Category Archives: inspiration

The YOLO Effect…

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You only live once  Forgive me for overworking the YOLO cliché, but I’ve got something to say that I know will help you live a little better.  If you think about how many times people use that cliché and it’s context, you’ll find something very interesting.  Almost every time we say it, we are making some reference to getting rid of our fear of doing something with a complimentary urge to “do it” right now.  We are saying that life is too short to not do the things you really want to do.  So, as you can imagine, that got me thinking…

How much time do you spend doing things you really don’t want to do?  Or, how many things do you do because you think they are what others expect you to do?  Or, stated in the positive, do you spend most of your time doing the things you enjoy doing; have passion about and want to do?  And of course closely related to those questions, why are you doing the things you are doing?

As I’ve said a hundred times prior, this ol’ world funnels us into well-worn grooves of expectations!  The subtle and not so subtle message is to get in line; shut your mouth and don’t buck the system.  Do acceptable work; make acceptable comments; have acceptable opinions (not your own opinions, but the popular ones) and for goodness sakes, don’t start questioning things.  If a thing doesn’t make sense to you, it’s not because it doesn’t make sense, but rather because you don’t understand it – so again, close your mouth and get in agreement (now!).  The problem with that “go-along to get-along” mindset is that you no longer get to be “you” in the process.  Now on the surface, you may not think this applies to you, so I ask you, give it a little more thought.

People are employed in a line of work they hate, for decades.  Folks are suppressed in unhealthy relationships or subjecting themselves to unhealthy family members for a lifetime.  We laugh when it’s not funny.  We say the food tastes good when it doesn’t.  We nod in agreement to insane political ideas when those views couldn’t be further from our own.  We don’t play the music we like when others are around.  We get college degrees in subjects we cannot stand.  We tip waiters for poor service.  We devote time to reading books we don’t enjoy.  We trudge ourselves to tired church services and participate in nonsensical observances and even pray to a God we are grossly unfamiliar with!  Why?  Because we are afraid, that’s why!  Fear, often confused with terror, is a subtle beast.  We can all recognize the fright we feel when we see a tiger, but do we acknowledge the slipperier version that causes us to do all of the above?   Why would a man work in a job he loathed for twenty years?  He’s afraid that he can’t do anything else?  He’s afraid what his family would say if he quit?  He’s afraid what society might say if he stepped out of line!  Why do folks put up with family members that are toxic and discourage their growth?  Because they are afraid what everyone would think if they stopped coming around.  Fear.  (disclaimer – this does not refer to my family- :-) )  We agree, we cajole, we acquiesce, we agree because we’re so friendly?  Probably not when you get right down to it.  Fear drives a multitude of things we feel obligated to do.  Then there is obligation’s close companion – guilt.  Guilt is just another form of fear manifesting itself as something you need to do because of something you didn’t do; should have done; or to avoid something because of what you did do (or perceive you might have done)!  Fear…

I’m certainly not advocating morphing into a self-centered douche, parading around town looking out for number one only!  I’m suggesting rather that you take the time to consider why you do the things you do.  There really are only two great motives in life – love and fear.  Love works no ill to its neighbor (or to you either for that matter)  Fear starts bad, proceeds bad, and ends bad.  Working out of fear leads to misery.  Working out of love fans the flames of passion.  Saying how you feel out of love leads to understanding and agreement and resolution.  Saying how you feel out of fear leads to arguments and conflict.  Doing things for other people out of love is the very heart of service.  Doing things for people out of fear leads to slavery and bondage and all kinds of mistreatment.

So the simple acid test is to ask yourself why you are doing the thing that you are doing.  Do you want to do it?  If you had a million bucks would you do it?  I’m sure we all have the fantasy of all the wonderful things we would do if we just became rich enough to do it.  And the reason we cannot do it now?  Fear…  And while you are asking yourself these things in the solemn privacy of your mind, take solace in the truth that you can change anything you want to change.  Sure folks will deride you and chastise you and demand you get back to being who you are supposed to be!  But what you owe yourself is to be the “you” you really want to be!  Don’t you think?  People live frustrated, defeated, unsatisfied lives because they spend their precious lives living as someone else. Don’t let that be you, my friend.

Cliche’ alert – At the end of the day, we all have only one life to live and we all only live once (on earth anyway).  Start today by asking yourself why and then get busy modifying and changing what needs to change.  You oughta be able to be “you,” doing “you” in the ways that make “you” the most happy!  YOLO my friends, YOLO!

Just some good thoughts…

 

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How to Get What You Want, Now!

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believe  How many books have been written that purport to tell you how you can use the “power of your mind” to get something that you need?  It’s an alluring concept for sure, but one that simply isn’t true.  There is no power of the mind other than the power to choose what you will.  I know, I know, this idea runs cross purposes with many famous works such as, “Awakening The Giant Within,” but suspend your disagreement for a little bit and allow me to explain what I mean.

There’s a verse in the Bible that states, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  (Read that sentence again!)  There’s another one that states, guard your heart with all that you are because out of your heart flows the issues of your life.  Those words have been there for years, but what do they even really mean?  Well, those things we believe in the depths of our heart to be true, shape and form our existence today.  And, by the power of choosing what we will think about, we can guard the heart of our minds; the place where our believing expectation comes from.  Believing expectation forms the essence of our lives.  What we believe to be true will come true if we really believe it.  In fact, your life at this very moment is a direct reflection of those thoughts and beliefs you hold about yourself most dearly.  It is 100% accurate in every way.  Remember it is not what you wish you were or would like to be, but what you truly are at this moment in time.  It is a system that never errs in any way.  God wouldn’t have told us to guard our hearts with all that we are if what we believe in our hearts did not have a dramatic impact on the life we are living.  So, if you think about, believing is not the power of your mind, but rather your connection to All-Power.  However, I must add a caution, believing works with tremendous accuracy for positive and negative thinking alike.  What you fear is also believing; believing that connects you to a different power; one that brings about frustration and defeat.  Negative believing (fear) leads assuredly to negative results also with 100% accuracy.

So, how can you learn to believe for good?  Well, in actuality you are believing something all of the time.  However, most people become so frustrated with life because they believe in accordance with what they think they see and not in accordance with what they want.  For example, the media, your neighbors, your family, financial analysts tell you it is a “bad economy!”  And, it is difficult to get a job in a bad economy.  So, unknowingly, you believe what they said and thus have a hard time getting a job.  After all, it’s a bad economy.  You are believing something that is not necessarily true and limiting yourself in the process.  That belief is not true because what you truly believe to receive, you will receive 100% of the time, in every case.  Imagine, there are many people who are not only NOT suffering in the “bad economy” but are actually prospering.  Why?  They have chosen to believe otherwise.  Can you see it?  You cannot allow present circumstances or conditions to affect what you believe or else you give your power (your ability to choose) over to something else.  And, you will never, ever be able to change your present circumstances as long as you keep doing that.  So, ummm stop it!

So, when is the right time to believe?  The right time, is right now!  Well, when do you want to get the “things” that you want?  Right now or five years from now?  The reason so many things seem to take so long to come to pass is because we are not believing for them to happen right now.  Logically if you imagine your life being full of abundance and peace and love at some future date, it is not going to happen right now.  (Read that again!)  Ask yourself, why does so much time need to go by before I get what I really want?  Good things take a lot of time to happen?  Says who?  Says you!  And thus it is true for you!  If you can wrap your mind around that concept, things can transform in your life, in a hurry.  In order to get what you want in life, you have to see it happening in your mind, right now.  Thus believing (true believing, not wishing) is seeing the result you want in your mind first before it happens in your reality.  Wishing, on the other hand, is always in the future and you cannot live in the future, so it is a futile effort.  And if we are honest, we don’t really believe the things we wish would happen are going to happen, that’s why we continue to “wish” they would!

Believing is therefore seeing your intended result in your mind’s eye first and then holding that image there despite what the whole world tells you to the contrary!  Believing for good things in your life is not going to come without opposition.  In fact, the larger your believing for good things, the more contrary “facts” will show up to talk you out of what you believe.  God forbid you ever learn how much control you really do have over your life, if you only knew it (he says sarcastically)!  Your job and my job therefore, is to not allow the world, the circumstances, the conditions, our limited and finite thinking, to talk us out of the things we really want.

Believing is almost magical.   By believing you can be healed of ANY disease.  By believing you can receive tremendous financial abundance.  By believing you can find the answer to every question and repair anything that was ever broken.  By believing you can transform your life from mundane to dynamic; from so-so to oh-so; from ordinary to extraordinary!

Get what you want out of your life now, folks.  Don’t spend any time trying to awaken the giant within you, instead believe wholeheartedly to tap into the greatest power in the universe, God’s power for good!  God is for it!  I am for it!  Now it’s time for you to be for it!  Get it and get it now!

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As the Seasons Change

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This morning I stepped outside and I knew that summer was on my doorstep. The wind relaxes a little and that early morning chill is slightly less alarming.  Although we are still just beginning spring, summer, at least- in San Diego is making a slow entrance.

One of the many glories of summertime

One of the many glories of summertime

 

As the change of seasons is inevitable, so is all change in this world. We are going to mature, find a new hobby, become more capable, etc. Perhaps we need goals to guide us, or perhaps we need to set our own trend. Just as summer entices us to eat the glowing peaches and nectarines, it is time to entice others to accept this change.

And, why can’t we be like Summer, blowing everyone away with our subtle warmth? In other words, we can be our own trend-setters. Whether it be leading someone towards truth, happiness, or anything else that is good? Any change that works toward preserving the genuine nature of something, is worth dedication.

Sincerely,

Trend-settaaa

 

 

The Hero

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Light at the end of the tunnel

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but you usually have some digging to do.

“Hope  is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes  without the words – and never stops at all.” – Emily  Dickinson

Recently, I have had a few conversations about the increase in random, unexplained shootings.  This was because there was a shooting within less than a mile from my school campus. Imagine how these victims woke up as usual, had a conversation with their loved one, perhaps listened to their favorite song and then- nothing. Unfortunately, this phenomenon of unwarranted deaths breeds mistrust for the common stranger. Who knows if Sherrie with the two beagles and beaming smile is really as calm as she seems? Haven’t you heard what happened in Connecticut? There are tons of beagles there!

However, dear reader, now that I have introduced you to this unfortunate thought, I would like you to expel it. Instead: dream, dream, dream. Not for me, but for your children, neighbors, friends, parents, etc. This unseen evil is conquerable through strength, faith and hope.

Hope is the unbreakable vision of what is ahead; never ever take off your rose-colored glasses when looking down the hallway to hope’s door. Behind that door will always be a glimmer of something magnificent. In the darkest times, open that door with all your might, for it will only build your resilience. Cast that light into the darkest of shadows, since the change we usually seek we can create with our initiative and a whole lot of help from Above.

Although many have been affected by these shootings, there is a hero in every one of us. My hero is different than yours, but he is just as brawny and mighty and may or may not look like Apollo, Captain America and Robert Redford? Regardless- we tend to forget what strength, magnificence and beauty the human soul bears.

Therefore, it never hurts to remind yourself, or more importantly someone else as to what they are capable of.

- Elizabeth Kotar

 

 

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The Fine Art of Giving A Shit

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fine art of giving a shitIf you gave a shit, you would have less shit in your life.

If you give a shit on a continuous basis, just a little each day, you will have alot less shit in your life.  Makes sense doesn’t it?   Now imagine others noticing how much happier you were and asking, “what is different about you?”  You could turn to them and say with a big smile, “I decided to start giving a shit!”

What if just a few smiled, laughed and thought it was a good idea.  They would want to give it a try, wouldn’t they? I mean how simple and therapeutic is it, give a shit and be happy.  Go ahead say it out loud, “I give a shit!” now post it, “I give shit!”  Don’t be afraid, anyone that is old enough to read or understand speech for that matter, has heard “that kind of language”  and frankly the admiration you will generate for giving a shit, will far exceed the abuse you will take for using the word shit in public.

What if giving a shit caught on? T-shirts that say, “I give a  shit”, college classes called “Giving A Shit” would fill up fast!  A new  philosophy would spread wide and far and would mix love, empathy and inspiration with a giant sense of humor…hmmm there should probably be memorial to George Carlin lol!

Giving a shit starts with not giving a shit…ahhhh now we are getting into some deep shit.  Giving  a shit begins with you, being who you are and being happy. When the plane starts to go down, you put the mask on yourself first and then help others.  Does it sound like we are sending mixed signals now?  Let me break it down for you, live by example, be the change, be the ball, just be HAPPY damn it!  Now, go help others do the same.

Well, there is the thought of the day!  Try giving  a shit, 20 years from now you will laugh about the shit in your life, so why wait, start today.  For the record, THE GOOD WORD gives a shit, but we are NOT all uptight, we are human, we stumble, we fall and we get back up again. If the language offends you I do apologize because that was not my intention, I do however, reserve the right to laugh at and with you : )  I mean honestly, I could have written an article on caring, but a lot less people would care enough to read it lol!  We are passionate, caring and not above swearing to show we give a damn!

Love more, laugh lots and have a great day!

- Steve Schappert

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LOVE: A Tribute To Mother Teresa

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mother-teresa

I must remember—nothing counts but love:

Sincere and humble, purely from the heart.
To love the least one, is to serve Above.

High, gentle bird of peace—stay living dove.
No never leave—no never, ever part.
I must remember—nothing counts but love—

Since hate destroys with bully-push and shove,
While karma blocks a-head for slice a—part.
To love the least one, is to serve Above.

Love’s who and why and what we are made of
From the beginning, right there—at the start
I must remember—nothing counts but love.

What else is there, on earth, more pure to prove?
Within ourselves, this Master / peace of art!
To love the least one, is to serve Above.

May every atom in my being move—
To small and Great—true blessings to impart!
I must remember—nothing counts but love!
To love the least one, is to serve Above!

Tribute To: Mother Theresa by TR Whelan  of Thomaston Chiropractic

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