I am hopefully halfway through my life and at 42 it is amazing to see the changes in our small world today.  I think the world I grew up with my parents and their generation is gone and the new world that has evolved is amazing but scary because of it complexity.  If you add the uncertainty our financial crisis and world disorder, it makes you wonder what is our future and whatelse go wrong.  There is much to be thankful for in America while I am lifelong Republican I have never hoped and prayed that someone like President Obama would deliver on his campaign promises and do the right thing for once, I think we have let the politics and special interest of a few select few have changed our lives of so many.  I don't necessarily think their all their changes are for the better. 

If you have not been on the Internet recently, as someone who feels semi computer literate, it is overwhelming to see what it can do today.  For my business, I am trying to understand and use Linkedin.com.  The features of what it can do are not for the faint of heart, while it is easy to set up a page the logic to how it will help me is not totally clear.  I do believe there is a small conspiracy by 20 and 30 year olds to make the internet great but just confusing enough that I cannot figure it all out.  I will say there is one idiosyncrasy by 20 year olds that I cannot figure out.  Pure social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter I am sure people over 35 will never understand.  I don't want to insult them but the vanity is a little over the top.  Twitter lets you tell your network of connections what you are doing 24 hours a day via text messaging.  Come on do we really care? There are some great things on the web that are simple and incredibly useful.  Have you been on Craigslist.com?  It is so simple it is ridiculous.  I honestly believe that the reason my local newspaper is going out of business, is because people now list items for sale on Craigslist and the local classifieds are not needed. 

I could write about the internet for hours but I do believe if you don't embrace the internet or find your niche, as a student/worker/retiree in the United States you will not be connected with our current society, like it or not.

As we start another year, the lives for most if not all of us will be tougher than ever.  We will all continue to work harder.  But let's not forget what is important, slow down, take care our kids, parents and in my case my spouse.    The people I have met that are truly happy give more than they receive.  Look around and find someone to help, you won't have to look very far.  Have a great year.

Dave Owens is the President of Entrust SWFL a firm that specializes in Self Directed IRAs and 1031 Exchanges.  He can be reached at dave.owens@1031-ira.com or 239.333.1031 x203.