Isn’t it encouraging to know that many immigrants be it in the US or other countries, started out with nothing and end up doing great?

The rear deck speech, eulogy or legacy is still not 100% complete for me. I think it will get written as we go along with this grand experiment. I like to relate advice or lessons with what I’ve read or heard or my own experience. I think I’ve more to say as I accumulate more life experiences.

I agree that happiness is absolutely important. I’m generally a happy person I do find pleasure in simple things at times.

Mark, having friends around the world will also keep the cost of your travels down, too, yes? I read there is some online group established where one opens his/her home to other world travelers in return for the same benefits. Have you heard of that, too? I am definitely someone who loves connecting with other travelers. When I tell people I want to travel, they think I want to be a tourist for two weeks and they say “and after two weeks, then what?” and I realize they do not know what I mean by travelling. It is great we have the internet and the instant chat and webcams for those who have families far away.

When I went to Georgia this week, my great-aunt let me take some books from her “library” and recommended another one by Frank McCourt called Tis. I’d read Angela’s Ashes (eventually) and then Teacher Man (having found it in my garage and thought I’d read it before selling it) and am now reading Tis. It is a good book that talks about being an immigrant in NYC and with no money and with problems, problems, problems. I have also been reading Dharma Bums which talks about that movement (beatniks or hippies) going on about the same time, and that plays in.

Barry has Irish roots and told me he had seen a sign (in an antique store) that said in New England that in the late 50s even, it said Irish need not apply, and Frank McCourt mentioned that in his book, the next chapter or so, so I am learning things about my country that I did not know. At least Frank McCourt makes me think it might be interesting to go to NYC. From what I have seen of it (two visits, and countless tv shows), it is nothing like the US and I don’t care to have anything to do with it. After his book, it is more alive and less dangerous, but I know that his book is still written about NYC 40-50 years ago. You might like it, too.

If you cannot imagine what you would say to your grandchildren one day, try imagining what you would want someone (left behind) to have enscribed on your tombstone or other memorial left about you.

I think you have great goals and a good heart and will find that happiness. I was discussing happiness today, and decided that the perfect measure of success is whether or not what I am doing makes me happy. For me, focusing on goals and knowing that I am “taking care of business” (those things which help me reach the goals I’ve decided are important to me) helps me to be happy, so those moments are success. I also feel bad when I know I am not doing something to help me achieve my goals, but actually leads me astray or distracts me.

… besides, there’s nothing serious about making money, so keep it up!

@Lee – I get the good news part, both explicitly and implicitly. Are you implying something else about the “bad news”?

@Scoot – Thanks. I believe we all benefited from the exercises. I need to catch up with your comments!