Believe

Good Morning,

As you were growing up, you may have been told over and over that you
were good at doing something. You believed it. Similarly, if you
constantly tell people they are doing a good job, they will
eventually believe it even if in the beginning they have doubts about
their ability. In essence, we become what we believe. If we hold the
correct perceptions and thoughts long enough, they have the power to
fundamentally change us for the better.

Be confident about yourself and the path you have taken. If you can
not feel that way then be curious and find out why (this too is a
path) Don't let others erode your confidence. Successful people know
that the greater their understanding of themselves, the greater their
self-confidence and the greater their achievements.

I know it can be hard at times but don't feed your mind with negative
thoughts. If you do, you will come to believe them. Relish in the
world it is full of positive thoughts, and surround yourself with
people who give you positive support!

Have a beautiful weekend and carry this thought - "All that we are is
the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we
think, we become." - Buddha

Peace and Love, Jim

Small Kindness

Good Morning,
I live in a fast growing county where the roads can not keep up with
the growth. This leaves us with more traffic than most downtown
areas. We live on a very busy street and the morning commute can
challenging.

Most mornings I try to be diplomatic at intersections and on/off
ramps. On this particular morning, I let a car out of a side street
and proceeded on my way to my favorite drive thru beverage shop for a
hot morning chai tea. When it was my turn I ordered my chai and as I
went to pay she told me that the car in front of me had paid for me
because I had let them out in traffic and they noticed I had gone to
the same coffee place that they had!!!

Now that inspired me to do likewise and---pay it forward!!! My wife
has done so as well by paying for peoples parking, drinks or other
small items. It is amazing how a small kindness like letting someone
out in traffic can make someone's day! The next time your out
attempt to be aware to some of the small acts of kindness you can do
for others, you will be surprised at how it changes not only someone
else's day but yours as well.

Have a beautiful day and hold this thought - Kindness is a language
which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see

Peace and Love, Jim

Laughter

Good Morning,

Over the last few months my wife and I have bitten off a complete
renovation of our 28 year old house. The to-do lists, the endless
work and mounting bills have taken their toll on us both physically.
This in turn has reduced the amount of laughter and good spirits that
usually fill our hearts, our household, and our lives. During this
bewildering time we have both come to realize the importance of humor
and laughter and finally had a good chuckle about what we have taken on.
Laughter, a topic that has baffled philosophers for 2,000 years, is
finally yielding to science. Researchers have now traced the
evolution of laughter back to an unexpected discovery: laughter has
little to do with humor. It's an instinctual survival tool for social
animals, not an intellectual response to wit. In other words, it's
not about getting the joke; it's about getting along. Research
maintains that it's a largely involuntary process, and though people
can consciously suppress laughs, few can make themselves laugh
convincingly. In his words, Laughter is an honest social signal
because it's hard to fake. It's a kind of behavioral fossil showing
the roots that all human beings, maybe all mammals, have in common.

Observe where your laughter arises from today and what effect it has,
both inside and out.

Have a beautiful day and hold this thought - Laughter is like a flash
of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for
a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and
fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.

Peace and Love, Jim

No Complaints

Good Morning,

I read about this story a while back and found it very compelling in
this age challenges. We have people taking the fat challenge, the
fitness challenge or some other life challenge. The 21 day no
complaint challenge just might be the toughest of them all since
complaining seems to be one of our favorite unacknowledged activities
(myself included).
21-Day No Complaints Challenge:

How long can you go without complaining? The one thing we can agree
on is there's too much complaining. Can you give up complaining,
criticizing, gossiping or using sarcasm for 21 days? People who take
the challenge are issued purple bracelets as a reminder of their
pledge. If they caught themselves complaining, they were supposed to
take off the bracelet, switch it to the opposite wrist and start
counting the days from scratch. Most people report and average of
three and a half months to put together 21 complaint-free days. Now,
about a half a million people around the world have requested free
wristbands to rise to the challenge. Are you up to the task?

The wristbands are free and available here: http://ccunitykc.org/ but
any type of band or simple reminder will do the trick.

People who do not see their choices do not believe they have choices.
They tend to respond automatically, blindly influenced by their
circumstances and conditioning. Mindfulness helps us notice our
impulses before we act, gives us the opportunity to decide whether to
act and how to act. --Gil Fronsdal

Peace and Love, Jim

Cultivate Peace

Good Morning,

I am not one to take sides and this mornings post is not intended as
some type of anti-wat diatribe or political viewpoint. I simply wish
that all of us may find the peace that naturally and abundantly flow
within each of us and that some day at some point we realize that
whenever there is conflict, that whomever we take sides with or
against, we are only fighting ourselves.

May you understand the power of cultivating peace in your gardens.
1. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

You feel guided to take your focus off the external world.
Cultivators know that we are, at all moments, creating our future.
Some of us are doing this creating 'deliberately' while others, by
getting caught up in the swirl of events that surround us, are doing
this creation 'by default'. Which do you choose: to create
deliberately or by default?

2. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

In relationships with others, you strive to bring the focus to areas
of harmony and agreement instead of conflict and discord. Appreciate
that what we resist, persists and, therefore, make thoughtful
determinations of where attention should be placed. Which
relationships in your life could benefit from a short time spent
focusing on areas of agreement?

3. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

You let go of the idea that you can only feel peaceful when
everything around you is going a certain way and, instead, recognize
that you have the power within you to choose to experience peace. Who
(or what) have you allowed to destroy your sense of peace - and how
can you reclaim it?

4. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

You notice that, when someone 'pushes your buttons', instead of
expending your energy trying to get the other person to change, you
search inside yourself and ask, 'what happened inside me that led me
to react that way to you?' Whenever we feel a painful emotion
(anger, resentment, jealousy, fear, depression, desire for vengeance,
grief) this simply means that someone has activated one of our wounds
and a powerful opportunity for healing lies right in front of us.
The next time you find that your 'buttons' have been pushed, where
will you focus your attention -- inward or outward?
5. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

You find yourself put off by anti-war demonstrations and the notion
of judging and condemning the players in a dispute. Understand that
we cannot be engaged in a battle and be a source for peace at the
same time. Where are you investing your energy -- in a battle against
war or in a commitment to peace?

6. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

You find yourself focusing on what you are not wanting instead of
what you are wanting. Cultivators recognize that what we focus on
expands and they give careful thought as to what they want to have
expand in their lives. What in the world would you like to see expand?
7. You'll know that you are cultivating peace when...

Instead of praying for an outside force to bring peace to others, you
commit to being one who radiates peace from within. Are you ready to
become a source of Peace?

Have a beautiful day.

Peace and Love, Jim

Inspiration

Good Morning,

As a professional designer I seek inspiration everyday. Not only have
i learned that inspiration is unpredictable and moody. . . I have
also learned to embrace it as such.

This was a hard lesson to learn and working a 9 to 5 design job made
it even tougher. Inspiration gets lost in the tiny cracks between the
mundane, the usual and the expected. Inspiration has a unique way of
making even the most mundane chore more desirable. When your inspired
to paint your house it is much more tolerable than when you HAVE to
paint your house. Inspiration is as fickle as any other emotion and
when you could use a little it never seems to be around. So where
does inspiration come from?

Well it does not like to be forced or bossed. The reality is that you
must allow inspiration to come to you and be open to receive it.
There is a certain freedom that comes with realizing that I don't
have the answers. The less I go looking and the more I simply set my
self up to be open when inspiration arrives the more liberated I feel.

Sometimes we look so hard for something that we miss it altogether,
so learning to be comfortable with the unanswered, the unpredictable,
and inconsistent is one of the greatest lessons learned. I also
realized that asking questions is far more inspiring than having
answers and the world is full of questions.

If we just keep our eyes, ears and minds open to the world
inspiration will always find us. We just need to surrender to the
fickle nature of our minds (and thus inspiration). It's OK that
things are not always in our control. After all, what would be so
inspiring about the expected, the usual or the predictable?

Have a beautiful weekend!

Peace and Love, Jim

For What?

Good Morning,

This story was shared with me during a period of over achievement in
my life (another story). It was a little long and was shared with me
by a dear friend who saw that I needed to realize the life I already
had. Funny how we chase the wrong things for the wrong reasons when
we often already have everything we could ever want!

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal
Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The
American complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and
asked how long it took to catch them.

The fisherman replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch
more fish?"

The fisherman said, "With this I have more than enough to support my
family's needs."

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your
time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with
my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village
each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have
a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You
should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger
boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several
boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of
selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the
processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the
product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this
small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los
Angeles and eventually New York where you will run your ever-
expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the fisherman.

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is
right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the
public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions?...Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal
fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with
your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the
evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your
amigos."

Have a beautiful day and appreciate the life you already have.

Peace and Love, Jim

Twenty Bucks

Good Morning,

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20
bill. In the room of 200, he asked, What is this piece of paper & is
it worth any thing ?
It is a $20 bill, replied one of the many participants who raised
their hands.

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up using both his hands till
it became a bundle of wrinkled paper. He then unfolded it again and
making an unsuccessful attempt to keep it straight he asked, Would
you still be able to negotiate it for it's quoted value? Yes !! was
the echoing reply from the participants.

Well, he said, Looks like I haven't done enough! What if I do
this?"And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into
the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, which was now all crumpled,
dirty, defaced & not easy to recognize from a distance. Now will some
one like to trade it for its quoted value? Many hands went in the air.
I think this piece of currency is still holding its quoted value
replied a participant in a slightly unsure voice.

This bill can still fetch goods worth 20 Dollars said the other
participants. Every one agreed.

There is a very valuable lesson in this exercise that we are just
through with. It may have appeared to some of you, that I was able to
deface, mutilate & alter the $20 bill during the process as the
effects were quite visible. However, No matter what I did to this
piece of paper, you still upheld its negotiability because you were
sure in your mind that my actions did not actually decrease its
value. It was still a currency note worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we feel like as if we are dropped, crumpled,
and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and/or the
circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we have no
worth. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, remember
you never lose your value.

Values that you cherish are indeed devoid of worldly disturbance &
always are worth your time, attention and devotion.

Have a beautiful day and carry this thought - Happiness is that state
of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.

Peace and Love, Jim

Spring

Good Morning,
Nurtured and supported by nature's laws, the Earth is renewed year
after year as it thaws from winter's siege. Drabness is transformed
into patches of color -- a magnificent effect of natural cause.

In the orderly flow of life's seasons, appearances continually
change. So I ask, if the earth, in all its imposing dignity, changes
and renews itself over and over, then why not apply this principle to
myself? No matter how my life has appears, with nature as my teacher,
I learn that I too can be made like new! Remembering that I have
everything I need for living, I will try again -- I will risk again
-- I will love again.

As the quiet beauty of spring shouts its joyful arrival, I, like the
Earth, am gently nourished, changed, and renewed once again.

Peace and Love, Jim

Kindness

Good Morning,

I am so thankful for kindness in the world. There have been so many
times in my life when a total stranger has stooped to help me push my
broken down old car out of the way, or assisted me with moving
something. I can not pretend to even know how many times a friend has
offered food, their time or money to help out with something in life.
The kindness of others has always been prevalent in my life.

Thank you.

Over the years I've realized something about the people who have
helped out in life. I've noticed that every time I'm in trouble, they
appear. They never look the same. Sometimes they are a woman,
sometimes a man, other times a child. Age and ethnicity vary. But
they are always there.

I've started to understand these people are the best part of what
makes us human beings. The one true thing in this world is an unasked
kindness. It's the invisible cord that binds us all together and
makes life worthwhile.

So, when you find yourself immersed in the clutter and bustle,
annoyed by the long lines, baffled about how you'll get everything
done, remember this:

One of the people in that crowd is the kind one. Today, maybe it's you.

Peace and Love, Jim

Inseperable

Good Morning,
We are in a renewed period of interest in science, spirituality and
health. Recent insights from quantum physics has given us a fresh
perspective into our place in the world. How extraordinary that when
we looked down into the smallest manifestations of existence, we
found a world that said, You are not separate from me. You, the
observer, are part of the story. Wow! We are in this together. What a
teaching from the microscopic up!

We are so much more than observers in this world. We are also
witnesses. The difference between an observer and a witness is that
the observer thinks that he or she can stand back and let things go
along -- that we are separate from that which is observed. The
witness stands together, inside, with everyone in every situation;
the witness has an extraordinary capacity to stand ion both sides of
all fences. Neutral yet involved.

In fact, the deepest form of witnessing is a form of compassion for
all beings in all situations. In reality, we are never outside
observers. We are inside this together. It is just that some of us
feel and some are numb. We are inside the very thing that needs to be
transformed. Isn't that good news? We ourselves -- each one of us --
is part of the wholeness of consciousness!

Have a wonderful weekend and hold this in your heart - There can only
be one state of mind as you approach any circumstance in life; total
concentration, a spirit of togetherness, and strength.

Peace and Love, Jim

Ego

Good Morning,

It is said that our egos are the root of suffering, that when we are disappointed it is simply our expectations falling apart. But what is an ego? Most of us consider it someone with big head. This could be true to a degree since in the concept of this post an ego is a self centered point of view. If this is considered true then who among us DOES NOT have an ego? To some degree we all are the centers of our own thoughts and ambitions - we build grand illusions and thought patterns about ourselves and come to believe that these concepts are solid. This is the ego.

Does it cause us issues? Most definitely. Can we surrender our egos
to become ego-less? Maybe we need to see the truth.

How are you going to surrender the ego, when it does not exist? Suppose you are sitting in a dark room. You want the darkness to disappear. But can you push it out? Can you fight darkness and force it to leave the room? No! No matter how long you keep trying, you are ultimately going to be defeated -- and by something which does not exist!

The ego is like darkness, it has no positive existence. Just like darkness is simply the absence of light, the ego is nothing but the absence of awareness. To struggle to kill the ego is like struggling to push the darkness out of the room. To really expel the darkness, what you need to do is to forget all about dealing with the darkness. Focus your energy on Light instead. Just bring a small lamp into the room, and you will find that the darkness has fled on its own! So, I tell you to forget all about the ego. Instead, focus on bringing a amp of awareness into your being. When your entire consciousness has become a flame, you will find that the ego is no more. The ego is an illusion.

You cannot surrender it when you are unaware -- because you don't know how. Of course, you cannot surrender it when you become aware either -- because then you realize that there is nothing left to surrender! The ego is the root cause for all your anxieties, sorrows, and tensions. To actively feel that you want to drop the ego, to feel the need to be rid of this burden is itself a step towards awareness. It shows that you are stirring from your sleep!

Have a beautiful day!

Peace and Love, Jim

Respects

Good Morning,

This is not my usual post. I simply wanted to show my respect for the
Passing of Ven. Maha Ghosananda
With sadness we note the passing of Ven. Maha Ghosananda, who was a
living inspiration to many people world wide, as well as a role model
for living in any religious tradition. Supreme Buddhist Patriarch of
Cambodia, he will be missed by the Khmer people and remembered with
fondness by all who met him.

One of my favorite stories concerning Bhante Maha Ghosananda was of
his visit to Standford Universtity for a conference. He spoke not a
word for the entire 12 days. He missed not a session, but sat,
beaming in silence through every meeting, large and small. At the end
of the conference when everybody was asked to share their
reflections, there was a substantial excitement, waiting for his
first words. The microphone came around the table and Bhante took it,
beaming and twinkling.

"We are all in the same boat, together!" were his first and only
words. I'm sure nobody forgot them.

He was nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

He died in Massachusetts at age 78.

Honors and Respect, Jim

Reconnect

Good Morning,

Sometimes we complicate life to the point that we lose our connections. 60 hour work weeks, hectic family schedules and shrinking personal time all take their toll on our connectedness to our world, ourselves and others. Recent studies show that these connections are far more vital than once believed. Sometimes we are aware that we have become disconnected but we may not always understand why or see the actions that prohibit us for really feeling connected to our lives.

I have learned with each passing year the importance of being connected, especially with my senses and my instincts. In my short time here I have gleaned the following from life (our greatest teacher):

Spend time both in nature, away from civilization, and with people, listening and talking about things that matter.

In nature, reawaken and reconnect with your senses, focus each sense until you really see, hear, smell, taste, feel, connect with the rest of the living organism called Earth.

Open yourself up to the joy, and learning of life.

Pay attention. Re-learn to wonder. Reconnect with your instincts, listen to them, and don't let other people tell you you're stupid, crazy, irrational, or immoral.

If you're unhappy it's for a reason.

Your gut feeling, your intuition, is written in your DNA. It worked for man for the first three million years of his life on Earth -- before language, before laws, before codes of right and wrong -- and these were arguably the most successful, leisurely, and happy years of man's existence.

Eat healthy and stay fit, but don't make a religion of it. Know your body and mind as you would a dear friend.

Love yourself, realize that you can do anything you want to do. Appreciate that you're part of the solution, and that makes you extraordinary.

Have a beautiful day and consider this: Life is full of connections, they create depth. Without them we only see flat surfaces.

Peace and Love, Jim

Thought Experiments

Good Morning,

While in college I had a wonderful professor for philosophy. Typical of each class was some form of group discussion, which was usually started out with what he referred to as a "thought experiment." This was usually some form of fact or myth that prompted one to ponder questions, thoughts, or ideas that challenge ones self and processes. I always enjoyed these little exercises and the insights they would bring.

This morning I thought I would share a few I have pondered over the years. Given just a little time and energy, these contemplations carry the energy of a single thought, which can change a life -- or even a society. Try pondering these questions and see if they don't challenge your ideas about how you fit into the world around you!

Thought Experiment #1 - Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest person you have ever seen, then ask yourself: are your actions going to be of any use to them? How might this reflection change what you are about to do?

Thought Experiment #2 - Think about how powerful thoughts are. Can you still be comfortable thinking negative thoughts?

Thought Experiment #3 - Can you see the cloud in a piece of paper? Paper comes from a trees, which are nurtured by water, which drops from the clouds. Does this understanding of dependencies change the way you perceive yourself and your importance in relation to other beings?

Thought Experiment #3 - It is said that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas. Do your small actions impact the world in ways you may not come to know about?

If you have a "thought experiment" or favorite contemplation, I would love to hear it. Until then have a beautiful morning and carry this thought: What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.

Peace and Love, Jim

Sharp

Good Morning,

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter ask for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees. Congratulations, the boss said. Go on that way! Very motivated for the boss’ words, the woodcutter try harder the next day, but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he try even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

I must be losing my strength, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. When was the last time you sharpened your axe? the boss asked.

Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees...

Many times we get so caught up in the accomplishment of a task that we sometimes fail to see that we are working against ourselves. Our focus on the goal often cause us to be blind to the work itself. How many times have you been so focused on getting done you are oblivious to your methods, coworkers and even time? Recently there have been many studies that show how multi-tasking and other productivity tools are really detrimental and actually cause a drop in our productivity. I have always believed it is not how many things you can do at once, but how you go about doing those things that lead to a more productive and fulfilling life.

Have a great weekend and carry this thought: Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.

Peace and Love, Jim

Just Enough

Good Morning,

During one of my travels many years back I was on a layover in a small Texas airport. With nothing to do but read, wait and watch people, I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. The airline had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, I love you. I wish you just enough.

She in turn said, Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too. They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever? Yes, I have, I replied. Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye? I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is, the next trip back will be for my funeral," he said

When you were saying good-bye I overheard you say, I wish you just enough. May I ask what that means? He began to smile. That's a wish that has been handed down for many generations within my family. My parents used to say it to everyone. When we said I wish you just enough, we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them, he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough 'Hellos' to get you through the final 'Good-byes'.
I wish you just enough!

Peace and Love, Jim

Connected

Good Morning,

I believe that personal transformation is the foundation for cultural change. Over the last few years I have personally decided to become a more aware and fulfilled individual. On that path I have also learned that my own happiness means very little if those around me are suffering or the world seems out of balance. Without this bigger picture, my own development is incomplete.

All of my known life I have been preached to and built up to believe in "independence" when in fact all of life is "interdependent" - no cause, condition or circumstance exists alone and neither do we. I feel very connected to all of life and to each of you and I look forward each day to helping others understand this connection - so that we may all become responsible stewards of the interconnected web of life that sustains us all.

Everyday is a chance to teach or learn something, to remember something ancient or discover something new, to quiet the mind, or simply be alive. It is this simple understanding that empowers each and everyone one of us to approach life with a deeper sense of purpose, connectedness and vision. This allows us to not only transform ourselves, but our world.

Have a beautiful day and carry this thought: And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Peace and Love, Jim

Little Things

Good Morning,

I have noticed how the little things we say and do can affect just about anyone in the most common of situations. For example when dining out I always try to make it a point to know my waiter or waitresses name. Often they come up the table and ask how you are, then proceed to take your drink or appetizer order. It is surprising how many times they do not allow you to answer their question (How am I) and even more surprising when you slow them down and ask them how they are and what's their name. In just about every case you can see the stress of their job or the residue of a hectic day lifted just a little. They smile and seem amazed that someone would actually care!

Most of us are in such a hurry, that the little moments that make life so rich slip by unnoticed and unattended. You’ll discover that if you take a sincere interest in others and ask how they are, then sincerely and intently listen they'll remember you for it. It will ease their load and settle their mind even if just a little bit. Try it the next time you are out and see if you can't make a small difference in a persons day for just a few minutes.

It usually adds just a few moments to the conversation and few moments for you to make a very favorable impression you’ll find is well worth it.

The little things add up and over time, you’ll uplift a lot of people. But the biggest recipient of all will be you, for this little consideration becomes habit forming and creates a more aware and caring individual.

Have a beautiful day and remember - To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Peace and Love, Jim

Language

Good Morning,

After a long weekend of working on our house and numerous trips to our local home improvement store I have decided that language these days is simply a matter of opinion. There seems to be no right or wrong way to speak these days and although we claim to understand each other, I feel we are really just playing along. Words seem to possess little meaning, below are a few language issues that demonstrate my point:

1. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
2. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.
3. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
4. Quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor a pig.
5. Writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham!
6. If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?
7. If teachers taught, why don't preachers praught?
8. If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
9. If you wrote a letter, perhaps you bote your tongue?
10. People recite at a play and play at a recital.
11. Ship a package by car and send cargo by ship.
12. Have noses that run and feet that smell.
13. Park on driveways and drive on parkways.
14. How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
15. How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike?
16. How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell another?
17. Have you ever seen a horseful carriage or a strapful gown? Met a sung hero or experienced requited love? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled, ruly, or peccable?
18. And where are all those people who ARE spring chickens or who would ACTUALLY hurt a fly?
19. Your house can burn up as it burns down, you fill in a form by filling it out, and an alarm clock goes off by coming on.

English was invented by people and reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up a watch, I start it, but when I wind up this post, I end it?

Have a beautiful day (or should it be participate in this day and make it a good one??)

Peace and Love, Jim

Rationale (humor)

Good Morning,

Thought I would end the week with a humorous look at how we (our minds) can rationalize just about anything. SELF DELUSION: how we rationalize our attachments. A herd of buffalo can move only as fast as the slowest buffalo, and when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular culling of the weakest members.

In much the same way the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, we all know, kills off brain cells, but naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of alcohol eliminates the weaker brain cells, constantly making the brain a faster and more efficient machine (the mind can make anything seem possible). :)

Have a beautiful and thoughtful weekend!

Peace and Love, Jim

Fresh Start

Good Morning,

By living in the present moment instead of reviewing the past or designing the future, I have learned to maintain (most of the time) a positive emotional environment despite some small annoyances that occur. I have noticed that when things do go differently, distress is usually short-lived, as I’m now able to begin afresh by creating a new attitude. The idea of new beginnings is important to me for living in the moment.

I have talked a lot this week about training the mind and to achieve this most rudimentary mental control, which is the opposite of automatic reactive behavior requires one to always watch the mind, tame the mind, then tame it again and again.

I have friends who regularly enjoy playing tennis. The benefits of training our minds to stay present and focused were easily demonstrated in a local tennis tournament where three players handled a similar problem in different ways.

The first player let a serve go which should have been called long, but it wasn't. Caught up in the anger and frustration of losing an important point unfairly, he lost concentration and consequently lost the next point as well.

The second player had a bad call in her favor which gave her match-point. She suddenly thought how close she was to winning -- but how unsatisfying it would be to win on a wrong call. Caught up in thoughts of the future, she lost concentration in the moment and promptly lost her match-point advantage.

The third player also received a wrong call, but she thought, That's history, now concentrate on this rally. She played the next point in the moment and won it.

When we are not here in the now, we are no where and we can serve no real purpose to ourselves or others. Our minds love to create stories, to create dramas and write plays that most likely will never play out. Recognizing this and working towards noting and reversing these habits is one of the greatest challenges one can take on and one of the greatest gifts one can receive.

Have a beautiful day and think on this: Nothing determines who we will become so much as those things we choose to ignore.

Peace and Love, Jim