Advice for President Obama on Valentine's Day

Max's advice for February 14, 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.

Focus on family!

Even while the country is experiencing the trauma of the economic meltdown, you need to keep focused on what is most important in this world.

Whether you believe in a God or some other force shaping our destinies, the truth is that the time you have connecting with other people is very limited and must be cherished. I expect you probably bought some nice roses for your lady and perhaps a trinket. Likewise you probably did something for the girls.

Despite the nice gifts that you can give relative to your position in our society, what you say to your loved ones today will have a much more lasting impression. If there is something that you used to do that made the kids laugh or your wife smile, today would be a good day to do something that connected them to that time. Particularly if you were less well endowed financially at the time.

Valentine's Day for many Americans can, like Christmas, be a very depressing day. Many Americans are living alone or have loved ones in harm's way. You can do something in this area too, if you choose. It is a good way for you to show your children that love is for the whole human family.

Valentine's Day is and should stay a day to show an expression of love. The time we are given on this earth is very short and every moment needs to be used wisely. Using time today to show your family how you feel about them is a wise use of that time.

Max hopes that you take this time to consider how the important things in life are often not within the control of government or government policy. There is no law that can make people care for other people. There is no law that can be written that can make people speak only kindly of others. There is no bill that can be passed to keep marriages whole and intact. There is no Presidential Order that you can write that can take the hurt away from the young spouses and children who are worried about their loved ones at war. There is no congressional decree that can make the elderly and homeless feel the love of a nation.

That said, the words you say in public can make a difference in people's lives. Your words bring attention to the places where people can act in their own communities. Not everything needs to come from governmemt. Leadership in community action is a cost free way that can bring communities together and get them to focus on what they can do now.

You have been blessed by whatever God or power that exists. Your time here and now is to use your voice to help people focus. By spreading the word of what people are doing to solve local hurts, you can make it possible to lessen it for untold numbers.

Today, however, you should use your free time (make some if you have to, you're the boss) to reconnect to your wife and children. It is the most important thing you can do today.

Max wishes you well in all your efforts to connect to people.

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 on the history of Valentine's Day.

Link two is an article on connection with others.

Link three is an article on how to connect to others.