Alan C. Fox's Blog, page 12

Today, Tomorrow, and Yesterday

Since the 1980’s it’s been popular to “live in the moment.”  That’s what a therapist told me I should do more than thirty years ago.

While I understand the concept, I’ve questioned the necessity of the advice.  How is it possible not to live in the moment?  “The moment” is really all we have.

The therapist was really recommending that I pay attention to the moment, and not dwell excessively on either the past or the future. It’s what we now think of as “mindfulness.” To be mindful we simply p...

The Inner Game of Peace

World peace depends on the fears, thoughts, and actions of a whole lot of people outside of me.  My personal inner peace depends exclusively on what goes on inside my mind.

When we’re upset it’s easy for any of us to point the index finger of disdain at a spouse, politician, friend, or boss. But such mental finger-pointing provides, at best, short-term consolation.  Respite is fleeting, inner struggle endures.  The opiate of blame is brief balm.

Is there a reliable path to inner peace?  Yes,...

Late Morning Rain

One of my favorite musicians is Gordon Lightfoot. Last Friday evening Sprite and I attended his concert at the Rose, a dinner theater in Pasadena.  I typically object to being required to arrive by 7:00 pm for a 9:00 pm concert, but I’m happy to report that both dinner and the show were excellent.  We were seated about twenty feet from the stage. I have found over the years that my enjoyment of a performance often depends on how close I am to the stage.  After all, none of us would enjoy a co...

This Is the Week That Was

It is early Sunday evening. I’m at home sitting at my desk.  My father, who will be one hundred and three years old next month, is in the hospital.  He should be released tomorrow.

That’s the who, what, and when.  But there’s always more to the story.

Last Monday night my dad couldn’t sleep because of pain in his abdomen.  On Tuesday morning he asked to be taken to the hospital. He also asked that my son Steven, who is a doctor, take care of him.  Steven left work and we all met at the emerge...

“Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be”

Puck’s famous line in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream refers to the folly of humans.  Who am I to argue with Puck?

This statement popped into my head as Howard, a close friend, described an argument with his wife Nancy.

“Nancy is just plain wrong,” he said.

“About what?”

“About everything, especially Spain.  We just came back from a trip to Barcelona and while we were unpacking she told me she had a terrible time.  She didn’t like anything about it.  I spent a lot of time planning the...

My Way Is the Highway

Today I joined a group of tourists in Xien, China to visit the extraordinary Terra Cotta Warriors, one of the nation’s three wonders.  Another is the Potala Palace in Tibet, built beginning in the 7th century, that I visited yesterday by climbing at least five million steps while consistently out of breath (at an altitude of 12,000 feet) and nursing a sore back.  The third wonder is the Great Wall of China that is on our schedule for the day after tomorrow.

Joshua, our guide, recommended that...

Fight On!!!

A recent news article stated that students can no longer prepare for a single career and expect it to last a lifetime. They should anticipate a Job market that will continue to change dramatically. After all, how many computer programmers did we need thirty years ago? And how many taxi or truck drivers are we going to employ thirty years in the future? As technology advances, jobs and careers change.

Last week I shared on this blog the commencement speech I recently delivered to four hundred...

Accounting for Success

In 1961 I graduated from the business school at the University of Southern California with a B.S. degree in accounting.

I was thrilled to be the commencement speaker for the Leventhal School of Accounting last week, before an audience of four hundred graduates and a thousand friends and parents. I’d like to share with you my speech, slightly edited.

Remember, this speech is intended primarily for accountants, but I think it applies to all of us.

My speech:

Congratulations to all University of...

Seven Life Skills I Learned from My Mother

I’m remembering my mom today. Though she died more than twenty-five years ago, her influence on my life was enormous.

When I was young, every day after school I would enjoy a snack and a two-hour conversation with my mom. Our conversations would last until she served dinner at 5:30 pm sharp (unless Dad arrived home later). This continued through my early teens. The value of that time I spent with her is immeasurable.

I learned how to cook. Food has always been important to me. I realized whe...

The Ghosts Are Moving Out

I’ve always lived in a haunted house.

I’m not talking about a house with ghosts that pass through walls, or rattle chains in the basement or the attic. I’m talking about all of those ghosts that live in the shelter of my own mind.

When I was thirty-one years old, single and dating, I always asked one question on a first date; “How did you get along with your father?” I believe that all of us project our father’s or mother’s face onto each man or woman we meet later in life.  Sprite, for examp...