What do Pine Trees, Hot Water and Bingo have in common? For someone who grew up immersed in the American Dream, probably not much. These three things seem quite unrelated and could well be overlooked. In fact, they are likely so simple that they are taken for granted, even boring. But they shouldn’t be.

Step outside; see and smell the pines. Turn the faucet; hot water comes out. (OK, unless we’ve had a storm and the power is out!) Play bingo; because you can! If America isn’t your first home, these things are simple pleasures which offer great joy and amazement. How do I know? I gained these insights courtesy of a young man who managed to bring his mother to this country for the first time, following a several year journey to enable her to visit. He shared these discoveries and more with me in a rambling conversation, one that happened quite by chance.

As we navigate the hustle of daily life, and tolerate some of its injustices, it’s quite easy to overlook the simple things. The things that give us a sense of place, the warmth of a home, plus simple fun merely for the fun of it. Your three things are probably different, but you should be able to name them. What are they?

Children start out mesmerized by new things, many of them fun, yet simple. Then we “grow up”, which is another way of saying that we have more serious matters with which to contend. That’s both a reflection of modern life and a warning sign. If a mature adult can experience our world with childlike amazement and joy, it must be possible for us to take a fresh look and discover something new.

When someone tells you, “It’s all good!”, they’re not really thinking. It’s not all good; this isn’t Utopia. However, there is a lot of great stuff out there, if we’ll only pause long enough to look for it. I have a newfound appreciation for pine trees, hot water and bingo. What about you?

Tempus Maximize!