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| From Our Publisher:
What Can I Do? Where Do I Go From Here? Betty Van Volkenburg, It was Saturday night, halfway through my home-business working weekend, and reluctantly I scanned my List of Things To Do hoping to feel inspired, as we all try to move forward from the most senseless tragedy this world has seen. And then it came. A sudden memory of a book I had read years ago, with one of the longest titles I've ever seen. "All You Can Do Is All You Can Do But All You Can Do Is Enough" by A. L. Williams. Though it was published in paperback in 1989 it can still be found at www.amazon.com I often use Williams' inspiring message to keep going when I get frustrated and it seems like I can't get anywhere. At the time I read it, I wasn't impressed with the writing style but the message has stayed with me, so the book's objective was met. When the future seems uncertain and the tasks seem insurmountable, my first comfort is my faith, but for practical, daily perseverance the message 'All I Can Do, is All I Can Do, but All I Can Do IS Enough' reminds me to take one day, one task at a time and DO as much as I CAN DO that day. If I do that, have a worthwhile attainable goal, work out a plan, proceed carefully and persistently, remembering my goal - I will succeed. There are many examples of successful people who achieved their success, only because they did not quit, and I intend to do the same. When news of the disaster came on September 11, my instinct was to find a way to get home to be with my family. My 3 children are no longer children now, and have their own independent lives, as I do when I travel to different states to do consulting work. Being too far from home to drive there in one day made me want to re-think my goals and retreat to home. After all, being close to family is more important than whether you have a comfortable retirement or a frugal one. Watching the TV reports from Inside America to Inside Afghanistan bounced my emotions all over the place, and at one time I wished I were younger, and a male, so I could go over there and burn those buggers out myself. But acting on emotions is what the terrorists have done and I will not be drawn into acting like them. These terrorists have ruined their own country and are so used to brutal, barbaric behavior that they are jealous of what other countries have, and want to take it from them, using religion as a cover for their thirst for power and vengeance. They do not behave like, or respond to, normal human behavior so I doubt that diplomacy would be understood by them. In thinking about what realistically, I CAN DO, I have to leave the Police and Military activities to those who know best how to do that, and do only what I can do. I have already donated to The Red Cross but will continue to respond to requests from various fire departments who attend public events or stand on the corner, with their boot outstretched, hopefully. I can also do as our President says, to continue in our usual way of life to make sure it DOES continue, and not let those maniacal bullies have the success they were aiming for - to destroy our way of life. I will continue as a Nomadic consultant by day, using my income to build a small business, a home-based business, exercising true American entrepreneurial spirit, so that I can have a secure retirement. I will also invest in America's future as well as my own. I have not been one to pay much attention to investing, not having much left over to invest after raising 3 children alone, but I am definitely changing that behavior too. It may not be much that I can invest, but every little bit helps now, and I see it as important for our way of life, to show support in our country - another "Homeland Defense" strategy that an average person can do. With uncertainty behind me I press forward with my List of Things To Do, acknowledging the List of Things I HAVE Done and accepting a hug from myself, in the absence of my family, whom I will not be seeing until my next flight home in a couple of weeks.
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