New Years Eve - 2011

Stay inspired my friends...through out all of 2012.

Do You Believe

be-lieve

intransitive verb

1: to have a firm religious faith : to accept something as true, genuine, or real (ideals we believe in) (believes in ghosts)
2: to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something (believe in exercise)
3: to hold an opinion : think (I believe so)

transitive verb

1: to consider to be true or honest (believe the reports) (you wouldn't believe how long it took) : to accept the word or evidence of (I believe you) (couldn't believe my ears)
2: to hold as an opinion : suppose (I believe it will rain soon)

What do you believe in? It is a pretty simple question that can be tough for some to answer. When you are first asked this question, does your mind instantly run to religion?  The question could be religious, but it could also refer to the supernatural, philosophical, or scientific. Basically, in means that we all have beliefs that define how we think the world and life work along with how we should interact with it.

Beliefs bridge the gap between what we "know" and what we "assume" in order to function in the world and make decisions. We have beliefs that can be proven and those that can not. Some beliefs are just that, our own belief in how life functions when proof can not be attained.

What I would like to end out the year 2011 with is this;

"Believe in something."

I have a belief in a God that is greater than anything mere men could envision. My belief is that the Mayans have it all wrong regarding 2012. They simply didn't have a greater vision for our world and humanity. In whatever fashion you believe in a greater power or not, believe that the year 2012 is going to be great.

BELIEVE in your visions so that they inspire you to ACT throughout the coming year. You will REALIZE many of your dreams in 2012.

Have a happy celebration this New Year's Eve, be safe, be happy and stay inspired my friends.

Scream Out for Liz

"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream." -John Lennon

As the year of 2011 is nearing an end, each of us are looking forward to what will come in the new one. The year of 2012 holds great promise for each of us. And most of us have the luxury of good health, reasonable financial stability and general goodness happening in our lives.

Others are not so fortunate and have a more direct want for 2012. For them, each day that goes by gives hope and promise for greater things, most of which is life. One such person is Liz Rieckmann and when she was only 7 years old, was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors only gave her a 50/50 chance, but she beat cancer!

Then in 2009, she was a young woman interning with the Brown University theater program. She noticed that she was getting extremely winded at work. During a Christmas break, she went home and visited her doctor who had her hospitalized right away due to pneumonia. After several tests and a biopsy, Liz received a disheartening diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that severely scars the lungs.

Doctors have determined that a double-lung transplant is critical to her survival. So while awaiting her transplant, Liz must rely on an oxygen tank 24 hours a day to breathe. Despite these challenges, Liz loves life and is grateful for her supportive network of family and friends who have made her life so special. She is especially thankful for her mom and dad, as they do everything they can to make sure Liz has the best possible care.

Now to the "ask" of my readers.

A good friend of ours, Ruth Perry, is heading up a local fund-raising effort to get the monies needed for the transplant. The needed double-lung transplant for Liz costs nearly $800,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health coverage, she faces significant expenses. She will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications for the rest of her life. Post-transplant medications are very costly, and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

I appreciate you sticking with me on this long article, but what can you do?

You can help by donating a few dollars now and encouraging others to do the same. If you wish to read more about Liz Rieckmann and more importantly, make a tax-deductible donation, CLICK HERE.

If you wish to send a check in the mail, please send it to the

NFT Georgia Transplant Fund
5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430
Memphis, TN 38119

Please be sure to write "in honor of Liz Rieckmann" on the memo line.

To involve yourself in this or any such noble effort to assist others is important. Many people in need of help or assistance will politely ask others in their time of need. What we are here to do for the Rieckmanns is to be the ones to "scream out" to the rest of the world.

You can help Liz with your generous gift and then "scream out" to others. Together we can help make a huge difference in another persons 2012. We can help give them life.

Dreams for 2012

The end of 2011 is coming quickly to an end. In under four days, 2011 will ring out with a rush of parties, a dropping of the ball in New York's famed Times Square (yes, there are many others around the world), kissing, hugging and resolutions declared. People will declare the start of a new year, new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

While I talked of that new beginning in a previous article, I understand the general consensus will go based upon the calendar. But it doesn't mean that you can't start thinking about it now; starting today with a new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

As we dream of great things and see visions of prosperity, success and great love in 2012, dreaming is only part of the equation. There are those dreams that come to us at night while we sleep. There are dreams that occur during the day as we lazily ponder thoughts in our mind. But as you notice, both are sedentary activities, no movement, only thought. But what I have found is that DREAMS + ACTION = ACHIEVEMENT as you start a new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

As I have said before, you have to "Raise the BAR" (Believe, Act, Realize) in order to achieve your dreams. Do not wait until the blur of 12:01 AM on January 1 or even the hangover of the next morning. Start making movement on the 2012 year. Forget that the Mayans wrote of destruction and disaster. Believe in greatness and a new beginning and renewed hope for better times.

In an article called "10 Tips for Turning Your Dreams into Reality!" by Inez Bracy, Inez Bracy International; those things you need to start considering are;

1. Take an in depth look at your life, who you are and how you show up.
2. Decide if this is the way you want your life to be 365 days from now.
3. Give yourself permission to move in the direction of the life you say you want.
4. Chart your course; set goals toward achieving your dream life.
5. Do something daily that takes you closer to your dream
6. Keep a journal of your progress.
7. Celebrate something daily.
8. This is about you and for you.
9. Ask for help when you need to.
10. Express gratitude daily.

But you have to start now, start today; get a head start on 2012 before the crowd gets in the way. You will be on your way to something greater in your life, your best life.

Stay inspired my friends.

The Beginning

"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer." -Denis Waitley

The wondrous day that Christians celebrate each year has come and gone. The marking of Christmas is a Christian holiday that others partake in for other reasons. Christmas breakfast, family close by and a warm fire filling the room. It is a chance and time for people all over the world to slow down a bit and take pause. We take the time to focus more on our God, our family and others. The day creates a moment of reflection on what is important to life.

The timing of Christmas in our Gregorian calendar places the holiday at the end. It takes places on December 25th, a few days short of year's end. In many ways we treat it as the last celebration, the ending of a year and culmination of all our hard work throughout that year of living.

For me it truly marks a beginning to what is to come in my life. It is a birth of new possibility that starts that day. We get the chance to let the previous year be forgiven of any mistakes or wrong turns we took.

Many would argue that we start a new year at the stroke of midnight December 31st. We begin the countdown and as January 1st begins, we sing the song "Auld Lang Syne" as we now begin anew. It marks of course the taking down of one old calendar and unwrapping and hanging of a new one. The song we sing itself asks the question, "Should those we knew and loved be forgotten and never thought of? Should old times past be forgotten?"

"Auld Lang Syne" isn't celebrating the start of something, it is celebrating what has gone by. The song itself tells us that no, those times and people should not be forgotten. We remember those times and people gone, we'll toast them now and always, we'll keep them close; "We'll take a cup of kindness yet." So New Years is a celebration of all that has happened in the previous year. It is a way of remembering those things and people gone before us.

But Christmas marks a new birth, a promise of great things to come and of forgiveness to all that has happened in our lives. This is why you should take this week between Christmas and New Years to reflect on 2011. But you should also get on with your life, moving it forward to greater things. Do not wait for January 1st. Begin now. Birth a new way of living your life.

And stay inspired my friends.

Why Yes There Is

Two days in a row, because I think it bears repeating.

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus."

Every year at this time, we start to question if there is any "good" left in this world. The stories regarding politics, the economy, wars and poverty seem to invade the daily news.

But I am here to say that there is quite a bit of "good" in this world. There are many people that make life a great thing to have. The human spirit remains bold and strong in wanting to do "good" everyday.

Whether you are black, white, Hispanic or Asian; if you are Heterosexual or not; if man or woman; rich or poor; there is "good" in life and in those around us.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the hearts and souls or more people than not. So have a very Merry Christmas and remember all that is "good" in this world.

And stay inspired my friends.

+++++++++++++++++++++

And now the letter.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus."

Every year at this time, we start to question if there is any "good" left in this world. The stories regarding politics, the economy, wars and poverty seem to invade the daily news.

But I am here to say that there is quite a bit of "good" in this world. There are many people that make life a great thing to have. The human spirit remains bold and strong in wanting to do "good" everyday.

Whether you are black, white, Hispanic or Asian; if you are Heterosexual or not; if man or woman; rich or poor; there is "good" in life and in those around us.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the hearts and souls or more people than not. So have a very Merry Christmas and remember all that is "good" in this world.

And stay inspired my friends.

+++++++++++++++++++++

And now the letter.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Baking Up A Great Year-end

"Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness." -William E. Gladstone

On a recent trip back to where I grew up, I had an opportunity to visit with family and friends. The town that I spent my early years is small in size but huge in heart. I guess you could say that of most any place, but it seems more so as these are the places I was a young boy.

My sister Pam took me out for coffee with her friends on a Saturday morning. The bakery in downtown Fremont is small, nice and comfy with the smells of fresh baked rolls and pastries. Alotta Brownies sits in the three hundred block of north Main Street. Just the sound of saying "Main Street" brings back wonderful memories. The conversation, coffee and cinnamon rolls pulled those moments from the back of my mind. If you ever happen through Fremont, Nebraska; take a moment to stop in and indulge your memories.

It was very shortly after the coffee and memories that I received a text message from my daughter Sarra. She was checking with me to ensure that I was going to make my annual Christmas batch of fudge. Why of course I am and somehow it has become traditional for me to do so.

I would really like to tell you that my fudge is the best in the world, top class and the thing that bakery chefs long to create. The fudge is typically good enough and I never seem to use the same recipe each year. I'm not creating a great fudge, that is for sure.

What I am recreating each year though is a tradition. It is something that will bring back memories for future generations when they smell fudge being made. When they wander into a bakery somewhere on their travels, a traditional memory will come flooding home to them. It will become a waypost in time as they make their way through life.

This time of year and in fact throughout the year, create traditions for those around you. These will be the lasting moments and memories that make the day easier. They are "you" living on within the hearts of others in the many years that will follow you.

And since tomorrow is Christmas Eve that will flow into Christmas Day, I want to wish all of my family, my sons, daughters, father, brothers, sister, in-laws and friends a Merry Christmas. There are those gone before us that I remember on these days as well; to all of them I have fond memories of many great past Christmas days.

And to you my friends out there, the happiest of Christmas Days and a safe holiday season. Stay inspired my friends.

A Void of Loneliness

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty." -Mother Teresa

Yesterday I wrote nothing, I posted nothing and nothing was read on that day. It was a day meant to spark a feeling of "missing" something in your daily routine. When you are used to having words to hear from someone else, not having that creates a void.

There are thousands upon thousands of people in our world that are alone this holiday season. Some are by their own choice. Others are simply alone due to circumstance. Many are by themselves due to death, divorce, or any of a number reasons.

Two things can happen which will fill the void of loneliness this holiday season. The emptiness can be filled throughout the year. It can change "two lives" in the blink of an eye. And it starts with simply connecting with each other. By simply acknowledging others around us, sharing a smile, saying hello or Merry Christmas. A spark of warmth will light a fire that chases the cold loneliness away.

If you are that person feeling lonely, there are tips and ideas to get you moving. One such tip is to "stop being lonely by reaching out to people." Pretty simple and probably easier said than done. In an article by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, this one tip about basic human contact starts to break down loneliness.

Laurie says that something as simple as chatting with the barista in a coffee shop can help with separation loneliness. It is connecting with others that slowly dissolves and brings you into a great new world. there are other tips in the article, but as I started out, it starts with connection.

Those of you that are not lonely can also have an impact on the lonely. It begins by reaching out to others you normally wouldn't. Again, its about making connections and can start with just a small gesture. In an article on the subject of loneliness, it indicates that a small gesture (an offhand invitation to lunch), is often the better antidote. A simple connection, a simple act of kindness extended into the void of someone's loneliness will begin to fill their life.

Loneliness comes in many different forms and becomes very heightened during a holiday season. The weight of feeling lonely can be crushing and the only way to lift it is with two people. A connection is made and things begin to change.

Don't let another holiday pass by in a void of loneliness. Fill it with connections and AVoid loneliness in your life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Families Made Of Love

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces." -George Santayana

Yes, the last 50 years have seen a huge rise in divorce with the U.S. having the highest of any industrialized nation. Cohabitation rather than marriage, "blended" families of both gay and heterosexual design, and children born out of wedlock are common these days.

But regardless of what the family looks like today, how you live and nuture each other within the confines of that matter greatly. We each have defined roles that determine the structure of each family. The parents, the children and the love that exists within are the things that make a family.

We may not have as many "traditional" families as once there were, but families can still exist and do in many of the different forms. As long as there is love, respect and nuturing within those walls, the family will continue to exist.

As I returned from visiting my siblings and father, it has made me think about these words. We grew up in a traditional family and around non-traditional families. My wife and children make up the strings of a blended family that bind together a family put together by a marriage after divorce. We are a family many would consider oddly formed, but it is solid and filled with love.

Both types of family units have taught me quite a bit about life, about raising children, and about the love that binds us together. With love we can and do overcome the squabbles, the hurt feelings, and any other obstacles that get in the way. It is love that fills the voids and makes a family what it is.

So as you gather with your own family, make love the greatest part of your gathering. Hug each other. Say "I love you" to each other. Love the moments no matter what type of family you have.

Almost There

"We're almost there and nowhere near it. All that matters is we're going." -Gilmore Girls

One final week before Christmas, one final push towards the finish line of accomplishment. Its near, you can almost feel the warmth of the fireplace, the smell of hot cider and excitement of the Christmas lights. The anticipation grows and fills every pore in our bodies with excitement.

While we move towards our destination, remember that the journey is meant to be exciting as well.

Stay inspired my friends.

Best Laid Plan Of

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." -E. M. Forster

One of my favorite books is one written by John Steinbeck in 1937 called "Of Mice and Men." It is a parable of what it means to be human and is well worth the read if you have some extra time.

Steinbeck said in one of his journals that, "In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. there are shorter means, many of them.There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other."

What I love is the idea that the "best laid plans of mice and men tend to go awry." In fact the title of Steinbecks novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns called "To a Mouse." The line regarding "mice 'n men" contains the line "The best-laid schemes Of Mice and Men often go awry." It is quite appropriate such that in Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men" contains Lenny and George's scheme that goes tragically awry — that is, off track.

So by now you are wondering why I would write of things not going as planned? The novel itself ends (spoiler alert) somewhat bittersweet and tragic. But not all is lost when things don't quite as planned. For me, I had hoped to have my new book out in time for Christmas. But due to production issues, it looks like January now.

I could fuss and fret over the delay and many of you have been waiting patiently for its release as well. While the "best laid plans of mice and Joe" prevail currently, the book will come out. And like anything we do in life, our plans may not necessarily work out as we would have wished. but we have the opportunity to adjust, to move on and succeed in other ways.

Have a great weekend folks and stay inspired.

Christmas "Is" Perfect

"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet." -Author Unknown

You know it is going to happen next Monday when you wake up from a weekend of office Christmas parties. You will suddenly realize that you are not even close to being ready for Christmas Day. The pressure of knowing that family and friends will be arriving in just a few short days.

You might look at your bank budget and see that very little is left. One string of lights on the Christmas tree just went out and no cookies have been baked yet. The growing tension inside of you is starting to bubble to the surface.

When it seems that all of your Christmas bulbs are going to burn out, stop, relax and let it go. Christmas is not meant for us to make perfect. Christmas "is" perfect in all manners that we experience it.

All of that stress, anxiety, and depression are common during a holiday season. If nothing else, reassure yourself that these feelings are normal. So again, relax.

Some tips I collected from various health organizations that will help you deal with Christmas stress or any other kind of stress are;

- If there is still shopping to do, try to do all your shopping on one day. It focuses the mind. Shop via the Internet to avoid crowds, lines and parking problems.

- If you do go shopping, don't stop for coffee. Caffeine makes the body release cortisol, which is a stress hormone and leaves you feeling tense. Instead take a bottle of water with you.

- When you are in a line, breath in for four counts, hold it for 16 counts, then breath out for eight counts. This will boost levels of serotonin in your brain.

- Don't expect miracles. If you and certain family members bicker all year long, you can be sure there will be tension at Christmas gatherings. So avoid the known triggers. In example, if politics is a touchy subject in your family, don't talk about it. If someone brings up the topic, use distraction and quickly move on to something else to talk about.

- Use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or focusing on your breath to cope with anxiety or tension.

- Family members involved in after-lunch activities (such as football, Frisbee or something else on the back lawn) are less likely to get into arguments. Plan for something to do as a group after lunch if necessary.

- People under stress tend to 'self-medicate' with alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs. Try to remember that drugs can't solve problems or alleviate stress in the long term.

Above all, stay calm and carry on. It is the holiday season and it should be a happy time for you and those around you. Choose to be happy and cheerful in attitude. Remember that this is Christmas and it "is" perfect already.

Pay It Forward

"Don't try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough." -Arthur Freed

There was a movie released in the year 2000 that many of you will remember. It was called "Pay It Forward." In this tale, a young boy develops a simple plan to make the world better when a teacher gives an assignment to come up with a project for school. It was a great movie and if you have not seen it, you can get a copy of the movie
(Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment) at Amazon.

The idea of "paying it forward" didn't start with this movie of course. The concept has been around a very long time. If you are not familiar with it, the concept is to simply ask that a good deed be repaid by having it done (something good) to others instead. Even an insurance company began using the concept as a theme for their commercials back in 2006.

"Pay it forward" dates back to 317 BC in Athens, Greece. It was used as a primary part of a play called Dyskolos (translated as "The Grouch"). The play disappeared or was lost either in the archives of history or obscurity. It was rediscovered and described by Benjamin Franklin, in a letter dated April 25, 1784:

"I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money."

The famed Ohio State University football coach, Woody Hayes even spoke of the concept in nearly every speech he made. In the 1986 OSU Commencement speech, he speaks vividly about what it takes to "pay it forward" in life.

In whatever manner you want to view this, I see it as "feeding one" similar to that which Mother Theresa is quoted as saying. If you can not feed a hundred people, feed one and that person will do the same. It doesn't start with the huge and grandiose idea of saving the world in one fell swoop. It starts by saving the world, one-by-one.

Pay it forward in your life whenever a good deed is done for you. Pass it along to others and know that the goodness will come back around to you.

Stay inspired my friends.

Enjoyment of Life

"As this world was not intended to be a state of any great satisfaction or high enjoyment, so neither was it intended to be a mere scene of unhappiness and sorrow." -Joseph Butler

According to Thesaurus.com, the word enjoyment, as a noun, is defined as having "delight in something."

Part of Speech: noun
Definition: delight in something
Synonyms: amusement, delectation, diversion, enjoying, entertainment, fruition, fun, gladness, gratification, gusto, happiness, hedonism, indulgence, joy, loving, luxury, pleasure, recreation, rejoicing, relaxation, relish, satisfaction, savor, self-indulgence, sensuality, thrill, triumph, zest
Antonyms: displeasure, dissatisfaction, misery, sorrow, unhappiness, woe

To study the word even further from the thesaurus, there are nearly five times as many synonyms for the word enjoyment as there are antonyms. If that is the case, why do we give so much power and attention to the antonyms of enjoyment?

Do you really want to live your life full of displeasure and dissatisfaction? Is every day another one full of misery, sorrow, unhappiness and woe?

Make a change and choose to enjoy life. It may require drastic change in your life, but it will be good change. Make sure that the type of enjoyment you select is healthy, smart and impacts your life and those around you positively.

As I write this, we are in a full Christmas holiday mode and it should be enjoyed. Now is as good of a time as any to let go of the hurt and pain. Now is as good of a time to start enjoying your life. Now is the time to start loving your life.

Which is by no coincidence that I found the picture above. It caught my attention from a blog post by a person named Sarah Russell. She said that "Life is made to be enjoyed, even through the hardships. Take a moment to enjoy the all of the blessings that surround you and the opportunities that are waiting for you to really see them lurking there."

I can not say that there will never be any displeasure, dissatisfaction, misery, sorrow, unhappiness, or woe in your life. I can say that the opportunity for amusement, delectation, diversion, enjoying, entertainment, fruition, fun, gladness, gratification, gusto, happiness, hedonism, indulgence, joy, loving, luxury, pleasure, recreation, rejoicing, relaxation, relish, satisfaction, savor, self-indulgence, sensuality, thrill, triumph, and zest will be there for your enjoyment if you let it.

Love life and stay inspired my friends.

To Wear Armor

Victoria and Albert Museum - London, UK

"The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead!" -George S. Patton

Each of us face the worry or anxiety when preparing for big events. It could be that presentation at work, meeting the in-laws, steadying oneself for a job interview. We become nervous and the butterflies in our stomach begin to float about. All the while, we are preparing to do battle with our fears. Having the worry or anxiety doesn't help any.

But the preparation must go on. We must collect all of our fears and deal with them. One-by-one we slay them as we march towards the real fight in which we will succeed. Success though is only found if we defeat the fears first.

On a recent business trip to London, UK, I had an afternoon free of any meetings. It is during these times that I like to take the opportunity to take short visits to museums or other places of interest. Near to my hotel was the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington.

It is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, that displays a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It was named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria and was founded in 1852.

As I walked through, I came upon a collection of battle armor and weapons. While old and antiquated from my perspective, they were marvels of their time. These were the weapons that men took into battle. They were used to conquer fear and to fight oppression. In some cases they were used for the wrong purposes. But they were the tools used in those times.

I am not suggesting that you take up weapons to fight your fears. What I am suggesting is that we wage war daily against fears that bind us. The battle to overcome that which is keeping us from success must be dealt with. We have many different tools from which to draw from and use.

And there are plenty of resources out there you can use to figure out which tools will work for you. Some of the tips I have come across are;

1. Take time out. Step back, take a breath and relax.
2. What’s the worst that can happen? Don't make the fear larger then it really is.
3. Expose yourself to the fear. Confront it, see what it really is.
4. Welcome the worst. See number two.
5. Get real. Knowledge can have a crushing effect upon fear.
6. Don’t expect perfection. Nothing is perfect and neither is the fear.
7. Visualise. See number one.
8. Talk about it. Discuss the fear with others.
9. Go back to basics. A good sleep, good meal and a walk are often the best cures.
10. Reward yourself. When you slay one dragon, bask in the victory and treat yourself before moving onto the next fire-breathing fear.

Remember that the fear is inside of us, not some army that needs to be defeated. It is not some monster of epic proportion awaiting us on the other side of the door. No, fear is a menacing thing that resides inside of us.

Gird yourself for battle in order to defeat the fear inside of you. Become the victor over those fears and lay them wasted along the roadside. There will be success in the end.

Stay inspired my friends.

Love is Five

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13:13

According to Wikipedia, love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.

[1] In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels.

[2] Love may also be described as actions towards others (or oneself) based on compassion, or as actions towards others based on affection.

[3] In English, love refers to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from pleasure ("I loved that meal") to interpersonal attraction ("I love my partner").

[4] "Love" may refer specifically to the passionate desire and intimacy of romantic love, to the sexual love of eros, to the emotional closeness of familial love, or the platonic love that defines friendship, to the profound oneness or devotion of religious love.

So here we have a wide and divergent use and meaning of the word love. When you put this into the context of every day human life, the complexity can only grow. We search for it, we try to understand it, we try to capture what love is in our life.

In a new book set to come out soon, the complex nature of what love is gets explained in simple to understand terms. The book "Love Is" will explain to you what love is in four parts. It will help you find meaning to love in your life and how powerful love is in your life.

Love is ...

Love Is Four

"The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well." -Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Unconditional love is a term that means to love someone regardless of one's actions or beliefs. It is a concept comparable to true love, a term which is more frequently used to describe love between lovers. By contrast, unconditional love is frequently used to describe love between family members, comrades in arms and between others in highly committed relationships.

Unconditional love also begins with understanding God's love for us and loving ourselves. In understanding that kind of love, we allow the feeling to generate within us and then we can share it to everyone and everything around us. That which we send out, returns to us in greater measure.

Love is not something to hold only inside, hidden away and saved for a rainy day. Love is meant to be given unconditionally, which in turn makes room for more love to fill our lives. Love is ...

Love Is Three

“Of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them, with them, and so there is something more to the world again.” -William Saroyan

Loving someone and being loved brings happiness into our lives. In our life there are many different loves that we have. You have the love of your spouse or partner. There are your parents, your family and children, or your best friend.

We all want and need love, it is an essential part of the human race. With love, we help each other, cooperate with each other, and reaffirm each other. And when love brings a man and a woman together, inevitably that love will create a family.

Family is a basic building block of our society. It is a community of life and love, that is intended to protect each family member and to communicate love. It gives you your identity and background, and a sense of belonging.

Within the family you are able to share each members daily experiences, and give life meaning. It is where you celebrate birthdays, holidays, and those important days in our life. It provides us with an opportunity to grow in virtue, love, generosity, and patience. You also learn that forgiveness is a key piece to being in a family.

And what started all of this?

Why of course it all started with love. It is sustained with love. It remains forever with love. Love is ...

Love Is Two

Love

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." -Sophocles

I read a story recently about love explained in a way I never would have thought. The story goes that a woman asked a man if she was pretty, he said "No". She asked him if he wanted to be with her forever, he said "No". Then she asked him if he would cry if she walked away, he said "No". She had heard enough; she got up to leave.

As she walked away he grabbed her arm and told her to stay. He said "You're not pretty, you're beautiful. I don`t want to be with you forever, I need to be with you forever. And I wouldn't cry if you walked away, I would die."

Love is more than you can ask for. It is more beautiful than we can ever be. It lasts longer than we can exist in the natural. It dries any tears that we might shed. Love is everything in our lives.

Love Is One

"Love Is ..."

"If you've got love you've got life, if you can love you can live". -Kim Casali

A comic strip called Love Is has been around since 1970. I remember reading the panel every time I picked up a newspaper. New Zealand cartoonist Kim Casali created these from love notes that she drew for her future husband Roberto.

Kim was actually born Marilyn Judith Grove in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1941 and at the age of 19 travelled to Europe and the U.S. She worked in various jobs, including being a waitress in a London teashop, before moving in 1967 to Los Angeles, where she met Roberto Casali, an Italian computer engineer, at a party.

She created the "love notes" during her courtship with Roberto in Los Angeles. As Kim said to an interviewer "I began making little drawings for myself to express how I felt . . . It was a little bit like keeping a diary that described how my feelings had grown."

They were married in 1971 but unfortunately lost their jobs and were now living illegally in the U.S. They were trying to find jobs that would keep them "... one step ahead of the Immigration Department" here in the United States.

In 1972, they moved to Britain and had two sons, Stefano, now 24, and Dario, now 21. In 1975 Roberto was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later. However, a third son, Milo, was born through artificial insemination in 1977, nearly a year and a half after his father's death.

In 1975, Bill Asprey was chosen by Kim Casali and her husband Roberto to take on the writing and drawing of these daily panels. Even though Robert passed away in 1976 and Kim more recently in 1997, their love continues to be shared with readers around the world.

Love can be a very enduring part of our life. Love can be shared and inspire others beyond the natural part of our life. Love is ...

Get by Giving

"Don’t be overly concerned with what you are or are not “into.” Don’t dwell on whether or not you are “feeling” it. Push on and benefit anyway." -Jim Crumbley

Here it is, day five of our "week of giving" during the Christmas season. The idea of giving is sometimes interpreted as "giving only in terms of getting something in return." People will give only when they see a tangible return that will be received.

My thought is that you should give of your time, talent and monies even when you don't see a clear benefit. Many times the benefit is not felt until you actually advance with your giving. That is what selfless giving is, giving without expectation of anything in return.

What does happen is that benefit will happen to both parties involved. The person receiving the gift will gain whatever is given. The person giving (YOU) will find benefit in ways never thought of.

So you can give your money by donating to one of hundreds, even thousands of worth-while causes. You can give to the Quinn House, to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, Compassion International, the Salvation Army and maybe any local charity that exists in your community.

You can give of your time and talent to any one of these or many organizations. You can help cook a meal or deliver a meal. You can deliver gifts to children or visit retirees living alone in a home. You have a car and can offer rides to the doctor for those in need. You can volunteer at the hospital as a greeter, or collect monies for the Salvation Army ringing a bell.

Life has many opportunities for you to participate in or give to. The benefit to you should not be of concern to you. The benefit will come to you in ways you will least expect. So stop worrying about what you will "benefit" and just get on with "giving" to others. As the saying goes, "...tis the season." Everyday of the year it is the season of giving.

Stay inspired my friends.

Message of Kindness

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness." -Seneca

Day four of my week of giving during the Christmas season brings us to doing something simple but has a great impact. Today I am talking about spreading a little bit of encouragement and kindness, all from the quiet and easy keyboard on your computer.

The Childrens Hospital of Atlanta where more than 1200 children (1280 to be exact) will remain hospitalized through the holiday season. These are kids that have varying medical issues that prevent them from being home with their siblings and parents. While I am sure they will have visitors and presents to open, not being able to wake up Christmas morning and running downstairs to the tree would be missed by anyone under these conditions.

So what you can do is go to Childrens Hospital of Atlanta and write a message of encouragement and hope. Simply let these kids know that others know they are in a hopsital, unable to attend the Christmas program at school, attend Christmas Eve service, or sit around the Christmas Tree unwrapping presents. A message to offer hope and encouragement that there will be plenty of Christmas Days in their future.

Along with sending a message, watch the video and Verizon will donate $1 for every message sent up to 25,000 messages.

The monies will go to benefit programs in support of children at CHOA (Childrens Hospital of Atlanta). Then write your message and starting on December 15th, the hospital will be delivering your messages during the last two weeks of the year and sharing them with the patients over closed-circuit TVs throughout the hospital.

The idea of a few simple kind words will light up the face of a child with smiles and give them greater strength to overcome. It will brighten their Christmas just knowing that others are thinking of them. Remember each time you see your name on the television or in a newspaper, if even for the smallest of things, it was and is a big deal. Now think of a child in the hospital, battling for health, battling for a return to a normal childhood seeing their name on the television.

A simple act of kindness from a stranger can be powerful to them. A simple act of kindness given from you.

Stay inspired my friends.