One day after work, I came home to see Baby sitting on the table, looking into the Aquarium. As I walked into the living room, I could see that the carpet was soaked. My heart sank. I was oblivious to the mess because I was sure the fish was a goner.

It is through play that we nurture our imagination, creativity, and ingenuity. If you give a child the opportunity to play, along with the playfulness, he will carry those characteristics into his adult life.

After I finished driver's training, I thought I was road-ready, but passing the behind-the-wheel driver's test turned out to be something like climbing Mt. Everest. It took me four tries to pass it. The first was not entirely due to poor driving.

I walked away from driving about two years ago. I’ve never really enjoyed driving. I have always been a nervous driver, afraid that I will zig when a zag is called for. Several near misses during my driving days amplified that fear. I think the problem may have started on a Sunday drive.

At one point or another, every parent hears their child say, “I didn’t meant to” or “I didn’t try to.” Sometimes all that is needed is a nod and a, “I know. It’s okay.” Other times something more is called for. One of my favorite responses was “You didn’t try not to.”

Baggage keeps us in the past and blocks the road to the future. You can’t live in the past. Shut the door behind you. Travel light. Take with you only those things you have learned from the mistakes you have made.