Solid Foundation

“Character is like the foundation of a house - it is below the surface.”

There are stories many of us have read regarding failed character of others. There are stories of ponzi schemes run by people whom on the surface were charitable and seemingly very good hearted people. There are the stories of people leading a double life of cheating on a spouse. Or one of many other stories in which a person's underlying character is finally revealed.

You could think of it as a very nice looking home. A new paint job, new roof and a well maintained lawn. You enter the home and enjoy dinner parties with your host. The fireplace always seems to have the right glow to it and everything seems so perfect.

Yet laying just beneath the surface is a poorly laid foundation. Loose rock, cracked blocks and bricks along with poorly prepared soil. It is a foundation that with heavy rain, strong wind or a small earth rumbling will fail.

A house built upon a poor foundation will crumble when trouble occurs.

A life built upon a poor character will crumble when trouble occurs.

The foundation of our life is built upon our character. Others may not at first see what lay beneath but eventually the stones fall away. The facade crumbles and your true character is revealed. The true essence of whom you are will be exposed for all to see.

If you build a strong character, your foundation will last a lifetime and beyond. Your character is what determines who you really are. Paint fades, a book cover weathers away but your character can last forever if the foundation is solid.

Build a strong character as your foundation for a great life. An article describes five things to think about.

1. Understand what character and Integrity are.

The definitions of these words are often stretched or misrepresented. Learn what they truly mean:

Character is the sum of qualities show up in a person or group, moral or ethical strength, and the description of a person's attributes, traits and abilities.

Character is who you are. It defines you and guides your actions, hopefully in a positive way.

Integrity is steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code, being unimpaired, sound, whole and undivided; completeness.

Integrity can be summed up simply as doing the right thing for the right reason even when no one is watching.

2. Choose a set of rules, morals, or principles that you believe will lead to a happy, satisfying, and righteous life, as well as a better world.

3. Look at the choices you've made in your past, and observe how much you have or haven't lived by those principles. Don't waste time feeling regretful or guilty.

4. Decide what you must change in your behavior to align your life more closely to what you believe.

5. Be conscious every day of the decisions you make, however big or small, and how close they bring you to being the person you really want to be.

Your character is a huge part of your life's foundation. Build it strong and your life will be strong and lasting. A rock solid foundation that will withstand even the hardest of times. And should your foundation crumble from a weakness, then rebuild your life repairing those areas of your life that need strengthening. Repair and maintain a balanced wheel of life that will roll on and on and on.

Live the Journey

Over the course of our lives, there are the naysayers that enter into our world. Those are the people that seem to always be negative and have a negative effect upon your life.

Why not try getting around some positive people that will lift you up? Why not try some encouragement? Why not read some stories that will inspire you along your journey to a great life?

My newest book, LIVE THE JOURNEY is a roadmap of stories to help guide you. Every day it will inspire you to take one more step.

If you believe in achieving a great life, then act upon that belief. You can and will realize your best life. LIVE THE JOURNEY can change the way you think about yourself, your life and those around you. Live the journey of a great life and find out just how much you really can achieve.

Counting Steps

"Take the first step, and your mind will mobilize all its forces to your aid. But the first essential is that you begin." ~Robert Collier

For those that know me, I have a little quirk that some think is problematic. Others find it amusing and find ways to cajole me. I have never found it to be a problem and the humor cast upon me is neither bothersome or hurtful, so on I go.

The quirk is that I count things. I count stairs, steps, ceiling tiles, and other things. To me it fits in perfectly with my compulsion to have have things in order. You could call it my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that is defined as a Counter and Arranger. People such as I are supposedly obsessed with order and symmetry.

I don't have any superstitions about colors and such, but mostly in making sure that I get the counts correct. I have even been described in the same vein as a television character called Monk. That urge to straighten and line up everything does get a few comments from time to time.

But what I really look at is the counting of things. The number of steps from where I park at work to the entry door, (26). The number of steps up from my living room to the upper floor, (10). And many other ones that I do repeat and have to ensure that I count correctly each time.

Of course I do this in my mind and it isn't problematic...honestly.

The interesting part isn't the total count. It isn't that there are ten steps here or twenty-six there. It is the first step that counts. That you move forward and begin at the number one. One step leads to a second step, a third, fourth, and so on.

Without that first step, we will never make progress on our journey of life. And isn't that how one should 'Live the Journey' after all? The cliches' and quotes abound about how a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

But it really is that first step followed by many more that will lead to a great life. So keep moving forward and I will keep counting.

One, two, three, ...

Live the Journey

I'm pleased to announce that my third book titled "LIVE THE JOURNEY" has entered into publication. More information and availability along with a promotional video will be coming soon. Thanks to everyone that have supported me. "LIVE THE JOURNEY" can help change your life as you seek your best life.

Making Waves

"That last day does not bring extinction to us, but change of place." ~Marcus Tullius Cicero

We are spending a final day with our new grand daughter, daughter and son-in-law. Its a last day filled with memories being made and enjoyment of those moments. Tomorrow we will travel back across the country to Atlanta and return to our home there. Tomorrow our precious little grand baby will be miles and miles away from us.

But calling this the last day is not really accurate. Today is really a day of lasting memories. It is a day of new memories being made and new waves being created across those miles of separation.

Each of us have the ability to continue making loving memories whether next door or by several states. Our last day together is only a last day for one memory. It is also the start of so many more.

Make waves of memories regardless of the distance. Make waves that will reach out to others around you. Make waves that will last a lifetime.

Today

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. ~Albert Einstein

Today, leave all of your troubles behind, is a favorite line from a song that some of you might be familiar with.

Today, you can leave it all behind and move on to something greater.

Today, this is when you start a new life.

Today, you can begin with a new attitude, a new way, and a new you.

Today

Waiting for a Tow Truck

"We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery." ~Charlie Chaplin

The other day I was sitting in a restaurant eating dinner with my wife. We were dining on the patio area with big thick glass walls dividing us from the plaza which stretched some distance to the street. The time was rush hour near a particularly busy area of Los Angeles, which sounds odd because I feel every area in Los Angeles is quite busy with traffic.

As the cars filled the lanes to go straight or to turn left, each was trying to simply get home from a long day at work no doubt. Then as circumstance always seems to happen, a car broke down in the turn lane. A ruin to the driver's day and quickly becoming the same to drivers behind him.

With so much traffic on the street, cars quickly piled up behind him wanting to turn left. He was several car lengths from the light, so as those in front would clear, those behind him would vent frustration by honking their horn. Some would find a clear opportunity and move out into oncoming lanes to get around, others would try to squeeze back to the right to get around. But no matter what happened, no one was getting out to help this man.

You could hear the shouts of some, the horns of others and the driving habits of those getting around that the source of their problems for the day were this one man.  Yet twice we saw people stop to offer help. One young lady going so far as to put herself in a bit of a dangerous position with the amount and speed of oncoming traffic.

Yet from what we could tell at a distance is that the man waved off help as he had apparently called for a tow truck. Waiting and waiting was going to be his penance for having car trouble, at rush hour and inconviencing so many other people.  The horns, the gestures and the wait were his to endure.

The tow truck did arrive within the hour and pulled him to safety, freeing up traffic to go about its busy day. And what became of the man we will never know. But it likely ended as you might expect; a tow bill, a car repair bill, late getting home, tired and exhausted.

What of those other people that mocked and ridiculed him with the gestures and honks of displeasure? Did their day really improve by taking it out on this one lone driver? Was this broken down vehicle a planned event to be the reason for a bad day? Did these people acutally end up feeling better? It is unlikely that they did for the broken down vehicle was only a distraction.

What of the few people that did offer to stop and help? I'm betting that their day actually improved. I'm betting that it eased some of the burden in their day. Even those that didn't stop but were mindful and empathetic to the situation; they likely had an easing of their day.

The idea of helping others, in any shape or form is ingrained in our human nature. Some of us repress it as a horrible thing to have. Yet others embrace it and understand the power of helping others. Another person's misfortune is not our gain, but an opportunity to lift yourself while lifting another person. It makes you a better person, it reflects a better side of who you are and other people notice.

Would I be inclined to one day meet one of the irate people that flashed a demeaning gesture? Or would I rather meet the person that stopped to offer help to another person in need?

Think about how you would react in your busy day. Not only stuck in traffic, but in the grocery line, at the bank or even with your children brushing their teeth before bed. Patience, understanding and kindness will take us much further towards a successful life then the alternative.

Firsts

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I really want to apologize to my regular readers for my lack of updates this past week. My wife and I have had a great pleasure being with one of our daughters and her husband during the birth of their first child. Truly a miraculous event for anyone but always individually special.

Our new grand-daughter is not our first grand-child, but each one feels like the first. It is something I never cease to be amazed by how wonderfully beautiful and inspiring a birth brings to everyone involved. Each birth is of course the gazillionth birth, but each is a first as well.

I was brought to mind by my daughter of her child's first of firsts. We were visiting her husbands parents and as we got on the elevator, she commented that this was her daughter's 'first' elevator ride. There will also be the first foot steps, first words and first skinned knee.

After arriving back at our hotel, I looked out the window at the I-405 freeway near our hotel. It was a stream of red lights and white lights traveling south and north along this ribbon of pavement. I could only think that one day this darling little girl will have her first drive down this busy stretch of road.

The thought of it shook me a little bit. But I also know that faith in life's firsts means some level of unknown must be accepted. I can try to look way down the road of time and worry about it. Or I can take faith in my first step of just allowing her to be a new born. I can have faith that with the wonderful guidance of her parents, grand-parents and good people around her will clear her path in life.

There will be those moments that each of us encounter. There will be those "skinned knees" each of us get. But we will never get a skinned knee, we will never get any where in life unless we step out in faith.

Unknown events will lay in wait for each of us in our life. But you will never experience life without those firsts that each of us have to encounter. My grand-daughter will get to experience many firsts in her life. You will continue to experience firsts in your life. Simply go forth and experience them with faith.

Inspired by Frenchi

"Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything." ~Willie Dixon

The days slipped by with hopes and fears hanging onto each passing moment as my daughter and son-in-law waited. They knew what was coming and all of their anticipation built up inside until it happened.

A new daughter, a new grand-baby, a new miracle of hope and inspiration was born into this world. New possibility entered our world and life has changed.

Each of us are born as a miracle into this life. That birth is possibility of greatness in many different ways. That birth is also an inspiration to anyone that chooses to draw from it.

My new grand-daughter, Frenchi, has all of the world in front of her. With the love of her parents and those around her, it will also be a great life. It is the same thing I know exists for my other grand-children, for my children, and for anyone else.

A new birth is all the inspiration one needs to know that greatness can be achieved.

Behind the Counter

"Happiness... consists in giving, and in serving others." ~Henry Drummond

There is a gentleman that works in one of our corporate campus cafeteria's. Each and every week day he is there, behind the counter for breakfast and lunch. A smile on his face, a pleasant conversation for anyone that approaches his counter.

Its easy to think that his life is confined to a hot grill and condiments for building masterful sandwiches. We can tend to pigeon-hole people into a particular life by merely viewing the cover of the book. But when you read and find out more of this man's life, something greater emerges.

This particular man has a number of children, quite a bit of activity with them and his church. He truly sounds like a man that has it all when you listen to him speak. And all the while, he serves hundreds of people each and every day but feels he has it all.

Each of us have much more in our lives then we ever seem to admit. But if you sit back and examine what you do have, then you will probably find that you also have it all. Then take another look and see what you do in life; you are probably serving others in some form or another.

There will be times when you are served, but most of your life is spent in service to others. You can complain and whine about it, or you can embrace it and know that in service to others you will get tenfold in return.

The man behind the counter serves others at work, he serves his children, his spouse, and his God. But his attitude tells me that he receives so much more in return by serving others.

Think about how you serve through out your day...then see how much you get in return for all that you do.

Change Again

"All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward." ~Ellen Glasgow

Another election cycle and another change, no more a surprise then the sun coming up in the morning. A change that is touted as the one that will mark a difference. This time we'll get it right, this time we'll truly make a difference.

Funny thing is that several times we have made these party changes in control of our federal government.

United States House of Representatives
1920-1933 Republican Majority
1933-1947 Democrat Majority
1947-1949 Republican Majority
1949-1953 Democrat Majority
1953-1955 Republican Majority
1955-1981 Democrat Majority
1981-1987 Republican Majority
1987-1995 Democrat Majority
1995-2001 Republican Majority
2001-     for one month Democrat Majority
2001-     for four months Republican Majority
2001-2003 Democrat Majority
2003-2007 Republican Majority
2007-2010 Democrat Majority
2010-     Republican Majority

U.S. Senate
1923-1933 Republican Majority
1933-1947 Democrat Majority
1947-1949 Republican Majority
1949-1953 Democrat Majority
1953-1955 Republican Majority
1955-1981 Democrat Majority
1981-1987 Republican Majority
1987-1995 Democrat Majority
1995-2001 Republican Majority
2001-     one month Democrat Majority
2001-     four months Republican Majority
2001-2003 Democrat Majority
2003-2007 Republican Majority
2007-     current Democrat Majority
2009-2011 Democrat Majority

So you look at the lists and wonder, what really has changed? What have we truly accomplished? There are those bits and pieces of movement here and there. But from one party affiliation to the other in control, the change merely becomes change for the sake of change.

So many times parties and candidates talk of change that is needed. They talk of the great things that are finally going to happen. They talk of a mandate from the American people. But nothing truly changes other then the title under their name plates.

As an individual, if all you did was change your hairstyle or clothes, does that really constitute change in your life? Probably not as real change comes from the inside and moving forward with it. Real change consists of not going back over old ground again once the lights fade. Real change means just that, real change.

Change can happen but real change means you never have to make the same change over and over again. How we move on from our old way of doing things makes a difference. If you truly seek change in your life, then vow to never repeat the same habits and mistakes.

So watch out, there is change ahead. What you do with it will make all the difference.

An Experiment

"Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are those well known experiments that little kids perform. The young lad with a magnifying glass seeing just how much sunlight an ant can endure. Or the little girl trying to figure out just how far she can kick a soccer ball over the fence.

Each of these acts are the mind trying out new things, figuring out what works and what doesn't. Life is pretty much like that regardless of the amount of formal education we achieve. We step out of safety of knowledge onto a ledge of uncertainty.

But without this urge to try new things, a door to opportunity will always be a barrier to us even when it is open. Sometimes we simply have to go on faith and learn through experience. Not always will it work out the way we had planned, but you will have learned what doesn't work for your life.

So experiment with chance by stepping out of your normal and experience something different. You may very well be surprised by the outcome.

I'm Possible

"It always seems impossible until its done." ~Nelson Mandela

What do three thousand bottles of water, three thousand bags of chips, three thousand buns and three thousand hotdogs have to do with the impossible?

Less then two weeks ago, the church my wife and I attend were asked to do do what seemed by many impossible. A decade old event on the city square in Lawrenceville, Georgia provided a safe and fun family event to celebrate Halloween. At the 'last minute' the event was in jeopardy and our church was asked if we could pull it off.

Fearless as we tend to be, the answer was a resounding yes. And then for a few moments you feel like the dog that finally caught the car. What are we going to do now?

But the impossible is only impossible if you let it be. We jumped to it and a lot of great people pulled off an amazing event. In pulling off that amazing event, thousands of families were impacted with a touch of goodness. Why yes, everything was free to these families, the food, the water, the juice drinks, the chips, and yes lots of candy.

Each of us can accomplish so much we overcome the fear of the impossible. We each can step forward and face it head on and achieve something greater. For us it was impacting a community. For you, it can be as simple as impacting just one person.

Don't fear the impossible in your life. Don't let others convince you that things are impossible. Take the word impossible and turn it into "I'm Possible."

Cheers To Your Journey

"Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil." ~Irish saying

Translation: It is better to try than to hope.

We each live our lives the best way we know how. Today there are students at a bible school that are headed out on The Journey. It is a program that will help them discover more of whom they are. Each knows that there will be difficult obstacles to overcome this weekend, but each knows that there will be great mountains achieved as well.

The journey of life itself provides different outcomes for different people. Each of us will find something inside that either we didn't know existed or were too afraid to let out. But isn't that really what all of our lives are about? Isn't our own journey about getting beyond our fears and concerns in order to get on with a greater life?

The potential in each of us exists and yearns to be released. We can sit silently, hoping that the greatness comes to us. All the while the greatness is inside waiting to be let out.

As the Irish say, "it is better to try then to hope." So let go and make movement in your life. Get out on your journey to greatness and "Slainte" (cheers) to you as you live the journey which is your life.

Comfortable Skin

"I'm okay in my skin, you know... I'm okay with who I am." ~Dana Plato

So many years ago, I had quite a bit of shyness in my personality. I'm not quite sure where it came from as I remember in my mind not being that way in the early days of elementary school. Then for some unknown (and not really important) reason I remember third grade being the point of rising shyness.

I think much of it came from becoming self-consciousness. I know I had become aware around that time of many physical differences being pointed out by other kids. And no, I'm not blaming anything in my life on my childhood or others. It is a realization that came to me sometime back that actually helped me put it all to rest.

The bright red hair I had became a source of discomfort and torment. Although the 'old women' always thought it was cute. My thin and gangly body that really was not athletic despite my best efforts added to the discomfort of growing up.

One could probably say that I developed very thin skin over those years. It also was the excuse I used for not enjoying so many of those years in my youth. Wasted time, wasted opportunity as I look back on it. I only have myself to point at for those years gone by. But when the day came that I let it go, that I became "comfortable in my own skin" was the day that life changed.

We each can become comfortable by better understanding ourself. The more you understand why you react, why you feel, why you are who you are, then the comfort begins to take over. I guess a lot of that really causes one to become more self-confident which then brings on the comfort.

In Psychology Today there is an article by Barton Goldsmith that provides ten steps to help you build that confidence. And as I say, you can read these articles over and over, but until you start moving or actually doing these things, nothing will change.

Today I still have tendencies to be shy and lacking confidence, but I have also learned to recognize these things. And in knowing that, I can quickly work to overcome them so that I never miss another day to enjoy. Become comfortable with who you are and enjoy each of your days as well.

Opposite Direction

"Goals allow you to control the direction of change in your favor." ~Brian Tracy

The morning commute to Heathrow Airport was supposed to be uneventful. I was getting up early, a walk to the train station and then settle in at the airport lounge. My goal was to get to the airport for my flight home to Atlanta.

As I entered the Swiss Cottage underground station, I began to realize this wasn't going to be uneventful. Yes, the picture shown at the link is the entrance I used everyday. The platform was filled with people heading towards work and the Jubilee Line was running slow this morning. The first train arrived and was packed to the point of people oozing out at the door seams.

A few got off, a few squeezed on, I didn't even attempt it because I was carrying luggage. A second train arrives and it is full, no where to get on. But I had a goal in mind and made a decision to head northbound to the Finchley station, grab the Metropolitan down to Baker Street and then the Hammersmith Line to the southwest.

The best laid plans went awry when even the Metropolitan was quite busy. No room on board for a lad with luggage. So I decided to take the Metropolitan even further north. I ended up at the Wembley Station; yes, the one next to Wembley Stadium from where I could see the tall arch rising over the stadium.

This particular station was a stop for the Jubilee line as well, so I awaited a train. It had plenty of room so I settled in knowing it would get crowded and knowing I had already lost 45 minutes going the wrong way towards my goal. But sometimes that is what one must do in pursuit of a goal.

The straight and short path is not always going to be available to you. Sometimes you are going to have to go in a different direction to get where you want to be. The path you WANT to take may not be the path you HAVE to take. But if you are patient and persevere, knowing full well what your goal is, then ANY path will finally get you to where you want to be.

For me, my goal was to get to the airport, relax, board my plane and return home to my wonderful wife Laura. After being gone for nearly two weeks, the goal couldn't be any greater then to reunite with her.

Understand what your goal is and find a path that will lead you to it. Even if the path appears headed in a different direction, knowing your goal, the path will lead you to it.

Early Morning Drink

Photographer Jack Delano, January 1943

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you." ~Princess Diana

My last full day in London was upon me as well as a train ride out to one of our company offices to the west. It was a chilly but sunlit filled day as I entered the Underground Tube station. The train system is quite good with the occassional slow downs and outages.

This train ride was going to take two changes and the route was all mapped out in my mind. On my first switch, I waited as the train slowed and as the doors opened, two seats were immediately available. One next to a young woman and the other next to a sleeping man. With another young lady getting on behind me, the gentleman in me felt best to take the seat next to our sleeping friend.

Quickly enough I was able to tell that this sleeping man was asleep for a reason. A slight smell of alchohol was evident and sleep was his dearest companion for the moment. As we made our stops at the various stations, most everyone got off the train. Soon he and I were the only two sitting next to each other at one end of a train car.

As the train moved further down the track, the bright morning sun came shining through the window across from us. A high intensity of sunbeams shining onto our faces, which brought our sleeping friend from his quiet slumber. He shifted a bit, reached into his coat pocket and pulled a fifth of something and removed the screw cap. A sly lift and swig from his bottle seemed to light up his eyes.

He looked and offered his morning 'pick me up' to me. It was as if he were trying to be a gentleman amidst his blurry awakening. I turned down his kind gesture and commented to him that it looked like a long day awaited him. He smiled and shook his bottle a bit and said, "this will shorten the day." The train neared the platform and I gave a smile and wished him a good day. In return he wished me the same as he picked up his bag and disappeared into the crowd.

There had been others on the train giving this man a cross eye. I myself could have moved away further from him. But maybe a kind exchange with a stranger is what this man needed. It is hard to say what will become of him, but the last thing I know he encountered was kindness from me. Kindness instead of a cold and angry look of disdain that could harden his resolve that gives him a reason to drink.

Then again, shouldn't all of our exchanges with others be ones of kindness. Doing so without judgement if possible, doing so with the belief that it can make a difference in another persons life. Knowing that the last exchange they had with a person that you know of (you) was a pleasant one.

Take time to add a little kindness to your day by spreading it to others. It might be you on the receiving end one day when you need it most.

Each Battle

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~Plato

The crowds each day in large city can seem overwhelming at first. All are trying to get to work, going through the transit stations, or walking down the streets to their individual office. After a while, you get used to it and start to blend in with the flow.

The interesting part is that it can seem like a battle of sorts. One large group headed up the stairs and another headed down. Bunches of people coming to this side of the street while many more head over to the other side. Elevators crammed full of people and the coffee shops a mad crush of controlled chaos all add to the scene.

And while this really is not a battle of people, each person inside probably has some type of battle they are confronting. It could be relationships, money or health issues. There might be problems with their boss or a relative. Legal or tax problems might be dogging their life. A child might be going through a rough period or their marriage is troublesome. So many battles, so many issues that anyone of us could be dealing with.

So maybe as we go about our day, knowing that others have battles as well, smiling or spreading a bit of kindness is in order. For a brief moment in your battle, a smile to lighten the day. A kind gesture can provide a bit of relief that could change the course of that person's inner battle. It can even change you.

Queue

"An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one." ~George Mikes

Am I really all that surprised? Is it one of those things that until you have experienced it, you just can not describe it? Spending an extra amount of time in London can reveal the little things about a society. Those are the things that you may read about in magazines but experience once there.

For me it was all about the London Underground and learning the train system. Its rather easy once you get the hang of it and very convenient in most cases. That is until the delays occur, the outages and closures which seem to pop up when you least expect. It can be a great and sometimes frustrating experience.

What I found interesting to see though is the British knack for queueing up in a line. Whether it be for tickets, to pass through the turnstile, or getting on the train; queueing is almost an art form here. The line crashers and confused may try to come in at an angle, but quickly they are dismissed.

It can actually be fun to watch the precision with which they form a queue. It can be very much like watching a synchronized water dance from the old Esther Williams movies. A seemingly random mass of people gliding into a one or two person line, side-by-side, slipping into the arms of an escalator. Or maybe a well timed slither of human snake lines onto and off of a train catches your eye.

I'm not sure what drives it. An article in the Guardian Newspaper back in 2003 suggested that the British might be losing their patience for queues. If they have, I would be amazed to see what it was like before then. The queues still seem to flourish with apparent belief that the line will actually get them somewhere.

Is it a blind faith that the system will work and that they will achieve the point of their queueing? When you have the large amount of people using a transport system such as this one, a certain amount of belief in the system is necessary I guess. For me, it reminds me that all of us need to have a certain amount of faith in our destination.

There might involve a queue that will get us to the next part of our journey. And we need to have a certain amount of belief that this is the right queue to stand in. Once through the line, we still have to struggle with the crowded platform, the delayed trains and breakdowns. But once we get used to how it all works, then the journey becomes an adventure to enjoy.

The destination will arrive eventually and whether it be standing in a queue along the way or riding the train, it might as well be fun.

Nine Centimeters

"Nothing is worth more than this day." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

9 centimeters

The length of antique coffee spoons put up for auction.

9 centimeters

The length of a Hatchetfish found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

9 centimeters

The width of a Moleskine Notebook that fits nicely in ones shirt pocket.

9 centimeters

The size of a cancerous spot found on my friends kidney.

It is merely a number by which one uses to describe something. Like an infinite amount of other numbers, it could be larger or smaller. What it doesn't describe is how how we live life. It does not determine how strong the human spirit can be. It does not dictate how we view our future.

Any time the word cancer strikes the ears, one has an instant view of fatality. The word cancer can strike fear into one's heart and consume our day. But the word cancer can also realign what is important to us in life. It can cause us to let go of yesterday. It can cause us to value today.

I know of many cancer survivors and have had heart wrenching loss of others to cancer. But for all those involved, the cancer patient, the cancer spouse, the cancer children, the cancer relatives and the cancer friends; each of us gain so much from the experience of cancer.

Cancer can turn all of your life into a negative replay of regrets and disappointment. But I choose cancer to be a positive statement which reaffirms my belief in the good things our lives have. I choose to believe that my friend will overcome this cancer as they found it early. I choose to believe he will live to be an old man, rocking his grandchildren and teaching them how to fish.

9 centimeters, just a number on a chart.

Sleep

Man Sleeping by Rabulist

"When I woke up this morning a friend asked me, "Did you sleep good?" I said "No, I made a few mistakes." ~Steven Wright

Amusing as the quote above seems, but sleep is probably one of the more important things you do in life. The Harvard Medical School of Sleep Medicine indicates that there are various theories as to "Why do we sleep", although science has made tremendous strides in discovering what happens during sleep and what mechanisms in the body control the cycles of sleep and wakefulness that help define our lives.

So having flown overnight from Atlanta to London, I asked myself "how well did I sleep?" My answer was, "well enough, but I did make a few mistakes." One was in keeping the headphones on a bit too loud albeit on classical music. You see my sleep patterns on a plane are mostly consciousness interrupted by several moments of unconsciousness.

It is almost as if I'm in a wakening dream state. I can hear what is going on around me, I shuffle in my 12" wide faux leather covered aluminum seat, and I drift in and out. This I call a good night's sleep on a plane. Those moments of unconsciousness added together make up my sleep. The other parts I call dozing and are additive to the whole sleep process for me.

Now why would I write about sleeping at all? Is there really a point to all of this?

For me, sleep is a very under rated activity to the human population. We tend to under estimate its power to keep us healthy and strong during the day. Without sleep, over time we do deteriorate both in how well we function and in how well we feel. Much like eating, it helps to sustain our body over the course of time.

The importance of sleep and why I write about it today is in taking care of yourself. In order to be good at what you do during the waking hours, you need sleep as much as you need exercise, good nutrition, and all of the other balance of the "six spokes" of your life.

Now ask yourself, "did I sleep good last night?"

Picture This

"When I take a picture I take 10 percent of what I see." ~Annie Leibovitz

A famous photograph from the cover of a very famous musical album, The Beatles "Abbey Road" was released in September of 1969. The interesting thing about the photograph by Iain Macmillan is that so much more is behind the picture itself.

A total of six pictures were taken over the course of ten minutes from which only the one was chosen. In an article on Wikipedia, the six photographs are described as such;

• First Photo: John leads the group from left to right followed by Ringo, Paul and George. They kept this order throughout all the photos. There is a Mercedes pulling out of the studio behind them. John is looking away from the camera and Paul and George are in mid step. Paul is wearing sandals
• Second Photo: They walk back in the same order. Good spacing but only John has a full step.
• Third Photo: Left to right again, full steps this time but they are all too far left. There is now a traffic backup. There is a taxi, two vans and a double decker bus waiting to come forward. Paul is now barefoot.
• Fourth Photo: Walking right to left, once again Paul Ringo and George all in mid step. The traffic has gone through but the bus has stopped to watch. This photo is the cover of Abbey Road by Brian Southall.
• Fifth Photo: This photo was used for the cover of the album and is the only photo where we see Paul smoking. The only one with their legs in perfect formation. The three men on the left above Paul's head are Alan Flanagan, Steve Millwood and Derek Seagrove. They were interior decorators returning from a lunch break. On the right side between John and Ringo's head is Paul Cole an American tourist.
• Sixth Photo: Ringo slightly too far behind John.

The interesting thing is that there is always more to the story behind what we see at first.

While we look at the snapshot in time, so much more was happening to lead up to the picture we see. And so much more happens after the moment in time. The second picture is of the "Fab Four" waiting in between pictures. The final product only tells part of the story.

When we take a look at other people's lives and make a judgement, many times we are only seeing part of the story. We are seeing only 10 percent of their life while leaving out a large portion of what brought that person to this point in time. Many times the rest of the story can change dramatically how we perceive someone's life. And if we are judging people on snapshots in time, then maybe others are judging us by only snapshots of our own lives.

Look beyond the picture we see and understand more of the story. You may find something a lot more interesting then the picture itself.

Cartoon Pane

"Trying to break out of the box." -Peter Kiss Gallery

“Great dreams... never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, "How good or how bad am I?" That's where courage comes in.” ~Erma Bombeck

In the old western movies, there always seems to be a line in which one cowboy says to another, "this towns too small for both of us." It usually was followed by some fight scene in which the good guy wins. The atmosphere is one of pending break out to something greater for the the town. It is a bold statement that finally shows the true greatness of the hero.

We can modify the statement apply it to our own life. Apply it in such a manner as to cause the hero in side to break out to something greater. To envision what I'm saying, imagine a single cartoon pane as your life. This pane is your whole world, safe on four sides but limited in reach. Now imagine telling yourself, "this box is too small for me." Shout it out so that those beyond the page can hear you.

As you gain confidence, you grow and the box actually starts to become too small for your life. Take your hand and push through the left side of the box. Punch a hole in the bottom with your right foot. Tear at the remaining pieces until your head emerges to reveal a big life awaiting your arrival.

No, I'm not talking about rebirth or any analogies to that. I'm talking about getting outside of the box we each tend to hide ourselves in. If we bust loose and break away from the artificial binds we have created, then a bigger and greater world is ours. We can rise above to the jet stream and sail to where we want to be in life.

Break out of the cartoon pane, break out in to a great life.

JETSTREAM by DOVES

Rambling Sense

"Days of the week are helpful. Sundays are good, but I like Saturday. Sometimes I’ll write down a day of the week and wonder why it’s spelled that way. “Wednesday” is the hardest day to spell. Sundays are good for pro football, but now football season’s over. People like watching football. It’s so much colder in winter. It would be nice if we could have some warm spring days mixed in the middle of winter to even things out a little. I have a watch that tells me the time, except when the battery dies. Everything dies. That’s why I keep a spare watch battery. Why is a AAA battery smaller than a AA battery?" ~Andy Rooney

Okay, so what could I have to say today about a rambling quote from Andy Rooney on a "60 Minutes" television show? It is a rambling speech about days of the week that really seem to say nothing. Why would any of it seem to make sense?

When I read through it again and again, on the surface none of it made. But when I broke down each of the statements, each one had meaning and value. I'm not sure if that was Andy Rooney's intent or not, but it made sense to me.

Our life and the events that happen around it may not seem to make sense in the broad view. But when we stop to look at each of those individual events, each has some type of meaning or lesson. With so much going on in our daily lives, all of those details seem to blur into a rambling or haphazard series of events.

If we take a bit of time to reflect and examine some of those events, each will become more clear. The rambling will become more sensible. Life will seem to make a bit more sense.

Windows of Opportunity

"If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." ~Tom Peters

We can go through life being told that our window of opportunity is small. When that moment arrives, we need to be ready for it. The window might be tiny, it might be large, but the window will appear for us.

I can't disagree with the fact that we will each encounter a window of opportunity. But what I do believe is that the word window should be plural. The belief is that we are presented with 'windows' of opportunity as opposed to a single one.

The question becomes just how good are we at recognizing those windows and more importantly, taking on the opportunity. If we believe only a single window of opportunity exists for us and we don't recognize it, then we stop looking for more and lose hope of ever trying again.

In my belief, these windows of opportunity happen all of the time. We simply have to learn how to recognize them and then act upon them. But how do we learn to recognize them? You can only learn by trying, by 'trial and error', by being bold and going for them. Over time you will learn which ones work and which ones don't.

Do not mistake this for jumping in willy-nilly. What I'm saying is that you have to understand that opportunity passes us by each and everyday. Most of us fail to look for them, let alone act upon them.

If we are to advance our lives and have an impact, then we must know that there are many windows for us. Look for them and then boldly discover how these opportunities can lead you and others as we live the journey of our life.

Silence

By WickedNox

"Only silence perfects silence." ~A. R. Ammons

Today the silence begins until next Monday. As I have a Men's Conference to attend and help run, Friday will be a bust as far as writing goes.

As with anything, my silence is a chance for you to experience silence within to reflect. Enjoy your weekend, enjoy reflection, and prepare yourself for even greater things.

Advance

"Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood." ~Kahlil Gibran

There are varied definitions of what a hermit is. There are the religious hermits that seclude themselves in pursuit of the "forty years wandering in the desert", change of heart life. A life that seeks God. On the other end are those hermits characterized as "returning to nature" by living a life free from materialism. And as with anything, you can find different forms in between and outside of these descriptions.

One description you may not have thought of is how you live your own life. It may seem a bit radical to describe it this way, but many of us are hermits. As defined in dictionaries, a hermit is a person who has withdrawn from society and lives a solitary existence. Or in other words, a person who avoids the company or assistance of others.

As such, when we live a life that doesn't move forward and becomes mired in the sameness of everyday; what is the point of life? It simply becomes a pursuit of waiting for the 'end' to happen. While the rest of life is passing us by, this type of hermit life might as well be watching the clock tick away the minutes. Yes, living without advance can also be described as living the life of a hermit.

So what do I mean by advance your life?

• To raise; to elevate.
• To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests.
• To raise to a higher point; to enhance.
• To move or go forward; to proceed.
• To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in years.
• The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress.
• Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.
• The first step towards the attainment of a result; to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer.

What I mean is to advance with your life to its greatest potential. It means to advance your life in order to help others. It means to advance your life and actually engage in life around you.

Will you possibly get hurt or bloodied along the way? Very possibly, but you will be amazed how alive you will feel. You can sit and listen to the tic-toc of the clock as time melts away. Or you can advance your life by engaging in new and different ways. Advance, advance, and keep advancing.

~~~~~~~~~~

For those in the Atlanta area, SIGN UP for a Men's Conference being held September 30 - October 3. Come for one night, two nights or the whole thing, but come along and ADVANCE your life. This isn't a kumbaya event. You'll learn practical lessons to advance your life, your families lives and the lives of those around you.

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.