Which Decision

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay inspired my friends.

You Say Its Your Birthday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Additional facts about this highly celebrated day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay inspired my friends!

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

Super Heroes

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

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

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

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

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

So which kind of super hero are you?

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

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

You are a super hero.

Stay inspired my friends.

Live Life

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives." -William Wallace

During your life there will come those times when you think of your longevity. All of us wonder about mortality, that final breath of a life. It is the one 'sure' thing in our life. So why would I bring up death when the point of all I write is supposed to be positive.

One reason is that I am a realist about the shortness of life. It doesn't sadden me for I have belief in a higher power, a God that will endure. Some have disagreed with me, but it is my belief and it helps to sustain me.

Yet a more powerful reason I bring up the subject is due to the fact that I can. I am alive and have the physical and mental ability to think and consider things. It also reminds me that I must enjoy as much of the good and to provide as much good while I can.

Your own life is one that you must fill the best way you can. There will be the frustrations and drudgery of things on many of your days. But why dwell on the insignificant, fret about the inconveniences or allow yourself too much sadness? By trying to hold onto the pain shortens the time that can be filled with better things.

We both know that pain does exist, but we need to try and live as much of our lives in the goodness it has. Take time to see the great things that exist around you. Experience the wonders that life has to offer us. The bad will be there, but find something positive that can be taken from it.

Then turn it around and leave those moments better for you having been there.

Life is tough enough as we go on about our daily lives. Make those moments you create, those places you touch, your life, better then when you first came along.

Stay inspired my friends.