Daily Inspiration 8-15-13

"Intuition is a spiritual faculty

and does not explain,

but simply points the way."

 

-- Florence Scovel Shinn

Continuing my weeklong celebration of Nancy's life. I call her my Hawaiian Honey because we met there. I always wanted to go to Hawaii since I was a teenager, and I finally went the first time to Kaui in 1986. The next year, I won another trip to north shore Oahu and met Nancy the first night of a 7-day trip.

I told that story briefly a few days ago, but it is more than just meeting there. Hawaii became such a theme in our lives. We met in Oahu, and then in 1988 went to Maui, then later to the Big Island, or Hawaii as it is named, and then again to Maui in the mid-1990s. I've been five times and Nancy and I went four times.

Here are two photos from that very first trip at the Turtle Bay Hilton. We were getting ready to leave for the airport to come home. One is Nancy, her daughter Alisa and me and the other is me and Dallan who I took on the trip and he introduced Nancy and I.

That was the last time I weighed 180 lbs. . .

As an aside, Dallan now lives in Hawaii, and I talked with him today on the phone and he told me something he never told me before. He said that when he met Nancy, he thought we were so much alike, he had to introduce us. I thought it was because I was so handsome and cool. . .

On each trip except The Big Island, we took helicopter tours of the island. That really gives you a great perspective of the whole island, including the parts you can't drive to.

We drove that crazy narrow, long, winding road on Maui to Hana on the north shore where Charles Lindbergh is buried. One of the photos here is at a single lane work stoppage, so we took the liberty of having some other driver take our photo.

On the way back from Hana, still on the Hana road, we found this tropical flower grower. When we got married officially, we contacted them and had flowers flown in from Hawaii that morning for an evening wedding at our home. The carport was turned into a tropical venue with palm fronds and all the Hawaiian specialty flowers. In addition, we had a special guest who played my own guitar and sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song to us directly. It was a very special evening.

There's a photo of Nancy at Lahaina on Maui in front of the famous Banyan tree.

Another photo show her in front of the active volcano on Hawaii.

She is having fun, showing her sense of humor at the Kenae Arboretum on the road to Hana hiding behind a palm frond.

Another photo shows Nancy with a flower in her hair on Hawaii. (Always rent a convertible on all Hawaiian islands!)

(a personal favorite of mine!)

We never got back to Hawaii, although, we have celebrated our trips there, and just the idea of Hawaii has always been a soothing place to think about. I've given Nancy gifts with that theme involved and more.

There are so many ways to celebrate a special place and feeling about a special place even when you can't actually be there. We can go there in our minds, have some physical things that remind us, and the best thing is just thinking about how we felt then and share that feeling again, if only in thought.

Hawaii will always remain an inspiration and a special place in my mind because of Nancy and our trips there and because it truly is a paradise especially when you see other islands.


Close Your Eyes For A Few Minutes And Remember. Then Find Ways To Celebrate Your Lives.

Spread Some Joy Today--I wear a Hawaiian shirt and shorts all summer long. It helps me to feel like I'm on vacation even while I'm not. Whatever works to help you to feel good is worthy of your attention and action.

Daily Inspriation 8-14-13

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature,

which, if we unconsciously yield to it,

will direct us aright."

 

-- Henry David Thoreau

Continuing the celebration of Nancy's life, and after yesterday's fauna, today, I will discuss her interest and expertise in flora.

I love Nature and I love plants and bushes and trees--especially trees. But houseplants often have a tendency to be ignored. Nancy kept the houseplants not only alive, but continuing to multiply. Some were quite old and still going strong.

Outside the home, she made sure there were new annuals, and other plants, small trees and such that would decorate and sooth. I think sooth is a great word because that is what all the Nature around me does to me. It sooths me. There is a dwarf Maple tree in the courtyard that fascinates me in how it continues to thrive year after year.

In recent years, Nancy was infatuated with Irises. We have them all around the house, and some thrive and others don't get enough sun. But, when they bloom, there is nothing on earth like them. They are spectacular and come in a wide variety of colors.

All this is great until it comes down to taking care of it all. I am expected to take care of all on the outside, but when I don my hand-held clippers, or other mechanical helpers to prune the bushes and small trees, Nancy used to freak out. Don't imagine I'm making light of that. She used to freak out. I was not qualified to trim any plant, bush or tree. Only she would be able to make such high level decisions.

Trouble is, she didn't learn the art of delegation. If I am responsible, then I need to be able to function in the capacity of gardener. Often I would have to wait for instructions. Trim here, not there. Cut here--at an angle, not there. I would often run away in frustration and tell her to do it herself.

There were times when I took it upon myself to trim things. Sometimes they were rather dramatic. I've have never heard the end of some of them. I'm a hack. I have no skills. I am unqualified without proper supervision, and more. Sometimes I would get the clippers out just for effect.

Truth is, Nancy beautified our little plot in ways that I could only be an assistant to. She somehow knew plants to buy, colors to arrange, the highs and lows, the right mixtures, the right soil, the perfect planter, and much more. I got to enjoy the added beauty and some of it has lasted for many years. She definitely had a way. But, boy she was particular and demanding.

It took me some time, but I adapted. Sort of. At least I let her lead 90+% of the time, and that was to everyone's benefit.


"Adopt The Pace Of Nature: Her Secret Is Patience." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spread Some Joy Today--Take away the plants and trees and I no longer want to live here.

Daily Inspiration 8-13-13

"When you change the way you look at things,

the things you look at change."

 

-- Dr. Wayne Dyer

There is so much I want to share about my wife Nancy, that it would take a year of Daily Inspirations probably. I will be very selective and focus on just a weeks worth here. I told you about her at church as a pastor, and how we met in Hawaii. Today is for the birds.

Kingfisher. A very rare sight in our yard.

My wife was for the birds. She loved birds. Birds of all kinds. Her favorite was always the hummingbird. So small, so beautiful, so fast. The house we lived in has old growth trees and bushes and you can barely see the house for the bushes and trees. Birds love that environment.

They like handouts too. We would buy bird seed in 40 and 50lb bags at the feed store. We always had Dove and Quail mix, and generally had Black Oiled Sunflower seeds, and from time to time, Niger seed, or thistle. Even though the free food is loved by the birds, it also attracts less desirables; however, my bringing this fact up never once dissuaded Nancy. So, for 26 years, we've been feeding birds, encouraging breeding on the property and so on. Nancy even had the property registered as a Certified Wildlife Habitat where she had to prove breeding via photos of nests and more. I just put more food out today.

We have always had multiple hummingbird feeders. We also have learned to leave a generous amount of spider webs outdoors because the birds love to use it in nests. In addition, we have straw baskets for hanging plants that the birds (especially the Blue Jays) take full advantage of.

Ants like sugar water as much as hummers

I built this six foot high feeder tray that came up to the bottom of the kitchen window with reflector film so that we could watch them closely without them seeing us there. It is so old now that the wood is falling apart, but still standing.

I have grown to love the sound of birds. My office is where the garage used to be and there is a sliding door facing a courtyard and I watch the birds drinking, taking baths in the birdbaths and I have sat and watched Blue Jays and Hummingbirds teaching their young how to jump around on branches, learn to fly and more.

Certain birds come at certain times of the year and then they're gone until next time. Cedar Waxwings and Robins are that way. We have a couple trees that produce small dark berries and the Cedar Waxwings gorge themselves in droves on those trees and then leave a mess as it comes out the other end. One photo shows a number of them in one birdbath at the same time. Robins love the worms in the front yard best. But they also like the berries.

A pause to refresh from the Cedar Waxwing feeding frenzy

I cannot imagine that I would have done any of this on my own, but I am that much more a complete person by doing as Nancy wished and learning to love it in the process. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Squirrels. We never had squirrels around here. Considering the trees and bushes and free food, I was always amazed at that. One day just a few years ago, a golden squirrel showed up. We didn't see him often, so it was always a joy. I would go get Nancy and bring her and show her the squirrel. Days would go by, then another sighting, and progressively it was more often. We always wondered why it was alone and hoped it would find a mate.

Nancy had bought this solar cell night light that looked like a golden squirrel eating. Recently, I saw a sight that amazed me as I caught the real squirrel and the fake one dining out together. Then as you can see in another shot of the kitchen window feeder tray, after several years, a mate shows up and now there are two. This just happened a few weeks ago and I am thrilled that I was able to get Nancy into the kitchen to see them herself.

Nancy also rescued birds and tried to save them and bring them back to health. That rarely worked but she did what she could. She also had a bird book noting any new birds she would see and noting where on the planet she saw them.

We were both for the birds, but I was a late bloomer.


You Never Know What Joys You Will Find When You Open Your Eyes To Them.

Spread Some Joy Today--Nature is always a joy to see, or it will be soon.

Daily Inspiration 8-12-13

"You are an infinite spiritual being

having a temporary human experience."

 

-- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Yesterday I spoke in celebration of Nancy Minion's life as a children's pastor. That was 15 years of the 26 we were together, and I thought I would share the most interesting story of how we came to meet.

Nancy at Bodega Bay in late 1987 or 1988

I mentioned yesterday that we met in Hawaii. It was north shore Oahu to be exact. That is the island with Honolulu on its south shore. The north shore is much more rural and quiet and it is also a place of spectacular surfing.

Nancy and I were both sales managers at Chevy dealerships. She was a manager in Van Nuys in southern California and I in Fairfield in northern California. Chevrolet used to have a trip each year that sales managers could win if certain objectives were hit. I've been all over the world as a result of those wonderful trips. We both won.

We were both previously married and on our own. I was so tired of the dating/bar scene, yet I wanted a partner and had no idea where that person may come from. So, I got down on my knees each night for six months praying to God that He knows everyone and He knows who would be good for me and when He felt the time was good to please put that person in my path and make sure I am paying attention. Seriously, that was my prayer every night, on my knees at the end of my bed like a kid. And, I meant every word of it. I had full confidence that God knew someone that would be perfect.

Nancy at age 56 (4 years ago) Self-portrait

I won the trip and had asked three women to go. All of them turned me down. Imagine that! A free trip to Hawaii for 7 days and 6 nights at the Turtle Bay Hilton in Turtle Bay (now the Turtle Bay Resort). I was surprised. But, I had a two person trip and why waste the other half, so I asked one of my sales people who was also a personal friend, Dallan, to go. He was excited to go.

We got to the resort, and the first night there was an evening reception. It was April 30th, 1987. Dallan and I walked in and all the tables were full, but there was chairs along a wall by the food, so we sat there. Another couple came down who ended up being brother and sister, then Nancy came down and sat away by herself. Dallan is very gregarious, so he moved over and started talking to her. Pretty soon, he had me over there and we later talked about playing tennis together in a foursome and that we were going to Honolulu in the morning to see the sites and pick up Dallan's sister at the airport later in the day. She was living on the Big Island (Hawaii) and he had her come stay and have fun with us for a few days.

1996 at church

I'll never forget first seeing Nancy. Her smile and her eyes just melted me. She was beautiful. Her eyes sort of glistened and smiled along with her mouth smile.

Come to find out, Nancy was in a similar situation and had brought her 14-year old daughter who was too young to attend many of the events where alcohol was served.

To make a longer story shorter, Nancy and I spent every day of this trip together in some way. She and her daughter, Alisa went to Honolulu with us and I took them on a helicopter ride and we drank a lot of Mai-Tai's, walked on the beach and more. We had our first kiss on the third night I think and by the 4th or 5th night I told her that I loved her. It's funny that it just fell out of my mouth before I even realized it.

After the trip I still had a week of vacation and ended up driving to southern California and spending that time with Nancy there. We decided the second night there to get married and she would move to northern California in June when school was out.

Here is a photo of us while on that trip at her Mom's house after I said 'Hi Mom!' when I first met her. We came to tell her of the engagement.

Nancy had two teenagers. Guy, 12 years old and Alisa was 14. We became a family.

There were plenty of struggles. But that is just noise now.

My love for Nancy was unconditional. It still is.


"Love Is The Ability AND Willingness To Allow Those That You Care For To Be What They Choose For Themselves Without Any Insistence That They Satisfy You." -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Spread Some Joy Today--Let go of the need for happiness. Instead, just love people the way they are.

Daily Inspiration 8-11-13

"We ask for long life, but 'tis deep life,

or noble moments that signify.

Let the measure of time

be spiritual, not mechanical."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yesterday morning, my partner of 26 years died in her sleep. She had ALS and was diagnosed in January 2012. This fact came sooner than expected, and was inevitable based on the disease. I miss her already and yet I am thankful that this came sooner than later. The last few months have been hard seeing her dwindle away bit by bit.

I haven't missed a Daily Inspiration message for almost four years, but yesterday, I just wasn't up to the task. Charlie, her dog and I went 'over the hill' yesterday afternoon with her along on her favorite ride in spirit only this trip. We've done that two-hour trip about 150 times this year, so I thought it was a fitting way to spend part of the day she left us.

Today I am celebrating Nancy and her life. Pastor Nancy was the children's pastor at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Vacaville for 15 years before her retirement due to the disease in March 2012. She cared for those kids from 5 to age 12 like a momma hen.

She abhorred the idea of baby-sitting the kids while their parents were in the service. She developed curriculum that was the best teaching she could muster and made it so entertaining that the kids loved it. She has thousands of photos of the kids in VBS (Vacaction Bible School), and so many other events on her computer. She was always taking things from home, buying things for the kids and making something special out of very little. The Children's budget was always small and somehow she always made it work.

A new church was built and most of it happened during this last recession causing all sorts of money problems. She wanted a playground for the little kids and it wasn't in the budget. After she retired in March, 2012, some of her teachers and helpers began calling the playground 'Nancy's Dream,' and they sought donations and on June 30th of this year, they dedicated the playground fully paid for through donations to Nancy. This was a huge thrill for her and the plaque they made touched her so.

We were together 26 years after meeting in Hawaii in 1987, and the majority of our time together, she was very focused on the kids and church and during that time studied to become an official pastor and then an ordained pastor. She spent an average of 60-70 hours a week at church during the day and often in the evening with other events. To say she was dedicated is to say it mildly.

There is much to celebrate about Nancy's life. This is just a small portion of what made her special to many.


Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance To The Music . . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Find ways to celebrate each other often.

Daily Inspiration 8-9-13

"The best is yet to come."

 

-- William Shakespeare

When I see a movie with Helen Mirren in it, I am continually amazed at how she continues to grow and become more, to be even more at her craft and be sexy at the same time. She's an amazing person and talent.

I grew up with The Beatles and I could play pretty much any album and start singing the next song without looking at the record sleeve. We all had them memorized and in the perfect order. Though they were so good in the beginning, it was fascinating and is still fascinating with Paul McCartney to see how they got better and better and better.

I look back at my own life and see vast improvement, increased skill, and wisdom. It is a joy to become more.

Back in 1983, I wrote and recorded a song (still have a 45 rpm record of it) that was titled, The Best Is Yet To Come. It was a song to my first wife (interesting how we number them. . . I'm only up to two though. . .). We had a very interesting and struggled relationship for 16 years and she has gone on to become so much more than she would have been with me. I rejoice in that.

I think that as long as we keep the majority of our focus in looking forward, trying, doing, falling down, getting up, trying the new, practicing, we grow and become more. Conversely, I think when we look to the 'good old days' and focus more attention on what was, we don't grow and become as we could.

When will I get better? Today and tomorrow. What is my best work? It is yet to come. How will I expand my talents? With practice. There's an interesting quote I ran across about practice which reminded me of a movie I love called Julie & Julia. The quote is by Bill Buford: "You don't learn knife skills at cooking school, because they give you only six onions and no matter how hard you focus on those six onions there are only six, and you're not going to learn as much as when you cut up a hundred."


"Youth Has No Age." -- Pablo Picasso

Spread Some Joy Today--Find the joy in today. It is always there.

Daily Inspiration 8-8-13

"I can't compete with them.

They're giving them away over there."

 

-- Heard from several hundred salespeople in my time

As a salesman and sales manager most of my life, I've heard salespeople make so many excuses of why they lost the sale, and it was almost always that the competitor had a lower price, and such.

One of the studies about buying motives that I saw many years ago showed that price was number eight on the list of reasons people bought. Number eight. But according to all the salespeople, it was number one. Another study I ran across was that thought 100% may talk about price, only 4% actually buy price. This last one helped me more than anything throughout my career to put talking about price into perspective. Of course, we all also know that inside, we want to feel like we got the best deal we could and that we didn't get ripped off.

I read Seth Godin's blogs and have read most of his books. One book he was discussing in a recent post was his book titled, Purple Cow - Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable. It is a great book that I recommend to all business people.

In the post, a person asked what do you do when the lowest price is all that seems to matter to customers? Here's a bit of his response that I resonated with:

"If you tell me that price is the only thing that matters to customers, I respond that nothing about this product matters to them.

When something matters to you, you talk about it, care about it, research it, tweak it. . . If all that we've got to care about is the price, then the price is the discussion, not the item itself.

Businesses have worked overtime to turn things into commodities, telling us that they sell what the other guy does, it's the same, but cheaper. No wonder we've been lulled into not caring.

Every time you say, "all they care about is price," you've just said, "the don't really care, they just want to get the buying over with, cheap."

The thing is, it doesn't have to be a commodity if you don't want it to be."

Cars, trucks, laundry soap, milk, eggs, coffee, bread, clothing are all commodities and based on this we should all be focused on price alone, but we're not.

At the Chevy car dealership I spent so much time in, the salespeople always thought their biggest competitor was the Chevy dealer in the next town. In my city, many people shop at Wal-Mart, yet there is a Safeway, three Raley's Stores too. I shop at Wal-Mart too, but Raley's far more often. There is a list of reasons and none of them are price.

Knowing what I know about cars and trucks and having worked with Ford and Dodge dealers along with Chevy dealers, I know that price is number eight on the list. And, it is number eight for the same reasons I shop at Raley's.


Price Gets Way Too Much Press.

Spread Some Joy Today--Give value where ever you go today.

Daily Inspiration 8-7-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"Rest seems like a nice contrast to overwhelment,

but enthusiasm is always chosen over rest.

The only thing that ever makes you tired

or bogs you down is resistance."

 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

Yesterday I talked about having the world on my shoulders, or at least it was the feeling of that. It is commonly called overwhelment and I have more of it than I would like. My strategy for moving away from overwhelment has been to escape the thought pattern, whether it is to escape into a movie, hard physical work, or sleep. That works absolutely, but when I saw this quote from Abraham this morning, I screamed YES!

I hadn't thought of enthusiasm being a better way, but when I saw this, I immediately agreed. It resonated with me. I'm certain I can find something to be enthusiastic about when the next time comes.

The best and fastest way I can think of into enthusiasm is using humor. If I can find a way to get laughing a little, then a little more, it melts the resistance allowing me to get into that special place called enthusiasm.


What A Cool Strategy From Darkness Into The Light!

Spread Some Joy Today--Enjoy some love today. Start with yourself.

Daily Inspiration 8-6-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"No more "supposed tos," OK?

You're not supposed to work harder,

look better, sleep less, sell more, run faster,

talk slower, be happier, stay longer, leave earlier,

cook, clean, negotiate, settle, start, stop, move,

try, win, shake, rattle or roll.

 

Other people made all that up.

 

I love you the way you are,

 

The Universe."

 

-- Mike Dooley, AKA, The Universe

Some people have told me that one of my Daily Inspirations came at just the right moment and was as if it was speaking personally to them. I too get several daily inspirational messages and have that same feeling. Last night when I normally do the Daily Inspirations, I came up blank. I don't write just to write, but I want it to be something I deal with or have recently dealt with so that it is just a bit personal. Since I was drawing a blank, I went to bed. This morning, I got this message from Mike Dooley of www.tut.com.

Sometimes I feel like the world is on my shoulders and it is really just a bunch of things that I have felt like I should be or could be or didn't do or did wrong, or things I should stop, or start, or pause, or let go of. I would love to go backward in time and fix things knowing full well, that could never work except in the movies. I have a list of things that I think I need to do when the reality is that I don't need to do any of them.

The truth is that virtually all of this is self-imposed rather than being imposed by others on me. I become my own worst enemy. In Transactional Analysis, that is being the 'critical parent' and I just beat myself up until I give up, in or just walk away.

Today I don't let it go too far because of being aware that I am doing this to myself, but I still feel it and experience it for a while, and all the time it feels crappy to say it mildly.

A better way is to make a list of things we've done, good thoughts we've thought, love we've spread, love we've felt that brings an instant smile to our face when we think of it. It's wonderful to make a book of appreciation and write out all the things that we appreciate about ourselves, and others, as well as things in our lives. I know this and I know how powerful it is, and I don't do it enough.

So today and especially yesterday is a reminder to me through my awareness that I would serve myself well by doing more of this right now. So, as I am writing this, I have one of those smiles on my face that feels like it is affecting my entire being. It is joy. It is love. It is peace. It is contentment. It is perfection. In this moment, there is nothing I want or need, nor any to-do lists. I can pause and take advantage of this anytime I want. Right now, I choose this.


The Best Answer Is Always Love. Let It Start On Myself.

Spread Some Joy Today--Get that full-body smile going on!

Daily Inspiration 8-5-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"Argue for your limitations,

and sure enough they're yours."

 

-- Richard Bach

How many times in my life have I argued for my limitations. I can't do that, it's impossible, I don't know how, and more. Then there have been probably at least twice as many times I've blamed others as a cause for my limitations. Maybe I'm conservative here, perhaps it was five times as often blaming others. After all, it isn't, wasn't, can't be my fault. After all, I'm only human. After all, I don't have a degree in that. After all, it's not my expertise. I was brought up to _______. Everyone in my family ____________. The government _________. The market _________. I can't afford it. I guess it wasn't meant to be. . .

Considering how many ways we may argue for our limitations, it is amazing we get anything done. Or maybe, it is just those things that we are sure we can do. Or maybe it is just plain luck. More limitations in disguise.

Having used all of these and a few hundred more, I still find myself arguing for my own limitations. The only difference today is that I have become critically aware of this tendency and exercise sufficient courage much of the time, to accept the notion that I am arguing and choose to release it for a better view of myself and my abilities. I praise with gusto this awareness. It gives me the opportunity to let go of being a victim and move forward.


"We Are Always Arguing For Either Our Limits Or Our Possibilities, And We Will Prove Whatever We Believe." -- Alan Cohen

Spread Some Joy Today--Let us argue for our possibilities today, and the joy that comes along for the ride.

Daily Inspiration 8-4-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"The best form

in which to worship God

is every form."

 

-- Neem Karoli Baba

A thought to consider the depth and wisdom of, and to live by. Sometimes it might seem based on this, that God would be at times hard to worship. In those cases, it isn't God, but us. In fact, it's always us. Praise and love are always a choice.


"If You Meet Someone Whose Soul Is Not Aligned With Yours, Send Them Love And Move Along." -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Spread Some Joy Today--"Love is my gift to the world. I fill myself with love, and I send that love out into the world." -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Daily Inspirations 8-3-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"Don't die with the music still in you."

 

-- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I was talking with a nurse today, and we had an interesting conversation. She is from another country and in her country she was a doctor, but in the U.S., she must do a number of things to have the same status here. She is part of a hospice program and we were talking a bit about life and death. Very briefly, I mentioned a number of different careers or jobs I've had to demonstrate some diversity and she seemed a bit jealous that she has always concentrated on the medical field.

As we talked about life values and living life fully, she mentioned that she used to paint, but she left it behind many years ago as she has focused on 'making a living' in her chosen field and in a different country. She seemed to express how sad she was to have left it behind in her newer, conscious-of-the-needs-of-today current life. I said that the good news was that she could change her mind about that in a moment, and that if she wanted to that she could paint and express herself creatively in that realm anytime she chose to do so.

With that she seemed surprised. She didn't think it was possible. But, I could see the excitement of the possibility of it in her face. So she immediately began thinking about going to school to learn more about painting. She mentioned possibly signing up for a class near her home. I said, 'why don't you just paint?' She said something about not being good at it, and I showed her some paintings on my wall by our grand-daughter and how they weren't commercially good, but they were certainly good coming from her where she was then and that with practice, even without teachers, we have the creative instinct within us to improve as we practice.

Then I showed her a picture painted by their grandfather who has a gallery of paintings and has spent a lot of years practicing and the difference was amazing, but also telling. I could tell that she was even more excited about it now and that was amazing to be a part of sharing those thoughts and emotion.

You know, it's true. We have a tendency to get caught up in 'making a living,' 'doing what we think we should be doing,' and all that stuff. If it doesn't help us pay the bills, it isn't any good. That philosophy has killed so much art in school. It's not about what monetary value it has, it is about EXPRESSION! It might be lame at the moment compared to someone who is truly good at the task, but that shouldn't matter much at all. It is about each of us expressing ourselves creatively, if for no other reason than to let it out. That is the true value. If it comes to have any monetary value, that could only be icing on the cake.

What have you been stuffing down inside that needs a venue of expression? Writing? Painting? Woodworking? Other artistic expressions? Gardening? Whatever it is, consider the value of allowing yourself to express that in whatever way that you can. The benefits will be amazing.


We Are Often SO MUCH MORE Than We Allow Ourselves To Be. We Are All CREATIONS OF GOD. Let It Out.

Spread Some Joy Today--Get excited about the creative talent that is in you and that inside of each and every one of us.

Daily Inspiration 8-2-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"What comes out of you

when you are squeezed

is what is inside of you."

 

-- Dr. Wayne Dyer

This is a test. It is a test of who you really are, not the facade that you show around. This is a test of the real you. This is an opportunity to see and hear this aspect of yourself and then you have another opportunity to change if you don't like what you see and hear. You may be tested often.

When I saw this quote by Wayne Dyer, I didn't think much about it, but coming across it again sometime later, it makes more sense to me. That's because it is personal.

I'm being tested in many ways, and as I look back, I can see this has happened hundreds of times. Probably most often, I just got through it and then things became 'normal' again (whatever normal is. . .). And recently, I've been tested by being squeezed in ways I would not have imagined and I've seen what has come out.

Fortunately, this time, I am aware and having seen what I did not want to see and hear, have made a commitment to the practice of changing myself so that in the future when I am squeezed, I will see and hear that which I want and that which causes me to feel good about myself.

One thing I was sorely lacking in was patience. I now have a great deal more by practicing it and making it part of my life. I also have more faith and trust than I used to. There are more to come and more that I am working on, and the best of them is gratitude. Gratitude is one I have practiced in earnest for a long time now, and it amazes me how much more of it I can develop in my life and how much it benefits me and those around me as I do.

I can now see that I have had these tests and opportunities throughout my life and careers, and if I spent much time looking in the rear view mirror, I could get upset by how many of these I've blown off. Thankfully, I spend very little time looking there and am focusing on the only time I can do anything about, and that is now. I am grateful for the testing and the opportunity to do something about it.


It's Never Too Late To Learn, Change, And Grow.

Spread Some Joy Today--What is right and good in your world? Make a list. TODAY.

Daily Inspiration 8-1-13

Special Note To CTS Daily Inspiration Readers:

First of all, THANK YOU for being a reader and thank you for all the wonderful comments that I've received over the last four years.

It has been suggested by many people that I create a book out of the CTS Daily Inspirations. I had mixed feelings about this. As people have continued to make the suggestion of the book, I had an idea that I think would make this an interesting and unique book. If many of you who are readers, have been touched by one or more of the inspirational messages, wrote about what inspirations inspired you, encouraged change and growth and generally how they affected you in a positive uplifting way, I would gather these into what I think would be an interesting and powerful book. If you are interested, please send them to me in an email to tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com. I will include this message for about one month so that all can see it. Feel free to send as many as you like and I will keep you posted on the progress of this idea.

"It is easier to resist

at the beginning

than the end."

 

-- Leonardo da Vinci

In this third installment on the subject of resistance, let's take Leonardo da Vinci's quote and add to it an expansion of the idea by Steven Pressfield:

"The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don't just put off our lives today, we put them off till our deathbed. Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second we can turn the tables on resistance. This second we can sit down and do our work."

Having written songs, a couple books and a couple thousand other messages, the key is getting past the resistance. It is always stronger at the beginning. Procrastination is resistance's favorite ally. Procrastination comes from the ego's preoccupation with 'what if's.' The ego doesn't want us to make a bad decision so it questions everything, leading frequently to no decision, or procrastination. Once begun, however, it is amazing what can get done in a very short time.

A book can be thought about forever, and written in a few days. The difference is sitting down and writing. Just like walking--once in motion, you can probably go for a long distance, until tomorrow morning.

Think of it this way: Steven Pressfield says that "resistance by definition is self-sabotage." Now I have a new way of looking at resistance: self-sabotage. I had never looked at it that way. I understand self-sabotage, for I've practiced it far too often, but I've never seen it as resistance and now a lot of things about how I've acted or failed to act make more sense.


Sometimes All It Takes Is Hearing Or Reading Something Phrased A Different Way To Gain Instant Understanding.

Spread Some Joy Today--Hug someone. I love hugs.