The year that was, the year that will be.

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What a year.  What a rapid year.  It hardly seems possible that 2014 is about to end, and 2015 is about to begin.  I'm trying not to be too cliche and write about what 2014 meant to me and what I desire for 2015.  I'm sure that I am not the only person on the planet who has had some ups and downs the previous year, and we always desire the best for the upcoming year. However,  if one is unable to desire better for the future, then it is doubtful that better will ever reach you, no matter where you are.

No I will not replay 2014, and I'm not even going to try to figure out what 2015 has in store for me.  What I desire for 2015 is to really dig deep and find the true me.  Who am I really, and what is it that needs to come about this next year?  I was reading last night and I read a passage that literally hit me between the eyes. I will paraphrase what was written, but let me tell you it was something, and it goes perfectly with the picture in today's blog.  First and foremost, it matters not what others may think of you, what you may think of others, what others do, or even what happens to other people.  If you are constantly jealous of other's success then you are focused on the wrong thing, and I can assure you that success will never find you.  I know that may seem a little abrupt, but trying times require strong measures.

What is important for 2015 is that get to the point where you know, with zero doubt, that this is your time and those things that need to happen will happen, as they need to happen.  If you are trying to manufacture what 2015 is going to look like, then you are in for a world of hurt.  That's not to say that you should sit around and wait for things to happen. What I am saying is that it's time to lay down your preconceived notions and simply allow the universe to place you where you need to be, meeting the people you need to meet, and doing those things that are going to allow you to know more about your destiny and ultimately walk in that destiny.

One of the things that hit me so hard in my reading the other night was a passage that came from the Ascended Master Saint Germaine.  Now what I am about to share is a step of faith on my part, but if I am going to be in the right place in the upcoming year then I need to take the place that has been designed for me, so here we go.  St. Germaine makes the statement that if someone is feeling critical of another, or out of harmony with someone, then it is best to correct this attitude immediately.  Truth be told if you are feeling anything but love for those around you, then you will have opted for the way of the world and not the serenity that comes with knowing who you truly are.  We are divine beings, and in this divinity there is no room for thinking more of ourselves then we should.

Do you really know who you are?  Do you understand what you are?  These may seem like simple questions, but I know there are people out there who cannot answer them.  Your focus for the upcoming year has to be discovering the "I am presence" in your life as St. Germaine talks about.  The "I am" presence is understanding your divine nature and all that comes along with knowing who and what you are.  Most people wait for others to tell them what they should feel, what they should do, and then wonder why things never seem to go as planned or desired.  The only way you are going to move forward in those things that you desire in your life is to fully understand your true nature, and the only way to understand your true nature is to forget what the world has said is normal and move forward in those things that God has laid out in front of you.

How many people do you think want a repeat of 2014?  The ones I've talked to can't wait to shut the door on 2014 with hope against hope that 2015 is a far cry better.  Problem is, these same people have been waiting each new year for the old year to go out, the new year to come in, and with hopes that this year is better.  It is a recurring theme, but nothing ever changes.  Well you have the opportunity of a lifetime to change what has always been the norm and now create your new normal.  This year you can begin by discovering the real you.  The real "I am" presence in your life, and with this new understanding open up doors that until now have been sealed tighter then a drum.

I am setting the intention for 2015.  My intention is to know Scott better then I have ever known him before.  My intention is to understand the awesome power that is embedded in our nature, our being, and walk in the knowledge of that power.  My intention is to live a life of love, not worrying about what is in it for me, but rather what I can extend to others.  A life controlled by love is a life that will alter the course of history.  A life controlled by love will change nations.  A life controlled by love will bring you to a place that was designed for you before you were born.

I am so happy to be stepping into 2015, not because 2014 was bad, but because I know that I will step through doors that were designed for me, and I will take my understanding of my destiny to the next level.  These are what I desire for you, and this is what I will be writing about throughout the upcoming year.  It is time to step out, and together we will come to understand our True Destiny.  Happy New Year, and let's really do it right this year.

Twas the night before Christmas, well almost.

It truly is that magical time of year when families and friends get together and forget about all the trials and setbacks of the previous year and simply enjoy the time they have with each other. I have often heard that it should be Christmas each day but you and I both know that in most cases that is not the case.  That being said I would like to tell you how I am feeling at the moment and I hope that this will bring you an element of Christmas Cheer on this almost "Twas the night before Christmas".

I had a dinner party at my residence last night and it was quite lovely. We had a wonderful meal, great wine, and exceptional conversation with those in attendance.  I had beautiful Christmas music on in the background and all I could think about what how almost perfect the evening was.  I say almost perfect because there is always something you would change in a dinner party, but due to time it never seems to get done.  I was happy with the outcome and I was confident that those in attendance had a memorable night.  I kept thinking to myself that this is the spirit of the season and yet we allow it to get ruined by all the expectations that we either place on ourselves or others place on us.  I was dropping off a gift bag to a very dear friend one day last week.  I make a point of never forgetting him and his family as they bring a smile to my face each time I see them.  I was touched by the fact that he was so touched, that I did not forget him and his family.  Bringing joy to another is what this season is all about and it's not measured in how much you spend on an item, but rather how much love is put into the gift of giving love this season.

My gift to you this season is my desire that you discover your True Destiny and that you take steps to walk in that destiny.  There are so many people out in the world today who have dreams of what they want their tomorrows to look like.  They have a passion for something and yet they have been unable to walk in that passion.  During this special time of year I encourage you to throw caution to the wind and pick up your passion and begin to see yourself fully immersed in it.

I wrote about peace the other day.  A peace that passes all understanding.  Until such time as you begin to discover and ultimately walk in your divine destiny, it is almost impossible to walk in the peace that passes all understanding.  Trust me, I have tried to fill my life with things that I thought would bring me peace, only to find out that what I really needed was something that I already had.  I have always had a destiny, what I lacked for so long was the recognition of that destiny and then a desire to walk in it.  People all around you will try to fill the voids in their life with everything you can imagine, and yet even when someone has everything, procession wise, they still lack the very thing that should mean most to them.

During this magical time of year why not spend a few moments and ask yourself what would truly make you happy.  Don't worry about what would make someone else happy, but you happy.  Family and friends will always need something, but until such time as you begin to walk in your destiny that something is just going to have to wait.  You can spend a lifetime helping others, doing for others, and at the end of the day you will have missed out on what is truly most important and that is allowing the world to see you doing what you were destined to do.

I've spend the better part of this last year writing this blog three, sometimes four, or even five days during the week.  There has not been a morning that I have not loved every minute of writing.  Certainly there have been days when the words took some coaxing to get out, but it was never a burden for me to write.  There were days when I might have to begin my day at five a.m. to ensure that I got the blog out, but it was never something I dreaded the night before.  When you are walking and operating in your destiny then work is never work, it is now a vocation, and that makes all the difference in the world.

Your destiny must begin with you and you must accept it for what it is.  You may not have all the answers right in this moment, but deep down within you, you know what it is you desire to do.  That buried desire will never leave, so my advice is to dig it back up, dust it off, and place it in the forefront of all other things.  This magical season should be a time to smile and realize that your best days are still ahead of you.  It is not time to be regretful of times past, but rather encouraged because of the time in front of you.  You will walk in your destiny.  It was written ions ago and there is very little that will stop you from being the person you were created to be.  Open yourself up to the possibilities around you and allow the spirit of this season to fill your heart with feelings of belonging to a huge, attached universe.  We are all one, and we all have a part to play in what happens.

I pass on to your my wishes for this special season and I send out words of affirmation so you will know the splendor of your being and the importance of you being here right now.  Share the love this season, and know that you have all you need to walk in your destiny.  I send you love, peace, joy, and happiness and ask you to extend it to others as well.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

I've written about peace on earth before, but yesterday I was listening to a Christmas Song and I knew that I needed to touch this topic again.  Maybe it was just as much for me as it was for anyone else, but I've learned to follow the leading of Spirit, so I guess you will just have to suffer through another blog that talks about our incredible abilities and why said abilities are so needed in the world today.

If this world is ever going to experience peace then it is going to have to start with us as individuals first, and from what I see lately there are quite a few out there who are void of peace, let alone able to bring peace to the rest of the planet.

When man was created it was never the Creator's intent to have man walk around void of peace.  As a matter of fact, peace, joy, and happiness was what we were to experience every minute of our life.  Regrettably man decided he wanted something else and henceforth we have had to contend with all manner of strife, sadness, and in many cases anguish.  That being said, just because it may have been that way in the past doesn't mean it has to stay that way in the future.  Peace is available to everyone, and everyone should desire to have a life guided by peace, occupied by peace, and overtaken by peace.

The question arises, how do you get there?  How can peace be the driving force in one's life and how can you share that peace with others in an attempt to have it populate the entire world?  The answer is quite simple but the implementation is what gets in the way from time to time.  You see, we have within ourself the ability to manifest almost anything we desire.  The first step is to understand this truth, and more importantly believe it.  The believing is what gets in the way more often than not, but believing is what has to happen.  I reaffirm that I am at peace many, many times throughout the day.  When faced with a lousy situation I have to remind myself that I am peace.  I have remind myself that I am joy, happiness, and that these are the characteristics that were always intended to be present in my life.  Before I fall asleep each night I state that I am peace, that I am joy, and that I am happiness. My words, that creative force that was placed in me the minute I was created, is what sets the stage for what I will experience the next day.  To many this may seem like some big act of futility.  Who am I to think that I can create my own existence and who am I to think that I can manifest peace in my life?  Truth is I have this ability and I choose to walk in it, believe in it, and experience it.  Face it, the alternative is nothing that I want in my life, nor should you.

In the song, which by the way is now one of my favorites, it says "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." It goes on to say that it is the "peace that was meant to be".  If we were intended to walk in peace, why are there so many people out there who are void of it?  You must choose to walk in peace, as the song says you need to make a solum vow, a daily choice to either accept peace in your life or be adrift without it.  What are you going to choose?

My wish for each of you this Christmas Season is that you discover the peace in your life and through this discovery you are able to share this peace with others around you.  If you can help one other person to walk in peace and they do the same thing, there will be an avalanche of peace that will sweep across this planet and some of the trouble many countries are going through at the moment will be a thing of the past.  Every single movement the world has ever seen has begun with the idea or desire of a single person.  If we can spread peace, after understanding it for ourselves first, then we can change the face of this planet.  If on the other hand you decide that peace is not for you, that you desire to continue on the path you are on right now, then peace will only be a "what could have been".

Every day we are bombarded with images and news from around the world of things that are anything but peace.  Many people have accepted this as the norm, and they feel powerless to change it.  You have the ability to change this, but you must first change it in your own life.  Can you imagine a world full of peace?  Can you imagine your own life that is full of peace?  If you are longing for peace, then might I suggest you begin by claiming what is yours.  You are peace, you are joy, and you are happiness.  I will tell you that the moment you are able to accept this for yourself, then the rest of the world will change before your very eyes.

It is time to let there be peace on earth and it is time to let it begin with you.  It is time to bring harmony to your life and in doing so begin to bring it to the rest of humanity.  The only reason this will not work is because you have chosen not to accept peace for yourself.  Do not throw away the one thing you were intended to have.  Peace is wonderful, it is necessary, and it is for you.  I encourage you to begin to stake claim to peace by staking claim to it for yourself first.  You are peace, you are joy, and you are happiness.  It is right in front of you now, all you need to do is pick it up.  I pray blessings over you and I long to see the peace that will overtake you if you allow it.

What a discovery!

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As a child we would dream of finding that elusive treasure map and then set out on a journey to uncover the buried treasure.  Mounds of jewels, gold coins, pearls and precious stones.  Certainly there would be obstacles in our way, but by god we were going to find this stuff, the stuff that dreams are made of.

As an adult we continue to hunt for the treasure map in the hopes of uncovering our own booty.  Problem is, our treasure map has always been there, we just haven't recognized it, nor have we followed it to the desired end.

Well that all stops today.  Today you will discover your own treasure and it will be grander than anything you could have imagined. Today you will uncover truths, that up until now have been hidden away.  The journey to your treasure trove is about to begin, so get prepared to discover things that have been buried for years and years.

Funny thing about treasure maps:  they show you all the traps, all the dangers, but they don't really tell you how to avoid them, or how to get by them.  Maybe that's why so many people just give up and never discover the treasure that awaits them.  Well today you get the opportunity to learn how to avoid all the traps and dangers, and together we will uncover what is ours, what has always been ours, and what will always be ours.

OK, first things first:  what is it that you desire right now?  What is the one thing you would give almost anything to have?  There are some who would say they want riches.  Others desire all the comforts that unlimited money would provide them.  To others they simply want a life that is free from stress, free from conflict, and have the freedom to pursue those things that truly mean everything to them.  If you are unable to describe the things you desire then even having the map to your treasure isn't going to help you obtain those things you truly want.  I've known so many people who are unable to voice their desires simply because they have been conditioned to believe that they don't deserve to have them.  If there is a desire to have something, then there is a reason you have this desire.  If you have a desire then I suggest you go after it and don't stop until you get it.

When I set out to write my first book I wanted to produce a work that would help others discover their purpose in life.  My treasure was helping others unlock their treasure.  Let me say this, if you do not know that you are deserving of having the desires of your heart, then there's not a map in the world that will be detailed enough to get you to your treasure.  Having a knowledge, a belief,  that you deserve the best in life is the first step in obtaining those things.  Did you hear that?  If you are constantly being buffeted by thoughts of not being good enough, not being deserving, then I could take you by the hand, unlock the treasure chest and hand you it's contents, and you still would be unable to accept the riches that are yours.

We have let society dictate what we can have, who we are, and what we can do, and that has done nothing to benefit us.  You are not here on this planet simply to take up space.  You have a calling and walking in that calling is what will unlock your treasure.  Do you feel that you are deserving of having the desires of your heart?  Have you let others rob you of the blessing of knowing you are just as you need to be?  Have you bought into the misnomer that somehow only select people in this world will get what they want and the others will just be trying to pick up the scraps that are left behind?  Let me let you in on a little secret:  you are good enough, and what others may say or think means nothing.  Until such time as you can recognize your own divinity, until you understand that there is nothing you have to do to obtain the blessings of life, until you accept that you are good enough, no map in the world will be any good.

Discovering your perfection is what will unlock your treasure box.  Accepting your perfection is what will uncover vast riches.  There was a time when I felt lower than low.  I knew that I would never have the things I wanted in life.  I could have pushed and prodded my way through life and I still would have been left holding an empty bag.  This is what I had started to believe, and when you believe that you won't have anything I can assure you that you will succeed in that endeavor.  I had to come to an understanding, I had to discover who I was, what I was, and why I was here.  It is time to throw any notion out the window that you are somehow not worthy of the riches of life.  It is time to stop believing what others have said and believe in those things that bring you peace, happiness, and joy.  When you feel peace, happiness, and joy, then you will have it.  When you allow yourself to hold on to the images that man says is normal, then you relegate yourself to those things that man says you can have, and only those things that man says you can have. I for one am not eager to pick up the ideas and thoughts of man because quite frankly they have done nothing for me thus far and will not do anything for me in the future.

It is time to discover your greatness, your beauty, and your uniqueness.  It is time to take your treasure map and finally locate that treasure that has been inside of you all the time.  All you need to do now is unlock who you really are and begin to walk in those things that have always been there for you to walk in.  You can do this, and they is nothing that can stop you now.

What if? Say what?

What if instead of having curing hair, your hair was straight?  So what if everyone else is jumping off the cliff, does that mean you have to?  You don't say; well I guess that makes it so then, doesn't it? It seems to me that we as humans like to play this game way to often.  How many times have you asked yourself the "What If" question?  How many times have you stopped to question something you just heard, not because you didn't know what was being said, but rather you were simply amazed that it was being said in the first place?

Each of these statements seem to puts us in a position of confrontation.  Now not confrontation in the form of fighting or lashing out, but rather conflict within us.  When you ask the what if question you are focusing on the past and not on what lies ahead of you.  We have all asked the what if question in our life, but has asking the question every changed anything that has already happened?  Of course not, so why waste the energy in the first place?  I could sit here and ask a million questions about things in my life.  Why was I a twin?  What could have been had I done this, or done that?

We are approaching that time of year when people begin to ask themselves questions about the previous year.  They look at what they wanted to accomplish during the year and many are taking an inventory of what did or didn't happen.  What would have happened if one zigged when they should have zagged?  "If only I had done it this way." "So what if it didn't work out, I didn't want it anyway."  You could come up with a ton of stuff that fits into each category, but the question I have for you this morning is this:  What does it matter?  I mean really, in the total scheme of things does any of this questioning or wonder do anything to add a single second to your life?

When one focuses on the "What ifs" you have taken your focus off what is most important and placed in on something that can do nothing for you.  Certainly we can learn from past experiences, both good and bad.  What we can't do is turn back the hands of time and change the outcome.  Now there will be those who will say that asking the what if question is a good thing.  It has helped people make needed changes in their life, all brought on by the lessons that have been learned through experiences.    I agree, we can learn and we can ask, but what I am talking about is the fixation that some people have.  They are frozen because they can't understand why something happened, when they were expecting just the opposite.  Always asking the what if question is a sure sign that one is not content with their place in life at the moment.  I've asked what if so many times in my life and I've spent hours on top of hours, days on top of days, and even years trying to figure things out.  Not one moment spent asking the what ifs has really changed anything.

There are times when you can ask "What if?" For instance, if you are trying to change something in an experiment, you might ask yourself what if we change this amount to...or what if we do this instead?  What I want to caution you about is the second guessing that so many people do in their lives, these are the "what ifs" that are a waste of time.  If you are always second guessing yourself then you are not focused on the right things.  Second guessing is nothing more then doubting.  Second guessing is nothing more than saying that the Universe is wrong and your divine walk is nothing but folly.

What if and $2.95 will get you a cup of coffee.  Don't allow this to be the dominant force in your life. I know I have made mistakes in my life, everyone has, but I also know that I am exactly where I need to be right now, doing the things that I am doing right now. Second guessing and always wondering "what if" will never get you to that place where serenity rules your life.  Second guessing and wondering what if, will never change what has always been your destiny.  Destiny is never a "What If".  Destiny is accepting the things that take place and realizing that they are happening for a reason. What would my life be like right now had I never written my first book? What would my life be like right now had I never taken that first step?  I could ask those questions all day long and still I would be where I am at in this very moment.  Stop second guessing and start accepting.  Accept that things are as they need to be. Accept that there are no coincidences in life and things happen for a very specific reason.  We might now have all the answers that we would like when we want them, but what you have is a knowing that things are as they need to be.

It is time to remove the "what ifs" and instead accept the "this is how it is".  This is how it is, because this is how it needs to be.  Find the joy in being where you are right now.  In joy you will find peace, and in peace you will find truth.  The truth that says you have a destiny and you will walk in that destiny.  It may take faith, it may require patience, but it will come to you, and when it does you will never have to wonder "what if".

It's almost like a song.

Life is like a song.  There's the beginning, the middle, and an the end.  Many people experience life in different ways, but no matter how you look at it, life is truly a song from the heart, a series of choruses, each signifying phases to learn.

I was woken up early this morning, around three a.m. and all I could do was lay there and think about the different times of my life.  I have had times when the music was serene and other times when it was tumultuous.  I love the serene times, times when life seems to move along effortlessly. With each note played I began to understand what the song was saying and why it was playing for me.  Far too often we neglect to sit back and just listen.  Listening to what is playing out from our heart is something we need to do, and we need to do it every day of our life.

What song is playing in your life right now?  Are you hearing the serene or the tumultuous?  No matter the beat, no matter the syncopation, we need to listen and learn.  When I sit down to write I always have music on in the background.  The music, the notes, they seem to lighten the moment, and this lighter moment is what allows me to zero in on my message.  I encourage you to take the time to listen to the music that is playing in your life and determine what it is saying to you.  We often fail to take the time to listen to the messages that are there for us, because we get so wrapped up in all the activities of the day.  Taking the time to just sit and listen to what is being played can and will change things in our life.

I have always wanted music to be a big part of my life.  I can get lost in a beautiful piece of music.  Music that sends me off to a different place.  A place where dreams come true, a place where everything is possible, and a place where I am who I am.  This place is yours as well if you will just listen to the music of your heart.  They say that music can tame the savage beast.  There are beast all around us; beast that come from all directions.  If you are able to calm them, then you are able to walk through life victorious in all things.

What is the song in your heart?  Can you hear it?  Can you sing it softly?  There is music inside all of us.  Will you allow yourself the opportunity to bring it forth.  It may only be for you and it may be for others as well.  The first step is knowing it is in you and then allow it to come forth.  When you are facing dire situations it is difficult to hear the music, but I assure you that it is there.  When you are up to your chin in fear, doubt, and uncertainty, then this is the moment that music, your music, should be the first thing that crosses your mind.

Each of us has a symphony to compose.   Each of us has a sonnet that needs to be written.  You don't have to be able to read musical notes to write your symphony.  You might not be able to carry a tune in a bucket, but your ability to write and hear your music is just as real, just a true, and just a beautiful a thing as someone who has played for years and years.  Yes there is music in each of us, and with each note, with each song, we get closer and closer to our destiny.

When was the last time you just sat quiet and heard the notes of your song of peace, your song of beauty, and your song of life?  Have you ever spent time just listening to the orchestra in nature?  The notes all around you that play day in and day out, are there to bring you to a place of certainty.  These beautiful arrangements are there to lift you up to your rightful place in the universe.  If you haven't taken the time to listen, then I suggest you put everything on hold for just a few minutes and just sit back and listen.  You will hear music.  You will hear freedom, joy, peace, and happiness.  If you are not feeling peace and joy in your life right now then I can bet you dimes to donuts that you are not hearing the music that is inside of you.  If you are not hearing the music that is inside of you then you are never going to get to your destiny.

Why is destiny so important?  Because if you fail to walk in your destiny then you have missed the reason for you being here. If you fail to walk in your destiny then you have allowed the music inside of you to become void of meaning.  You must feel the music in you.  You must allow your song to come forth.  Wayne Dyer is famous for saying that you never want to leave this life with your music still inside of you.  Your music is supposed to come forth, and never is it to just remain motionless in you.

There is a symphony inside of you.  It is the music of your heart, which is the music of your life.  Do you hear it?  Can you feel it?  Your music is beautiful and your life is like a song.  It is time to let the notes of you song to fill the room you are in.  It is time to let the notes of your song to carry you to the place you are supposed be.   Listen to the music and be one with it.  When you begin to hear each note, then you will begin to experience life the way life was intended to be experienced.  I know the beauty of my music and I desire you to know the beauty of yours.

Let's think about, and take a look at responsibility.

I have put off writing this blog for a few weeks simply because of all the things going on in this country that have set off riots and protest.  I am not here to talk about what took place in Ferguson or New York.  I was not present when any of these events took place, nor was I a member of the Grand Jury, and in the absence of having all the information, I will refrain from commenting.  That being said, I will say something about taking personal responsibility for our actions, or in some cases inaction.

When I speak of taking responsibility for actions I am talking about my own.  I cannot control what others do or say.  I can't control what people think.  All I can do is control what comes out of my mouth, what actions I take, and what I do from day to day.

I will admit that it's tough not saying anything about the situations in this country, but people spouting off just because they want to blow off some steam is never going to change anything.  The changes we need, need to come from parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, those who can have a positive effect on youngsters.

How many times have you seen someone mess something up and immediately they look for someone else to blame for what they just did.  How many times have you seen someone mess something up and instead of accepting responsibility, all they do is try to justify what happened.  We live in an imperfect world and because of that things will happen that are not perfect.  I don't expect perfection, and if I can't expect perfection in me how can I demand it from others.  I know I will make mistakes, simply because I am human.  If one knows that mistakes will come then why is it so hard to accept responsibility when those mistakes take place.  I've never met anyone who hasn't messed up from time to time.  I have however met people who never want to admit to their mistakes or take responsibility for their actions.

Until such time as we take personal responsibility for all that we do, all that we say, we are going to live in a screwed up society.  The mistakes I have made, I made.  I can't blame someone else.  Certainly there have been times when these mistakes were brought on by actions by others, but at the end of the day I still did what I did.  If we want to accept the good things we do, then we have to equally accept the botched things we do.  It's that simple ladies and gentlemen.

I'm not trying to make some social commentary today.  What I am attempting to do is get you to realize that what you are living with right now is because of what you have either said or thought, or done in the past.  We in fact do create our own universe.  If I am dealing with issues it is because I have put myself in the situation to deal with the issues.  I also know, as I have said hundreds of times in the past, that everything we go through we go through to teach us something.

Personal responsibility is a starting point.  If we can accept all the good, the bad, the indifference in life, then we can begin to take responsibility for what takes place in our life.  If we can take responsibility for what takes place in our life, then we can live a life without regret.  I know that if I have done my best at anything I put my hand to, then I can live without regret.  If I know that I haven't done my best, or I have tried to blame others for my shortcomings, then I will only know regret.  I choose to leave regret at the curb and live my life the way that life was always intended to be lived.

I have long lived with the thought that people can say anything they want to me, do anything they want to do to me.  I can't control their actions so if yelling is what you're into, then by all means yell. If blaming others for your mistakes is what you do, then I guess you will continue to blame others.  You can say or do anything to me but what you can't do is take away my birthday.  What I mean by that is you can't stop me from being me.  You can't take away my desires, you can't change my destiny.  There is nothing that goes on in my life that is not preordained.  I might not like everything but it is in my life for a purpose.  So knock me down if you must.  Tell me know if that is your thing. Ultimately it will not change the outcome of my life.  I have decided that it is my responsibility to walk in my destiny and walk in my destiny is what I have opted to do.  I can't blame others for walking away from things that should have been in my life but I wouldn't allow them.  I can't blame others for missing the mark or coming up a little short.  I take responsibility for all things in my life, and because of that I am free to make mistakes.  As free as I am to make and accept mistakes, I am equally free to do the right thing, in the right moment, in the right way.

My life is my responsibility, no one else's.  It is time we take responsibility back.  If we can do this as a society then and only then will things change for the better.  No more finger pointing.  No more blaming others.  No more running from what is right and only following the crowd because you have been caught up in the hype.  Take responsibility for yourself and let others take responsibility for themselves.  If you want the world to change then do your part. Only you can decide to do this.

Have I told you lately how incredible you are?

It's always nice to be recognized. It's always nice to be appreciated.  It's always nice to know that you have done something remarkable and that others are also aware of your great feats.  The question I have for you this morning is this:  how are you feeling about yourself when all the words of praise or the accolades are no longer coming from others?  What happens when all the recognition is gone, there is no appreciation and others have stopped talking about you?  How are you feeling about yourself in this moment?

I am here to tell you that without regard to what others may say or think about you, you are in fact an incredible person, and you need to know this like you know the back of your hand.  There may come a time when you are no longer going to be the top dog, the one who comes in first place, or the one who fills the stands with screaming, adoring fans.  It is in that moment when all the banter stops, when all the hoopla goes away, that you will be faced with your real identity.  What I want you to see today is that your identity needs to be one of incredible and remarkable things, because you are indeed incredible and remarkable.

The title to today's blog, "Have I told you lately how incredible you are?" is not me saying it to you, but you saying it to you.  How often do you remind yourself how incredible you are.  Some have an issue with this as though what they are saying or thinking is somehow conceit.  Is it conceit to recognize something good?  Is it conceit to appreciate something of value and worth?  Is it conceit to accept truth?  We have allowed man to tell us that we ought naught think more highly of ourselves, for to some we might appear arrogant or cocky.  I can assure you that anyone that would label you as arrogant or cocky because you know who you truly are, are the same people who haven't a clue as to their true identity or how incredible they are.  I get up each morning thankful that I am here right now, and that I am who I am.  I know the gifts inside of me.  I know the road I am on and the lives I will touch.  I know that I am right where I need to be, doing what I need to be doing.  I know that I am unique and in that uniqueness I am totally awesome.  I love that I can say these things and still be able to get my head through the door.  I don't say these things out of some sort of pride or ego trip.  I say these things because that is what I have come to know, that is what I chose to focus on.

Let me ask you a question:  if you have done something that you consider great and no one is around to see it, or recognize the greatness, do you still feel as though you have accomplished something great?  It's OK if you feel this way, I certainly have in the past.  We often work hard, put in extra time, and certainly it would be nice to be appreciated for our efforts.  But, were you doing it for the reward, or were you doing it because it was the right thing to do?  Once again, no worries if you were doing it for the rewards, but can there ever be enough words of praise from others?  I mean there will come a time when the praise stops, when the cheers are no longer heard, what will you do then?

You must accept the fact that you, in and of itself, are incredible.  If you never accomplish anything in your life, you are still incredible.  If you simply go thought life and never do anything remarkable or even note worthy, you are still incredible.  If all you do is take up space on the planet for an unknown amount of years, you are still incredible.  I know that so many people will not be able to accept this.  They have based their entire life on what the world says is success.  The biggest house, the fanciest car, the most money.  If you have been recognized with awards, if you have had buildings or streets named after you, then you have been successful.  If you follow this thought what does that say to the little gray haired grandmother who wants nothing more then to display love in all she does and to all she comes in contact with?  Is she not successful?

Trust me the day will come when you will have to make a decision.  The day will come when you will be forced to look at yourself and without exception have to answer: Are you incredible or are you just plain lucky? I know who and what I am.  I don't need accolades or streets named after me. All I need is to remind myself daily that I am divine, that I am a creation that was brought here because of love, and that there is nothing in this world that will separate me from the love that created me.

You might find yourself in situations that are contrary to what you know, situations that are less then stellar.  These situations do not and should not dictate how you see yourself.  It is time that you really hold fast to these words of encouragement: you are incredible and its not because of what you do, but rather what you are.  So today I choose to tell myself how incredible I am.  I choose to believe how incredible I am, and I will allow others to see how incredible I am.  If you can say this as well, and live it also, then you will be one who can help others achieve it as well.  I am so thankful that you know now who and what you are, because there are tons of people out there who need to know the same thing.   Go and tell your story, and help them tell theirs.  You are incredible and it's time for others to recognize this as well.

Hallmarks; What to look for and when to know.

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Hallmarks, they are around and they do make a mark on our life.  The key to hallmarks is to understand their significance and to learn from them.

If you had to acknowledge or pinpoint a singular moment in your life that may have changed your path or course, could you?  If you had to describe something that truly turned your life around, could you?  If you had the opportunity to go back and correct or alter the past, would you?

I have said so many times before that I would not go back and change anything in my life as they have all been experiences that I have learned from and to a large degree have benefited from whether I wanted to admit it or not.  I have also looked back at my life and known those times when certain events, hallmarks if you like, have altered the path or course I was headed down, and that was a good thing.

Hallmarks are not always these grand gestures, often they are quite small and to many insignificant.  They are however life altering, and life altering is sometimes just what the doctor ordered.  I was so entrenched in what I thought my life was going to be like, that I never gave it a chance to take on the dynamic that it was always intended to take on.  It took me hitting rock bottom, and I do mean rock bottom, before I was able to let go of trying to control my life and let things happen the way they needed to happen.

Since this is the Christmas season I have been watching all the movies on the Hallmark Channel.  I've seen most of them a dozen times, but there are a few that I could watch time and time again.  I was watching one yesterday and I started thinking about the benchmarks in my life, the hallmarks.  I was trying to determine the real impact they had on me.  As I was watching a certain movie I was brought back to a period in my life where I too had to make a decision.  Was I going to move forward in the things I knew I wanted and quite frankly needed, or was I going to let the rest of the world dictate my actions?  As a sidebar, I love these movies, because in the end they all lived happily ever after.  Too many times in our days we have forgotten that we too can live happily ever after.  Each benchmark or hallmark in our life is there to get you to the point where you are supposed to be.  No one ever said they would be without a little pain and suffering, but most of the time the pain and suffering is our own creation and certainly not Gods.

So let me ask you again:  if you had to pinpoint one hallmark in your life, what would it be?  To some it was finding the love of their life.  Knowing that this person would be at their side, through thick and thin, through good and bad, and together they would build or at least ride along in the life that was intended for them.  There is no right or wrong hallmark.  Each of us will experience different ones, and each of us will be affected by them in different ways.  The key is to accept them, know that they will be present in your life, and that your life will change when you are able to grab hold of them and never let go.

When I began my journey into True Destiny I didn't have all the answers.  I was flying blind and quite frankly had no idea were I was going, let alone where I was supposed to go.  What I did know is that this was my destiny and all I had to do was to be open to what came to me and take from each experience what I was intended to learn.  One of the biggest things I had to learn in this journey was who and what I was.  I was reminded the other day by a friend, and the comment did sting a bit, but it reminded me that I always have to watch my words.  Words are powerful and whether you realize it or not the words you speak are what you will be living in the future.

Each hallmark in our life is there to get you to a place where you can experience the next hallmark, and then the next, and so on and so on.  Each experience will build upon previous experiences.  I can look back on certain things in my life and see the significance of each event.  There were times when what I went through was not pleasant, but it was necessary.  Hallmarks are truly the Gold Crown of our life.  They have meaning, they have power, and they have a way of getting us to the right place at the right time.

Take a moment and think about those events in your life that have truly changed you.  You may not have seen the change when it was happening, but you can certainly see it now.  Be thankful for change, be thankful for growth, and be thankful that your life will continue to be filled with different hallmarks, because it's never to late to grow.

Say What? Are you an idiot?

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"Are you an Idiot?" has to be one of my favorite sayings. Now I don't say it to be mean, but rather to shed some light on situations that should be pretty clear to most people, but for some unknown reason they are not.  I will say that I have not been immune from idiotic actions in my life.  I have had more than my fair share of "are you an idiot" moments and I am confident that I will have more in the future.  What I have learned to do is laugh at myself when I find myself in one of these situations and just roll with the punches.

How was I an idiot?  Well as Elizabeth Barrett Browning  would say, "let me count the ways."  I was an idiot because I had allowed the conditioning of man to dictate my actions for far too long.  I was an idiot because I had not followed my heart, when I knew my heart was incapable of lying or leading me astray.  I was an idiot because I had forgotten that I am divine and in that divinity I can do all things.  I was an idiot because I had never believed what was right in front of me all the time, the ability to walk in my destiny and do what I was created to do.

I am not alone in my idiocy.  There are countless people out there who have made the same mistakes that I made, and there are others who just haven't figured out yet that what they are trying to do is not what they are supposed to be doing.  No matter how you look at it, wasting time on things that are not in your best interest is foolishness gone to seed.  When I started this blog yesterday I was heading in a completely different direction.  I tried to write it for the better part of the day and after many hours of just sitting back and staring at my screen I decided to wait until today.  You see I had trapped myself into believing that if I did not publish my blog on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday that somehow the world would come to an end and civilization as we know it would somehow come to a complete stop.  Now I am adding a certain amount of dramatic license with that statement, but my point is that I had not given myself the right to do what I wanted.  You see, if what you are doing is not what you want, then why are you doing it?  If what you desire is not what you are doing right now, then is continuing on the way to go?  No matter how you look at it, the time has come for us to really look at things and make the determination that I will no longer be tied to expectancy, but rather follow my heart.

Many years ago I stepped out onto a stage to give a speech.  It was a turning point in my life.  Up until that time I never allowed myself to believe that I could have what I desired in my heart.  I still remember that speech and I still can feel what it was like to see the audience just sit there mesmerized   in their seats.  Many years have passed since that day, but the feeling is still there and I still know that it was the beginning of something very big and very special.  Each of you have had these moments and these events in your life, but have yet to connect the dots.  Everything we do, everything we experience, happens for a reason.  It may take years to put two and two together, but it will happen and then the answers you have been waiting for will show up in what has been referred to as "uncommon times".

So admit it, you've been an idiot just like me.  You have missed things from time to time, and you have screwed things up bad.  You are in pretty good company when it comes to screwing things up. What separates you from the others is that you have decided not to let failure define you.  You have decided not to let failure stop you.  You have decided to laugh at your idiotic ways and just accept the fact that it will happen time and time again.

I know I will make mistakes in the future.  I know that I will continue to be an idiot from time to time.  I also know that I will learn from those idiotic mistakes and that everything is happening as it is supposed to happen. When you can take the guess work out of things, then you can take away any fear or anxiety that might try to come in and wreak havoc with you.  Taking the guess work out means don't worry.  Taking the guess work out means you accept that you are divinely appointed to be here right now, and that what is happening is divinely inspired.

So accept your "idiot" and wear it proudly.  If it were not for mistakes and screw ups, how would we learn.  If we did not learn, we would not move forward, and if we do not move forward then we are stuck in crappy situations, and who wants that?  So if you ever hear me ask you, "Are you an idiot?", you proudly reply "Well yes I am".  I like to be around those who can admit their mistakes.  I like to be around those who can admit that they don't have all the answers.  I love being around people who know that they are here for a reason and even though things may not be perfect they are as they have to be.  I have been an idiot, will continue to be an idiot from time to time, and can accept that.  We may not be perfect in our actions, but we are perfect in our design. Once you can believe that then the idiot stuff will happen less and less, but until such time as that happens, consider yourself in good company.

I'm original, I'm authentic, so get over it.

It is the first of December.  It is four in the morning.  Having taken the last week off from writing, I was unsure what today's topic would be, but at two this morning I was wide awake, and all I could think about what authenticity, and what it meant to be an original me.

It was a weird night for sleep last night.  In fact, I'm not sure how much sleep I actually got.  It felt as though I was having an out of body experience.  Now in case you think I have gone off the deep end just relax.  What I was experiencing was a certain amount of anxiety, and why I don't know.  I kept thinking about all the things that I want to accomplish, all the things I feel lead to do, and all the things that the world needs me to bring forth.  I would ask myself why me?  Was I having delusions of grandeur?  I see all the others who have a message for the world and they appear to be doing well with it, so why should I think I can add anything to the mix?  It didn't take very long before I got hit beside the head and was forced to see things the way that God sees things.  I am what I am, and I am here right now because that is how God wanted it.  There is no need to worry about the timing of things, no need to worry about the others around me, and by no means should I worry about what I am doing.

This is the time of year when many people go into a slight depression.  The holidays are supposed to be a time of year where everyone gets along, where happiness overtakes fear, and where we administer peace on earth goodwill toward men.  That is what the holidays are supposed to be, but we all know that many people are unable to feel this way.  We have let the world dictate our feelings.  If we are unable to buy this or that, then we get depressed.  If we are unable to travel here or there, then we get depressed.  If we can't experience the joy of the season that is depicted in so many movies, then we get depressed.  Trust me, I have had my share of holiday depression, and it sucks.  I'm not sure that what I was feeling this morning at two a.m. was depression, but more like a warning.  I knew it was time to get up, write about being my authentic self, in the hopes that you begin to walk in your authentic, original selves as well.  Until such time as you can see your uniqueness, walk in that uniqueness, and accept your uniqueness, then I'm afraid to say that you will have to contend with issues of depression, fear, and a huge lack of holiday cheer.

Knowing who you are and accepting that your being here is not a mistake is the first step.  Once you can accept that you are not a mistake, that the world has not run past you and left you holding the bag, and that there is a purpose for your life, then you can begin to understand your originality and authenticity.  When we are forced to be something we are not, then it is impossible for anyone to see who they really are.  When we are expected to act a certain way then it is impossible for anyone to see who they really are.  When we allow others to define us, then it is impossible for you or anyone else for that matter to know who they really are.  We are original and authentic for a reason.  We are exactly who we were intended to be, so that we can do those things that were intended for us to do.  I was not put here to accomplish those things that was intended for the person down the street.  I was not sent here to be something I am not, and neither were you.  Authenticity and originality is what defines you, not what others say or think about you.

I long for a time when originality and authenticity are not things that are laughed at, but rather, they are things that people grab for, hope for, and ultimately walk in.  It's easy to be something you are not.  What is difficult is being who you are meant to be, even when that something is different, or not the Status Quo.  When you are not your authentic self, then you will always be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.  There will always be something that is just a little bit off.  There will always be something just a little outside of your grasp.  Trying to gain those things that do not serve you, is like trying to reach for that gold ring, and knowing that once you grab it, it wasn't what you were looking for in the first place.  Authenticity and originality is what should define you.  Being the person who is not afraid to step out and be recognized for their own uniqueness.

If you can gain an appreciation for who you are, for what you are, and why you are here, then all the things you hope for will come to pass.  It is time to accept the authenticity of you.  It is time to boldly step out in your originality, and it is time to cast worry and fear aside.  When you are free to be yourself then you have gained the freedom to do what ever your heart desires.