One hundred years ago, Thomas and Katherine Fagan had their first of nine children on a farm near a small town in Wisconsin. They went on to have eight more children who, in turn, gave them 36 grandchildren.

I am one of those grandchildren; nearly the youngest even though I am the daughter of that first child, David Fagan, born in 1918. My parents were older when they had me. I was number six, and “a pleasant surprise.” 

When I applied to Humboldt State University in 1982, I didn’t get in. Since the acceptance rate was probably upward of 80% (compared to between 5% and 12% for the most competitive schools today), not getting in was quite a feat. 

The concept of getting what you think about is not a new idea. In fact, the belief that our thoughts shape our lives has been around for as long as humankind has philosophized.