The Greatest

"Your most precious, valued possessions and your greatest powers are invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You, and you alone, can give them. You will receive abundance for your giving." - W. Clement Stone

We are constantly trying to define the greatest thing ever in our lives.

Whether it be for promotion or debate, the discussion ends up being about the greatest of something in our lives.

There is the greatest singer ever; Aretha Franklin
There is the greatest song ever; Let It Be - Beatles
There is the greatest athlete ever; Muhammad Ali
There is the greatest beer; Trappist Westvleteren 12
There is the greatest year; 1960
There is the greatest professional wrestler; Rick Flair
There is the greatest movie; Casablanca
There is the greatest painter; Vincent Van Gogh
There is the greatest band; The Beatles
There is the greatest pet; Dog
There is the greatest ski resort; Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia
There is the greatest city; New York
There is the greatest beach; Hamoa Beach, Maui
There is the greatest looking woman; Sophia Loren
There is the greatest looking man; Cary Grant

We list anything and every which could be considered the greatest thing since sliced bread. The designation of 'the greatest' makes for fun and lively debate.

There are criteria people use to establish, judge and evaluate various  great things.  Chances are you disagree with most lists because labeling something the greatest can be very individualistic. Any person who makes a list of 'the greatest' should consider it an honor.

What we fail to see many times while we are labeling other things as 'the greatest', that each of us individually are pretty great.

We fail to give ourselves credit for our own greatness.

We busily go around labeling and making lists of the best and most wonderful things out there.  Again, we fail many times to believe in ourselves.

It is a bad habit we have to break.

You are good at what you believe in life.
You are good at what you act upon in life.
You are good at what you realize in life.

You have to believe in the greatness inside of you. 

Greatness is not reserved just for others. Greatness lives inside each of us. Greatness comes in tiny small ways as it does in huge grand ways. It exists for each of us if we will only start believing what we can each do.

Now here comes my faith statement.

When you start making a list of 'the greatest' things in life, put yourself at the top of the list. In my belief, I am created in God's image, so therefore would I not be the greatest thing God has created?

Do not get me wrong, I am not God. I am not greater than God. What I am doing is giving God the credit and thanks for creating me.

So start believing in yourself.

Watch as greatness comes into your life. Even if you don't share the same faith belief, just know that greatness begins inside.

Believe it.

And stay inspired my friends!

Leopards At Your Backdoor

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.” ― Og Mandino

There are days when we feel the entire weight of the world has just been placed upon our shoulders. Your boss or co-workers seem to be making your life miserable. There are people in cars, those other drivers, on the road purposely getting in your way, caring not to help you to get somewhere faster. Your friends don't seem to call any more, the house has another roof leak and everyone in your family are constantly arguing.

The reality of what life is offering you at this moment isn't very pleasing.

You begin to ask why you have it so bad and why all of these things are happening to you. You tell yourself, "I'm a good person, I smile at other people, I stay positive. If I'm doing all of these things, why is it happening just to me?"

Life is what is happening; as simple of an answer that I can give.

Circumstances occur everyday to to everyone in life. It may certainly feel like you are the only one with these issues, but lots of other people are going through the same thing. The reason it feels like only you is circumstance causes you to narrow your focus in life.

We narrow our focus on just those things that are associated with your life. A survival technique I suppose, but is a way for our brain to allow itself to cope with all that is going on. This narrow focus can be both good and bad.

Good in that it forces us to take account of what is happening around us. It takes away the distractions of other people and events so we can concentrate on solving the issues before us. Bad in that it disconnects us from other people, from those who can truly help us through those rough times.

To know that you are not alone.

The feeling of being alone when trying to overcome a problem can be demoralizing. But if we surround ourselves with family, friends and other people, words of encouragement are sure to follow. When you begin to hear the encouragement, advice and ideas, you begin to see life may not be nearly as bad as you think.

In a suburb of Mumbai, India, living can be stressful as well.

In a metropolitan area with the population soaring to 18 million people, you can imagine the kinds of issues faced in any big city. You might even think that living in the suburbs is quite nice. As with many of our suburbs in the US, the city of Mumbai has caught up with this suburb called Mulund which is northeast of Mumbai. Like any major metropolitan city most anywhere correct?

Yet most of us living in the suburbs do not have to contend with leopards.

This suburb of Mumbai borders the Borivli National Park. As one may see deer in our garden on an early morning, think of encountering a leopard sunning on your patio in the afternoon. A resident was mauled a few years ago.

You see, it is all a matter of perspective.

So you think you have things to worry about? Yes, I am sure you do. I would not want to say your issues are any less important. Problems, circumstance and those things we confront are very individual in nature. Each of us, no matter where we live have issues to deal with in our lives.

Just do not shut your self out from the rest of life.

There is so much help and support out there for you. It is difficult at best when you try to do things all on your own.

Seek the support you need.

Surround and connect yourself with others at all times. Those connections will help you get through the worst of times. those same connections will also be there to share with you the best of times.

Stay inspired my friends.

Dream a Little Dream

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - Les Brown

Do you remember a while back when that hidden jewel of talent became known to the whole world as Susan Boyle? She was an unassuming woman from Blackburn, Scotland who energized a popular British television show called Britain's Got Talent.

It was easy to see her appear on stage and rush to the judgement of a book by its cover. So many people, including the judges were skeptical and had pre-determined thoughts as she began her song on stage.

Susan dreamed of being a professional singer.

In her words, "She had not been given the opportunity until now." The dream was to be as good as Elaine Paige. It was a goal which reached beyond the limits others may have tried to place upon her.

The same kind of limits others try to place on your life.

But your story is not yet complete for the journey continues. Susan's story could be you. We each yearn inside to accomplish something big. We tell ourselves if only given the opportunity. We then fail to boldly take the challenge when opportunity arrives.

We each must take the bold step forward, through the door of possibility, where we must go in order to realize our dreams. No guarantee of success, but then again, no guarantee of failure exist beyond that door.

Boldly go for your dreams by embracing the journey and all that is possible.

And stay inspired my friends.

Courage And Heroism

While on vacation, a throwback to a popular article from 9/4/2012.

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

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

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

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

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


Each of us have some level of heroism and courage inside of us.

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

In those "moments" you realize it exists inside of you.

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

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

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

Be prepared to use your courage in a heroic act.

You never know when it will come to the surface.

And stay inspired my friends.