From best-selling author/retired surgeon Dr. Bernie Siegel to so many others, the recommendation is to surround oneself with humor, whether it be cartoons, videos, magazines, or whatever else is available at the moment. Cartoons are usually readily available, especially on the Internet or newspapers. A funny cartoon can release endorphins immediately; the type of immune system-friendly ones that can, allegedly not only make you live longer, but healthier. In my own life, common sense tells me that if I was unable to utilize humor, life would be a bit drab. So would my health. I have recovered from some severe illnesses, a few that doctors said "I might not make it", I think, only because of my sense of humor. I am certain their own potions helped as well, but without laughter and hope, faith can dissolve rapidly, at least in my life.

Londons Times Cartoons was launched in 1997 after my mom died. I did not have a lot to start with, as far as financing, but had a lot of creative ideas, and was fortunate enough to build an illustrative and management team who knew what they were doing. When everything came together, from nothing, and it took a life of its own, and I was humbled and pleasantly surprised as were my colleagues.

It would not be long before I would come to the realization, perhaps for the first time, at age 43, that if the common man or woman puts their mind to something, they can do it, regardless of social status, education, gender or race. It simply takes focus, a plan, and the guts to work the plan. When I say guts, I don't mean at all that one is a hero for trying it. It is only that I have found in my lifetime, that dreams are "a dime a dozen". Everyone has a book in them, a huge building, a creative venture, or some other dream. More often than not, it stays with them, in their heads, until the very end. Nothing is more common, yet nothing more fixable simply by taking a few steps.

A person can achieve anything, and often it takes the help of others. I will give you an example. Over the years, I had written literally thousands of cartoons. Though I could draw fairly well, not well enough to meet the standards of what I wanted in a cartoon. Thanks to the Internet, I found a way to recruit some of the best illustrators of cartoons on the Internet. They were willing to take on this project with me, still in its seed/dream stage, based on the quality of the concepts which would later become cartoons.

One year later, maybe 1998, I had possibly 100 cartoons up on a free sub-domain. I could not even afford my own domain at the time. Pop-up ads ruled the site and visitors usually got angry and left as soon as they arrived. But I persisted. And I use that word because of how important it is. Persistence is probably as important, if not more important, than venture capital and unique talent.

I believe that being persistent and reliable, not just alone but that of my creative team, within ten years, we built Londons Times Cartoons and 11 e-stores. We now have over 8000 color cartoons and almost 100,000 licensed image products that sell well. Our main website, Londons Times Cartoons. We have received nearly 8 million visitors since 2005.

I look back in amazement. I cannot believe it all happened in such a short time-span as a decade. But it did. And it did while I was disabled. I had been employed since age 12 and became disabled in my early forties due to depression and heart disease. During that time I also went back to school and finished three years in business. I am on break now, taking care of other health issues, and then plan to return to finish and work on my masters.

I know now that if I think it and plan it, and reach out for help, it is just a matter of time before I am doing it and accomplishing it. And if I can do it, anyone can.