Life after the storm.

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Boy was it was howling last night. Wind, rain, thunder, lightening, a mess to be sure, and now the clean up.  They say there's a silver lining to every black thunder cloud, do you agree?  For those who are forced to clean up after a major storm there is always a bit of trepidation as one never knows what one is going to find when they wake up after a big storm.  What I want to provide you today is a different way of looking at the storms of life, and maybe then you  might pick up a new way of seeing things, thereby picking up a new way of doing things, and then a new way of receiving things.

Storms, for the most part, are never fun.  I've been in blizzards, rain storms, wind storms, and without exception there is always an element of concern.  Concern over damage, concern over being displaced, and for some the worry that this might be the end.  Although storms may come and go throughout your life, there is a way of countering the effect of these storms, and that is what I really, really, really want you to look at today.  There are so many people who automatically claim that storms are bad in general, and they will never see the benefit to any of them.  There are others who look at a storm, be it actual or simply an example of what many go through in life, and they see it as a challenge to be won, and because of this mentality, most of the time they do win the competition.

You really have only two choices when storms come.  You can sit back and let things play out, or you can be proactive and take measures to keep damage as minimal as possible.  For those who sit back and do nothing, they have no choice but to wait things out and let the chips fall where they may.  If you are the type to take things on, they you are already looking for an exit strategy, safety aspects, and life after the storm.  Which type of person are you?  It would be great if we never had to face the storms of life, but just like you will never be able to stop mother nature from unleashing her will upon the earth, you will have to deal with the storms of life.  I've run from these storms more times then I would like to admit, but I have learned to face the storms when they come, and more often then not the end result is not nearly as bad as was first expected.

Let me give you a little golden nugget to chew on this morning, and if you are wise, you will use this information for all future storms be they from mother nature, or just life's way of keeping you on the straight and narrow.  If you can find the newness that arrives after each storm, embrace the newness, and openly be thankful for the lessons learned, then you will be able to face each storm, and in some cases stop the storm before it is able to form.  More often then not we look at the damage that might come from a storm: tree limbs down, power outages, and general malaise for those who are suffering the effects of a large storm.  The mistake most people make is they are looking at the past, and not the future.  Face it, if a tree limb has been brought down, is there anyway for you to put it back up?  If the city or town you live in just got 36 inches of snow, are you going to be able to snap your finger and make it all go away?  The answer to both these questions is no.  No the limb won't go back on the tree, and no, there is no way you are going to rid yourself of 36 inches of snow over night.  Instead of looking at what you can't do, look at those things you can do.  There is something beautiful about walking outside after a big storm and seeing the sun out and realizing that as bad as things may have been the night before, you are still here, and you get the chance to fix up a few things.

Maybe that tree that came down is going to provide you with all the wood you need for the wood stove in your home that is there to provide heat to you and your family throughout the cold winter months.  That flooded basement?  Maybe it will help you get rid of stuff that has just been sitting around for years collecting dust.  You can look at these things as blessings, or you can look at them as curses.  If it were me, I like to look at things as opportunities to do something different.  The universe has a way of forcing you into action.  This action is something that should have taken place before hand, but because we are human we put things off.  Trust me, if there is something that needs to happen, the universe is going make sure it happens.  Each storm is an opportunity to learn, and if you fail to learn the lessons, you will find yourself going through the storm time and time again until you learn the things you need to learn.

There is certainly life after a storm, the key question is this:  will you be a willing participant in the life or will you be the one who simply complains and ends up waiting for the next storm to hit?  I know people who live in a perpetual storm.  Everything is always a mess, always a major project or undertaking, and always, always a something to complain about.  If you are the type to always think that things will get worse, then I will tell you that you can expect storm after storm in your life.  Why in heavens name would anyone want to go through storm after storm is any one's guess.  You would think the after the first two or three you would grow tired of it and change things up a bit.

If you are ready this blog then you have already won and you have proven there is life after the storm.  Maybe recovery was slow, but recovery came and you are better for it.  Look at storms as an opportunity to put rest the notion that only bad can come from such events, and instead rest your head on the good that is there.  There is good in every storm, sometimes all you need to do is look a little deeper for it.

To each his or hers own; just make sure it's what you really want.

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There are all kinds of wishes out there today.  Some hope for a healthy long life, others dream of riches beyond the imagination, while others simply want to change the world.  There is no limit to what one desires or on what one dreams or wishes for. What is important is that those dreams and wishes are what you really want and not something that others have said are for you.

There have been people all my life who have been there to encourage me along my path of enlightenment.  Sadly there have also been others who have mocked, laughed, and even ridiculed me for my beliefs and for my desire to change the world for the better.  I've changed my mind so many times as to what I wanted to do in life.  When I was much younger I was going to be a lawyer, a priest, a businessman.  Things obviously have changed and I never became any of those, but I wouldn't trade what I do now for all the Tea in China.  People will always be evolving and with each evolution comes more clarity, more direction, and if you're listening more truth.  The key to all things is being true to self, and never settling for anything that you simply don't want.

If you had the opportunity to change things up right now and do something completely different, would you?  If someone gave you the option to stay put or to go out there and really experience life, would you go?  If all of a sudden you were granted one wish, what would your wish be?  When push comes to shove the truth usually comes out, and more often then not, we find ourselves in situations that we never planned, that we never wanted, and sadly can't find our way out of.  If you wanted to define "Personal Hell" that would have to be working a job that you hate, and I mean working it year after year, after year.  Living in a place that never really felt quite right no matter what you tried, yea I'd say that's personal hell as well.  Here's a simple question:  if things are so bad, if you hate what is going on around you, why haven't you made the decision to move on?  Now I know the answer that most people would give.  Some say they have invested too much.  Too much time, too much effort, way way too  much money.  I get that, but at the same time is that really truth.  Truth be told if there is something that you really want most people would go the length of the world to get it.  If you had a loved one who needed help to save their life you would go round Saturn's Rings to save them.  Why is it when it comes to our own dreams and desires we do so much less to get there?

There comes a time in every one's life when they are going to have to take an inventory of their life.  More often than not it's towards the end of a life cycle, and to be quite frank, that's just a little too late to change things up.  If you are thinking that things need to change up, chances are you are right on the money.  The question then becomes are you going to stay where you are at, or will you make the necessary changes so that you can experience real life?  The joy that comes from doing what you were intended to do in this life is priceless.  Why in heavens name would you settle for less?

There's a saying, "To thy own self be true".  We have been conditioned to believe certain things in this life and sadly much of what has been stuffed down our throats is anything but truth.  People are trapped in things that they never wanted, and many feel as though there is no alternative.  Let me lay the ax to the root and tell you that that is nonsense.  You have it within your own self to be the person you are supposed to be and not simply something made up by someone else.  Being trapped in an unwanted situation sucks, and yet there are countless people in situations that they feel they will never escape.  The time has come to change and with this change comes a freedom that many thought they could never experience.  My happiest place is sitting in front of my computer doing what I am doing right now.  I absolutely love writing, and I love talking to people, be it a small group, or five thousand people crammed into an auditorium.  When I am talking about destiny, talking about dreams and visions, I am aware that I am one with the Universe and the Universe is one with me.  When I am writing, be it this blog, or another book, I know that I am doing what I was intended to do.  Are you doing what you know you're supposed to be doing, or are you trapped in something that others have designed for you?

You may in fact have all the signs of success.  You may live in a big fancy house, drive a magnificent car, and have tons of money in the bank, but these are simply things, and there are plenty of people with things that will never discover or walk in their destiny.  I will take destiny over things any day of the week.  I choose to experience true peace, joy, and happiness, when I choose to do those things that I know are meant for me.  So yes, to each his own, but to each of you may you finally discover what is really important, and begin to only accept what you really, really want.

We will never know when our life will end, but how much better would life be if you were doing the one things that would bring you endless joy?  If you feel trapped, it's time to cut away the shackles and free yourself from others expectations and step into your own world.  Trust me, when you are doing the "One Thing" you will never look back, and I dare say you won't give two hoots what others think or say about you.  Think about that and decide to make a move.  It will be worth everything.

Are you going to be scared, or are you going to do something about it?

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So are you the type who is scared of things that go bump in the night?  Are you the type who faces down challenges and laughs in the face of danger?  As you are well aware there are all kinds of people, and even though you might be able to face the giants one day, that doesn't mean you are going to be able to do it everyday, at least not with a little help from others.

We have allowed fear to take center stage for far too long.   We, and I include myself in this statement, have allowed our fear of what might be, stop us in our tracks so that what might be never has a chance to appear.  And just so you don't think that I'm crazy, what might be just might be the one thing you've been waiting for your whole life.  What I want to do today is inspire you to forget about those things that go bump in the night and press forward with what you know to be truth, what you know is in your heart to do, and quite frankly move forward with those things that you were always intended to do.

I am not immune to fear.  I hate Snakes, run from Wasp and Hornets, and don't have a desire to go swimming with a Great White.  That being said, there isn't a whole lot of other things that scare me, at least when it comes to daily living.  I can assure you I am not afraid of death, and I pretty much go where I want to go, but that's because I have friends in very high places who can swoop down in an instant to provide protection, thank you Angels.  Sadly there are literally millions of people who are frozen in time and motion out of a fear of the unknown, or what they perceive as the unknown.  However, let me ask you a question:  if you are following what is in your heart, is there anything that can ever be listed as unknown?  We have allowed fear to dictate our lives and we have lost countless opportunities because that fear was present.  It is time to put fear to bed, and step out and do what you know you're supposed to be doing.

Let me say that there is a huge difference between being cautious and being afraid. There are always going to be situations where caution is called for.  On the opposite side of the coin, there will be times when fear is very present, but few ever ask the question as to why the fear is there. If I were climbing up the face of Half Dome in Yosemite, I can assure you I would be very cautious, that after all is wisdom.  If fear were my co-pilot then it's doubtful I would ever attempt such a climb.  How many times has fear stopped you from doing something that you really wanted to try?  How many times has fear stripped you of any desire to move forward?  How many times has fear made you run away from something that you really, really, really wanted in life?

Experts will tell us that when faced with a life or death moment that our instinct of fight or flight kicks in automatically.  The human experience is such that almost all living humans will fight for survival.  Try as you might to be brave there will come a time when you will have to decide do I run or do I fight.  Well it's time to stop running and it's time to face your fears.  There was a time in my life that my greatest fear was success.  Even though I knew I had a few books inside of me there was something that always stopped me from pursing my destiny.  It wasn't until I took some time away from everything that I was able to discover the real me.  That time spend in absolute solitude was the changing point for me.  I began to see things as they were truly supposed to be and not anything based on what others said or expected of me.  I stopped running away from those things that seemed to frighten me and I embraced what had always been inside of me.  Maybe this is the moment you should embrace what is inside and forget about all the forces around you that want nothing more then for you to run in fear.

There will always be an element of uncertainty when you begin a new journey, after all we are human and as much as we would like to rid ourselves of man's conditioning, we still have a few things to learn.  I want to encourage you to take a chance and instead of running away from things, hit them head on.  More often then not what you experience in real life is not nearly as bad as those things you conjure up in your mind.  Do you remember how scared you were when you went on the huge roller coaster and how your life nearly flashed before you as you were climbing up the initial climb?  After the ride you were ready to go on it again, and again.  Well simply put, that's how we handle the fear that might try to grip us on our daily walk toward our destiny.  When all is said and done you will probably come to the conclusion that things weren't as bad as you first thought and you are ready to take on the next event or situation.

So will you let fear grip you, or will you simply move past it and occupy that victorious space that has always been meant for you?  I am forced to look fear in the face almost daily, but after years and years of facing those things that frightened me, I have learned to look past the fear and depend on the truth that resides in me.  I encourage you to take up this stance and when you do, things will change.  Fear is the absence of peace.  Peace is a product of love.  Love is the great equalizer.  When you love what you are doing I dare say that fear will never rear its ugly head in your presence.  It is time to live with love and peace and tell fear to take a leap.  Trust me, you will thank me later for sharing this wisdom.

What is going on?

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What is going on in the world right now?  Are we running out of time?  Have people gone mad and because of this madness are they just doing unthinkable things, in ways that boggle the mind?  I've been watching the television coverage of the latest killing spree that has taken place in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I am saddened by the events of last night, and while saddened I am also outraged at some of the people who are trying to politicize this awful situation.  I am not going to go into the political side of this conversation, rather I am going to give you what I think is a fix action.  Sadly this fix action is nothing that can be done, or even orchestrated by governments or organizations.  The fix action I am talking about is completely on the shoulders of the individuals themselves.

When I see situations like the one in Vegas, I am so mindful of those who choose to walk away from them because they have become such a daily occurrence in the world today.  Hardly a day goes by where you don't hear of another killing or attack, and most of these attacks are carried out by individuals who simply have never discovered the reason for them being here.  Today's blog may sound like a broken record, but I would be extremely remiss if I didn't mention that Destiny,  understanding your destiny, accepting and walking in your destiny, is the simplest way of fixing what is wrong with our society at the moment.

Now many people might think this is an over simplification, I mean stating that walking in your destiny could fix all the problems of the world, you must think I've gone nuts or something.   But if you look at those people who have caused all of this destruction, is there any other way of looking at it?  Face it, if every individual was aware of destiny, and accepting of destiny, then they would not be focused on hurting others, but rather being a help to the rest of humanity.  Hate and discontent is a by-product of a failure to accept that being alive today is in fact a blessing and not a curse.

I was sitting on my back porch this morning just thinking about what had taken place the previous night, and all I could ask myself was why.  Now I know the why, what I don't know is the when.  When will people begin to realize there is so much more to life then simply going about our daily task and never asking if there is more?  When will people come to the conclusion that life is not simply what's in it for me, but rather what can I do for others?  When will we finally decide that we have had enough of the mediocre and only accept the bounty of what is truly ours?  I will tell you that until such time as an individual discovers their true purpose, things will never change for the better.

If I could snap my fingers and instantly the entire population of this planet knew their destiny, I would do it without reservation.  If I could snap my finger and magically every living, breathing individual thought about goodness, peace, and joy, and never held on to past hurt, past loss, or past failures, I would do it in an instant.  If I could snap my finger and poof, all is well in the world, I would do it.  There is something special about desiring goodness and not simply thinking what's in it for ""Me".  Even though you have a destiny, that destiny is not focused on your own needs and wants, but rather the needs of the rest of the planet.  Trust me, when you finally discover and begin walking in your destiny you will find that those things that you thought you've always needed seem to vanish without a trace.  Your focus begins to change, and with that change comes a freedom that once experienced will always leave you wanting more freedom.

Many have turned their back and walked away from their destiny.  Many have given up hope, because quite frankly, so many people have given up on them.  When you walk in your purpose, when you begin to see the wisdom of your dreams and how these dreams bring you closer to your destiny, then you will begin to see and know that hope is never lost, and helping others reclaim that hope becomes a central task of your life.  If this very damaged man who committed this awful crime in Vegas had known of his destiny, of his true essences, then this terrible event would never have taken place.  Once again many people are unable, or maybe just unwilling to accept the truth that destiny will in fact change the face of this planet.  I will tell you that I for one am very ready for others to step out into their destiny, because with each new step comes new freedom, and we need a whole lot of freedom I can tell you that.

If you are asking yourself the same question, what is going on, then I invite you to take a much deeper look into your being, and begin to walk in those things you were always intended to walk in.  We live in an age where most people can have pretty much anything they desire.  Problems arise when what you desire is in direct opposition to what you know to be in your best interest, or when you know it contradicts with your destiny.

The time has come to recognize that the although many people around you, myself included, are not perfect, the universe is.  If you were not intended to be here right now, you would not be.  In the perfection of the universe comes perfection of purpose, perfection of dreams, and perfection of you.  If we were all to accept the perfection of the universe we would soon see an end to the senseless killings like Vegas, and far too many others to list here.  I hate what is going on in the world right now, but even though I cannot change what has already taken place I can change what I do today and tomorrow, and if I am strong and brave, then I will attempt to help others see their own perfection.

It is time to change the world, but you have to be the first person to change.  Once you do, then others will follow your lead and change as well.