Let it all hang out: why I believe the way I believe Part I

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I was watching the news the other day, something that tends to send my blood pressure up a few notches, so I try to limit myself to just a very tiny bit each day.  I was watching some coverage on the recently passed law in Arizona which was enacted to protect one's religious rights.  Needless to say I, like many other citizens, find this legislation mind numbing to say the least, and in my estimation borders on absolute intolerance and lunacy.

However, just in case you may get the idea that today's blog is going to be about this law, let me let you in on a little secret, it will not be.  What this law did was get me thinking, and you have to know that when I get thinking about stuff, then I am forced to share it with you and others, and since this is my chosen platform in which to share my thoughts and beliefs, you get to see it before anyone else.

First and foremost I am not religious in the slightest.  As a matter of fact I despise organized religion more than you could imagine.  I think the modern day church has done more to harm then you could ever imagine.  Don't get me wrong, I think there is some good that can and does come from churches.  That being said I think there is an awful lot of garbage that comes out as well.  They are so great at telling what you cannot do, and never quite get around to telling you why you are here.  I dare say that they have so gotten away from knowing the true nature of God, that if Spirit ever came down to sit with them they would not recognize nor be able to have an intelligent conversation with the Creator of the Universe.  I am however a deeply spiritual person and I believe that there is more to God then the churches have ever let you know about, but then again that is their way of keeping you under their control.

The first thing one has to realize is that you are a spiritual being.  You are as much of a spiritual being as you are a human being.  You have certain traits and mannerisms that you inherited from your parents.  In like manner you have inherited certain spiritual traits that come from your creator.  You may not be aware of them but that doesn't mean they are not there.  Just as it is physically impossible to separate you from what your parents gave you, looks, mannerisms, genetics, it is equally impossible to separate yourself from what God gave you.  Whether you want to acknowledge it or not you are in fact a spiritual being first, with the same traits as the spirit that created you.  Man has done a pretty good job over the millenniums of making us forget this, but we are in a spiritual awakening and it would do you well to pick up on a few things.  Spirituality is a part of your everyday life, problem is, many people have discounted it, but that is because they don't understand it.  Many of the churches today have so blackened the eye of spirituality, in large measure because to truly know who and what you are would take away much of the control they have tried to exert over people for far too many years.

Over the next few days, and who knows, maybe even weeks, I want to share with you some thoughts, that just might change the way you look at things, and in so doing, may change a few things that have seemed mired down because of what others have made you believe.  We as spiritual beings are connected to the rest of the Universal Consciousness.  Now before you go running out of the room calling me crazy, hear what I am about to say.  If you have siblings, then you will understand that no matter what the situation, you will always be connected because you have the same parents, therefore you have the same blood running through your veins.  You may have been separated from your siblings due to divorce or similar situation, but that does not mean you are still not kin.  If you were created by God then you must also be inseparable with the other creations that Spirit created.  If you believe that God is perfection, then how could anything other than perfection come from God?  The simple answer is, it could not.  Now I am not saying we are perfect in what we do, but we are perfect in our design.  The key is to come to an understanding of that design, and begin to fully walk in it.

God or Spirit, or however you want to identify with the Creator of the Universe, knows nothing of lack, or sickness, or depression, or any other malady that exist in our tiny little minds.  These are all things that have been conjured up by man, because quite frankly men of thousands of years ago gave up on knowing who and what they were and somehow fell into a place of complacency.  You see it is easier to go with the flow then it is to rock the boat and maybe get people to see things a little differently.  I have fought and fought with myself as to whether I would try to tackle this subject because quite frankly it scares many people, and even more so, it is totally misunderstood.  You can thank the conditioning of man for the misunderstanding.

I have just gotten to the point in my life where I will no longer beat around the bushes.  If what I write over the next few days disagrees with you, well that is something I am going to have to risk, but I cannot move forward in what is planned for me, if I am unwilling to let it all hang out.  I hope you will stick with me over the next few days and maybe you might learn something about yourself that will answer many of the questions you have been having, but as of yet have not received the answers.

We are remarkable creatures, we just need to get to the point where we realize who and what we are and forget about the limits that man has placed on us.  Spirit never intended for us to be struggling the way many of you struggle and if I can help you out of those traps, well good for me, but better for you.  Hold on to your horses because the next few days will change you in a very powerful way.

Easy does it.

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Easy does it there cowboy! Hey girl, give it a rest!  Will you just relax for a minute? I think we as humans have a tendency to jump into high gear at a moments notice and never seem to leave it or let up.  We travel at warp speed throughout our life and there are times when I think we should just slow down and maybe enjoy what you have in the moment.  When I lived in England I learned first hand that slowing down a little bit during the day made for a much happier life.  The Brits would stop for tea every afternoon at two.  They would take 30 to 45 minutes to sip their tea and just chat about the day.  To this day I enjoy my tea, but I enjoy my time of relaxation as well, if for no other reason then to realize that life is too short to be going full tilt at all times.

What I want you to discover today is a simple truth:  just because you may not be going at things all the time, at maximum warp, doesn't mean you will never get to your desired destination.  Have you ever given thought to the premise that maybe you should just relax and smell the roses for a short period of time?  There are so many things going on around you, that if you took the time to notice just might answer some of the nagging questions that have been floating around your head for years. We have been conditioned as mortals to think that if we are not going after something, not building our empires, not conquering new worlds, that somehow we have failed and will never get our just rewards.  Now I am not saying that one should not work hard and try to accomplish something, what I am saying is that the work you are doing can sometimes get overshadowed by the stress you are creating because of the unrealistic expectations you are putting on yourself.  Rome was not built in a day, and your empire can wait for a bit so you can enjoy some of the wonders of this life.

When is the last time you sat quietly and just reflected on all the good that you have in your life?  Your husband or wife, your kids, your job, or your friends?  When is the last time you just sat outside on a nice warm sunny day and observed nature?  We can learn a lot from nature, and yet it is something that so few people ever look at and try to learn from.  SLOW DOWN and understand that what is going to happen will happen and there isn't a lot of choice in the matter.  Here comes the broken record, but I have to say it: you will never change what has already happened, you have no idea what is in store for you tomorrow, so why not just enjoy today for what it is?  If you are never able to live in the moment, then you will always be striving for that gold ring and it will always be just a little out of your reach.  If you cannot appreciate what you have right now, then quite frankly your life must really suck.

I have spent the better part of my life going after things and the driving force behind that was a feeling that I was not happy, not content, not able to enjoy the things that I already had.  If you are unable to find happiness in the place you are at right now, it really doesn't matter what may lie ahead. You will always want just a little more, you will always want something a little bit better, and you will never be satisfied with what you currently have.  Once again, if you fall into this category your life must really suck.  SLOW DOWN and realize that life is a journey, it is not a sprint, it is a marathon and you need to pace yourself, and for crying out loud, enjoy every minute of every day.

I have seen people on the proverbial treadmill, it is like that little mouse on the wheel in its cage.  They can run and run, and yet they never get anywhere.  Is this the way you want to live the rest of your life? Is going from one crisis to another the way you pictured things growing up?  I've seen people so driven to achieve their goals, that nothing else in life matters and then they miss out on some of the simplest, yet most meaningful things that one could ever imagine.  SLOW DOWN and smell the coffee, better yet why not enjoy a coffee with a friend and just relax and realize that there is more to life then just being a juggernaut never really knowing where you are going, but being content because there is forward momentum.  There is nothing wrong with having a plan, but when that plan is holding you captive, never providing alternatives or sidebars, then you will end up with a real mess on your hands.

The reason we need sleep is to rejuvenate the body.  A body that is deprived of needed rest will ultimately destroy itself.  A person who is all the time "go, go, go" is going to deprive themselves of much needed rest and the opportunity to see things in a different light.  Do yourself a favor and relax. Let go of those things that tell you that you have to do this or do that.  Let go of those situations that box you into a certain way of doing something.  You can deviate from plans and still be successful in the end.  When one is so entrenched in doing something a certain way and not providing themselves with a means of self-expression, the end result will never be what it could have been.

Remember, time is an illusion.  Time isn't real and the only constraints that time has on us, are those constraints that we put on ourselves.  If you are worried that you will not have the time to realize your destiny, then you have fallen into one of the biggest traps that man's conditioning has set out for you. If you believe in destiny, then you must also believe that time is never something you have to worry about.  Hear me now:  time is not something to worry about.  Your destiny will manifest at the appointed time and in the way that it was orchestrated to manifest.  All the worrying, all the strife, all the doubt is not going to speed up your entry into walking in your destiny one second sooner then it has been designed to happen.  Stop worrying about time, and start enjoying what you have right now.

It is time to let go of expectations, and I mean unrealistic expectations, and just enjoy the process of getting to where you need to be.  Life should be enjoyable, full of love and happiness, but in the absence of this, ones life will suck.  It is time to let go of the constraints of time and simply live in the moment and enjoy those moments of rest, relaxation, and contentment.  If you will do this, then you will see changes, and those changes will be better then you ever imagined them to be.  Until next time, enjoy what you have and don't worry about the things that you don't have, after all a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

To be or not to be, that is the question.

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To be or not to be, now that is a question for the ages.  As is my routine I generally spend the last hour or so before falling asleep, snuggled up in my warn comfy bed, reading and preparing for what is hopefully a restful nights sleep.  Last night I began re-reading a wonderful book by one of my favorite writers, Dr. Wayne Dyer.  I came across a section that got me thinking, and when I start thinking I always look at things just a little differently, and I guess I am at a point in my life where different is a good thing.  I am also at a point in my life where I have come to a crossroad.  I began asking myself a series of questions.  What do I want, when do I want it, and am I willing to make the changes necessary to see these changes come to fruition?

I have had a roller coaster style life these last few years.  I have seen both the highs and lows of life.  I have doubted, when things got to me, and I have felt the joy of knowing just what to do next.  I have spent more hours, days, weeks, and months trying to figure out where do I fit in, and more importantly, am I being honest with myself and those around me, with what I believe to be my destiny?  The simple answer is yes.  I know my destiny, and I know why I have been put here on this earth.  The one thing that I do not have an answer to yet is, how is all this going to play out?  I certainly have ideas, thoughts, dreams and visions.  I know what I desire to do, how I desire to do it, and for whom I desire to do it.  There is not a single hour of my awake time that I do not think about walking in my destiny.  As much as I have written about destiny over the last three or four years, I still find it difficult to put into words the overwhelming joy I feel when I think about this part of my life.  But no, I don't know exactly how it will play out, and that is fine.  I simply have to be willing to put out the effort and let God be God.

Have you ever had one of those dreams at night that when you wake up you really are not sure if it was a dream or if it was real?  I often have to pinch myself to make sure that I am awake when it comes to my destiny and me walking in it.  I can think of nothing else I would rather be doing right now.  If I had to travel 52 weeks a years talking to groups of people about destiny, paying the bill myself and never making a penny, I would still make the trips.  That is the depth of my calling and that is the absolute degree to which I am committed to helping others discover and walk in their own destiny.  Notice I said "their own" destiny.  Destiny is not something that you borrow from someone else, destiny is not something that you replicate from someone, and destiny isn't something that is going to be a "flavor of the week".  Your destiny is why you were created and destiny is what you are supposed to be doing.  It has taken me years to accept my destiny.  I saw signs of it over thirty years ago, and it has taken me all that time to get to this point right now.  I have laughed over the last thirty years and boy oh boy have I shed some tears as well.  I have run from my destiny and I have also held on with bulldog tenacity to what I believe to be my calling, even when others have called me nuts and crazy.

Sadly, there are people all around who will never walk in their destiny, let alone discover what it is.  My one desire is that you will finally get to the point in your life where you will accept that you are deserving of walking in your destiny and that nothing else matters.  Believe it or not you can walk in your destiny and still have those things that are important to you, family, relationships, and careers.  I think that many people feel it is an "either or" proposition.  You can only have this if you give up that.  This is such faulty thinking.  Why would the Creator of the Universe have you do something and give up other things that are equally important to you in life?  Once again the simple answer is Spirit would not do this.

To be or not to be, yes this is the question you will need to answer, and only you can answer it.  Will you accept the calling on your life, or will you walk away from it?  Will you take the time to really figure out what you desire to do, or will you continue on doing what has always been done and simply accept things as they are right now?  Will you finally acknowledge that there is more to life then simply getting up on a Monday morning and heading to a job you hate that provides you nothing more than a means to pay your bills?  Trust me, I have been there, and I would give anything to help you escape this prison that so many people find themselves in.

Destiny is not something you must create, rather, destiny is something that you must accept.  Your destiny was created the moment you were created, and quite frankly it was the reason you were born. I wish I could convey to you the depth of my desire for you to discover and begin to walk in your destiny.  I wish I could snap my finger and every living, breathing human being walking around today would be completely aware of, and walking in their True Destiny.  Think of the changes that would be taking place in the world.  Think of the issues that would no longer be issues because the cause of those terrible things would have withered up and gone away.  We could irradiate poverty, illiteracy, and yes, even war.

If ever there was a time for you to look deeper into yourself, now is that time.  If you are looking for the true meaning of life, then I might suggest you begin with why you are here, and why now.  I cannot make you take this journey, but I will tell you that you do not have to take it on alone.  Life will challenge you, but along the way, you will discover the true meaning of your existence, and when you do, your life will change in ways you have never thought or even believed.

It is time for you to decide will you be the person you were born to be, or will you continue just living one day at a time always hoping for more?  I am here to assist, all you need to do is ask.  Until the next time, peace and joy to you.

What a web we weave!

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Do I head north, south, east or west?  Do I turn left or right?  Do I go up or down?  What path do I take?  What is next?  Do I speak the truth or just simply say what I think they want to hear?  So many questions and decisions, and this at the end of what to some has been a very long week.  I guess there is never a "good" time to have to answer difficult questions.  I guess there is never a "good" time to make the difficult decisions.  Alas they will always be there, but how you handle them is what separates the haves from the have nots.

There is no denying that life has it's ups and downs.  If I were to get up on any particular day and never have to look at a situation, or make a tough decision, or better yet, answer a tough question, I think I would have died and moved on to another existence.  Sadly we will face these issues every single day, but how you face them is entirely up to you.

Honesty, in all that we do, is very much the best policy.  If one is having a bad day, why try to cover it up?  Why not just call a spade a spade and be honest with whatever you are feeling?  I think we tend to hide our emotions and feelings because to show who we really are is a sign of weakness.  On the contrary, it is nothing short of strength.  Strength of character, strength of determination, and strength of your willingness to keep moving forward even when faced with insurmountable odds.  Lets be real for a moment and realize that there are people who will take this to the extreme, but they like to play the victim and that is nothing more than manipulation.  If they can get you to feel sorry for them then there is something in it for them.  Let's forget about being the victim and instead just be you.  There may be days when you feel great and there is nothing that will stand in your way and other days will come when you have zero desire to even get out of the warm comforts of your bed.  Where you fall on this spectrum is entirely up to you.

Sir Walter Scott wrote this in his 1808 poem Marmion: "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."  Oh we have learned to be deceptive, almost from the moment of our birth, and we have gotten very good at it, very good indeed.  This deception can be very subtle, but taken to the extreme it is destructive.  We have been taught as young children that children should be seen and not heard.  We have been taught to never show emotion, because this once again is a sign of weakness.  We have been taught to only speak when spoken to.  All this has done is isolate and devalue our true feelings and emotions.  Feelings and emotions mind you that are perfectly normal and quite frankly healthful.  I will tell you that the reason most people try to put the brakes on others either saying or displaying what they are truly feeling, is because it would force them to have to deal with their own emotions, and they suck at that.

If you are having a lousy day, what's wrong with saying that to someone? If you are having a struggle with something in your life, what is wrong with asking for assistance to overcome that struggle?  The only insane thing about these two situations is when you refuse not to admit them and then it really is all over but the crying.  My partner and I have a running joke about displaying patience and tolerance.  My lack of patience is normally when I am driving.  I really can't stand stupid drivers, they annoy me.  Truth be told, my impatience with them is not really them, but rather other issues that I may be dealing with and that impatience is simply manifested when I drive.  We display anger at times, not because we are angry with a current situation, but rather we are angry at something else and it simply has come to the boiling point.  Why not just stop the madness and admit you have an anger problem that was brought on by something in your past, and take the steps necessary to repair the tear in your emotions?

You can try to hide your fears, cover them up, paint them a different color, but at the end of the day, they will still be there until you tackle them head on.  You will still have to make tough decisions, either today or tomorrow, but they will still be there if you decide to bury them for the rest of the day. Why not just handle them now, and maybe it will free you up to do something different tomorrow.  It is OK to be angry, or sad.  It is normal to need solace from time to time because life has kicked you in the nut sack.  Why we can't admit these things is beyond me.  Do yourself a favor and leave your pride at the door when you come into my home.  I am not interested in the facade you may show to others, what I am interested in is who you really are.  I want to know your struggles, your weaknesses, and your fears.  If you tell me you have neither of these three things then I will call you a liar and ask you to move on your way.  It is time to come clean and admit you have struggles, after all when you can admit something, then that is the first step toward healing.

Life is grand, but when you are faced with less than optimum situations, reach out to someone and let them know how you really feel.  No more cover ups, no more "I have a handle on this", and no more denying how you really feel.   That may work with other people, but it won't work with me.  Emotions are part of our lives, why not try using them for once and see if it does not free you up in a very positive way.  Until the next time, have a wonderful journey and think about your destiny.  It is a beautiful thing.

Going for the gold, it might not be what you think.

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How could I not bring the Olympics into the picture at least once during this two week period.  I actually almost decided not to but then a thought came to me and I knew that I would have to acquiesce and at least mention them.

I have watched quite a bit of the Olympics this time around and as I was watching one prevailing thought kept coming into my mind:  what does one think when they come up just a little short of the mark, in this case not capturing the Gold Medal or as a minimum the Bronze?  These are athletes who have spent the better part of their life going after what is sometimes listed as an elusive thing.  Face it, when it comes down to thousands of a second between first and second place, that is a tough thing to accept, let alone understand.

Here is where I come down on the topic of being number one.  It is wonderful to reach the pinnacle of success.  There are millions who think about it, dream about it, and wonder how to get to this place, but not everyone is going to be number one.  I happen to believe that there is no shame in coming up a little short as long as you have done your best.  I know plenty of people who put so much stock in becoming or staying number one that nothing else in life matters to them.  They are so focused on this quest that everything else is marginalized.  Now I am not saying that this is a bad thing, but when you measure your success or worth on whether you come in first place you are just setting yourself up for some major disappointment at some time in your life. There is always going to be someone who is just as focused, just as driven, and just as talented as you, who would love nothing more than prove to the world that they are better than everyone else.  I had a boss one time who use to love saying "If you can't be first, just don't be last."  I never really understood what that meant until I spent sometime reflecting on what  it means to be number one, and what it takes to get there.

On any given day you may be at the top of your game, and you reach the apex of your chosen endeavor.  On the other side of the coin, you just may run into someone who wants it more, has worked a little harder then you, and ultimately wins out.  Only you can know if you have given your all to something.  I can't control what others do, I can only control what I do.  If they have put more time into something than I have, well it is probably a good bet that they may come out on top.  Either way, you decide what you want to invest in your dreams and you go after them the best way you know how.

For those athletes who may not have stood at the top of the podium there is still a take away from the experience: they gave it their all and did the very best they could.  Here in lies the victory, with or without the Gold Medal hanging around their neck.  The same thing can be said about someone who has tried their hardest, put in the effort, and maybe came up a little short of the mark.  They are still winners, with or without the desired outcome.  If we constantly measure a person's worth by how they place in life, then we will miss one of the most important aspects of being who we are.  We are not what we do, how we do it, or even if we do something.  Our worth comes from the standpoint of recognizing our great design and realizing that we have something to offer others.  There are many athletes who have discovered their great talent and have decided to do something with it.  Some will reach the top and others will try with everything in them to get first place.  No matter how one ends up, they are still victorious because they tried.  Not trying to do something is the shame.

I could sit here and try to tell you that I know how an Olympian feels when they have just missed out on a medal.  I could, but I won't because I don't know how they are feeling.  I have had my share of loosing in my life, and there is no one out there who can tell me what I am feeling.  We want to make the hurt or disappointment go away and in the process we want to sow words of comfort and understanding, but that is all we can do is try to understand and be there for them in their time of disappointment.  I know how I feel when I fail, but I can't tell you how to feel in your times of failure.  All I can do is be there to support you and try to understand that you just need to figure it out for yourself.

Going for the Gold is a worthy goal.  Being number one is a wonderful thing.  However, if you do not see yourself as good enough without the Gold, then it is doubtful that you will see it even if you are fortunate enough to come out on top.  If you cannot appreciate the majesty of who you are right now, then there is no podium tall enough, no reward big enough, to give you a true picture of who and what you are.  I would love to say that I am the best out there, but alas, all I can say is that I will do my best.  Doing my best is what honors the calling on my life, and doing your best is what will honor the calling on your life, without regard to how one ends up in the competition.

If you are struggling with your place on the podium let me suggest that you take some time to think about why you want to be on the podium.  Knowing who you are and what you are called to do, is and always will be a Gold Medal performance.  When you are walking in your destiny there will not be a day that goes by that you do not feel like you have won gold.  It is time for you to decide what you will do.  Once that decision has been made then you will have taken one giant leap in the right direction.  There is a "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat",  victory is knowing your destiny and taking the steps required to walk in it.  The agony of defeat is when you choose to turn your back on it.  You might have periods of raptured joy because you have completed something to your liking, but it will never measure up to what you will feel when you are doing what you were created to do.

It is time to walk toward the podium and pick up your medal.  It will be a moment you will never forget, I can assure you of that.

Walking the razor's edge.

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You're walking on a tight rope and without a safety net, doesn't get much more exciting that that, now does it?  You're pushing the limits to almost breaking and there is a sensation of "just a little bit more".  You're walking that fine line between doing what you love and almost feeling guilty that life could be this grand.

We all push the envelop at times.  Sometimes its for the thrill, other times it's because we can.  We sometimes blur reality with fantasy, not because we don't know the difference, but because it's kind of fun.  Many people straddle the fence: on one side it is happiness and on the other torment and dismay.  Not quite sure why one would choose torment and dismay over happiness, but it does happen.  In life we live right on the razor's edge more than we would like to admit.  I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, it is more of an observation then anything else.  To me, walking or living around the razor's edge, is nothing more than not being able to make a decision.  It is vacillating about this or that.  Walking the razor's edge is not being willing to commit to something, when you know deep inside that you really need to make a move.

Here is my question for you today:  why?  Why do people put off making those decisions that they know they need to make?  Why do people fight those battles that mean nothing and yet they leave the really important things to wither and die on the vine?  Why do you park your car in your driveway, but drive on a parkway?  OK, that last one was my attempt at a little humor.  I hope you will forgive me for that one.  Where was I, oh yea, why? I have been guilty of putting things off simply because I really didn't want to deal with them.  Most of my close friends know that I hate confrontation.  I mean I don't like being within a hundred miles of it and will avoid it at all cost.  I guess that stems from my childhood, but that is a topic for another day.  Suffice it to say, I will do almost anything to stay out of confrontation's path, and unfortunately that is not always a good thing for me.  I have allowed my disdain for confrontation to sidetrack me from some of the most important things in life and I will say that it hasn't gotten me anywhere by doing that.  I have had to teach myself a few things along the way and in learning some valuable lessons I have been able to move forward.

When we find ourselves living on the razor's edge we often make much bigger mistakes because we focus on what can happen, and then we take our mind and eyes off of the really important issues that should have been our main focus from the very beginning.  I know none of you have ever done that, but I am guilty of it that is for sure.  I encourage you to look at situations and face them, look them right in the eye and take them on.  If you bury your head in the sand I can guarantee you the issue will still be there when and if you ever pick your head up again.  Nike Corporation had an ad campaign many years ago and it said "Just do it."  Well I'm here to tell you to "Just do it."  There has never been a better time to move forward in those things in your life that you have dreamt about doing.  Face it they are not going to get done if you don't put action to them.

There may be times when we mess things up, but face it, you can correct any mistake made.  That being said, if you never move forward in those things that you hold so dear you never have to worry about them coming to pass.  Given the choice to have what you want or go without, which one will you pick?  I know how hopeless it can seem at times, and I would give anything to be able to keep you out of that trap.  There is nothing worse then wanting something so bad that you can almost taste it and yet not have the foggiest notion of how to make it come about.  I guess you have come to another crossroad and this time you need to make sure that you are making the right choices.  Do you continue to live on the edge, not knowing what side you will fall on, or do you make a decision and move ahead?  You are the only one who can make that choice.  I can encourage you, I can root you on, I can even open doors for you, but you are the only one that can walk through that open door.

My mother used to tell me that you can only walk along the muddy bank of a river so long until you fall in.  There are certain things that are inevitable, one being that you will have to make the choice one day.  Will that decision be to walk in your destiny, or will you continue to navigate that tiny, sharp, and dangerous edge of the razor?  You need to know that you can be more than you ever thought you could be.  Don't allow things to come between you and your destiny.  Don't allow others to dictate who and what you are.  It all comes down to you.  You must decide what to do next.  You must accept the calling that has been placed on you.  If you want to experience heaven on earth, then start by accepting the fact that you have a destiny.  The greatest joy I have is doing what I am doing right now.  Each day I get to preach destiny, and each day I get to see lives change for the better.  There is nothing that I would rather be doing.  You must get to the point where you can say the same thing.  If you are not there yet, do not loose hope.  If your desire is to discover your destiny then put that request out to the universe and watch as doors are opened up for you.  Just make sure that you go through them as they are opened.

It is time to put the past to bed and look toward your next move.  It is time to "Just do it."  I am here for you and I consider it an honor anytime I can assist someone reach their destiny.  I encourage you to reach out and take the next step.  Your life will change forever and I will be there to share the joy you experience.  Let me know how it's going.

Life is a thrill ride, scary, but oh so exhilarating

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Yes, life can seem like a roller coaster ride every now and again.  You start out scared to all get out and half way through it you begin to feel a little excited, almost invigorated, and when it's just about over you are wanting to do it all over again.  Funny how something so frightening at first turns out to be something that you desire to do again.

Well such is life to a large extent, but the key is to experience it, learn from it, and then tackle it with everything inside of you.  I love roller coasters, well the steel ones, you won't catch me on a wooden one.  I will admit that my stomach jumps into my throat as I am about to go over the first drop, but like so many, half-way through the ride I realize the excitement and I would probably put myself through that initial fear again just to experience the thrill once more.  Here in lies the problem that most people have in regards to stepping out into those things that they know they want, those things they know they need, and those things that they know are for them:  they let that initial drop, or the fear of it, keep them off the ride.  Stepping out into your destiny is really nothing more than accepting it, conquering the fear, and then experiencing the exhilaration of having done something that others have been afraid or unwilling to do.

It's time for true confessions.  I deal with fear just like everyone else.  It has kicked my ass more times then I would like to admit, and try as I might to get ahead of it, I find myself right back on that roller coaster getting ready to go over that initial drop.  I have let fear dictate my actions.  I have let fear dictate my beliefs, and I have allowed fear to almost sidetrack me to the point where I was willing to give everything up.  I still deal with an element of fear today, but I try to keep it in check, and I have learned that fear will only conquer me when I give up on my dreams and visions.  There is a big difference between fear and caution.  There are people who will show great caution in doing something, not because they are afraid, but because they don't want to fail or screw things up.  But even though there are differences between fear and caution, it is a very fine line, and knowing how to effectively display caution can mean the difference between success and failure.

There is one thing you have to understand, fear and worry never did anything to make a problem situation go away.  If anything, all it does is extend that period of time that you are having to deal with the lousy situation.  Trust me I have allowed fear and worry to side track me and if I could have a "Do Over" I would gladly take one.  I have learned over the years that if you are going to make a move simply make it and don't let others talk you out of it.  Your destiny is laid out in front of you not to scare you but to excite you.  Your destiny is an awful lot like that roller coaster that drops you down, shoots you around in circles and upside down, but when it's all done, you are back at your starting point safe and sound and wanting to take on the next challenge.

Life is a series of thrill rides.  You are never quite sure what to expect.  Those who have taken the ride before you can give you their perspective, but it is nothing like experiencing it for yourself.  If one is ever going to understand their own destiny, then one has to begin walking in it.  There will be people who will want to give you their two cents, but that is what it is worth, just about two cents.  These are the very same people who refuse to get on the ride because they have allowed fear to grip them, but yet they feel they can give you the guidance you need.  If someone is offering you advice on what you should do make sure they are doing what they were created to do.  If you take advice from others who haven't the foggiest notion of their own destiny then you have no one to blame but yourself when things go to hell.

I have had people tell me that I would never amount to anything in life.  For a long time I believed them, and in that belief I was destined to stay off anything that even remotely resembled what in my heart I knew I should be doing.  Please don't let someone who does not have the bravery to step out into their own destiny, dictate to you what you should be doing with yours.

Yes life can be like a thrill ride, but when its all said and done, you will be so glad that you decided to get on board, strap yourself in, and experience the thrill of doing something that others run from.  There will be times when your heart will be pounding and the adrenaline will be flowing, but those are the times when you know you have taken action.  Those will be the times when you know you will have stood up to the fear.  Those will be the time when you can say to yourself lets do it again.

It is time to believe in those things that are in your heart.  It is time to face the challenge.  It is time to get on board and realize that the fear that may have gripped you in the past can no longer bind you.  Oh yes the ride will be thrilling, but the thrill of the ride will never compare to the thrill of you stepping out into your destiny and sharing who you are with the rest of the world.  If you need more words of encouragement please reach out to me.  Together we will unleash the magic that is inside of your heart for others to benefit from.

When all you want to do is scream, take a deep breath and know this to shall pass.

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OK, moment of truth, who hasn't been in a place where you just wanted to scream and say enough is enough?  If you think you haven't or if you're unwilling to admit it, then shame on you.  Face it, life sucks sometimes and as humans we are never going to be immune to the ups and downs of life.  Denying that you are faced with issues is not going to make them go away.  The key to getting through these occurrences is to step back, take that deep breath and realize that you now have an opportunity to prove the bastards wrong.

I know first hand how trying life can be at times and truth be told I have been one of the loudest screamers on the face of the earth.  I have literally cried myself to sleep some nights, praying that I would not wake up the next morning because this at least would stop the pain and torment I was feeling.  I wish I could explain to each of you why you go through some of the things you have had to go through, but we are as different and individual as each snowflake, and what I am is not what you are, and what I might do, you can't.  That being said there are a few things that I might recommend, and if you are brave enough, maybe you will decide that you can try these out.

First off, and I know you may vomit having to hear this from me again, but the things we go through are learning opportunities and given the chance to learn something is never a losing proposition. It is only when you refuse to pick up on these lessons that you are doomed to have to go through them time and time again.  What I need you to realize is that those things that may be happening to you are not happening because you are being punished for something.  We have a tendency to think that we are cursed or destined to walk around in perpetual turmoil because of past sins or failures.  That is a load of crap that man has conditioned us to believe, but it could not be further from the truth.  If you can come to the realization that things happen for a reason then you are one step closer to understanding that good can come from all of it even as you are waste high in crap.  We have allowed man to make us feel as though we are less deserving because of things that may have happened in the past, or because we may have fouled up a time or two.  This is nothing more than self-destruction if you allow yourself to think this way.  God is not up there just waiting to strike you down for past faults, that isn't the nature of God and you need to forget all the mind control that religious zealots have tried to push down your throat over the years.

Secondly, and this may be more important than the first point:  you are strong enough to endure all the  trials and pit falls that life may throw at you.  People have a tendency to hide what they are really feeling for fear that it may give off the wrong impression to those around us who may get a different view of us if they see we are struggling.  Screw those people, and forget about them.  They are never going to be on your side so why loose sleep over what they may say or think.  If you are hurting tell someone.  If you need answers then ask the questions.  If you are tired of the grindstone, then ask for assistance from those around you who know you best.  If you think you are going to get through life with no help from others then you are an idiot.  We can't do it alone, nor should you want to try.  Heck, if I am in the middle of a struggle I would rather have others there with me to help then try to do it all by myself.  Don't be foolish and let your pride stop you from getting help from those who are on your side and pulling for you.

Last, but certainly not least, and I need you to really hear what I am about to say.  If you are unable to see yourself as a success, if you cannot feel the joy of something even before it has come to fruition, then you will never experience it, period, end of story, case closed.  You must set the intention and you must believe that those things you have dreamt about, thought about, and longed for, will come to pass.  I'm not saying there may not be a delay from time to time, but if you are unable to see yourself doing those things that you were created to do, you will never get there, let alone get out of the starting blocks.  I have waited years to get to the point I am now at in my life, and had I not believed that what I had churning inside of me was my destiny, I would not be walking in it now.  If you were completely honest with yourself, I think you would have to admit that you know what you should be doing with your life, but as of yet have not taken the steps required to get there. Well my friends, it is time to get off your butts and begin to believe with all of your being that you are good enough to have what you desire.

I encourage you to spend some time in quiet meditation and ask a simple question:  Am I happy?  Is there more to this thing we call life and how can I get to the place that I desire more than anything?   Your destiny is just waiting for you to discover it and you owe it to humanity to spend some time figuring out what that destiny is.  I cannot go a day without thinking about destiny nor how important it is to me to walk in my destiny.  Believe you me, you will get to the same point when you know that you have no choice but to walk in your destiny.  I know this because I could not live if I knew I could no longer talk, write, or excite people about their destiny.  It is everything I am and it is the only thing that I want to do the rest of my life.  Each of you have this same thing, and each of you will have to decide whether you will pick it up or not.  It is your choice, but I highly recommend you make the right choice.  If you want to talk about it, you know how to get in touch me. I am there to assist and together we will get you started on your journey.

Better late then never!

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The title to today's blog is two-fold.  I should have gotten this out yesterday, but because of Mother Nature's wrath on Maine with the snow I was delayed.  The real meaning of the title is about Ideas.  The time when the light finally goes on and you figure out that you are really on to something.  As humans we have thousands upon thousands of thoughts that go through our minds on a daily basis.  Some of these thoughts have purpose and others are just there as a part of our every day activities.  The ideas that pop into our heads can range from the sublime to inconsequential, and everything in between.  The point I want to make this morning is that ideas come to us for a reason and the sooner you determine what that reason is and what you will do with these idea the better for you and everyone around you.

Everything you see today began with a single thought.  Every movement that has happened over the last two hundred years began with a single thought.  Now it may have taken a village to get things done, but it all began with a single person thinking something and then moving forward with it.  There seems to be this idea that all ideas have to have an end in mind and this is so far from the truth. When I first got the idea for a book I never imagined it would have lead me to where I am today.  In truth, it really wasn't an idea, it was just a thought. I was simply doing my job, one that I truly loved by the way, and I could not understand why young people had never really given any thought to what they wanted to do in life.  It took almost twenty years to take action on this little thought, but timing is everything as I have said before.  Each time I sit down to begin a new book it starts with just a thought, an idea, and then I let it go.  When I say let it go I don't mean I forget about it, I mean I just run with it.  I get the title first, then the chapters, and then all I do is sit down and write it one chapter at a time.  Truth be told, I don't even know what I am writing half the time and have to go back and read it when the chapter is done.  I even amaze myself at times with some of the things I have put down on paper.

The reason I bring all this up is I have talked with people who have some wonderful ideas and yet they never take the steps required to get things moving forward.  They allow past failures or set-backs to block any forward momentum and instead they relegate this idea to the dung heap of past unfulfilled ideas.  If you are waiting for the planets to all line up in perfect order, or for someone to come to you and say "Hey I perceive that you have an idea and I want to help you move forward with it.", you will be waiting for a very long time to get moving on things.  Ideas are nothing more then the building blocks to something more grand, more elaborate, and ultimately more satisfying and fulfilling.  The key is to keep these ideas alive and the only way to keep them alive is to feed and nurture them as you would with any living, breathing creation.  Ideas are creative after all and what you need to realize is that you have been given these ideas for a reason.

If you have been sitting on an idea and have yet to put action to it my question to you is why?  Why have you neglected the one thing that you may have been created to do?  Why have you let things get in the way of you being the person you were created to be?  I will say that most of the time the answer is fear.  Afraid to admit you don't have the foggiest notion of how to move forward with this crazy almost bizarre idea.  Afraid to admit that what you want to do is not what others expect you to do.  Afraid that this is just some crazy notion and there is no way that it could come to fruition let alone you being able to bring it to its conclusion.  Fear has no place in the realm of ideas and it has no place in your life.  Yes we contend with fear on a daily basis, but we have to let it go and move forward.  I have been guilty of not moving forward with things in my life, partly because of past failures, past fears, but at the end of the day, the only thing that this has gotten me is more frustration and anxiety.  Do yourself a favor and surround yourself with those who will speak life to these ideas and dreams.  These people may not have all the answers, but what they do have is a desire to help you succeed and become the person you were destined to be.

Ideas are there to help you move in the right direction.  Each idea is a stepping stone, and each path we take is a step in the right direction to our destiny.  Do not neglect the little ideas for they will become the cornerstone to what you are supposed to accomplish in this life.  Ask yourself these two simple questions:  If not me, who?  If not now, when?  You can sit on your dreams and ideas until the cows come home and you will be no closer to your destiny then you were yesterday, last week, or even last year.  Haven't we wasted enough time worrying about what others might think of our crazy ideas?  Trust me it may seem crazy to them, but for you it makes all the sense in the world.  It is time to put some action to your ideas.  Yes it will take work, but if its worth having its worth working for.

I leave you with this last thought, and once you have digested what I have written today let me know your thoughts.  I know you will move forward in those things that have been germinating in your mind for some time now.  Ideas come to us in some very strange ways but that is because we have closed ourselves off to the simpler way of discerning what to do next.  Be open to new ideas, and remember, if not you then who, and if not now, then when.  Don't fall prey to the other doubters and naysayers, they haven't gotten you anywhere before now and they won't be there for you in the future.  Take the next step and realize that you have ideas for a reason and that reason is going to help a lot of other people in the future.

Vision, truth, destiny: time to come to grips with all three.

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What is your vision, and I don't mean 20/20?  What is your truth?  What is your destiny?  If you have spent anytime thinking about these you would probably come to the same conclusion as I that they are pretty much the same thing.  If they do not line up together then I would suggest to you that you have a few things to discover, and until such time as you do you may find yourself wandering about aimlessly.

I was in a time of meditation yesterday and as is the case when I am in this mode thoughts come to me that I know I need to share with the readers.  I love it when Spirit drops these little nuggets of truth into my spirit because I know they are things that others will benefit from and I love providing guidance and hope to those who are in need of it.

When you think about all the things that lay ahead of you, what comes to mind?  Do you see yourself doing things that you have dreamt about?  Do they seem like some make believe fantasy that you hope to get to some day or can you almost feel and taste them?  Your vision is your road map to what you were created to do.  Your vision is what should get you up in the morning excited to have a chance to do what you love to do.  I have encountered so many people who have laid their vision on the back burner, and instead relegated themselves to a life unfulfilled and sadly, unremarkable.  I encourage you to take a look at what you are doing and honestly ask yourself is this as good as it gets.

What is truth as it relates to your vision?  Do you really believe that you have been called to do something special?  In truth, we have all be called to do something.  It doesn't have to be bigger or better than someone else's calling, because it is your calling and no one else's.  If you do not believe you have a calling then you need to figure out why and lay the ax to that root of doubt.  As sure as I am sitting here right now I can tell you that you have been called.  Whether you ever step out into those things you have been called to do is another story, but you have been called.  I know that I know, that I know, that my destiny is to help others discover their destiny.  I see it, I believe it, and I am walking in it.  There are times when I wonder where this will take me, but it doesn't matter where it takes me as long as I am willing to make the journey.  When you can feel and see yourself walking in your destiny, in your truth, then you will have taken one giant leap toward your true calling.  Until such time as you are able to do this, you will be just a little less sure of your future, a little empty, and a lot more frustrated.

Let me say this, and as hard as it may be to hear, it is something that needs to be said: If you are always jumping about trying to figure out what it is that makes you tick, what it is that you really want to do, and what it is that will bring you contentment and happiness, then I will tell you that you have not yet discovered your destiny.  When you come to grips with who and what you are and why you are here your focus will never dull and there will be nothing that will stop you from accomplishing the things you desire to accomplish.  This is a place that few have gotten to and yet, this is a place that is just waiting for you to occupy it.  In the ancient writing from the Tao, it is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  Have you taken the first step toward your destiny?  If not, then why not?  What is holding you back?  If it is doubt, well join the club, many people have been there and will be there in the future.  Doubt is something that will stop a vision or destiny right in its tracks.  Doubt is nothing more than not believing.  Not believing you are good enough, not believing that you have what it takes, not believing you are deserving of such an honor as doing something that will bring you happiness.  I am here to tell you that you are deserving and that you have all the attributes required to walk in your destiny.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about destiny, mine and yours.  I long for the day when everyone is walking in their destiny.  There is a great awakening coming and when it does it will change the face of this planet.  Destiny is who and what you are.  It will not change and you cannot change it.  You may run from it, but you will never change it.  The beauty that lies in each of us is the beauty of knowing why you were created and then walking in it.  Don't let another day go by and not give thought to these words.  There are battles to be won, and I want to be on the front lines fighting for everyone to discover their own destiny.  I can feel a release of old thoughts, old views and  mindsets.  I can see clearly what is coming and I desire each of you to be there with me seeing as clear as I do.  You have the ability to do this, now it is time to let desire rule the day.  Vision, truth, and destiny are one and the same.  You know, from the deepest part of your being, what you desire to do and now it is time to take the first step.  I am here to help you along your journey if you desire that.  Never doubt, never fear, and know that the days ahead of you will be better than you have ever imagined them to be.  Until we meet again, be blessed and be bold.

What's love got to do with it?

Jose Luis Mieza Photography

Well, it is almost Valentine's Day, so why not write about love.  Whenever one talks or writes about love it congers up all sorts of emotions and feelings.  Depending on what side of the fence you may be on these emotions can either be ones to remember or ones that you would very much like to forget.  Either way, love is an emotion we will all have to face and one that will ultimately dictate what kind of life you will have.  I wish I could tell you that I have all the answers when it comes to love, but truth be told I have had my share of missteps in the love department and I would not want to be presumptuous and make you believe that I have it all together in that department.  Those that are closest to me would be able to testify to that.  What I do hope to impart to you today is the understanding that no matter where you are in life, you will never get to where you really need to be without the love and support of others in your life.  I have had conversation with people who will state unequivocally that they do not need love, it is just a distraction, to this I say horse crap.  The only reason one would say this is because they have never experienced true love, or allowed it into their life, so they have no base line to judge the rest of life.

First things first, loving someone and being in love with someone are two different things.  I have loved lots of people, but being in love with someone is totally different.  Without sounding to corny, being in love with someone is when that person truly completes you.  It is when your heart is completely full to overflowing.  I have been told that there are times when one feels they are in love and then you realize that it is just infatuation.  People are great at putting titles on love: puppy love, innocent love, and life changing love.  Truth be told love is love and it doesn't matter where it comes from or who it is directed toward.  I loved my first car, my first house, my first job, but I was never in love with those things.  I have been in love with a select few and those were moments that were life changing.

Let me say something and if this offends some of my readers, well I will say that I make no apologies for it.  There are people out there who would like us all to believe that love is physical and who we love somehow has to fit into their definition of love.  First and foremost, love is not physical.  Sure there is a physical element to love, but it is not love.  If you are basing love on the physical, you're an idiot.  Yes a little harsh, but no harsher then your intolerance that has been displayed for far too long. To those who feel that love can only be manifested between a man and a women, well you are completely wrong and you need to really get a grip on things.  When the love bug hits you, it is never going to be based on the object of your desire, it is something that quite often makes no sense. We are drawn to others and if you fall for someone there is nothing that is going to change that.  I am so tired of trying to fit my love into some one's definition of love.  "Oh they are too old, or too young."  "They are not good enough for you".  "They will never be able to make you happy."  Funny how people are so eager to give you their opinion on love, yet they are the last ones to jump into the pool of love.

Being in love is the cherry on top of the sundae.  Being in love is the one thing that will get you up in the morning eager to take on the day.  Being is love is what makes life worth living.  You can loose everything, but if you still have the love of your life then you will have what it takes to try again tomorrow. When you are seeking a love interest what do you think about most?  Are you thinking about how grand life is when you are around this person?  Are you thinking about the future and all the adventures you hope to have with him or her? Are you thinking about life with someone or life without?  I will say that a life void of love is no real life at all.  You can go through the motions each day, but deep down you know something is missing.  I don't care who you are or what you have gone through, a life void of love is a miserable existence.

If you are like so many others who have failed at loved in the past, or at least you feel as though love has failed you, don't give up hope.  There is someone out there for you.  It may not seem like it is in the realm of possibility, but it is, and it will find you.  We give up on love because we have given up on ourselves.  We either feel we are not worthy of love, or that our chance has come and gone.  Once again I say horse crap.  If you have not found the perfect love yet don't give up hope.  The person you desire is probably also looking and if you believe as I do that you can have your hearts desire, then love will bring the two of you together.  Destiny is destiny, you will not change that fact and we as humans are destined to find love.  I have loved a thousand times in the past, but none of it measures up to the one who was designed specifically for me.  We will fit together like a glove.  Don't settle for that square peg simply because you can fit it into the round hole.  Perfection is possible.

Love is what we all need, but it is something that we know so very little about and probably understand it even less.  Love is what makes the world go round, and if you are not willing to accept your place in the world, then you will never find the true love that awaits you.  We have all been "in love" at one point in our life, isn't it time that you let yourself go back to that place again?  A world without love is doomed to fail.  A world filled with love will expand, grow, and prosper.  Maybe it's time to rethink love, and decide that it is worth going after.  Think about that and let me know your thoughts.

On the wings of eagles.

"http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveberardi/5275774830

I was outside yesterday morning cleaning things up after the storm we had, and as I was looking up at the beautiful sunny blue sky a magnificent creature was floating along.  I have only seen a live eagle flying a few times in my life and to see one in Portland Maine was, well lets put it this way, it was amazing.  The grace it displayed as it was moving with the wind was something that stirred me and I was reminded of the majesty of this beautiful, symbolic bird.

I tend to think about spiritual things when something like this happens, as seeing an eagle is not something that I would call common place.  I knew there was something I was supposed to pick up on with this sighting so I went right to the Internet to look up the significance of an eagle and just what this sign meant, as I believe we see things to teach us or at least to get us to see something that we need to see. Needless to say, what I read was just what I needed in the moment and so I share with you now some insight that just might help you along in your journey to your destiny.

It is said that when an eagle appears, especially in nature, one is being asked to go deeper into their spiritual journey.  Spirit is telling you to take what you know, what you believe, what you feel, and take it to the next level.  Those things that have been germinating for however long are now ready to reap a harvest and your part is to make it happen, or as a minimum take the first step. Taking action on the things you see, your visions, is part of your destiny.  I will tell you that I have been trying to figure out what my next step is, and try as I might, I have been frozen in time and space.  I was wrapped up in all the things that I wanted to do, that I was doing very little.  Now let me say, I have done a lot.  I continue to write and blog, and I am putting together plans for a foundation that is designed to help others discover their destiny and provide them the resources to walk in that destiny.
But wrapped around the wagon wheel I was and I needed a sign to get me heading back in the right direction.

 To Native Americans the eagle represents the "Great Spirit", whose power is there to take you onto new "vistas of perception" and to new dimensions.  When one sees an eagle it is an invitation to look at things with "new eyes", a new point of view so to speak.  The eagle possesses exceptional vision and represents mastery of timing and accuracy.  I would say that most people fail because they have not paid attention to the right timing of something.

Ina Woolcott, a noted Shamanist writer said this: "From eagle we learn that life looks different from an aerial perspective.  We need to take a new view on the challenges in our lives, If we don't readily find solutions it may be because our vision is too limited to see the solutions that are so glaringly obvious."  She goes on to say, "Tying in with this thread of thought, one of the lessons to be learned from eagle is not to depend exclusively on intellectual solutions.  Through its connection to the air element, eagle is connected to intelligence, but also to Spirit, the knowing that goes far beyond intellect."  

I have said this many times before, but it bears repeating, if you neglect the spiritual element of life then you are going to make huge mistakes.  The Creator is never going to put you into a position that you are not equipped to handle.  I know there are occasions when we fill woefully inadequate and wonder what we should do next.  This is human, but as I have said before being human does not mean we merely depend on past human conditioning.  Seek out a deeper understanding of who you are spiritually.  There are so many things that you have at your disposal, but until you discover them they are about as worthless as teats on a bore hog.

If you have found yourself wandering aimlessly about, maybe it is time to seek some spiritual guidance.  I have found over the last few years that what I once thought was spirituality was nothing more than man's conditioning.  It wasn't until I took the blinders off that I began to see things differently and in this new understanding have begun to see a world that is completely different then the one that most modern day churches and faiths have been proclaiming for generations.  I am not saying that what they have taught is bad, what I am saying is that there is so much more out there, and the "more" that I am talking about is a deeper understanding of why you are here and what you are supposed to be doing with your life.

We can soar with the eagles, but only after we have come to a knowledge of who and what we are.  People only fail because they lack a faith or belief in what they are supposed to do.  Once you discover what you are supposed to do it is almost impossible to fail because you will have seen the truth in who and what you are, and the truth will set you free to be just that, who and what you are.  It is time to soar and fly on the wings of eagles.  Join me and together we will take in a new panoramic view of the greatest of life and the beauty of your calling.

Whats wrong with this picture: why Corporate America will be the demise of the American Workplace!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/4423185450

Before I get started today I will ask that you try to be open to what I am about to say and if you take issue with anything, I will be more than happy to discuss it with you.  There are only a few things that really get my goat, but what I have seen recently was enough to almost send me over the edge.  If I am experiencing these things, then I can only imagine that others are experiencing them as well.  If that is the case then my heart goes out to you, but I will tell you that I am about to start a revolution and if you would like to join me on my quest then you are more than welcome to become a part of it.

I wrote a book a few years ago, and God willing and the creek don't rise, it will be in print soon. The title to my book is The Rebirth of the American Workplace.  In it I talk about some of the issues that are rampant in corporate America.  Now before I go any further please know what I am about to write, and what I wrote in the book, is not based on sour grapes.  We have all been through things in our workplace that we would soon enough like to forget, but if we do not bring these issues to the forefront then we are doomed to continue to have to go through them, and that would just suck.

I was at a job interview not long ago and I was absolutely amazed at the total lack of energy or excitement coming from the interviewer. I mean I could just as well have been a bump on a log as an individual eager to work for this company.  The outward lack of emotion on this person's part was astounding.  At one point in the interview I wanted to stop it and simply ask what her major malfunction was.  I was the one who took time out of my day to present myself to the company, she on the other hand was being paid to be there and do a job.  It was as if she was doing me a favor by sitting down with me.  This job was not some "High-tech, better have a MIT graduate degree" kind of job.  The job posting said that this job required a High School Diploma or GED.  OK, thinking to myself, I have a Bachelors Degree, so I guess I fill that box up.  This individual proceeds to ask me questions, and it really did not hit me until I left the building just how incredibly ridiculous the questions were.  Now if I were a recent High School graduate or just completed my GED, how in the world am I going to be able to tell her a time in my past when I was faced with making a decision at work, what did I think about while making the decision and more importantly what was the outcome?  Every question was like this, and not once did she seem to want to know what made me tick.  My background, which is spelled out quite nicely on my resume, should have provided her with ample opportunity to ask questions about me, at least for clarification, but she never showed any desire to know more about me personally as an individual.

I have interviewed tons of people during my career and the one thing that I always wanted to know was what this person was like.  What goals did they have and would this company be a good fit in helping them achieve those goals?  Face it, we work to get paid, but we also work because there is something that we are looking to get out of the company we are working for, and that something should be in line with what some of your personal goals are.  If all you want in your company is a robot who can do this or that, well hell, you can train a monkey to do just about anything. On the other hand, if you are looking for someone who will truly do something special at your company, don't you think you should be asking questions that will get to the bottom of who this person is and what makes them special?  Oh I forgot, you have to ask certain questions because you need to keep it simple.  God forbid you should think outside the box.

Now just in case you think I am jaded because I did not get the job let me say this.  I would not work for a company that is like this because if they handle the interview process this way you can bet your bottom dollar that they handle everything else in the company this way and there is no way that I would want to put myself in that type of environment.  The problem with most companies today is that they have forgotten that their most important asset is not what they make, sale, or do, but rather the people that work with them.  If you want to recession proof your company then make the time and show a little effort in getting to know what some of your employees have for dreams and goals and help them achieve them.

Companies today need to go back to the way it was years ago and realize that maybe just maybe profit does not have to be the driver for everything and maybe taking chances every now and again is not a bad thing.  If you base your decisions on some matrix that some brainiac concocted and have taken the human element out of everything I will tell you that in just a short period of time you are going to have a huge mess on your hands.  People are people and not a portion of some equation that supposedly will ensure your share holders a very nice return on their investment.  When will we get back to taking risk, not because it's the smart thing to do, but because it is the right thing to do.  I have hired my share of people that when you looked at the balance sheet made no sense in the world to hire them.  I was fortunate enough to have given people a chance and in return had some of the most outstanding workers standing right there beside me.  I did not look at what everyone else was doing, I looked at what the individual wanted to do and I found a way to make it work.  Did I always succeed?  Nope, but I've done better then most, and I will tell you that the companies I was hiring for are still around and doing better than most.

Please don't think that I'm bitter, I'm not.  What I am, is determined to change the way businesses function and maybe in doing so give those who have not been given a chance to prove themselves just that opportunity.  I love helping the underdog and as I see things most companies could care less about the underdog, unless of course they are the ones who have been classified as such.  Lets forget about the way things have always been done and change things up a bit.  We talk about disenfranchising people in various ways, but how many people who have been shut out, sat on, and otherwise made to feel like they had nothing to offer, by companies who refuse to look at them as individuals and not just a number.

I can't wait to shake things up and shake things up I will.  If you are tired of those who could care less whether you were part of their company or not, join me.  If you are tired of being told that you can't do something because you don't have the right position in a company, join me.  If you are just sick and tired of having those in positions above you or those who are in charge of hiring the right people, who could care less about the humanity that surrounds you, then join me.  Together we will join our voices and change the workplace one company, one business, one organization at a time.  It is time to bring a rebirth to the American workplace, and don't you know it will be a good day when that happens.

When trauma turns to blessing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pictoquotes/9131516197

Often we go through things in life that seem to knock the wind out of our sails and while we are going through a difficult time find it hard to see the silver lining.  The key to overcoming these challenges is to realize that they are setting a foundation for future successes.  Now I know that it's not always easy to do this, especially when you are at the end of your rope and all things seem dark and dismal.  That being said, how you position yourself during these difficult times is what develops character.  John Wooden the famed UCLA Basketball once said this about character: "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think about you."  Standing up and refusing to let your circumstances define you is what separates the winners from the losers.

I was very fortunate to be introduced to a tremendous lady not long ago.  Her name is Ann Gillie, and her story is quite remarkable.  Ann sent me a short bio about what she has had to go through and I wanted to share it with you today.  It shows a women who has been through a lot, but through it all, she has shown grit and determination, and now the world is benefiting from her story.  This is what Ann had to say:

Hi everyone, My name is Ann Marie Gillie and I live in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. I am a mother of 3 boys (6, 15 and 19), motivational speaker and author but one of my greatest personal achievements is that I am an "Epilepsy" survivor! I had Neuro Surgery Dec 3,2002 at the U of A Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and have been 100% seizure free since!!! My surgery was called Left Selective Amygdalahippocampectomy! I know what recovery was like for me, it was horrible the first year, depression hit me like a brick wall and I wish I would of had the resources that I do now, so that I could of interacted with others that are in (or were in) the same predicament. 

I was 2 yrs old when my seizures started and they went till i was about 9 and just stopped. I than went through a long remission and for no known reason the seizures returned when I was 20 yrs old, boom they were back. I struggled for 12 years with lots of meds, anxiety, not knowing when a seizure was going to happen. So one day in 2002 I decided to get a 2nd opinion and that is what changed my life forever. Now that I have lived with seizures, lived through surgery and living life to the fullest I want to expand and speak to those around the world, let everyone know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  I would also like to say to anyone and everyone out there that lives with Epilepsy, that "you are who you are, be proud of YOU".

I am looking to speak with those around the world on my experience, I want to let others know to never give up, never say you can't do something. People need to stay positive and sometimes just having someone else understand what you are going through makes a world of difference.

My books both talk about my experience with epilepsy, the first one is quite personal, i don't hold anything back. My 2nd book Let's Talk About Epilepsy has stories from others around the world (those from my Facebook Support Group) that also are seizure free from their surgeries.

My  FACEBOOK Support Group  is called Life After Brain Surgery  - There are some amazing individuals in that group who all have stories, ideas and a great passion for supporting one another!! 

Believe in yourself and Believe you are worth it! I did

Take Care

If you have found yourself in a similar situation don't give up hope.  Don't give in to fear and doubt.  Never quit, and remember, you are not alone.  There are people all around who can provide assistance or reassurance.  Maybe there is some distance between the two of you, but that's why we have phones, email and the like.  Reach out to others who may have gone through similar things and ask them for some words of comfort.  

If you have been through a struggle and have survived to tell the tale then send me a note and I would be more than happy to share it with others.  We can learn so much from others and yet there are times when we feel we have to do it all alone.  Heck, if I can learn from someone else and eliminate the need to go through something horrific, I think I would choose to learn from someone else.  Once again, if life is a journey, why go it alone?  

Challenges will come to each of us.  How we handle them is what defines us.  It is time to look calamity in the face and tell it to go away, far far away.  You have what it takes to win the battles, and if you doubt this, then you give me a call and I will remind you how much you have to offer the rest of humanity.  Keep the faith my friends and know that tomorrow will bring smiles and sunshine and if you have that then you have more then a lot of people.