Graduation is Over

"When you get to be our age, you all of a sudden realize that you are being ruled by people you went to high school with ... You all of a sudden catch on that life is nothing but high school." -Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Kurt wrote the above when he was 47 years-old during the time of the Vietnam War and after many years that drifted him through World War II and numerous jobs. It is a topic that could get wide spread discussion at a party. Both in regarding the quote and Kurt Vonnegut's life. But it also makes you stop and think about what one has done with their life since high school.

In a Time article by Annie Murphy Paul titled, Life After High School the discussion does take place. Are we that same person we were in high school? Did the time we spend in high school dictate the person we have become? Maybe to some degree it does but it doesn't have to be that way.

The person you are in high school is not the person you have to be later in life. All of our life experiences, high school, college, work, travel, friends, and just about everything has an influence on whom we become. But the determining factor in whom you become is you.

Think of those movies which depict what a person in high school turns out to be at the ten year, twenty-five and so forth reunions. Most times they are over-dramatizations or generalizations of people. But we get a picture of people that really didn't change much from high school.

The sports jocks get depicted as faded stars still talking about the winning touchdown. The geeks are shown as brainiacs with a lonely career in research. The partiers are revealed to still be whacked out people with no job living under the boardwalk. The stereo-types go on and on.

And yes, there are those that do not change. There are people that tend to keep holding onto their high school persona, never growing beyond that point in life. But the stories I like to hear are those of people that, what I call, 'drink from the water of life.' The people that have taken their high school life and used it as a launching pad towards a greater life. People with changed livesthat take what life has to offer and makes it work for them.

When we leave high school and home, we have the whole world before us. We can choose the type of life we desire. We have limitless potential. There will be those that choose a simplified life, full of the wonders and joy that exist there. Others will choose the uncharted road that is also full of wonders and joy. The point being that there is no right or wrong, just do the things that fill your life.

If ten years from high school have passed and you are unhappy, then the water of life is there to drink from. You can change what is happening and move beyond it. The same is true for any point in life. This isn't to say that you run from responsibility or run just because things get hard. You need to work through and persevere, but you can adapt and change along the way as well.

There is so much you can do with your life. You can take advantage of the power to change at any point, situation or age. All it takes is being bold enough to move. Your graduation is over and there are no more tests to take, just life.

100 Percent

"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. ~Katherine Mansfield

A friend sent me the following a while back and thought I would share with you. It goes on to complain (in theory) of how some people achieve more then 100 percent out of life. But I like the math as a reflection of our own attitudes. So for your enjoyment and consideration, what makes 100%, the math theory.

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The following comes from 2 math teachers with a combined experience of seventy years. It has an indisputable mathematical logic to it. This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint, which goes like this:


What Makes 100%?


What does it mean to give more than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.


- How about achieving 103%?
- What makes up 100% in life?


Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:


If the ABCs are represented as percentage numbers:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I--J--K--L--M--N--O--P--Q--R--S--T--U--V--W--X--Y--Z
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26

then
H-A--R-D--W--O--R--K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and
-K--N--O--W--L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

but
A--T--T-I--T--U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty, that while Hard work and Knowledge will get you close,  it is Attitude that will get you all of the way there.

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There are other word combinations that will take you beyond 100% but its attitude that gets you there. Think about it and see if maybe your attitudedoesn't add up to getting 100% of what you want in life.

Two Hands

"A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down." -Arnold H. Glasow

I have had friends through out the years of my life that would fit the above quote perfectly. These people are ones that I hold close in my heart although many of them I have drifted from. With family and job changes, the miles and time seem to fill the gap. But I can truly say that these friends have helped shape my life.

I recently read a story to which I can't find an attribution or even how true the story is. But it does speak of friendship and what one will do for the other.

In WW1 an English soldier watched in horror how his lifelong friend fell under gunfire. All the soldiers had to retreat. The soldier went to ask permission from the lieutenant to go and fetch his friend from the no-mans-land.

The lieutenant gave permission, but added: "It is hardly worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may die too."

The soldier did not care about the warnings and miraculously he did reach his friend, lifted him to his shoulders and stumbled back. He was wounded in the process.

The lieutenant helped them to safety and noticed the soldier´s friend was dead. "I am sorry for your friend - but I told you it was not worth it. Your friend is dead and now you are also seriously wounded."

"I have to disagree with you. It was worth it", the soldier answered.

"What ever do you mean?" the lieutenant wondered.

"It was worth it", the soldier repeated. "When I got to my friend, he was still alive and said ´Jim, I knew you would never leave me.´

The friendships you receive in life are gifts. They keep you grounded when you begin to fly too high in self. They help pull you up off the ground when life is trying to bury you.

We know that these friendships will go through stages of closeness and also distance. But if you can point back to those that made a difference, then you are truly blessed.

For me I can count them on two hands. Two hands by which I can clench and stand my ground when circumstance tries to knock me down. Two hands to reach out and pull them up when they need me.

Remember your friends on this day, remember your friends tomorrow. Most of all, remember to be a friend.

Carpe Diem

"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." -John Keating, Dead Poets Society

Carpe Diem, an interesting phrase generally meaning "seize the day." It comes from a Latin poem written by Horace that has become sort of a statement of principle for many people. It is generally translated as "seize the day" and literally it means "to pick, pluck, pluck off, cull, crop, or gather", but Publius Ovidius Naso (better known as Ovid) used it to mean, "To enjoy, seize, use, make use of".

In Horace's poem, the long version is "Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero", meaning to "Seize the Day, putting as little trust as possible in the future." His intent was to say that our future is uncertain and we should limit our hope's to a shorter future. In some respects he was speaking to people and business leaders that think short term goals or just the next quarter, so "drink one's wine."

In modern culture, I would argue that the quote above describes its use best. "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary", meaning to use each and every day to do something great. Don't waste a single day waiting for the next day to occur; choose now, not later. Begin to move your life forward, to find your dreams, to have a great and 'extraordinary' life.

The future exists but you have to move towards it. To sit idle and allow the future to find you, it will only find you in the same place, sitting idle. You have the ability to impact your own future. You can impact your own future. So "Seize the day, folks. Make your lives extraordinary."

Unexpected

"Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so." -Doris Lessing

So there we were, checking in the baggage for my daughter and grand-daughter to return to Los Angeles. The Delta agent was very kind and pleasant as she indicated the one suitcase would cost $115 US dollars. I'm not sure if my chin actually touched the floor, but it did hit the counter on the way down.

I fly quite frequently and had just never had occassion to check-in an overweight bag. So the base cost was $25 and an additional $90 for ten additional pounds over the 50 pound limit. It was all so unexpected I guess but then again I shouldn't have been surprised.

It is the unexpected that presents us with opportunity. I could have gotten upset and thrown a tantrum. I could have paid the additional money and been done with it. What we did do is pull ten pounds out of the bag. It is surprising how much shoes and jeans weigh! I can now take a US Postal service flat rate box; much cheaper and send it directly to their home.

There are many times in our lives when we get confronted by a challenge. Challenges that vary in degrees of difficulty and angst. It is what we do in those moments that define the outcome. Do we let anger and frustration take over? Do we allow it to overcome our life or do we look for the possible opportunity.

I fully understand that sometimes the challenge leaves us seemingly with no choices. My daughter may have had that presented to her had she been alone. But I have always felt there are choices which are sometimes very hard to make. And we usually fail to see them because they are hard choices. We choose not to even consider them because they are hard choices.

If all I have is $25 to pay for a checked 50 pound bag, then maybe I don't need that pair of shoes or jeans. Maybe I do without something else in my life. And don't get me wrong, my daughter did not have an over abundance of things and would have made the right choices. That I am confident of. Yet I see others struggle to make those hard choices in life. I myself have had to make them.

A recent movie called "The Company Men" explores some of these hard choices we have to make in life. One of the main characters, Bobby Walker (played by Ben Affleck) continues to hang onto the material possessions even with his family's lack of money. He finally has to make a choice to give up their expensive home and his beloved Porsche. You will say, sure, thats a movie but it does reflect real life.

Last fall a local church which does great community work was giving away food for the needy. All the groceries needed for a Thanksgiving dinner plus additional food was being given to those in need. All one had to do was drive to a parking lot, drive through and they would load you up with food. It was a great success and I commend them for the great giving heart.

What I did notice were the vehicles being driven. There were many average and well-used vehicles in line. But within the ranks were very nice and very new vehicles. I had to temper my thoughts about someone driving a new vehicle but needing food to put on the table. I wouldn't presume to know the individual stories, but my outward view is that maybe they need to make a hard choice to get rid of the expensive vehicle. Maybe the right choice is to get a cheaper car and have the money to put food on the table.

That sounds harsh I'm sure and it doesn't fix everything but it is a step. Don't take me wrong here as I can't say what goes through peoples minds. I am simply trying to illustrate a point about making hard choices. The unexpected is going to happen in our lives. A car break down, a new baby, a job loss, divorce or a myriad of other events.

It is what we do in response to the unexpected. Do we take that moment to view the new opportunity? Do we take that moment to make choices which keep our lives moving forward? Do we take that moment and confront the unexpected with the unexpected?

Keep moving forward, keep living, keep making choices even when the unexpected happens. You are capable of doing great and unexpected things. Don't let the unexpected defeat you. Do the unexpected.

Climb a Mountain

"Big thinking precedes great achievement." -Wilferd A. Peterson

On June 7, 1913, Hudson Stuck, an Alaskan missionary, led the first successful ascent of Mt. McKinley, the highest point on the American continent. Located in the state of Alaska, the mountain's Athabascan Indian name is Denali, meaning "The High One." In 1896, it was renamed in honor of Senator William McKinley, who became president of the United States that year.

When they set foot on McKinley's south peak, considered the mountain's true summit, it was an achievement many thought unattainable. A member of the group, Robert Tatum later commented, "The view from the top of Mount McKinley is like looking out the windows of Heaven!" To achieve something so large took large thinking.

It took thinking beyond the word no. It took believing in themselves and in the possibility of something greater. It also took them seven and a half weeks to climb what amounts to fourteen Empire State Buildings. A total of 20,320 feet into the bluest reaches of the sky.

Nothing comes easy in life. To scale the highest mountains of your life, it can take time. But you can take an ordinary day like June 7 and turn it into a great achievement. It all starts with thinking big things for your life and then living your journey today.

Start dreaming of large mountains to climb and then start climbing. The top isn't nearly as far away as you think.

Monday Morning

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." -Marcus Aurelius

Here it is, Monday morning and I can hear the collective groan that comes with the rising sun. The alarm shatters our peaceful slumber and no matter how hard we try, the day must start.

Is it lack of sleep that causes our angst in getting up? If so, maybe you need to adjust your sleep pattern to obtain the right level of sleep. Maybe depression has entered your life and you haven't realized it. If so, then read up about it but more importantly, go see your doctor.

Could it possibly be that you simply are not satisfied with the amount of stress in your life? When we feel stressed and overworked, we try to "plow on through" the list of things to do. This causes additional stress which in turn can turn our motivation into a lack of it. It is these moments we need to stop and step back to relax.

Maybe you need some new techniques to recharge your life. Psychology Today provides some helpful tips to do just that. In an article titled How to Recharge and Get Motivated, it offers advice on just that. A dip in your personal motivation will work against you and make those mornings more difficult. Try something new in order to lift the stress from your life and raise the motivation.

Monday morning is always going to come, as is Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. While we may not want to jump up in joy with the birds, taking care of ourselves will make all mornings a little easier to enjoy.

Brush With Something

"With the brush we merely tint, while the imagination alone produces colour." -Theodore Gericault

Once in a while you get the chance to brush by fame. In this case, it was Salman Rushdie. Or so I believed it was him when having breakfast at my hotel in London one morning.

I was on a business trip and due to my frequent hotel stays, the club room is a convenience that makes the trip much easier. I was always asked, why not ask to take a picture, why not engage in a conversation, why not....

But I did not ask and here is why.

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.

Another Brass Ring

Picture comes from The Brass Ring Poem, by Janet Boyd.

It is well worth a read when you finish here.

"We dance around the ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows." -Robert Frost

This article was an early one in my blog writing days. It shows that I was still learning how to structure the pictures, the quotes, the links and my thoughts. But I found it to be a good one that even today gathers a fair amount of views.

I was recently reminded of the article while watching a show about amusement parks. One in particular was the Looff Carousel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. It features a brass ring dispenser that was interesting to hear about.

So without anymore ado, the original post titled "Grab A New Attitude - Grab The Brass Ring".

Ever sit around thinking about how your life could be different. Going round and round in your mind, like sitting on a merry-go-round.

Maybe daydreaming at work regarding how much you may not like what it is you do.

Maybe sitting in traffic between your place of work and home wondering if your well used vehicle couldn't be replaced by a new one.

Maybe at home watching television on that 25" envisioning what it would be like to have a large screen version with surround sound.

Maybe just wishing you had more meaning or purpose in your life.

Daydreaming, wondering and envisioning is good. Everyone should have dreams and goals for a better life. But you wonder how can I ever achieve them? How am I going to grasp that 'brass ring'?

Stop and think about the merry-go-round. Around and around and around and around in circles with the same music. As an amusement ride, I love them for the memories it brings back growing up. For the simplicity of the ride, for the safety of the ride. What can go wrong in a round the circle ride. I had always wondered why the 'brass ring' was there. It hit me years ago that it is there to add a bit of excitement to the ride.

For those that dared to, they could reach out in an attempt to grab it. Maybe earn a free ride or a prize. Many wouldn't try, simply content to hold on tight to go around and around and around. The ones that did keep trying to grab the brass ring eventually succeeded. They had the courage to overcome fear and reach out. What then was left? To move on to another more exciting ride. To take a chance at something different. To move on from the same thing over and over, around and around, again and again.

Get out there and make a move. Sitting still, not changing the way you do things results in just that - nothing changes. Another year goes by, around in a circle on the merry-go-round watching the brass ring pass you by.

Don't wait - reach out and make a change in your life. Reach for the brass ring, do something to help someone else, move your attitude to a higher plateau. Start moving and change will occur.

Fishing Advice

"The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself." -Oscar Wilde

The following article was originally posted on February 13, 2007. I thought it was a pretty decent article about taking care of your relationships. What I didn't expect was how the title "Mending Fishing Nets" would become a search item for fishermen.

I was getting so many hits to the article, I had the sense that maybe it was a great article. Yet I tempered my excitement and soon realized the majority were from coastal locations. These were people actually looking for advice on mending a fishing net.

To make sure I didn't turn away those people, I changed the articles to give links to some actual sites offering that advice. I also gave these people an offer to return to my site later for motivation and inspiration.

I still get quite a few hits to these articles. So hopefully I'm providing a good service. In a way maybe I'm helping fishermen become fishers of men.

So here is the original posting:

Your life is like a series of connections, like the knots of a fishing net. Each knot is a relationship with another person. As these knots or connections grow, the larger the net becomes. Your impact on other peoples lives grows as well.

But you can't simply create a connection and forget about it. Each knot of the net has to be tended to. When a weak spot develops, a hole can develop. Not only your relationship but a piece of your life slips through.

When this happens, what is left will be difficult to gather back in. So mending and caring for each connection is important.

These relationships are more important than having all of the money in the world. These relationships define who you are. An old saying goes something like this, "he who dies with the most toys wins." But the reality of it is that "he who dies with the most toys still dies."

Tend to your life net connections, those relationships that will improve your life and others. The net will be there when you fall and help you when you recover. It will impact and connect many people to many others. It is your impact on other lives that will mean the most when life ends...a lasting memory to guide others when you are long gone.

Sufficient Love

"Love possesses not nor will it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love." -Khalil Gibran

A bit light on articles this week although I plan on posting a couple of favorites from the past. I am taking this week to clear up a few things at work and then spend the rest with family on a short vacation.

The picture and quote shown above are a little hint of what my next book will be. I'm still a ways off but plan to have it ready for Christmas gift giving. As the time draws closer, I will give you more bits and pieces.

Until then, the books I have out there already could always use another reader. I am also working on getting them into eBook format which will make the whole idea of becoming an avid reader of mine easier.

All I ask is that you keep reading, keep dreaming, but more importantly keep moving forward.

Days To Remember

"Love... it surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be." -Khalil Gibran

It was only supposed to be dinner for four and a movie. There was to be nothing more than good conversation and escape from the the week's work. But then I entered the room and you smiled.

Happy Birthday Laura, my friend, my love, my life.

"A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." -George William Curtis

I would also like to say thank you to my son Dan for his continued service to our country. Thank you to him and the millions of others that have and continue to serve so bravely and boldly. I also say thank you to those that are taking those first steps to serve. Each of you are proud examples of a great and loving nation.

This great country was built by great people. It continues to be a great country despite the ups and downs we endure. And it is great people such as yourselves that protect and defend it so well. Thank you and I wish only continued strength and safety in your daily mission.

Day in the life of rocks

"We learn geology the morning after the earthquake" -Ralph Waldo Emerson



This past week one of my son's had a birthday. Jon to be precise but in the grand scheme of things, he is somewhere in the middle of Wyoming. He is likely outside the reach of cell phone towers, close enough to a town with a small diner.

But he is likely enjoying his time of research, of being able to put his learned degree in geology to use. I would assume he is picking away at geological formations, figuring out just how this big planet was formed and how we can use its resources.

Yet his Gpa Bill could have taught him everything. The rocks my father collected on vacations are something of a family "thing". I am sad to say that my brother Jim will be the one to get them one day.

So Jon will have to collect his own on this birthday and for the years to come. That is if he actually collects them. My father did, I do and I'm guessing Jon will. And if not, I'm fine with that.

Happy Birthday Jon - happy rock climbing!

Slice of Ireland

Greene's Restaurant - Cork, Ireland

"There are those moments when you shake someone's hand, have a conversation with someone, and suddenly your all bound together because you share your humanity in one simple moment."
-Ralph Fiennes-

Today we wrapped up our business meetings and held a grand dinner to celebrate. A local restaurant that had very good food, very good service and very good conversation.

All week we have worked together as representatives of different companies, as different nationalities and as different people. But the end result is that we worked together as a single entity. We held conversations and did those things as a group when so much could have been stacked against us.

I am not one to quote the Bible, but Matthew 18:20 reads, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." What is great about this verse is that each of us had a sense of purpose for what was at hand. We were given the opportunity to achieve something and we did, it was good. The verse reminds me that if we do come together as two, three or many, then something good can come from it.

Gather those that you know whether it be family, friends, and neighbors. Sit down with co-workers or people you know from business, sports, or any other connection. When we do, the conversation will flow and good things will happen. A little slice of my Ireland experience will come upon all of you.

Raise the BAR

"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope." -Frank Lloyd Wright

Today was one of those days where rocks and boulders kept getting in the way. The rain fell hard at times, the doors all seemed to remain locked. Nothing was going particularly right as circumstance was having a play day with everything you do.

It can become very frustrating and you may feel like throwing your hands up and loudly screaming. But when it does, it really is the time to raise the bar.

You need to keep believing in what you are doing.
You need to keep acting upon the belief by moving forward.
You need to keep realizing that it will get better.

But why do that? Why not just give up? Why not lay down and be run over? Because you are greater then the situation at hand. You have a huge ability to get beyond the things that stand in your way. You are going to have a great life.

Raise the B.A.R. when life wants you to lay it down. Push through and do what you can to keep moving forward. Circumstance will eventually become a mere bump on the road.

Depot or Depot

"Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success." -Paul J. Meyer

Communication has a strange way of getting in the way of a conversation. We can talk to each other all day long and never really understand each other.

The causes of our conversation malfunction are numerous. It could be a misinterpreted email. There are phone conversations with a bad connection. It could be a Tweet that uses an acronym in the wrong fashion. Or maybe its just a cultural difference.

Take for instance a conversation between myself and a British customer over dinner. The English language while very similar in different countries, it does have differences as well. And English is not generally accepted as the hardest to learn.

We talked of the route (British: root; American: rout) from the airport to the city centre (British: centre; American: center). And after a meal including fries (British: chips; American: fries), laughed about the after dinner drink, which was a Cockburns Port (British: coeburns; American: I didn't leave out the 'ck').

So a conversation that should have been simple required attentive listening. It required attentive inquiry between the two parties involved. It required being engaged in the personal connection of two people talking.

When all was done, there was a new appreciation for culture, each opinion and each other. We learned more and we grew more. For me, if we can walk away better for the experience; if we can each earn more from the interaction; our lives are raised to a new level.

So next time you go to Home Depot (British: deh poh; American: dee poh) and happen to have a conversation with someone, listen and improve your life. Make it a conversation that each of you can walk away from better for the experience.

Achieving Adventure

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself." -Amelia Earhart

There is so much in life to experience. From the time we are born, crawling across the floor to a toy all of the way to old age discoveries, we can experience new wonder. It is a great part of living, being an active participant in so much of everything.

A flight for business to Ireland placed me next to a man from Colorado. A man flying back into his past. a man flying back into adventure.

At this time I couldn't tell you what his name is. Nor could I tell you the name of his brother. And I certainly can't tell you the name of their father. But I can say they are on an adventure together, rediscovering their history.

I hope that I hear from them after the trip so that I can write about it. But if not, my imagination tells me that they are going to have a wondrous time together. They will have the time of their lives. They will be adventurous.

Each of us need to experience some level of adventure. It might be taking a canoe down the local river or fling half way around the world. It is pushing your limits slightly past your comfort level.

By stretching ourselves we realize that the impossible isn't quite so impossible. We find that our ability to achieve becomes more real when we push beyond our comfort.

Rapture Thoughts

"This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

This morning my wife and I decided to have breakfast at our local Waffle House. A chain of diners mostly through out the southeast that allows for varied experiences. So this morning was not too different.

As it was quite early, there were few people eating so the conversation was easy to hear. And as any small diner goes, we were drawn into this conversation. I'm not sure if it was tired night shift workers or not enough morning coffee, but the rapture was the topic.

There was news of the rapture occurring tomorrow (May 21, 2011) fresh on the minds of Waffle House patrons. I will state up front that I believe rapture is a personal experience of faith. That our own death is our rapture and if your faith is such, you will do good as much as possible in life.

With that out of the way, even if you believe in the fire and brimstone version of rapture, I am not here to mock or convince you otherwise. And if you have no belief in any of that, I am not here to persuade you of it.

What was interesting is that the Waffle House folks were concerned about what to do and how to prepare. I thought to myself, maybe just start now by being a good person. I'm not suggesting these people are not good and decent. But maybe all of us should just try to live a good life everyday.

Our physical lives are not infinite and our time can disappear in an instant. So why not try to live a good and great life all of the time. Being a good person to your family, your friends, your neighbors and even strangers leaves a great legacy for others to follow.

The rapture may happen tomorrow and I may get hit by a bus, but either way I'll try to do good until it happens. I'll keep going to the Waffle House. Heck, I'll just keep going on and on until I no longer can.

Your Attitude Today

"If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want." -Oscar Wilde

Definition of Attitude by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

1: arrangement of the parts of a body or figure; posture
2: position assumed for specific purpose (threatening attitude)
3: ballet position similar to the arabesque in which the raised leg is bent at the knee
4: a:mental position with regard to a fact or state (a helpful attitude) b:feeling or emotion toward a fact or state
5: the position of an aircraft or spacecraft determined by the relationship between its axes and a reference datum (as the horizon or a particular star)
6: an organismic state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (as an object, concept, or situation)
7: a:negative or hostile state of mind b:cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant manner

I guess I find the definition non-surprising. Neither of the "state of mind" definitions (4 and 7) are positive. While definition four could be considered a neutral stand, item seven supposes attitude to be a negative one.

We as humans tend to always go to the negative as a first response. You hear people say, "oh, thats too hard", "that will never work", or "I'm not smart enough." And why do we go to the negative first? Because it is an easy place to go, it is the quick and easy learned choice. But being negative actually consumes quite a bit of our physical energy.

Is that scientific? Maybe, but mostly its my experience in observing people these many years. Additionally, several articles including one in Psychology Today says, "For the same reasons negative people zap your energy, negative emotions, such as anger, resentment, regret, and jealousy, zap it as well. Negative emotions make our minds and bodies tense. In addition, when we experience these kinds of emotions, we have to exert a lot of energy to contain them, which can be exhausting."

So having a positive attitude is really easier then being negative. It simply comes down to retraining ourselves to be more positive. Once you get into the 'groove' of being more positive, it gets easier and easier.

And like I do once or twice a year, read the following titled ATTITUDE by Charles Swindoll. Its a good reminder of how you can view your own attitude.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes"

Time Passing

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." -C. S. Lewis

Wednesday comes like a wishful gift to a work week for so many. It is likened as "hump day", in which we've climbed a hill that represents the work week. Many feel that if they can just make it to this day, the rest of the work week will be easy. But experience tells us that life doesn't play by our rules.

We can plan to have a nice slide down the hill towards Friday, but circumstance can alter the topography. It could very well be a Sisyphus kind of week in which we are constantly pushing the boulder up the hill. Only to find that the weekend is short and the boulder is once again ready for us.

The good thing in all of this is that time is truly a constant. The minutes, hours, and days come at us in the same constant fashion. We can't wish it to slow down nor can we jump past the present. It is an equalizer of sorts amongst all of us. We each must live the minutes, hours, and days in order to reach a future point in time.

So before we get to Friday at 5:00 PM, all of Wednesday, Thursday and the waning hours of Friday must be experienced. So whatever life and circumstance is going to throw at us, try to enjoy each minute of it. The good, the bad, the ugly are all part of the life experience.

***Yes, that was a link to one of my favorite movies.

Time will pass on its own. It is up to us to make the most of it and not wish it away. How we live during those moments is what matters. I say choose to enjoy those moments and in the collective end, our time here will have been more enjoyable than not.

Finish Line

"Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another." -John Dewey

I have heard it said many times that starting a journey towards a goal is the easy part...finishing it is the hard part. Its a true and sometimes painful lesson for many of us to learn in life.

We set forth at the beginning of a new year with plans for many things. But by the second or third month, life and our own selves get in the way. We lose interest, become interested in other "bright and shiny" things or simply give up. It is a common theme for many of us and finishing really is the hard part.

I wrote recently that my son graduated from the University of Georgia, picking up his Bachelor of Science in Geology, Summa Cum Laude. Now it is graduate school (should he decide) ahead of him. I am sure it was a long and hard road to achieve this moment. Yet he pushed and kept his mind on the goal and beyond.

It is that piece beyond the goal, that which lay beyond the finish line that keeps us motivated. One goal begets another goal, another destination, or another level of achievement. But none of it happens if you don't keep moving forward.

Now I fully understand that we can start a journey and then realize the path might be wrong. The goal we set may have been the wrong direction. The course we take might get altered. We may not complete the first goal in mind, but the path leads you to the next goal and the next and the next.

The best thing you can do is to set a goal and then get up and do something about it. Try to finish the journey to your goal. If you get side-tracked from it, adjust; don't just stop. Don't click on the CANCEL button. Don't click on the BACK button. Go forward and achieve a great life.

What Me Worry

"It makes no sense to worry about things you have no control over because there's nothing you can do about them, and why worry about things you do control? The activity of worrying keeps you immobilized." -Wayne Dyer

Recently a college graduation occurred in my family. A son earned his degree from the University of Georgia. It was a great time having most of our family together to celebrate this achievement. Another flight from the nest to greater destinations has begun.

It brings to mind as a parent the worry we continue to have through out our children's lives. We worry that they are healthy, getting enough to eat, shelter, clothing and the basic needs of life. We would love to care for them continually but letting them struggle and learn on their own teaches them even more. But we continue to worry none-the-less about such things.

My older children in their own way are working through their lives much like we did when younger and still do. It would be nice to take Alfred E. Neuman's worry-free view of life. The reality is that we will always worry on various levels. Its a human character to care not only for oneself but for others. The care we have for our children will always have worry.

But this worry is out weighed by our happiness for what they are doing with their lives. The joy of seeing first flight into the blue sky swells our hearts with pride. While we know that tumbles will occur, life will do them just fine.

As parents, we will worry and be there to share in the accomplishments, in the sorrows and in the glory of the life they live. I can not say don't worry. Heck, I worry about the lives of my children. But I get more joy out of each little thing they do.

I would much rather live the "what me worry" but that part will always be there. Worry, worry, worry...but do more then worry. Be proud of them more then worry. Respect their decisions more then worry. Be happy for them more then worry for them. Love them and don't worry so much.

What Happens in Vegas

"Buy the ticket, take the ride." -Hunter S. Thompson

This is the final day @EMCWorld here in fabulous Las Vegas. This city certainly knows how to put on a show, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and three-hundred sixty-five days a year. Keeping in the spirit of Las Vegas, the quote from Hunter Thompson seems appropriate.

So much can happen here. Many things can be gained, much can be lost and through it all its the ride you take. A popular phrase used by the Las Vegas Tourism folks is "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." It is a catchy phrase, but what I say is to take home the positive things from your stay.

Yes, you probably spent a bit too much money, maybe drank a little too much and maybe stayed up a bit too late, and it was fun, correct?

But you also learned a little bit while @EMCWorld? And didn't you gain a few more friends? And didn't you light a spark of vision inside yourself? Absolutely you did, absolutely you will!

What you have just done is "bought the ticket" and now you will "take the ride" of your life. Don't leave that vision in Vegas. Take it home with you and make it a BIG part of your life. Begin building momentum from this experience and create a great life.

Viva Las Vegas....
Viva your best life...

Dream Big

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral." -Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Here we are now on day three @EMCWorld. There have been BIG announcements already and more BIG announcements to come. But the bigger thing that is on my mind are the BIG visions people will have going forward. Not just related to EMCWorld and technology, but BIG things for their lives.

To illustrate BIG in this post's picture, I was going to show a great view of the Palazzo Hotel here in Las Vegas where I am staying. From the street, it is a grand view; large, big and brightly lit. But framing that with the quote, I didn't want people viewing money as my cathedral. So I used an image of Saint Patricks Cathedral in New York City.

Neither the Palazzo Hotel or Saint Patricks Cathedral are meant as the objects of this article. The center piece is that to build something BIG and grand for your life you have to envision it first. A cathedral starts as a pile of stones and someone having a vision to create something great. A huge hotel begins as a list of dreams on napkins and memo pads.

Everything BIG starts starts as a BIG vision.

I suppose one might even make the case for the grand looking buildings in Las Vegas. But I say this from the view of people visiting Las Vegas, the EMC World convention goers and almost anyone, anywhere. If you look at success, the gold and grandness of it all, then maybe you will catch inspiration to lift your life to even greater heights.

I'm not interested in the false facade or illusions that can exist in life. I'm interested in sparking a real vision for your life in which you can do great things. So, if standing in front of a cathedral or a grand hotel can light a fire inside of you to do great things, then stand and be inspired.

There will be 10,000 people heading home soon from EMC World with lots of ideas, goals and visions for the upcoming year. A large portion of that will be centered on the BIG announcements made during this event. But I hope that each of them take home a BIG vision for their own life.

Enjoy the rest of the convention folks and dream BIG.

Conversation

"It is not what we learn in conversation that enriches us. It is the elation that comes of swift contact with tingling currents of thought." -Agnes Repplier

Day one of @EMCWorld is complete and day two is well under way. As I sit in the quiet, relaxing bloggers lounge, it contrasts with the hubbub of activity out on the floor. If you have ever been to a large conference, the number of people flowing through it can be overwhelming at times.

For breakfast most mornings, I liken it to the "Running of the Bulls". At times it seems like a narrow Spanish street filled with people and bulls running through it. Then again, I don't mean to say people are running in a mad rush of confusion. What I mean is the well directed funnelling of people into a huge banquet hall. It is an amazing feat to pull off the feeding 10,000 people.

And in that crowd of walking, picking up food, finding a chair, and eating, there is conversation. There are people talking to each other about a wide variety of subjects. Since we are in Las Vegas, many of those conversations revolve around how much someone won or lost in the casino.

Others will be giving introductions of themselves, the latest sporting event, and at a conference such as this, technology. In the high level view it may seem like just a lot of noise. But listen carefully and you will hear people connecting.

People are talking and sharing with each other. They are learning something new or reaffirming something old, but they are talking. Folks will gather new friends and also touch base with old friends. And each of these connections will advance each of us even further.

By connecting with others you gain new insight that will lift your life even higher. By connecting with others we give them something new in their life. By connecting with others we strengthen the human experience.

Connect with others and see how your life will gain from it. You may think you are adding to the noise when in fact you are actually adding to your life. Enjoy the noise.

Viva Big Data

"All this technology for connection and what we really only know more about is how anonymous we are in the grand scheme of things" -Heather Donahue

Coming to you live from Las Vegas this week at EMC World. A gathering of over 10,000 people that have one thing in mind, data storage. This the premiere technology event of the year and its going to be another great one.

The articles this week are not going to be marketing introductions or specifications on data. What I want to bring to you is the human element of the conference. The connections people make, the interaction of different people from all around the world.

Here we have the chance to take all of this social media and actually connect face-to-face with each other. Scary for some, intriguing for others, but the great thing is making those connections to other people.

I will be offering small updates by means of Twitter and Facebook, so check me out on Twitter @jprimm or Facebook Joseph Primm.

So Viva Las Vegas from @EMCWorld, the world of big data and lots of fantastic people.

Hang tight, I think I just saw Elvis....

Your Journey

"Cross country skiing is great if you live in a small country." -Steven Wright

How you get to your destination in life can take many different forms. The road may be smooth or muddy. The wind might blow in your face or carry you in its arms. It is impossible to predict what type of journey it will be.

The point is to carry on with your journey. Make a choice to pursue your dreams, your visions, and your goals. How you get there is how you live your life. Know that you will never get there by allowing grass to grow long and tall around your feet.

So instead of standing still, I write this blog and books. Attitude in Words, Changed Lives, and Live the Journey were never meant to change the world. They were meant to energize my journey and help chart a course of advice for my children. The pleasant surprise became the impact my journey has had on other people.

The wake of our own life spreads to others far beyond what we would expect. That is what I find so amazing about our lives. The road we take to reach some destination is filled with all sorts of surprises. Some of those things will be (simply put) absolutely rotten. Other encounters will be truly delightful.

No matter what type of circumstances you encounter on your own journey, enjoy and learn from each of them. Holding regret and pain only keeps you in one place. It prevents you from moving forward to a new and better place for your life.

And while I am not the most inspirational or motivational person, I am a person that wants myself, my family, my friends and you to have a great life. It may not be the life you first envisioned, but it will be your best life.

Keep moving forward, whether it be in the old broken-down jalopy or cross country skiing across a very small country; your journey is and will be amazing.

Binary Choices

"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." -William Faulkner

In my profession we deal in the exacting nature of how computers work. This world of laptops, smartphones, digital watches and most everything else is based upon two digits. A one (positive) and a zero (negative) is where it all begins, traverses and ends.

If I add two zeroes, I get a zero. If I add a zero and a one, I get a one. If I add one and one, I get ten. Have I started to make your head spin slightly?

The reason I was thinking about this had to do with a quote I have heard frequently. Without going into details of where the quote has been used, folks have been saying, "two wrongs do not make a right." And in a binary sense they are correct.

Each of us make decisions each day that will result in either good or bad. You might say that those lines are blurred, but only if you let them. We can choose to correct a wrong or compound it with another wrong. We make these choices all day long. We let someone merge into the busy traffic flow, we fudge numbers on our taxes, we hold a door open for someone carrying packages; we make binary decisions.

And this is not a race to see who ends up with the most points. It is about moving your life forward in a positive way. It means creating a better you with each decision you make.

Choose to make the right decision with every opportunity. Choose to make yourself better then whom you were yesterday.

Amazing You

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body." -C. S. Lewis

There is a wonderful National Geographic documentary regarding the human body. The shows takes you on a tour of what is both simple in elegance yet intricate in how it is achieved. Our body is quite amazing in how we are put together and operate.

Watching this show made me think of the resilience our body has to fight off infection, repair bones and recreate. The complexity of how we collect data (senses) and process it lightening quick can boggle the mind. And the mind itself is a wonder.

We take care of our bodies in order to keep it running well and as error free as we can. The body certainly has biological mechanisms inside that cause it to take care of itself. But the soul we have also wants to keep the body healthy and moving.

It is said that our bodies have a soul inside which provides guidance. I am of the belief that the soul has a body which gives it the ability to do great things. The word 'soul' was derived from the Greek word ψυχή, pronounced IPA. It is a verb "to cool, to blow" and would refer to the vital breath our bodies need.

I am not smart enough to debate the whole body, soul and spirit question. It is just a matter for us to consider all three of them. All have purpose and all three need to be taken care of. Our spirit gives purpose to the soul which in turn gives purpose to the body.

While our physical body ages, it takes more care and effort to keep it in good shape. Our soul gives us reason to do so but the soul needs to be refreshed and kept alive as well. And in the grand scheme of these things, never forget that you are an amazing person.

Maybe the subject is a little too deep for thought at this moment, but just know that you can do amazing things. Your body will keep doing its thing which will give your soul time to accomplish even greater things. Yes, you are amazing.

Quiet of Night

"Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree." -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Lately I have been waking up each night at 3:00AM. An odd time in my mind and surprisingly on the dot. At first it came upon me like a rude awakening in anticipation of the phone ringing. Yet the phone never rang, the daylight came and no bad news arrived.

The next time it was again, eyes wide open, roll over to look at the clock and "03:00 AM" staring boldly back at me. This time I lay awake not in anticipation of the phone, but questioning the significance of it. So I decided to research it, not in depth but enough to satisfy my curiosity.

The Internet is full of thoughtful responses to the question. It could be my internal clock is somehow adjusting its sleep cycle. To others it could be the 'witching' hour to the peak time of paranormal activity.

There are religious connections for Christians to 3:00 AM regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is called the 'spiritual' time of night in which one should pray. I'm not certain what it is but thinking about it, I had the sense it was my mother waking me. I don't mean that in a literal way because she passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2008.

But it made sense to me in my overly active 3:00 AM mind. So I said a couple of prayers for the health of family and friends and also thought of my mother, having a short conversation with her in my mind.

In the bigger scheme of things, I can't tell you for sure what is causing me to awake at this time. I can't even tell myself for sure what I believe it is. It could be my internal clock, something spiritual, my mother's spirit talking to me or someone simply slamming a car door to go to work each day at 3:00 AM.

What I can tell you is that I'm using the time to reflect upon the coming day. I'm taking a few moments in the peaceful quiet of 3:00 AM to remember lessons learned and make the coming day a better one. It could be that 3:00 AM just happens to be my daily time to try and find enlightenment.

What ever it is, I'll enjoy it for as long as it lasts. I'll enjoy my short chats with Mom. I'll enjoy it as a time for prayer. I'll enjoy the quiet still of the night.

Find your moments in the bustling daylight or the stillness of night. Find a time to reflect, to capture a moment of zen or just to enjoy the quiet. It will refresh and renew your spirit for whatever lay in front of you.

Flip a Coin

"In the final analysis there is no other solution to man's progress but the day's honest work, the day's honest decision, the day's generous utterances, and the day's good deed." -Clare Boothe Luce

There is a character in the Batman comic series called "Two Face" whom is torn between good and evil. In his tortured life he believes in chance and his victims fate is determined by the flip of a coin.

The thought that we could live our lives to chance is not something I would subscribe to. We are certainly bound by circumstance in life. There are also those things over which we have no control. But the decisions we make in life impact our lives so much more.

What if each morning you arose from bed and decided your attitude for the day simply by the flip of a coin. Heads means you will enjoy the day and be of good spirit. Tails and you will be that rotten mean individual that each of us have encountered before.

A flip of the coin and the decision is to view the day as being a bad one. A flip of the coin and we will enjoy the day and the challenges we face. A flip of the coin to determine our life.

Don't leave your day, your week, or your life to chance. Make the decision to have a great life, a positive life, a happy life. The decision is yours to make, not the flip of the coin.

Flying High

Given angel's wings, where might you fly?
In what sweet heaven might you find your love?
Unwilling to be bound, where might you move,
Lost between the wonder and the why?
~Nicholas Gordon

The cruising altitude of a large commercial airline is anywhere from 23,000 to 41,000 feet above sea level. It varies based on a lot of conditions. Westbound flights will travel in the even numbered altitudes and of course eastbound the odd numbered.

I find it amazing to this day that such a large aircraft can lift off the ground. In example, a Boeing 757 weighs in around 240,000 pounds and achieves lift at 160 miles per hour. It just amazes me but the laws of aerodynamics were never my strong suit in school.

Flying high above the clouds always tends to inspire me. It reminds me of how much achievement we have the potential for. The "sky is the limit" can reveal itself while viewing the pillow top clouds. All one has to do is turn your eyes up to see infinite space.

Our lives have potential beyond the tallest skyscrapers. We can go higher then the clouds into the thin air and vastness of space. All it takes is movement in our life. All it takes is removing the gravity of self doubt we place upon ourselves.

Believe in your ability to soar higher. The view is wonderful, the feeling is even greater. Fly higher then you have ever imagined in your life.

Goals on Fire

"Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire." -Arnold H. Glasow

Each day people sit in a chair waiting for something to happen. It might be the couch in front of their television. It might be the office chair in front of their computer. Others may even sit in a lounge chair out on the patio.

Each person is waiting for change to happen. They are awaiting the moment when opportunity and greatness happens to them. But the wait will be a long and lonesome wait.

For change to happen or even opportunity, you have to get out there and create it. You have to "set yourself on fire" in wanting change to happen. One of my favorite sayings is that change requires movement and that movement begins with one step.

You have the ability to achieve great things in life. You also have the ability to get up and start moving. You have the ability to ignite a flame inside. Once the flame is lit, the darkness will begin to fade into your light. And this light will reveal possibilities that never would have been seen in the blinding darkness.

Light a fire inside, create change and achieve great things in your life. You have the ability to do it, you have the ability to burn bright.

Top of the Hill

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got, and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob
With vinegar and brown paper.

The nursery rhyme above is a popular one, told time and time again to small children for hundreds of years. I always wondered if Jack or even Jill for that matter ever made it to the top of the hill.

It is never all that easy to make it up the hill in our own life. There could be 1070 steps to take, maybe even a slippery path that slows us down. But do we keep trying to reach the top?

For me, I like to think that both Jack and Jill eventually made it up that hill. From there they could see great and wide views of the life they have. I would imagine it to be quite a stunning picture that they see.

Each of us have our own hill or hills to climb. And from time to time we are going to fall back down and break our crown. And each of those times, you are going to get back to your feet and start back up the hill. You're going to make it eventually. You're going to see wondrous things. You're going to be on top of that hill.

Keep trying, keep climbing, never give up.