Crossing Your Bridge

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." -Soren Kierkegaard

You have probably heard the phrase, "never look back, always keep looking forwards" and wondered what it really means. On the surface I would look at the phrase and think I am to bolt to the future with no regard for the past. Even Thoreau said, "Never look back unless you are planning to go that way."

We can never go back to change the past, nor would we want to.

It is 'forward' in direction that we want to take our life. I also believe that while we are moving forward, we do need to look back in order to understand the person we have become. The past contains the building blocks of what, whom and how we have gotten to where we are currently in life.

If we understand the person we are today will serve as a guide post for who we want to become. We are not dictated by past events, only shaped by them. The future holds endless possibility. So it is important to know who you are by knowing where you have been.

But do not let the past pull you into its grasp. Leave all of that 'stuff' behind you. None of that can be changed now, only learned from.

Just like water which has flowed under the bridge, our past is gone.

You are here today standing on that bridge crossing into another time in your life. You have been given the opportunity to make new choices and changes. This is your bridge that exists between the past and your future.

You cross this bridge every moment of the day getting to decide what is next for your life. The future is on the other side waiting for you to decide.

I say move forward in life having learned from the past, full of expectation for greater things in your life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Bridge the Divide

“Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” -William James

There are many times in our lives when we will encounter conflict with another person. Usually it is someone that you know, a co-worker, friend or family member. It is those times which will test you and your commitment to making the relationship work.

Take the story of 'The Two Sisters' by H.E. Bates and their growing independence from each other but a yearning to keep themselves close. The wants of each can be in conflict with each other and result in hurt feelings and separation.

But each has the ability to determine their own attitude and not allow pain to develop in the relationship. Each can let a good attitude rule the day, to be happy for each other in their decisions and adjust accordingly.

So many times an issue can develop between two people that creates a canyon-wide divide in their lives. Many years can pass before they each are willing and can fill in that divide which keeps them apart. If they do repair and come back together they each find that the time lost is more precious then what had caused the divide in the first place.

Rise above the situation in your life and allow your life to be deepened with greater fullness. Do not allow that which will eventually be deemed petty to take away your time with others. Be happy in each other and happiness will be returned to you.

Stay inspired my friends!

A Bridge To Cross

"I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment." -Patti Smith

For twenty-one days, the church my wife and I attend are participating in a fast. Now you and many others will have differing opinions and ideas about how one should fast and for what reasons. I am no different in that, but I tend to believe it is meant to help us redirect our focus and allow us more time to reflect, pray or meditate.

I see it also as a time to rethink or readjust our own attitudes. You see for me, I want for you the same things I want for my life and that would be a great life and great success. It sounds simple but each of us have a vision for our own lives and now would be a good time to adopt a stronger belief in that vision.

As I write articles each day, I am writing words that are meant to keep you on your path to accomplishment. The articles are also meant to serve me for it helps keep me corrected, encouraged and believing in achieving even more in this life. The path spoken of is the one you journey on towards dreams.

Just remember that when I talk of change, you have to understand that change in itself is only the first step. Taking that first step means you are going to 'change' your life. From there, it is a matter of one foot in front of the other, leaving your baggage behind and willing to experience something new.

Life may seem to stay the same around you. It will remain the same where you live and work. That is unless you change your environment. The real work will be to change that environment and change the aspects of your life which are keeping you from achieving your dreams. It is a hard process and can be discouraging at times, but keep on your path, keep on believing.

So join me as begin our walk across the bridge to something new and greater. I'll take you as far as I can but much of the work will be yours to complete. Let's get started and take the first steps together.

And should we happen to approach the Bridge of Death on our path, be sure to know something about birds.



Stay inspired my friends.

Getting Over the Bridge

"When a decision has to be made suddenly, experience and gut feeling is sometimes all you can go with." -Joseph Primm

Here I was coming up I-278 towards the interchange with I-87 near the borough of Manhattan in New York City. If I successfully navigated this during rush hour, I would successfully make it out to my hotel in Teterboro, NJ. I wasn't worried because getting lost doesn't phase me too much, just the idea of not figuring it out would have bothered me.

So negotiating the various lanes, lack of signs and a 'general' map of the route, instinct had to work. I had prepared or so I thought, the maps looked rather easy but sometimes reality is a bit more harsh. Life tends to be that way most times as well.

We plan and plan, writing down on paper those goals in perfect order. If we do this first, exit to the right here and cross over the bridge to the next step; then everything will work out perfectly. But than you come to the interchange of I-87 and I-95, looking for exit 7S. Check out the map and then see what the reality is.

You and I both have had dreams for what we wanted our lives to be. Each of us held onto those visions and were working slowly towards them. Life than got in the way, the reality of circumstance and failed decisions.

What do you do when that happens and life needs you to be in the left lane when in fact your trapped in the right hand lane? What do you do when all of a sudden there are multiple exit choices and no proper signs to guide you? What happens if the GPS on your life conks out and a decision has to be made now?

You trust in yourself and simply make a decision. You go with that and adjust from it. The traffic in my life prevented me from going the original direction I wanted to. I couldn't get over into that left lane and my life took a vastly different course. So I took the road handed to me, adjusted my plans and moved on.

The destination may look different, but it is one filled with happiness and contentment. I made a decision not to force myself back into the left lane. My experience and gut feeling told me to go ahead and stay in the lane and take that course. It took me to where I needed to be, it got me across the George Washington Bridge and my best life.

You can achieve your best life, a happy life even when faced with making a quick decision. Let your instincts guide you when needed, prepare at other times, but take the road and let it lead you to your destination in life.

Build Towards Your Dreams

Building a bridge to your dreams, building a bridge to a greater life; this bridge you are building will be one that takes you to a higher place. The Brooklyn Bridge was a dream of John Roebling in which he encountered many obstacles to getting built. But the dream was fulfilled and there have been millions of people whom have benefited from that dream.

Your own efforts to seek out your vision or dream will be filled with the naysayers and obstacles to success. But persevere and you will succeed. Build a bridge to your future.