Advice for President Obama on Clear Thinking

Max's advice for February 15, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Max grew up as the son of a man who knew 'ALL' the answers to the problems of the world. Max's father said so! Many times, his father let everyone know that anyone who didn't know that he had the answers was a turkey or a knucklehead.

The famous Ma Bell, the second most powerful force in the world (next to God of course), thought so much of Max's father's opinions, that she made him 'Supervisor of Troubles'. This is true!

The advice Max promised you, President Obama.

Take time to think clearly!

Max appreciates that you wanted to be President. Now you have all the cool toys and everything that goes with them. By now your mind has got to be spinning.

Time to step back and get your perspective back. As a senator you have gotten used to people who want something being constantly after you to give them something. As President you have fifty times the number of people that love you for what you've got, plus perhaps two hundred foreign heads of state that want a piece.

Just like a kid who suddenly finds he (or she) has the newest neatest toy on the block, you are surrounded by new friends that you didn't know you had. Plus you actually do have the newest and neatest toys.

Time to set the toys aside and take time to remember why you said you wanted to be President. The toys aren't going anywhere. They are yours for the next four years.

Still, the shiny airplane, the neat cabin in the woods complete with its own lake, the shiny pen that creates its own law like magic; as real as these are they have little to do with what you said you wanted. The guys before you played with the toys and look what it got the nation.

Max would like to see you take some time and think (meditate if you like) about what you being President will mean to your children and their children.

Will they be safe in the world from all the dangers one can protect from? Will they be able to look back at what you tried to do with pride? Will the air and water be cleaner than the day you took office? Will they be able to live a life with good medical care? Will they be able to retire when the years take the toll of time?

What part will your being President play in how their lives are after you are no more?

Presidents need some recreation and some relaxation. But many of the toys have been bought with the blood of young men and women even to this very day.

Max hopes you can find time to step back and think about which toys are for play and which need to be tools for change.

Max wishes you well in all your relaxation and contemplative moments.

Max writes about greenways, rare diseases, timely topics, places to eat, travel and other issues of interest. He encourages you to add your comments.

Link one is to an article in American Scientific on the serious need for play.

Link two is on how to meditate in a Buddhist form.

Link three is a site with ideas on how to relax.