Welcome to Brunner & Associates, Inc.

We spend so much time and energy focusing on past interactions and wishing somehow they had been different.  Many relationships continue to suffer from arguing about, being offended by, and feeling hurt over something that has already happened.  Can we change – even a little bit – what has already occurred?  Of course not!  But we can learn from the past and apply what we’ve learned to actively shaping a better future.  I love what my friend Don says to help folks become more future oriented:  “Let’s give up all hope of a more perfect past.”  Amen.  It is more productive to use our energies to strengthen relationships going forward rather than living in the past.

When I was still living with my parents, my mom won a contest by submitting a short essay making this point.  No matter where one is or how accomplished he/she is, there is always someone who is younger, stronger, richer, more successful, better looking, faster, whatever.  Others’ circumstances are always different, and God made each one of unique.

To me, the secret is to compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself,

and even to set some goals for ourselves.  Do we need to improve our writing skills, strengthen our bodies through more exercise, lose weight, increase our reading of good books, learn a new language, build some friendships, etc.?   Let’s compare where we are now with how we were six months, a year, or two years ago.  Seeing our progress is encouraging and motivating.