Wash Away Fear

"Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop." -Usman B. Asif

A full day out in the world, working to earn a living and support your home ends. You head home and wonder why you can not get beyond your fear of achieving new things. You examine your life each day and nothing ever changes. The idea of doing something different scares you to death.

It is the fear that keeps you hidden in the darkness. It keeps you afraid of changing things in your life that could pull you out of that darkness. The darkness becomes a friend to you. That is when anything positive in your life starts to fade away into the black. Eventually, the darkness squeezes out any light of hope.

Grab hold of something good, something positive and let it pull you towards a greater you. As you spend more time away from fear, all else starts to become possible. The picture of your life becomes more clear and more vibrant.

There will be times when the light dims on you. But always know that the sun shines bright and will wash away any darkness. Remain inspired as the darkness flees and the light of day surrounds you.

Finding Your Mojo

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

You have likely heard those phrases that encourage you to be bold and move forward with confidence. Those phrases are meant to be encouraging and motivational. Although the hard part is to put those words into action. It is especially hard if confidence does not come to you naturally.

Is confidence a natural or learned behavior? According to a study discussed in Psychology Today, "Contrary to accepted wisdom, researchers found that children's self-confidence is heavily influenced by heredity—at least as much as IQ is. Indeed, as-yet-unidentified self-confidence genes appear to influence school performance independent of IQ genes, with shared environment having only a negligible influence." Yet it is also accepted that it can be changed or influenced.

So if you never had confidence or it slipped from you, there are simple ways to rebuild or gain confidence in life. You do not have to use all of these, but employ the ones that work for you. Neel Burton, M.D writes of ways to do this and are very easy to understand and attempt.

1. Make three lists: one of your strengths, one of your achievements, and one of the things that you admire about yourself. Try to get a friend or relative to help you with these lists. Keep the lists in a safe place and read through them regularly.

2. Think positively about yourself. Remind yourself that, despite your problems, you are a unique, special, and a valuable person. Identify and challenge any negative thoughts that you may have about yourself.

3. Pay special attention to your personal hygiene: for example, style your hair, trim your nails, floss your teeth.

4. Dress in clothes that make you feel good about yourself.

5. Eat good food as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Make meal times a special time, even if you are eating alone. Turn off the TV or radio, set the table, and arrange your food so that it looks attractive on your plate.

6. Exercise regularly: go out for a brisk walk every day, and take more vigorous exercise (exercise that makes you break into a sweat) three times a week.

7. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep.

8. Manage your stress levels. If possible, agree with a close friend or relative that you will take turns to massage each other on a regular basis.

9. Make your living space clean, comfortable, and attractive. Display items that remind you of your achievements or of the special times and people in your life.

10. Do more of the things that you enjoy doing. Do at least one thing that you enjoy every day, and remind yourself that you deserve it.

11. Involve yourself in activities such as painting, music, poetry, and dance. Artistic endeavors enable you to express yourself, acquire a sense of mastery, and interact positively with others.

12. Create a challenge for yourself that can be realistically achieved...then go do it. In example, learn to play the piano or run a half marathon.

13. Do things that you have been putting off, such as washing the windows, cleaning out the garage, organizing your desk; accomplishment of a task does wonders.

14. Do something nice for others; hold open a door, tip the waiter a little more, get involved with Toys for Tots or a random act of kindness where it is least expected.

15. Involve others, friends and relatives by telling them what you are going through and ask for their advice and support. Shared experiences can be quite helpful.

16. Spend more time with those you love and are close to. In addition to this, try to enlarge that circle of friends by getting out and trying to meet other people.

17. Try to avoid people and places that treat you badly or that make you feel bad about yourself. There is no need to put yourself in a negative place.

A lot to think about, but all you have to do is start with just one. One step, one tip, one accomplishment. Soon it will be two, three, one-hundred and you will wonder why you ever thought differently.

Stay inspired my friends.

Expecting What Is Not Expected

"You can't spend your day wondering what's going to happen next. That takes the thrill out of living. Expect the unexpected! Live life!" -Unknown

On my way into work this morning, it was a bit foggy and still somewhat dark. This particular day I happen to be in Massachusetts working at our corporate offices. So the road, while somewhat familiar is unknown in many many respects. So I tend to drive more careful.

What happened to me is that I rounded a curve and was surprised to quickly come upon a construction truck. Its tail lights were not functioning so it was a very unexpected encounter that startled me. No accident occurred, nothing more dramatic to the event and I safely arrived at work. What did occur to me is that our travel through life will always contain the unexpected.

There will be circumstances that we simply do not expect. A chance encounter, a fallen tree, a job loss, a lost loved one and maybe a construction truck without tail lights in the fog. Things will happen to us on our journey. We can not spend our life worrying that the unexpected will happen to us.

We can certainly prepare in ways that will guide us through the unexpected. But the simple encounter of something unexpected can be thrilling. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in not so good ways. Yet we add it to the story of our lives, a chapter, a musing, a lesson that enrichened our life.

Enjoy the journey of your life and embrace the unexpected parts.

Stay inspired my friends.

Silly Walks

"Nothing is more revealing than movement." – Martha Graham

Do you trundle as you go about your day? Maybe you hike, jaunt or parade as you get from one appointment to another. There are others that might march, promenade and possibly ramble while going to some destination. Could it be that you step, schlepp, stroll, traipse or simply saunter each and every day.

In whatever fashion you walk, keep moving because achieving any goal in life requires movement. There is no absolute formula for getting there except that you keep moving towards it. Movement is needed and it all begins with walking...maybe even a silly walk.

Stay inspired my friends.

Trickeration

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours." -Henry David Thoreau

In the American sport of football, each team is attempting to disguise their real intentions. They do so in order to surprise their opponent and enabling them to achieve a goal. That goal might be to score a touchdown or to stop the other from scoring said touchdown. A term is used by the announcers to liven up the description of these disguised plays and is referred to as "trickeration."

Trickeration is basically defined as a creative play that fools the camera man and the defensive team. It can be very effective when the other team falls into believing you are always doing things in a routine and predictable manner. One of the most famous college football "trickeration" plays was in the 1984 Orange Bowl. The play was called a "fumblerooski" and resulted in a touchdown.

The interesting thing about "trickeration" is that life itself tends to pull these types of plays on our plans. You could call it circumstance, but many times it feels like a disguised play against our plans of achieving a goal in life. Life throws something at us that we least expect or at least did not plan for.

Yet we can play that same game. We can do the unexpected and catch life off guard with our own little "trickeration" play. Other people fall into a belief that we are always doing things in a routine and predictable manner. That means we get treated that way and most likely not be given the chance to advance because of it. Yet a good defense against failure is a good offense, with a few unexpected tricks thrown in.

So keep trying new things, new tricks, new surprises. Keep yourself moving towards your goals. There will be life circumstances and people trying to keep you from achieving your goals. But with a determined offense that keeps moving forward and a few surprises, you will achieve those goals.

Stay inspired my friends.

Turning Over Rocks

“...one opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death.” ―Markus Zusak

When I was a young boy, there was always amazement in my thoughts that one day I would find a treasure map. It would happen suddenly and most definitely be a map that led me to a great treasure. All through those young years, I tried never to pass up a chance to turn over a stone in hope of finding that map.

My high school graduation came and in a pile of college pamphlets, one stood out. That discovery led me to Peru State College and a treasure trove of friends and experiences. In those years, I found someone which led to my first marriage and the wonderful experience of being a father.

Married and now a new child on the way, I worked as a stock clerk. The journey through piles of shoes on shelves and folding of beach towels on sale led me to the manager's office. There he tried to convince me to take on a "manager trainee" role, but in that office sat a machine. Actually it was an early style electronic typewriter and it intrigued me for I knew electronics.

There was a name on the side of the typewriter. It was a local office equipment dealer. I found they were hiring and started a new career. A few years later, working on early model desktop computers I knew I could do more so I searched through the yellow page directory, no internet as we know it today. In the pile of technology company names, I found and eventually was hired. Thirty years later I am still working for that company.

Looking back, I had been kicking over stones and finding all kinds of treasure maps. By keeping my eyes open to opportunity, it was like finding a map that would lead me to a new discovery.

Opportunity appears in many different forms. But know that each opportunity is like kicking over a rock and finding a treasure map. All you have to do is choose to turn over the stone and use the map found.

Stay inspired my friends.

Suitcase Blues

"Some of these fine days I swear I'll throw away all my heavy luggage in the shape of hopes, and expectations, and walk the rest of the way with free limbs." -Geraldine Jewsbury

We carry so much with us. Our baggage becomes burdensome and can be hardly contained within. Sometimes the zipper on our suitcase becomes too difficult to close and contain all that is within.

Open your suitcase and get rid of the dirty laundry, including the hurt and pain. Remove all those items that only serve to weigh you down. They are of no use to where you are going. Your journey no longer needs the discontent and sorrow.

Fill your suitcase with great things and shake off those suitcase blues.

Stay inspired my friends.

Running the Distance

"It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it." -John Wooden

Together, my wife Laura and I completed our first Half-Marathon on Thanksgiving Day morning. A total length of 13.1 miles or in other terms; 69,168 feet or over 46112 turkeys laid end-to-end. And we completed it with time to spare before the course closed.

What amazes me is a group from C3 Fitness that we trained with for several weeks. Many of these runners were much faster, much more fit and finished well ahead of us. Yet they cheered us on into the finish line well after they had finished themselves. They waited for us and made our accomplishment so much sweeter.

There were also many little things along the way that stick out along our journey as well. And I call it a journey because we not only wanted to finish, we wanted to experience the people and scenery along the way.

- Getting patted on the back very early in the race near Decatur Street by friends from C3 Fitness, encouraging us as they moved forward at a faster pace; being thankful for the friends we have in our life.

- The over weight man on 17th Street, keeping his pace constant, consistent and yes, he completed the run. He wasn't the fastest, but he did what many probably thought he could not; being thankful for the health that we have.

- My wife having a conversation with one of the pace runners on Juniper Street, a writer for CNN and her move to Atlanta from Venezuela; thankful for the safety and freedom we have here in the United States.

- Running past St. Episcopal's Church on Courtland Street and seeing the homeless along the sidewalk eating their Thanksgiving Day meal outside; being thankful for the food on our table and a warm place to sleep.

- Passing Ebenezer Baptist Church on Auburn Avenue; being thankful for God in our lives.

- Coming up the hill on Memorial Drive past the historic Oakland Cemetary and being reminded of all those relatives and friends gone before us; being thankful for each and every one of them for having been in our lives.

- Running down, MLK Drive, a wall of exhaustion trying to deny us and hearing someone shout that a pumpkin was running up behind us; being thankful for the odd and unusual to shake us from being too serious at times.

- Turning the corner onto Capitol Avenue, Laura's hand in mine and nearing the completion of a challenge we took on together; being thankful for each other.

There are many things in your life that will be encountered along your journey. We run the distance together and a finish line will mark the accomplishment. There will be the sadness, the joy and the unusual. Yet the journey will be completed if you just keep running the distance.

Stay inspired my friends.

Be Thankful For What You've Got

Yes there is. Happy Thanksgiving holiday to all of my U.S. friends. And be thankful for all you've got.

What Incentive

“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.” -Orison Swett Marden

Did Warren Buffett really say he could end the U.S. Federal government deficit in five minutes?

In a July, 2011 interview on CNBC he did in fact say that "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election."

Now the idea of passing a 28th amendment or a Congressional Reform Act did not come from Warren Buffett. What he went on to say is something I believe is the point. Warren said, "Now you've got the incentives in the right place, right? So it's capable of being done."

All of us do things in life based upon some level of incentive. We get up in the morning because we want to go to work to earn money, to pay for the nice home we live in. We prepare a meal because we are hungry. We kiss and hold the hand of our spouse because we have a need for love. We sit on the beach watching waves pour into the beach for we want relaxation. We do all sorts of things based upon the incentive of what we will receive.

What is your incentive for accomplishing great things in life?

Are You Impossible

"To believe a thing impossible is to make it so." – French Proverb

An idea pops into your mind and for the first few minutes you think of all the possibility in that one idea. You then speak the idea out loud and let the sounds of that idea float back into your ears. The idea does not sound the same as your mind processes it differently. All of a sudden, the idea seems impossible.

It is a trick that we unwittingly play on ourselves. Our mind will work to rationalize and look for the impossibility. I suppose it is our brain attempting to link known memories of failure and success. Those memories we have get pulled from different parts of the brain.

Dr. Richard Mohs explains it this way, "If you're riding a bike, the memory of how to operate the bike comes from one set of brain cells; the memory of how to get from here to the end of the block comes from another; the memory of biking safety rules from another; and that nervous feeling you get when a car veers dangerously close, from still another."

So if you were to have fallen during those times riding a bike, chances are the idea of riding a bike will be remembered as failure. I for one have bad memories of nearly drowning at the age of six or seven. It hangs with me to this day for I still have not learned how to swim. I have tried and those words come back into my ears and the trick gets played again and again. For many of us we allow the impossible to defeat us in many areas of our life. But you can overcome the tricks we play on ourselves.

My wife Laura and I run (jog/walk) recreationally and have run in several 5K (3.1 mile) and 10K (6.2 mile) races. We do so for the joy of it and being around people. One obstacle we have had in our minds is the idea of completing a 13.1 mile or commonly referred to as a Half-Marathon. Impossible one might say. We started training additional miles and with a great group of people at the C3 Fitness Center.

Over the course of training, encouragement and time; we have turned the word impossible into I - M - POSSIBLE.

Think about it and see if you can turn your world around. Push possibility to a new level in your life. Always remember that you ARE possible.

Attitude in Words Redux

"Each day provides its own gifts." -Marcus Aurelius

So with pleasure I am announcing the release of my fifth book today, Attitude in Words Redux. A new version of newer stories from the past few years and another chance to hopefully inspire you on a daily basis. With each passing day, week and year, my goal is to find some small word or story that will help you achieve your best life.

My life was turned around, my best life journey, occurred with two small words. I have written about those two small words in my previous books. Of all those thousands upon thousands of words in the languages of the world, there will be a few words that can do the same for you. I believe you will find one or two here.

If not for you, I would encourage you to purchase one as a gift for someone else. Maybe a family member or friend that just needs a little extra excouragement. I am sure you or they will find the book motivating and one that can change your life. And do not forget that Christmas is coming soon. Attitude in Words Redux would make a very nice gift.

So thank you to all of those that have supported my writing efforts. And thank you to all that have read, been motivated and graciously thanked me for my words. Stay inspired my friends and keep moving towards your best life.

Back Soon

Back soon folks. Visiting family back in Nebraska and simply enjoying it too much to write. Look for a new update on Thursday of this week.

Until then, keep your chin up, a smile on your face and inspired.

Smile More

“Smile, for everyone lacks self-confidence and more than any other one thing a smile reassures them.” -Andre Maurois

"A merry heart goes all the day, Your sad tires in a mile-a." -William Shakespeare

“The joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days.” -Sirach 30:22

“The days that make us happy make us wise.” - John Masefield

In an article published by the American Psychological Association titled, The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?, it finds that "happy people show more frequent positive affect and specific adaptive characteristics." In other words, being happy and having a positive attitude will place you in a better frame of mind to accept new opportunity.

As you make your way through life, towards a more positive life style, opportunity will seem to just appear. What you probably did not realize that opportunity was there all along. But having the wrong attitude you simply did not see it.

As you take on this new opportunity, additional change occurs and success begins to unfold around you. Of course, success generates more happiness and good feeling within. Your spirit tends to rise dramatically. This spirit also gets stored within you and it carries you through many of the downward cycles that can occur.

So can a smile actually cause success? Maybe not immediately, but it can start a ripple effect on your life. Smile once in a while, carry happiness with you more often and experience a change.

Stay inspired my friends.

Building Up

"There are a million reasons you can find to tear someone down. Work to find that one reason to build them up." -Dean Sweetman

It seems so easy to find what is wrong in this world or in people. The weather is too hot or too cold, the government is too over bearing and my co-worker is lazy. So much we could go on about and it does not mean that it isn't true. A lot of bad in this world is actually bad.

Yet we should also attempt to find something good around us. This is especially true with the people we come in contact with. Again, bad is bad and I'm referring to your everyday contact with family, friends and people in general. It may be perceived as a "can't we all just get along" type of statement.

No, what I'm referring to is our inclination to be critical of others as it draws attention away from our own shortcomings. As you tear others down, you are really tearing yourself down. The whole "reap what you sow" idea comes to mind. Think about your spouse or children and how you interact with them. Do you find that conversations begin with, "why didn't you" or "how could you"?

When was the last time you praised them for just being them, for a small talent or gift that they have? Or a son, like many other teens, trying to "just get through" his last year of high school. Most parents will know what this struggle is like. But you build him up and encourage him allowing him to push through. Your kids need you to help lift them when they are down. To encourage them to seek out their dreams, just like you and I need.

So try to find those good things and praise the person for them. It doesn't take a whole lot to find goodness in someone, it only takes you trying. The goodness will come back around to you in due course. Build up others and you will build yourself up as well.

Faith in Tomorrow

photo taken by Steven Ainsworth

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” -Victor Hugo

People ask me, "how do you manage to travel so easily in different countries?" My only answer is to just take it as it comes. It does not mean I don't plan and prepare for each trip. There is plenty of checking into what and where I am going.

When it comes down to it though, I see tomorrow through faith as opposed to worry. Faith that I did my preparation and faith that things will work out. I take the positive approach that things will go well, that if they don't I'm prepared to handle them. Much of this is believing in yourself and your own ability to overcome anything.

Those that see tomorrow through worried eyes will forever be destined to spend more time in the negative worrying and less time in being prepared. When things do not work out as planned, these people will expend their energy in complaint and worry. The reality is that energy is better used to resolve and carry through with life.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely.”

Take on the new day in a positive way. Stop worrying so much and trust in your own ability to accomplish great things in your life.

The sun continues to rise each day, no matter what life sends our way. Approach it with great faith and a great attitude.

Enough Said

Enough said.

Feed the Flames

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9 ESV

Giving up, it is such an easy thing to do.

The glow of the fire, the inspiration, is still warm upon your heart the next day. It may even persist for two or three days. Yet the warmth of that fire will fade if you do not keep it stoked (burning). You have to be the one tending to your passion or else the embers fade into cold ashes.

Whom shall ignite the fire?

A man named Jim followed in the foot steps of two missionaries. He went to Curitiba, Brazil on a mission of faith. His purpose was just like that of the two missionaries, to serve the people of C3 Curitiba and C3 Santos. His purpose was to build a fire of passion within the men of Curitiba. With the match sticks of inspiration and care for those men, a great fire was lit.

Whom shall feed the fire?

The fire has been lit and its glowing embers remain in the hearts and minds of eighty some men. Each has learned so much from the experience and turned their hearts towards a greater vision. But the fading days and weeks can weaken our resolve. Who will step up to keep that fire burning? Who will carry the torch that lights the fire for so many more of us?

Every one of us will carry the flame.

We may symbolically carry a torch lit with the flames of passion and inspiration. But the real flame resides within us. It burns with varying degrees of leadership, servanthood and faith, but it burns. Even the smallest flame can chase away the darkness in a room. Even the smallest of good works will cast a great vision amongst the people of a nation.

The men of C3 Curitiba and C3 Santos have a destiny planted in their hearts. A destiny to rise up in leadership, to carry a flame for your church, your family and your Brazil. Do not let the flame burn out. Carry the flame of faith and passion so that others may not grow weary.

Stay inspired my friends.

Random thoughts - 11/02/2012

The Calendar

There are only two more months left in this year of 2012. Basically sixty days left to complete what you said you would on January 1. Some may even believe it all ends on December 21 if you are a follower of Mayan prophecy.

It isn't the end, nor is December 31 the end...life goes on and you will have opportunity to set more goals. The point being, just keep moving forward. Keep yourself inspired to do great things.

In these last two months, with holidays such as Thanksgiving here in the U.S. or even the Christmas season, do something grand. Do something for another person, help feed the hungry, contribute some presents to "Toys for Tots" and see it shift your world.

Yes, the Mayans probably ran out of ink. But there is time to do great things for other people and in turn your own world will be filled.

Just Vote

Next Tuesday is a big one here in the United States. It is the one time every four years that we elect, or re-elect a President. If you were to follow our politics, one might think it is dirty, knock-down fight. But this is just a campaign season.

I am a firm believer that a higher-power has us in good stead, but we as people do have to be good stewards of what we've been given. So with that, the pendulum of liberal or conservative swings both ways. Knowing that, whomever gets elected does not really bother me.

What I do believe we as citizens need to do though is take a more active role. We must hold our elected officials more accountable. It is not enough to just vote, and everyone eligible should make an effor to vote. We the citizens need to make sure elected officials follow through and not drive us over the cliff.

Yes, the Romans found out what happens when we fail to stay involved.

Wind a Blowing

A pretty devastating hurricane blew into the eastern coast. It wreaked much havoc, destruction and also death. If you haven't seen the news stories and pictures, take a look. Natural disasters happen and no matter where they occur, it boils down to you and me helping each other.

Find a way to become involved and help your fellow man. One day it just might be you facing what seems insurmountable. One day you might need someone to help you.

Stay inspired my friends!

Experience the Dawn

"We live from day to day and get as much joy out of experiencing as we can." -Shelley Duvall

When I safely return from a business trip, it is always a great homecoming for me. The act of coming home to family and friends is one of the greatest feelings you can experience.

When I take the overnight flights home, the pre-dawn light through my window is always amazing. The lense of a camera simply can not capture the wonder seen through one's own eye.

As I watch the fading darkness of night being crept upon by the morning light, my thoughts are of new beginnings. The type that each of us can have if only we take hold of the opportunity.

So many times we attempt to view the wonders of life through other means. We watch shows on television, we read books, magazines and marvel at the lives of others.

We say to ourselves that there are wonderful things out there for us. Yet we never take the steps to experience them. We are constantly looking through the lense of a camera, never viewing the splendor with our own eyes.

Yes, we can experience life through pictures and stories, but we can also experience a much fuller life if you make change. If we place ourselves in real moments, we will get to paint our lives in more vivid colors. Don't hold back from stepping forward and trying new things. Take on new challenges and experience a greater life.

“Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day. Such is the salutation to the dawn.” - Sanskrit Proverb

Experience the dawning of a new day in your life, experience a greater life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Courage Within

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

Some time ago I was reading a book called "Healthy, Wealthy and Wise" by Andrea Rains Waggener. The author described the book as fifty-two life changing lessons and is inspired by the writings of Benjamin Franklin. The idea behind the book is a 52-week plan to make great changes in your life. It is a great book to read if you have the time, but I thought I would share a few items from the book with you.

In some of my blog articles, I have written about being courageous in stepping forward to make changes in your life. It may sound trite to simply say "I must have courage."
But courage comes in many different forms.

Having courage is like getting into the swimming pool. There are those that would run and make a huge plunge. The idea being to get the wet and cold out of the way quickly, and then to get on with the swimming. Others would tend to be as I am, put a foot in and test the water. People like us will slowly ease into the water, adjusting in small increments but eventually getting fully submersed.

There are other ways, other analogies, I could use or even a methodical method such as described by Ms. Waggener. In her book she offers a seven-day plan;

Day 1. Ask to be courageous.

Day 2. Affirm your desire to become courageous.

Day 3. Act as if you are courageous.

Day 4. Write down the things you'd do if you knew you couldn't fail. What do you want to try that you haven't tried because of fear?

Day 5. Write "YES!" on several Post-It notes and place them all over your home. They will remind you to say yes to possibility and opportunity instead of saying no.

Day 6. Choose something you really want that you're afraid to go after, something from the list you made on day 4. Now imagine what it will be like to get that thing or do it, whatever it is. Really feel it. Get yourself out of feeling fear about it and feel triumph instead. This will help you get in a mind-set to take courageous action.

Day 7. Pick one of the things you want but are afraid to go after and take just one small step toward it today. Again, even making a list of action steps is a step. Or make a phone call to get information or buy a book about what you want. One step creates quiet courage.

Look at day seven again, "one step creates quiet courage." This isn't about showing courage to others but about creating courage within yourself. Others will eventually recognize the courage you have. But it is more important for you to develop it inside.

Take courage in yourself to do great things. And stay inspired my friends.

Your Nature

Henry Ward Beecher is quoted as saying that, “Good nature is worth more than knowledge, more than money, more than honor, to the persons who possess it.”

Having a good nature tends to open more doors, resolve more problems and make your life generally easier. As an example, during business trips, my days are very full keeping me quite busy. My focus has to be on the issues I have been sent to deal with. It can be frustrating because I am interacting with many times a wide variety of personalities and the "nature" of people.

People can be either full of rage and discontent while others calmly handle the conditions confronting them. They are the reason and purpose most every time for my visit. So the essence of my job is to deal with both kinds and several variations of each person described above.

I am not alone in any of what I have described. Everyone, including you, have to deal with people, at some level, with varying degrees of irritation, rage, or calamity. The various personalities are a common course of human interaction. They key becomes how do you react to each of those types?

You have of course the loud lunatic trying to break you down. I call them "screamers" as they talk or yell louder then those around them. There seems to be some belief that by doing so others will work harder, listen better and produce better results.

You will also encounter the quiet type that simply stare at you. I call these folks the "low talkers" for it is difficult to gauge their temperament. They hide any expression, trying to keep you guessing wondering if progress is being made. They exercise control by never engaging.

In dealing with any of these type of people, remember they are simply people being themselves. Never take it personally because you, not they, dictate your own attitude. Take a good nature, a good attitude, with you into your connections with other people. Doing so will generate more positive results for you, for the people involved and the situation.

You will learn more from the experience. You will be under better control of yourself and the situation. You will listen better, you will talk wiser and you will just feel better after the experience.

Be of good nature, be of good heart and enjoy the life experiences of your everyday life. Stay inspired my friends.

Its Okay To Come Home

"There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again." -Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

There are so many of us that strike out on our own. We demand our birth right, to be released early into the unfolding future of growth. There might be those that try to speak into our world and tell us it is too early. We then dismiss them, distance ourselves from them and try to start fresh in a world that is many times much too cruel.

As the new experience of freedom reaches the end of it's honeymoon, the reality of our world can come crashing down. The pain and heart break of life not fulfilling all of our needs and wants can be quite harsh. We also harbor shame for turning our back on those that were part of our past. How can we possibly come home again?

You can, to open arms.

Do not be afraid to return to the ones that loved you first. To the people that raised you and provided you with a home and shelter. The clothing on your back that kept you warm in those early days remains washed and neatly folded in wait for your return.

All of us return home to find what made us that bold adventure seeker. A home that built up the person you are, awaits your return. A home that keeps the hearth burning, a warm meal and place to rest your weary feet.

It is a home with open arms.

Never mind that you may have lost all hope or love. There are open arms filled with both, waiting to wrap you in all that you need. You can come home again and be filled with all of the love that you need, with open arms.



Stay inspired my friends!

Happy Birthday Greetings

"Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again." -Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Happy birthday to my son Joe.

Random Thoughts - 10/26/2012

Get out and vote

Here are a couple of random thoughts for this, Friday, October 26, 2012. And to start, let us talk of the pending U.S. Presidential Election. All United States citizens will vote on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 -- or will they?

In the 2008 election

- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates were 226 million U.S. citizens
- Of that number, 206 million people were eligible for voter registration
- Of those eligible to register, only 146 million were actually registered
- Of those registered, only 131 million actually voted

It means that only 64% of the eligible voting population actually votes. It means that only 64% of the eligible voting population determines (sort of) the course of government for the next four years. Yes, there is the whole Electoral College thing and do the politicians actually do what they say they will do when asking for your vote?

But politicians and any purity in their actions is a topic for another day.

2012 World Series of Baseball

The opening pitch took place and the first crack of a bat hitting the ball has occurred. Did anyone notice?

Believe it or not, the San Francisco Giants lead the Detroit Tigers two games to none at this point. But has anyone else taken notice of this world series between these two teams? I am sure there are people living in both locations that care. Most notably, the folks in Detroit, while disappointed being down by two games, are thrilled.

Yet, it is baseball and for those that love watching it...the excitement is here. A chance to unwind from a long day and just enjoy the moment.

The Many Colors

I just returned from a week at my corporate offices in the Boston, Massachusetts area. A full week of work but a special treat because the fall leaves are bursting with color. I forget just how wonderful those colors can be. The changing colors of nature reveal just how fantastic the natural world is that we live in.

Soon the cold and snow will be settling in around us. But each of us know that winter provides a time of rest in nature. Spring will come forth after the harsh winter winds fade and new buds will emerge. Until either of those things happen, enjoy the burst of autumn's showcase.

Stay inspired my friends.

Wisdom Revealed

"The measure of our future success and happiness will not be the quality of the cards we are dealt by unseen hands, but the poise and wisdom with which we play them. 'Choose to play each hand to the best of your ability without wasting the time or energy it takes to complain about either the cards or the dealer or the often unfair rules of the game.' Play both the winning and the losing hands as best you can, then fold the cards and ante up for the next deal!" - "Like Klockwork: The Whimsy, Wit, and (sometime) Wisdom of a Key Largo Curmudgeon" by Joe Klock

Wisdom comes in bits and pieces through out your life. But in order to gain wisdom, you have to gather it from others and from your actions. In his book "The Traveler's Gift", Andy Andrews gives us these bits and pieces. The New York Times described it as an inspirational tale about the "decisions that determine personal success," a down on-
his-luck middle-aged man travels back in time.

It is our choices and our attitudes that determine the difference between failure and success. Andy writes about this in chapter four regarding the second decision in life you must make. The main character has just met King Solomon and been given the second of seven items he will receive on this strange journey. He is given the following words of wisdom that are written as such;

Knowing that wisdom waits to be gathered, I will actively search her out

I will seek wisdom, I will choose my friends with care

I will seek wisdom, I will listen to the counsel of wise men

I will seek wisdom, I will be a servant to others

I will seek wisdom

There is so much to learn in our lives and sometimes it is by the pure chance of living that we gain wisdom. Some of that wisdom learned is not to our benefit if used incorrectly. But living itself will teach us either way, good or bad. My wish for each of you is to find that wisdom early in life. And if not, that growing older places you in the path of that wisdom.

Live a more happy and successful life by gathering wisdom beyond what is naturally learned. Your life will change and improve..the wisdom of others has proven it to be.

Stay inspired my friends!

Seven Minutes

"There are those little moments in life in which you need some joy." -Jeff Kane

While you were walking to your office today, did someone pass you by with a smile and say good morning? Did someone possibly hold the elevator door for you or possibly help carry groceries to your car? During our day, there are small things that create joy in our lives. These small things are seemingly insignificant gestures in life that happen to us which create happiness.

We also know there are small things that try to steal that joy from us. It is those types of harsh moments that we tend to focus on. We focus so much on them until the meaningless irritation consumes our day. It causes stress inside of you, frustration develops and causes you to have a bad day.

What we need to do is to look for the joyous moments which do happen. Those moments are there. You simply need to look for and recognize them for what they are, moments of joy. When you feel frustrated, stressed or the anxiety of a long day; find a place, a moment of memory or a thought that brings you back to joy. Try to take seven minutes daily to relive the joys that do exist in your life.

Why seven minutes?

In psychology, the "Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two" is the title of a 1956 paper by the cognitive psychologist George A. Miller which showed the following. When test subjects were asked to choose a number between one and ten, most people will choose the number seven. It is the most common number thought of off the top of one's head.

Other possible reasons for using the number seven:

• Number of openings into the human head; mouth, 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils
• Traditional number of Wonders of the Ancient World
• Viewed as a lucky number in both Japanese and many Western cultures
• In music it is the number of notes in the musical scale
• Number of days in a week
• Number of the ages of man into which William Shakespeare divided a lifetime
• Figurative number of seas
• Traditionally thought that there are seven continents on Earth
• Number of colors of the rainbow
• Number of points on a sheriff's star
• Number of spots in a common ladybug
• Number of objects in the solar system visible to the naked eye — Sun, Moon and five classical naked eye planets: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn

Seven is simply a number and to think of it in numerical terms, you are only taking .4% of your day. If you take the average number of hours one should sleep each night (8 hours), then you are still only consuming .7% of your day reliving a joyful moment or thought. There is that number seven again.

Okay, I have made my point about the number seven.

What really matters is that a small amount of time can have a huge impact on your life. So take a few minutes to remember the joys in your life. In fact, take a moment right now and take seven minutes to relax and enjoy the goodness in your life.

Now pass along that joy to someone else. Smile at someone passing by, hold open a door for the next person, maybe give them a bit of encouragement. Seven minutes can improve your life, improve someone else's life and improve the world around you.

Stay inspired my friends.

Tearing Down The Fence

"I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." -Anne Lamott

How many times do we let the actions of others effect our day? Could it really be that those "big box" store employees determine if my day is going to be a good one or not? No, not really. I use it as an example of how other people step in and out of your life of which you really have no control over. That connection or interaction can be a positive one, or a negative one if you let it.

It is in trying to understand what the story is of that other person in which I find grace. In my example of the "big box" store, the people working there have lives filled with many varying stories. One may have had someone cut them off in traffic on the way to work. Another may have a relative sick and in the hospital. Still others may have had their favorite team lose the previous night.

Their individual stories are not a reason to create an excuse but to show you that there is another side, another story, another reason. We have no control over what happens in their lives. It is in our interaction, in that moment that decides how we are going to be impacted.

Many times we choose to become irritated, to become bothered and annoyed. The frustration builds inside and we literally ruin our very own day. What we are really doing is fencing ourselves in. Allowing ourselves to be locked up by the attitudes and whims of others. We have an opportunity to decide. We have the ability to not put up that fence in our life.

I may have had irritation going to these stores, but I choose to smile and bring change into their life if possible. I choose to understand that there is always another side to the story. I choose to not be fenced in by other peoples actions and attitudes. I choose to have grace in these situations.

Simply put, I choose.

Stay inspired my friends.

A Small Coupon

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." -Khalil Gibran

Okay all of you frequent air travelers. You are missing out on a great opportunity to make someone else's day a whole lot better. All it takes is one sheet of paper and the heart to share a little kindness.

I would call this a "call to action" to each of you. An act that will brighten the experience of a "not so frequent" air traveler. It will also make you feel a little better inside, knowing that you did something nice.

What I am referring to are those coupons that you receive when checking in for your flight online. Delta provides these as I am sure other airlines do for their frequent travelers.

So what can you do with these?

While the fine print says that these coupons are non-transferable, here is what you can do. While boarding your plane, the first flight attendant you see when entering the plane, hand it to them. Tell the flight attendant that you would like them to give this to a military person or possibly a young person (student maybe), or a young family flying with children.

That is all you need to do. Quietly you walk away knowing that someone is secretly being blessed by your generosity. There is no need for fanfare or acknowledgement. As a frequent traveler, you get plenty of benefits along the way. So why not gift someone else?

The flight attendants are very appreciative of your kindness. It brings a smile to their face knowing one more person on a crowded flight is smiling as well. Spread some joy into the lives of others and experience what it does in your life.

Stay inspired my friends!

Merging With Life

"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light." ~Norman B. Rice

Every work day, there is a long and sometimes crowded freeeway merge I have to endure. The traffic flowing southbound is moving rather quickly. There are cars, semi-trucks, vans and every known type of vehicle speeding towards some destination. It can be a challenge for many drivers to merge into this moving mass of traffic smoothly.

One can watch the seasoned driver adjust speed and gracefully slide into an opening in the lane of traffic. Others are more timid and brake, speed up, brake again, unsure of where to position themselves. We then have those that simply stop, scared to move or risk the adventure of freeway traffic.

Life for many can be like our last merging traffic driver. Too afraid to engage or risk the adventure, they sit at the end of the on ramp. The driver behind them in life will try to coax them along. It could be with the beep of a horn or an encouraging word. Sometimes this works, and sometimes we simply drive around them.

It is too bad that many pull over and never get on the freeway. They park their car on the median and watch life drive by. An emergency vehicle comes along to assist them, to encourage them. That emergency vehicle could be a spouse, a friend or a co-worker. That emergency vehicle could be you.

Life can be described as merging and exiting the stream of traffic. It is a journey that we can either take part in or sit idly by along the median. And each of us can be the driving instructor, encouraging someone off the side of the road and into traffic.

Leave the hand gestures and words of rage buried deep in the ground. Decide to lift up the other person and help them along. You never know what great things an opportunity such as meeting and helping another person will have on your life.

Stay inspired my friends!

Rolling to Accomplishment

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney

Here we are late in the year, nine and one-half months later when we first proposed and proclaimed a list of New Year resolutions. The process has been some what like a pregnancy and the birth of achieving your goals is nearing. The road has had its ups and downs, but that is what life is.

Each step along the way, you have worked on maintaining a full and balanced "wheel of life". This wheel has taken you on quite a journey this year and carried you to where you find yourself today.

When one spoke (area) in your life became broken, you fixed it. You knew that if one spoke became damaged, the wheel was incomplete and would not carry you smoothly. As a wheel becomes unbalanced, the harder it is to gain and maintain momentum. It can be nearly impossible to get any where in life with an unbalanced wheel. It becomes a constant struggle.

But you you know better than that. You have worked hard to keep your wheel round and balanced. You have worked on those areas of life that needed attention. You tended to the out of balance spokes, you have kept your life moving forward.

Keep your life rolling forward, meeting the goals you set at the beginning of the year. When December 31 arrives, you will have accomplished so much and realized what a smooth ride it had been compared to the previous year.

Keep on rolling, keep on riding down the path, keep enjoying the journey. And stay inspired my friends.

Holding a Door

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same." - Anonymous

When I travel, the greatest thing I get to do is watch people. It is fun to simply observe the interactions of people as they go about their day. Some may think of it as voyeurism and it probably is. I think of it more as simply observing my surroundings. Learning the different cultures and behaviors of individuals.

During a business trip to London, I had this same opportunity to sight see and to experience the everyday hustle and bustle of London City life. This included using the London Underground with its congested trains to elbowing my way through the crowded floors of Harrods Department Store.

Close personal contact with people is going to be a given. And all of this close and personal interaction allows one an opportunity to engage in doing small things for others. Small things that simply make another person's day a litle bit nicer.

There are opportunities to hold open a door for others when entering a building. One can even be more pleasant and accomodating to restaurant servers trying scratch out a living wage. My firm belief is that simply being nice to another human can impact their life in a positive way.

To see that person smile in return means so much and it likely means they will pass on the kind gesture. With kindness emanating from you, the kindness will move from you to another and another. But it has to start somewhere and it might as well be you.

Remember not to wait, don't think about it, don't analyze it....just do something.

It becomes habit over time and of course you'll notice a change in yourself. The act of giving is really a means of growing within yourself. Be of cheer when you least want to. Work your way through your down times. See how your life can improve by the mere action of giving kindness to another person.

Stay inspired my friends!

Your Vision

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours." -Henry David Thoreau

My friend and pastor, Dean Sweetman, was speaking one day on the topic of having vision for your life. I am sorry to say Dean that I can not fully remember most of what was said, but the important part did stick with me. It was that piece of importance which had me thinking about ways of constructing steps to fulfilling one's dream or vision.

Each of us will find a way, useful in guiding us along the path to success. You can look on the shelves of bookstores, thousands of search results on the internet, and people with personal advice to offer you knowledge. Each method has merit in its guidance. All we have to do is go out in search of it and apply it to our lives.

The underlying theme in any of the advice you find is to have a positive attitude. If you are going to attain that which you seek, having a positive attitude is a must. Having a positive attitude enables you to secure step one which is maintaining belief in your vision.

To go forward when others or obstacles are encountered, keep belief near to your heart and it will allow you to continue with the second step, which is to act upon your vision.

We can go through life with a dream so deep in us that we are afraid to release it. This keeps us from ever achieving that dream, because it always remains just that, a dream. To realize the vision, you have to act upon it. Get up and make a move. Write down your dream on a piece of paper, tack it up on the mirror and repeat it saying it out loud to yourself. Action creates movement, which moves you towards your goal.

Continue to keep a positive attitude. Doing so will help you keep the belief in your vision. Doing so will help sustain you as you act upon your vision. Doing so will help you when the third step is achieved...realizing your vision.

Once you have accomplished the attainment of your vision, having a positive attitude will give you strength to hold on to it. It will sustain you for what is to come next, which is of course, another dream, another goal, a continuation of your journey through life.

Believe in your vision
Act upon your vision
Realize your vision

Stay inspired my friends!

Mission Possible

“Decide what you want and write your goals down. Then convert your goals into positive, present tense statements called affirmations. Affirm your goals each day until they become part of your subconscious mechanism.” - Unknown Author

In the coming days, I would like you to think about where you are in life and where you want your life to be. Is there self doubt surrounding those thoughts? Is there only impossibility in those thoughts? Or do you see that everything has possibility?

Life tends to create negative thought patterns at us in many different ways. It comes in the way of people; friends, relatives, co-workers and many other types of people that like to "give advice." Many of your negative thoughts may have come from growing up in a non-supportive family. This creates a mindset within us, living life for so long in a negative way, that it becomes hard to break free of those old habits.

But you must believe in the promise of your visions and dreams. Have faith that leaving behind your old ways will allow you to move in a direction that fulfills your goals. It takes courage to make this move and in seeing what can not be seen. Having the courage to do so will position yourself in order to have the ability to seize opportunity.

When the negative in life occurs, be the one that rises above it. Be bold in what you do because there will be nasayers. There will be those that knowlingly and unknowingly try to keep you down. These type of people do so because they are not bold enough to rise above their condition. The only way they can feel good about themselves is to keep others down with them.

Rise above these people and break loose from their hold. Your self doubt will cause you to struggle to cross the line to a positive attitude. When this happens, you may find yourself back on the down side.

You will struggle to cross back over again. Back and forth until you spiritually or determinedly decide to create a wall behind you once you have crossed to a positive life. Leave the naysayers behind and find new people to surround yourself with. Find a more positive, a more frutiful way of living.

Possibility exists if you allow it to work in your life.

Stay inspired my friends!

You Will

“A grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person’s life.” -Andy Andrews

From the pages of Andy Andrews; Our Very Lives Are Fashioned by Choices.

First we make choices. Then our choices make us.

This particular decision for success has been conditioned out of most people. They're doing the same things every day; just because that's the way they've always done them. Here's an example of this decision in practical everyday business terms. Let's say you're an employer and you have two people standing in front of you with the same educational background. They are the same age and have the same experience. One of them has a complaining look on his face and this other one appears happy. Well . . . who are you going to hire?

The happy one, of course, because that's the person you want to be around!

True happiness comes from deep within, but choosing happiness can be as simple as choosing to be grateful. The seeds of depression, anger, and resentment cannot take root in a grateful heart. A couple of years ago I was taken to Mexico City by World Vision and they walked me around a slum that had a million people in it. I saw my children in the eyes of the children that were playing there in the broken glass. It was a horrible situation to see what they have to do in order to get water and food.

I want to urge you to condition yourself, to find things that you can be grateful for. Become the possessor of a grateful spirit.

From this moment on you will

• ignore the conditioning that has shaped everything in your life.
• ignore the conditioning that says children who laugh in a restaurant get on your nerves.
• ignore the conditioning that says that you must look for everything in the form of its lowest common denominator
• become a possessor of a grateful spirit, a person who is grateful for the laughter of children, and grateful for situations that make you struggle.
• become grateful for situations in which you have to find your way out, because if you can find your way out of situations, then you can lead others to successes of their own.

Stay inspired my friends.