to every successful business.

Reading a book and bare feet with his arm on his loyal dog.

It doesn’t get much better than that!

A book does so many things for us.

It sweeps us away into some far off land and time.

It gives us a peek into the private life of some great person we’ve always admired.

It lets us learn something from some truly learned person.

Some books are a grouping of photos of some the world’s majestic places.

Places we could only visit with wonderful photos.

There’s fiction and nonfiction. You choose.

I think it’s time you used a book to escape our world of nonsense and visit better times.

Or, maybe you should read a prayer book.

If not today, when?