I believe that most people feel that life is very complex and complicated. That is understandable. There is so much information, regulation, conflicting needs and priorities, entities telling and selling what we need and should do, partisanship and rancor, choices, stresses, demands on our time attention and loyalties, and conflicting deadlines that humankind has to deal with every day make it very easy to become completely overwhelmed.

But I’ve found that by identifying the relatively few things that are most important–that truly matter–to me, and investing nearly all of my time, energy, attention, love, and passion on them, that most of those far less important distractions gradually fade away.

And as they do, I’ve found much greater contentment, happiness, fulfillment, confidence, and inner peace.

I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to spend nearly all day every day doing what I truly love to do.

They include investing time with family and friends, having a very flexible schedule so that I’m nearly always available when loved ones need or want to be with me, and doing what I love and what inspires me both professionally and with my hobbies.

That doesn’t mean that I have life by the tail or that I or my life are perfect. Far from it. I’m a slow learner in the school of life and have many more mistakes to make and lessons to learn.

I’m incredibly blessed to be surrounded by people who patiently tolerate my many imperfections and love me in spite of–or sometimes perhaps even because of–them. They coach, guide, comfort, cajole, teach, and support me. But most important of all, they love me.

With such people, even a slow learner like me can shine!