Leah Maclean, writer of the wonderful Working Solo blog, asked me to contribute (along with several other writers) to her series on the importance of a healthy lifestyle to business success.  My contribution is here.  The other contributions are great, and I encourage you to read them all.

One thing that's kept me thinking was this line from my post:

Poorhealth and strained family relations are both "business expenses" I'm unwillingto pay.

I've been traveling a lot lately and it seems that everytime I return home -- if even from a three day trip -- my daughter's face has changed and she sounds different.  At least to me.  Because Grace is a growing two year old, I'm quite certain she may actually be changing "right before my eyes."  But I wonder, is this an experience that will continue to happen as she grows older?  Right now, travel is  both difficult and exciting -- because while I hate to miss a moment of her growing up, it is really cool to meet a different person when I return.

While I'm on the parenthood riff, here are some other random observations.  It used to be that kissing any hurt, no matter how big or small, made it all better.  Just this week, my daughter sadly says, "It still hurts, daddy" after I gave her the traditional healing kiss on her most recent boo-boo.  Are my miraculous healing powers gone forever?  And is this a sadder moment for me or her?

Every night, when my daughter sees her first star, she makes a wish.  When we ask her what she wishes for, she proudly (and loudly) proclaims, "CANDY!"  My wish is to have such simple wants and needs.  Think about how cool it would be to have a wish that could be satisfied so easily.   The children in Louisiana and Mississippi right now don't have the luxury of wishing for candy.   Please do what you can to help. 

Thanks for listening.  Go hug and kiss your children.    And pray for all of the children without a home.