Thousandth Man

One man in a thousand, Solomon says,

Will stick more close than a brother.

And it's worth while seeking him half your days

If you find him before the other.

Nine nundred and ninety-nine depend

On what the world sees in you,

But the Thousandth man will stand your friend

With the whole round world agin you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show

Will settle the finding for 'ee.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go

By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.

But if he finds you and you find him.

The rest of the world don't matter;

For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim

With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk

Than he uses yours for his spendings,

And laugh and meet in your daily walk

As though there had been no lendings.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call

For silver and gold in their dealings;

But the Thousandth Man h's worth 'em all,

Because you can show him your feelings.

His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,

In season or out of season.

Stand up and back it in all men's sight --

With that for your only reason!

Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide

The shame or mocking or laughter,

But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side

To the gallows-foot -- and after!

by Rudyard Kipling

Each of us can be that thousandth man for someone else. Each of us can stand with another in times of need. Each of us can simply "BE" there.

Tomorrow night it all begins, The Thousandth Man Conference. Still time to join us as we learn what it means to be the 1000th man.

Stay inspired my friends!

Climbing Naked

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." -Edgar Allan Poe

Do dreams really have meaning for us? Have you ever wondered why you dreamed of flying to some far off place only to find yourself climbing a mountain naked? Can those dreams really be turned the reality of goals and achieved?

We all know that dreams come in many different types; from the fun and enjoyable to the scariest and disturbing kind. The eight most common dream themes are;

Processing Dreams - rehashing of the events of your day; in other words "sleep-working." It is a way for our subconscious to digest the bazillion bits of information we are exposed to all day.

Venting Dreams - nightmares where you're being chased, falling, or failing a test. Think of it as a way to work through issues in a safe place, your mind.

Integration Dreams - dreaming you or someone else is behaving in some extreme way that you either greatly admire or seriously judge. It could be that the behavior you are judging may be something you are afraid to embrace or secretly dislike.

There are also recurring dreams, precognitive dreams, prophetic dreams and wish-fulfillment dreams. One that some people seem to have quite often are "Breakdown or Breakthrough Dreams." These are dreams containing the bad stuff such as a disaster, death, lions, tigers and bears, oh my! These tend to be indications of change on the horizon, but can be quite scary to say the least.

You know, Edgar Allan Poe had an uncanny way of pulling some of his own darkest dreams into the light of day. He turned those dreams into words that told stories to excite and scare us at the same time. He was a poet of his dreams.

Many people dream of similar things without ever having read the works of Poe. We have the content of our dreams that could be turned into something more. Even the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud said that whether we intend it or not, we are all poets. That is because on most nights, we dream.

While dreams are truly amazing, can we be the poet of such a wonderful thing? I believe it is possible, if only we could remember them after waking up. But how do we explain these dreams or understand them? What makes a dream real such that we can create a poem for our lives?

There are different theories in the scientific community to explain what these dreams are. In one called Evolutionary Theory, we dream in order to practice our responses to threatening situations. Those dreams where we are naked in public, being chased or fighting off some unknown thing; theorists believe we are practicing our fight-or-flight responses.

In yet another theory, dreams are thought to create wisdom. With the vast amount of information coming at us while awake, there is too much to process. As the theory goes, while sleeping we are better able to sort through those memories. This in turn allows our brain to determine which ones to retain and which to lose. To put it another way, we are getting smarter while we sleep.

A third one indicates that dreaming is like defragmenting your computer's hard disk drive. Think of the brain like a machine that gets in the groove of connecting its data in certain ways and some of those connections or pathways are not always the most useful. When we go to sleep, the brain works in a much more random way. The randomness of the brain activity searches and creates new connections.

Other thoughts suggest that dreams are like psychotherapy. During our waking hours, we experience a flood of different emotions throughout the day. But how do we learn to deal with those emotions. It is theorized that dreaming places those more difficult emotions into pictures for us. Dreams are a safe place to work through those emotions.

A last theory is really an absence of a theory. Maybe dreams have have no meaning at all. Dreams could merely be the random firings of a brain that doesn't happen to be conscious at that time. Those left over remnants of a dream that the concious mind remembers and is what the concious mind trys to make sense of.

So if you find yourself dreaming of running naked, flying with a birds eye view of the world or dreaming of climbing without knowing why, your brain may or may not be trying to tell you something. Dreams in the unconcious mind can impart new and fresh ideas into your concious world. Those dreams can create new ideas and new goals for your life. They are pathways into finding lost information within our minds.

There is a large amount of information to absorb in our "awake" world. But there is a whole world of information that exists inside our brain. Dreams can give us access into that world every now and then. It is in that discovery, can we find a new way of moving our lives forward with the help of those dreams? Why not turn those dreams into goals?

When that happens, you just might find yourself flying to some far off land and climbing a mountain naked. You just never know.

Stay inspired my friends!

Raise The Bar

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." -Henry David Thoreau

My wife and I are currently in training for a half-marathon on Thanksgiving Day. A total of 13.1 miles awaits us along with thousands of others. The Atlanta Half Marathon is among the largest half marathons in the US and this will be its 33rd running. We run the annual Fourth of July Peachtree 10K (6.2 mile) Roadrace each year and various 5K runs. But this is pushing us further.

Raising the Bar

Each of us are not great runners but we push ourselves. We want to achieve this goal and it certainly raises the bar of what we can do to what we want to do. As many say, it isn't going to be easy. Achieving many goals in life is not an easy task. Yet you would be surprised by what you can do by stretching beyond the expected.

In training for this half marathon, you have to figure out what your limit is. Or better yet, figure out what you "think" your limit is. And then you push beyond it. The Livestrong organization offers three tips to help you push beyond what you "think" is your limit.

Getting beyond limits.

These tips as noted above come from Livestrong.com and apply to training in order to run faster. But you can apply these to any goal or dream that you have in mind.

- Practice Interval Training

When you keep doing the same thing over and over again, this does not challenge your mind or body. What you need to do is find little or small goals to achieve. Try many different levels of achievement. If ridding yourself of debt is the big goal, try paying off one small bill first. If losing weight is a goal, try putting down the soda and picking up a bottle of water. All little things achieved add up to bigger things down the road. They reinforce a sense of accomplishment and create the movement towards the bigger goal.

- Build a Foundation

Really work on understanding what you "think" is your limit. Without knowing where you are, how can you ever get to where you want to be? It also involves establishing consistency in your every day life. Back to my previous example, if you are trying to get out of debt, put down the credit card, consistently pay an amount weekly or monthly to that card to pay it down. If losing weight is the goal, start every day with a bottle of water and end it the same. Knowing what your limits are and being consistent will give you power over those limits.

- Allow Time to Recover

Do not set unrealistic deadlines for your goals. If you are $10,000 in debt, setting a goal of being debt free in two months is probably unreachable. Adjust it to pay off that smaller one in two months, take a one month breather (save the money from that breather month, don't spend it), then start on the next credit card. Breaking your big goal into smaller goals, pacing yourself and rewarding yourself (in the right way) will keep you on a path that eventually allows you to realize the big goal.

What happens next?

The next dream or goal of course!

Stay inspired my friends and just remember, "you can do it!"

Random Thoughts - 10/05/2012

For Friday, again I give you my random thoughts from the week nearly completed.

To Live Each Birthday

Today is my father's birthday, celebrating 82 years of surprises, the ordinary and the extra-ordinary. He is the man (very young man) to the far left in the picture below. My sister Pam is being held by our Grandmother. So many years ago, so many years passed but many of them seem like yesterday.

Happy Birthday Dad. Love you much.

And while I am on the subject of birthdays.

It is also my grand-daughter's birthday. Mckenna is now eight years old. A full and rich life will be her's to have and hold. A joyous and wonderful time it will be.

Happy Birthday Mckenna. Grandpa and Grandma love you.

Speaking of Reliving Your Memories

It was the great folk singer Bob Dylan that wrote, "Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them." Well, some times you get to come close to doing so. Just recently I was flying home to Atlanta from San Francisco. It was on this flight that I had the pleasure of sitting next to a lady by the name of Margaret.

Margaret was probably in her late seventies, but the gentleman in me did not ask. What makes this interesting for me at least, is that she looked so much like my long deceased great Aunt Minnie. Even her tone of voice and bubbliness at times caught me off guard. There were even times that the German gruffness would surface.

We talked of her airport experience, her visiting her son in San Francisco and of returning to Florida. There were the typical praises for her son and the worries as well. She wondered if another son living in Florida would find her at the airport when she arrived. And through the conversation, I had a feeling that I was once again talking to my Aunt Minnie.

Once in a great while we get to experience these memories coming to life once again. Take care to embrace the moment and simply enjoy it. Thank you Margaret for letting me relive some of my youth with Aunt Minnie.

Stay inspired my friends and we'll talk again next week.

Small Drop of Water

"When you love people and have the desire to make a profound, positive impact upon the world, then will you have accomplished the meaning to live." -Sasha Azevedo

Today I redirect to a great article written by Randy York (Huskers.com), about Jack & Isaiah. You will be inspired by these two little boys and how the biggest impacts on life are created by the littlest of gestures. You will be amazed by how even the smallest drop of water can have a huge impact on the world around you.

Stay inspired my friends.

Money Back Guarantee

"If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster." -Clint Eastwood

Have you seen the television commercials that advertise the most amazing products ever known to mankind? And for a limited time only, they are the most amazing thing you will ever want to have. There are products that can clean the dirtiest rug and make it look new. There are others that can make your teeth look like sparkling white porcelain for only ten dollars.

Still other products will endow bald men a full set of youthful hair, give you an amazing sex life and promise you the body of a well-toned 20-year old. For the kitchen you can purchase gadgets to make you as good as any famous chef. In the garage, there are car additives to turn your 1988 Mazda into a gleaming new BMW. And what about all of those doctor-approved items that will make your baby boy or girl smart?

Some of these products are great, others are ridiculous in their claims while others are just over-hyped. Many of these commercials come with the guarantee of 100% satisfaction or they will give you your money back.

Wouldn't it be great if I could give you that same guarantee that you will have a great life by staying positive?

I enjoyed watching that spokesperson Billy Mays. He was a high energy and very convincing sales pitch man for many products. The belief he had selling all of those products seemed very real. He was very successful at it and every pitch came with that same 100% money-back guarantee. I just wish I could make that same "100% Money Back Guarantee".

Life and all it throws at us simply does not provide any such guarantee. We have only one life to live and live it the best way we can. You go through it trying to enjoy each day of it. Living positively will set you up for opportunity and greatness that may or may not ever arrive. But the journey is the greatness of your life. That is the part you should enjoy and those things that do come to you will be even more enjoyable.

Dream big things and act upon those dreams. Go in search of the dream and let life unfold in front of you. The only guarantee that I can give you is that life will reveal itself to you in many different (and unexpected) ways. Take each of them and enjoy.

Stay inspired my friends.

Random Thoughts - 09/28/2012

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." -Albert Einstein

Today I have random thoughts to express and hopefully you will get a little something from each one.

You say its your birthday!

Well, as the song goes, "Happy birthday to you!" It is my brother Jim's birthday today. I'm not sure if he is working today or relaxing with a nice cold beer. What I do know is that I'm proud to look up to him as my brother. I admire what he has accomplished in life, his wonderful wife and beautiful kids and grandkids.

A most happy birthday to you Jim!

What is your will?

This morning my wife and I were privileged to attend a breakfast meeting in which the talented Jan Overton, Attorney at Law spoke. We learned of those things many of us refuse to talk about; wills, estate planning and trusts. What do those that remain do once we are gone?

WILL you make those plans today, because it WILL be too late once you are gone.

Can we get back to more important things now?

It is finally over. The National Football League owners have settled a contract dispute with the NFL Referees Association. After weeks of fans, analysts and the world coming to an end due to replacement referees, the professional ones are back on the field. The economy, job growth, worries of terrorism and general mayhem took a back seat while we all gnashed our teeth over a few bad calls.

I understand sports are a distraction for many from our real problems. But let us never forget, even with all of the money involved, it is still just a sports game.

Have a great weekend everyone and above all, stay inspired!

Focus and Focus More

"We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right." -Marianne Williamson

In 1890, an American psychologist and philosopher by the name of William James wrote a textbook called Principles of Psychology. In it he remarked:

“Everyone knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization, concentration, of consciousness are of its essence. It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal effectively with others, and is a condition which has a real opposite in the confused, dazed, scatterbrained state which in French is called distraction, and Zerstreutheit in German."

So my interpretation of his writings is that focus or attention is the ability to ignore or put of of mind everything else except for a narrowly defined subject or idea. We each do this from time to time in our work day, in our relationships, and in many other aspects of our lives.

Focus can be highly focused on singular subjects or generalized on broader things in life. You could focus on being more positive in life as opposed to being negative about things. That is a very generalized focus put on your life. Your focus could be on a specific task or goal that is all consuming to the exclusion of everything else.

The importance with either type can be illustrated in a story.

A man that I know had become very involved in the hobby of model trains. He became very impassioned with trains, so much that he built a large set in his basement. It had multiple rail lines, various levels and multiple train engines.

His train model set was so intricate that he could run multiple train engines on the same track, each timed to pass and bypass each other in the appropriate siding locations. But he indicated to me one day that "if I allow myself to get distracted, my trains will run into each other."

Without some level of focus in your life, your own trains may come crashing into each other. Find your level of focus and tune out the distractions that do not matter. Achieve your goals with focus, achieve great relationships with focus, achieve your best life with focus.

Stay inspired my friends.

And for all the model train enthusiasts out there...

Keep Smiling

"Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth." -Martin H. Fischer

Each of us, including me, get discouraged at times. Our work, our relationships, our lives can go through periods of frustration and disappointment. Many times it is simply circumstance finding its way onto the path we are walking.

For me the frustration is work at this time and I do know that this too shall pass. I do not blame the frustration on others but upon how I am responding to it. So with that, I will be taking a bit of my own medicine today.

When things get to a point when it seems all is lost, keep smiling and always look on the bright side of life.

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...



So keep looking upon the bright side of life folks and stay inspired!

Doors Will Open

"The doors of wisdom are never shut." -Benjamin Franklin

I have an affinity for the sayings of Benjamin Franklin. He has wise words that still resonate today, nearly 225 years after his death. His words and thoughts were relevant well before his time. The words and thoughts of Benjamin Franklin will carry on through out the ages.

There are those that may find his writings not to their liking. If so, find another source because in different ways I've stated that you need to find what it is that moves you. By reading several different sources, listening to several different sources and writing down your thoughts to yourself - you will find inspiration.

I like to think that I am sort of like a friendly door man. Opening different doors for you to peek through. A favorite framed picture my wife has is called 'The Doors Of Dublin'. It depicts the many different types of doors found on the older homes of Dublin. They could easily serve as a metaphor for the many options for a greater attitude, greater success, and a greater life.

But do you have the courage to walk through one of those doors?

I firmly believe that you do have that courage. But wait a minute, you are saying that I don't even know you. So how could I possibly know? Courage to change is in everyone. It is a matter of making a change in your life to except the possibility that you can do these things.

So pick a door, any door. Walk up to it and place your hand on the door knob. Turn the knob and peer inside. If the door is locked, do not be discouraged. Knock or ring the door bell. A friendly door man will be along shortly to help you through.

Opening doors from lea khayata on Vimeo.

Food for Thought

"Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others." - Plato

People ask me from time to time how one can change the level of service in their organization. My first answer is most times is to start with 'you'. Changing the way your behavior influences the level of service you provide.

An article that appeared some years ago in the READERS DIGEST provided a list of rules for individuals. The rules will transform into a better performing you. When you change, much of your environment will begin to change. Other will start adopting your example.

The list is called "Meyer's Rules For Life".

1. You get what you give (and you get more by giving more).
2. It's more important for people to feel heard than to be agreed with.
3. If you're going to give a gift, give it graciously.
4. Customers come second. Family comes first.
5. The world's greatest luxury is time.
6. The road to success is paved with mistakes well-handled.
7. Overcoming adversity with imagination, courage, good humor and confidence is a crucial skill.

Try a change in your life. Try using yourself as an example to others, you might be surprised. Feed the change in others by feeding the change inside of you.

Stay inspired my friends.

Wish Upon a Do-Over

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!" -Dr. Seuss

I have to think there are days we wish a do-over was possible. Especially after those moments when we do something in a selfish manner. Those moments that erupt into something bigger and our little selfish action impacts many others.

Take for instance the recent news story involving two flight attendants. From a passenger perspective, it was going to be a typical 1 hour and 20 minute flight from New York to Washington, DC. American Airlines Flight 3823, set to leave at 3:10 p.m. tells me that there were probably folks heading home. All they wanted to do was have a short flight and possibly get home in time for dinner.

But as the plane was moving along the tarmac, one flight attendant was still on her cell phone. I am not sure if she was speaking to her mother, brother or lover. Yet anyone that has flown knows that cell phones are to be in the "off" position once the boarding doors have closed. What can be assumed is that self-importance probably got in the way of her decision to keep using the cell phone.

The story gets better, "tongue firmly in cheek."

Her co-worker was preparing passengers and plane for the impending take-off. You have likely heard the announcement, "At this time, make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Also make sure your seat belt is correctly fastened. Also, we advise you that as of this moment, any electronic equipment must be turned off. Thank you.”

To make her point and without fully thinking through the consequences, the second flight attendant added the comment “including the other flight attendant.” A momentary lapse of judgement, directing comments at her co-worker in front of everyone, without thinking first. Selfish in thought one could say.

Of course her comment didn’t go over well with the flight attendant on the cell phone. The cockpit crew realized there was an argument between the two and travelers were told they’d be returning to the gate “because the flight attendants couldn’t work with each other." Passengers then had to wait nearly four hours while American Airlines went about locating another flight attendant crew...so much for dinner at home.

We can wish for a do-over.

I have to believe that both flight attendants will be disciplined in some manner. I also have to believe each would have acted differently if they were given a do-over. The reality is that we never get the do-over. We only get to learn from our mistakes, missed opportunities and failures. The do-over is really the "thing we learn" from the experience.

Would you really need to be on that cell phone when you have other responsibilites to take care of? Would you really call out a co-worker in front of others just to embarass them? Would you think before you act?

The do-over we get in life is learning from the mistake, failure or bad decision and then proceeding forward. Proceeding forward smarter and as a better person because of the experience.

Put down your cell phone, think before you act and stay inspired my friends.

To Smile

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -Leo F. Buscaglia



Can you smile without someone else? Of course you can but why waste the beauty of it. We can each smile and make the day better for someone else which in turn changes our day into something grand.

Stay inspired my friends and smile!

Tomorrow

I'm travelling today but bet your bottom dollar I'll be writing again tomorrow.

The sun'll come out

Tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar

That tomorrow

There'll be sun!

Just thinkin' about

Tomorrow

Clears away the cobwebs,

And the sorrow

'Til there's none!

When I'm stuck a day

That's gray,

And lonely,

I just stick out my chin

And Grin,

And Say,

Oh!

The sun'll come out

Tomorrow

So ya gotta hang on

'Til tomorrow

Come what may

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!

I love ya Tomorrow!

You're always

A day

A way!

Stay inspired my friends!

Something of Value for Free

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." -Peter Drucker

How many times do you get for free, something that can improve your daily work life? Something free that many would pay lots of money for, can be yours for free with the click of a button. A friend of mine has done just that.

David Spell is a retired police officer from just outside metro-Atlanta. After nearly thirty years, he left the police business as a Lieutenant. He had a great career and some incredible adventures. If you like exciting police stories, he wrote two books, "Street Cop" and "Street Cop II: Reloaded" about that career, you won't be disappointed.

While still working for the police department, he went back to school, earning both a masters degree in Management and a Ph.D in Theology. So David knows what he is talking about and in his blog, he imparts a lot of that wisdom on a daily basis.

Just recently, he announced the release of a new e-book on leadership called "Leading into the 21st Century…and Beyond." It is a collection of his most popular posts on leadership, management, supervision, and personal development.

And it is free.

David will be releasing the book through Amazon soon but he is giving it to you free simply by subscribing to his blog. All you have to do is go to DavidSpell.Com and fill out the SUBSCRIBE box on the right-hand side of the screen. It is free and David doesn't spam you with emails and does not give away email addresses to other people.

I have known David for a number of years and his knowledge and guidance has helped me in my own career. It can make a difference in your career as well. One such bit of knwledge that changed my way of thinking involves a glass of water.

In his e-Book, David writes;

The optimists see the glass and say, "It is half full."
The pessimists see the glass and say, "It is half empty."
The faith person sees the glass and says, "It is completely full."

David goes on to describe how the glass is actually full and it will change the way you look at things. It changed how I approached many of the daily circumstances that arise in our lives. So for me, I highly recommend you sign up today and then;

- Read it daily.
- Employ the ideas.
- Impart the knowledge to others.

Stay inspired my friends.

A World Too Small

"Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves." -Adrienne Clarkson

Last week our natural world could no longer contain the life that was Manuel Jefferson "Jeff" Bledsoe. I knew Jeff through our C3 Church affiliation and various men's events we each attended. The picture above is one of my favorite views from one such conference. A man in reflection, coming into contentment; a man finding his place with God.

Jeff had some really close friends and there have been great words said and written about him. One such article is Jeff is in Heaven Because, written by Jim Crumbley that says quite a bit about the man God knew all along.

One great Bible verse quoted in the article is;

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12

Yes, the natural world is never big enough to hold us once we are called to a much bigger eternal life. It has happened to many we know, will happen to many others, and will happen to us one day. We will outgrow what the world can provide. We will move into a larger and greater place that only God's love contain.

Rest well Jeff, rest well for the good fight has been fought and eternal greatness in God has been won. Hooah!

A Simple Seed

"Your heart is full of fertile seeds, waiting to sprout." -Morihei Ueshiba

Think back to your grade school science class. Back to the week where you were taught about the basics of a seed. The teacher would have told us the three parts are:

(1) an embryo (dream)
(2) a supply of nutrients for the embryo (attitude)
(3) a seed coat (you)

Now the embryo (dream) is the beginning of what will be a new plant if grown under proper conditions. The embryo has two points of growth; one which will come forth into the light as the stem, the other will remain rooted drawing nourish from the ground.

In order for the dream to be born into something real, seed germination must take place. This is a process by which a seed embryo develops into a seedling. There must be a stirring within to cause the dream to begin its growth into vision and action. There will be an emergence of your vision into the light for others to see.

As this seedling reaches up and outward, the root of the vision must remain firmly planted in good soil. You need to feed yourself in good company, in good advice and in good purpose. Without this good soil, the vision can not be sustained and will soon wither.

As the seed grows and matures, the vision of what was once a dream will be realized. It will produce fruit and more seed. Others will be impacted by the original seed which was at one time just a dream. Growth will be exponential as you reach out even further. And it all started with one small seed (dream).

Inside each of us lay a talent, a purpose, or dream. It is in seeing the vision of the seed inside of us as fruit which starts the process of growth. Look beyond the wall in front of you, the seed coating over your dream. See what is inside where the potential of the seed exists.

Grow your dream and produce the fruit of possibility. And stay inspired my friends.

Never Alone

You never have to stand alone as one stone within the field.

Riley's Walk

"One person can make a difference. In fact, it's not only possible for one person to make a difference, it's essential that one person makes a difference. And believe it or not, that person is you." -Bob Riley

My wife Laura and I are lucky enough to be friends with the well known and talented singer/songwriter Mara. Mara is better known to her friends as Marjorie Whitley and all of us love her music, her talent and really her passion for music. She also has a deep compassion for others and that comes through in her music and in her actions.

Since I like to write about each of us making a difference in the lives of others, today is certainly no exception. Mara is one of those people who makes a difference in the lives of others. And as you may notice, she is not a large organization with hundreds of people. She is one person, doing what one person can do and that is making a difference in another persons life.

One of those people happens to be Riley, the son of a good friend she grew up with. Her friend now lives in northern Virginia along with her family and of course a wonderful young boy named Riley.

Riley is an active, playful and very much the little boy any of us would expect. The only difference is that he has Down Syndrome. And on Saturday, October 20th, Riley and some 2000 of his friends will be participating in the 2012 Northern Virginia Buddy Walk at George Mason University. Rain or shine, it is going to be a fun festival with live entertainment including Chris Burke, moon bounce inflatables, pony rides, cartoon characters, a petting zoo, face painters, an exhibitor tent, food vendors, police cars, fire trucks and much more.

Now you might be thinking Fairfax, Virginia is a long distance away and what could you possibly do? The thing you can do is easy, it is small, but it can make a huge difference in the lives of people you will never meet. And that is to donate a few dollars to the Down Syndrome Association which will help provide important services that enhance the quality of life for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families.

It does not take hundreds, thousands or millions of dollars from you, although very large checks are accepted and very nice to get. What it does take are a few dollars from individuals wanting to make a difference in the life of another. There is no payback, no neat gift for participating or even a framed certificate of appreciation.

What you do get is a tax deduction for the donation, the warm feeling of having made that difference and the biggest gift of all, that picture above of Riley's smiling face etched into your mind.

Do something for someone else today and smile knowing you had an impact.

Stay inspired my friends!

Forward in Life

"Positive anything is better than negative nothing." -Elbert Hubbard

When I travel, it can be difficult to find the time to write these articles. but I want each of you to know that my thoughts are on you. I haven't forgotten why I write this blog. It is because each day one person is able to find one thing in my words.

One thing that helps them rediscover the strength inside that will allow them to gain a better life. One word jumps out that will help them move forward to succeed at whatever it is in life they want to accomplish.

By keeping a positive attitude about where you are currently in life means accepting your current condition. Doing so will free up your energy and resources to make a change if that is what you want. You do not have to resign your self to the life that you live. There is an ability inside of you for so much more.

Remember that the life you have is just that, your life. But if you want more from it, do not waste your time worrying and complaining about where and what you have. Take it for what it is, a current place and time in your life. It will free your mind to work out those dreams and visions circling within you.

Use forward thinking and send yourself forward in life with a positive attitude. It certainly beats wallowing in self-doubt and self-despair. Create change in your life by knowing you have the power to change your circumstance.

And above all, stay inspired my friends.

One Thing

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." ~Albert Camus

Today marks the anniversary of the horrible tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. There will be many television programs, news articles, blog posts and most importantly memorials today. I grieved for those affected and are still impacted by that day.

Those people that survived, the loved ones of those that did not and everyone involved, life has carried on for them. Each has found a way to cope, survive and get past the horrors of that day.

But like so many tragic events that have occurred in our history and personal lives, today marks the one thing we as Americans should remember. And that is the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Stay inspired my friends and say a small prayer for the survivors and the loved ones of those lost.

Move to get Acknowledged

"Forget about being world famous, it's hard enough just getting the automatic doors at the supermarket to acknowledge our existence." -Doug Coupland

Walking Alone

Not long ago, I was walking down the sidewalk in a large metropolitan city. There were scores of people walking towards and with me. Some would be entering stores while others would be running out in order to catch a bus or taxi. I am sure you have been in a similar situation, lots of people passing by and you being one of them.

What I remember most is that nearly everyone was oblivious to each other. Each person was wrapped up in their own world. There seemed to be no acknowledgement of the fact there were others in close proximity.

I certainly understand that people have thoughts on their mind, have places to go, appointments to keep. But on that crowded street, I felt lonely and that feeling was going against some of our basic human needs for esteem and belonging.

Hierarchy of Needs

An American psychologist, named Abraham Maslow, wrote in 1943 a paper called "A Theory of Human Motivation". In it he described his "Hierarchy of Needs" which is a pyramid depicting the levels of human needs, psychological and physical.

What I found interesting is that if I looked at someone, smiled or said hello, that loneliness collapsed. In nearly every case where I did, the other person smiled or responded nicely and without any rude gestures. It was one person acknowledging the other in a world filled with too much to do and too little time to think of others.

Extending a Smile

Everyone needs some level of acknowledgement in their life. It validates our existence and raises our hopes of a great life. There are many things that being acknowledged impacts at both physiological and psychological levels. Being lonely can lead to a lack of happiness in life, but there are ways for you to combat it.

Gretchen Rubin wrote The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun and also hosts a blog with the same name, The Happiness Project. She wrote in a Psychology Today article, about strategies you can use to combat loneliness.

In short (read the entire article for more detail);

Movement creates change

It was this last step, a step out, movement in which I acknowledged others. In return they acknowledged me and the lonely walk became a walk with friends. It changes the whole atmosphere.

Sometimes, to change our place in life, we have to create the movement. We have to be the ones to step out, acknowledge others by smiling and simply saying hello. You will be amazed how it changes your life when you change someone else's life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Homeless

"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience." -George Bernard Shaw

Yes, all of us know our American economy is struggling up a steep hill. The recovery we are pushing through is like many other countries that are strugglings to recover. Long periods of what many would term wild spending and untamed greed placed us at this moment in history.

What I am not here to talk about is the political or ideological reasons for the economic woes. Nor am I here to discuss aspects of the recovery. What I am here to talk about is that history has repeated itself and we are left with many in desperate need. One particular topic is homelessness and how it affects people.

Consider these figures according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness;

- 2009 Homeless Assessment reports on a single night, 643,067 people were homeless.
- Of those, 63 percent were sheltered, 37 percent were unsheltered.
- Individuals (63%) and Family groups (37%) used shelters in 2009.
- In 2009, 1,558,917 people used emergency shelters or transitional housing programs.
- On a single night in 2009, 238,110 people in families were counted as homeless.

It is found that families experiencing homelessness are usually headed by a single woman who on average is in her late 20s with approximately two children, one or both under six years of age 11. It is also found that the three most important differences between families experiencing homelessness and other poor families concern the resources they need to secure housing.

Families experiencing homelessness;

- have extremely low incomes,
- have less access to housing subsidies than low income families who remain housed,
- and have weaker social networks that are not able to provide sufficient help.

One can always argue various reasons for homelessness. Regardless of those reasons, we should care for those who need housing or shelter. The shanties of the 1930s or the nylon tents of today, each represents someone in need. And that is what we should at least agree upon, that those in need should be helped.

That help can come from public sources, but I tend to believe the bigger assistance is going to come from you and me. From individuals caring for those in need and wanting to care for their fellow human being. We may never completely rid the world of poverty and homelessness, but we can try.

Stay inspired my friends.

A Juggling Act

"Juggling is sometimes called the art of controlling patterns, controlling patterns in time and space." -Ronald Graham

I have wondered at times if we are not simply the amusement of our God at times. As He watches us live our lives trying to do everything possible under the sun. The juggling act we perform every day can be quite entertaining when you think about it.

There have been articles I have written about this juggling act all of us attempt to perform. When I hear those words, I am drawn back to the old Ed Sullivan variety television show. There was always some act of juggling or plate spinning being showcased.

What I never realized way back then is how much life would reflect those performing acts. I too was going to juggle the many things that life sends my way. I would have to find a way to keep all of my plates spinning.

I have tried to explain the correlation to life and the art of the juggler in various articles. I then found a book that describes it wonderfully. A book that details those struggles each of us have to work through. And the great thing about the book is it was written by a person I would not have expected.

Pat Gelsinger is the author's name and he may or may not be a well known name to you. But in the computer industry, he is well known for his many years as a driving force behind the success of Intel Corporation. In 2009 he became our President and Chief Operating Officer at EMC Corporation and very recently was named CEO of VMware.

You might try to apply the stereotypes about high-powered executives prevalent today. But those would not stick very well and it is evident in his book called The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work.

As one reviewer wonderfully said, "Perhaps it's because I'm a new dad, a corporate employee and a believer in unconditional love - but this is the best book I've read in the last 10 years when it comes to practical wisdom. Pat's family stories are mind-blowing and full of heart. The afterword by his wife, Linda, is a true gem - hearing her perspective and thoughts on Pat and what it means to be a supportive wife...."

This is a book that anyone, at any point in their career, family or walk in life can pull strength and knowledge from. I certainly learned quite a bit from it and so will you.

Keep those plates spinning and stay inspired my friends.

And now for your entertainment...

Just Breathe

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." -Thomas Carlyle

With all that is going on today in your life, just breathe.
With all of the news and politics, just breathe.
With all of the heartache you may be suffering, just breathe.
With all of the uncertainty, just breathe.
With all of the love you have to give, just breathe.



Stay inspired my friends!

Read more about what Love Is or to Invite Me to Speak, just click on the link.

Courage and Heroism

"And each man stands with his face in the light. Of his own drawn sword, ready to do what a hero can." -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

There was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal regarding everyday heroes and what it takes to be one. The article is titled Are You a Hero or a Bystander? and it examines what type of person is likely to step up or freeze in a crisis. The story cites research from the University of Winnipeg in 2010 and others which identify the prime traits of both courage and heroism.

What I find amazing is that so many people never realize these traits until put to the test. If you were to have asked those people did they ever think they had it in them, most would probably say no. Many would indicate that they were surprised to know it was inside of them.

There are stories such as Laurie Ann Eldridge, seeing from her garden in Cameron, N.Y. an obviously confused 81-year-old driver stuck at a railroad crossing. A train was speeding toward the car when Ms. Eldridge ran barefooted to the car. She pulled the disoriented woman out, rolling down the railway embankment only seconds before the train demolished the car.

Ms. Eldridge's feet were bloody and riddled with splinters and the elderly woman was unhurt. But did she know it was inside her to act so courageously? Unlikely, but that didn't matter, she acted and that is what did matter.

Each of us have some level of heroism and courage inside of us. The charts you see are a way that researchers say you can determine what level that is. What I don't think it gauges is the "moment" of need in which that inner thing surfaces. A time when you least expect it.

It will be in those "moments" that you realize it exists inside of you. You will respond by acting in that moment. It will seem natural and right when you do it. time will slow down and everything will happen with clarity. Only afterwards, when others are asking and saying it was heroic, that you will realize what you just did.

There are very few of us, if any, that walk outside each day and tell ourselves we will be doing something heroic. We walk outside and go about our life. There is no expectation that we will be called upon to do something heroic.

What we do expect of ourselves is that we care for our fellow man and woman. We have compassion for others that are in need. That is what lies at the surface of our lives. So when the "moment" occurs, that compassion on the surface will drag the inner courage and heroism out into the open.

Be prepared to use your courage in a heroic act. You never know when it will come to the surface. And stay inspired my friends.

Labor Day 2012

"If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend." ~Doug Larson

No, Labor Day isn't the last day of summer or the point at which high society decides it is no longer appropriate to wear white. One thing we must all remember, there are lots of folks that actually have to work on Labor Day. I remember my mother having to work in the department store on these holidays each year back in the 60s and 70s.

On this day, you will find grocery store clerks, restaurant staff, gas stations and a myriad of others working. On this day, maybe you should thank them for working so that you can enjoy the day off.

Let us never forget there were good and solid reasons why the labor movement existed.

From the U.S. Department of Labor

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.



Stay inspired my friends!

Life is a Movie

"To me, if life boils down to one thing, it’s movement. To live is to keep moving."
-Jerry Seinfeld

I talk a lot about movement and change in my articles. You probably start to ask when do we ever get to just stop moving. And of course, you can stop. Take a moment to relax and refocus on life and all that is going on around you. What is important to remember is that even as you stand on the side of the road, life keeps moving and changing.

You could think of life as a log of individual movies taking place. Your life is your your movie. It is a movie that others are watching. Things are always happening and the action is sometimes packed with thrills and at other times just quiet.

The movie others see is you standing on the side of the road. Your movie would contain lots of activity swirling around you. I can get on the fast track movement with the best of them, but I like to exist in the 'slow movement' movie of life. I like watching change and the speed of life happening around me.

I can best describe it by something our family dog does. Our small 'Mini Fox Terrier' can get quite excited and just goes on a running tear around the house. At the speed of light, this dog is running every which way at full tilt. If I walk very slow and simply observe her, I see things about how she runs, maintains balance, and fills the space within a matter of seconds.

Think of it as one of those movie scenes where all the people are going real fast, but the main character is moving slow within their midst. I tend to view the world around me like this, observing what others are doing and how I fit or relate to all that is going on. And there are many times that I will sit down on the (figurative) park bench and stop to watch all of it.

You can do the same thing, stop or slow down for a while. As long as you understand the world keeps moving and changing, then you can take a break from it. You will have to jump in and adjust to the differences when you do rejoin the excitement. Or take a slower approach, take a slower course and observe. Remember its your movie and you have the ability to make your life that what you want.

Stay inspired my friends.

Good News or Not

"Esta tudo bem - it's alright"

NBC Nightly News aired a news segment for quite some time called "What Works." It was their way of countering the majority of news that tends to focus on the bad news. Here we had an attempt to show what is good in life. The problem is that life is so full of news that seems to contradict the fact that a lot of good does exist in everyday life.

News programs, radio talk shows, the deluge of newspapers and internet opinions, blogs and every conceivable source of information possible. The vast majority of them talk only of the bad things, the disagreements or the horrible state of life. Is there nothing good that actually happens on a daily basis?

Sure there is, but good news does not sell and most of those organizations do not exist by losing money. They sell a product which caters to what the buying public wants. Stories of puppy dog rescues and new flower gardens do not sell advertising space. We as the 'buying public' are the ones that ultimately dictate what gets shown or printed.

I'm not here to declare that it has to change.

What I am here to declare is that the important thing to understand is that life is actually pretty good. There is goodness in our life and not everything is bad out there. You can find and witness that goodness does happen.

If you read or watch too much of the bad, it will jade your opinion of society in general. So try to counter it once in a while with good news. Search for the good in what seems an endless string of bad.

"Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed." - William Saroyan

Stay inspired my friends.

Which Decision

"Living is a constant process of deciding what we are going to do." -Jose Ortega y Gasset

I was reflecting this week on my son's graduation from the U.S. Army Basic training nearly six years ago. For many years I had mixed feelings about having my sons enlisted in the military. My reluctance was always from the view point of a parents concern for their safety. With two wars, I do not think I was ready to give up any one of my children.

I then realized that I was not giving up anything. If they were to join the military, serve proudly and possibly give their life; it was a gift of something greater than one could ever imagine. There is pride that welled up inside of me for my son that was almost overwhelming. To see what he has accomplished, to see what any of my children achieve, each is special and deserving.

Prior to my change of heart, I was choosing to be pessimistic about the possible outcomes of his military career and all of the horrible possibilities that could occur. So much could go wrong. But I realize that life itself could create heartbreak, regardless of what we do with our lives.

So if the choice is either to assume all will go wrong or all will go right, I choose the latter. I choose to believe that all of our experiences can have a positive impact on our life. Gil Stern wrote, "both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute."

In life, decide how you plan on contributing to society. Will you be the one soaring off into a limitless sky or the one packing the parachutes. Either way, you will have an impact on the world around you. I trust and thank those that remind me of the parachute.

But I choose to soar high above the clouds. I choose to soar now, in practice for the day when I will forever soar.

Stay inspired my friends.

You Say Its Your Birthday

"Smell brings to mind... a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years." -Diane Ackerman

August 28 is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 125 days remaining until the end of the year. It is also my birthday.

I found something quite interesting about me, before I was born on Sunday the 28th of August, 1960:

23.Oct.1959, Friday (My birthday -310 days): One type of ingredient that makes up half of me is produced.

07.Nov.1959, Saturday (My birthday -295 days): The other ingredient making up the other half is produced.

22.Nov.1959, Sunday (My birthday -280 days): The two ingredients needed to make me are now one.

23.Nov.1959, Monday (My birthday -279 days): Well, actually now this is considered my "first day alive" because this is when I am a living entity. I am a single cell creature and my unique DNA is formed.

07.Dec.1959, Monday (My birthday -265 days): Being the smart woman my mother was, she would have suspected that she was pregnant. Maybe not completely sure yet but she was suspicious. She was also very excited and joyed.

14.Dec.1959, Monday (My birthday -258 days): Most likely this is the day my mother told my father about her pregrancy and he is celebrating to be a daddy to number six! This is also important in that my heart has pumped for the first time today. Kind of odd but is it only a coincidence that my father learned about me on the very day my heart first pumped!

28.Aug.1960, Sunday (My birthday): Here I am, born to an ever expanding and changing world. It was a big journey from day minus 310 to today. From this point up to the current point in life today until the point at which it ends, I can honestly say the joys have and will outweigh anything else.

Additional facts about this highly celebrated day.

Virgos born on August 28 have creative natures. They grasp the interdependence of nature and art -- a sensitive side that's complemented by inner strength.

Friends and Lovers: August 28 people surround themselves with talented individuals. They gravitate to people with similar tastes. Love affairs are a source of joy. They're sometimes reticent about settling down, but that changes when they meet their soul mate. Note to my wife; "forever."

Children and Family: August 28 people may have been the favorite child of the family. These folks usually forge strong ties with relatives. Although they make good parents, they have a tendency to push. Note to my siblings; "nanni nanni pooh pooh."

Health: People born on this date are intriguing combinations of the careful and the carefree. They're watchful about what they eat yet are unlikely to follow a strict diet. They are concerned about their appearance, which means a workout plan that keeps them feeling healthy. Note to self; "need to work on that workout plan."

Career and Finances: August 28 men and women enjoy being in the professional spotlight. They have a talent for managing people and bringing out the best in them. They're often financially secure at an early age. This gives them the potential to take time off from their profession to indulge their love of a hobby. Note to my kids; "you are my hobby."

Dreams and Goals: People born on this date have a lot of ambition and work tirelessly toward a goal. Their greatest talent is their ability to know what they really want. They understand the need to make sacrifices. Where personal goals are concerned, they are never satisfied with "getting by." They want to improve in every aspect of life. Note to everyone; "you too can achieve anything you want."

Stay inspired my friends!

And the number one song on August 28, 1960 ...

Super Heroes

"Ride the energy of your own unique spirit." -Gabrielle Roth

You have seen the movies and read the comic books, Superman dashes into a phone booth to remove his mild-mannered Clark Kent suit to only emerge as the dashing Superman with a red cape. Although I never could figure out how his Clark Kent glasses were really a disguise.

Batman sits in his dark and lonely mansion awaiting the bat signal in order don his mask. The darkness of his greatness seems scary within itself. One would wonder if he could just as easily be the bad guy if you said the wrong thing.

Spiderman is but a boy in disguise, trying to deal with his adolescence while trying to live in an adult world. He and our other two super heroes hide behind masks, not wanting people to know whom they really are.

We then have Iron Man, Tony Stark, the idealized version of an inventor. He is one that finds a way to turn his talents to the good of mankind. Just like the other super heroes, all of them are here to protect and serve the greater good. But unlike the others, Iron Man is not afraid to let everyone know who he is.

So which kind of super hero are you?

The way we live our lives should be the same in private as it is in the public. When we go to church, to the grocery store or even to work, hopefully you don't have toput on a mask to hide.

Every small thing you do to help another person. It could be someone within your family, the person trying to put packages in their car, a co-worker trying to meet a deadline, or even that person on the street. It doesn't take super hero costumes and strength. All it takes it being you.

You are a super hero.

Stay inspired my friends.