Larger Capacity

Arrested Development or Cardiac Arrest ~ George Grie

In truth, the only restrictions on our capacity to astonish ourselves and each other are imposed by our own minds. ~David Blaine

I came upon the above art work that got me to thinking about something my friend Dean Sweetman told me recently. Capacity within oneself is so much more than what we limit ourselves to. If you are going to get something bigger, you are going to have to get bigger yourself. You have to be able to contain and receive that which you are trying to possess.

Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it. ~Rabindranath Tagore

We box ourselves in by negatively thinking of what we can actually accomplish in life. Like the balloon trying to rise to great heights, the nice convenient room we have built in our mind prevents it.

The capacity you're thinking of is imagination; without it there can be no understanding, indeed no fiction. ~William Trevor

You have to break free from the thoughts and limitations you place on your life. Believe in your ability to expand your world. The confidence to do so exists inside if you will simply allow it to see the light of day.

As is our confidence, so is our capacity. ~William Hazlitt

Putting it in perspective, a myth exists that we only use roughly 10% of our brains ability. This is actually wrong because that number is really only the 'perceived' amount we use. While we may only be consciously aware of certain portions of our brain activity, all of our brain is doing work whether we're aware of it or not.

I just think that we're capable of so much more; we don't utilize all our capacity like we should. ~Marcus Allen

We have ability inside that we fail to acknowledge. Maybe that is fear or failure; practice fearlessness. Maybe that is a friend filling you with discouragement; get a new friend. Maybe that is lack of knowledge; learn more by reading.

Wisdom is nothing but a preparation of the soul, a capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life. ~Herman Hesse

Prepare yourself for greater things. Break through the walls that you keep yourself confined within. Start imagining a bigger you capable of greater capacity to achieve. And then start to build a bigger you. Don't wait, start now and you will become bigger then you ever first imagined.

Planned Adventure

"A lot of my time was spent searching, thinking and planning my life." ~Ryan White

My family has started planning for a trip in January of 2011 to Ireland. It is a trip to Cork in order to fulfill one of my mother's wishes. Before passing away in October of 2008 from Pancreatic Cancer, she asked that some of her ashes be spread in her ancestral Ireland.

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The planning process we are going through reminds me of when we took her to Ireland in 2004. We planned and worked to make the trip as perfect as can be. While Mom understood all of the planning, she was more interested in the adventure that would happen. She understood that all of those plans wouldn't play out as "planned". She knew that life provided a great adventure beyond all of the planning.

So with this upcoming trip to retrace her footsteps and to fulfill a wish, we are planning. But we are also expecting adventure. What she taught us is to not spend our life figuring it all out ahead of time. She taught us to live life. That is the adventure, the ability to overcome failed plans and enjoy the act of living.

We will plan our trip, our day, our weekend, our lives. And the real adventure will be how we accept failed plans and accept the wonder of living. Plan your life, but plan for adventure and enjoy every minute of it.

Street Cop

"If you run, you'll only go to jail tired." ~Unknown

Just recently I finished reading a new book by David Spell called STREET COP. It is one of those books that tells the tales from nearly 30 years of life in law enforcement. A life you thought you may have understood a police officer goes through. But this one is more personal and brings you right into the action. And it is that action for which I'm thankful for people like David Spell.

Each day we get up and go to work, the store or any of a hundred different things. The visible life of police officers is the one in which we see them involved in catching speeding cars or showing up at our fender benders. The life that some may criticize as 'interference' in your daily life.

What we fail to see and maybe choose not to see is one in which bad guys do bad things, ugly things, to other people. The bad guys rob, beat up their wives, sell drugs to our children and they shoot and kill in bloody messes. It is these same bad guys that are confronted every day by good guys just like David Spell.

Each day, the good guys are chasing down these bad guys and keeping you and I safe. It is only in their spare time do police officers get the chance to try and slow us down on the roads. It is only in their spare time do police officers get the chance to help write up an incident report from your little fender bender.

You may wonder why police officers are so careful when pulling you over as well. One police officer is quoted as saying, "In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC (National Crime Information Center)." When you read STREET COP you will see just how much danger they put themselves in. And this goes on each and every day, "TO PROTECT AND SERVE" isn't just a line from a movie.

Grab hold of David's book today and see what happens as we go about our daily life. And than thank a police officer next time you see one. Thank your 'lucky stars' they are out there chasing down the bad guys and the occassional dog.

More Then Blue Loves The Sky

"Moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard." ~Dave Mustaine

A fellow I know by the name of John Toner suffered a great loss recently. His wife, Sabrina Toner passed away unexpectedly. He along with their four daughters have had their lives suddenly and drastically changed by Sabrina's passing.

It is a great story of a loving mother who taught her daughters and husband so much in the short time that was their's. This was very evident in one of their daughters at the memorial service. Only nine years old, this brave young girl approached the lecturn and read a poem.

This was a poem she had written for her mother and wanted the whole world to hear. I can not remember all of the lines, but you will be moved by what I can repeat here.

I love you so very much
I love you more then colors love the rainbow
I love you more then words love the book

It goes on and is a very sweet but touching gift from a young daughter to a mother. her actions also teach us as adults that we can be strong and loving at the same time. She did not break down. She stood before the world and expressed what she and her family felt. And that was simply love for their mother Sabrina.

We can all be taught that moving on from a tragic event such as the loss of a loved one is tough. It is tough on kids and it is tough on adults. We can move on but leaving behind is the tough part. The love we carry inside for others and the sweet memories move on with us. That we must never forget.

Prayers and condolences fill the empty as much as possible for the Toner family. Yet it is love for Sabrina that will comfort them. More then leaves love the tree, more then blue loves the sky.

Give Up? Never

"Never, never, never give up." ~Winston Churchill

David P. Baker is an independent film maker who has seen quite a bit of the scene behind the making of a film. His raw and honest view is refreshing to read and follow.

An article he wrote on his blog is an example of why I like him so much. The article is titled Don't Give Up. In that blog article he provides a glimpse into why he refuses to give up. He has a dream, a vision and passion to achieve what he wants in life.

His story and those like his have always intrigued me. They have also pushed me in my own pursuits. Their stories can inspire and teach each of us a valuable lesson about living our lives. And that lesson is....never give up.

But will an inspirational quote or a word of encouragement push you to greatness? No, it will only give you a moment to reflect and maybe a small amount of encouragement. What truly drives you to greatness is inside of you. Once you find it (and it is there), then you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. So never, ever, ever quit.

Memorial Day

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." ~General George S. Patton

In 1865, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, NY, mentioned at a social gathering that honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves.

In the Spring of 1866, he again mentioned this subject to General John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk. General Murray embraced the idea and a committee was formulated to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead.

Townspeople adopted the idea wholeheartedly. Wreaths, crosses and bouquets were made for each veteran's grave. The village was decorated with flags at half mast and draped with evergreen boughs and mourning black streamers.

On May 5, 1866, civic societies joined the procession to the three existing cemeteries and were led by veterans marching to martial music. At each cemetery there were impressive and lengthy services including speeches by General Murray and a local clergyman. The ceremonies were repeated on May 5, 1867.

The first official recognition of Memorial Day as such was issued by General John A. Logan, first commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was General Order No. 11 establishing "Decoration Day" as it was then known. The date of the order was May 5, 1868, exactly two years after Waterloo's first observance. That year Waterloo joined other communities in the nation by having their ceremony on May 30. (Story reprinted from Ancestry.com)

So what will you do today? You will relax, maybe go for a swim and grill out with family friends. But also take a few moments to remember those that have gone before you. Take a few moments to reflect.

Small Gifts

David Cramer Photography
Full moon shot taken the morning of January 1, 2010

"May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness, and tied with love." ~L. O. Baird

Its one of those mornings, driving into work a bit late going and stressing over all that needs to be done. On my particular drive as I curve around the cloverleaf to the freeway on-ramp it came into view. A view of the near perfect, dusty colored and huge Moon.

The color and view was very similar to the one shown above. It was a picture I would have loved to have gotten with my own camera. To pull over right there and stand in awe of this small early morning gift. But that may have started a chain reaction of others pulling over, a traffic jam may have begun, the police, etc.

So I kept moving, wondering if others were taking in this view. Wondering if they saw it as an early morning gift as well. And then the song "Mr E's Beautiful Blues" by The Eels came on and as the song goes (slightly altered), "gosh darn right, its a beautiful day."

This song talks about the pain and suffering that exists beneath the surface for many people. But it is a 'beautiful day' out there. If you can see and grab onto these small gifts, they can help you change your world just a little bit. To know that the stress of whatever is going on in your life can be brightened by seeimingly small things.

A beautiful morning full moon or a smile from someone can make all the difference. Whether you are receiving or giving of the small gift, the impact can be huge. So take advantage of it, grab hold of it and change your life.

Sweeping Streets

If a man is called to be a street sweeper
He should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted
Or Beethoven composed music
Or Shakespeare wrote poetry

He should sweep streets so well
That all the hosts of heaven and earth
Will pause to say
Here lived a great street sweeper
Who did his job well

~Martin Luther King, Jr~

This is one of my favorite quotes that I share with you today. You can make a difference every day simply by doing what you do, to the best ability that you can.

Jon's Big Rock Birthday

"Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday Jon"

Okay, today is your birthday and you're out in Colorado doing some type of rock fetch for the University of Georgia Geology Department.  The quiz of the day then is; what kind of rock is shown above? Yes, another test, another quiz and another final that I'm sure you weren't expecting.

But its your birthday and I'll go easy on you...the answer is well hidden below.  Proud of you and the end of this four-year madness of school is getting close. Enjoy your birthday and don't let any big rocks fall on you...although the one above would look nice in the front yard!

Answer: Krishna's butter ball "balancing rock" in Mahabalipuram, India

Single Ember

“Abruptly the poker of memory stirs the ashes of recollection and uncovers a forgotten ember, still smoldering down there, still hot, still glowing, still red as red.” ~William Manchester

A story was told at a recent meeting I attended. The speaker was Ps Steve Bullen, who along with his wife Simone paster theC3Church - North Atlanta. Steve was speaking to a large group of men about re-igniting their lives. He tells a story of many years ago during a beach-side conference that always held a very large bonfire at conference end.

The days leading up to the conference, folks involved with putting on the event had built a huge pile of wood and timbers. This was going to be a very large fire for those gathered. But as the conference started, the rains came. Rain pouring down for two to three days, through out the week soaking everything including the bonfire wood.

When the final night came, the rains had ceased and everyone was expecting a grand fire. As you would expect, the wood was damp and the day's sunshine had not fully dried it. So paper and bruch and lots of matches were consumed trying to get this bonfire started.

Then out of the corner of Steve's eye, he sees someone coming with a large fuel can, gasoline one would expect, letting the liquid fly towards the pile. It was estimated that it was probably two or more gallons of the highly flammable stuff.

To no one's surprise, there were a few small embers from the failed lighting attempts still glowing within the pile. Now if you have never seen what happens with gasoline; the fumes are flammable and all it takes it a small spark or ember to ignite it completely. An instant solar flare occurs that lit up the entire coastline. So bright that ships thought it was a light beacon. So intense that...well, you get the picture.

The amazing thing that one can draw from this story is that all it took was one small flame. One small spark or ember to change everything. Something so small and singular in purpose we somehow forget that it exists. But it does exist. It exists in each of us, deep inside where we have forgotten it.

That one small flame glows, just waiting for you to throw something on it. To let it ignite your life and explode into something great. Oh yes, it does exist and all it takes is that one small flame. A small touch or a small amount of movement to change your life.

Expecting Good

"Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me." ~Carl Sandburg

We each have this tendency to go through life expecting bad things to happen to us. We figure that when times are good, something bad is about to happen. And when things are going bad, we expect them to continue to go bad. It is a self defeating attitude that gets you no where.

What if you expected good things to happen? What if encountering an elephant on a bus were a good thing and not bad? What if you looked beyond the rough exterior of another person and found something good?

Take the story of Simon Cowell. Most know him by his prickly persona on American Idol and the UK’s X Factor, which has made Simon Cowell richer than Midas.

Yet if one were to expect the unexpected, underneath the seeming brusque exterior is actually a kind and generous gentleman. Back in 2008, Simon saw the story of a three-year-old cancer patient and family in a video on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He decided quietly to help. The family had been traveling 100 miles per day for their daughter’s radiation treatments and was financially at a dead end.

Simon stepped in and gave the girl’s family enough money to completely pay off their mortgage and allow them to focus their efforts on fighting the disease. He credited Oprah with teaching him to enjoy giving and said, “I never knew that doing good could feel so good.”

The unexpected good that we find from giving, the unexpected good we find from looking beyond the outer exterior can bring new light to everything. The flat tire you get may be placing you in opportunity to meet someone that can change your life. That painful divorce may be opening a door to meeting someone so wonderful. A job loss could be a gateway to starting that business you always wanted to.

We have to begin to expect the good within the unexpected. All that appears bad on the outside is not always bad on the inside. We'll get what we expect in most cases. If we expect the bad all of the time, then it is likely that which we will find. But to start expecting something good in most everything will begin to yield better things.

Expect the unexpected and expect that it will be good.

Take Off

"I knew that I did not have to buy into society's notion that I had to be handsome and healthy to be happy. I was in charge of my "spaceship" and it was my up, my down. I could choose to see this situation as a setback or as a starting point. I chose to begin life again." ~Warren Mitchell

Many great accomplishments in life are marked with first failures. The kind which make you question if success will ever be a possibility. The American space program was formed in 1958 and had its share of failed rocket launches, failed missions and a few individuals died along the way. But the vision of space flight was never given up. The journey pressed forward with the risks known.

Each of us have set backs and failures along the way as well. There will be those times when accomplishment seems furthest from our minds. The light at the end of the tunnel feels like a freight train coming towards you.

Yet we press on, we continue to move towards our goals. That light may be a train coming but I would choose to enjoy the light in a very dark tunnel. If only for a few moments, my eyes are opened and I can take the opportunity to assess where I am. The train will pass and I will be returned to darkness, but I will have renewed hope in my journey.

And then the tunnel will come to an end. The light of day will return and a big blue sky will open up before me. It is then I will light the fire of a rocket and spring skyward. Greater heights for life; for your life.

It is a choice we make to overcome that darkness. It is a choice we make to press on with our lives. There is so much more for you in life then the limits we impose on ourselves. Release yourself from those chains of gravity you place on life. The setbacks will occur, the failures may happen even when you get moving finally.

Just know the view will be more wonderous and amazing then you could ever imagine.

Stuck In The Mud

"Being stuck is a position few of us like. We want something new but cannot let go of the old - old ideas, beliefs, habits, even thoughts. We are out of contact with our own genius. Sometimes we know we are stuck; sometimes we don't. In both cases we have to DO something." ~Rush Limbaugh

Have you ever encountered those moments in life when you feel like you are stuck in the mud? Your boots are mired deeply in the muck with little chance of moving forward or backwards. A moment that could make you decide to give up.

Life isn't meant to be stuck in one place, one circumstance or as one unreachable destination. Life is meant to be getting out of the mud. Never giving up and always moving beyond the current situation.

If you have ever become stuck in the mud, you can just about guess what happens when the mud begins to dry. If you fail to keep moving or stop trying, the mud will harden around your feet. And it can happen when you delay in making a choice to keep moving.

But what happens if you find yourself stuck in a dry field of mud, unable to move? You keep trying, you look for ways to free yourself. Opportunity in the way of rain could come along and loosen dirt. But why wait, why not keep trying to break free?

The mud and the harden dirt are only obstacles to overcome. They are not answers to your life. You were not meant to be stuck in one place. You were meant to succeed. You were meant to find your destination, your goal and your vision.

So when you find yourself stuck, your boots holding tight to the mud; pull your feet out and keep moving forward to solid ground. Get your life unstuck and keep moving.

Fly On The Window

"Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another. But by all means, try something." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

I happened upon a story recently on a blog site called "The Rat Race Trap" in which a story is repeated from Price Pritchett (You Squared).

The story goes;

There’s a small fly burning out the last of its short life’s energies in a futile attempt to fly through the glass of the windowpane. The whining wings tell the poignant story of the fly’s strategy – try harder.

But it’s not working.

The frenzied effort offers no hope for survival. Ironically, the struggle is part of the trap. It is impossible for the fly to try hard enough to succeed at breaking through the glass. Nevertheless, this little insect has staked its life on reaching its goal through raw effort and determination.

This fly is doomed. It will die there on the windowsill.

Across the room, ten steps away the door is open. Ten seconds of flying time and this small creature could reach the outside world it seeks. With only a fraction of the effort now being wasted, it could be free of this self-imposed trap. The breakthrough possibility is there. It would be so easy.

Why doesn’t the fly try another approach, something dramatically different? How did it get so locked in on the idea that this particular route, and determined effort, offer the most promise for success? What logic is there in continuing, until death, to seek a breakthrough with ‘more of the same’?

Many of us do this same thing, day in and day out. We pull an idea into our mind; a word, a vision or a dream. We set out on a particular path and find that we are not getting any closer. The struggle to push on has us trying harder and harder with less and less success.

We try with ever increasing futility, wondering why we are getting no where. Maybe the answer is in setting a new path for ourself. It could be that a new direction is required.

When you find yourself hitting the window, stop. Step back and look around to see other possibilities. The wind never blows exclusively in one direction. It changes constantly with variations that can take you new places.

Keep trying, but keep trying new ways.

In A Sea

"I think people are isolated because of the nature of human consciousness, and they like it when they feel the connection between themselves and someone else." ~James Taylor

Here I am on the third full day of EMC World, the yearly technology conference put on by the company I work for. Many of us assist, present and meet with customers to give them more detail on our products and services. This year is no different with a large turn out of people. Roughly 7,000 people roaming the Boston Convention Center.

There is always something new and exciting that happens at an event this large. Sometimes stressful, sometimes exhilarating and sometimes just tiring. But the experience is always enjoyable because of the people.

With such a large crowd of people moving about, you can begin to feel like a small boat out in the middle of a very large ocean. Miles from the shore or miles from anyone you know; it can result in feeling very much alone.

Yet there is an expectation that you just might run into someone you haven't seen in a long time. That familiar face suddenly appearing within the crowd with a smile intended just for you. It can lift even the most weather beaten individual. All at once comfort in this large crowd occurs and you become connected.

Within this large sea of people, there is also opportunity to lift and inspire other people. A chance to do something in their life, to make a connection and not leave them alone out in the vastness of crowd. These people can become new friends, new influence in your life or be pushed to a greater level of greatness.

Conventions can be a workload to some, but to me it is a chance to connect with others. To make a difference, large or small in their life. And it doesn't simply happen at conventions. The ocean is large and vast, so is your life and the influence you carry each day.

Whether it be at EMC World, at your job, in school or at the grocery store; connecting with others can have a significant impact. You can be the one that changes the life of another with a simple smile and hello. Approach each day believing that someone in the crowd is waiting for you. Waiting for you to be that friendly face with a smile just for them. When you do, that large and expansive sea of people will become a little smaller.

To those at EMC World; enjoy the final two days and do not lose this chance to connect with someone new. Change their day and next year at EMC World in Las Vegas, you just might see that familiar face in the crowd smiling back at you.

Don't Stop Believing

"The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When we finally make the decision to begin movement in our life, to finally begin that walk to our dreams; the walk can be a lonely one. The street may be empty and void of others. You hold the dream inside and no one else can see it. The wonderous vision that is yours setting you out on a journey is not always embraced by others.

Think of the movie "Wizard of Oz" in which Dorothy sets out on the yellow brick road.



Her journey begins with many people excited and cheering her on. But the journey is long and very soon she is by herself. You will find yourself alone after the excitement and pumped up enthusiasm wanes. It will become lonely and you will have to overcome the urge to stop.

Eventually, others will join you on this journey. The important thing is to never stop believing in your dreams. Keep moving forward. The following video is by a band from my youth. Somehow we start out young and bold. As age grabs hold of us, we allow it to slow us down and puts doubt inside.



Yes, we did tend to dress and let our hair grow out like that. But like any age, we were young and invincible. Running down the yellow brick road towards our destination. And then we seemed to have lost our way. We let our age and reason get in the way. We lost belief in our dreams and settled for what we had.

But we must never stop believing in those dreams or in what we want in life. We are never too old to give up the excitement of the journey. We are never too old to give up on our dreams. It all starts by putting one foot in front of the other.

The road may narrow and crack, it may be lonely for a while. But the road we take is still a journey to what we want in life. You can follow the road, make your own road or simply fly. Imagination and excitement will guide you to your destination. Just never stop believing.

No More Parking Violations

"The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble." ~Blaise Pascal

A parking violation is a "notice of monetary penalty issued for parking a motor vehicle in a restricted place or for parking in an unauthorized manner." A ticket is also issued for parking longer than the maximum time. There are reasons we may want to park longer then others feel necessary. But a time comes when we need to get back in the car and move on.

We all understand that when your life is cruising along, at various times we need to just pull over and park. We slow down and find an open meter to park for a short amount time. The time is used to reflect and rest. We are looking for that something which recharges our thoughts and energy. It is a way of refocusing on life.

It then becomes necessary to put the key back into the ignition. You turn the key to start the engine, place the car in drive and pull back out.

We have to get back into the stream of life and move on. Remaining parked will never get you to your destination.

I have seen so many talented people become fixated with stillness. They each had their own reasons. Some had fear of trying anything knew. Others liked the comfort of nothing. Yet each of them wanted more in life. Each of them had the ability within them like you and me.

They were each holding themself back. Having parked their car for so long, they had misplaced or lost the key for the ignition. The parking violations of excuses piled so high that it added to the burden which was used as an excuse not to move anymore.

What these people needed was a locksmith to help them find that key. All these people needed a paper shredder to help them rid the excuses. All these people needed was encouragement to place life back into DRIVE and move on.

We each have the ability to eliminate the 'parking violations' from our life. We each have the ability to help another to do the same. It may seem like a crowded road once we get back out there. The movement might be slow at first or at times. But even the smallest of movement creates distance from where you were to where you want to be. That movement will take you to a place that is on your destination list.

Open up that parking spot for someone else. Get your your life back on the road. And no more parking violations.

Getting Answers

J2a Haplogroup - The Cultivators

"No matter where you go, there you are." ~Confucius

The results are back and wow, where do I start? Were they earth shattering results of my family background? It actually took a bit of time and reading over and over again to comprehend what the DNA tests were telling me.

So yes, did we all basically come from the birthplace of civilization of the Fertile Crescent, where you'll find present day Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq. Not a huge surprise to me, but it was the the connection to the subgroup.

The testing revealed my ancestry is likely from a subgroup referred to as Cultivators that are associated with Anatolia, the eastern portion of modern day Turkey. Early agriculture in the history of mankind, it is likely that alongside irrigation and other agricultural techniques, my ancestors advanced civilization in other areas, such as writing and government.

A group of ancestors that are roughly 20,000 years old and from my first research of the results, appear to match where my more 'modern-day' ancestors came from.

So you probably think its about as likely as the astrology predictions in your local paper. The generalization of a haplogroup could place most anyone into that category. But it is the science behind the DNA markers that actually places a person there. And it is the known ancestral history that lends credence to it.

In example, the known history of my family dates back to the early 1800s; all were farmers; paternally they came from the farming rich area of what was northern Germany; the migration of peoples in this haplogroup settled in Germany as well. Again, you might suggest all 'perchance'.

I too take the information at a slightly extended arms length. But it is a piece to the puzzle of who I am. Life is a search for the history of oneself that will help reveal identity. This information can help you understand who you are and in turn help you develop a better life.

Heck, each of us at some point ask, "what is the meaning of life?" The question itself constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general. We certainly don't let the question get in the way of living life. But it is in our nature to wonder and I'm not here to suggest we'll ever fully answer that question.

The ability to 'ask' the question intrigues me and I know I will never fully understand it. But understanding where my history lay is something I can learn. I may not have a clear path back to the beginning, but I will have established something for future generations going forward.

Which is a very long way to get to where I am going with this article. When it comes to genealogical history, we look back trying to fill in all of those missing gaps. But we tend to forget that we must start with the present and record that for the future. If not, those future generations will be trying to find their history.

And it all begins by 'starting', the process of movement. You begin to do something about recording your present day; you begin by putting one foot in front of the other; you begin by beginning. If my ancestors hadn't began movement 20,000 years ago, I just might be living along the Nile River today. If I hadn't made movement in my life, I could be sitting on my back deck drinking myself into oblivion.

It does not start next week or even tomorrow. It starts today, it starts now. You can make the changes in your life that will effect generations to come. Make changes for the better and see what life writes about you.

Embrace

“Love... It surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be.” ~Kahlil Gibran

My posts talk about stepping out and challenging your self in every day life. To take those risks that will help you seize a better life for you and those around you.

It is for those around you that I'm speaking of today. There are risks we take that are smart to take. There are other risks which are unnecessary to take. The video below addresses one of them.



Take risks but not the unnecessary ones! Embrace the people you love by being safe. Have a great weekend everyone.

Possible Sunrise

"Trying to sneak a fastball past Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak the sunrise past a rooster." ~Joe Adcock

Hank Aaron was one of American baseball's greatest players. A career batting average of .305, but best known for holding the career home run record of 755 for many years. As Joe Adcock, a fellow ball player said, "you couldn't sneak the fastball by him."

Seeing everything that comes along, being perceptive of life around us seems like a simple concept. When the sun comes up in the morning, do you notice it? Do you expect it be there each morning? You can't let a day sneak past you. You can't let the opportunity slip by without advancing.

Each new day is a new opening, a new chance to do something great for someone else. Maybe pay it forward with some act of kindness to them. It is also a chance to move towards your dreams, getting a little bit closer to something fantastic...a great life.

Experience the sunrise each morning, fill your day with expectation and movement. And when you see the sunset, know that you accomplished something great. And know that the sun will rise again tomorrow with new opportunity, new possibility.

Dreams

by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Please Stand By

"Just kind of a tough day but I'll return tomorrow." ~Joseph Primm

Parable of Immortality

Finding words to comfort someone when they lose a loved one can be a search into the deepest parts of our hearts. A parent loses a child or a parent slips from us; a spouse, friend or sibling can leave an aching hole inside. The words are only meant to help soothe the void but can never replace our loved one. Only the memories fill the void, gathering inside and healing pain with time.

When I lost my mother, a brother shared the following poem by Henry Van Dyke called "A Parable of Immortality" and helped begin the process of letting go. A process of letting go the natural connection and beginning the supernatural connection to a lost loved one. I still talk to my mother through loving memories and with a respect for what I believe lay beyond our life here.

So it is that I share with some dear friends that very recently lost their son in a tragic incident. I also share it for anyone that has lost a loved one. Words to help soothe the void and help begin the process of loving rememberance.

A Parable of Immortality

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength,

and I stand and watch until at last she hangs

like a speck of white cloud

just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says,

" There she goes! "

Gone where?

Gone from my sight . . . that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar

as she was when she left my side

and just as able to bear her load of living freight

to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment

when someone at my side says,

" There she goes! "

there are other eyes watching her coming . . .

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout . . .

" Here she comes! "

More Cowbell

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen." ~Paulo Coelho

There is a very funny skit from Saturday Night Live called "More Cowbell". The premise that something so out of place as a cowbell is the perfect answer for something lacking. I can hear the clanging cowbell already.

Its interesting that something so unexpected can change the whole atmosphere around our lives. The unexpected things that happen can have a surprising and positive effect. A change in tone, a stranger crossing our path or different road taken home. Each of them, while seemingly insignificant can create this unexpected change in your life.

Maybe its an oversimplification but even something unexpected as a cowbell can actually add more to your life. Embrace what you can by trying something different. Change up the ordinary and see what types of opportunities occur. When life becomes stagnant, shout out for "more cowbell" and see what happens.

Noah Created Movement

"March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path." ~Kahlil Gibran

If you could share something with the world, would you wait until it was perfect? Or would you get it out there even if the rough edges had yet to be smoothed over?

My brother-in-law's grandson has learned to sign pretty darn well while still only being 7 years old. His mother has been hearing impaired since birth if memory serves me correctly, so signing is a matter of everyday activity. It becomes natural over time, but learning both spoken language and sign language is a feat in itself.

So with the perfection of a seven year old boy, the video below is him signing the story of Noah's Ark.



The words being signed are as follows;

~~~~~

Hi, I will tell you a story about Noah's ark. God told Noah to build an ark and he said “Noah, I want you to build an ark”. His three sons helped him. He said “I want your family and animals safe. So that way move to a different country. So you can have a better life.” And when he was finished, he saw the animals coming.

So he opened the door, all the animals came into the ark. He put all the animals where they should be. His family packed everything. And when he was going in water, God said “Noah your family is safe, now you can go to a different country.” And he was going to a far away country with storms coming, rain and lightning, all over every where.

After the storm he was in a different country. God said “You have done a good job keeping your family safe.” He was happy that God said that. So he saw a colorful sky, he saw a rainbow in the sky. And that is all the story about Noah's ark.

~~~~~

My intent was to show you the innocent beauty of a child telling an age-old story. It was also my intent to give an example of someone moving forward with what they know. While not perfect or completely polished, a young child bravely shows what he can do to all that will watch.

Each of us need to move forward in our lives, unafraid that we may not be perfect. The polished edges are not yet apparent but only with movement can they be smoothed. A rock tumbler will do no good if it sits motionless. It is in the movement and tumbling of the rocks inside which accomplishes the polished finish. The same can be said of our lives. When we create movement and step out from being idle, only then will great things begin to happen.

Take the example of a young boy bravely stepping out to show the world his signing ability. He has started a movement in his life that will bring wonders to everyone around him. In return, the rough and tumble experiences will cause him to shine even more.

Create that kind of movement in your life.

Sack Lunch

"Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world." ~Annie Lennox

Received the following story from a friend that reveals the goodness in all of us. It shows how in simple measure we can make a difference in another persons life.

~~~~~

Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. I was certainly glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap is what I was thinking.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

"Where are you headed?" I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
"Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan."

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. "No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base." His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. "Take a lunch to all those soldiers." She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. "My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him."

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, "Which do you like best - beef or chicken?"

"Chicken," I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

"This is your thanks."

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. "I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this." He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, "I want to shake your hand."

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, "I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot." I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. "It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You."

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little.

~~~~~

The story goes on to talk about service to country and such.  What I take from this story is the human spirit of kindness to others.  The ability to make a difference in another person's life with a simple sack lunch. 

A simple act of kindness moves others to do the same. If you move to show kindness, you can end up moving mountains.

Membership Has Privileges

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." ~Sydney J. Harris

There is an ad campaign by a major credit card company that basically says, "Membership has its privileges." It is a way of enticing you into choosing their card over another. That by doing so, you will have advantages that non-cardholders will not have.

It is a powerful way to gain and keep people using your products. For me, membership in an airline mileage program offered by Delta Airlines has kept me returning to them for years. As a long time travel and medallion member, those privileges were something I had gotten used to. The ability to bypass the long lines, seat selection, upgrades and so much more were things that made travelling so much easier. In light of the 2009 economic downturn, my air miles plummeted.

Then on February of 2010, my status as a Gold medallion member was stripped away. Even though my travel has increased significantly this year, I had lost the 'brass ring' of travel. I had been relegated to what frequent travelers call 'Abyss' status. A level so low that the airlines consider you no better then the baggage, which you now have to pay to check if not carried on.

Oh the humanity of it all, poor pitiful me. My heart was crushed, my ego bruised and my frustration inflamed. How could I possibly go on? So now I state with 'tongue firmly planted in cheek' that I was unsure if I could go on.

Yet I found myself taking a deep breath, relaxing and focusing on the new reality of airplane travel for me. I could get upset with the airline or other travelling passengers, making myself a grumbling and mean spirited person. Or I could assess the situation, adjust to the new situation and enjoy the day.

I made efforts to change my status with the airline, but took to my new standing with ease. I could have turned my attitude into making myself miserable each time entering the airport. But I didn't want to ruin the grand possibilities that life has to offer by being dour.

Heck, I still have my Sky Club membership and can enjoy the comforts of a lounge before boarding a plane and taking my middle seat. Yes, I even tried to get out of my middle seat without the privileges of membership. I was then amused by a Platinum member (75,000 + miles flown per year) that requested a seat change on my same flight. He had a middle seat as well and could not get a seat change. He asked the agent, "my Platinum status means nothing?" I guess even membership does not always have its privileges.

So please keep calm and carry on with your day. Just relax and enjoy the day because membership in life has so many privileges. We just sometimes forget to experience them.

Give Without Expectation

"When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous."

~Wayne Dyer~

~~~~~

United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 8283

Noncash Charitable Contributions

Contributions From Which You Benefit

If you receive a benefit as a result of making a contribution to a qualified organization, you can deduct only the amount of your contribution that is more than the value of the benefit you receive.

In ex; you pay $65 for a ticket to a dinner-dance at a church. All the proceeds of the function go to the church. The ticket to the dinner-dance has a fair market value of $25. When you buy your ticket, you know that its value is less than your payment. To figure the amount of your charitable contribution, you subtract the value of the benefit you receive ($25) from your total payment ($65). You can deduct $40 as a charitable contribution to the church.

~~~~~

Even the U.S. government acknowledges that to gift something, there can be no benefit to you if it truly is a gift. The gift given can not result in you receiving anything in return of tangible value. If so, that portion of the gift can not be claimed on your taxes.

Thank goodness we don't get taxed on the intangible aspects of giving. Or at least until govenrment officials figure out how to tax one's heart. The intangible benefit to giving can fill one's heart and soul with greatness. A benefit that can not be measured or taxed for that matter.

Gifts to others can come in many different forms such as money, clothing, or services. I see gifting not only in those forms, but in the every day things I see others do. The holding of a door open for another person, the friendly hello or carrying the grocery bags of another. The gifts we give manifest themselves in the form of a smile or handshake.

A gift can even be in the acknowledgement of the other person. So many times we walk through our day glancing away from others. We glance away from the homeless, the jobless, the lonely or the hungry. We even glance away from those we work with or even love. Too many times we are afraid to acknowledge another because we 'might' be asked for more.

Good golly, we might need to help someone that is in need. We might even have to forgo our tired state and interact. Yet the act of giving when nothing in return is expected or even seemingly possible will give back more then you imagine. An overwhelming feeling of energy and happiness fills your being.

Psychology Today wrote, "We've all heard the old adage that it's better to give than to receive, but why this is so is less known. As will become clear, giving is a gift—not only to others, but to ourselves—because it increases the bond between us and the person to whom we have given, tells us about ourselves and generally increases our feelings of competence."

In religious terms (2 Corinthians 8 & 9), translators had used an
English word, ‘liberality’/’liberal’ (or ‘generous’ in later versions) which suggested the size or extent of the gift, to represent a Greek word haplotes/haplos, which really meant ‘sincere, simple, unaffected,’ and related to the heart attitude or motive of the giver.

So giving comes from the heart with no expectation in return. This giving comes in large ways such as huge sums of money or other assets. But the majority of giving comes in small, seemingly meaningless ways. It is the small gifts which can have such a large impact on someone's life. Their life gets impacted and in an almost undetectable way, we get impacted.

So give without expectation of getting anything in return. Give with your heart and make a difference in the life of someone. Watch your own life gain something greater and best of all, no one can place a tax on that.

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.

Painting Opportunity

"All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen." ~Sidney Lumet

The story is all too common, you train and train, waiting for your moment to succeed in one of a thousand different careers. You search and knock on doors, trying to get your foot inside. Nothing becomes a reality, so while the pursuit of the dream continues, you wait on tables, sell shoes or deliver pizza.

There is story similar to so many of us. Her name was Mardee Hoff, a young model in pursuit of an acting career. Time and again she tried but failed to get any auditions for acting work. So she performed many odd jobs, doing what she could to keep herself positioned.

One day she was called to model for a magazine. Someone was needed to pose for a cover painting on the Saturday Evening Post. Famed artist Norman Rockwell did many of the covers during this time period. So the job was deemed prestigous and it helped pay the rent, which was more important.

She didn't know what the pose was going to be. But again it was modeling and that was something she knew how to do. So pose for the picture, earn a paycheck and keep pursuing the acting. As luck would have it, the drawing was of a Hollywood starlet being surrounded by 1930s papparazzi.

Opportunity was close at hand, much closer then she may have expected. When the cover appeared on newsstands around the country, a door was about to open for Mardee. The phone began to ring with calls from movie companies. Eventually she came under contract with 20th Century Fox Studio.

The many failed attempts to get an audition had not been a waste. The odd jobs and modeling had not been a waste. All were preparing her for one audition she didn't fully realize was the one. The one that would place her next to a door of opportunity. She realized her dream of becoming an actress. She placed herself in alignment with opportunity that came along when she least expected it.

Opportunity holds the same door open for you. But you have to place yourself near it. You meet up with it along your path. If you do nothing, it will be rare that you meet up with opportunity. Keep moving forward, keep trying new things, keep pursuing your dream. Eventually you will meet up with opportunity and the door to your dream will open wide.

The picture of your life will get painted in an unexpected way. Life will open up before you and it will be opportunity that holds the key to that door.  Put your self near the door, prepare to meet up with it and walk through.

Where The Wind

"Go West, young man, and grow up with the country." ~John B. L. Soule

While Horace Greeley often times gets the credit for saying this famous quote, it was actually first made by John B. L. Soule. It appeared as the title to an 1851 Terre Haute Express editorial written by Mr. Soule. The quote by Horace Greeley was, "Go West, young man, Go West" and became a part of the American lexicon.

And why would I really talk about this particular quote? It was the first thing I thought of when I learned a friend was moving west with his wife. A new job that will invigorate his soul awaits him in Stillwater, OK. Gary and Marion are on a new journey of excitement; a new journey of change.

As the song from the musical Oklahoma goes;

OOOO-klahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
Makin' lazy circles in the sky.

What a great change for a man that has kept faith in his beliefs and abilities. He has certainly had to overcome the depths of self-doubt but his journey has always been an inspiration to me. So many times we teeter on the brink of allowing life to overcome us. We come perilously close to simply giving up. Yet we keep ourselves inspired and push forward.

There's never been a better time to start in life-
It ain't too early and it aint too late!
Starting as a farmer with a brand new wife-
Still be living in a brand-new state!
Brand new state-
gonna treat you great!
Gonna buy you barley, carrots and pertaters,
Pasture for the cattle, spinich and termaters,
Flowers on the prarie where the June bugs zoom,
Plen'y of air and plen'y of room,
Plen'y of room to swing a rope!
Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope.

And no, not a new wife....but together they can change the lyric to say, "starting as a farmer with a brand new life-" Together they are planting the seeds of great new friendships. They are certainly going to be missed here in Atlanta, yet we know we haven't lost them. Once you have sown the seeds of friendship, it remains for a life time.

We also know that change happens all around us. The scenery will look different when we redirect the path of our life.

We know we belong to this life
And the life we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine, Everyone!
Yeeow!

I'm proud to know Gary and Marion; happy to see them on this new adventure. And as the song goes, "We're only sayin' - You're doin' fine." In fact, "we're all doin' fine."

Embrace the changes that can take place in your life, your best life.

A Friend

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine." ~Thomas Jefferson

A friend from high school sent the following to me and found it a great way to start the week. Eric and I haven't probably seen each other since graduation in 1978. A long time to pass between folks, but great to know each is doing well. But onto the subject of friends and first the story.

~~~~~~~~~~

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble... At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. 'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

~~~~~~~~~~ 

The story gives us one view to what friendship means.  That you would not leave them behind.  And we get faced with these types of decisions in our life.  Sometimes your hand is forced to leave a good friend behind should that person be pulling you down in life.  But you can always pull a friend up in life.  Its a choice that can be rather difficult to make.

In the email string that contained the story above also spoke to why someone would forward these stories.

- When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes.

- When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes.
- When you have something to say, but don't know what and don't know how, you forward jokes.

Of course there are lots of reasons, but keeping in touch can mean so much.  A simple hello, a quick 'thinking of you' or touching base with someone can lift them at a moment when you least expect.

So keep hold of your friends, try to keep them in your life as each of your journeys unfold.

Two Days

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Two days and one blog article, it sounds like a confessional or apologetic musing asking for forgiveness to my avid readers. I failed to write yesterday as I was travelling home to Atlanta with my wife from Los Angeles. Could I have written yesterday, most certainly.

We made it to the airport, settled into the lounge to wait for our flight and thought to myself, "I really don't feel like writing today." I was enjoying the simple pleasure of sitting and talking with my wife. This was a short window of time before we would both return to our busy lives. Even though I worked a fair bit while on vacation, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable time with our daughter and her husband.

But here we were, sitting in an airport lounge enjoying the remaining moments before we launched back into our lives. This was us waiting upon that 'wave' Thoreau spoke about. Preparing to grab hold of the everyday and new experiences coming towards us. The preparation for these moments of launch may seem like an eternity, but they fall upon us ever so quickly. So enjoy those quiet moments just prior to the launch.

Your moment might be in the early morning hours before the day begins. It might be as the day is ending, the countdown is your time to reflect and prepare. Get ready to launch with every moment, take your life to a new level and enjoy the ride.

Eyes Wide Shut

“Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?” ~Bob Marley

So the thing is, I had a meeting in the Huntington Beach area south of Los Angeles. I was heading back to the Hollywood area north of the city and decided to set my camcorder on the dash and record coming into the city, the traffic and some of the sites. There are some amazing views along this drive and wanted to capture some video for future use.

When I arrived at my destination, I grabbed the camera ready to view what neat scenes I had captured. But to my dismay, when I set the camera up on the dashboard, a failure to open the lens cover resulted in several "blacked out" videos. The kind where plenty of sound exists, but no pictures to fill ones view.

That is sort of how we go through life at times with our eyes wide shut. Going through our daily routine but never really seeing where we are going. We exist and accomplish the everday routines, but we never seem to get closer to our goal. The sounds fill our life, but the picture never seems to brighten or come into view for us.

Just maybe we have our own lens cover closed. Maybe its the idea that we are not opening our eyes to new possibility. The kind of view that allows us to see beyond the everyday. The kind of view that allows us to see a greater vision for our life.

When I viewed the various videos on my camera, there were others that existed without a closed lens. Those videos gave me a look at a young couple full of dreams and goals. It revealed pictures of the landscape that has so much to offer. Much nicer then the depressing blacked out videos. It makes a huge difference when you open your eyes and see everything.

So make sure you open the camera lens each and everyday. Look towards the future with eyes wide open.