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Conventional wisdom, common consensus, and general opinion. Regardless of what label you give it, people look to others for approval and acceptance before they embark on a particular path. The thought of being criticized is a terrifying thought for most. How many people have been dissuaded from pursuing their goals due the negative reaction from those with whom they have shared their dreams?

Every year about this time, when the Mississippi begins to fill with snowmelt and rainwater from the north, talk begins again about the possibility of the Atchafalaya grabbing almost all of the water from the big river — with dire consequences on both of the streams.

One of my gifts under the tree last Christmas was a tee shirt inscribed with the question: “Have you ever noticed how many towns are named after their water tower?”
It gave me a good laugh when I unwrapped it, and it also caused me to wonder when we started building the towers and putting our names on them. I’ve heard somewhere that naming began as a way to guide pilots in the early days of aviation, but I think it probably started earlier than that.