What If

“You’re worried about what-ifs. Well, what if you stopped worrying?”
― Shannon Celebi

What if?



Stay inspired my friends!

Whats Next

“There are as many worlds as there are kinds of days, and as an opal changes its colors and its fire to match the nature of a day, so do I.”
― John Steinbeck

On November 15, 1871, Horace Greeley who was editor of the New York Tribune, wrote this letter to a young reporter. The reporters name was R. L. Sanderson of Duxbury, Massachusetts who was looking for career advice.

Dear Sir:

So many people ask me what they shall do; so few tell me what they can do. Yet this is the pivot wherein all must turn. I believe that each of us who has his place to make should go where men are wanted, and where employment is not bestowed as alms. Of course, I say to all who are in want of work, Go West!

But what can you do? and how can your family help you? Your mother, I infer, is to be counted out as an effective worker. But what of the rest? And you – can you chop? Can you plow? Can you mow? Can you cut up Indian corn? I reckon not. And in the west it is hard to find such work as you have been accustomed to. The conditions of living are very rude there.

On the whole I say, stay where you are; do as well as you can; and devote every spare hour to making yourself familiar with the conditions and dexterity required for the efficient conservation of out-door industry in a new country. Having mastered these, gather up your family and Go West!

Yours,
Horace Greeley

My own son is leaving today, embarking on a new adventure out west.

He has filled his course with lessons learned and is now embarking on a western happening. There is a long road stretching leading him to both unexpected things but also leading him to expectation.

We wish him well and look forward to the day when we can once again sit and talk of music, sports and worldly plans.

Stay inspired my son!

Honoring Our Veterans

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - President George Washington

The day begins with gnats biting at their faces while they stand in formation awaiting the days orders. It is in the same early morning light on a hot and humid field they train. The long ruck marches through a lifting fog only to be met by a blistering sun.

These are the men and women who train and prepare 
while we make our morning coffee.

As rush hour traffic frustrates our commute, two or more hours have already passed for military personnel. In fact, the military never sleeps in protecting our ability to wave a flag, argue left or right and dance our nights away.

I have known many who served their country. Some were once young while others are still young in the eyes of aging men.

All of them are proud and brave.

Their names are not in the great books and movies we each have read or watched. There are no statues bearing their likeness in the town square nor portraits upon the walls of government buildings.

Yet each one remains as brave and heroic as any medal given.

Each served during time of war.

Each I respect and admire.

Each are heroes.

Ralph Gale - World War I

Lawrence Primm - World War II

Paul Schmidt - World War II

Arnold Gale - World War II / Korean War

Gerald Primm - Vietnam War

John Primm - Vietnam War

Roy Carter - Vietnam War

Joseph Schmidt - Gulf War I

Daniel Primm- Iraq

There are many other Veterans whom I could name; friends, friends of friends, men and women I admire. To do so would take days upon days to honor each and every one of them. Many served during times of conflict and during times of peace. Each placed their lives into service of others.

And many more who gave their life in defense,
honor and service to our country.

Today we honor those who train in the early morning fog. We honor those who protect our freedoms and have sacrificed so that others may live in freedom. On this day we honor all veterans.

Thank you brave and gallant warriors.

Thank you for each and every moment given.

Stay inspired my friends!

Your Coffee Cup

“The smell of coffee was enough to wake up my neighbors. In a display of gratitude, they complained about my music being too loud.” ― Jarod Kintz

Are we in such a state of concern to think a red cup can define our life?

Take the story of group of people, highly established in their beliefs, getting together one day at a favorite Starbucks location to chat. Their conversation soon turned into complaints about their life, society and the plain red holiday cups the Starbucks coffee was served in.

Soon a stranger having overheard their conversation found several older cups on the shelves having more holiday themed designs. He paid for each of the cups filled with coffee and offered them to the group gathered at the table.

Each of the astounded coffee drinkers took the festive cups setting their own drinks to the side. When all of them had their new cup of coffee in hand, the stranger said: "If you noticed, all of the holiday themed cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain red ones."

He continued by saying, "While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink."

Consider that life is the coffee.

Your jobs, money and position in society are the cups. Your cup might be red, blue, brown, white, black or festive holiday themed. But those cups are just tools to hold and contain life.

The cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Many times by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. We enjoy and live for the coffee, not the cups! The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything.

What they do is make the best of everything.

Enjoy your coffee, tea or milk in any cup that is handy. Inside is what matters.

Stay inspired my friends!