Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!

It’s easy to fall into the rut of letting life happen to you.

If three options come your way, for example, a great many people will pick that option that seems to be make the most sense. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with this strategy – but there is an alternative approach.

Create a fourth option. And a fifth. And hundredth. Rather than live the life that others created for you, I think it’s infinitely more fulfilling to create the life that you want for yourself. Instead of letting life happen to you, happen to life.

Each of us can be an active participant in life and shape and influence our situation, circumstances and the world around us. When talking about this approach, Steve Jobs once said, “You realize that when you push in on one side, something pops out on the other. You can change it. You can mold it.”

As human beings, we are very powerful. And yet when we’re reminded of this power by others, we often use our power create excuses for doing nothing (i.e., “I’m not ____ enough”) rather than living to our full potential.

Everyone can make excuses to settle, but let’s try making excuses not to settle.

Ink it?

Tattoo. Not the little guy from Fantasy Island…but the ink.

A tattoo is either sexy as heck or the most revolting addition to the human body. Because of my own definition I have yet to decide if I want one. No. I DO want one, but I am in no shape to get one. I don’t know what. I don’t know where.

I have had friends and gifted artists draw some very nice designs, but I keep talking myself out of it. I came up with a design of my own only to discover that it is very similar to Jane Seymour “Open Hearts” jewelry design. Still not out of the question.

My second choice was something that I came up with in college. It shows my inner nerd and my love for academia.

I suppose if I want one…I should just get one. After all, it is for ME.

"...and straight on till morning."

I have a problem. I’m not a fan of this whole getting older thing. While I wouldn’t classify it as full blown Peter Pan Syndrome, I would say that I have issues with associating myself with like-aged peers. I always have. In high school my best friends were in college. Now my best friends are a few years older and a few years younger. One age group makes me feel like the kid I want to me and the other age group makes me feel like the kid I am.

Sometimes I set myself up for failure. I attempt to remain athletic with guys much younger than me. I engage in competition well out of my age group. I participate in groups where I am the young talented one while at the same time trying to keep up with those just a shade younger.

Alright…I’m done complaining.

Confession Time

I know most of my facebook friends. Some are high school friends, most are college friends, several are friends that I work with, go to church with, ride bikes with, socialize with, and then there are just the friend friends. There have only been a few occasions where I have not added someone due to not knowing them well enough in person. And there have been a few occasions where I have added someone after only one or two meetings in person.

However, I have one facebook “friend” who I have only met once. This person is an athlete/celebrity who I “met” at meet-and-great held at a mall. After a little facebook creeping I decided that I should add this athlete/celeb. Within the hour I was added back. Thus the start of my obsession. Now, this person has over four thousand friends. Facebook only allows five thousand friends for a personal page. It is clear that I am friends with the actual person and not some random fan page.

Last night I got on facebook chat. I seldom use it. Like this was the third time…ever. Who was there? Yes, my athlete/celeb crush…um…I mean friend. I didn’t. I couldn’t. I was so close. I just don’t think I could take not getting a response to my simple, “Hi.” So…I’ll just enjoy our cyber friendship. I don’t even chat with my real friends. I’m okay. Right?

Happiness and Enlightenment

If you want the world to be more loving,
then be a more loving person.

If you want the world to be kinder,
then be kinder.

If you want the world to be more peaceful,
then be more peaceful.

Though it’s probably the most over-quoted wisdom of all time, Gandhi advised us to “be the change we wish to see in the world.” Gandhi’s words convey a two-fold truth that inspires me and yet reminds me that I am small.

For one, there is only one person in the world over which you have control. That person is, of course, you. We might expend tremendous amounts of energy and effort trying to control the people around us, but such efforts are usually done in vain. At the end of the day, you can’t force someone else to change except, perhaps, superficially. True change comes from within. Since we can’t force change on other people, it makes much more sense to turn our efforts inward. If you want more of something in the world, cultivate that special something in your own heart and mind.

Second, each of us has the power to lift up the world. Scientists are beginning to discover what sages have been telling us for ages: That we are all deeply connected – and I’m not talking Facebook or your local watering hole. A massive endeavor at Princeton University called The Human Consciousness Project, for example, is one of the many experiments attempting to prove just that. And so as you express more love, kindness or peace in your own life, the implication is that you lift the consciousness of all of us. Moreover, you’re inspiring change in others through the example of your life – rather than trying to create change through force or manipulation.

So as you go about your day, it’s just another reason to be more loving, a little kinder and a bit more peaceful. Through each thought, word and action, you’re changing the world.

Wordless Wesnesday: Naples

Where I would rather be. :)

Even the Squirrels are leaving...

Last weekend I traveled to north central Indiana to attend a friend’s wedding. This is a quick weekend trip that involved more time in the car than out of the car. I arrived in Wabash, Indiana with just enough time to find my hotel and get ready for my role as Guest-Book-Boy. I shared this position with another friend of the bride and former classmate.

As I drove from my hotel to the church I entered the center of a town that can only be described as Story Book Beautiful. My heart was captured. Wabash has a population that is not much bigger than my hometown of Olney. But what made it so captivating and beautiful? Was it the ever-changing topography? Was it the broad streets lined with local stores? or was it simply because it wasn’t Olney?

After a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful reception I stepped outside to a freshly rained street and realized what Wabash had over Olney. Pride…and maybe a little self respect. For as long as I have lived in Olney I have always been a little ashamed to admit it. Well, that isn’t entirely true. At least I’m not from Newton or God forbid Flora.

I love Olney. But that love alone cannot change a thing. I’ve joined groups, coalitions, non-profits, philanthropic organizations, and even attended a few local and regional board meetings. But I still live in a town that cannot pave streets, clean medians, paint stripes, change lights, encourage industry, and most important KEEP LOCAL BUSINESSES.

When I returned to Olney after my Wabash weekend I left the post office and turned the corner of our only business intersection to see a horror waiting before me. My heart stopped and a lump came to my throat as I saw a large “Going Out of Business” sign hanging from the side of my favorite store. After 49 years our last local clothing store and haberdashery was calling it quits. My emotion quickly turned form heartache to outright anger! Olney had shut down this store, and I no longer wanted to live in a town that would kill an institution that had served generations.

I’m still not happy. This town needs to change. I am from Olney, but I am not of Olney.