"The way to get started is to stop talking and start doing."- Walt Disney

"I've got braces" is what my son Rashad changed his screen name to on his return from the Orthodontist. He was all excited to let his friends know of the change that had taken place. This change was the result of the work done by Dr. Barry Russell and his fine assistants including Joy earlier in the day. But it was only the start and he knew it as his face grimiest with pain and shock as they stretched and pulled and put yucky stuff in his mouth, all in preparation for the appliances.

As I watched, I realized that a lot of work goes into creating straight teeth and beautiful smiles. Not only is it work but also for Rashad the journey will take at least 22 months, a few oral surgeries and a lot of discipline. You see on the way to those straight and beautiful pearlies, he has to give up a lot of his favorite snack foods. His face showed the concern as he was told that he would not be able to eat nuts (he and I enjoy shelling and eating walnuts and pecans), chocolate bars, popcorn or white bread. He would also now have to brush his teeth not twice a day but for 3 minutes after each meal or snack. This meant his toothbrush was becoming his constant companion. He would also have to floss every night.

All of these changes could be overwhelming for anyone much less a teenager, but it's what is required to ensure the proper maintenance of the braces and teeth during this transition.

"The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they're still alive."- Unknown

February is Special - It is Heart month! And the two big eventscelebrated this month are the Heart Ball and Valentine's Day both are valuable expressions of Love

Valentine's Day honor its patron the Italian priest Saint Valentine and is celebrated by exchanging tokens of affection. As you exchange candies,flowers or whatever is your heart's way of expressing this feeling don't forget to help those who were unfortunate to have started out with a broken heart, the kids for whom the Heart Ball hosted by the Sir Victor Sassoon Heart Foundation is their biggest fund raiser.

So this month be sure and use these opportunities to affect the life of your love ones and those around you in very special ways!

And although you may be madly in Love and planning on having anexciting time with the one you love this Valentine's Day, you must admit that there are very few combinations more perplexing than love and Money. In fact, the only more perplexing combination is expecting two persons from different social, religious, professional and economical backgrounds to come together and create a successful marriage.

Even you had your doubt and didn't think the couple at the last wedding you attended stood a chance at creating a successful life together.

Let's look at the combination, it usually goes like this- she is a professional; he is not - But that's love! While he is spending all the money he can get his hands on, she is stretching her dollar so that she can do and save as much as she can.

This coupled with the fact that whiles your bodies may experienceintimacy, your goals and money usually don't. You feel that even inmarriage your money is still single and nobody's business but yours. Not a good recipe for success.

That's why money or should I say the lack of money is among the leading contributors to divorce and it is little wonder, because financial decisions so often are charged with emotions that goes well beyond the money.