Who am I and what have I learned as I begin 2012

This essay was written by my friend J. Michael Smith.  His thoughts offer good points for reflection for us all as we live our own lives for eternity.  What have you learned?  How are you beginning 2012?

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I am a father, I am deeply loved by God, I am a proud American, and a part of my heart always remains in Ethiopia....

I am a highly motivated and dedicated individual working with other like minded men and women toward a common goal: achieving success with integrity and high moral character. FHTM provides an opportunity for thousands of FHTM Independent Representatives, regardless of education, experience or current financial situation, to reach their goals through hard work, successful sales efforts, personal development, team building...and become leaders in our communities and in our businesses....

I am a restauranteur, I am a team builder, I am a business builder, I am a beach lover, I am a Mountain lover, I am a dreamer, I am a reader, and I am a traveler.

I produce more than I consume. I reject complacency, mediocrity, conformity, and dependency. I am not held captive by fear. I am fueled by vision and passion, governed by principles, guided by ideals and values. I do not succeed through luck. I succeed through conscious effort. I am not entitled to the fruit of another man’s labor. My life, my results are my responsibility. I am not a victim of circumstance. I am a victor by choice and determination. I live by design, not by default. I seek not the stale comfort of a safe harbor, but the thrill of the open sea. While others complain about problems, I create opportunities and solutions. I see abundance where others see scarcity. I am relentlessly innovative. I do not wait for “someday” happiness; I choose happiness now. I am not afraid to act and fail; failure is simply accelerated learning. I value persistence as much as talent and intelligence. I trust my inner voice, not the wisdom of crowds. While others gnaw on the bones of security, I feast on the meat of freedom. While others criticize from couches, I toil in trenches. While others are blaming, I’m busy building. I will not lie in my deathbed tormented by the thought of what might have been. I will leave a legacy of service and contribution. I am a producer.

• I've learned in life that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
• I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
• I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."'
• I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
• I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back sometimes. 
• I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you, but, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
• I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
• I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
• I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
• I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Bring on 2012...