The right thing and the easy thing are rarely the same. This is a truism that transcends subject, gender, economics, or culture. Life is funny that way. There is an opportunity cost to everything that we do. Despite the persistent search for the elusive win/win solution and despite the prolific claims of corporation executives that they deliver the win/win solution, the typical solution is either I win/you dont and cant do anything about it, I win/ you dont do so bad or nobody gets anything really good. Consider the Constitution of the United States, World War II, the shift from 1 parent working to 2 parents working outside the home in the average household and paper or plastic in this five part series.

Before we begin, I should make a disclosure. I have an aunt that has said that if a mountain appeared in the middle of my path, I will always choose the more difficult choice to climb the mountain instead of the easier path of simply going around. I can see why she would think that about me. It isnt true but it is a reasonable and frequently arrived at conclusion by those that dont reside in my head with my thoughts like I do. I like easy as much as anybody, maybe more. I live by a code; not the code like Ernest Hemingway but a code that I made up myself.

Now, my code isnt anything weird and off the wall. I dont start each day licking a frog. It is a series of rules that pretty much everyone agrees on but many people find colorful and creative ways to provide caveats that create a list of exceptions a mile long. Its not that I am not flexible. I just require a compelling reason to revisit the code. It makes it a lot easier for me to make decisions because I have rules. I compare any given scenario to the rules and the necessary action reveals itself. I have told you this about myself so that you know that I am aware of how improbable what I am about to suggest really is. I want you to know that as improbable as it is, I suggest it all the same because I believe it. And, although I dont always make the right choice; I dont just talk about it. I have spent a lot of time paying the price for living it.