“If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh?...” Shakespeare wrote those words, and if you’ll forgive me, I’ll take them out of context (to some degree). When Shylock spoke these words in the Merchant of Venice, he was talking about revenge. Revenge is a dish I just don’t serve and I never recommend it, so I’ll drop that here.

But in a different perspective (and part of what Shylock was saying) is that we are all human. We laugh, cry and yes even bleed; and that blood is red. Let us never forget our humanity, and the humanity of others. In one sense or another we are all connected, and the “least that you do unto your brother, you do unto … [yourself]”.

As we enter into this New Year, and we are thinking of our goals, we have a strong tendency to think of what we want or need. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What I would like us all to do however is to consistently think of win / win scenarios when considering our goals. If you’re in a situation where you end up with a win / loose situation, and while you might come out on top, with everything you dream of, but you know someone else will clearly loose – then that is a situation that you should back out of. Even at great sacrifice to your goals, a win/loose outcome in reality serves no one.

Even if you seem to win, you will ultimately loose (especially if there is a ‘Shylock’ around - and a pound of flesh is alot to loose).

Love and Bright blessings ~ Richard