"You can learn something from every person you encounter in your life."

These were words spoken by my 9th grade Latin teacher, Mr. Harker. It's unclear why his words have stuck with me all these years. After all, how much wisdom could come from one who spends his days teaching teenagers a dead language they'll never use?

Little did I know then. Thank you Mr. Harker.

"What if she's an angel," asks country music newcomer Tommy Shane Steiner in his poignant, debut song with same title.

"A little girl on daddy's lap, hiding her disease with a baseball cap. You can turn channel. Most people do. But what if you were sitting in her daddy's shoes."

"Maybe she's an angel, sent here from Heaven, and she's making certain that you're doing your best to take time to help one another. Brother are you going to pass that test . . . What if she's an angel."

I remember first hearing song. It touched something very deep in me. So deep, in fact, I can't find words to adequately describe feeling that surfaced. It's enough to say a tremendous wave of emotion washed over me, and I began crying without really understanding why.

Nine short months ago much of world began a struggle to make sense of events which took place on September 11. Questions still remain, and healing continues.

I recall words of Reverend Billy Graham as he spoke at National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on September 14.

"We come together today to affirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political background may be.

"The Bible says that He's "the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles."

1. Decide Right Now To Expect Nothing. "Wait a minute", you say, "if I expect nothing, won't I get nothing?" Of course you can live "down" to expectations. In this context, however, it means to not get so hung up on needing, wanting, striving, wishing, and pursuing that you miss what's right in front of you. Setting goals to move you towards what you want is definitely important. But what is good and sweet and wonderful in your life right now? What are you missing out on by expecting something better to be around next corner?

2. Let Some Long-Standing Idealist Goals Die. This can be most freeing thing you do, and a tremendous sense of relief. Always wanted to be world's first perfect parent? Are you disappointed in yourself because you haven't yet won Pulitzer Prize? Are you comparing yourself to body of a runway model? Does your marriage lack romance of daytime soap operas? It's time to get over these types of unrealistic goals. Allow yourself to be human.

3. Truly Accept that Failure is The Only Way To Succeed. There's a famous quite that says, "the only place where success comes before work is in dictionary." The story goes that famous basketball player Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team because he wasn't good enough. History would have been very different if he had let "failure" stop him from working hard at what he wanted to do. Practice patience. Practice failure. Practice. Practice. Practice.