On the way out of work today a coworker gave me a pack of pop tarts, strawberry. I haven't had pop tarts in a very long time, but I was feeling alittle hungry, so I said, "sure, I'd love some."

As I was driving home I decided to open the pop tarts and eat them.

Much to my surprise, I was amazed by the 'flavor' of them. I mean, you could even taste the sprinkles on top! And the crust tasted like a cookie, and the filling, it was oh so yummy!

All of this attention over these pop tarts got me to thinking about foods, and eating and the 'flavor' of things. I can't really remember the last time that I took the time to enjoy the flavor of what I was eating...and that's kind of sad, if you think about it.

When was the last time you really enjoyed the 'flavor' of your food? The 'flavor' of your life? The 'flavor' of everything around you? Let's explore 'flavor'.

I don't know why, but by my simply eating these pop tarts I gained an entire new appreciation for food and how it tastes....and I don't want to just shove something in anymore, because I'm hungry. I want to enjoy the flavor of each and every bite!

As for my life.....despite my health problems.....I'm really glad to be me. Despite my weight, I'm glad to be me. I like the flavor of my life and am thankful that it's a good one.

Now what about you?......what do you think about the flavors of your life?

It's no secret what's wrong with America!

Yesterday while driving home from the movies I couldn't help but notice the new construction at the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip. After all the highway that I was on ran right past the massive new Trump tower and the Wynn and the Encore Hotels and Resorts. As I took in the view I had a very distinct feeling of shame for what I saw. Now why should I, or anyone for that matter, feel shame when looking at the impressive Las Vegas skyline with it's massive hotels reaching to the sky? Well it's like this....to see such amazing multi billion dollar resorts like these made me realize just how small and poor and insignificant I was in comparrison. In that moment I felt the disparity between those that 'have' and those that 'have not'. I felt poor in comparrison. My little retail job will never afford me so much as one single night in those luxurious hotels...and I wondered what it would be like to have so much money that I wouldn't think twice about staying at either place for a week, or two or more, and slapping down the cash for my stay.

As I drove past these hotels and back to the reality of the neighborhoods of Las Vegas I saw many homes and apartments, and people just like me walking down the sidewalks. I saw the 'un-rich' the 'every day folk'....the people that we would call the 'have nots'.

It was then that I truly realized what was wrong with this country. There is a vast divide between those that have money and those that struggle just to pay the rent...and I sensed a deep black canyon in between.

I guess it would be really cool to be rich. To have what the Trumps and the Wynns of the world have. But then I realized that to have all of that could be a far more unsatisfying life than the life I am living as a 'have not'. I cannot imagine the pain and misery that comes from having endless wealth and I don't think that I would want too, because there must be some very lonely moments at the 'top.'

I realized that with such a disparity between the rich and poor that America as a whole will never be living up to it's greatest potential. We will always have the homeless on the street and the snobs in high rises that wouldn't even give them a second glance. We will have those who are ill and will die because they can't afford to be treated for the simplest of afflictions, and there will be others who go to the Dr. because their botox has worn out.

Until those that have, truly quit building enormous skyscrapers and monuments to their own egos and wealth we will all be a poor nation, just in different ways....and that, my friend is what is wrong with America!

Survival of the Fittest?

Tonite I was watching a program about sharks on the Discovery Channel. Sure, we've all probably seen many many programs about sharks in our day....and tonite I was thinking about how the creatures of the ocean truly have to be on guard at every moment. It's absolutely 'survival of the fittest' in the sea, and with 70% of the Earth covered in ocean, one would figure that there were alot of hiding places. As I was watching this program I began to feel pain inside. Why? Because we who live on solid ground live much like the creatures of the ocean. Just turn on the evening news and see how depressed you get....a child found murdered, a woman missing, another innocent American death in Iraq. You can barely go out your front door anymore for the danger that awaits in every corner of America. Just don't look at someone wrong, you might get shot to death. Don't cut someone off on the road.....be careful and be aware of your surroundings, for you could get mugged and robbed at any moment. Truly there is nowhere safe anymore, neither under the sea or above it. Survival of the fittest doesn't only pertain to our vast oceans, it pertains to you and me each and every moment of our lives. How will you survive? Will you survive with dignity and respect? Or will you secumb to the pressures of today? Will you be the one inflicting harm....or will you be the one who lifts up? You have to make the choice. "Survival of the fittest" does not mean that you have to be the baddest of the bad. Perhaps it means you are the 'goodest of the good.' Think about it.