I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death. Leonardo da Vinci
Friday, May 30, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Henry Ward Beecher
Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Henry Ward Beecher
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. George Bernard Shaw
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. George Bernard Shaw
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgebern102967.html#F1E6Y8ZIbwhD64oj.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgebern102967.html#F1E6Y8ZIbwhD64oj.99
Monday, May 26, 2014
These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor - and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror. Michael N. Castle
These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor - and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror. Michael N. Castle
Thursday, May 22, 2014
The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others
Audrey Hepburn said “remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.”
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. Confucius
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. Confucius
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it. Sai Baba
Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it. Sai Baba
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other. Harvey Fierstein
I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other. Harvey Fierstein
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Throw Back Thursday “The Long Step Forward”
Well it’s throw back Thursday again and that means we almost have another week in the books. If you squint really hard you may just see the weekend starting to peek over the horizon. I hope that everyone has made it thus far with fuel still left in their “Happiness Tanks!” Many times in my life, I have laid on the virtual boxing mat of life looking up at the arena ceiling beaten, battered, and my “Happiness Tank” on ‘E’. In those moments, life has seemed to have delivered a knockout blow! As I lay there with a million and one thoughts running through my head, I ask myself if it is even worth it. Is it worth getting up for one more round? Is it worth trying to fight again? Wouldn’t it be easier to just give up? Wouldn’t death be simpler than life? Each time I have found the energy to reach my feet and fight again. It isn’t the easiest choice, but it is the right choice. Below you will find my Throw Back Thursday post. This piece of writing took me close to ten months to complete and pen out the way I wanted it. It is the first chapter in my book by the same name. Within this one piece of work is power that a lot of work will never achieve. This one piece of work saved me, the author. It started of a book and a series. It became part of my first published work and it started a movement that I still try to spread to this date. I hope you enjoy it, because to me it is all about the “The Long Step Forward.”
10/20/03 12pm
Though only months since you left my side, it
feels like a lifetime.
At times the pain has been more than my soul
would like to bear.
I thought the loss of you and the pain
associated with such a loss would destroy me the most.
How wrong was I?
When I buried you on that cold December day my
tears flowed like an unstoppable summer storm and the pain cut deep into my
soul.
At least with the pain I knew I was alive, on
the verge of insanity, but I could still feel.
But one night not too long ago, I envisioned myself
sitting in the corner of the world looking over past, present, and future.
As I sat there, I began to become numb to the
pain and the insanity.
And at this very hour your body lies in a cold
lonely tomb and I sit here numb to the world, not unlike the dead.
I never knew the power of pain until the day I
became numb to the world.
Living but dead and dead but living, I am so
numb to the world that
I can hardly tell that I am alive.
I thought the pain and tears would be my
greatest enemy I would face, but it is the numbness I fear that will destroy
me.
The numbness has made me so tired of
everything in life, but I long
to awaken from this nightmare.
I am not willing to stand still and I refuse
to step backward; forward is the only path for me.
I now realize for around ten months I have
been stretching out my leg for the long step forward.
It may take me ten more months before my foot
hits the ground and ten more before I lift my back foot off the ground to
prepare for another step.
It is not the time that matters the most, it
is the actions we take in that time.
Time to care!
Time to love!
Time to protect!
Time to think!
Time to hope!
Time to dream!
Time to live!
And in that such an hour, time to step
forward, even though all your thoughts are of laying down and dying.
Surviving has very little to do with strength
and almost everything to do with your passion to live and survive.
Passion forces you to do extraordinary things
when your strength tells you there is no more energy to be given.
Passion forces you to take that long step
forward and face the world
when all is dark.
It is all about the “The Long Step Forward.”
“The Long Step Forward" is a passage from my book “The Long Step Forward”
published by Bad T Publishing & Productions.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. Harvey Fierstein
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. Harvey Fierstein
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters. Audrey Hepburn
The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters. Audrey Hepburn
Monday, May 12, 2014
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death. Leonardo da Vinci
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death. Leonardo da Vinci
I
love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from
distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little
minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience
approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/leonardo_da_vinci.html#4FwfJOBUqjpCm71A.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/leonardo_da_vinci.html#4FwfJOBUqjpCm71A.99
Sunday, May 11, 2014
My mother said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.' Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. Pablo Picasso
My mother said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.' Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. Pablo Picasso
Saturday, May 10, 2014
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. Aristotle
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. Aristotle
Friday, May 9, 2014
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Jesus Christ
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Jesus Christ
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me..
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. Walt Disney
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Never give up
Never give up and don't ask why because every situation does not need an answer. I'm a firm believer that I don't worry about anything I can't control. Eric Davis
Monday, May 5, 2014
Rise above the negative tide!!!
Happy Monday my fellow warriors of happiness. Against all that is negative, I hope that the
start of your week is off to a grand start. Again it is a late night in Indiana
and I am just now sitting down to my laptop to write today’s blog. I hadn’t
really decided what I was going to write and I try not to write when I am upset,
but about an hour ago one of my “Emotional Siphoner’s” rolled on up on the
informational superhighway and started throwing “negativity bombs” my way. As I
cruised the net trying to relax and gather myself, I came across this quote, "Don't
allow negative people to trap you in with their negative useless thoughts, be
strong and break free," author unknown.
As I read that quote, it jump started something inside of me
that I preach all the time and just like my dad would always do I said, “self
you only have two choices here.” He was big on the “I said self” and then he
finished his story. Sorry that is for another time, but thinking of my dad does
make me smile. Thinking of him makes me happy and helps refuel my “Happiness
Tank,” which is giving me the energy to write this blog, so I guess it kind of
fits here. In one paragraph in real time, you my fans just witnessed the power
of the happy thought as reference to the filling of the “Happiness Tank.”
Okay back to it. By no means am I the first to say this and
I won’t be the last, but in every situation you always have at least two
options. As I was being bombarded with these “negativity bombs,” I thought to
myself this is the night that Mr. Happiness Guru loads his “negativity bombs”
and fires back. Before I could get cocked and loaded that quote popped up. In
that moment, I realized that I had the choice to walk away or engage him. If I
fire back, I allow him to take the power of the situation away from me, because
until that moment I still hold the power of the choice. Once I give it to him,
I have allowed a negative person to trap me with useless words. Like my dad
always said ‘stoop to their level and you become them and that is what
miserable people want to make, more miserable people.”
By not engaging this person, I didn’t allow him the power
over the situation. I exercised my right to the “block this person” button and
I broke free of that situation. In that one action, I retained the status of
Mr. Happiness Guru and I didn’t allow him the power to steal that title away from
me. It has taken me many years to get here.
I am not perfect. I am ever
growing, ever changing, and ever evolving into the person I want to be. I will
fall short many times on my own; therefore, I can’t afford to give my “Emotional
Siphoner’s” the option to take my knees out from under me. In Robin Hood theMovie, 2010, Russel Crow’s character Robin Longstride states "Rise And
Rise Again Until Lambs Become Lions” when asked by Little John (Kevin Durand)
and Will Scarlet (Scott Grimes) what this saying meant, he replies “never give
up. Though I will fall, I can’t allow
myself to be trapped by negative people and I can’t give up. I have to rise
above the negativity in my life even when it pours down upon me.
When the negativity comes down so fast that it looks to
flood my life, I have to remember I must swim for all I am worth and rise above
the negative tide!!!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
"May the fourth be with you!!!"
You can't do it unless you can imagine it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_lucas.html#julEZXEvwUXkcBrc.99
"You can't do it unless you can imagine it." George Lucas Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_lucas.html#julEZXEvwUXkcBrc.99
For the last week or so I have been reading “The BrandWithin” by Daymond John. This is the only time I will ever say this and I hope Mr. John appreciates
this. If you don’t own this book stop
reading this blog right now and follow the link above to buy it. Don’t forget
to come back though.
Now that you are back I want to review the Four Stages of The
Product Evolution discussed in Mr. John’s book. I hope my paraphrasing of his
four stages does them justice.
The Item: Generic product with no markings to link it back
to any particular source.
The Label: A step up from the item. It has a marking that can be linked back to a
particular source but it isn’t a source that stands out.
The Brand: A place where labels want to be, kind of like
Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name. A brand stands out and not only does
it have a marking that can be linked back to a particular source, the brand
itself is the link. It has almost an occult like following.
The Lifestyle: No longer is a link needed to a particular
source because it has become the source. It is the inspiration that inspires avenues
that were never envisioned in the beginning. It is the money maker! Slap a
picture of Cher on a bag of dog food and that dog food will sale. Not because she knows
anything about dog food, just because we all know Cher and we want that dog
food.
I want to focus on the Lifestyle stage for this example.
Today is May 4 and the occult following of George Lucas’s Star Wars franchise have deemed this as “May the fourth be with you” day, a play on words for “May
the Force be With You,” a parting statement used in the franchise. Now I know
all of you know this, but I just wanted to point out some things that I find
interesting. The original Star Wars film in the series was originally released
on May 25, 1977. Now I am not sure of this because I would have only been a few
months old, but I doubt anyone said on May 4, 1977 “Hey may the fourth be with
you.” Yet thirty-seven years later it is unofficial holiday created by fans to
honor the Star Wars Franchise and they call it Star Wars Day.
A quick internet search yields tons of T-shirts and other products
being sold to honor this holiday. The Star Wars franchise itself has yielded astronomical
figures in the merchandising realm and now it has spawned a side phenomenon
that is selling its own merchandise. Star Wars has achieved a success that most
of us only dream of and it has reached a level of The Lifestyle stage that it
is now creating Lifestyle status in other products. All of this because a guy
decides to write a line in a story on a piece of paper and then refused to give
up forcing that line into a movie.
So as you guys prepare to start a new week and you prepare to chase your dreams, I say unto you follow wisely, never give up, but take time to rest and invest in those things that recharge your “Happiness Tanks.” The journey is long and sometimes the storms arise making that road impassable, but you just have to camp out and let those storms pass. It is not a sin to stop once in a while to recharge, it only becomes a sin when you fail to start again. So no matter what you are doing this week “may the force be with you” and today just for fun “may the fourth be with you.”
Friday, May 2, 2014
"Even if you fall on your face..."
"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward."--Victor Kiam
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Throwback Thursday The Road
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."--Harriet Beecher Stowe American abolitionist and author
Throwback Thursday: The Road
The last few weeks we have been talking about staying happy,
staying positive, and never giving up even in the midst of great tragedies. On
more than one occasion I have shared my tragedies with my fans and I plan to
always do that, because I want you to know the man behind the words. My critics
say that I use my tragedies as some sort of excuse. I still don’t quite understand that, but my
fans say it helps them through their own struggles and this is why I share. As
most of you know my 1st wife passed away 12-28-2002. Her death
inspired a lot of writing at the time of her death and many years later. I
wrote ‘The Road’ on 1-18-04 and it would seem that her death was still current
in my mind. I took some grief on this selection of writing when I posted it in
a writing forum. One person called it too negative, but I believe they failed
to see the true meaning of the piece. They focused on ‘the long and despairing
road’ being the only road you would travel in life. That is not how I meant it.
I believe that there are many roads we
will travel in life. “The long and despairing road” is just the street name per
se and if we don’t like that road we can change streets.
The Road
1-18-04 12:30PM
On the long and despairing road, light
fails to shine on you.
The weeds of anguish seem to choke the
spirit of life out of you.
And on this road of sorrow the thorns of
time will stain your feet with blood.
The rocks on this road will bruise your
heels along the way.
So when the sun sets on your road and the
storm sets in, what do you do?
When your love for life dies like a
flower without water, what do you do?
When your road becomes flooded what do
you do?
Our road will not always be dry and
sunny.
It will not always be happy and free.
There will be times that we will have to
camp beside our road till time permits us to pass.
There will be times that we must stop and
rest till our soul is unaltered by the changes of life.
For some of us the road will be long and
others it will be short.
We must live though as if we will travel
into the golden age of life.
And as we grow old our feet will slow but
all rules will still apply.
There will be happy songs,
And sad tunes along the way.
We will see many births of loved ones and
we will see many deaths of those special to our heart.
Through it all we must keep the pace and
tread on even when we are weary.
For this is the road.
For this is our life.
For this is our road,
and
that is our history.
The Road is from my book “The Long Step Forward”
published
by Bad T Publishing & Productions.
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