Light of Life

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” ~Abraham Lincoln

All of life is actually pretty grand when you think about it. An amazing biological wonder is what happens from conception to death. Sometimes it is very difficult to comprehend the immensity of what must happen for life to exist.

And then I turn to my beliefs and know that anything is possible. The big bang theory, Adam and Eve, evolution, and how they get the peanut butter inside the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup; life gives us enormous possibility. Darkness can turn into light with the blink of an eye. That light becomes you and shines from within you as well.

So as we celebrate my brother Jim's birthday today, think about how amazing your own life is. Then consider all of the possibility life has to offer you. Enjoy life, live life to your greatest potential and allow the light of your life to shine.

Happy Birthday Jim.

Wondrous Stories

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." ~Gail Devers

Recently I was listening to the song Wondrous Stories, by a group from back in the 1970s named YES. This particular group was and remains a favorite of mine. It reminded me of visiting my hometown with my father. As we drove, he told me stories of life growing up.

These stories are truly wondrous and I love to hear these wonderous stories not only from him, but from others about life. So much can be learned from listening and hearing of those things which make up who we are today.

It is these same stories we will pass down to others. There will also be stories that we have to pass down to others. All of these are wonderous and special. Each of them are worth gold to our lives if all we do is hear them. If you take the lessons learned, they will mold your dreams.



Yearn to hear the wondrous stories that those in your life have to tell.

Busy Bee

"As busy as I claim to be, I've still got the greatest job in the world." ~Peter Criss

Would I want to be the drummer of a world-famous rock-n-roll band? Would it be the coolest thing to tour all over the world playing before thousands upon thousands of people? At one point in my life it was a thought. It was the drumming part that I was not very good at.

As a matter of fact, my musical skills were much better in my mind then in reality. So the dream of touring as part of the mega-great group KISS was never going to be in my future. What else was there?

The thing that brings my 'once vivid' dream is the manic lifestyle that probably accompanies such a life. But then, a manic lifestyle can touch each of our lives at most any time. It could be a crazy Monday or week that creates pandemonium in our lives.

What matters is taking better care of ourselves when the hectic times start to take over our lives. Carolyn Rubenstein writes in Psychology Today that, "We are conditioned to think that when more needs to be done, we must increase the amount of time spent working and decrease the amount of time spent refueling. This thinking causes a strange sense of obligation to sacrifice our well being due to the time crunch and demands of the situation. While it may seem counterintuitive, during the most hectic of times, we actually need more time to recharge."

It is your health from many perspectives that suffers during these hectic times. You need to take care of yourself throughout those busy times. All of that is a given and the advice is great.

It is also very helpful that you enjoy the work that you do. I don't mean to say that there are not certain things and times when the job isn't so enjoyable. But overall, you have to enjoy what you do if surviving the hectic times is going to happen.

Your life outside of work is going to get hectic enough at times. Yet if you compound it with a hectic job that you don't like, then things can become worse. And if you like the work you do, the hectic times are much easier to get through. In fact, enjoying your work has an impact on the rest of your life. Your relationships, your days off and even your sleep will be improved.

My hectic life is not your hectic, nor that of the next person. But it is my hectic life and I enjoy my hectic life. Are you enjoying your hectic life?

Hurry Up and Slow Down

Life of a Small Town Photographer"

"Just be patient. Let the game come to you. Don't rush. Be quick, but don't hurry." ~Earl Monroe

Each weekday morning I leave early for work. My 5:30am start works for me as I can have the quiet of the office to accomplish quite a few tasks. What always surprises me though are the number of other people. Those early morning lights upon the freeway making their way to some destination.

In 2009, the estimated population of the Atlanta metropolitan area was roughly 5.8 million souls. So there are bound to be people on the roads at all times of the twenty-four hour cycle of a day. And each one of us seem to be in a race to somewhere.

My particular ride to and from work is short by standards, only eight miles to go with six of those on the freeway. Yet I see so much in those six short freeway miles. The folks in their big shiny cars, pickups, clunkers, trucks, tiny and green cars. There are the fancy along with the boxy and utilitarian models.

Each one of these folks without very few exceptions are in a hurry to get to their destination. In many respects it appears to be a race. A race to get in front of those two cars ahead of you. Zooming in and around others with a seeming need to be ahead of the other.

All the while, there are always more cars in front of you. The thing I have always thought of is a great race to nowhere. We speed and dart about as if all 5.8 million people are racing to the same destination where only two parking spots are left. Be there first and you have your choice of the spot closest to the front door.

I have read that nearly one-third of all traffic deaths are related to speeding. A sobering statistic that in rushing to get somewhere, some are ending up in the same place.

Which is my point, life isn't a race. The end result for all of us is the same. It can be argued that we have only a limited amount of time on this great earth so we have to do as much as we can as quickly as possible. And what follows this life I'll leave to your own beliefs. But we each need to slow down just a little bit and enjoy some of our journey.

That rush to be first, to park the closest, to be there before anyone else causes us to miss things along the way. The old saying that you should "stop to smell the roses" has meaning. By never slowing down, we will miss opportunity to really experience life.

You can be quick to react, you can be in a fast slip-stream of life; just don't miss the view along the side of the road. As I slow down, I certainly don't want to see you mangled along the side of the road. I would rather see you along the side of the road smelling the roses. And I'll even be so kind to leave you the parking spot closest to the door.

Signs Everywhere

"There are no road signs to help navigate. And, in fact, no one has yet determined which side of the road we're supposed to be on." ~Steve Case

I tend to have my father's penchant for maps and is something that has tended to help me through out life. When driving, it helps to have already mapped out where you are going. I am also lucky enough to have a pretty photographic memory of where I have travelled such that I can remember in most cases and describe the routes.

I'm not sure if that makes me 'special' along with my 'counting steps' while walking, but it does make getting from point A to point B easier.

Growing up I would watch my father take a yellow highlighter pen and mark the routes to be taken on a trip. And when I got older, my excitement grew at getting my annual road atlas from State Farm. Yes, the simple joys in life one might say. As I've grown older and technology grows, the use of Google maps and the satellite views gives me an added advantage. I can actually map and see what the route looks like before I ever get there.

Even with all of the maps and technology we have, there are still the signs along the way to guide us. There are exit signs, distance to, airport locations, hospitals, and street names. We have signs to tell us how fast we can go or where not to go. Sometimes there are so many signs it can be overwhelming.

Its too bad we don't have those same signs to help us with our lives. Sure, there are the "Don't Drink And Drive", "Click It or Ticket" signs to remind us to be safe. But why not signs to remind us that life is pretty good? Or why not signs telling us which decisions to make in life to get us to our vision or goal?

If we listen and pay enough attention though, signs do exist out there. There are people in your life that are signs standing out as great examples. All we have to do is place ourselves in position to see and submit to those signs. Even deep inside of us there are signs that tell us what the right thing to do is. Don't under estimate your own intuitions.

Sounds all too simple I'm sure. In some ways it is and some ways it isn't. But then again, if everything was easy, everybody would have everything ever wanted out of life.

The road to your vision isn't going to have all of the visible signs needed to guide you. But if you look hard enough, you will find them and eventually your destination.

Seuss Simple

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” ~Dr. Seuss

I have been trying to figure out what to write today with very little luck. It probably didn't help that I was very busy with the work that pays the bills in our family. Sometimes the words simply do not come along.

Then something out of the blue happens. I was working on trying to find the answer to a question posed to me. I struggled for a good share of time on it and set it aside for a while. It is in those moments that I will go do something completely different. It tends to take my mind off the issue.

Typically I will research another issue or read part of a book, or even surf the web just throwing out search words. In this particular case I put up the search words "doctor seuss answers" for I figured he always had an answer for most anything. As I read through information on him, the above quote struck me as simple enough.

So I went back to the work problem and started from scratch only looking to the most basic and simple of solutions. To my delight, the solution came fairly quickly. It was also a reasonably simple solution as well.

Was it Dr. Seuss that helped me find the answer or dumb luck? I tend to think it was a matter of looking at it from a different perspective; the easy perspective. We tend to over complicate our lives and over think them. Sometimes the answer is truly simple and it's the question that we made complicated.

Try not to over complicate your life. Sometimes the best way to get past the complicated is by simply choosing not to let it be complicated. By taking the simple path you can get to your destination quicker. If a boulder sits in the way, it might be easier to walk around it rather then trying to roll it out of the way.

Removing Envy

"Envy comes from people's ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts." ~Jean Vanier

The city of Toronto casts a look very similar to the one portrayed in the movie Blade Runner. The movie in which Harrison Ford plays a crusted 'detective/bounty hunter' tasked with eliminating some rogue 'replicants'. In that futuristic city, flight from the city isn't out to the suburbs but upwards.

The higher up you get in this type of world, the cleaner the air, and the better view. The street or ground level is for the poor and disadvantaged people upon which criminals prey. The way to gain a better life is to lift yourself up out of the gutter of the city, up into the high places away from the street clutter.

The only problem is that escaping upwards or even out to the suburbs is temporary. Many times the flight is only a means to mask what is happening inside of us. Even the wealthy and sophisticated people have issues. Expensive homes, fancy cars, and the club membership are distractions hiding what's holding them back from having a truly great life.

You may wonder what isn't great about having all of those nice things? Because many times the rich have the same problems as you or myself; it's just that their problems cost more. And are you really prepared to take on the problem of envy in your life?

On this we all have a commonality; envy of something or someone else. While our lives and the paths we have taken may look worlds apart, envy can swing both ways. When we have very little it is easy to want what someone else has. But maybe there is a price to pay for having it.

My mother used to say, "sure they have a lot of nice things, but would you want their credit card bills?". She should know since she worked in credit collection and retail management for a large part of her life. The well-heeled can envy the simple life in which the need to keep up with the folks next door are gone. Yes, all of us have the same struggles in life. It is in choosing how we battle those struggles that determines the life we achieve.

Money, bills, job, health, relationships, fear, and most anything else you can imagine. Life doesn't know if you are living at the street level, high up in a building or way out in the suburbs. Life affects all of us and the only way to deal with it is to deal with it inside first.

Change your attitude first by not worrying or envying those around you. Change it by looking inside to what is important to you in life. Accept what you have, both the good and the bad.

You can then begin the process of changing the bad things in your life. It may require giving up some of the good, but the goal is to better your life. By removing the bad, by changing attitudes, by appreciating what you have and not what someone else has; only then will you grow and start achieving a better life.

The journey starts with you, so drop the envy from your life. It can only drag you down and keep you there.

Seize Your Fear

"A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths." ~Stephen Wright

Each of us are different in what concerns or bothers us. There are those that share some of those concerns and others that tend to be out on the edge. But any of those things we are afraid of can be overcome. Even being afraid of widths!

Some overcome these obstacles quickly and others take years to overtake them. Myself, I have signed up for swimming lessons. Yes, at this age I am working to overcome my fear of water. To be more precise, my fear of drowning.

I have reached the point where I have decided that this fear will not be my undoing. You can reach the same point for your fear. All it takes is deciding within yourself to not let the fear rule your day.

My own fear has deprived me of experiences with my sons while they were growing up. My fear has deprived me of adventure with friends. My fear has had it's day and now it's over. I am reclaiming my life from that fear.

You do not deserve to let fear rule your life. Overcome your fear and let your life blossom into it's greatest potential. Carpe diem or better yet, carpe vereor, "seize the fear."

Kennedy Center Honors Johnny Carson

Well, born and raised in Nebraska like Mr. Carson...you just can't take the Nebraskan out of me. Go Big Red!



Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Accidental Chocolate Bar

Percy Spencer

"Accidents, try to change them - it's impossible. The accidental reveals man." ~J. B. Priestley

There was a man many years ago that worked for Raytheon as an engineer. The year was 1945 and this former WWI Navy veteran by the name of Percy Spencer was already known for his knowledge of electronics.

One day Percy was 'playing' with a microwave-emitting magnetron which was a device used in radars. All of a sudden he started feeling something odd in his pants pockets. It was a sizzling sensation which turned out to be chocolate bar that was starting to melt.

Through his reasoning, Percy supposed that is was microwave radiation of the magnetron to blame. This led Percy down the path of discovery which eventually ended up with the invention of the microwave oven. That very same appliance all of us take for granted and probably couldn't imagine a world without. All because of an accidental encounter with a melted chocolate bar.

So many times each of us have an accidental encounter with opportunity. It might be an accidental encounter with another person that turns out to be the connection to a new job. Or maybe attending a gathering of people and accidentally encountering your future wife or husband. A hundred other accidental encounters in life that present opportunity for something great to happen in your life.

But two things have to happen when it comes to accidental encounters. Two things that are necessary for accidents to turn into opportunity.

The first is that you have to participate in life. In order for accidents to happen, you have to be out amongst others, among other things happening, and risking yourself to the fact that these accidents will happen. Sitting alone in your home, not attending that gathering, not taking a rafting trip; each of these may protect you from accidents. But each of them will keep you from experiencing life's opportunities.

And secondly, when the accident happens you need to acknowledge it and do something with it. There is an old saying that "when opportunity knocks, you have to get up and answer the door." When an accident occurs, there is an opportunity to change your life. You have to recognize it and answer the call. You have to open that door and take hold of it.

In the end, accidental events are really just opportunity for greatness to occur in your life. It may not seem like it at the time. Percy could have fussed and complained about ruining a pair of pants, failing to recognize the true significance. When accidents happen, look upon the event as an opportunity to turn it into something great. Take your life to a higher level accidentally and then realize it was not an accident at all. Rather it was an opportunity answered.

Whitewater Fear

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

There are some of you that may be aware of my lacking skill in the area of swimming. For the greatest share of my life, I have feared drowning. In a previous post called "Help, I'm Drowning", I spoke a little bit about why I've had this fear. Many may call it silly, but one person's road bump is another person's mountain.

So I have begun a process to confront and get over this fear of the water. A previous kayak trip was a start and then this past weekend, my wife Laura convinced me to go with her and others to raft upon the Ocoee River in the lower, eastern corner of Tennessee. I will be quite honest to tell you that the fear began building inside while signing in at the outfitters location.

We chose to use one of the best outfitters in the area called Ocoee Outdoors. Our adventure was going to take place on the middle Ocoee River in class III and IV rapids. Oh joy I thought to myself, at least I'll die around family this fine day.

As we road the bus to the top of the course and I could see the rapids off the right side of the road, it just got more intense for me. This process of taking a raft down the Ocoee isn't a sign a form and jump in the river type of process. You go through a short safety lesson at the base camp, you get a semi-long bus ride about 13 miles up the river to the start. There is another lesson with the boat, oars and signals by your assigned guide. So there is plenty of time to think about what you have just gotten yourself into.

I was trying to think of every excuse in the book on the bus ride to the top. Could I get sick, could I trip and fall getting out of the bus; what would be my escape plan this time? So many times before, I was able to find a way out of having to deal with the fear. This time it just wasn't going to happen.

I won't bore you with the details of my trip down the river. The description of the rapids and ride are available at American Whitewater. But to say the least, the first rapid was a III+ called Grumpy which forces you right into the thick of things. From there on down, just over 20 more rapids to go.

And as you can see, I'm writing today so I survived my fear. I survived the trip down the Ocoee River. Have I overcome my fear? Not yet, but I'm working on it. Next step is to start those swimming lessons again that I quit taking nearly forty years ago.

Overcoming your fear of anything in life requires confronting it first. Admitting that it exists and understanding the impact it has on your life. It certainly has affected my life and those around me for many years. But now I can change my life, my attitude towards the fear, and so can you.

I'll let you know how the swimming lessons go once I start. Keep me honest folks if you don't hear that I'm taking them. And then send me a note about how you overcame your own fears. I'd like to put together a book about how we each have done so. Together we might just be able to help a few others overcome their own fears.

NOTE: Yes, that really is me in the picture (back left), my wife Laura (back right) encouraging the whole way. Up front taking all the water are my wifes good friends Sarah on the left and Rachel on the right. Our guide Valerie was fantastic; making sure we hit every rapid (thank you very much) and giving us a great tour of the five mile stretch.

Vivere Amor Accipio

You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn

You Learn - Alanis Morissette

There is a gentleman I met while in Phoenix not long ago. An older guy in his middle eighties but the abilities of a much younger man. When I first came upon him, he was moving items for donation in the 110 degree heat of Arizona. A small amount of sweat on his forehead, but moving better then most half his age.

He introduced himself as Garth and in anticipation of my next question, "yes, Garth Brokks was named after me....way after me." So right away I knew I would like this man, his humor and goodness. As we worked, we talked and I learned.

Garth lived for many years, working and struggling just like the rest of us. A job here, a new job there with job loss and started a new business that changed everything for him. But in all of that living, he had a wonderful wife that worked side-by-side with him. So much so that Mrs. Garth started a stained glass shop in the front of Mr. Garth's welding shop. She did so only because the welding business wasn't keeping her busy enough in the front office.

Their daughter now runs that shop and the welding business is no longer. It is sad to report that Mrs. Garth passed away some time ago. But there is still a sparkle in Garth's eyes when he speaks of Mrs. Garth. The love in his voice when he talks of her, and their lives together speaks volumes of a wonderful life.

In the various conversations I had with Garth, it was what was learned in life, the adjustment to it and the picking up of oneself that resonated so much. Garth kept living, loving and learning with each step along the way. When something knocked him down, he got up, dusted off the pain, and began moving again.

All along the way he not only helped himself to keep moving, but he helped others along his way. He continues to do so today, he is a great example is that the more you give to others, your life will be rewarded ten times that amount. He taught me life lessons during our conversations. He reminded me that life is a grand thing.

Vivere (live), amor (love), and accipio (learn) through out your grand life.

DUI

As your weekend quickly approaches, I felt the following video from Australia would be appropriate. Similar to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration here in the United States, the Australian Traffic Accident Commission is tasked with trying to promote road safety.

There have been many different roads campaigns both here in the U.S. and in Australia, along with hundreds of others around the globe. It bears repeating that traffic safety, buckling up, no texting while driving, and turning over your keys after drinking save lives.

I have to reminded and encouraged in all aspects of traffic safety just like the next person. It was recently that a friend from high school whom has been in law enforcement for a number of years sent this video.

It can be disturbing to watch at moments; it can be quite sad at times. But the reality of the choices we make when we get behind the wheel of a car have consequences. Maybe not this time, but maybe it will happen to you the next time. Again, maybe it will never happen to you.

Statistics from the M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) reveal that on average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving related crashes; a decline of 9.8 percent from the 13,041 drunk driving related fatalities of 2007.

So hold on and watch the video. See if it changes your thoughts if only a little bit about driving impaired.

Bring It On

"Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men." ~Miyamoto Musashi

The story of warriors can be taken in multiple context depending upon what fits the need. But in general, there are two ways to describe a warrior. One would be in reference to "someone engaged or experienced in warfare." The second refers to "a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness."

In the context of what I write, it follows the second reference above to how we each engage in our own life. Each day we are confronted by circumstances which will either hinder or enhance our progress towards a better life. Of course it takes vigor and courage to battle the hinderance. It also take vigor and courage to accept or embrace the circumstances that will help us.

When we wake up in the morning we have a choice to make in how we will approach the day. We can cower to the possibility of something good or bad happening to us. Or we can stand tall as a warrior and proclaim, "bring it on." It is this second choice that I make. Whatever comes my way, I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

It will be with confidence in yourself to overcome or to take on whatever comes your way. Choose to stand strong and take it all on. Stand strong and loudly proclaim, "bring it on world."

Shine Your Light

"That's all a man can hope for during his lifetime - to set an example - and when he is dead, to be an inspiration for history." ~William McKinley

Each of us in some form or manner want to leave some relic of our existence when we leave this earth. There are some that may say it does not matter; that they have no need for people to remember whom they were or what they did. But each of us do leave a mark on time, large or small, and either good or bad upon the memories of people.

Those memories of what you did in life may seem meaningless. We get trapped into thinking that our "15 minutes of fame" that was famously coined by Andy Warhol, is all that we will ever get. The fame we think is the only one people get is either something grand or something notorious. That is not the case in most of our lives. It is said that a lighthouse does not have to fire a cannon to make its presence known. The lighthouse only has to shine.

The same can be said for you when it comes to leaving your mark upon others. When you live your life in the best possible way, you lead and leave others with your example. And like the lighthouse, you shine brightly for those still traveling in the darkness trying to find their own way.

Your memory will serve as the light for others to live on in. That is how your life will live on with others. Live your life by example to others, the good and the bad but always with the intent of living the best way you can. In this way, others will be guided to their own best life.

Breakfast With Salman Rushdie

"Finding some quiet time in your life, I think, is hugely important." ~Mariel Hemingway

In all of my travels, it is very rare that I come within ear shot or even see famous people. For all of the media exposure that so many get, there are so many others that are average, everyday people like you and me.

So it was with great interest that the man sitting one table away from me seemed very familiar. In my hotel in central London, the business lounge provides breakfast on the top floor for members. This particular morning I chose a later time to arrive.

With only three of us in the room, there was no particular reason that I sat near this man. The only thing that drove me that direction is that it was close to the television. It also gave me a clear view of the Thames River. Well then again, maybe I did have a reason for sitting where I did.

Something about the presence of the man sitting near me and his familiar face told me he was of some importance or celebrity. After a short while it dawned on me that it could very well be Salman Rushdie. Yes, that famous auther who wrote the Satanic Verses which became the scorn of many Muslims. So much that in 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini, (leader of Iran at the time) issued a fatwa or decree telling all Muslims to kill Rushdie and his publishers.

Salman Rushdie was placed under police protection by the British government. As of this year (2010), Salman has not been harmed, but it is said that 38 others connected with the book have been killed.

So my mind kept thinking and rationalizing his presence in this place. No body guards and such. But after so many years, I had to think he had slipped back into obscurity and maybe it just wasn't as big of a concern anymore.

But was it really Salman Rushdie? I never asked because I've always felt that there are times of approach and there are times of quiet. This seemed like a time of quiet. We both nodded a good morning to each other and left each other to our quiet and peaceful breakfast.

He may have simply been a person that looked extremely similar to Salman, but I'd like to think otherwise. That I had breakfast with Salman Rushdie and that we enjoyed the peaceful quiet of the morning.

Each of us need those quiet moments in time. To pull ourselves back from the hurried and noise filled life that surrounds us each day. A time to reflect on things that matter to us. A time to just let down our guard a little bit and not be looking over our shoulder.

Maybe next time I'll ask to be sure, but then it might disappoint me. Then the peaceful and quiet breakfast that I had with Salman Rushdie will disappear forever for both myself and for him.

Diary of a Memory

"Memory...is the diary that we all carry about with us." ~Oscar Wilde

Years ago, a film came out called Mary Poppins. It became another Disney classic based upon the books by P. L. Travers. It remains to this day a favorite of mine.

As I walk the streets of London this week during a business trip, the memories of past visits come to mind. I walk past St. Pauls Cathedral and it reminds me of a song from that movie. The song was sung by Mary Poppins and is referred to as the tuppence a bag song. It was of the old woman sitting on the steps of St. Pauls Cathedral selling bags of bread crumbs to feed the birds.

I am also reminded of the cathedral's triumphant survival of the air raids on London during World War II. Truly remarkable that it survived.

And then I remember back to only a few years ago that my wife visited London with me. I see the places we walked and shared with each other and great memories flood back in my mind. She could not be with me this time, but the memories are here with me today as if she were as well.

One day again, we will share the streets of London with each other. New memories will be formed into the diary of my mind. Find your own memories and replay them as if reading the diary of your life. Live life well and create new memories with the ones you love.

One Day Like This

Just wonderful lyrics from Guy Garvey of the British band Elbow. This particular song is called "One Day Like This" and if you click on the link you can hear the entire song on YouTube.

It is a song that tells me that I have many wonderful things in my life. I have my wonderful wife Laura, beautiful children and grand children. There are my friends and co-workers as well as a decent job. There are many other large and small things that I realize make life so wonderful.

What made me behave that way?
Using words I never say
I can only think it must be love
Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

Someone tell me how I feel
It's silly wrong but vivid right
Oh, kiss me like the final meal
Yeah, kiss me like we die tonight

Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light
Yeah, lying with me half-awake
Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

It is truly a love song. It is a love song for living life. All that I have I am thankful for and each of those things in my life make it a beautiful day. The things in your life make it a beautiful day as well. Even the smallest of things make it a great day for you.

So throw those curtains wide!
One day like this a year'd see me right!

Many of us get to have a thousand days like this. And each of us will have at least one of these days. Do not despair and hide in the darkness. Be thankful of the things you have in your life. Love life and "throw those curtains wide" and have a beautiful day.

Journey Home

Phil Richards - Long Journey Home

"When we are sure that we are on the right road there is no need to plan our journey too far ahead. No need to burden ourselves with doubts and fears as to the obstacles that may bar our progress. We cannot take more than one step at a time." ~Orison Swett Marden

When we start out on a path towards something new and exciting in our life, it appears a thousand miles long. We even wonder if we are on the right path at all. The questions cloud our mind and cause us to second guess our ability to even proceed.

It is a cruel trick we play on ourselves that is called self doubt. Self doubt is the "ball and chain" attached to our life that prevents us from proceeding with the journey. It slows us and attempts to hold us in one place, never to find what is at our journey's end.

You can rid yourself of this self doubt and continue your travel. But the path may create indecision when a crossroads appears before you. Now you have to make a decision to go left or go right. Do I take the well worn path or the road less taken? Indecision will try to stall you and keep you from moving forward. But you can overcome it by simply choosing and taking on your decision with excitement of the unknown.

We all learn eventually that our journey of life is pretty much an unknown. It is how we choose to travel along the path that will dictate if it is an enjoyable or miserable one. And our paths are so different from each other, we have to love our own path and not covet the other.

When we finally settle into our journey of life, the excitement of where it will end up is replaced by excitement of the journey itself. At that point, we come to realize that the journey is really a journey home. Whether 999 miles remain to be traveled or only a single mile, enjoy every step along the way. Know full well that home awaits you.

Begin to enjoy the travel, step by step, mile by mile to the journey's end.

C3 Journey Leaders - July 2010

"Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life." ~Pythagoras

While on the journey of life, it is best traveled with friends, with brothers and with sisters. Each of them will stand to your left and to your right. Each of them will cover behind you and keep an eye out on the road ahead of you.

Yes, life can be traveled alone. But life traveled with others is a much happier, much more meaningful life.

Building A Life From Dirt

“Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.” ~Og Mandino

Today I draw some inspiration from a family friend. Her name is Belinda and she herself is a source of inspiration. Belinda is a woman who has survived a brain tumor not once but twice in her lifetime.

What she sent me was a story, much like many that circulate around but meaningful if you are in need of a lift. The story tells of one day when a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake off the dirt and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take another step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Now the story does have a twist about the donkey coming back later and biting the farmer in the hindend, causing a fatal infection to the farmer. A moral about trying to cover up your mistakes that come back to bite you.

But what I draw from the story reminds me of Belinda and her fighting the brain tumors. We know and eventually accept that life is going to throw an obstacle in our way. Like the donkey, some dirt is going to get shoveled on you, lots of it and very different types of dirt.

The idea is to shake it off and keep moving. You need to turn the obstacles into stepping stones. We can get beyond our circumstance not by stopping, but by never giving up!

Belinda nearly lost her life years ago. Her husband Mark talks about it in my book CHANGED LIVES of their fight and survival. Belinda did not stop and succumb to what others might have considered her fate. Not Belinda though, she kept moving and overcoming.

Even when a growth was found again a year ago, she kept moving and the growth went away. A miracle? I believe they occur and in this case she is living proof of that. But we each can learn and take inspiration from Belinda's life experience.

Finally, in her story she sent me there were five simple rules for life.

1. Free your heart from hatred; learn to forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries; most never happen.
3. Appreciate what you have; you'll have so much more.
4. Give more; you'll get much more in return.
5. Expect less; you'll get what you need.

Get to know the stories of others that have been through the well, having dirt thrown down upon them by life. Then be inspired by them to jump start your own life.

Pile Of Tires

"Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards." ~William Arthur Ward

The picture just screams, "Dang it, another flat tire and nothing for miles. I guess I'll have to wait for someone to come along and help." Another missed opportunity that we failed to recognize.

Now granted, the purest would say it is a truck full of tires that couldn't be used in this situation. But your imagination can see what I am talking about. It is the idea of opportunity just yelling out at us and we are not in a position to hear it. Those types of opportunities rarely occur in life.

We normally have to position ourselves for opportunity and then mindfully keep our eyes open. But how do we position ourselves for any type of opportunity? We read more, we learn more and we interact more with life.

Opportunity does not come to your darkened doorstep and knock. Opportunity does not find you sitting in front of the television watching mindless shows. Opportunity does not find you, you encounter it.

By learning more, by trying new things, by interacting with people, the probability that opportunity will meet up with you is enormous. You still have to be aware and cognizant of it happening, but it will happen.

So get up off the bumper of your life and look around. The opportunity might be right behind you or just around the bend.

Help, I'm Drowning

"We experience moments absolutely free from worry. These brief respites are called panic." ~Cullen Hightower

This past weekend was one in which the unexpected happened beyond the planning I had done. One in which you get brought to your fear and have to face it without fully realizing its going to happen. Oh the joy of trying to face your personal fear when all along you have been trying to avoid it.

My personal fear is the one of drowning. Falling into the water, being submerged and never coming back up. It is silly to even admit at my age, but I can not swim. I can't float on the water nor tread water to save my own life. The fear can be pretty overwhelming at times and stems from an incident when only 7 or 8 years old.

As I tell the story, though my brothers would disagree, is that we were all at the local pool. I had just started learning to swim albeit not very well. So I was confined to the shallow end and my brothers were to keep an eye on me. Bouncing about in the pool, having a good time two unknown kids came along, one high, one low and took me under the water and held me down.

It seemed like I was under water for 10 minutes but in all reality was only 10 seconds I suppose. But it scared the living daylights out of me and became my biggest life long fear. The joke in my family became that I could no longer take a bath for fear of drowning.

Over the years I have tried with little success to truly over come this fear. I can take a bath thank you, but bodies of water, boats and such still make me nervous. Most times I try to avoid placing myself in situations that could cause me to confront the fear. So to my surprise, this weekend challenged me on this front.

An overnight camping trip for instructors of the C3 Journey program in the north Georgia mountains to discuss some upcoming events. As we sat around the fire at Raven Cliff Falls, the conversation turned to a planned kayak ride down the Chattahoochie River the next morning. Now my plan was to head back home and do some work around the house. It was a planned avoidance of the water, but my wife was with me and encouraged me to go down the river.

It was a 'spur of the moment' decision on my part and said yes. What could go wrong, but inside I was feeling the fear build. So off to Wildwood Outfitters and a 'fun' afternoon of kayaking; something I had never done before. A quick lesson and into the water we went.

Not too far down the river, I tipped over in shallow water and thought oh geez, here we go. I continued my trek with the others down the river, manuevering as best I could. I felt better as things went along and the fear subsided a fair amount until half way through the journey. Here we were coming up on a Class 2 rapid. Many would consider this nothing, but to an unexperienced paddler and one fearful of water, it could have been a Class 6 in my mind.

As I neared, two fellow kayaking folks had got hung up about ten feet past the drop. I was heading straight for them and no other way around. I told myself, drop into it and then muscle your way to the right and around them. The old saying, "the best laid schemes o' mice an' men" by John Steinbeck was never more appropriate. Head first into the first two kayaks and the rushing water spun my boat around and then upside down.

The interesting thing in these (to me) terrifying moments is that there was a panic button right there underneath the water. In a moment I was grabbing for whatever was nearby as I was caught upside down in my kayak. Lucky for me while unlucky for my friend was his loose t-shirt that I grabbed hold of.

I am surprised I didn't pull him under and soon enough I was untangled and able to get my feet in the turbulent water. All three feet of water that is. All of a sudden the panic was replaced by embarrasment and trying to regain composure. And trying to find my kayak and paddle...the first rule is to never lose your paddle.

The rest of the journey was filled with a few more exciting moments. Although nothing that made me confront my fear of drowning more then the incident at what I call, "That Damn Rock Rapid". I would like to tell you that a miracle occurred and my fear is completely gone. I would like to tell you that its that simple. But it isn't, there is still work to do in overcoming the fear.

What I can tell you is that I know that I need to confront my fear more often. That the only way we ever get over our fears is to face them. To avoid and run from the fear will only embolden that fear. You give it strength over your life by avoiding it. By facing the fear, you take away that strength from it. You keep facing the fear and eventually you overtake it. I should have learned that long ago, but last Saturday was my first step.

Step forward and get in the face of your fears. Find ways to confront the fear and eventually you will find the fear running from you. I may have nearly panic'd myself into drowning, but I've also panic'd that fear into one day leaving me.

Enthusiastic Optimism

"Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enthusiasm is brimming over the opening of a new hotel in the battle-scarred city of Sa'Ada, Yemen. As the folks cheerfully said, "We don't expect foreigners to visit now, but I think that if the situation stays stable, maybe they will come." I call that optimism at its ultimate test. I would also venture to guess that I am now on a government watch list for just searching the Internet on Sa'Ada, Yemen to figure out where it is located.

I found the story interesting because no matter where you are or what your circumstances are, there is always room to be optimistic. You build a hotel that has a high chance of being shelled into ruins, yet have the enthusiasm to believe foreign tourists will eventually arrive. You get up in the morning looking forward to a day that will produce great things in your life. Both take enthusiastic optimism to achieve.

The day might bring hardship but you keep moving forward. You keep optimism alive and push towards your goal. It takes enthusiasm to keep you moving forward and without it you might as well let the "shelling of the hotel" begin.

Would you call it rose colored glasses? I suppose you could, but if the glasses let you see possibility, then by all means wear them. Anything is possible if you simply look through the smoke and destructive obstacles in your life. See what can be and then pursue it enthusiastically; pursue it with enthusiastic optimism.

Greatness Inside

"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

In the news lately has been the pending decision of Lebron James, basketball superstar. He is in free agency and everyone is awaiting his decision regarding where he will play next year. Will he stay in Cleveland; will he go to Chicago; will he land in Miami? All of these questions will be answered.

What I have found interesting is the talk of money. And it is a lot of money they are talking about. Roughly $16 million per year to play a game, albeit very well. And I am not here to question "how much is too much" or try to say that no one is worth that kind of money. There are thousands upon thousands of people that have mind-boggling amounts of money.

In the talk of a possible contract, it was stated it might be $15 million or maybe $16 million. The people reporting state that $1 million dollars won't make the difference because it is "only $1 million dollars" we are talking about. Maybe not in the context of his contract, but it is an amount that could make a huge difference to others. Heck, I'll sign up to take it if he doesn't get it. But then I can only jump six inches off the ground and maybe get up and down a basketball court only once or twice.

It is the pursuit of money and what you do with it that makes a difference in this life. I contend and hope for everyone that you make as much of those mind-boggling amounts of money as you can. Yet what I truly hope is that you do something good with those amounts of money.

I wouldn't suggest you give it all away and I wouldn't suggest how you spend on things in your life. We all spend up to our means which is just fine. What I hope for is that you can do something for those less fortunate. For those that do not have the means to achieve. You setting up a program for learning, for improving life for those may just birth greatness out of others. It will certainly birth greatness in you.

So go out and make mind-boggling amounts of money. Each of you have the capacity to do so. Each of you have the ability to do great things. All I ask in return is you give back a little to others to make a difference in their lives. Then you will truly be great, then you will be a king inside.

Glass Of Water

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." ~Groucho Marx

There she was, the Delta Airlines flight attendant, standing at the front of the plane and pleasure was not written upon her face. It was getting late in the evening of a holiday with one more to go and 142 passengers.

Sometimes you can just see it all over a person. The pain or frustration of a day, a job or a lifetime. Many people would see it on another person and shy away. Not me though, I only wanted a glass of water.

The way she addressed or responded to people was not all that pleasant. I would describe it as a tourist asking a New Yorker for directions on a hot and humid day in Times Square. It was not going to be fun but I was determined to make an effort. Besides, all I wanted was a glass of water.

Rumbling down the aisle, "watch your elbows please" was the constant and stern warning of my flight attendant. I say 'my flight attendant' because I was going to make her smile and let her day finish brighter then it appears to have started.

So many times we see people that we would rather avoid. We get a perception of them that probably isn't very flattering. But we can never know what exactly is happening in their world. So much is hidden inside but it surfaces on the faces of those having a bad day. You can make a difference in that day, sometimes by simply asking for a glass of water.

When our row was approached, before asking for something I instead to ask how she was. I offered up a pleasant great day and thanking her for working on a holiday. All of a sudden it appeared, a smile. The hard shell of the day seemed to melt away. Maybe things would be just a little better. Maybe what troubled her was going to be okay.

And then, she offered me a glass of water.

Gone Fishin

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." ~Henry David Thoreau

Today marks a final work day before an extended holiday weekend here in the United States. On Sunday we celebrate the American holiday called Independence Day, which is not the one depicted in the movie with Will Smith. It is a time to remember those that fought and waged for our independence as a country. Along with the barbecues, parades and fireworks it will be a fun weekend.

It is also a weekend where I would love to be on a quiet lake. To be out in the middle of the calm waters with a fishing pole, cigar and cool drink catching fish. It is a serene thought that crosses my mind which takes me to that lake. I guess you could call it that 'special' place inside my head. Catching fish, quietly, consistently and then putting them back going about my business without any fanfare.

I have watched those fishing tournaments, the fancy fishing boats that some use. The racing across the waters to areas found with fish finders and six different pre-lured fishing poles. All going after the high profile fish, making a large impression on the viewing public. These fisherman are good at what they do and deserve credit for the work they do.

Those of us that do not have the expensive boats and sponsorships still get out there. We read the currents and temperatures, looking for a place to throw out our line. The catch can be hard at times but the result is still a great feeling. We go about our fishing without fanfare or notoriety.

The interesting thing is that we tend to forget that we actually fish every day. We enter into other peoples lives and impact them in ways we may not realize. But with each encounter or "catch", we have the ability to impact them in a positive way. To impact them such that when we leave or "throw them back", they are a little better.

So whether its down by the fishin hole or at the neighborhood grocery store, we are all fishermen in one sense or another. We can be high profile fishermen such as Anthony Robbins or Dr. Phil helping people create great lives. Or we can be the normal average Joe, "catching fish, quietly, consistently and then putting them back going about my business without any fanfare." Each of us can make an impact on another, each of us can make a difference in the lives of someone else.



Keep out the "Gone Fishin" sign and enjoy the wonder of it.

Half Way July

"A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view halfway up is better than the view from the base, and it steadily becomes finer as the horizon expands." ~William Lyon Phelps

Here we are, the halfway point of the year 2010. July first and the rest of the year lay out in front of us like the top of a tower. We have made our way, slowly and surely seeing an ever expanding horizon. The top may look insurmountable, but you just cut the insurmountable in half.

Continue your climb, continue with the goals you set for this year. It was way back at the bottom (January 1st) that you set out on your journey. The winds buffeted you; the rains tried to wash you away; heat and cold have placed their burdens upon you as well.

There are even people at the bottom yelling for you to stop. They are telling you that you can not make it. They are urging you to turn around and come back. But you have and continue to disregard their attempts to pull you back down.

And why do you keep moving towards your goal? As Janis Ian said, "once you're halfway home, you know that you can probably get the rest of the way there."

Those same obstacles will continue to claw at you. In fact the higher you get, your own fear may try to grip you. A fear so consuming that you may freeze your movement or turn around. Overcome those fears and look to the horizon. See the wonderous views expanding before you and know how much greater that view will be from the top.

The second half remains ahead of you, success is there and you can make it to the top. The further you go, the voices which try to hold you back will begin to fade. The obstacles will become less of a burden. Your own instincts will guide you further to the top.

Pretty soon you will be there, firmly at the top, basking in the completed journey. You will look out across the wide expanse and say to yourself, "wheres my next tower to climb?" And you will.

Band Of Differences

"I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap." ~Ani DiFranco

I have been trying to stay true to a workout schedule over the last month or so. Running each day for about 40-50 minutes, it tests my resolve to remain consistent. Most of this is due to the Peachtree 10K Roadrace that my wife and I run in each year.

It becomes more of a challenge each year but I keep plugging along. Due to the heat here in Atlanta, I have been running on the treadmills at the gym I attend (C3 Fitness) where its much more bearable during the time of day I train.

Each day I see some of the same folks including a friend by the name of Jim Crumbley. Jim is a former United States Marine and owner of a security firm called Risk Response and a pretty great individual to be around. Being former Marine, he prides in taking care of his body. There he is lifting weights, going through the routines that sculpt a body. Doing the lifts that I have never had much of an ability to do.

I view my lifting ability as just smart enough and just strong enough to get done what I can. Which means I'm not the strongest of individuals. My forte in my earlier years was running. Some may joke that I could quickly evade a situation as opposed to having to test my strength.

I spoke with Jim recently of my admiration for his lifting ability and to my surprise he commented about my ability to run. His knees are nearing the brink of shambles and running is not something he can do much of these days. We then sort of chuckled and celebrated our differences when it comes to the physical abilities each has.

And it is those differences we have, those things which we can choose to celebrate and share. Think of the HBO movie based upon the book called BAND OF BROTHERS. A wide variety of individuals together under a common cause. Each with different strengths and weaknesses, depending and trusting the other to cover those differences.

Everyday life can also celebrate those differences and not in a manner that I'm better or worse than anyone else. The celebration is that we have friends, buddies or others that will stand in for us. In turn we will stand in where another person's weakness exists. In this manner, we all begin to lift each other to greater lives.

To stand alone will get you only so far in life. Standing together with others will return so much more into my life then could be accomplished by myself. I know that standing alongside Jim Crumbley, Mark Creath, David Spell or any one of a hundred men I call my brothers will sustain me for a lifetime.

Celebrate our differences by using those differences to strenghten the other. When you change your attitude, you change your life. Stand with others in a band of differences and together greatness will be achieved.

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.