Do you remember Peabody and Sherman? This was a cartoon series in the late 1950's, early 60's, about a scholarly, time-travelling dog and his pet boy, Sherman. Using Peabody's "Wayback Machine," the pair would take jaunts through history, and usually wind up instrumental in making events come out "right," i.e., the way they're depicted in history books. Well, I sat one day and pondered (yes, occasionally, I ponder) if I had the chance to go back in time, would I and to which period in history would I go. Would I want to take a peek at what really happened to the great dinosaurs or would I dare to slip in on the conversation between Adam and Eve just after taking that first bite? (Tell me more...)

While that question makes a fun dinner conversation, I started to wonder if I could go back in time, to a period not-so-WAYBACK, perhaps 5, 10, or even 30 years back, would I make some changes? Would I take a different road the next time-perhaps an easier road than the one I journeyed? If I would be able to tell an easy story instead of the one of struggles and hardships, would I make that choice? After some thought, I decided the answer would be, "NO." Each hardship brings strength. Each tough experience builds character, and as many of us know, we would not know the morning, if we had never experienced midnight. How could we truly enjoy the victories, if we had never experienced the defeats?

As you hopefully reflected upon, and bid farewell to 2007, did you give thanks for the many awesome experiences you have had? (I'm sure there were many!) But now I challenge you to look upon your hardships with gratitude as well. They have caused you to grow and stretch-perhaps in discomfort, but you are different because of them. As we soar through these first couple of months of 2008, look ahead with great anticipation and gratitude for the incredible journey you are about to embark upon. You will go where no man (or woman) has gone before!

Here's a great idea for you to ponder (yes, you too can ponder)-If the year were 2020 and Mr. Peabody offered you a trip in his Wayback Machine, back to 2008, what amazing adventures would you be reliving? Let's make this a year of BIG ADVENTURES!

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