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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Better late then never!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danieloop/5336396524

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.flickr.com/photos/helgabj/1074000287

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

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

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

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

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

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

What's love got to do with it?

Jose Luis Mieza Photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the wings of eagles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When trauma turns to blessing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take Care

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

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

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