This morning as I was driving to work in the windy 15 degree weather I saw a young girl dressed up like the Statue of Liberty waving at drivers to stop and get their taxes done.  It reminded me of some of the tough jobs I’ve had, or at least tougher than the one I have now.  Having spent the better part of 25 years working nights, weekends and numerous shifts for people that failed to show up for work, I am deeply grateful for the job I have now.  I have the privilege of providing value for people trying to make a go of the restaurant business.  While running restaurants is not like fighting fires on oil rigs in the middle of the ocean, it has its own set of challenges, as all of us who have given our hearts and souls to the biz well know.

Back to the Statue of Liberty, something that represents what a lot of us take for granted:  and that is FREEDOM.  Freedom to worship or not to worship, Freedom to be the kind of person we want to be, Freedom to hang out with who we want to, Freedom to go to work or not go to work depending upon how hungry we are.   My point being that regardless of what nationality, faith or ethnic culture we come from, I think there is a universal truth that applies to us all.  I know you are saying what Ken, what universal truth are you referring to.  Well I am going to tell you:  KINDNESS.  Yes kindness.  As Mother Teresa once said "Small things done with great love will change the world."  So tomorrow when I pass the Statue of Liberty standing in the cold, I am going to stop and give her a cup of hot chocolate and maybe a donut.  Just a small way of paying back what I have been so freely given.  I hope you have the opportunity to show a little bit of love to someone today.