Daily Inspiration 11-11-14

"Life waits not for your understanding. 

It calls for your appreciation." 

-- Alan Cohen 

As I have traveled through many, many books on spirituality, living in the now, and many other entanglements, I see how many different ways there are to look at the same sort of thing. Each perspective, or way of explaining things is interesting and some actually are quite helpful, others not so much.

It all kind of came together with the quote above. As much as I have tried to understand things that I wasn't taught before, I find so many answers that I almost forget the questions. So, whenever something is so simple as the quote above, I revel in its wisdom, and I have learned that real wisdom is always simple.

Life isn't waiting for my understanding of it. Yet, Alan is right on, to me at least, in that life calls for my appreciation.

It has been written a long time ago that God is love. Somehow I know this without it having to be said, and appreciation and love are in unison.

Keeping it simple, then, as I allow myself, encourage myself, allow the spirit within me to rise, I find myself in such a state of appreciation. I said some time back that the best state to live in is appreciation, and as I appreciate, I find more to appreciate, and then more and more until my cup runneth over with love and appreciation.

To take this down to the very simplest idea for living a great life is to learn how to appreciate all that is around us. If something isn't pleasing to us, we can turn and find something to appreciate. Then, also, as we do that, those unpleasing things soon take on a different look.


Life Might Call For My Appreciation, But I Know Life RESPONDS To My Appreciation. 

Spread Some Joy Today--in appreciation of your own joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-10-14

"So I'm curious, my fellow creators. 

Since you and I are in charge 

of making a New Earth-- 

not just breaking down the dying culture-- 

where do we begin? 

What stories do we want 

at the heart of our experiments? 

What questions will be our oracles? 

Here's what I say: 

In the New Earth we're creating, 

we will ridicule the cult 

of doom and gloom, 

and embrace the cause 

of zoom and boom. 

We laugh at the stupidity 

of evil and hate; 

we will summon the brilliance 

to praise and create. 

No matter how upside down 

it all may appear, 

we will have no fear, 

because we know this big secret: 

All of creation is conspiring 

to shower us with blessings. 

Life is crazily in love with us-- 

brazenly and innocently 

in love with us." 

-- Rob Brezsny 

Yes, and amen!


"All Creation Is Conspiring To Shower Us With Blessings." -- Rob Brezsny 

Spread Some Joy Today--please.

Daily Inspiration 11-9-14

"Live as long as you may, 

the first twenty years are 

the longest half of your life." 

-- Robert Southey 

Milestones are an interesting thing. One I recall very well was turning 18. When I was 18, I felt like I was almost 'there,' and my obsession other than the opposite sex was turning 21. But, what I remember most about 18 was that I tried as earnestly as I could to imagine being 30 years old and could not imagine it. It seemed like light years away from where I was.

Then it came. I turned 30 and then 35 and then 40 and so on. Yet, as Satchel Paige said so well, "how old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? I'd be 35.

But then there was this other milestone that I could not image reaching, and today I have attained it. I am 65 today. Who knew? I surely didn't think it was even possible. I thought maybe I may not live that long, but here it is in real life.

Yet, I still feel 35 in my head. I realize my body is somewhat different. I know that because I have a number of photos during that period. There is a distinct difference I detect from the mirror.

Satchel Paige said something else that hits home: "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Now that I'm here, I don't mind, so it doesn't matter much. I don't care about birthdays and haven't for a lot of years now. It is what it is, but I am only as old as I feel. My favorite quote about age is by Chili Davis: "Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional." I prefer to never grow up.

What is most interesting on this day is that I have no regrets and nothing but fond memories of the trail I've been wandering and the horizon is brighter than it has ever been.


Another Happy Day On The Trail. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--because it feels so much better than sharing the news.

Daily Inspiration 11-8-14

"Being patient 

does not mean 

being passive." 

-- Mike Dooley 

Continuing with some gems I found in Mike Dooley's latest book, The Top Ten Things Dead People Want To Tell You, the quote above was another one that leaped from the page to my attention.

In this quote, he is suggesting that we chill and learn to trust that things will work in our favor. He says that whatever it is that we want there are only two steps to attain it. Step one is to define what you want, and step two is to show up to receive it. He says, "the Universe does all the rest."

I'm told that a lot of people are not so good at step number one. Defining what we want can be challenging, but it is not going to define itself. That would be the crapshoot theory. I'm also told that many people are not as into receiving as they would like to be. Part of that is past training that it is better to give than receive and such, along with the worthiness thing, and the deserving thing, and the lacking skill or intelligence thing. Yet, these two steps are truly our main work in getting what we want.

Then there is the impatience thing. It's not here yet. It's not here yet. Where is it? My ship got lost at sea? So, if we are to receive, we must trust that it will be, or rather, in fact, that it is already done. This is the patience part.

Having patience doesn't mean being passive as he said. So, we define and then we show up and sleep until it arrives? No, he explains that well enough, so I'll let Mike tell it: "So get on with it. Being patient does not mean being passive. Move toward your dreams while you celebrate all that does work, all that you do have, and how you now are. Be with friends. Spend time alone. Don't worry. Be happy."

Patience is trust. It is trusting that everything will work out. It isn't about standing or sitting on the bench or the sidelines, it is about living our lives. To paraphrase the Bible, "whatsoever you ask, believing, will be done." In Mike Dooley's text, he is saying that the believing part is the showing up part. Why show up if you don't believe?


Have Patience. Trust In God, The Universe, Your Higher Power Or Whatever Word You Want To Use. In The Meantime, Have A Good Time. Enjoy. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by thinking of a couple people that you love and how much you love them and all the things and attributes that cause love to well up in you. Let it gush all over the place. Wade in it. Swim around. Do the backstroke. Relax in it. Celebrate it. Adore it. Embrace it.

Daily Inspiration 11-7-14

"Forgiveness is only necessary 

when first there's blame." 

-- Mike Dooley 

Mike Dooley's latest book was just published late last month and I just finished it a few days ago. Although all the material I've accepted for some time, a different person explains things in a different way, and sometimes how I think I know something changes. Mike uses a lot of logic in his book, The Top Ten Things Dead People Want To Tell You, and the quote above jumped off the page at me as if it were screaming.

We've all been taught that it is good to forgive and that we should forgive others and also ourselves. Mike says that forgiveness is a lie, and that was an in-your-face kind of statement, challenging the old idea of 'it is a virtue to forgive.'

Since he is teaching a new understanding in his book, he says, "With understanding flooding your senses more and more, a new irony appears on your radar: Forgiveness is only necessary when first there's blame. The second lie needs the first lie. Withdraw the blame and forgiveness becomes a moot point."

He goes on to say, "To cast blame means to not understand that you create your own reality, and such a blind spot can rob you of your power to live deliberately today and in the future. It prevents you from accepting responsibility for shaping the rest of your life."

I have previously written about my take on forgiveness is letting go of the rope by just laying it down. The rope is the resistance or the struggle, and that struggle is mostly a struggle within ourselves. You could see the rope as what it really is, which is blame. Blame is the struggle, and Mike is right in that without that blame first, there is no need for forgiveness.

I know a few people who live their life so full of blame of others that there is no peace. They find it impossible to forgive and that is because they find it impossible to let go of the blame they feel. And truly, that has nothing whatsoever to do with anything on the outside. It is fully an internal struggle within themselves.

If you blame anyone for anything in your life, consider putting that tug-o-war rope down. Forget about forgiveness. When you drop the blame, there is no need for it.


"Within Every Situation, There Is Meaning, Order, Healing, And Love." -- Mike Dooley

Spread Some Joy Today--Joy is not something to seek and find. It is simply something to allow. It is your natural state.

Daily Inspiration 11-6-14

"What people call serendipity 

sometimes is just having your eyes open." 

-- Jose Manuel Barroso 

I've probably taken at least 50,000 photos, but from a photographers point of view, I'm not one. That's why they separate amateurs from professionals. There is probably something more to it than that, but I don't really care.

It's more about opportunities than skill much of the time to catch a glimpse of something special. In the last year or so, I've caught two that stand out to me. Just for the fun of it, I'll share them with you.

The photos of the hawk above are in the birdbath outside my office (which used to be a garage when the house was first built). I have a 7' sliding glass door to view the courtyard and get to see a lot of different birds drinking and taking a bath. Most of the time, they are common residents like Robins, Blue Jays, Finches and so on, with periodic visitors like Cedar Waxwings. But, never a hawk. In fact, in 29 years here, I've only ever seen one overhead, but never in the yard, and especially not in the birdbath that is way too shallow for such a big bird.

Then, yesterday on the 5th of November, 2014, I was talking with my business partner on the phone and I looked out at the courtyard and there was this hawk sitting in the water. He or she sat there for the longest time allowing me to use two different cameras and even shoot some video. Finally it took a bath went up into the nearby tree and preened a bit and was on its way.

According to my bird book, this was an immature Cooper's Hawk. At first I thought it was an American Kestrel. What a beautiful and at the same time, serious-looking bird.

The squirrel. This was also strange. Nancy bought this yellow squirrel solar night light. It would light up at night which looked odd. We had it for several years. Never saw a squirrel in our yard, and then one day we saw one eating some of the bird seed. We put out some peanuts and other nuts and it came around more. Then months later, there were two. We would put nuts on the deck table and the squirrel would get up there and eat them or run off with them.

One day I decided to put the solar squirrel on the table in hopes that I might have the unique opportunity to catch them side by side. It came to pass. I didn't have much time, but got some quick shots and this is the best of the lot where they are sitting at opposite angles, eating in the same way. I couldn't believe my luck, but I know it isn't luck at all.

Be careful what you intend (we used to say 'wish for'), as it may very well come true!


When You Delight In What You See And Experience, More To See And Experience Will Be Along Soon. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing to make it a perfect day. No matter the weather, no matter the circumstance, no matter what. No one can choose except you.

Daily Inspiration 11-5-14

"There is no such thing

as a situation that is inherently difficult. 

A sense of difficulty depends 

on your definition of the situation." 

-- Bashar 

For so many years I subscribed to the belief as preached by the biggest and best in personal development that "if you are willing to work hard, you can achieve what you want." They use that word 'hard' over and over, and throw in a few sacrifices here and there, going the extra mile over yonder, and being willing to work extra hours and become part of the working-up-a-sweat crowd.

I quit that club.

I don't use those phrases any more and haven't for some time. James Allen says that "mind is the master," and he is right, of course, but it is never the mind alone in a physical environment. However, it isn't about working hard. You can if you want to. I won't stop you. It isn't about sacrifice. You can if you want to. I won't stop you there either. And, going the extra mile? Why the heck not. Knock yourself out.

Those old and tired phrases make me tired just thinking about them.

So, let's try some better ones. How about action? Works for me. How about focus? Can't live without it. Let's throw in some enthusiasm and a sprinkle or two of delight. Now we're cooking. Next, let's dance with some inspiration. If perspiration comes, so be it, but we cannot call this stuff work. We should call it play, enjoyment, love, fun, movin', and groovin', excited and looking toward (not forward) with eager anticipation.

You might be laughing at me just switching around a bunch of words and phrases that you think might mean the same thing, but if you think about it, they mean something completely different, don't they? These new words and phrases change the whole scope of whatever it is that we are doing.


What Was A Burden, Is Now A Joy. THAT Changes Everything. 

Spread Some Joy Today--and a little love while you're at it.

Daily Inspiration 11-4-14

"Not only are you loved 

through the packages and bundles 

that are Fido and Fifi, 

but their presence in your life 

is just one more invitation 

for you to love 

as you could not have loved otherwise, 

even as they teach you 

lessons of compassion, tolerance, 

patience, or whatever else 

 you stand in need of." 

-- Mike Dooley 

When Nancy passed a year and a half ago, she left me her dog. He hated me, was always barking at me and so protective of her. Yet, I would take him on walks and he was in total joy. Little did I know the lessons that I would learn from this dinky little dog during this time. He has taught me to love more.

He has taught me to set aside what I'm doing because it isn't nearly as important as what he wants. He has taught me more to live in the present. He doesn't ever seem to be in the past or the future, but always in the moment. He is always ready for a ride, a walk, an adventure. Even if he doesn't get out of the car, he wants to go. I take him on appointments with clients and sometimes he sits in the car for a while, but he just takes a snooze and awaits my return. He is amazing.

As I was thinking about all I have learned from Charlie, the little dog, I responded to an email from a friend and client. She sent some photos and I wasn't sure why because, at first glance, I didn't notice anything different than was already on the website. So, after looking at them more closely, I had a number of questions and sent her an email. Previously, she only sent photos with no story.

She responded with this: "Yes--oh my goodness I forgot to tell you that--I always think you can read my mind." That caused a whole other train of thought though it was related to the dog story, so bear with me.

Her response was so appropriate and so closely matched to how my own and so many people's relationships, marriages are. We don't tell our partners, lovers, friends what we really want or need, but we somehow expect that they will figure it out on their own. We think maybe they will see our mood and deduce something that we want or need that we are unwilling to actually say.

Suppose the wife, woman, lover, comes home from work and had a bad day. Stuff went on at work and the thoughts and emotions are running through her head as she walks in the front door. There is a cloud following her every move. Maybe she even vocalizes anger and disappointment, or complaint, but who wants to hear that? Better to find something important to do so that we don't have to listen to it.

Then change to this scene. She walks in and is beside herself with the trials of the day. She's had enough of this day. She sees me (or you) and says, "honey, I've had stuff go all awry today, I need a friend right now. Will you come and sit with me, hold me for a while and let me let off some of these thoughts while I bask in your love and acceptance?"

I'm trying to keep this short, but you see the difference, right? Maybe you're the exception, but I know in my life that we expected each other to figure things out and to be a backstop for our fastballs and curveballs and knuckleballs. Whether it is coming home from work, or in the bedroom, or on a trip somewhere, rarely, if ever does the communication come out so simply and brilliantly.

Charlie does it. He comes over while I'm doing computer work and I can tell without a word that he wants some love and attention. In the past, I might think that what I'm doing was so all-fired important that I would miss so many moments like these. I know I did that with her too. Not meaning to, just not knowing any better. Not seeing the present in full bloom, taking advantage of the opportunities.

Praise be to those bold enough to say what they want, to ask rather than expect, to get our attention rather than give up and go sulking alone.


It's Amazing Who Your Teachers Can Be. When The Student Is Ready. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--Say what you want. Ask for joy. Ask for love. Pay attention to the moments. There is nothing so important as that.

Daily Inspiration 11-3-14

"There are truths 

on this side of the Pyrenees, 

which are falsehoods 

on the other." 

-- Blaise Pascal 

Truth is a universal idea, but it is only universal in that it may be one truth here, another there, another there, and so on. There is no such thing as The Truth. What truth really comes down to is a belief. If you believe it, then it is true for you, regardless if others agree with you or not.

I attended a professional panel for a group of youth aging from 15 to 17 and one of the 17-year-old girls said that she put in 23 applications and did not get one call and how hard it was to find a job. As she said that, I was looking quickly around the room and a lot of heads were nodding in agreement--even some of the professionals on the panel.

Later we had breakout sessions and when this girl came to my table, I mentioned to her that it was only hard for her to find a job because she believed that to be true. I know this because I believe that it is easy.

I have the feeling based on hearing a lot of opinions that a majority lives in the truth that it is hard, that the pie is only so big and there is only so much to go around, and so on. Yet, a majority doesn't create The Truth, they can only create their truth. We get to choose our own truth, and in the end, that is the only one that matters.

Limiting beliefs can feel very cozy and comfortable, and they can often find agreement with others to help us strengthen our position of outside limitations as being the norm. We can also decide to change those limiting thoughts and beliefs and cross the Pyrenees to the other side at any time.


Maybe It's Time To Let Go Of Some Of Those Limitations.

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing to see the unlimited beauty all around you no matter where you happen to be.

Daily Inspiration 11-2-14

"If only. 

Those must be 

the two saddest words 

in the world." 

-- Mercedes Lackey 

Does it matter how far the past is past? Does it matter more if it was yesterday than a year ago? Does a year ago matter more than 10 years ago? It seems that if I'm relenting at all about the past, that it is what I intended to do and did not do, which is most often yesterday. Sometimes, I might relent a bit further back, and I guess it is only because the memory is fresh.

Then today it occurred to me that it really doesn't matter at all whether it was an hour ago, yesterday, this week, last month, or 25 years ago. It is done. It was experienced at the time and what happened did happen and I cannot go back and do anything at all about it. It is past.

However, I can and do have total control over this moment, right here and right now. I can change course, change my mind, change my thoughts, change my residence, change my job, change anything--but only right here and right now.

If loving ourselves and then others is the ideal, and I believe that it is, loving ourselves begins with acceptance of ourselves, and that means everything we have done, will do, and what we are and what we will become. To mourn over the past is to negate the moment we have. The best way we can serve the past is by living in this moment. The 'if only' of regret is an impossible accomplishment.

Imagine that what you did or didn't do yesterday that you are feeling regret about was turned into a block of metal and then put on a skid with a rope, and now today, you pick up that rope and drag that skid wherever you go today. Think how tired that makes you, and how it slows you down, how it gets in the way of everything you are trying to do today. The more regret you feel, the heavier that skid becomes. It's torture, and it is exactly what many people go through in the 'if only' world.

Now imagine that you love yourself and accept full responsibility for all of your thoughts and actions right here and right now. You let go of the rope attached to the 'if only' skid and walk freely, act more positively, and feel joy in the present as you do whatever you choose, change whatever you feel needs changing, relaxing in the glow of the moment.


Ahhhhhhhh. That's What I'm Talkin' About! Peace Of Mind. Sing It With Me. . . Pe-e-e-eace, Peace Of Mind, Pe-e-e-eace, Peace Of Mind. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--by just letting go of this rope and that rope and all those tangled ropes you've got going on. Once you are freed, you will soar.

Daily Inspiration 11-1-14

"Reaction -- A boat 

 which is going against the current 

but which does not prevent 

the river from flowing on." 

-- Victor Hugo 

A friend told me about another friends reaction, or rather, overreaction to a small event and then promptly created a new policy that seemed unreasonable to all except this person.

I like Paul Coelho's quote about reason where he says, "Don't allow your mind to tell your heart what to do. The mind gives up so easily." Well, no matter what, reactions like that are all fear based and that usually not only doesn't work out, it often works in the opposite direction.

It's so easy for us on the receiving end of such a reactive outburst and immediate change in overall policy to have a reaction ourselves, and it is invariably in the opposite direction, or as Victor Hugo puts it, "a boat which is going against the current." In this case, now everyone is. Reason is out the window in the face of reaction.

What a great opportunity this is to pause and consider. What has been going on in the life of that person who reacted so poorly to such a small thing? That person could very easily have all kinds of issues, emotions running around, feeling overwhelmed, out of sorts, maybe even having family issues. Now, if we all in our own reaction row upstream too, we are all in fear and distress. The only way out is downstream.

A long time ago my wife and I went to Marriage Encounters, which is an event where couples work out issues in new ways to help solidify their relationship. A big part of that is writing out feelings, then reading it aloud and the receiver is to listen without judgment. Couples are encouraged to continue to write to each other long after the event. It is quite effective in my opinion.

So I suggested to my friend that she write out her thoughts and how that reaction is creating problems now and in the future and express how she feels about it and do it with love and not fear. I hope she does because I know that this is a very powerful tool. Writing allows you to think through things without so much emotion and certainly without any reactive components from another as is experienced in all verbal confrontations.

Cooler heads will always prevail. Understanding and a loving approach will be the real power.


"It's Not The Situation. . . It's Your Reaction To The Situation." -- Robert Conklin 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding the love in you to understand how others may be feeling and reacting.

Daily Inspiration 10-31-14

"Millions saw the apple fall, 

but Newton asked why." 

-- Bernard Baruch 

Sometimes people say that there are no silly questions. I wonder. . .

Here's a thought I had recently. How much would the water level drop at the coast if all the ships in all the oceans were lifted out of the water? Every time a ship is built and put in the water, a good deal of water is displaced. In fact, that is how they often measure ship size by the weight of the water they would displace, or that would spill out of a completely filled container.

Here's another question. How low was it before ships were ever put in the water? How about one more. If a ship is put into the Indian Ocean, would that have even the slightest effect on the Pacific ocean?

Sometimes a guy just wanders through the day with silly thoughts and silly questions.


"The Larger The Island Of Knowledge, The Longer The Shoreline Of Wonder." -- Ralph W Sockman

Spread Some Joy Today--by just enjoying yourself today. Who knew it was that easy?

Daily Inspiration 10-30-14

"We often take for granted the very things 

that most deserve our gratitude." 

-- Cynthia Ozick 

Up until the last few years, I wasn't grateful on a regular basis. There might be whole days or even strings of many days without the thought of gratitude for something. Sad, but true. But, I have turned that around completely now.

Each day now, I find myself grateful for more and more things in greater quantity. I now practice it all my waking hours to the point that now hardly an hour goes by without my having gratitude for something or someone. It is closer and closer to pure joy and awe.

I'll give you some examples. Trash collection. The more I think about this service, the more gratitude I have for it. I take the trash out and put it in a receptacle and once a week the truck comes and takes it away. Can you imagine a month without trash collection? We would be buried.

Here's another: running water. In terms of history, it was a nanosecond ago that we had to go down to the creek with buckets and carry it back to the house. If you wanted hot water, you had to heat it on the stove. Just think what it took in labor to have a hot bath. Now, I just get in the shower and turn it on (probably the other way around. . .) and there it is. It is effortless. Anytime I want a drink, I lift the handle and there it is clean cool water.

These two things are commonly taken for granted, yet other than a roof over my head and clothes on my body, they are at the top of the list of things that affect my life. There is a long list of these kinds of things that we can focus on and be truly grateful for every day. Like the computer, I'm typing on and the Internet I'm connected to. It is all so awesome to contemplate.

How about the weather? I look forward every day to experiencing the weather. Frankly, I could care less now what the weather will be like, but that I enjoy every moment of it. Yesterday we had 30-50 mph winds all day. It was glorious. Cloudy, overcast, sunny, cold, warm, rainy, dry, they are all so perfect and all so very interesting. I used to complain about the weather. I NEVER complain about the weather now. Each day is like a snowflake--all different in some way and each unique.

These are just a few examples of how I find gratitude in every single hour of every day. It is a whole new world for me in my later life. You might say, I have been reborn. I can now find joy anytime I decide to open myself up to experience it. There are no limits to how much gratitude I can have. The more I find, the more I find.

This change has been gradual and has really moved quickly in the last few years. There is a book I read that really had a large influence on getting me started on this path. It is Power In Praise by Merlin R Carothers. Books that I read later kicked it into high gear. Some of these books are, The Gratitude Effect by Dr. John Demartini, The Astonishing Power of Emotions by Esther and Jerry Hicks, The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W Dyer, and many others. Their influence of directing me toward gratitude for everything has been life-changing.

You will find, as I have, that becoming a gratitude finder will be the best thing that will ever happen in your life. Ever.


I Am Thankful Every Waking Hour! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Feel the joy that comes from being thankful every hour. It's okay to smile outwardly. Inside your ecstatic! Way cool.

Daily Inspiration 10-29-14

"As human beings, we are endowed 

with freedom of choice, and we cannot 

shuffle off our responsibility 

upon the shoulders of God or nature. 

We must shoulder it ourselves. 

It is our responsibility." 

-- Arnold J Toynbee 

I love that phrase, "freedom of choice." I was thinking about freedom of speech and that out of love and respect we allow others to say that which they will. At the same time and within the same love and respect, each of us has the right to choose that which we are willing or interested in hearing. I guess you could say that with freedom of speech, we must accept freedom of attention.

It's almost election day and for the last couple of weeks, I've received a plethora of odd sized flyers and publications about the candidates. Of course, it is them talking about them, and it reminds me of resumes. I think resumes are such a waste and I would never believe one, and for the same reason, I suppose, I feel that way about those political resumes I just mentioned. Blah, blah, blah. How they are crime fighters, baby kissers, independent thinkers, brilliant strategists, all out for jobs, and other such ideals seems to be the way they always approach elections.

That caused me to think that I could care less what they have to say. The thing that might interest me is what they do, and what they have done, and not from their point of view, but my own or that of those I trust.

I like how Ian Percy states, "we judge others by their behavior. We judge ourselves by our intentions." It seems to be the other way around in most elections.


"Love Is A Choice You Make From Moment To Moment." -- Barbara de Angelis 

Spread Some Joy Today--by remembering that regardless of what is, you always have the choice of what to think, and how to feel. Think joy, feel joy.