There's a hole in my bucket!

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Dear Liza, there's a hole in my bucket.  Often that hole is just the first thing that shows you that it might be time for a new bucket.  First things first, many might be wondering what a crushed up, useless, can't carry a drop of water bucket, has to do with destiny?  Well, how many people do you know who have given up on life, given up on their dreams, and simply  relegated themselves to simply surviving this thing we call life?  Secondly, I have seen what can done with something that appears to be all used up, and once it has been refurbished is better then the original and oh so much more fun to use since you are giving it a second chance.

If you are the type to only see empty shells, then you are going to miss out on some pretty outstanding opportunities in life.  What you see on the outside is not always what is present on the inside, and what is present on the inside is what will help transform the outside.  Seems almost cryptic I know, but I assure you there is always more than meets the eye, and once you realize that, there is no way that you will ever just see the surface again.

How many people do you know that will get rid of something, say a bucket, simply because there is a minor flaw in it, say a hole?  We are quick to rush to judgement about the condition of something solely based on an initial observation, while if you would just step back for a moment you might see the opportunity that is present in front of you.  Many a group of people have lost big time because they have only seen what is present and not what is possible.  There's an old adage that one man's garbage is another man's treasure. I tell myself that every time I go to a yard sale trying to find the bargain of a lifetime.  I will admit that I have found some pretty good stuff, and to me they are treasures.

If the people I knew in my past had not given me a second chance, and sometimes a third and forth chance, I certainly would not be where I am at right now, doing the things I love most in life.  If being perfect in all things was the prerequisite for getting something out of life, then we would all be left holding a beat up, hole ridden old rust bucket.  Thankfully, our perfection is internal, and that internal perfection is what is going to fix everything on the outside, so that you can be used once again, but this time even in bigger and better ways.

Certainly as humans we have our flaws.  We have allowed the conditioning of man to dictate our actions, our emotions, and often our greatest adversary are those closest to us, who don't want us to get out of the mold that someone has placed us in.  We must learn not to rush to judgments.  We must accept that whatever we are going through, we are going through for a reason.  We must stop, get out of our own way, and allow the Universe to direct our steps.

If all you ever see is a rusted out, hole ridden bucket, and not what it is still capable of, then you will discard it out with the rest of life's trash, but you will also be throwing out something that has experienced a lot in it's brief life, and those lessons could save you some day.  Simply because something has a past, doesn't mean that that past has to stop one from stepping out into the future.

Maybe it's time that we all take some time to find some of the things we have discarded and give them a second chance.  You might be amazed with the results you get, and even more amazed how simple it is to give things a second chance.  Certainly we can find holes and rust in almost everything we know.  If you will look past those minor cosmetic flaws you will see the beauty of your bucket, and you will begin placing a value on it again.

I am one who is always looking out for things that people have discarded that I might be able to use.  It might be an old coffee table that can be refurbished and made useful again.  It might be old crates that can be crafted into something useful.  If you only look at the surface and not use your imagination about options and possibilities, you will simply drive by, but then in the end you loose.  How many times have we done this to people?  We find it hard to give others an opportunity to prove themselves especially if they came up short in the past.  We have memories and for whatever reason we are not likely to forget failures of the past, why is that?  Have we become so jaded in life that it's one strike and you're out?  Have we become so cynical that only those who appear to be perfect in all things garner our attention?  Remember the rust bucket, there is always something good that can come from something that may not be perfect in the moment.

There's a hole in my bucket Dear Liza, Dear Liza, and that's OK with me.  Even with a hole in it, I can still use it, and I will find a way to repair it.  I love second chances, I love refurbishments, and I love seeing how wonderful things can be when they are spruced up, shinned up, and polished.  The greatness of our being is not how we look, but rather how we feel about us.  If you see only a rusted out bucket with no use left in it, then you have just that, a useless bucket.  If on the other hand you see someone who has inner beauty, integrity, desire, and love overflowing, well then you have found a treasure and never let go of it.

There's a hole in my bucket, and that's fine with me, because together we are going to go out there and show the world what one can do, and then everyone is going to want to dig out those old items and begin using them again, but this time with some real appreciation for what they have.

It's getting better.

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I was playing around with my I-tunes Library the other day and ran across a song that I hadn't heard in years, and I mean many years.  It was a song by Mama Cass Elliott called "It's Getting Better."  Man did it bring back memories.  I can remember hearing this on the radio, playing it on my stereo in my bedroom, and thinking how "Groovy" this song was.  As an added sidebar, I love the word
Groovy".  Maybe I'm just a Seventies Throwback, but boy did we have some good times back in the 70's.  I really hope that the word "Groovy" comes back in vogue and we begin to hear it again, like the days of yore. But I digress.

Getting back to my main point, if you are at a crossroads right now, and wondering if this is as good as it gets, let me assure you that life can only get better.  When I say better that does not mean that what you have, or what you are experiencing right now, is not good.  Hopefully you are walking out your dreams and visions, what I am saying is that there is no limit to the "Better" that is meant for you in this life.  We are the only ones that can limit the goodness of life.  We, or maybe more appropriately you, control what life is going to be like.

I had the opportunity to meet a very fascinating and beautiful young women yesterday.  I had received a text and phone call asking if we could meet as she had some questions, and I will always make time for those who truly desire to seek out and discover their True Destiny.  I shared with her during our conversation that life does in fact suck from time to time, there is no denying that, and there certainly is no way to avoid it until you begin to see who and what you really are.  We are first and foremost a Spiritual Being, not simply a human who will occasionally have a spiritual experience.  You see Ladies and Gentlemen, the hope for a better tomorrow is what motivates each of us to continue on our journey.  It is this hope that is manifested when you realize the divinity that resides inside each of us.  I have often heard the comment from those with good intentions that they are trying to grow spiritually.  Well let me let you in on a little secret:  you are already spiritually mature, since your spirit was complete at the time of your creation.  What you have to do is begin to listen to your spirit, follow the leading of your spirit, and otherwise be controlled by your spirit, and not be controlled by the conditioning of man.

Life will get better when you get out of the way, stop doing things the way others expect you to do them, and simply follow the perfection that resides in you already, that being your core essence, your spirit.  There are days when I have to remind myself of this very thing.  We all face things in life that cause us concern, things that create doubt, and things that quite frankly scare the daylights out of us.  What we have to do is realize that nothing in this world is ever going to change the fact that you are a spiritual creature.  Certainly you may not focus on this fact daily, but just because you are not constantly pursuing spiritual things doesn't mean you are not a spiritual being.  In my conversation yesterday I simply encouraged this young lady to begin to listen to her spirit, follow her intuition, which is another word for your spirit, and then simply relax.

I have learned many things over the last few years, but one of the biggest "Ah Ha" moments was when I realized that we have been sold a bill of goods by those who have been around us since the day of our birth.  If those around you haven't a clue about their spiritual nature, then why in the world would you want to follow their guidance?  They are only regurgitating what they have been taught by others who likewise have zero clue of true spirituality.  If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, the conditioning of man has done nothing to put anyone on their path to destiny.  Given the option to free yourself from the expectations of man, or be trapped in them forever, what would you choose?  I'm hoping you choose to be freed up, but if that is not the case, then regrettably you are destined to continue on the path you are on right now, and the thought of life getting better, is going to be just that, a thought.

When I set out on this journey of helping others discover and ultimately walk in their destiny I was not sure how it was all going to pan out.  I had questions, and as I was brave enough to ask these questions I was always assured that the answers would come back to me.  If you are wanting a better life, if you are desiring to know more about your true nature, then it's time to accept the fact that you already have everything you need to do this.  If you are depending on others to give you the answers then you are asking for trouble, especially if the others haven't a clue as to their true nature.

Get to know the sound of your own spirit.  Your true essence is never going to lead you astray.  Your spirit is never going to do anything that is contrary to the nature of the the Creator of the Universe.  When you begin to understand intuition, then you will be on your way to a better life, a more fulfilling life, and a life that touches the hearts and minds of others, who are also on a journey.

Life is getting better, and better is what most everyone wants, but few understand how to get it.  You can change the face of humanity if you will simply begin to accept who and what you are, and share your new found experiences with those around you.  Life is a journey of discovery, and now it is time to discover your true self.

"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning."

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"Oh I'm never gonna grow up."  Have you ever echoed these words?  If you are like me then these words are words to live by.  Many people confuse growing up with maturity.  What I want to show you today is that growing up and maturity are not necessarily the same thing.

Now it's nearly impossible to predict when someone is going to mature, and to a large extent the same can be said about growing up.  Problem arises when we begin to dictate what growing up is, and what it should look like.  Somehow growing up has taken on a whole different meaning, especially when it comes to career, family, and the like.

First and foremost, no one has a patent on growing up, nor can we fit everyone into the same mold.  What works for one is not going to work for anther.  There are people that due to circumstances beyond their control are forced to mature much faster then others.  I'm sure everyone has heard these words, "Oh just grow up."  Problem with this statement is that it is coming from someone who is trying to force their own definition of what "Grown Up" means and forcing you to fit into their mold.  Everyone is different, I think we have finally determined that to be true.  It is in those differences where everyone is going to have to discover for themselves the right time to mature and the right time to grown up.

My take on "Growing Up" is probably a little different then most.  I feel there is a time to put away childish ways, but that doesn't mean you forget what it's like to be a child,  that you don't display that child like faith, those child like dreams, and more importantly those child like qualities of carefree living.  When people grow up they seem to forget the freedom they once had as a child.  As a child you had the freedom to dream.  You always expected good things to come your way, and often because of those expectations good did come.  I always want to have those child like qualities in my life because I never want to be so jaded by life that I feel that I have to give up on those things that mean the most to me.  I matured very quickly growing up. It wasn't so much that my life dictated a need to mature, it was just that I had things that I wanted to do, and quite honestly the things that others were doing just didn't interest me.  When you discover the uniqueness of your being, then you are able to mature in ways that others can't understand.

I love having a good time, and I thoroughly enjoy a good practical joke.  I love to laugh, and I love making other people laugh.  I find that many people have forgotten how to have a good time, and this is because they feel that life is too important to surrender what you need to do for some wayward thoughts of laughter and fun.  People's focus on career, family, and storing things up for a rainy day has robbed them of the joy they could be experiencing right now, but have opted to fore go that joy until a later date.  If you can't have fun with what you are doing, then why are you doing it?  Work, although necessary to bring home the bacon, isn't supposed to be a life sentence of drudgery, and it certainly wasn't meant to suck the life out of you.  Those who feel that growing up and maturity means you can no longer be a child have really missed out on things.  If I can't have fun with what I am doing, then quite frankly I don't want to do it.

You know, you can be all grown up, you can be all mature, and you can be one miserable S.O.B.  If you only look at life as a set of expectations set up by others, and refuse to take a different path, then can you really be surprised when you begin to hate life itself?  Given the option to enjoy every minute of what you do, albeit acting like a kid every now and again, or keeping your nose to the grindstone to prove to others your worth as an employee, what would you choose?  Now if you choose to be that dedicated worker who knows only to follow the rules, not muddy up the waters, and never really do what you love, you probably will fit the definition of maturity and grown up.  But this definition will rob you of who you truly are, it will rob you of any passion you have, and it will cut years off your life.  Being a kid every now and again will do more to add a zest to your life, it will do more to free you from other's expectations, and it will make you a better person.

I'm not sure how far away the "Second Star to the Right" is, nor do I know how far I can travel until morning, but guess what?  Does it really matter?  What matters is that you let adventure be a part of your life.  What matters is that you let the kid in you come out and play from time to time.  What matters is that you look at life and you simply smile because you get to be a part of it.  I love being a kid, and I love that I still allow the kid to direct my steps on a daily basis.  I am very mature, but I also know that maturity needs to be coupled with a few things to allow balance in your life.  Either one, maturity, or being a kid, taken to an extreme can be bad, but bringing in that balance, well my lovelies, life becomes an adventure, and with each adventure comes newness of life.

Allow your dreams to take you on an adventure, and if that adventure takes you to the first, second, or even third star to the right, so be it.  It's OK to dream, it's OK to be a kid, and it's really OK to be the special unique person you are.  We need what you have, and we need it now.

Step by Step; Inch by Inch

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Life is a process of steps.  It is one continuous cycle of learning, doing, and finally conquering.  Each step is measured: sometimes big, sometimes small, and often without the knowledge of what awaits you at the end of each measured movement.  The big take away from all this is not how big or small each step is, but rather that you were brave enough to take the step in the first place.

As a very wise and enlightened man once said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."  Today I want to encourage you to step out and begin to accept your calling, your destiny, your charge in life.  People can talk about what they desire each and every day, but without action, then those thoughts are just that, thoughts.  Action and activity is what will bring to fruition all that you desire, and if having what you desire is really what you want, then begin to move toward those things you hold dear.

There have been many times in my life when I would dream about something: I could see it, I could imagine it, and I could feel it.  The only thing that stopped me from having all that I desired was the ability to take the first step, no matter how small that step might have been.  Often my inability to move past the thought process and into the action process was simply a fear.  There are many things that people can fear in this life, and often that fear is debilitating, but fear has ruined many a life simply because we allowed it to rule us.  Fear is simply the absence of knowing the power you have within to have and to hold all that you desire.  Fear is masked in the words that others speak about us.  Fear is layered in the expectations that others place on us.  Fear is not taking that first step because you wonder if you have what it takes to take another step after it.  No matter how you look at it, fear destroys dreams, and without dreams, is there really any reason to step out in the first place?

Each time you take a step toward your goals, you are looking fear in the face and stating that no matter what comes at you, you will move forward in those things you know to be yours.  As crazy as it sounds, there are people out there with all the talent in the world, and the only thing they truly fear is success.  Hard to believe that people could fear success, but this is a very real problem for quite a few people, present company included.  In the past I allowed my fear of success to stop me.  It took some very harsh but loving words from a dear dear friend (thank you Ms. Silverstone) to make me see that I had to own who I was, and there was no need to apologize for the greatness that ran through my veins.  I allowed false pride to dictate my actions. I was so afraid of coming across as conceited, that I went in the opposite direction and began to belittle myself.  This I must admit was destructive, and I paid the price for my lack of self-worth.

The process of life takes you from baby to adolescent, to young adult, and finally to mature adult.  There is never going to be a time when you jump from toddler to adult skipping the steps in-between.  The same can be said about the steps you take to get you to your desired outcome.  If having all you wanted was as easy as snapping your fingers don't you think everyone would be doing it?  The process is in place because you need to take each step, and only you can take the first step.  I can encourage you to step out into things.  Family, friends and loved ones can encourage you along the way, but ultimately you dictate the steps you are willing and able to take.

I was at a business meeting the other night and as I was talking about future plans for the company I was amazed at how far we had come.  At the same time I was mindful of just how important each step I had previously taken in my life had prepared me for what I am doing right now.  I think back to that 19 year old flying off to England not knowing at that time how what I was going to experience was going to impact what I was doing right now.  I reflect on things that I have done and to be perfectly honest I am amazed how each thing fits perfectly together.  I had to go through, had to experience the things I experienced to be in the place I am now.  You too will have to experience certain things to bring you to the place you need to be in, so you an fulfill your destiny.

Stepping out into your destiny is a process, and that process while different for everyone is still going to start when you take the first step.  You may not even realize you are taking steps toward your destiny, but I assure you everything you are experiencing in life is leading you toward your destiny.  If you can embrace the concept of destiny, then you can embrace the idea that everything happens for a specific reason and as you build up your list of experiences you begin to see how each piece of the puzzle fits perfectly into the grand picture of your life.  Each step along the way is yet another piece of your life's puzzle and while each piece has different shapes and sizes, each one can only fit in the perfect spot.

Each step you take along your journey is in the perfection of Spirit's plan for your life.  Embrace each experience, learn from each one, and know that there will be more to come.  If it's time for you to step out into the things you hold dearest then fear not.  You have prepared for this moment and you are more than able to take the first step.  It may be a tiny step, but tiny is still good when we talk about advancing toward your destiny.

Somewhere over the rainbow.

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Most people, at least those with televisions, the Internet, or those who read, have seen this picture.  It was taken the night of the Landmark Supreme Court ruling that basically made same-sex marriage legal in the entire country.  To say that there are two sides to this issue is an understatement.  The comments coming forth just after the Court's ruling was made public were startling in contrast.  You had Clergy who had threatened to set themselves on fire if the ruling went in favor of Same-Sex Couples.  You had Ministers telling others that it was time to take up arms and utilize their Second Amendment Rights to secure their First Amendment Rights.  To say that this one issue has been polarizing is indeed an understatement of mammoth proportion.  Here's my question: Why?

In trying to look at this topic logically, I have to ask myself this simple, yet often overlooked questions: what does it matter, and who does it hurt?  I mean, does it really impact the lives of those around you if someone gets married?  Certainly if a family member gets married it might impact your family.  After all your daughter's husband's family could be completely different and crazier then your own family and that will change the atmosphere at any family gathering.  But my feeling is that those who have complained the most have always been using how they feel it will impact others as their central argument. I don't really care how it might affect others, I care how things affect me, and truth be told two people of the same sex getting married has absolutely zero to do with me, after all I'm not the one getting married to the two other people.  

Now I know that there will be those who read this and will decide that what I am writing today is so wrong that they will decide to never read another word of mine.  That is their right, and I will honor that right.  At the same time I must be true to me, and truth be told, I hid behind fear for so many years never able to live the life that was mine to live and love the person that I truly loved.  I have heard almost every argument as to why love and marriage was set aside for one man and one women. I have studied the bible, you know the book that so many want to quote, yet they only quote the passages that support their argument, and forget about the rest of what has been written.  In my studying I never heard Jesus speak one word about the "Gay" issue.  Now maybe I was blinded by my own gayness, but I am pretty sure it would have presented itself to me had it been there.  What Jesus did speak about at length was the topic of love.  He was love, he lived love, and he knew love.  Oh sure many believers will use the phrase "Hate the sin, but love the sinner.", but push come to shove love is the last thing on their mind when faced with issues that are contrary to their upbringing.  If they truly loved the "Sinner" would we be having this argument right now?

I am not here today to push the "Gay" agenda.  I think those who have fought this issue for years and years always talking about how it will affect the children, have already done a pretty good job of pushing the agenda themselves.  Why is it that the children are always the ones who have been put front and center in this argument.  I think that having two parents is the ideal situation for any child.  I commend those parents who have had to raise their children alone, and I applaud them for all of their efforts and the incredible job they have done.  I think any single parent if truthful would tell you that they would have preferred to have a partner along their side, but in many cases this just didn't happen.  If it takes two loving parents to really provide for their children, does it really matter if the parents are two guys or two gals?  A family centered around love is what is important and for those who want to say that the love shared by same-sex couples is any different then the love shared by straight couples, well you are just uninformed and quite frankly you are a dumb-ass.

My dear friends it's time to accept the fact that the Creator of the Universe did not make a mistake when the "Gays" were created.  The Creator did not make a mistake when those from the LGBT Community were created.  If in fact all of these people were a mistake, then what's to say that the straight community was not also a mistake.  Those who call Gay Couples an abomination are simply calling what God created an abomination.  One more thing and then I will get off my soapbox.  I hear all the time about the sanctity of marriage; how marriage is a covenant between Man and God.  OK, I will buy into this for a moment but if in fact marriage is so sacred then why is the divorce rate so freaking high in this country?  Why are there people who have been married three and four times the same ones who want to shame Same-Sex Couples?  If marriage is truly sacred how can you sit back and not cast judgment against anyone who has been married and divorced?  Hell you judge the Gays every day, maybe it is time to be fair and judge the divorcee as well.

Here's my main point:  love is love, and nothing will ever change that.  True love is the most cherished thing in the world, and no one has the right to cast dispersion on anyone who truly loves someone else.  I will marry the man I love, and if you don't want to accept that then you don't have to worry about attending my wedding nor my reception.  If on the other hand you want to accept the fact that love shared between two people is ordained by the Creator of the Universe and you can be happy about that love, then be my guest at our wedding.

I know this is very unusual for me to take on this topic, but I write what I'm told to write and maybe there was someone who just needed to hear my take on the subject.  Or maybe, I just needed to set it out there how I truly feel about the subject.  Either way, it's out there now and I hope you will still love me.  Love is so special and it's even more special when you share it with someone that is truly your soul-mate.  Don't allow prejudice or bigotry to spoil something that could change your life forever.

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Yes this is shameless promotion, but I hope you will extend me some grace as I attempt to motivate you to go out and buy my book.  I'm not asking you to buy it just so I can make money, I want you to buy it because I want you to realize a few things. What I try to bring forth in each of my blogs is extremely limited because of space and time.  Meaning, most people are not going to read a blog that is twenty pages and certainly they will not take four hours out of their day either.  The book goes into much more detail about what I believe, what I attempt to live each day, and why going after your destiny is so critical to you and the rest of those around you.

There is a greatness within each of us, and discovering that greatness is what life is truly all about.  I can sit here and tell you that life is about love, that it's about success in business or whatever endeavor you are attempting.  I can go on to tell you that success or greatness is having a wonderful family, and sharing happy moments each and every day.  All of this is truth, but it isn't the greatness that I write about.  Now I'm not discounting love, or business success, or even the happy family moments.  I feel we all need these and to a large extend most everyone I know experiences most of these right now.  The greatness I am talking about is the essence of who you are.  It is the reason you were placed here on earth.  It is the one thing that most people never figure out, and without this base knowledge you will never fulfill your destiny here on earth.

There is hardly a day that passes that I do not end up in a conversation with someone, often a stranger, about destiny.  It's not that I lead the conversation in that direction, it simply leads itself.  I believe that I meet people for a purpose, and when they cross my path, I am open to talk about whatever Spirit leads me to talk about.  During many of these conversations I am very aware of the person's demeanor. I can tell when someone is soaking up the information, and when others are just letting it go in one ear and out the other.  It doesn't offend me when the latter happens, in fact I will tell you that I have had many a conversation where just that happened to me.  Those who are open to change will be open to new ideas, those who are closed off to change, well they wouldn't recognize destiny if it reached up and bit them on the ass.

One of the things that saddens me most is when I talk with someone and they feel as though that destiny is not for them.  They often will tell me that they simply don't know what they are supposed to do.  What I always encourage them to do is simply let go of expectations.  What others expect is not important.  What you expect is not important.  Expectations thrust upon you does nothing more then mire you down in doubt, sadness, and a feeling that you are all alone in this pursuit as others have rocketed to the front ahead of you.  We as humans have a tendency to look at things through an hour glass, and as each piece of sand falls through so does a dream or desire of ours pass away with it.  Time is not real my dear ones, and the sooner you realize this the sooner you can free yourself from those expectations all relating to time.

I want you to get this book because I want you to really begin understanding the greatness that you are.  It has taken me years and years to get to the point where I can say without reservation that I love me, that I love everything about me, and that I am right where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.  If you are not in this place right now, don't give up hope.  If you are not in this place right now, don't fret.  Truth be told, the average person alive today is in the same place you are at.  I long for the day when every soul on this planet has discovered and is walking in their destiny.  It won't happen in this lifetime, but it will happen, and my true essence will be around to see it when it does.

So let me ask you this: if you knew that you only had twenty-four hours to live, what would you do?  If you are like 99.9 percent of the population you would quit the job you have hated for the last twenty or thirty years, and go do something you always dreamt of.  You might travel to some far off land that you always hoped to see.  Most everyone would want to tell those closest to them just how much you love them and what they mean to you.  So here's the obvious question: if you would do this because you only had twenty-four hours, why not do the same things when you have an undetermined amount of twenty-four hour periods ahead of you?  Why are you sitting around waiting for something to be delivered to you on a silver platter?  Go out there and begin to live the life that was always intended for you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, there are wonders out there just waiting for you to discover them.  The greatest wonder awaiting you is the wonder of who and what you are.  Please do yourself a favor and begin to focus on this.  Trust me, your life will change in unimaginable ways when you begin to see yourself the way your creator sees you.  Get my book, read it, and then begin to delve into the really important aspects of life.  It just might surprise you what becomes important to you and what other things just may fall to the wayside.  By the way you can order my book on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.  Shameless I know, but hey can't pass up the opportunity to get a little free PR from time to time.  Have a great day and smile, things are about to get heated up in a very good way.

The Art of Learning

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There is such a difference when one looks at learning verses understanding.  I can learn from an event, but don't always understand why it had to happen.  Conversely, I can really understand why things have happened to me in the past, but damn if I still haven't been able to learn from those events.

I'm not here to say that one is more important then the other.  I think there are times when we struggle to understand things, and there are times when we have a difficult time learning.  The key is to incorporate both in the hopes that you continue to learn from past experiences and understand why things had to happen the way they happened.  Let's face facts here: we are going to be put into learning situations the rest of our natural life.  Whether you are Ten or Seventy-Five, you will still be learning until the day you die.

The Art of Learning is the process by which you gain that which was intended to be learned by the situations or events you might find yourself in.  The Art of Learning is also understanding what has taken place and instead of bitching or complaining about everything, simply look at it for what it is: an opportunity.  I would be a liar if I told you that I have embraced every learning opportunity that has been presented to me in my life.  I would also be a liar if I told you that I fully understood why certain things have taken place in my life.  Try as I might I still get frustrated when forced to drive behind a stupid driver, and no matter how many times I get behind them, I still find myself wanting to blow them off the road.  I understand this is probably wrong, but I am hard pressed to learn my lesson, which is why I continually find myself behind them in traffic.   Now I am trying to be a little funny, but the point I am trying to make is that you will continually find yourself in similar situations until you begin to learn what you were intended to learn.  Now many people can understand this concept, but accepting this is entirely different.

I can remember many times in my life when I was faced with a challenge and the one thing I have always tried to do was fall back on my experiences and do those things that seemed to work in the past for me.  Now every situation is different, and there are times when you are going to have to come up with a whole new way of attacking the problem, but I believe there are always going to be certain similarities and because of this what worked in the past just may work in the here and now.  That being said, if you have failed to learn from the past then you are still going to have a difficult time overcoming what ever obstacle may be in your path.

So why am I fixating on learning and understanding today?  There is such a difference between knowing something and really feeling something.  There is a difference between seeing something and believing it.  There is an even bigger difference between accepting something and fully embracing it.  You might be able to accept that you have a destiny, but until you embrace it, you will never walk in it.  You might be able to accept the fact that you are indeed a spiritual being, but until you fully understand what that means to you, what it means to the rest of humanity, you will never be able to have all the great things that come with this knowledge.  I could write volumes about destiny and spirituality, and you could read every word, but until it becomes real, they are merely words on a page.  Being spiritual and fully accepting your spirituality is so much more then simply acknowledging that spirituality exist in this world.

As I have progressed through my life I have often thought back on certain things that have taken place, and only now can I see the reason I went through what I went through.  Had I been able to learn and understand everything the first time around, I might have done things a little different from time to time.  Hindsight is indeed Twenty-Twenty.  If you are ever going to fully comprehend the significance of you being here right now, then you will have to learn and understand about destiny, about spirituality, and about you.  When you fully understand something you bring clarity into the picture.  When you bring clarity into the picture you bring possibility.  When you can accept possibility you begin to see changes, and those changes are what will catapult you well ahead of all others.

It's easy to say to someone you have a destiny, you are a spiritual being, what isn't easy is getting them to believe it and understand the significance of it.  Given the option to fully understand the beauty of who you are, of what you are, or simply learning about it, what would you choose?  Believe it or not there are those around you who simply do not want to understand who they are, because then they would have to change many things in their life.  These people are content to stay where they are at, doing what they are doing, and never worry about what could have been.  I on the other hand never want to look back and wonder what could have been.  I will take the time right now to learn what I have to learn, attempt to understand it to the best of my abilities, and then walk in what I have learned.

We will all learn at some point in time.  We will all understand the mysteries of life sooner or later.  Blessed is the person who can take both learning and understanding and incorporate it into their daily activities.  Never run away from knowledge, and never ever stop trying to understand those things that are right in front of you.  It takes two to tango, and it takes both learning and understanding to get you where you were intended to be.

Discovering the real you. It's so much better then you might think.

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Look in a mirror, what is being reflected back at you?  If you do not see the most beautiful, the most fascinating, the most radiant person that you know, then you are missing out on something huge.  If you can't see what is meant to be seen, how could you expect others to see what you probably want most in life.  Let's be real, most of us want others to see us as something almost magical, something beyond description, something of worth, value, and ultimately something worth fighting for.

Here's where most people fall into trouble:  they desire for others to see in them, what they are unable or unwilling to see in themselves.  The question then must be asked: why are they unable to see in themselves those things that are fundamentally theirs to hold?  I mean, why is it so difficult to accept who and what you are?  Is it vain to believe that you are divine?  Is it crazy to realize that you are first and foremost a spiritual being?  Is it so self-centered to hold as truth that you are an amazing creation who has the ability to manifest anything you desire?

I have come to the conclusion that as much as I desire everyone to know who they are, there are going to be those who simply refuse to change their opinion of themselves, and because of this, they will miss out on some pretty remarkable things in their life.  Are you going to be one of the unlucky ones who simply wander through life always wondering why things didn't quite work out as planned?  Will you be like others before you who simply accepted that life was supposed to be filled with unfortunate events, and no matter what course you chose to take, it ultimately was never going to lead anywhere?  If you will take some time to discover the real you, the unique you, the amazing you, then I assure you that all the missed opportunities that others feel so deeply, you will in fact see them as not having been missed, and open up to the possibilities that await you.

Is it easy to discover the "real you" some might ask?  Let me answer a question with a question:  is it easier to go through life not knowing who you are, or knowing with certainty why you are here and why you are you?  If you can't answer why you are you and why you are here, then I will say that you do not know the real you, and if you do not know the real you, then times will challenge you in a way that knocks you off your path.

When was the last time you got up in the morning simply knowing that things were as they were meant to be, and that this was going to be a day like no other?  When was the last time you could confidently say that you were in the right place at the right time?  When was the last time you just knew that you loved being you and that you had something to offer the rest of humanity?  I got up this morning knowing that I was in that right place, and that I was blessed beyond measure.  I can feel the divine in my life, thus feeling divine in all that I do.  This statement is not made from a point of conceit, but rather from a position of knowing the beauty of my existence, and the splendor of my creator.  This is the point where I desire each and everyone of you to be in.

Discovering the real you is laying an ax to the conditioning of man and not simply rolling over and accepting what others tell you is normal in life.  Discovering the real you is what will free you from the chains that may have bound you up for many years.  Discovering the real you will allow you to look at each day as an opportunity to teach others, love others, and touch others in a way that will change their life forever.

How great would your life be right now if you knew that you knew that you were doing what was intended for you to do at the time of your birth?  How many people do you know who can say this, and how many times have you wanted to say this for yourself?  I know what it's like to cry out to God just wanting to know there was more to this life then what I had experienced thus far.  I knew there were thoughts and feelings inside of me that just knew there was more to life, more to love, more to touching the lives of others in a way that would fundamentally change the way they saw their own life.  Until such time as I was able to accept who and what I was, it was impossible for me to fully comprehend what I wanted to do in this life.  I took the time to meditate on the real me.  I studied and studied, and then I studied some more.  Was it all smooth roads?  I wish I could say yes, but there were many twist and turns, but I am at a point right now where I am confident that no matter what might come my way, I will navigate my path and ultimately end up where I was intended to end up.

As our company logo states, "Life is a journey of discovery", and with each discovery comes answers.  With each answer doors are opened, and with each open door opportunity knocks.  Are you at a point in your life where you want to discover more?  Are you at a point in your life where you are ready to take the next step, and in beginning your journey realize that life is about to improve for you and those around you immeasurably?

It is time to discover the real you.  It is time to forget what others expect and simply follow your heart.  Your life is yours, and only yours.  Certainly you will have an affect on others, but that will only happen when the real you comes out to play.  Think about it this way: you can have fun with life, or life is simply going to have fun with you.  Which one makes more sense?  It is time to discover the real you, and it's time to accept just how great you are.  There is nothing wrong with understanding your greatness, do it with humility, but do it.  There is a huge difference with knowing your greatness covered in humility, and simply parading your arrogance around for others to see.  Forget the latter, and own who you really are.  I will tell you this, knowing the real you will change your life for the better, and the better you are, the better the rest of the world will be.  Think about that and let the journey begin.

Seventy times seven, that is real love.

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To error is human, to forgive divine!  We say these words, we sometimes believe them, but how often do we display them in our life on a daily basis? Forgiveness goes hand in hand with love, and love as is the case, is the foundation to our life and to our being here right now.  We were intended by love, formed by loved, and sent here to love.

We have been taught to forgive.  Forgiveness is often tested when the ones you love the most continue to do things that cry out for forgiveness.  The question then becomes how often and for how long are we supposed to turn the other cheek and simply forgive?  Those who are in need of forgiveness probably never give it much thought, but those who are having to forgive often find themselves at odds with what to do.  How often are you supposed to forgive someone?  Christ said that you need to forgive "Seventy times Seven."  That's a lot of forgiving, but the forgiving is not so much for the person who did the wrong, but for you.  Living with unforgiveness in your heart toward another is not going to really affect the other person, it is going to affect you.

As His Holiness the Dali Lama said just because you forgive someone doesn't mean you have to accept what has taken place.  If someone is doing physical harm to you then don't be stupid and just sit there and take it time and time again.  Get out of there, and don't let the door hit you on the butt on your way out.  Forgiveness means releasing your feelings and emotions about an event so that you are not trapped in it for years and years.  There have been instances in my life when I have had to go to someone and ask them for forgiveness because I was having a difficult time forgiving them for something that had taken place.  Now your average person is thinking what an idiot I must be to think that I am the one having to ask for forgiveness and I was the one who had the wrong done to them.  Certainly on the surface it makes little sense, but walking around unable to forgive someone for something that happened is only going to make matters worse for you.

Unforgiveness is like a noose around a neck, and the longer you let it operate in the your life, the tighter and tighter the noose gets until you have cut off your airway and then it's all over for you.  I would like to think that I do very little that would require someone to have to forgive me.  That being said, I know that there are times when I don't always act as I should and in those actions I have hurt those I love and those I know.  I would hope that they could find it in their heart to forgive me, and in that forgiveness build a bond that is almost unbreakable.  If you can find the strength to forgive an evil done to you, then you will find love rushing back to you.

If you truly love someone then you have to forgive them for what ever it is that they have done.  Mind you, you don't have to accept the actions or the ramifications of their actions, but you do have to forgive them.  Funny thing love:  isn't it easier to forgive someone when you really love them, verses someone who you really can't stand anyway?  I mean if you dislike someone and they have done you wrong, how easy is it for you just to turn your back and walk away? (Albeit muttering words of hate and discontent all the way home.)  On the other hand, how easy would it be just to simply release the hurt, shower them with love, and know that you are not going to be bound up with anger and frustration because of a stupid act of whatever it is they did to you?

Will you be tested "Seventy times Seven" by the same person?  Maybe, but even just two or three times is enough for most people to turn their backs on someone and never wish to lay eyes on them again.  Once again, if you see forgiveness as more for you then the person who did the wrong, then it is so much easier to extend that forgiveness because it is for you.  Forgiveness will take the sting out of most anything, and it will allow you to receive love back from the Universe.

I know how hot headed I can get at times, and it is when I let my emotions get the better of me that I often lash out at someone and then I am feeling guilty because of my actions.  I hope those who have been the recipient of these moments could or would choose to forgive me.  I am just as likely to need forgiveness as anyone else out there, but I would be a hypocrite if I could not forgive someone a wrong while at the same expecting someone to extend forgiveness my way.

Here's the bottom line:  forgiveness is easy when it is covered in the power of love, and when love is operating in your life on a daily basis.  I can assure you of this, if you are unable to forgive, then it will difficult for you to walk around in love, and if you are not able to walk around in love, then you will undoubtedly never walk fully in your destiny.  There I said it, you may not want to hear it, but I said it anyway.  Destiny is linked to love because your destiny was placed in you when love created you.  Unforgiveness means you see yourself as more important then others, and that is nothing but pride, and pride will stop destiny all the time.

I know how hard it can be to forgive at times, but I also know how much harder life will be if you continue to walk around unable to forgive others.  Take a minute and quietly release those who have done you wrong in the past.  Shower them with love, they won't even know you"re doing it, but I assure you the Universe will know, and then you will get back more love then you could possibly imagine.  It is time to extend forgiveness, and in doing so take a giant step toward a richer and more fulfilling life.  

Who am I?

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Ten years ago did anyone know what a selfie was?  I certainly didn't, or maybe better put, didn't care.  I can probably count on two hands the number of selfies I have taken of myself over the last ten years, make that one hand.  I am not opposed to this new fixation that many have, I simply have never liked getting my photo taken, let alone take a photo of myself.  (Something I have to work on I've been told, lol)

Selfies are snapshots of us, at any particular moment, doing whatever it is that we are doing.  I've seen some pretty bizarre selfies over the last few years, and the question I ask myself in these moments is what was going on in their mind to take a photo like this?

If you take this new phenomenon to a different level, or better yet cut into it to see why it is happening, I think most people would have to say we do it because we want to make a statement to others as to who we are.  That leads me to the next logical question: who are you?  I mean when you get down to brass tacks, who and what are you?  Can a selfie depict who you really are?  Can a selfie get down to your core, your very being?  Selfies are just a superficial snapshot of the outside, and more often then not the outside is nothing like the real person you were intended to be.

If you were to take two selfies, one depicting your outside and one depicting your core, would there be any difference in the photo?  Are some of these people who post selfie after selfie really like the photo they have just posted all over social media, or are they trying to get us to believe one thing while trying to figure out something else?  Don't misunderstand, I really could care less who takes selfies and who post them.  Although, I will say that some of the postings I have seen over the years I personally would not have done, and it certainly hasn't served the individual depicted well, just saying.

I get the fact that selfies can be fun, and the motivation behind taking them is amusement by those taking them.  I'm all for having fun.  I'm all for showing others who you really are.  That being said, how many selfies really show the truth of a person?  I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but if you are really trying to find the real you, why muddy up the waters by trying to portray yourself as something you are not?  If you were to take a selfie of the real you, would those who see it recognize the subject in the photo?  I would hope that what people see in me is what they would see in any photo I am in, be it a selfie or any other form.

I recently completed a Three-week seminar series that I was hosting and the first week was solely designed to lay a foundation.  This foundation was all about coming to terms with who and what you are.  Anything less than this makes it almost impossible to truly understand and walk in your destiny. As I have progressed with my life over the last couple of years I have been fixated on the desire to really get to know the real me.  I wanted to know how the Creator of the Universe saw me, and I wanted to own it.  Now it hasn't been all peaches and cream these last few years.  I have had to accept some startling realizations, realizations that I didn't have all the answers.  I had to accept the fact that I had been the reason why so many things had gone wrong in my life, and I had to own it.  I could no longer place the blame on others, I had to take responsibility for what had transpired in my life.  If I had taken a selfie of me two years ago, and take another one right now, I can tell you that the two would be completely different.

If you have been party to this recent craze of taking selfies, do the pictures which show you, show the real you?  If they do, well then more power to you.  If they don't, then the only question I have for you is why don't they?  If you know the real you, the authentic you, the you that was intended since the beginning of time then all I have to say is keep posting.  I think that selfies came about because people wanted others to see them in all their glory.  Do your selfies show you in all your glory?  I hope they do, but just in case they don't, and they portray you as something you are not, then maybe it's time to get to know the real you and show the world the real you.

Selfies can be fun, but the real excitement comes when you get down to your core and show others just what you are really made of.  The beauty of your being is just that, beautiful.  The exceptional you is what the world needs to see, wants to see, and ought to be able to see.  When I look at people I try never to just see the surface of who they are, I try to get a feel for who they really are and I try to see them the way they were intended to be.  Try as I might most selfies that get posted on-line are anything but the real person.  Maybe it's time to take stock in who you really are and show this to the rest of the world.  Think about it.....

True Passion is your True Direction

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What is passion?  Do you think everyone has it?  If everyone does have it, why are there so many lost souls out there just wandering about trying to figure out their course in life?

I am a firm believer that everyone has a passion; now whether they want to admit it or not is an entirely different thing, but yep passion resides inside everyone.  The key to living and having a satisfied life is to embrace your passions, and do something with them.  I guess to some this is easier said then done, but in reality it is that simple.

As most of you know my passion is writing and talking to others about destiny.  There is virtually nothing else that I 'd rather be doing with my life.  I can assure you that until the time came when I was able to recognize my passion I was trying to fill my life with everything else just to maintain my sanity.  The problem was is that I was going crazy because nothing that I tried, nothing that I did was bringing peace or joy into my life.

I know so many people who on the surface seem to have everything.  They have a measure of success in their chosen profession.  They have stuff, and this stuff is somewhat of a trophy displaying their prowess in what ever it is they are doing.  But if you get down to the nitty-gritty, they are just as empty, just as lost, and just as miserable as so many others because they lack the one thing that could change their life for ever, and that one things is an acceptance of what lays deep within.  Your passion is never going to go away.  You may try to bury it, run from it, and otherwise ignore it, but it is still going to be there and ultimately it will drive you nuts until you do something with it.

I wish I could tell you that discovering your passion and ultimately walking in it was going to be error free or without some troubles.  We live in a world where there are just as many people trying to dissuade you from your passion as there are those who are trying to get you to embrace it.  It seems to me that those who want to take you down to their level of misery would be the ones that I choose to stay away from.  Face it, life has a way of becoming difficult from time to time, why in the world would you want to make it even more difficult by allowing the naysayers any room to breath?

If you are lacking direction in your life I would bet you that you have also not given heed to the feelings that lay deep within you.  If you are lacking direction in your life then I would also bet you that you have been unwilling to accept certain things because others have had negative words or feelings about them.  Yes it is difficult sometime to go against the grain, but have those around you who seem to hate everything about life ever given you any reason to want to follow in their footsteps?

Your passion is just that, it's yours.  It may never correspond with what others are doing, and that's fine.  You were not placed here on this earth to simply be like everyone else.  You were placed here to do something specific and in that specificity you will find, if you allow it to come forth, the one thing that is at your center.  If you want direction then simply follow your passion.  I don't know how many different ways I can tell you that your passion is what you were placed here for, and what you were placed here for is in direct correlation to what you love most, even if you haven't discovered what it is that you love most.

Passion is never going to go away, never ever.  Why make yourself miserable by trying to ignore your passions?  It's crazy that some will go to almost any length to get past what they should ultimately be embracing in their life.  I get that there are some who are scared to death about some of the things that are running around in their minds and hearts.  Trust me, when the time is right you will have everything you need to be able to succeed at those things you have inside of you.  Until such time, why not just accept what you have, and be happy that there is something coming down the pike that is going to bring you peace and happiness?   As I've said so many times before, you can run from your passion, but it is a race against something that will never be won by you.

If you desire to have the best that life has to offer you, then take a deep breath, let it out, and simply begin to accept the simple truth that there is a passion inside of you just waiting to be let out.  I know how scary it can be to simply throw caution to the wind and do something completely different.  I also know that until such time as you are willing to think outside of the box you are going to be held captive by those who are either unwilling or unable to let go of the status-quo.  If you simply want to be a number like everyone else then continue to ignore your passions.  If on the other hand you want to blaze a new trail, then guess what, get moving.  You are the only one who can make the decision to do what needs to be done.

Passion is a wonderful thing, and passion is what will set your feet onto a whole new path.  This is the path that leads to fulfillment, peace, joy, and happiness.  I can't think of a better way to live then having all the fulfillment, peace, joy, and happiness that one can hold.  Spread your arms and accept what is being given to you, and begin to experience the life that you were always intended to experience.

The Windmills of our mind.

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Thoughts play out in our mind thousands of times each day.  We concoct all kinds of scenarios, and most of the time they are just that scenarios, with no real chance of it ever happening.  I guess that isn't always a bad thing considering that much of what we think about is stuff that we really don't want around in our life, let alone our head.

What I want to talk about today is the importance of what we allow to run rampant in our minds, our thoughts, and what is the proper way of handling those thoughts that we really never want to see manifested in our life.

If you have been around and read any other of my works then you know that I am a very strong proponent of the Law of Attraction.  There are generally two sides to this law, or should I say two points of view when it pertains to the Law of Attraction.  One side whole heartily supports and believes in the Law.  The other side, and this is probably because it never worked for them, doubts it, mocks it, and other wise discounts it at every turn.  Unfortunately what most of these doubters don't understand is that the law works perfectly every time, and the misfortune they may have been experiencing is because they have brought it on themselves, either through their words, their thoughts, or their feelings.

Many people fixate on the negative things that may be going on around them.  This fixation is nothing more than a breeding ground for more misfortune.  If you are constantly complaining about things in your life, all you are doing is asking the Universe to send you more of it.  If you are constantly focused on fear, doubt, lack, is it any wonder that these things continue to show up in your life, and show up frequently.  If on the other hand your thoughts lend themselves to happiness, joy, peace, and love, then you will be the recipient of these things, and pretty soon you will never have to worry about having thoughts that are contrary to these wonderful emotions.

Let me ask you this question, and I probably know the answer already, but I want to give you a chance to think about it on your own.  Have you ever been faced with a situation where you just didn't know what was going to take place?   In this moment your mind is working overtime creating scenarios that may or may not play out.  Each scenario has an outcome, and quite often each outcome is simply the lessor of two evils.  We have a tendency as humans to expect the worst in most cases, and if the worst does not take place, we show a sigh of relief and move on to the next crisis in our life.  However, if you look back and are real honest with yourself, most of what you thought never played out the way you thought it would.  Count it a blessing that things worked out better then you had imagined.  That is Spirit's grace and mercy extended to you, because quite frankly what you think, what you say, and what you feel is what you should expect out of life.  That being said, when do you think it's a good time to check how you think, how you feel, and what words come out of your mouth?  The answer is pretty simple, yet to many, it is the last thing on their mind.

If you can think in positive ways, set the tone for the day with good joyful thoughts, and work the day with words of encouragement and laughter, don't you think that things will play out with great results?  Face it, what most people have been experiencing in life is anything but peaceful and joyous, and yet they are the first ones to poopoo on this so called Law of Attraction.  Why is it that anything we don't fully understand must be false or just jibber jabber, and there is no need to give it the time of day?  You can continue to think this, but I assure you that you will continue to face challenges, that if you would just suck it up, drop your pride, you just might experience life in a completely different way.

Our mind is sometimes are greatest nemesis.  There is no doubt that it can be our greatest asset, but more times than not, our mind is the culprit when it comes to those things that go on around us.  We have been conditioned to expect certain things in life, and because the conditioning has been so thorough, we just think or expect that this is what life is supposed to be like.  Forget about the conditioning of life and begin to think new thoughts.  Begin to see things in a different light, and maybe just maybe all the crap you have had to deal with will no longer be front and center in your life.  I look at it this way: if in fact the Law of Attraction is simply a pile of dog excrement, then have you really lost anything if you try it?  Now, if the Law of Attraction is really a universal law, and all of the universe falls under it's control, then maybe you might want to take heed of it, and try to incorporate into your life.  I don't know about you, but I really don't want to have to go round Robin Hood's barn another time trying to pick up on something that I should have listened to years ago.

Understand this my dearies:  your mind is going to focus on what you put into it.  Place doubt, fear and unbelief, and you shall have it.  Place peace, joy, and the likes, and you will see the world in a very different light, and you will experience things in a whole new way.  If what you have been doing as of late has not worked for you, have you lost anything by changing things up and trying something new?  The choice is yours, but if I were you I would start by checking what goes on in that mind of yours and start re-programming it to thoughts of how great things are instead of how dire they seem.  I promise you that when you change your thoughts, you will change your world.

Transitions, oh how I love them.

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You may have sensed a note of sarcasm in today's blog title.  In truth I actually don't mind transitions, at least many of them.  There are all kinds of transitions that we go through in a normal life time.  Every four years we transition from one Presidential Administration to another.  Most of the time the transfer of power is seamless, at least that's what is portrayed on the television, political insiders might not agree, but perception is reality in many cases.  I had gone through several transitions during my time in the United States Air Force.  Certainly there were bumpy roads from time to time, but the mission always continued and we always made a point of doing our job the same way as before, with dedication and commitment.

What happens when the transition is much closer to home, much closer to you, and when it directly impacts your dreams and visions?  This seems to be a horse of a different color, but in reality there really isn't all that much difference in this transition vice the ones already mentioned.  The difference is how we handle them, especially when we are so close to the subject matter.

To me any transition is like a brand new day.  Each new day brings new opportunity and new possibilities.  Ideally transitions are quick, they are smooth, and they are enjoyable, ideally.  Where things get a little crazy is when things don't run smooth, and joy seems like something from a Galaxy far far away.  My first reaction to those who detest change is to ask why?  Why does change have to be a bad thing?  Why are transitions looked upon like the Angel of Death?  Change is required if forward progress is ever going to be achieved.  Transitions are also required if you ever want to get to that place where you are walking in your destiny.  Face it, if you knew your destiny at the time of your birth then there would be no need for transitions in your life as you would already be where you want to be in this moment.  You and I both know that is not how things work.  Instead of fearing transitions, embrace them.  Embrace it for what it is, a new beginning with new opportunity.  Embrace it for what it is, new adventures with new experiences.  Embrace it, if only for the simple fact that you will be going through transition after transition your entire life, so you might as well get used to it from the get-go.

I'm going through a huge transition right now.  It is one that was a long time coming and there are several different facets to this one.  I am loving almost every minute of it, and I am looking at it with joy, happiness and lots of anticipation for what is coming.  The key to any transition is to see the good in it.  The key to any transition is to see the potential in it.  The absolute key to any transition is to embrace it and realize that it is what has to happen if you are ever going to walk in your destiny.

I can talk about destiny until the cows come home, but you have to realize that destiny is for you as much as for anyone else.  If you are ever going to walk in your destiny, then you are going to have to navigate transition after transition.  My advice to you is to get used to it now, or life is going to be pretty rocky.

Transitions are like the changing seasons, they are like day melting into night, and they are like the sun that shines after the rain.  Each change brings newness, and each change brings hope.  If you can see hope, have hope, live hope, then the fear of any transition is minimized and you can enjoy the process instead of running from it.  Trust me, I have had my share of running, and no matter how far I tried to take it, it never changed the fact that I was going to go through what I was going to go through.  I could have saved myself a lot of hurt and anxiety if I had simply embraced the change, the transition and see it for what it was, something good.

That little furry Caterpillar may or may not know what changes are coming, but like it or not it is going to change into a Butterfly.  You can go kicking and screaming through any transition, but when all is said and done, the change that has to come will come.  Do yourself a favor and embrace the change.  In the long run things will run much smoother as already stated and your happiness will not be diminished in the slightest because of the upcoming changes.

Transitions, yes I do love them.  I love that I get to experience something new, and from those experiences I get to share what I have learned with others.  Accept change and transitions, and know that what you have gained will be shared by those around you.  Embrace it my friends, embrace it with everything inside of you.  Trust me, it will all be worth it.