Another smoldering weekend in the valley and I can safely say that I made it through. Its something you get used to and learn to beat the heat the best way you know how. I don’t think it got over 110 degrees this weekend so that’s always a good thing. I was happy to get to spend some time with friends and talk with several friends and family members via the telephone.
Over the last several days, it seems like you can’t turn on the television without seeing some sort of reference to the Lebron James decision that was made the other day. As I see the articles and watch the news reports, I started to see that it was a little bigger than just where he was playing basketball.
As I continue to see everything unfold, my thoughts began to revolve around happiness and loyalty. I am not going to get into Lebron’s situation where the debates have been going back and forth about his loyalty to his former team, city of Cleveland, or the state of Ohio. I started to have some thoughts about loyalty and our individual situations.
What does loyalty mean to you? How important is loyalty to you? Where does your loyalty lie? What makes people loyal to you? Has your loyalty come in question? At the end of the day, “ARE YOU LOYAL TO YOURSELF?”
Maybe the questions above and the quotes below make you think a little deeper about some things that may be presently going on in your life. I send positive thoughts your way and wish that you have an amazing week.
“The best things in life are never rationed. Friendship, loyalty, love, do not require coupons.”
“It all comes down to serving the ones who are fighting alongside you, watching your back, putting a weapon in your hand when you need it most.”
-James Luceno
“A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.”
-William Arthur Ward
“We must live for the few who know and appreciate us, who judge and absolve us, and for whom we have the same affection and indulgence. The rest I look upon as a mere crowd, lively or sad, loyal or corrupt, from whom there is nothing to be expected but fleeting emotions, either pleasant or unpleasant, which leave no trace behind them.”
-Sarah Bernhardt
“The person who renders loyal service in a humble capacity will be chosen for higher responsibilities, just as the biblical servant who multiplied the one pound given him by his master was made ruler over ten cities...”
-Barry Forbes
“People view your loyalty by how far you can still be relied on when everything is going wrong.”
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday Morning Thoughts on "FREE AGENCY"
I am just sitting here this morning watching a little television before I decide to leave the house to deal with the heat for the day. Its already 98 degrees with the anticipated high expected to be 109 degrees. All I know is that I will be keeping cool thoughts in my head as that’s one way that I know to possibly beat this heat.
You can’t turn on a TV lately without being reminded about NBA players DeWayne Wade, LeBron James, and Co’s impending free agent status. As I was watching some news reports today, I heard an agent talk about how he assists the players in prioritizing what things are important to them when evaluating their decisions; compensation, championships, team chemistry, impact on family, etc. As I continued to listen to the conversations going back and forth, thoughts began to form around a few things that were mentioned.
Whether you are interested in sports or not the free agency concept can be related to things we do in our lives. From birth each and every one of us was born a free agent as we have the freedom of choice to make decisions that affect us. In making most of our decisions regarding our careers, relationships, and lives in general we often place values on what is important to us. The values we place on things ultimately influence our decisions coupled with your desires to be in a certain place.
In the midst of your own “free agency” period in any aspect of your life, ask yourself a few questions. Is there an area that I am willing to compromise? What is most important to me? What is it that I really desire? Do I desire the wrong things?
“Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”
-Lawrence Block
“Desire is the key to motivation, but its determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
-Mario Andretti
“If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it.”
-Brendan Francis
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.”
-Robert Kiyosaki
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”
-Napoleon Hill
You can’t turn on a TV lately without being reminded about NBA players DeWayne Wade, LeBron James, and Co’s impending free agent status. As I was watching some news reports today, I heard an agent talk about how he assists the players in prioritizing what things are important to them when evaluating their decisions; compensation, championships, team chemistry, impact on family, etc. As I continued to listen to the conversations going back and forth, thoughts began to form around a few things that were mentioned.
Whether you are interested in sports or not the free agency concept can be related to things we do in our lives. From birth each and every one of us was born a free agent as we have the freedom of choice to make decisions that affect us. In making most of our decisions regarding our careers, relationships, and lives in general we often place values on what is important to us. The values we place on things ultimately influence our decisions coupled with your desires to be in a certain place.
In the midst of your own “free agency” period in any aspect of your life, ask yourself a few questions. Is there an area that I am willing to compromise? What is most important to me? What is it that I really desire? Do I desire the wrong things?
“Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”
-Lawrence Block
“Desire is the key to motivation, but its determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
-Mario Andretti
“If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it.”
-Brendan Francis
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.”
-Robert Kiyosaki
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”
-Napoleon Hill
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday Evening Thoughts on "timing" 06/27/10
The weekend is coming to a close and I think I did another great job of trying to beat the heat. Over the next several months one of my main goals will be to stay cool and hydrated as much as possible as the temperatures are averaging 106 degrees daily. While doing my best to beat the heat over the last couple of days I managed to have a few conversations about life that prompted some additional thoughts afterwards.
I had an opportunity to sit down and talk to some older gentlemen this weekend that compared their experiences in their day to my current experiences. It’s amazing to look at the differences in the times that we are living in and how things are interpreted. I bring this up only because it was a situation in which my plan was to do some other things but this conversation just started. As we know in life we try to plan out most things that we do, but timing plays a role in a lot of it. Surprisingly, things don’t always happen in the time that we would like, but we have to learn to appreciate when and why things take place the way that they do.
You are where you are because that where you are supposed to be. So just have patience and trust that everything will reveal itself in the right timing for you.
As the weekend winds down, I wish you an amazing start to your new week. I am also sharing a few quotes related to timing that may speak to you current situation or something you have experienced in the past.
“No-one gets an iron-clad guarantee of success. Certainly, factors like opportunity, luck and timing are important. But the backbone of success is usually found in old-fashioned, basic concepts like hard work, determination, good planning and perseverance.”
-Mia Hamm
“Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.”
-Hesiod
“Your Master Teacher knows all you need to learn, the perfect timing for your learning it, and the ideal way of teaching it to you. You don't create a Master Teacher / that's already been done. You discover your Master Teacher.”
-Peter McWilliams
“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.”
-Stacey Charter
“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.
”
-Gloria Naylor
I had an opportunity to sit down and talk to some older gentlemen this weekend that compared their experiences in their day to my current experiences. It’s amazing to look at the differences in the times that we are living in and how things are interpreted. I bring this up only because it was a situation in which my plan was to do some other things but this conversation just started. As we know in life we try to plan out most things that we do, but timing plays a role in a lot of it. Surprisingly, things don’t always happen in the time that we would like, but we have to learn to appreciate when and why things take place the way that they do.
You are where you are because that where you are supposed to be. So just have patience and trust that everything will reveal itself in the right timing for you.
As the weekend winds down, I wish you an amazing start to your new week. I am also sharing a few quotes related to timing that may speak to you current situation or something you have experienced in the past.
“No-one gets an iron-clad guarantee of success. Certainly, factors like opportunity, luck and timing are important. But the backbone of success is usually found in old-fashioned, basic concepts like hard work, determination, good planning and perseverance.”
-Mia Hamm
“Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.”
-Hesiod
“Your Master Teacher knows all you need to learn, the perfect timing for your learning it, and the ideal way of teaching it to you. You don't create a Master Teacher / that's already been done. You discover your Master Teacher.”
-Peter McWilliams
“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.”
-Stacey Charter
“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.
”
-Gloria Naylor
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday Night Thoughts on your "role" 06/14/10
Another week has started and I am trying to embrace it in way to make it better than my last. That’s pretty much the way I try to live each day these days. It’s in the plan to make sure that tomorrow is better than today and as long as I put forth the effort I can rest knowing that that I tried.
Over the course of the last several days I have encountered a few situations and conversations that have revolved around roles. Last week you may have read or witnessed a lot of reports on the late John Wooden and his impact as a coach/leader. I read something that he said, “I wasn’t a basketball coach but I was a teacher.” That statement got me to thinking about where I am currently.
After some thought I began to realize that it’s not your position that defines your role in the grand scheme of things. We are put in situations and places because of the role we were chosen to play at a particular moment. The time has come to embrace where we are and use our talents and wisdom to give life to our role.
Do you know your role in life currently? Do you think your role has been defined? Are you ready to embrace it?
Depending on your answers you may begin to look at your role a little differently in the future. Maybe we were all put here to be teachers in some form or fashion.
“There comes a point in many people's lives when they can no longer play the role they have chosen for themselves. When that happens, we are like actors finding that someone has changed the play.”
-Brian Moore
“I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it's an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I've learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them.”
-Sasha Azevedo
“Do not worry about holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role.”
-Confucius
“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on and individual level. It's got to happen inside first. You can take away a man's political freedom and you won't hurt him- unless you take away his freedom to feel. That can destroy him. That kind of freedom can't be granted. Nobody can win it for you.”
-Jim Morrison
“The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.”
-Anais Nin
“The role of the teacher remains the highest calling of a free people. To the teacher, America entrusts her most precious resource, her children; and asks that they be prepared... to face the rigors of individual participation in a democratic society.”
Over the course of the last several days I have encountered a few situations and conversations that have revolved around roles. Last week you may have read or witnessed a lot of reports on the late John Wooden and his impact as a coach/leader. I read something that he said, “I wasn’t a basketball coach but I was a teacher.” That statement got me to thinking about where I am currently.
After some thought I began to realize that it’s not your position that defines your role in the grand scheme of things. We are put in situations and places because of the role we were chosen to play at a particular moment. The time has come to embrace where we are and use our talents and wisdom to give life to our role.
Do you know your role in life currently? Do you think your role has been defined? Are you ready to embrace it?
Depending on your answers you may begin to look at your role a little differently in the future. Maybe we were all put here to be teachers in some form or fashion.
“There comes a point in many people's lives when they can no longer play the role they have chosen for themselves. When that happens, we are like actors finding that someone has changed the play.”
-Brian Moore
“I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it's an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I've learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them.”
-Sasha Azevedo
“Do not worry about holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role.”
-Confucius
“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on and individual level. It's got to happen inside first. You can take away a man's political freedom and you won't hurt him- unless you take away his freedom to feel. That can destroy him. That kind of freedom can't be granted. Nobody can win it for you.”
-Jim Morrison
“The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.”
-Anais Nin
“The role of the teacher remains the highest calling of a free people. To the teacher, America entrusts her most precious resource, her children; and asks that they be prepared... to face the rigors of individual participation in a democratic society.”
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday Morning Thoughts on Accomplishment 05/28/10
Sitting here relaxing on the Friday before the holiday and I am sure we all have big plans for the Memorial Day weekend. Before the weekend gets started I just wanted to share a few thoughts as I was clearing my head this morning.
My thoughts over the last couple of weeks have revolved around accomplishments. A little over two weeks ago my little sister accomplished yet another feat in graduating with her master’s degree. I also know of quite a few young people that have recently walked across the stage accepting diploma’s as they graduated from high school. These are major accomplishments and hopefully have laid a foundation for bigger and better accomplishments in the future.
Already 5 months into the new year and I wonder where the time has gone as we are nearing the halfway point of 2010. Now is a great time to look at the where you are in life and goals that you may have set for yourself this year.
Maybe there are questions that we could all ask ourselves:
1. What has been my greatest accomplishment thus far?
2. What have I accomplished recently?
3. What is the next thing I hope to accomplish?
4. Are there any roadblocks preventing my accomplishments?
I wish all of you an amazing safe holiday weekend and hope you enjoy the quotes below.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
-Jim Rohn
“Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment.”
-Eric Butterworth
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”
-Vince Lombardi
“The person determined to achieve maximum success learns the principle that progress is made one step at a time. A house is built one brick at a time. Football games are won a play at a time. A department store grows bigger one customer at a time. Every big accomplishment is a series of little accomplishments.”
-David Joseph Schwartz
My thoughts over the last couple of weeks have revolved around accomplishments. A little over two weeks ago my little sister accomplished yet another feat in graduating with her master’s degree. I also know of quite a few young people that have recently walked across the stage accepting diploma’s as they graduated from high school. These are major accomplishments and hopefully have laid a foundation for bigger and better accomplishments in the future.
Already 5 months into the new year and I wonder where the time has gone as we are nearing the halfway point of 2010. Now is a great time to look at the where you are in life and goals that you may have set for yourself this year.
Maybe there are questions that we could all ask ourselves:
1. What has been my greatest accomplishment thus far?
2. What have I accomplished recently?
3. What is the next thing I hope to accomplish?
4. Are there any roadblocks preventing my accomplishments?
I wish all of you an amazing safe holiday weekend and hope you enjoy the quotes below.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
-Jim Rohn
“Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment.”
-Eric Butterworth
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”
-Vince Lombardi
“The person determined to achieve maximum success learns the principle that progress is made one step at a time. A house is built one brick at a time. Football games are won a play at a time. A department store grows bigger one customer at a time. Every big accomplishment is a series of little accomplishments.”
-David Joseph Schwartz
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Lazy Friday Thoughts 4/9/10
Looking out the window it looks as though it is going to be an amazing Friday. I am definitely going to take advantage of today and try to relax.
Over the last couple of weeks I have been approached by a few individuals who brought some things to my attention. Through their commentary about my lack of writing over the last several months and questions being asked about how things were going in my world made me realize some things. As I thought about what they said, I realized that things may have gotten slightly out of balance for me.
In our lives we often hit points where things get out of balance. As we mature we are able to recognize this easier and attempt to put things back into balance. Whether or not we have reached that maturity level, it’s important to have people in your life that can recognize when things aren’t as balanced as they are used to seeing.
Take a look at things going on in your life to see where things are in balance and where they are not.
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”
-Thomas Merton
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”
-Albert Einstein
“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.”
-Brian Tracy
“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension. It is a gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness.”
-Stephen Covey
“Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself”
-Jessye Norman
Over the last couple of weeks I have been approached by a few individuals who brought some things to my attention. Through their commentary about my lack of writing over the last several months and questions being asked about how things were going in my world made me realize some things. As I thought about what they said, I realized that things may have gotten slightly out of balance for me.
In our lives we often hit points where things get out of balance. As we mature we are able to recognize this easier and attempt to put things back into balance. Whether or not we have reached that maturity level, it’s important to have people in your life that can recognize when things aren’t as balanced as they are used to seeing.
Take a look at things going on in your life to see where things are in balance and where they are not.
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”
-Thomas Merton
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”
-Albert Einstein
“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.”
-Brian Tracy
“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension. It is a gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness.”
-Stephen Covey
“Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself”
-Jessye Norman
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday Thoughts 3/1/10
It always seems as if Monday comes way too soon. Maybe it’s just me, but I swear the weekend just started. Nevertheless, another week is upon us to be more precise we have entered a new month. So, far the year 2010 appears to be moving by pretty fast.
I had a few conversations over the last couple of days and it seemed that they all seen to revolve around surroundings. As we look around we can see how our surroundings have played a part in bringing us where we are currently I have some close friends that would tell you that everything they do and the reasons that they do it is because of their family. That speaks volumes and I think we can all take a look around and have some realizations about our own surroundings.
What do you identify with first in the area that surrounds you? What do your surroundings mean to you? What do you get from your surroundings? What are you giving to everything around you?
Take a moment and think about these questions as you read these quotes.
“For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value.”
-Claude Monet
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.”
-Oprah Winfrey
“To believe in yourself and to follow your dreams, to have goals in life and a drive to succeed, and to surround yourself with the things and the people that make you happy - this is success!”
-Sasha Azevedo
“Life is too short to spend your precious time trying to convince a person who wants to live in gloom and doom otherwise. Give lifting that person your best shot, but don't hang around long enough for his or her bad attitude to pull you down. Instead, surround yourself with optimistic people.”
-Zig Ziglar
“The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe.”
-Jean Paul Richter
I had a few conversations over the last couple of days and it seemed that they all seen to revolve around surroundings. As we look around we can see how our surroundings have played a part in bringing us where we are currently I have some close friends that would tell you that everything they do and the reasons that they do it is because of their family. That speaks volumes and I think we can all take a look around and have some realizations about our own surroundings.
What do you identify with first in the area that surrounds you? What do your surroundings mean to you? What do you get from your surroundings? What are you giving to everything around you?
Take a moment and think about these questions as you read these quotes.
“For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value.”
-Claude Monet
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.”
-Oprah Winfrey
“To believe in yourself and to follow your dreams, to have goals in life and a drive to succeed, and to surround yourself with the things and the people that make you happy - this is success!”
-Sasha Azevedo
“Life is too short to spend your precious time trying to convince a person who wants to live in gloom and doom otherwise. Give lifting that person your best shot, but don't hang around long enough for his or her bad attitude to pull you down. Instead, surround yourself with optimistic people.”
-Zig Ziglar
“The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe.”
-Jean Paul Richter
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