The world and our country are dealing with crises – health, education, racism, economics, the environment. Sigh. But I have hope. America is the greatest democracy in the world and as long as we have serious, smart people, we can solve all of these things. Maybe not all today on my birthday and certainly not with simple solutions, but solve them we will. Until that day, here is a short list of things I’m doing on my birthday to bring happiness and keep hoping – note, I’m not getting paid for any of these endorsements, I’m sharing them for free.

• Thank my friends and family for all the text messages, Facebook messages and LinkedIn posts. They are not as good as hanging out or hugging in person but it’s the best part of digital communications.
• Open the cards from people who still send them – like my 85 year old mom and my wife and daughter.
• Post happy birthday on my friend Rob’s page to celebrate the Marine Corps – who I share a birthday with – they are 245 years old today. Thanks to the Marines for their service and sacrifice.
• Post on my friend Cathy’s page to wish her well in her battle against COVID. Post on our friend Ranell’s page because she lost her mother. Post on my birthday buddy Kaia’s page because she passed away earlier this year.
• Order takeout – Braised Short Ribs and mashed potatoes – from our favorite restaurant, Birch’s On The Lake.
• Listen to the Hallmark Channel Radio on Sirius XM when I go pick up my dinner. Hey, it’s snowing like crazy here so it looks like Christmas!
• Turn on the Christmas lights for one day since I worked so hard to put them up when it was 65 degrees and sunny! Now it’s 26 and snowing.
• Eat the birthday cake that my daughter made for me for her culinary class – Burnt sugar caramel cake with burnt sugar caramel American butter cream. No, that’s not on the Food Network, that’s in my house!
• Not watch CNN or Fox News – at all – they are both on a time out for different reasons. Quick tip, just because it’s on TV or social media, that doesn’t make it true. If you want unbiased journalism, it’s tough but you can trust Reuters because they have been in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years and for my money, the Wall Street Journal as well.
• Watch a Hallmark Christmas movie starring my good friend Candace Cameron Bure (I just call her Candy for short because she’s so sweet!) or whoever, they are all good. My favorite thing about Hallmark is I can count on seeing people work through a problem, fall in love and kiss at the end.

I know that none of this will solve the crises that we have in this country or around the world but because of these things, I have hope on my birthday and that’s all anyone really needs. Here are some great quotes about hope:

• Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. – Helen Keller
• We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. – Tom Bodett
• Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. – Stephen King
• Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. – Desmond Tutu