Expect It Your Self

“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I'm not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” ― C. JoyBell C.

An article appeared a few years back in Popular Mechanics about a doctor and assistant professor at the Stanford School of Medicine by the name of Jaimie Henderson. His specialty is neurosurgery and the article talks about the computer-aided tools he uses for surgery on the brain.

This really is brain surgery (with or without a computer).

If your job is brain surgery, it becomes imperative that you are not having a bad day and still expect to perform brain surgery. Dr. Henderson says, "We are all humbled and inspired every day by the complexity of the human brain. Absolute perfection is expected every time I operate. And that's okay."

Such a great way to approach your job or any thing you do in life.

You might think your own work in life as, "...it isn't brain surgery." Guess what, for some it really is brain surgery. Yet it should not diminish the importance of what you do each and every day.

What you do and who you are remains just as important.

Trying to have a good day everyday should be something you expect of yourself. As the good doctor says and you should say as well, "...and that's okay."

Stay inspired my friends!

The Little Things

“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.” ― Andy Warhol

I have written quite often how we should be doing small things that touch other people's lives. You open a door, let another car into the line of traffic or maybe sending a smile their way. All good things are returned to you in ways you will never expect. For me it happened in a way I did not expect.

Good things come in unexpected ways.

I was eating dinner with my son who is in the U.S. Army. We had finished eating at a local restaurant and were getting ready to leave. The waitress had brought our bill and I noticed it was short one meal. I called her back over in order to get it corrected. It turns out that someone in the restaurant had paid for my son's meal.

I asked whom it was so that we could thank them, but it was indicated they wished to remain anonymous. A very nice gesture which touched me in a way I didn't think it could. My son was grateful and I could tell in his quiet way that it had made an impression.

Not looking for headlines, just a person doing something nice for another.

All of us can not fly another to Paris to view the Eiffel Tower, but we can give them a key chain. It is the little things that let another person know we are thinking of them or that we do care. A simple gesture that has a grand effect.

The little things in life do matter.

You can do something for others every day of your life. You can start right now, tonight or in the morning - find one small thing to do. To paraphrase a quote, "The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention." Small things become great in their own simplicity.

Stay inspired my friends.

Wrangling Life

Cowboy Roping Cow by G.A. Randall

“Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it;
anything but live for it” ~ Charles Caleb Colton

Every day you hear and read the discussions ranging over many subjects covering the spectrum of life. People will argue and try to convince others about those things important to them. On and on it goes, the dance of debate.

The quote from Charles Colton is quite applicable and not only to one's religion but everything in life. It serves as a reminder to me of how I should live my life. While I write books, gives speeches, argue my point; it is truly by living a good life I will be most convincing.

How you live your life reflects your beliefs more than all the words you speak. Now that I have written and tried to convince you with these words, I will head out and live those words. I know you will do the same.

Try to be a living example of what is good in this life. None of us, including myself are perfect. But we can try to live a good life and with that example, live for it.

Stay inspired my friends.

Good Things Happen

"If I were to say, 'God, why me?' about the bad things, then I should have said, 'God, why me?' about the good things that happened in my life." - Arthur Ashe

You have probably asked this in your own life, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It is an longstanding question that really serves the purpose of wondering why things happen at all. As humans we have a never ending quest to understand why anything happens to or around us.

So when it comes to the question itself, bad things do not happen to just good people.

Bad things happen to all kinds of people.

Life is that way and it is within our human nature to wonder why.

As an example, a good friend of mine has been battling cancer. There is a bigger story leading up to this but certainly allows one to ask the question why. Through all of this, his attitude remains positive and hopeful. Whenever I ask how the day or moment is going, he gives me a thumbs up. He understands the reality of that day or moment, but hope abounds within him.

And with that thumbs up, I know not to focus on just the bad in life.

I am unable to predict the outcome of someones predicament, but I can learn from it. Circumstance comes with life, it just does. Even with all of the bad which seems to happen in life, there is also goodness occurring each and every day to people.

If we concentrate on just the bad, we will believe that only bad exists.

If we give attention to the good, then hope will strengthen and lift us.

So I ask you to believe in good things happening just as often, if not more, than the bad. Treat life with a positive outlook even when the bad happens. Let those good things in life be the greater focus.

Stay inspired by friends.

One Thing To Do

“The reality is that doing good unto others actually does more good for you.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

It is cold in Boston this particular morning as I start my rental car. The dashboard reveals a single and solitary digit of 1 degree Fahrenheit. Yes it is cold, but that one digit reminds me that each of us should accomplish ONE act of kindness each and every day.

Every day, every moment, we have an opportunity to do, say or attempt at least one good thing. It isn't a difficult task nor does it require intense planning. All that is required is the desire to leave others with something positive in their own lives.

... a smile ...
... holding open a door ...
... allowing another driver to enter the freeway in front of us ...

Each are small acts of kindness we can perform.

... buying someone a meal ...
... tip the waiter a little more than usual ...
... donating regularly to a charity ...

Each are greater but still easily accomplished acts of goodness.

The one thing you can do each day is to give it from your heart. No matter how small it may seem, when done from the heart it will have a huge impact on others. So create goodness in your daily life by creating one good thing in someone else's life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Ain't Life Grand

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music." -Ronald Reagan

Each of us have a way of making the blues disappear after a hard time. In music, the lyrics can tend to lift us from those sad or tough times. Finding the right song can sometimes take a lot of searching through your song lists to find just the right one.

One of those songs I have found comes from a group called Widespread Panic. The song is titled "Ain't Life Grand" and it says to me that despite all else, life really is good.

The sun came out the other day
Through those dusty clouds
And in my mind I was a child
And it felt good!

And it does feel good today. Even with many of the circumstances that can bring us down, life really is a great thing.

Remind yourself that there really are many great things you have in this life. And after you allow yourself that bit goodness inside, it will have felt good because "ain't life grand?"

Good Friday Lesson

"You must never conclude, even though everything goes wrong, that you cannot succeed. Even at the worst there is a way out, a hidden secret that can turn failure into success and despair into happiness. No situation is so dark, that there is not a ray of light." -Norman Vincent Peale

Each of us will go through points in life that cause us to question whether we can complete the journey. It could be finishing high school, years of college debt, loneliness, divorce or the death of a loved one. There are so many stories each of us could tell. You could call these testimonials of ones completed journey through a tough change in life. The completion of one journey is the start of another using the lessons learned.

Yet the path we are on can get quite dark at times. There are times of pain due to health or the crush of a lost relationship. There are times of economic strain, lack of wisdom on what to do with our life and anxiety over things uncontrolled. The tunnel we have entered grows darker with the fading light behind us.

there are of course many things to help cast light upon our darkened path. We have words of encouragement, along with family and friends to help lift us up. We can trust in our own foot steps as we feel our way along the pitch black walls of the tunnel, straining our eyes for any hope.

But we also have one great and wondrous thing going for us.

We have what is being celebrated by Christian believers. We have the gift given to us by the ONE that died in that darkness so our own darkness was given light. It is the knowledge which places a light at the end of the tunnel, offering us a beacon of hope to carry on.

Have a Good Friday, joyful Easter and stay inspired my friends.

A World Too Small

"Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves." -Adrienne Clarkson

Last week our natural world could no longer contain the life that was Manuel Jefferson "Jeff" Bledsoe. I knew Jeff through our C3 Church affiliation and various men's events we each attended. The picture above is one of my favorite views from one such conference. A man in reflection, coming into contentment; a man finding his place with God.

Jeff had some really close friends and there have been great words said and written about him. One such article is Jeff is in Heaven Because, written by Jim Crumbley that says quite a bit about the man God knew all along.

One great Bible verse quoted in the article is;

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12

Yes, the natural world is never big enough to hold us once we are called to a much bigger eternal life. It has happened to many we know, will happen to many others, and will happen to us one day. We will outgrow what the world can provide. We will move into a larger and greater place that only God's love contain.

Rest well Jeff, rest well for the good fight has been fought and eternal greatness in God has been won. Hooah!

Why Yes There Is

Two days in a row, because I think it bears repeating.

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus."

Every year at this time, we start to question if there is any "good" left in this world. The stories regarding politics, the economy, wars and poverty seem to invade the daily news.

But I am here to say that there is quite a bit of "good" in this world. There are many people that make life a great thing to have. The human spirit remains bold and strong in wanting to do "good" everyday.

Whether you are black, white, Hispanic or Asian; if you are Heterosexual or not; if man or woman; rich or poor; there is "good" in life and in those around us.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the hearts and souls or more people than not. So have a very Merry Christmas and remember all that is "good" in this world.

And stay inspired my friends.

+++++++++++++++++++++

And now the letter.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus."

Every year at this time, we start to question if there is any "good" left in this world. The stories regarding politics, the economy, wars and poverty seem to invade the daily news.

But I am here to say that there is quite a bit of "good" in this world. There are many people that make life a great thing to have. The human spirit remains bold and strong in wanting to do "good" everyday.

Whether you are black, white, Hispanic or Asian; if you are Heterosexual or not; if man or woman; rich or poor; there is "good" in life and in those around us.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the hearts and souls or more people than not. So have a very Merry Christmas and remember all that is "good" in this world.

And stay inspired my friends.

+++++++++++++++++++++

And now the letter.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Quiet Good

"You don't have to know somebody to do good for somebody."
-Mennonite Woman

I was watching a nightly news story about Mennonite's from Central Pennsylvania that went to Diamond, Louisiana to assist those still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. They are rebuilding homes for many folks, which in turn is helping rebuild lives. All without payment, all without banners and celebrations. Quietly going about doing something good.

It is something that happens more often than you might think. There are individuals doing good things quietly. Many times people are helping those they know from family, church or work. Maybe a friend or other person through your child's school are being attended to. People helping other people within the community.

But as the unknown Mennonite woman said, "you don't have to know somebody to do good for somebody." It is giving for your fellow human being. It is helping out someone in need. It is doing all of this for the sole purpose of just doing good.

So many people have their stories of doing something for another; quietly and without trumpets and horns heralding their deed. If you would like to anonymously share your story, let me know. Send me a private email to josephprimm@bellsouth.net and I'll share the stories with others.

Speaking From Beyond

Anita Kunz

So here I am, a full week of having meetings and lots of talking.  I mean a whole lot of talking going on.  I learned some time ago that when these types of weeks come along, forget drinking anything but lots of water.  Through out our lives we talk continuously.

If we take some averages thrown out there that women on average speak 20,000 words in a day and men only 7,000 words; I'll take an average of 13,500 words per day. If you then figure the average lifespan of a person (world average) of 68.9 years, then a person speaks roughly 338,715,000 words in a lifetime. Give or take a few words.

I then find it interesting that someone would have invented a device that will let you speak even beyond this lifetime. I kid you not, a Talking Tombstone that is described as a "Video Enhanced Gravemarker". I'm not certain how serious this is, but I would assume that once you have passed on, its time to let someone else do the talking.

We have plenty of time during our lives to say what we want. The point I'm trying to make is to make those words count. Tell someone how great they are today. Tell someone close to you how much you love them. Tell others the good things that can make their lives better.

It doesn't mean you can't correct someone or be critical at times. We do all too much of that is the problem. Find something good to say as well. Don't wait until the time runs short. My challenge to you is to finish reading this article, maybe pass it along to someone, but more importantly call someone and tell them something good about their life.

The Good Life

Do we already have what we want or need in life?



It is a great day, enjoy a good life.
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