A Greater New You

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." ~Hal Borland

The countdown has begun for many. The preparations for a new year are beginning. People are writing down their New Year's resolutions. The plans for 2010 are taking shape as we speak. The last day of 2009 will ring out in festive fashion. The first day of 2010 will be rung in with wild exhuberance for all to come.

As we prepare, take stock in what was accomplished in 2009. Look back to all those that you have made a difference to. Look back at all those people that made a difference in your life.

We do not forget all that we lost or learned during 2009. We continue on into the new year with greater expectation to accomplish even more. Take this week to prepare for a countdown to a greater you.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day - Enjoy the holiday and thank you for a great year.

Christmas, Yes Virginia

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus: The Classic Edition

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.” -Francis Pharcellus Church

As we enter into the Christian holiday of Christmas, the spirit of Christmas that can be felt by people of all religions is embodied in this letter.

~~~~~

Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

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.

~~~~~THE LETTER~~~~~

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.

~~~~~EDITORS RESPONSE~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a safe and merry Christmas! To all have a happy holiday season and new year!

Christmas Quiet

"The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas." -WC Jones

Here we are, the day before the day of the eve of "THE" day. Another day in the week you might think. But each day is special and wonderful if you think about it. There will of course be last minute shopping. The patience of people will be tested. The problems in your life will not magically disappear.

But like a gentle snow fall in the forest, for a short time we can enjoy the 'coming home' this holiday season brings to us. If you take the time to listen to the gentle rush of a breeze through that forest of new fallen snow. If you take the time to enjoy the moments of this season. It will be very much like coming home to mother.

The words to a song by Ben Lee that kind of resonate this time of year read;

Sweet mother I'm comin' home
Tell me mother can you hear me sing?
Your love is everything
Heart and soul
Breath and skin
Your love is everything

They come from Song For The Divine Mother Of The Universe. The link is to the song on Amazon...so no surprises.

What I like is that we each can find a song in our hearts to sing. And that no matter how it is sung, we are not alone during this season. If we simply take time to hear that quiet gentle song inside, we'll be prepared for most anything.

Christmas Travel

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is that time of year when people will travel all over to celebrate the season. There will be short car drives to Grandmother's home. There will be people travelling by bus, boat, airplanes and trains. In all, we each will travel with wishes of a happy and wonderful time.

We save our good heart for those at the far end of our travel plans. What we tend to forget is to carry that good heart in the open as we travel. If we fret and fuss at people along the path of our journey, it effects the end result. The destination will be clouded by your trip.

Everyone along the way is striving to have a happy holiday. But many along the way are either working or travelling such as yourself. There are frustrations each of us carry; the crowds, the delays, the weather and the attitude. Many of those frustrations are out of our control.

What is under our control is the attitude. We can each control our attitude when facing the inevitable obstacles. By knowing that 'life' happens ahead of time, we can better handle the circumstances that might befall us. A better attitude, a smile or carrying the beautiful feeling on the outside will spread to others. You can not change them, but you can help change the atmosphere.

In a more beautiful travel atmosphere, the possibilities are endless. The time spent travelling becomes a greater experience. It allows you to start the time at your destination on a positive note. The stories you will tell bring out the greater stories in others.

Travel in a better mood by carrying your heart on the outside. It will cause you to be a better person while spreading the beauty to those around you.

Christmas Presents

"The magi, as you know, were wise men - wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents." -Unknown

People are out and about, buying those last presents for those that are special in their lives. The buying frenzy will come to an end early in the evening of December 24th. The gifts will be wrapped in wonderful colors of paper. The bows will be tied with care. And the Christmas tree will seem to float on top of so many presents.

The gifts we give each year are thought out and well intentioned. That sweater or tie for Dad which looked so perfect in the store. Maybe it is perfume or jewelry that Mom is sure to wear once or twice. A train set for your son or a doll house for your daughter will brighten their eyes on Christmas morning.

But the gifts you can give each and everyday are within you as well. A simple kiss for your wife in the morning. Encouraging words to your children each day. The smile you give to people passing by. All of these things hold the idea of Christmas in their giving to another.

As this Christmas week proceeds, try a new habit of giving from the heart just a little more. Before you know it, the gifts will flow from you each and everyday. And as these gifts flow from your heart, they will be re-gifted to you along the way.

Have a happy holiday week to all my friends. To those that celebrate the religious significance of Christmas, a very merry and blessed holiday to you. It is a joyous end to another great year of life.

Christmas Life

"The ripple of a stone dropped in the water creates a wave which washes a sea shell upon the shore that brightens a childs day when found." -Joseph Primm

I have this Christmas wish that fills my head lately. It isn't the old traditional, good will and peace towards all men. There are plenty of people wishing that each and every year. It isn't the "chicken in every pot and a car in every garage", while that would be a great thing it isn't my wish.

There are many things we can and do wish for during this time of year. My wish falls more into wanting people to understand how important they each are individually. There are so many people that get the idea that they have no purpose or meaning to life. A life that would not matter to the greater events of life around them.

One could call this my revelation wish of "Its A Wonderful Life", that 1946 film by Frank Capra. It remains one of my favorite movies to watch during the Christmas season. The idea that your life would have meant nothing had it never occurred is furthest from reality. We have an impact throughout our life whether we realize it or not. The pebble dropped in the water seems insignificant, but the results are tremendous.

There is the idea called the 'Butterfly Effect' that has a part in all of this. A butterfly flapping its wings contributes to the conditions that can create a tornado, a gust of wind or other weather conditions. It seems so small and insignificant, but the flapping of its wings remains a piece to something greater that happens.

The same can be said for each of our lives. Without one of us, many things get altered, many things never happen. And when you take your life and try to diminish it to something meaningless, then you are diminishing the lives of others. You are important to what happens around you. You are important to life and the impact is has on others.

You may not realize it, but the ripple of a stone dropped in the water creates a wave which washes a sea shell upon the shore that brightens a childs day when found. That child is filled with excitement and wonderment. The child is spurred to discover more about the ocean, becoming a famous marine biologist such as Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

During this Christmas, my wish is for each of you, my family, siblings and anyone that questions themselves. You are important to those you may not know, you are important to those you do know. You are important to this 'wonderful life'.

Christmas Party

"There is a remarkable breakdown of taste and intelligence at Christmastime. Mature, responsible grown men wear neckties made of holly leaves and drink alcoholic beverages with raw egg yolks and cottage cheese in them." -P.J. O'Rourke

Wow, the bright and colorful lights strung from house to house, down numerous city streets and across all of earth. The world becomes a cheerful and wonderful site with all of the decorations this time of year.

We spend more money then we have, we smile more often then other times and we get a generally good feeling. We may tire of the many parties but we attend each of them and celebrate with family and friends.

The food just seems tastier and more enjoyable. The eggnog flows as do the spirits. We tend to overindulge and blame it on the season. We gain weight from the food and we drive after too much alcohol. The roads become a danger to others with the increased number of drunk drivers on the road. People lose their lives before they can see the new year. The joy and happiness gets replaced by sorrow and pain from the loss of a loved one.

There will likely be close to 37,000 traffic deaths this holiday season in the United States alone. Of which 37% of them or 13,690 will be alcohol related. The numbers have been decreasing with awareness, but so many remain avoidable. Even with this steady decline in fatalities, the number of drivers with drunk driving arrests is on the rise.

It is estimated that there are as many as two million drunk drivers with three or more convictions and more than 400,000 with five or more drunk driving convictions still behind the wheel.

Here are steps drivers can take to help avoid becoming a statistic:

1. If they drink, they shouldn’t drive no matter how little they think they’ve had.
2. Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
3. Avoid driving during early and late evening hours on holidays.

The Christmas parties at work and the celebrations at the home of friends will be a joyous occasion each and every time. With care, moderation and common sense there will be many more years of celebrating each of us can have.

Enjoy the holiday season, be of good cheer and spread happiness wherever you go. The time we have gives us an opportunity to make it a little better not only for ourselves, but for those around us.

Christmas Love

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action." -Mother Teresa

The scene of a perfect Christmas made even more special by a Currier & Ives painting. The view we want to have of a gentle snow outside and a warm nestling fire inside fills our mind. Crisply wrapped gifts glisten under the wonderfully decorated tree draws our eye. So many times we have searched for the idyllic setting.

The perfect Christmas setting from these pictures and advertisement is hardly attainable. The wind will likely be blowing outside and the cold will still seep inside. The level of Christmas we attain is not the gifts nor the picture perfect setting.

The level of Christmas we achieve is the love we attach to all that we do. At this time of the year we have a little more grace in our hearts. At this time of year we have a little more giving in our pocket books. At this time, we simply love more.

Christmas Gifts

"A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy." ~Edward P. Morgan

Tis the season to be jolly. A season when each of us can stop and ponder what is important in our lives. Whether it be the religious observances or simple celebrations, it affords us a time to gather with those we love.

It also gives us an opportunity to do something good for another person. There are many ways to do this and it doesn't have to be a large expensive effort. Small things can impact people in large ways.

Today, I'm promoting my books which are meant to inspire and motivate others. They give each of us hope and encouragement to do greater things in our lives. You can purchase through LULU.COM or search the Internet.

CHANGED LIVES and ATTITUDE IN WORDS are books that I wrote in order to provide a bit of inspiration. A way to show others that there is a path to a greater life, to change your circumstance and move forward.

Now there is the question I get asked, what happens to the money I make? Any money I make goes to different charities. Recipients such as Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, my church The C3 Church and other various organizations that do great things for both individuals and communities.

Heck, if I were getting rich on this there would be publishing companies knocking on my door (they are not, but eventually they will) and Oprah would have me listed in her book club (she has not, but I'm waiting for their phone call).

So get online and order a book to give someone for Christmas. Maybe buy it for yourself. And then drop me an email at josephprimm@bellsouth.net and tell me what changes you have made in life. Give me your story or the story of someone you know that either lifts someone or was lifted them self.

If I get enough of these stories, I will have another book with your story available for sharing next Christmas. Tis the season to be jolly. Spread the joy with others and see it impact your own life.

Faith and Fact

“Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.” -Richard Dawkins

Well here it goes, I'm venturing off into an area in which I will likely disgruntle a few people. The quote I'm using today is meant to spur a conversation and Richard Dawkins, a biological theorist and well publicized atheist, may just start one.

My use of the quote came to mind after spending some time with a friend whom is in the hospital. An accident at home left him with a bum shoulder that was not getting better with physical therapy. The medical specialist made a decision that based upon the continued symptoms, shoulder arthroscopic surgery would fix the issue. It seemed to me that the doctor was going based on faith in his experience only.

No MRI, no further tests, just go in and see what we can find. I call that exploratory as opposed to having a fact-based plan. It was simple faith in his ability to explore and discover which drove his surgical plan.

Once in the shoulder, more invasive steps were needed to open up the shoulder to try and repair. As the surgery proceeded, it became clear that no repair could occur and shoulder reconstruction would be required. So my friend will wait for this most current surgery to heal and have faith that a future surgery will resolve the injury.

His faith or belief will sustain him and push him towards having that reconstructive surgery. Only then will fact come into reality with either success or failure of the surgical repairs. Both faith and fact enter into the decisions made. This is where I believe the connection exists between faith and fact.

People take many different paths to resolving the story of their life. Some take a route of faith for all answers and resolution. When those answers do not come to realization, then they either flounder or question their belief.

Others will take a pure fact based approach to everything. They depend only upon the science of the question to provide an answer. When fact can not explain something, there is nothing for them to lean on for a decision.

To me, life is a mixture of both faith and fact. While depending solely upon faith could be considered a 'cop-out', depending upon fact only can result in never having the urge to try anything new. There has to be a certain level of faith in the unknown. Some may call it "exploratory surgery" or a "search for facts". Faith gives you the drive to keep moving forward while you investigate the facts.

Religion or science, we are all searching for a truth. It is our human nature to reach for understanding in everything we are. Faith drives my willingness to continue that pursuit. It satisfies for now my wonderment of the unknown, the reason for our existence, how we developed to the point we are. Fact gives me pieces to that puzzle that I'm assembling for my life.

Together, fact and faith will guide me through my natural existence. Together they will help me live a life that I want to live.

Am I Cranky

“There will be good days and bad, which means that some days I may be cranky and some days really cranky!” ~ Peter Jennings

So I fully admit it, I get cranky from time to time and my wife is probably still trying to figure it out. Guys will tend to crawl off into a 'man cave' and I'm no exception. But I will for no apparent or good reason simply become cranky.

Have I figured it out yet? No and not sure that I ever will. I sit back and try to review what started the mood but never find the source. With patience the mood swings away from me. Patience on the part of others and mostly my wife means I am lucky not to be living alone.

Its one of those things that life throws at us. Things that come at us in unexplainable ways. Things that we just have to deal with and move on from. Maybe it isn't being cranky, maybe its being wreckless, maybe its being depressed or maybe its being one of a thousand other things. Each one of these vary in frequency, length and level of intensity.

For some of these there are explanations and ways of eliminating them from your life. Others remain a mystery and become a part of our lives. What we need to make sure is that they do not take over our lives. With understanding people around us, we work through the 'cranky' period. With those same people around, you too will work through whatever it is you may be experiencing.

The Vision of Mission X

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." -Joel Barker

All of us have a vision in our minds. A goal or a dream of what or where we want to be in life. For some of us, the picture is still cloudy and developing. For others that picture is crystal clear.

Acknowledging the vision is a good start towards it. You must then study it to understand it more clearly. But once you have a hold of it, the power of that vision becomes stronger. It is that power which causes you to start moving towards the goal.

A 'friend' of mine, which is odd as we only know each other slightly through Twitter, is an independent film maker. I say odd because in some definitions, a friend is someone you know quite well. For us, we have a mutual liking, a friendly discourse of conversation and we both support the others efforts.

His Twitter name is @indiemoviemaker, but his real name is David Baker. An actor, writer, director and nice guy. As an independent film maker, that can not be an easy task. I have to catch myself in that I keep referring to him as a film maker. I would guess in the new technological age it is really movie making as film may be a thing of the past.

But to get back to my point, he has a vision of what he wants to accomplish in life. May that be great films, opening the way for hundreds of other independent film makers and maybe make a little bit of money along the way. He has a recent movie release called MISSION X. It is a movie about a documentary student who gets to interview a mercenary, then he gets to film a revenge attack. The trailer appears below.

The movie is great example of what one can do with limited resources, but a great idea and mind to complete it. David has so much more to do and offer. I don't know what his true vision is to accomplish in life, but he does have one.

And each of us have a vision hidden inside as well. And each of us have to develop that vision. It needs to become your "MISSION" in life to reach it. Find that piece of you that wants to do more. Then start moving towards it. The closer you get, the more clear it will become. Grab hold of your "mission" and pursue it with all of your heart.

MISSION X



To purchase this film, go to the MISSION X website. Well worth the money.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving !!

Calm Before The Storm

Steen Doessing - Calm Before The Storm

"Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm." -Marcus Garvey

The idioms "lull before the storm" and "calm before the storm" are terms for a quiet period just before a period of great activity or excitement. The literal reference being to weather. Today is one of those days that I would refer to as the calm before the storm of the holidays.

Halloween was a bit of a primer but Thanksgiving in the United States is the starting point of a nearly five week flurry. The gathering of families and friends for a large meal. The shopping madness, football games, decorating, more family and friends. The travelling, wrapping of presents, unwrapping of presents, more food and drink. All ending up with a celebration of a new year, family, friends and the end of what was a storm of activity.

What happens is that some people get a thrill from riding the waves of a storm while others get frightened by the noise. We sometimes forget that it is a rather long period of time in which we will ride high on the waves of enjoyment. While there will be other possible moments of disappointment. Some will want perfection in sailing through all of the celebration. Some will want it to just end.

While each of us will experience the holiday storm differently, be aware of two things; the storm will pass and that others will be weathering it with you. When you get too high or too low, look for a friend "in the whirlwind".

Enjoy your holiday season, enjoy the madness of it all and sail on to a great new year.

Maze Of Opportunity

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." -Winston Churchill

Life can seem very much like a maze that has thousands of turns and dead ends. We find a promising path to take, only to find it ends abruptly at nothing. Other paths we take give us new adventure and experience while never getting us to the final destination.

All of these paths teach us more about our life and the world around us. If we pay attention close enough, we will not repeat some of the old paths that failed before. We begin to map out our life and what we did to get where we currently are.

Many people find it too difficult and reach a wall, only to stay there. Giving up is the only solution for their life. What they fail to understand is that each failed path is an opportunity to learn. It is in that learning where we build the chart that enables us to reach our goals.

Kierkegaard said, "Life must be lived forwards, but can only be understood backwards." We learn from our past with the vision of where we want to be. Without understanding the failed paths of our life, we are nearly doomed to constantly repeat them. The frustration will build until we either choose to give up or change our attitude.

Look forward to the life you want and learn from the path already taken. Keep searching and the correct path will eventually present itself.

Marjorie's Music

Back from a great, but short vacation down to the beach in Panama City, Florida. Great time to reflect, rest, relax and recharge our lives before the holidays.

While I was gone, a friend sent me her latest music video that I wanted to share. She is an independent singer/songwriter by the name Marjorie Whitley. Odd that I've never asked her if she is related in any fashion to the (now deceased) singer Keith Whitley. But Marjorie's talent is not to be overshadowed by anyone else.

There are thousands of independent artists that are singers, songwriters, painters, photographers and movie makers. Each of them deserve our attention and support. Huge fame and fortune may not be the end result. But creating great music or whatever it is you create in life is what matters.

Each of us have talents; artistic, business, community or any of a number of things. You may not realize it but living life takes a certain amount of talent. Nurture your talents and live a great life. If we support each other along the way, then life gets lived a little better.

Enjoy Marjorie's music and if you feel inclined, support her and buy one of her music CDs. Or write her a note on Facebook of support and to find out more.



Enjoy the talent that surrounds us.

Is The Sky Blue

“There must be a positive and negative in everything in the universe in order to complete a circuit or circle, without which there would be no activity, no motion.” -John McDonald

So maybe I should let that sink in a little bit or let people wonder just what a quote like that is doing on a blog like this.

This blog is a positive, motivational, self improvement website that people can get a little bit of inspiration from. It is a way of helping you find some goodness to help you get through whatever it is you might be going through.

Yet I fully understand the reality of life, that you can not always live in the happy Neverland. There will be periods of the "not-so-happy". Even I have been called (in a nice way) a cynical b@$tard. Although I much prefer the term "centered contrarian".

My view is much more positive then not, but I find that I have to keep my life centered. So when I start approaching the starry, "pie-in-the-sky"; my instinct is to ensure I step back and view the other side.

The reason why?

I can not speak to those going through bad times with out understanding what they are facing. The 'positive' means nothing to them if it isn't relevant. So my cynicism for things can peek through from time to time. But again, that cynicism can come off sounding like I don't believe in having a great attitude.

Having a great attitude and leaning to the positive is what dreams are made of. Without it, we would never move forward. We would never try anything new or even want to for that matter. My contrarian ways are in some ways left over attributes but in no way do they diminish my belief in living life in a positive fashion.

You have to choose the way you want to live your life. That is the great thing about it. We get to choose it, we get to also change it. We can pull ourselves out of misery and choose happiness. No one else, no artificial thing, no magic potion can make that change...only you.

And if you say the sky is blue and I happen to say its not; then its just the cynic in me dreaming of a great sunrise.

Flower Bed Of Color

“It matters not what goal you seek; its secret here reposes: You've got to dig from week to week, to get Results or Roses” -Edgar Guest

A new week is upon us and you have the opportunity to put a small 'dent in the universe' with your actions. To work hard and advance your life each and everyday is possible when we allow ourselves the effort.

Many will sit and wonder why there are no flowers to smell. They yearn for all that is good yet are unwilling to work for it. They want to swing from a tree branch yet will never plant the tree. It is said "when is the best time to plant a tree?" The answer is twenty years ago. The second best time is today.

To achieve anything, we must start now and begin the process. Waiting will never accomplish the goal. Waiting will forever keep your dreams at a distance. A young girl grows up to raise a wonderful family. Life complete, the years of nurturing results in a flower bed of wonderful colors.

Pick yourself up today, this week and tend to the rose bushes. Nurture your life until one day you can 'stop and smell the roses' of success.

Sunrise

Taking the day off from writing. Yet a great sunrise should never go unseen, which is the power of the internet. Enjoy your weekend.

A Sore Knee

"Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up." -Unknown

I was listening to Jill Sweetman speak the other day and she related a story I found interesting. She was speaking about having worked out in our new fitness center. Afterwards, she was talking with some folks and indicated that her knee was quite sore. A physical therapist was in the group and told her that it was very likely not the knee but a muscle above the knee causing her pain.

It was interesting to me because when we have a complaint in our life, it is likely not the complaint but something else that is the real cause of the issue. What we see at the surface is not the root cause. You need to look beyond and find what the source is.

To look at where the complaint or failure originates will allow us to see just how close we are to success. Success is just beyond complaint or giving up. The source of failing may not be what you think it is. Resolving the source of the complaint may require change on your part.

Whatever it is that causes your complaint should be the focus of your attention. If the knee is sore, concentrate on the muscles associated with it. If you are annoyed by others driving on the road, concentrate more on your behavior and attitude towards it. Focus on the source and make changes which will place you closer to success.

Until you deal with the real cause, the knee will remain sore. Boldly resolve to get beyond the complaint and closer to your dreams.

Trust By Faith

"We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy" -Walter Anderson

Yesterday I was listening to a local radio station and thought I had heard incorrectly. It was a advertisement for a security firm that effectively proposed that to trust someone, you need to spy on them. The wife was suspicious of her husband. As the commercial has it, she buys their equipment and finds out her husband was being truthful all along. She can now trust him, all is well.

Isn't the definition of trust; "a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship." The whole concept of the commercial kind of amazed me. I assume this 'couple' would now have a long and wonderful relationship. As you may not notice, but I state that with full sarcasm. Additionally this is not meant to call out or criticize a radio station or it advertisers.

The mind set behind coming up with such a commercial does exist in people. There are those that have an inability to trust. It is likely that they have been hurt in the past or had people dishonor their trust. But how does one build trust without having faith?

Religion gets accused of promoting a blind faith in a God that can not be verified. It could be that some would like to have spy equipment to prove or disprove God's existence. Yet faith is what those believers, one I call myself, have in that existence and trust in that relationship. Again, I'm not here to debate God's existence.

What I do wish to state is that 'today' you build a relationship based upon faith in the other. You are opening yourself to the possibility of pain most certainly. But a deeper and more lasting relationship exists when trust is built on faith in the other person. Not by spying and tearing down that faith. Once you begin that process of verifying trust, the relationship is in big trouble.

The song you are listening to has a lyric which says, "I'm trusting You with all that I am." Do you trust your loved one based on faith or on some spy gadget? As I've said, the risk of getting hurt exists when the other person abuses that trust. But life is full of risk and when you get hurt, you get back up and keep moving. I know from experience about losing trust in someone, losing a love.

After dealing with the pain and working on my own issues, I opened up my heart again to trust another. Life did get better. Your life will get better.

Allow faith in another to be your guiding hand when it comes to trust. There will be signs when trust is broken, but lead with faith.

Joe - Happy Birthday To You

So its your birthday? Last one in your twenties. The thirties become even better.



Happy Birthday to you!!

Stand Against The Wind

Two Trees Diptych by Christina Goodman

“Stand together, yet not too near together; For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.” -Khalil Gibran

Each of us go through seasons in our life. The good ones which spring forth promise of joy and great things. All that happens is good and we seem to float along without a care.

We also have those cold and wintery times when we want to crawl under a blanket and shiver from the seemingly bad that encompasses us. We long for greater things but the darkness of winter never seems to abate.

It is during both the good and the bad that we should never stand alone. As different as we are from one another, we can stand firm for someone in need. And while we wilt against the bad, someone will be there for us.

Women have a very intense understanding of this. But men have a built in belief that it makes them less of a man not to stand alone. We fail to see that other men are going through the same types of issues. We fail to see that it is okay to lean on a brother.

The one which stands alone becomes the easy prey while the ones which stand together are a more imposing force. The Spartans knew this lesson and used it very effectively. When being attacked, they stood together in close formation and their shields became one impenetrable shield.

Then as one they moved against the enemy, one force, one unbroken force that no enemy could stand against. Doing more then one single man could do alone, brother to brother, shoulder to shoulder.

Each of us are different as the trees of a forest can be. But together we can become a wall which breaks the force of the wind. A wind that would try to bend and break us individually can be beaten back together.

Stand with your brother through both the good and the bad. Stand in support of the other when the winds try to break you apart.

Singing of Grandparents

I found this video by David Choi, that was too good to pass up. It brought back to very few memories I have of my own grandparents. As I was the second to the youngest in a large family, I think my grandparents were already old when I was born.

I was lucky to have my mother's Mom live into her 90s, so many memories of her. But for the others, there are single moments in time that I cherish.



Cherish and take care of them for they paved a path for you to walk. They smoothed the road a little bit, planted the flowers and trimmed the grass along the way. Take care of them and build your memories to pass down to all generations.

Enter At Your Own Risk

You've seen them, disclaimers ranging from the simple to the most complicated legal jargon one could imagine. Many times these are meant to protect the 'issuer' from any responsibility. Seems a little odd that someone would put forth something and then not want to take any responsibility for it. Here you go Mr. Customer, this really isn't very safe but please buy it and if it causes harm, well its not our fault.

One then has to think about the other side of this coin we've created. A product designed to remove stains in white clothes. Of course, its bleach. Yet someone decides that if it works on clothes, maybe it will clean the ink stains on my arm. They use it in an improper manner getting a rash or burn on their skin. They blame or take legal action. Well Mr. Seller, you didn't tell me I couldn't use it that way and its not my fault.

In Ireland, there is an old castle in Blarney that I have visited many times. As you approach the doorway to go in the actual castle, there is one of those typical "ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK" signs. The kind that many of us simply ignore. But as you walk through this place, you really could quite easily hurt yourself. It is unlike in the U.S. where these signs are posted. And with that there is every conceivable safety device to keep you from harming yourself.

I find it amusing because the sign in Ireland is more real and forces you to truly accept responsibility. Yes, you could hurt yourself but we are allowing you to see this magnificent old building. Whereas in the U.S., you are warned and all the safety devices are there but it exists to protect them from the legal fight that will occur when you get a splinter from dragging your hand down a wooden banister.

There are many versions and variations that swing from one end of the spectrum to the other. What I marvel at is that we work so very hard at avoiding personal responsibility for things. I'm not suggesting that there are no valid reasons on either side, but I do believe again that personal responsibility needs higher consideration.

Personal responsibility is something each of us should have and consider in all that we do. If we are the producer of something, are we doing everything we can to ensure it is safe and appropriate. If we are the consumer of something, are we using it in a safe and appropriate manner. It also goes for decisions and actions we take in life. Are we taking responsibility for our own actions whether it be our attitude, our work or our family?

The only thing we had no choice in was being born. But living life itself is full of risk. All of us live that life and "ENTER AT OUR OWN RISK" until the day we don't. Assume responsibility for your own life. Choose to live life with a great attitude and willingness to make it better for others. The 'risks' are well worth it.

Pancreatic Cancer

"God gave us memories that we might have roses in December." ~J.M. Barrie

Today marks the one year anniversary of my mother's passing away from Pancreatic Cancer. It is a day that our family carries in our hearts because Mom gave us so much during her final days. One thing she said that resonates with me to this day is, "Prayer was here for us before we knew what prayer was for."

To me it means that God is looking out for us even if we are unaware of it. I add my mother to that as well. She is looking out for each of us now from a greater place.

Today also marks the end of my one year tribute to her fight against Pancreatic Cancer. I have worn the following band for the full year, never taking it off, serving as a reminder of the strength she had.


I will remove this one and keep it in a special place of memories of my mother. I will obtain a new one and wear it at times and continue my efforts to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer research. All I'm asking for at this point is enough money to help researchers find a method of early detection. There are no methods of detecting this cancer early. This means that by the time it is detected, the chances of survival are greatly diminished.

So in that effort, my wife and I will be running in the PurpleStride Atlanta 2009 5K Run to raise research dollars again this year. This events primary purpose is to raise money for research and to raise awareness of Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States—and has the highest mortality rate of all the major cancers.

This year, 42,470 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 35,240 will die from the disease. The number of new cases and deaths caused by this deadly disease are increasing not decreasing. By 2030 the number of cases is projected to increase by 55%. The facts are undeniable, we need early detection and a path to a cure.

You can help by supporting our run and donating dollars to TEAM ROSE today. I thank you, my wife Laura thanks you and the Primm family thanks you.

Love you Mom. -Joey

One Small Cigarette Butt

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” -Jim Rohn

You have seen it most anywhere that you go. Cigarette butts laying near the intersections of our roads, along the curbs of sidewalks and tossed down the alleys of our cities. It is a habit of so many people to toss these out the window. It makes one wonder if those particular cars came without ash trays. Again, if they did, we have all seen someone pulling up and dumping their ash tray on the ground.

It may be that these people believe cigarette filters are biodegradable. In fact, cigarette butts are not biodegradable in the sense that most people think of the word. The acetate filters can take many years to decompose.

According to the CigaretteLitter.Org folks, "What happens after that butt gets casually flicked onto the street, nature trail, or beach? Typically wind and rain carry the cigarette into the water supply, where the toxic chemicals the cigarette filter was designed to trap leak out into aquatic ecosystems, threatening the quality of the water and many aquatic lifeforms. Cigarette butts may seem small, but with several trillion butts littered every year, the toxic chemicals add up!"

The Ocean Conservancy compiled results of a shoreline cleanup day conducted by volunteers in 68 countries. It covered a combined 34,000 miles of shoreline and collected 7 million pounds of litter, 80 percent of which had been washed from land into the water. Of the 7.7 million items of debris collected worldwide in 2006, cigarettes and cigarette butts accounted for roughly 1.9 million, the sixth consecutive year they have topped the list.

Within cities, the cost to clean up these small and seemingly insignificant eye sores is astounding. In San Francisco, annual clean up costs run close to $11 million; a cost that is shared by taxpayers. It is $11 million that could go to parks, school funding or other needed public services. But there are many that only consider themselves.

In surveys, many smokers blame their littering behavior on a lack of well-placed bins for cigarette butts. Yet, would these same people toss a cigarette out at the curb of their home. There is no handy trash bin available along their driveway at home, so is it littered with cigarette butts. Somehow I doubt that is the case.

Ashtrays have been available in cars for quite a few years. The excuse of no nearby trash bin doesn't work for the car driver. Although the mindset not to dirty their own property, the one that keeps them from dirtying the ash tray in their car is the same one that thinks nothing of tossing a cigarette butt elsewhere.

The point here is not to pick just on smokers as there is plenty to go around. The point is to take responsibility for life around you. That we each need to look beyond our own self and see how everything we do impacts others. Taking others into consideration in making decisions improves life for all. It improves your life even greater then being self-centered. It isn't all about you. It is about all of us.

There will be disagreement from others and those that look outward will continue to do so. The idea is to stop for a moment and think about your actions. Taking responsibility in this small area will mean responsibility in bigger areas of your life. Be a bigger, more responsible person and see it change your life for the better.

Happy Birthday Dad

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." -Unknown

Today is my father's 79th birthday, nearly eighty years of viewed life. There has been so much seen by his eyes. I send along happy wishes for so much more to see. His has been a life that like so many of us in which happy and sad events have defined his path.

I have always liked the picture above showing my mother and he in their last year of high school. Sweethearts with so much life's adventure ahead of them. To know their story, to know what has happened to them through the years is a great lesson for me.

Now it is very likely my father will not see this post. He isn't much for things like computers or the Internet. It can be frustrating for me knowing how much is available to him. And then I realize the frustration is more about me then it is him. He is happy with magazines, newspapers, radio and television. He likely gets more information on a daily basis then I do.

After my mother passed away from Pancreatic Cancer, I worried that he would be lost. He was to a certain degree and probably still struggles with it today. When you are married to someone for nearly 60 years, losing the other can be like losing your internal compass. What was is no longer other then the memory of everything you did on a daily basis with each other.

But I am proud of him and how he is adjusting. There are things I would have him do differently I suppose, but then again I realize those thoughts are more about me then it is him.

One needs to lift their eyes and look outward to see that each of us are unique. It should be our effort to embrace the difference and to nurture it. There will be disagreement but there will also be room for compromise. All we have to do is to look beyond ourselves and see life out ahead of us.

So a big "Happy Birthday" shout out to you Dad and hoping that you get to see so many more. And just maybe you'll take a chance one day on a computer. Okay, we'll start with that cell phone thing first.

Love you.

Mission: FIRE

“Each morning the day lies like a fresh shirt on our bed; this incomparably fine, incomparably tightly woven tissue of pure prediction fits us perfectly. The happiness of the next twenty-four hours depends on our ability, on waking, to pick it up.” -Walter Benjamin

October is the eighth month in the old Roman calendar, from the Latin "octo" meaning "eight". How could it possibly be the eighth month you say? This month retained its name when January and February were added to the calendar. You see, the calendar was originally created by the Romans and the year began in March. This meant that instead of October being the 10th month of the year it was originally the 8th month of the year.

What could this possibly have to do with anything?

It has to do with it being the first day of the month. The start of a new month, the start of a new day, the start of new possibility. We get a new chance every day, every week, month and year to accomplish new and greater things.

What becomes of our accomplishment depends upon the fire we set within our soul. It is that burning desire to chase our dreams and goals. With our new day or month, it is never too late to begin a change that brings new found light into your life.

Once you make that decision to light your spirit, you will be unable to contain it. The light will cause you to lift your eyes and see outwardly. The light will begin to shine brightly on others and fill the darkness.

Yes it might be the 'eighth' month of the year, but it does not matter if the 'eighth' or the 'tenth'; any month, any day of the year is the right time to catch that fire.

Call it MISSION:FIRE, the start of a greater day for the world.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Jim! You know, I never tire of this picture.


It is someone's birthday today. Do something nice, maybe sing a birthday song or wish them the best. Just spread a little cheer to those that deserve the attention.

Got Busy

Sorry for not writing on Thursday. Apparently I spaced off with other work. I'll be back tomorrow. Until then....look deeply into the picture.

Doing What Others Will Not

I have an acquaintance through the social media tool called Twitter. His Twitter name is @indiemoviemaker and is a filmmaker and actor. I'd recommend reading his blog to learn more about what he went through a couple of years ago. Also, do that thing I talk about so much; encourage, support, tell others.

Now even though we know each other through Twitter, I would not be bold enough to use the word friends. I really like the guy for as much as I know him through Twitter. Yet all we know of each other are our brief conversations and reading each others blogs and websites. Besides, I wouldn't presume to be known as a 'friend' simply because I follow his updates.

One day maybe we will have the opportunity to have a beer together, in person. At that point, maybe we will become good friends. But in following David, I sense his commitment to success, doing what he has to do in the pursuit of his dream. He reminds me of a quote from Albert E.N. Gray, that reads “The common denominator of success --- the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful --- lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do.”

Each of us will determine our level of success by what we are willing to do. I'm not talking about the moral or ethical choices because I believe you should always take the high road on those two subjects. What I am talking about is the hard work that is required. The hard choices one must make to continue on their chosen path. It could mean taking a job you don't want in order to support short term your goals. It could mean giving up certain comforts such as a nice car or expensive living arrangements.

As the quote reads, it is in doing those things necessary that failures would rather not do. We build ourselves and what may seem like two steps back is actually going to push us ahead even further.

There is no way I can predict @indiemovemaker...excuse me, David's success. I can only encourage and wish him great success. I feel he will achieve it, but it takes the hard work from him, the hard choices and sustained belief in himself that will actually propel him to greatness.

Be willing to do what others will not. Then you will find yourself on a path to success.

Operation Make A Difference

This is a heart warming story that I hope will move you to make a small contribution. The story comes from 11Alive here in the greater Atlanta area. So read the story, watch the video and then go to Operation Gracyn and make a difference.

LOGANVILLE, Ga. -- In the town of Loganville, so many in the community have reached out to help a four-year-old girl with cerebral palsy.

The girl is Gracyn Rhodes, and she was born at just 2 lbs., 6 oz. eleven weeks ahead of schedule. Her mother, Brandi, says doctors told her that night Gracyn would be "lucky to make it through the night."

Gracyn made it through the night, but she was developmentally slow and two years later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The two years since have been filled with therapy, injections, and braces -- even though Gracyn has learned to walk relatively well without them.

But she still struggles and falls frequently. Her family believes they have found the answer in a rare surgery called SDR; it helps with the spasticity and only applies a few CP patients.

But Gracyn falls into that group.

The surgery costs $40,000 and is best done in St. Louis; insurance won't cover out-of-state surgery, so the family has turned to the community in Loganville.

And the community has responded.

In less than a month, the people of Loganville have contributed roughly $14,000 to Gracyn. But, of course, that's not nearly enough, and Gracyn's parents are hoping to have raised the full $40,000 before their daughter's surgery in October.

Please go to www.operationgracyn.com to find out more and donate to the cause.

(Click to play the add...then click play again to see the news story)

Sick

Apologies, had a stomach virus that put me down for the day. But I'm back on Friday for certain.

The Good Life

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



It is a great day, enjoy a good life.
_

Contentment Right Here

"It's alright. Wherever you are right now, I tell you it's alright. That's where you're supposed to be now." -311

Soon I will have the annual celebration each of us have, which is a birthday. That ritual we perform to mark the successful completion of another year in this great life. It will be different this time around as my mother will not be here this time. She passed away last October from Pancreatic Cancer and each of us miss her. My sister passed away back in the late 1980s and there are those days in which I would love to have her here.

But my faith in God and understanding of life in general gives me contentment. Where I am in life right now, "it's alright." I don't share the passing of my mother to garner sympathy, but to note that each of us have our pain and joys in life. Not having loved ones to share this day with me can be sad, but I'll choose to have the memory of them with me. Joy will fill my heart in knowing "it's alright."

The picture you see is of my mother and sister many years ago. It is a picture that I found somewhat interesting in that you can see others in the mirror. Those people are my father and a couple of siblings. But why so interesting? It is as if I am getting a glimpse of them together from the other side. And those in the living mirror are what my mother and sister get to watch everyday.

It gives me that contentment I spoke about, that I'm right where I'm supposed to be. That it is alright both for me and for them. It makes me believe that if you can realize this contentment, your own life will be much better. It will allow you to feel the joy that life really is meant to be.

Find your joy in this life. Know that "it's alright" and experience that joy.
_

Change Happens

Change happens in small ways and in increments. That profile picture just doesn't do my good looks any justice. Yes, I am poking a bit of fun at myself. I have so much more that I want to say and continue to find ways to get you to read this blog.

A change in the format, look and feel is something that can spark a renewed interest. Change is a doorway to something new that will expand your life. Change is a never ending process we each go through. In other words, change is good.

I hope to continue doing this for a very long time and hope that you get just a little bit of encouragement, a little bit of wisdom, or a little bit of hope each day. Take what you learn and pass it on to someone else. Take the goodness in your heart and pass it through to them.

Ride with me on this journey and together we'll make it a wonderous life. Together we can make a difference. But changes happen and the time goes by without realizing it happened.

Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes.....


_

Constructing Change

I speak of change in my articles and change is coming to my blog. If all goes as planned, you will see a new look to this site next week. That time has come to allow the page to 'step through a door of change' and be different.

But until then, think of what you can do to change the world. What one thing can you do to make a difference for someone else. What one word do you have inside that will create change?

_

Joseph William Primm

I have been taking a couple days off from writing as I attend the C3 Americas Conference. Just taking this time to refresh my spirit. I understand that reading my articles have become an accustomed daily thing for many of you. So I take it seriously when I fail to write during the weekday. You get something from reading them and I get something from writing.

Also, I have a big announcement today......

On AUGUST 19, 2009 my nephew Bill and his wife Kelli gave birth to their first son born last night. His grandparents, Jerry and Linda are excited and proud to say the least.

Joseph William Primm
7 lbs 3 oz
19 inches long

And with red hair, which makes him an exceedingly good looking kid!



JOSEPH - from Ioseph, the Latin form of Greek Ιωσηφ (Ioseph), which was from the Hebrew name יוֹסֵף (Yosef) meaning "he will add".

WILLIAM - from the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection".

Joseph William Primm will add greatness and protection of others through out his life. Welcome to the world Joseph.
_

Keep Calm and Carry On

“Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.” -Michael Caine

Back in early 1939, the British government was having to consider the possibility of a German invasion on British soil. The government had to find a way to show the people that all efforts to protect and defend them was being done.

Propaganda posters such as the one above were being made ready. The message was simple, Keep Calm and Carry On. Two-and-a-half million copies were printed, although the poster was distributed only in limited numbers.

The history of this poster and others is fascinating to read. Something so simple that can truly have an impact on the pulse of a nation. I then position that against the quote from Michael Caine that surely you can remain calm on the surface, "...like a duck, calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath." Our outer demeanor can remain calm and observant as we go about our day. Yet inside we are working feverishly to keep moving forward.

The bigger picture for me though is that regardless of the madness of the world around you, remaining calm can allow you to focus on actually moving forward. Not the easiest thing when there are 'bombs' dropping all around you. It is exactly at those times when you need to remain calm and focused, paddling like the dickens on the inside.

Find it within yourself to remain calm when all seems to be going wrong, when the warfare of calamity strikes. Then focus on the inside and begin the process of moving forward towards more peaceful times. In other words, "keep calm and carry on" with your life.
_

Lift Your Eyes

Today I'm taking a break, concentrating on my C3 Beyond volunteer work. We have several projects happening. Lift your eyes and do what you can for someone today, large or small.
_

Operation Gracyn

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." ~Angela Schwindt

Today it is simple, help a child in need. Gracyn Rhodes is a child in need of a surgery that will change her life forever.

"...a miracle child right from the beginning. Eight weeks into my pregnancy they gave her a 50% chance of survival. At 28 weeks, on April 29, 2005, Gracyn Summer Rhodes was born, weighing only 2 pounds 6 ounces and was no bigger than her Daddy’s hand.

Unfortunately, our joy was short-lived. The most heart crushing moment was when I bravely asked the doctor, what Gracyn’s first goal would be. His response, “to make it through the night”. In our pursuit to give Gracyn the best possible care, she was sent to a neurologist to perform an MRI.

It was then that we were given the biggest blow of all: Gracyn was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy. This was the beginning of yet another exhausting and confusing journey. No instruction manual. No such thing as a “CP doctor”. What now? We kept searching and calling and researching, until one day, we found SDR."

What can you do?

You can help by donating small or large amounts to help the Rhodes pay for their daughter's surgery. Time is of the essence as the window of opportunity is small. The Rhodes are going forward regardless of any one's assistance, any parent would. But we can help them with the costs, with the transportation, with the housing needed while in St. Louis and the cost of physical therapy when they return home. Very little of the costs are covered by insurance, so any amount you can donate is appreciated.

How do you donate?

Stop what you are doing right now and go to Operation Gracyn and click on the "CHIP IN" button now.

But how do I find out more before donating?

All of the information is contained on the Operation Gracyn website. It also contains a link that describes the SDR surgery, doctor, hospital and anything you need to find out.

But most of all, click on that CHIP IN button and donate $4, $40, $400, $4000 or $40,000. Any amount will help and is greatly appreciated.

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." -Flora Edwards
_