Motivational Speaker • Author • Entrepreneur • Life Coach • Writer
Mar
15
2012

 

E  ver heard the phrase, “Misery loves company”?  Well, I ran into one of misery’s cousins named “complainy” a few days ago and found out that complainy loves company too. 

As I was standing in line at the local grocery store the woman in front of me started complaining to me about how slow the store clerk was moving. She was visibly surprised when I made an uplifting comment with a smile.  I gently stated how hard the clerk’s job must be when so many people arrive at the same time and they’re all in a hurry to get to their next destination.  She definitely didn’t expect that statement to come from me. 

In life, I’ve found these types of incidents to be very common and I don’t think I’m alone.  I’ve also discovered that the easiest conversations to engage in with strangers are the ones where they’re complaining about something and for some odd reason politics seem to be the most popular.  It’s easy for the “average” person to add to the fray by complaining too, but much tougher for the “average” person to be creative and insert a positive, uplifting comment while smiling.  It appears to me that shared conflict has a knack for bringing people together for a journey down a road of complaining.  May I humbly suggest that we not go down that road?  The world needs “non-average” people like us sprinkled around in many areas to capitalize on the many opportunities to insert flowers of positivity where weeds of negativity are trying to grow. 

So, I humbly ask that you join me today and everyday hereafter in being anything but “Average”.  Don’t miss the message today.  Let’s continue to lean forward and be the example as we attempt to make it GREAT.

“AVERAGE”?  I think not.

Mar
14
2012

 I  remember as a kid we used to play the ever-so-popular game called “Hide & Seek”.  The rules were simple.  Everybody finds a place to hide while one designated person seeks them out one by one.  The seeker’s job was to count up to the number 10 or 20 and then yell, “READY OR NOT, HEAR I COME!”  If we weren’t ready we could easily yell out, “DO-OVER, I’M NOT READY!” and the seeker would oblige us by starting the count over. 

As a seeker I remember having a hard time finding the older kids because they were usually good at hiding, but in spite of this fact, I still managed to have a load of fun.  The actual thought of this childhood memory brings a big “Cool-aid” smile to my face and cranks up feelings of nostalgia for me.

The interesting thing is today as an adult I feel like we play a game of “Hide & Seek” with life, and once we reach adulthood life becomes a seeker and screams out, “READY OR NOT, HEAR I COME!”  The only twist is, if we’re not ready, we can’t call out for a “Do-Over”, not this time.  Life comes at us fast and furiously and we all have to be ready for it, not just at the beginning of adulthood, but everyday thereafter.  

So the question today is, “Are you ready?”  because ready or not, here it comes again and again and again.  Also beware because no matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, big, small, short, tall, hair or bald life is guaranteed to find us all. 

My unsolicited advice today is, Don’t Get Ready for life’s ups and down, Stay Ready for life’s ups and downs.  Let’s stay ready and make it GREAT!

Mar
13
2012

Years ago I used to struggle with being happy for others who were succeeding and realizing their dreams.  I was somehow seeing others success as a distorted sign of me failing, and this opened the door for a quiet jealousy to creep in.  Over time I found myself becoming cynical and I often times would quietly look for something negative to exploit in the person that was experiencing the success.  This action was so subtle in me that I actually didn’t even realize that I was doing it.  Fortunately over time I eventually realized the extent of my actions and that my unrealistic view couldn’t have been further from the truth.
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Mar
12
2012

While talking to a friend this morning about coming expectations of the future, it suddenly occurred to me that it may be a good time to remind others this week that the ultimate act of faith lies in the process of “Acting as if…”

When parents are expecting a baby to be born, they usually can be found preparing their home and life for the eventual arrival.  So too is when we’re casting our vision and goals and dreams, it’s in our best interest to make the proper preparation mentally, physically and spiritually to accommodate the desired outcome.  I am convinced that this is the ultimate sign of faith and belief that an event will occur.

Simply put, the rain will benefit the fields of those who are most prepared to receive it, guaranteed or your money back.  Another way to look at it is when trying to survive on the island, the best show of faith and belief and commitment is to burn the boat.  Your actions or inactions today will no doubt determine and dictate your results tomorrow.

So, my good word for you today and everyday here forward is to demonstrate the strength of your faith and belief by “Acting as if…” and if you commit to do this regularly, eventually you won’t have to “Act as if…”

Let’s all make this Monday so MAGNIFICENT that Sunday gets insanely jealous.  Make it GREAT!

Mar
11
2012

I’m feeling generous today so I figure I’ll lend you my favorite prayer for a short while.  I wrote it just for people like us.  Please be sure to return it in good condition when you’re done:

In times of concern help me to learn and discern.

In times of dismay help me to hear and obey.

In times of struggle and strife help me to get it right.

In times when I feel I’m alone renew my strength to carry on.

In times when it appears others don’t care reassure me that you’ll always be there.

In the times I can’t see my way give me clarity again for just one more day.

For all that I need to be thank you in advance for never giving up on me.

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