While out walking this morning I spotted a bright copper penny lying on the road in front of me.

From when I was a child I have picked up every unattached coin I’ve seen and dropped it into my pocket.  I even had a fantasy about writing a book on how I turned a quarter found on the street into an investment worth one million dollars.  But I’ve never kept track of those coins (or in a few cases bills) that I found.  In any event, my total collection was spent, not saved, and it couldn’t have been more than thirty or forty dollars anyway.

Originally I thought that, unlike a meager childhood allowance from my parents, there were no strings attached to “found” money.  I just had to be observant and pick it up.  I didn’t have to keep my room neat or make my bed to earn it.   (Sorry, Daveen.)

When I was young I was always on the alert for every possible “something for nothing” I could find.  When I was eighteen I inherited $1,000 from my grandmother, which was more than half of what I needed to purchase my new VW bug.  Thanks again, Grandma.

But by now a long life has intervened and I am wiser. I’ve found there are no shortcuts.  An enduring career, as well as business or personal success, is based upon providing value and persisting.  It is not based upon the occasional freebie.

My first father-in-law spent one or two weeks a year searching for a “lost” gold mine in Arizona.  I hope he enjoyed his quest, because he never found the gold.  Even if he did, or even if I won the $140,000 sweepstakes prize (for years I bought a ticket), one “big hit” doesn’t make a life any more successful than marrying your high school sweetheart guarantees a happy marriage.  You have to pay attention and work at improving your skills to build and maintain a mutually supportive intimate relationship.

They say old habits die hard.  It wasn’t until seven years ago, after a lifetime of making high calorie choices that I permanently changed my eating habits and was able to reduce and stabilize my weight. Now I also walk at least 4,000 steps a day and work out at least twice a week, even with my personal trainer unavailable.  That’s new for me and demonstrates how, when motivated, we can change our habits and behaviors for the better.

So what happened to that copper penny gleaming in the sun?

I have no idea.  This time I left it there.

Alan

Last week, one of my sons told me the following story.

A friend of his, I’ll call him Bob, went through a nasty divorce five years ago.

Several years later Bob met Ms. Right at an academic conference, and they began a long distance relationship.

Last year Bob and my son sat down for coffee. Bob said, “I’m really in love with her, but I’m tied to my job, and she shows no sign of wanting to move.  I don’t know what to do.”

My son shared advice from “Catching a Feather,” a chapter in one of my People Tools books, (further explored in my blog of August 5, 2014). For many of us this is one of the most difficult People Tools — simply to wait.  You cannot “catch a feather” by chasing it, and patience is often essential to achieve a dream in your life.

Last week my son received a wedding announcement from Bob and his fiancé. A hand-written note mentioned that “Catching a Feather” had worked, and he and his fiancé were now living together.

I was delighted at this tangible example that advice from my book had helped a couple achieve their dream.

I’ll tell you another story.

One day last week I left my office and was walking to my car when I noticed a girl or petite woman walking ahead of me.  Because she was turned the other way I never saw her face, but I could see that her right hand dangled awkwardly from her wrist as if she’d been injured.

As I watched, she pried open a trash container behind another building and began to search for food.

I couldn’t help but wonder what her story was. Where did come from? Did she have a place to live? Were there people who cared for her? The image of her rummaging through the trash pulling out half empty food containers stayed with me all night. Even now, I find myself thinking about her.

At the heart of our lives are the stories which connect us with each other.

Please share your stories.

Alan