Here is some music to listen to while reading this post:
I was just thinking about what a great day yesterday was. And what a great day today will be. Which lead me to think about a song by Ice Cube, It was a good day. One of the lyrics is Today I didn’t even have to use my A.K.. And incase you don’t know, A.K. is short for A.K. 47 which is a big assault rifle. So that’s the life in South Central L.A.. Guns are a daily thing there.
At my last house, there were lots of shootings. I remember there were these gangbanger kids who lived across the street. They used to shoot guns all the time and never managed to get caught. One day I saw them passing around a pistol to all of the little neighbor kids. I mean there were 10 kids there ages 3 to 15 playing with this gun . Then one of them shot several rounds into the ground, for fun I guess.
Another incident was Thanksgiving Day. We heard this car that was driving by honking, then it stopped. Then later we heard it again. In that part of town, people just didn’t ring doorbells, they honked until the people came out. So we heard the honking a third time, then that’s when the gunfire started. I turns out this Cadillac was honking to get the occupants of the house to come out so they could shoot them. And when they came out, they fired several shots at them. The occupants, who were maybe 15, went back inside and got their guns and then fired back at the car as it drove down the street.
Many times I wanted to shoot these kids. I actually wanted to end their lives. Fortunately I kept my head and they later all got arrested and the neighborhood quieted down. So when I think of that song, it reminds me of those days. And I think how much I love my life now.
I was watching The Secret again last night which had this quote in it from Henry Ford.
Whether you think you can or you can’t, either way you are right.
I really like that quote! So I dug around for some more and decided that this is Henry Ford Day. Why? Because I say so!
A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it.
This is so true. I get so tired of hearing about others problems, failures and defeats, without them realizing these are gifts aimed at teaching them.
Capital punishment is as fundamentally wrong as a cure for crime as charity is wrong as a cure for poverty.
I had to read this 5 times to understand it. And wow, that is deep! I never thought about it that way.
Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.
Hah! Funny and logical too.
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.
So true. We at least tried and learned from our mistakes so that we may better ourselves.
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done.
Finding people to work for you, or be a friend, that think they have an infinite capacity is an art form. Surround yourself with them and you will all rise to the top.
It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.
Wow, I never thought of it this way. This puts customer service in a whole new light.
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.
Once again, this quote hit me like a brick to the noggin. And it makes me re-think how I am being a friend or best friend.
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
Maybe I should focus more on the goal then ehh?
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.
All of this thinking is hurting my brain. But that is ok!
Wealth, like happiness, is never attained when sought after directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service.
Ahh! This is why many of my projects failed. I was aiming at the goal of money instead of service! But my new project is aimed at providing a great service. And I tried it out the other day and really enjoyed using it so others will too.
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.
I am really impressed with Henry Ford! These quotes alone have the ability to effect ones life. I remember reading about him in the book Think And Grow Rich. He started off a poor farmer and ended up revolutionizing not only the automobile industry, but how things are made. He invented the assembly line all without a formal education. It seems a lot of the most influential people in the world are self-taught, or have no formal education. They often apprentice and get real world experience. I’ve never been one to sit in a classroom. Well I’d like to thank Henry for today’s lessons!
Do not wait; the time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. - Napoleon Hill
I find myself doing this all the time. I say to myself, when so-and-so happens, then I will start whatever it is that I am afraid to start. For example, when I get more money, I will hire people to work on my internet projects and make millions. But this is backwards, because I will have the money I seek once the projects are finished. So I later decided to start the project anyways and the money to fund it just appeared.
And so one of my new mottos is - If I don’t start now, I NEVER will. And I found that all of the people that I see that are successful in whatever they do, start wherever they stand. There is little hesitation. Then there are the talkers and dreamers. They talk, talk, talk about everything they are going to do. And nothing ever happens. If you never begin, you will never fail. That is safe. But having dreams and never even trying to reach them is worse than failing in my book.
If you haven’t heard, there is a fairly recent movie out on DVD called The Secret which is hands down, the best movie I have ever seen. Quite simply, it reveals the secrets of the universe. I’ve seen it maybe 7 times now and everytime I watch it I feel rejuvinated and life begins once again to serve my wants and needs. All that I know that have seen it thoroughly enjoyed. Not all have started practicing it’s teachings though. I suppose you must be ready and willing when you watch it. It is similar to What The Bleep which was awesome, but this goes way beyond. Larry King featured some of the cast and talked about it on two shows. And I just learned that Oprah will be doing a show on it January 31st!
Here’s The Secret on the Ellen DeGeneres show.
So if you are ready, buy a copy right now. Since I first watched it, my life has improved greatly because I am practicing what I learned. And I heard from Bob Proctor, that he has been selected to head-up seminars about The Secret. There is also a book and audiobook available, but I recommend the movie. I put it on my Ipod and listen to it occasionally there too. You can buy The Secret here.
All good things must come to an end. All bad things must come to an end. There is an exception for those things that are infinite, at least in my world. The things that are infinite are for you and I to decide, not society or the world. I’ve come to the logical conclusion that my happiness is infinite and has no boundaries. Every so often I plateau, sink a little, then shoot straight upwards and reach a new level of fulfillment that I had previously thought not possible. Whereas I used to bob up and down with each downward movement a little lower. I chose into this infinite idea, because living my old finite life waiting to die was not for me. Everyday the world tries to put me back in the box. I suppose this is the time I plateau and sink. But when I break out of it, I reach that new level.
It’s hard to explain this feeling to those of you stuck in this box of limiting beliefs. You are unaware of it for starters, but you may have this feeling there is more out there. You may think I am crazy for even writing this article. The best way to explain this feeling is having butterflies in your stomach. Like when you had your first kiss, or a job interview. If I don’t get butterflies in my stomach every few days, I know that I am stuck in the box. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach? If you can’t remember when, that may tell you something about your life. Maybe you’re reading this post because you are looking for more. For me, the simple way to get out of my routine or box, is to run to the things I avoid and hate. In the box thinking tells you to run away from them. The book Running From Safety by Richard Bach is a great example. Try doing something different and uncomfortable today and see what happens. You might be surprised. I’m getting butterflies and sweaty palms just thinking about it!
Only when your consciousness is totally focused on the moment you are in can you receive whatever gift, lesson, or delight that moment has to offer. - Barbara De Angelis
A couple days ago I got a flash of the news which said the US Embassy in Athens was attacked by terrorists. I tend to not watch the news here in America because it is 90% negative. But this got me thinking. I remembered on 9/11 how I felt and how I had a sticker on my truck for a while that read “Nuke Iraq”. And my answer was to nuke the Middle East to solve these terrorist problems that our country had. Once again, my answer would be to kill the terrorists had I not chosen a different path for my life. One of my biggest lessons which effected this, was how I was dealing with friends and family members during my so called path of enlightenment. I would learn some amazing thing about my life which would bring true fulfillment and then I would want to share this with the ones closest to me. But I learned, ever so slowly and painfully, that I cannot press my truths on others until they are ready and ASKING for it. I had pushed my ways on others and they promptly rejected them because they were in a totally different place in their lives. I was not ready for this information until the time was right, so why should others.
So how does this relate to terrorism? Well I used to say that terrorists were cowards and crazy. But looking back, our founding fathers were basically terrorists. They wanted a different life and were willing to GIVE THEIR LIVES for change. They fought the major power, England, and won. The people that hijacked those planes, trained for years knowing what the outcome would be. And they died to make a difference for their people. When was the last time that us Americans were willing to die for a cause. I don’t call this cowardice. I call this complete devotion. I was listening to a sermon by Michael Beckwith that he gave on September 12th which pointed out some very interesting thoughts. Many third world countries deal with turmoil and death on a daily basis. What happened to us on 9/11 is nothing new to them. Can you imagine that act to be normal because I can’t. Can you imagine the mindset of those living in those countries, or the ones killing because I can’t begin to. And many many countries think of America as the biggest terrorist. Did you know that? We control the world and the economy. And if your country is full of killing and death, well you go to the big boss for change right?
Anger is the first stage of the grieving process. And I believe America reacted in that stage and took vengence on the Middle East. I was so glued to the TV during 9/11 and must have watched the planes crash into the towers over 500 times. I was so angry along with the rest of the country. And so we began our invasion to weed out the bad. Years later, we are still there trying to change entire countries. These people have been battling each other for well over 2000 years. And we expect that we can go in there and change their ways and make peace? Are these people ready to change to our ways? I think no. I think we have a better chance of teaching cows to fly the space shuttle. Wait until they truly ASK for help as a whole, then maybe we have a chance.
Can you imagine the pain and inarticulation of those who orchestrated these so called terrorist acts?
“Just try to imagine the mindset of those living in South America, Ireland, the Middle East, Beirut, Africa, etc., who are living under the threat of war and bombs and assassination and all kinds of terrorist activity as way of life. We see it on television and we don’t think about it very much since it’s over there. And we go about our business as usual not seeking to change our life in anyway, shape or form, that would have any effect on the world’s suffering.” - Micheal Beckwith
We get angry when people kill Americans. So what do we do, we kill those who kill us. But I imagine that those killing us, think we are killing them. So they kill, and we kill back, then we kill, then they kill back if there are anymore left.
“Violence is the voice of the inarticulate.” - Micheal Beckwith
1. To inflict punishment in return for (injury or insult).
2. To seek or take vengeance for (oneself or another person); avenge.
n.
1. The act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation.
2. Something done in vengeance; a retaliatory measure.
3. A desire for revenge; spite or vindictiveness.
4. An opportunity to retaliate, as by a return sports match after a defeat.
A couple days ago I was driving around listening to the Oprah and Friends channel on XM Radio. My wife had told me about this station and it is really cool. It is filled with amazing speakers, therapists and doctors talking about uplifting and positive things. Anyways, a therapist was answering questions from callers and I was astonished at how perceptive she was. I know she is trained to listen, but from the caller’s simple question, she really went straight to the hear of the problem and you could hear that the caller knew it. My wife is like that. She is an expert listener in my opinion. So this got me thinking, what does she got that I haven’t got? And then it came to me! I listen with my ego most of the time!? What the hell? Now that I think about it, I seem to care more about what I am going to say, to look good or have a good response, than what the other person is saying.
That was quite of revelation for me I must say. I know some people who don’t hear a damn thing I say, they seem to only care what they are going to say to top my story. And I don’t like to be in conversations like that. One of my friends called them “one-uppers”. And now I realize that I am doing that. I seem to get this itch when somebody is talking. Something pops in my head that I know sounds really interesting to relate to their story. And so when they are done speaking I say it. Or sometimes I interrupt if it is reaaaaaallly interesting because I can’t wait. So I feel I look good after saying this stuff. I suppose this is a response to me feeling insecure and unworthy.
So how can I stop listening with my ego and start listening with my heart? Just acknowledging this is a start. Today I will pay close attention to this and see how it goes. I guess I’ll write this on my white board in my bedroom, “I listen with my heart when others are talking to me”. I read the board several times a day and it helps keeps me focused on my present goals and dreams. Anyways, if anybody has any ideas, please comment below. I need all the help I can get!
Happy New Year to everybody! I am so glad you could make it! And what a wonderful New Year it is going to be! But my New Year celebration was really different for me this year. I typically do a lot of reflecting and decide how I am going to change starting on January 1st. It usually includes getting in better shape, making more money, etc. But not this time. I didn’t really do much reflecting and make plans to change. Instead, I realized how last year was my happiest year I can remember. And I owe that to learning more about myself. In the past, I never followed through with my New Year’s resolutions. But in 2006 I made resolutions throughout the year and succeeded and failed here and there. I did my best and was rewarded with a feeling of fulfillment and joy. I cried more last year than ever as an adult. But you have to dig in to the unpleasant past to work through it. I always spoke my mind instead of biting my tongue. I’ve learned that repressing my feelings does not get rid of them. I have no regrets for the entire year, or ever for that matter.
I guess I have changed the way I celebrate holidays, birthdays, etc. Why only honor people once a year? Why only honor yourself once a year? Do it every second of the year and these so called holidays and birthdays will change meanings. They seem to be made to remind people who forgot how to express themselves, like when they were a kid and did and said whatever they were feeling at that second. And because they did that, they lived in the moment, not in the past or in the future. So happy January 2nd, 2007! May we live this and everyday to the fullest!
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Greg Hankerson 
Happiness, Enlightenment 
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. He started off a poor farmer and ended up revolutionizing not only the automobile industry, but how things are made. He invented the assembly line all without a formal education. It seems a lot of the most influential people in the world are self-taught, or have no formal education. They often apprentice and get real world experience. I’ve never been one to sit in a classroom. Well I’d like to thank Henry for today’s lessons!
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