How is something so important thought about so little?  When you say the word bridge what usually comes to mind is some grand structure like the Golden Gate Bridge or The Brooklyn Bridge, right?  You hardly notice all the much smaller bridges you cross over on a daily basis that allow you to glide over some small stream or even over other roads.  How many bridges do you cross on a daily basis that make life so much quicker, easier and more comfortable?

There are other types of bridges we build and cross over in life, not just the ones on our commute throughout our countries infrastructure.  The many relationship bridges are just as important as the ones we drive or walk over.  Some are big and grand and others small but just as important.  You know, the kind of bridge others will advise you to not burn down or close off.  We are fortunate today that we have so many different ways to keep our personal and professional bridges open and fire free.  Keeping in contact with an old sales representative or maybe an Army buddy with a simple email or message on social media helps.  Seeing that you will be at the same trade show at the same time as an old boss or mentor and getting together for a cold one helps.  Have a few bridges you burnt by accident?  Someone else or some misunderstood situation light the match?  It’s never too late to begin the process of rebuilding.  Be ready though, bridge building can take quite a long time.  In fact, sometimes you start building a bridge from both sides of the gap and something goes wrong and you wind up not meeting in the middle like you planned.  That’s life.  Bridges are not permanent however.  They have to be cared for and maintained.  It takes one full year to paint the Golden Gate Bridge.  Then they go to the other side and start all over again.  Bridges with colleagues and friends have to be maintained as well.  Like the car you drive the effort and expense in maintenance pays off in the long run.

Think about all the bridges that enhance your life in some way.  If you think your commute is long now, just imagine if you had to go around all those obstacles instead of gliding over them.

To get from San Francisco to Sausalito takes about 15 minutes without traffic.  No Golden Gate Bridge and you are looking at 3 hours or more.