Having "Me" Time

After the earthquake I wrote an email to a Japanese colleague asking her of her troubles and hoping that all was fine.  Her response made me teary eyed and it's something I still remember till this day.  She told of her hardships and how they were having trouble with electricity, but it was the end that hit me.  She apologized for having caused me concern and worry.  Wow.  I was breathless.  Here she was in trouble, her nation was suffering, and still she apologized for making me worried about her!!  I admire her. My experience is but a fraction of what others have experienced.  Since that unfortunate day of earthquakes and tsunamis, I've been hearing endless stories about the Japanese discipline and sense of morality.  How even in times of suffering and the Japanese will not loot nor take advantage of those less fortunate.  Other people's lives are taken into deep consideration.  Afterall, everyone is in this situation and e...

The other day I got this fascinating Forward from a friend about decision making. It tells the story of a group of children playing on railroad tracks. One child is playing alone on the unused railroad track, while five children are playing on the active rail. Suddenly, a rain is spotted on the tracks heading straight towards the five children. You have to decide what to do. 1) Do you divert the train onto the unused track to save five children while sacrificing the lone child on the other track? or 2) Would you let the train continue on its path towards the group of five children? What would you do? Most people would in an instant answer that they would sacrifice the lone child to save the group of five children. Sacrifice one in the name of saving many. It's the rational and logical solution. It's for the better "good" of society. One death is better than five. However, there is more. There is a dilemma. The great critic Leo Velski Julian (do you know ...