tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27235213851311232502024-03-13T06:18:20.236-07:00Strive on with DiligenceThe meaning of life is to give life a meaningAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-49430957143089378882012-05-08T14:04:00.001-07:002012-05-09T09:51:53.025-07:00So it's come to this?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zP6T3fhoKEM/T6mJrRi0iuI/AAAAAAAABGU/zLi4gEPEwsA/s1600/Phobias+and+Fears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zP6T3fhoKEM/T6mJrRi0iuI/AAAAAAAABGU/zLi4gEPEwsA/s200/Phobias+and+Fears.jpg" width="158" /></a>Do you suffer from Nomophobia? 66% of people polled say they do. What is this horrible fear that have afflicted people?<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomophobia" target="_blank">Fear of being without your cell phone</a><br />
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Seriously. Now I can relate to this as I use my phone all the time: E-mail, Calendar, texting, FaceBook, G+, GPS, etc. I have had those moments when I'm getting in the car and realize I left my phone on my desk inside and run in to get it or I have the "phantom vibration" and check my phone, realizing that no one just texted me. But a fear of being without it? Maybe at one time in the past...maybe.<br />
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Over the past 2 years, I have actually learned to disconnect from it. Leaving it in the office on the charger when I'm spending time with my girls or watching a movie or just doing something that I don't want to be distracted. Or I leave it in the car when I'm out playing at the park.<br />
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How did we evolve into this? What is it that makes us feel we have to be constantly connected or available. That 75% of people feel the need to bring it into the bathroom with them. I stop myself at that point. I had an earlier <a href="http://striveonwithdiligence.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-larynx-has-been-replaced-by-my-smart.html" target="_blank">post</a> about how people have not spoken to an actual person for 2 days and rely on other technologies to communicate. What has technology does to us?<br />
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Going back to the "how did we" question, I have a few theories and I don't think any single one explains it, but a combination of them do. Information moves so fast today that we feel "out of touch" when we don't know what has happened in the world. Think about the time when someone says to you, "I can't believe that so-and-so is marrying that person" or "Can you believe what happened in random-country". You think, how did I miss that? Then there is the instant contact with people over the phone or more likely texting. How many times have you texted someone and they don't get back with you in 10 minutes, so you send a folow up text "Are you ok?" I guess this goes back to the instant information part. Then, there's Facebook, G+, Foursquare, etc. I'm guilty of checking in at places on Facebook. I like the interaction with others who post comments about the restaurant I just ate at or the movie I just saw. Not about to post a check in from my bathroom though (ewww). Then, there are the games and other apps on your phone. How many times have you been waiting somewhere (in line at the grocery store or a doctor's office) and you pull out your phone to play Angry Birds or Words with Friends. Yeah, my hand is raised on that one. I compare this with a cigarette addiction. People are addicted to the nicotine, but also become addicted to the process of smoking. Holding the cigarette, lighting it, etc. A cell phone is like that, People unconsciously check their phone all the time, for no reason (yeah, I've done that too).<br />
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It's just so damn convenient. All that information, all those games and apps, all that communication in a small hand-held device. But, to fear not having it? Not me, probably in the past, but I take the time to disconnect. The earth will still spin and rotate around the sun. The celebrity gossip will still be out there and in a month no one will care, the text asking you "How you doing" will still be able to be answered after you finish playing with the kids. If you think you have Nomophobia are going down that path, set aside "disconnect time" and do the rest of that life thing without the phone.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA, USA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406716 -117.2273288 33.546606600000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-83148934661377319882012-05-07T09:51:00.004-07:002012-05-07T09:51:59.571-07:00There's always next year<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1KwkCwPghw/T6f8MeNvDUI/AAAAAAAABF8/oB8I4FXFcds/s1600/St+Louis+Blues+Logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1KwkCwPghw/T6f8MeNvDUI/AAAAAAAABF8/oB8I4FXFcds/s200/St+Louis+Blues+Logo.gif" width="200" /></a>Once again, my beloved St. Louis Blues bowed out in the playoffs. They were back playing excellent hockey during the season and making the playoffs for only the second time since 2004. They had made the playoffs for 25 straight years from 1980-2004. They even made the Stanley Cup finals their 1st 3 years in existence - and lost all three).<br />
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So to get to my point, Each year ends with "Next Year" and this year is no exception after getting swept out of the playoffs by the LA Kings, who I have to admit, totally outplayed the Blues. I had high hopes this year based on their level of play throughout the season and the first round. But, alas, my yearly end of season mantra is back.<br />
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I won't give up on my Blues, like Red Sox fans never gave up on them and they finally ended their drought in 2004 (which ended the Blues consecutive playoff streak...hmmmm). That is what it means to be a fan. Cheer on your team through good and bad times. Kind of like life, don't give up. <br />
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Although, Lord Stanley's Cup would look really nice displayed at Scottrade Center. Just, sayin'.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA, USA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406716 -117.2273288 33.546606600000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-9796268694882474122012-05-04T14:12:00.001-07:002012-05-04T14:12:40.180-07:00Never Give Up<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3fayBNfb0A/T6RGMdBm-8I/AAAAAAAABFM/6bc0PwmDADQ/s1600/Never+Give+Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3fayBNfb0A/T6RGMdBm-8I/AAAAAAAABFM/6bc0PwmDADQ/s200/Never+Give+Up.jpg" width="200" /></a>Several people have been posting this on Twitter, Facebook and G+. If you haven't seen it yet, please take 5 minutes of your time to watch. This is why "I can't" is not a valid excuse.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448" target="_blank">Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-58108448081071521992012-05-03T09:03:00.002-07:002012-05-03T09:08:23.063-07:00Let's create new words<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8btTorVAtIE/T6KsI6q1ofI/AAAAAAAABE4/yrceckdGz_s/s1600/words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8btTorVAtIE/T6KsI6q1ofI/AAAAAAAABE4/yrceckdGz_s/s200/words.jpg" width="200" /></a>A friend pointed me to the post '<a href="http://sobadsogood.com/2012/04/29/25-words-that-simply-dont-exist-in-english/" target="_blank">25 Handy Words That Simply Don’t Exist In English</a>' on the blog <a href="http://sobadsogood.com/" target="_blank">So Bad So Good</a>. I love how a single word can have such a detailed definition. My favorite is Backpfeifengesicht (German): A face badly in need of a fist. I want to use this in a conversation with my German speaking father just to get his reaction. <br />
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I think we should start creating new words in the English language to describe complex feelings, emotions or thoughts. It's almost like the rebirth of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniglet" target="_blank">Sniglets</a>. Maybe something like Stupifany - The moment that you realize you have just said something really stupid.<br />
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What words can you come up with?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-43299783404283450422012-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:002012-05-02T07:00:09.064-07:00My larynx has been replaced by my smart phone?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LlP0GW1FBc/T6DLpuQyy5I/AAAAAAAABEc/PBFpg0wrncI/s1600/Technology-Impact.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LlP0GW1FBc/T6DLpuQyy5I/AAAAAAAABEc/PBFpg0wrncI/s320/Technology-Impact.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, I read an article in the UK's Daily Mail called 'Lonely life of the </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">techno-addict as thousands go up to 48 hours without speaking to another human' </span>(<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2137152/Lonely-life-techno-addict-thousands-48-hours-speaking-human.html" target="_blank">link</a>)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">. It is eye opening and sad at the same time. Social Media is supposed to bring us closer together, but instead seems to create a barrier instead. I don't blame technology, I blame the people who use the technology.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">I do work from home some days, so can understand the 'digitally dominant' aspect of my life on those days. But I use technology as a tool to help me do my job from home, while it seems the people referred to in the article hide behind technology for aspects of their non-working life too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kinda reminds me of the Sandra Bullock movie 'The Web' where she doesn't leave her house and does everything online. After thinking about it some more, I wonder if these people would be the same people who, in the past, would just go to work and come home and never go out anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So back to my reason for this post, I think that technology is great for keeping people connected, but should not be THE connection between people. Granted, I have many on-line conversations with people I have never actually met. But, I would never have met them in the first place, if not on-line as they live no where near me. I would love to meet face-to-face with them if the opportunity presented itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I use technology to keep in touch with friends and family, but I make certain that it is not the only means of communication with them. Do you feel that technology has replaced personal contact for you?</span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406716 -117.2273288 33.546606600000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-2007478518984732182012-05-01T08:00:00.000-07:002012-05-01T08:09:26.775-07:00C'mon people, think for yourselves<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgPWAJKoOUE/T5_6K_uaeCI/AAAAAAAABEM/L6T1iHRj3lI/s1600/voteBrainFreeze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgPWAJKoOUE/T5_6K_uaeCI/AAAAAAAABEM/L6T1iHRj3lI/s320/voteBrainFreeze.jpg" width="320" /></a>I am so not looking forward to this political season. Based on the negative ads run in the Republican primary and the inflammatory rhetoric that is already out there, it is going to be an ugly and messy election.<br />
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Regardless of where your views lie, I hope that people will stand up to the politicians and PACs and tell them to stop. Of course, I know that is not going to happen and feel sad about it. It seems that the issues are becoming lost or that they are being reduced to a slogan or soundbite.<br />
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I really appreciated the 2008 Democratic primaries as Obama and Clinton did a great job of debating their positions. Granted, there were the occasional moments, but this year will be nowhere near that. There are so many issues that need true debate and this will be lost. I have had several discussions with people already who are parroting what is said by the media or a politician. When I ask them to justify the statement they just made, they seem confused. I will ask, "Why do you say that is bad? Isn't XYZ the result of that policy". They cannot answer. Why? They don't really know the issue, only what what they have seen or read on their political side's news program or web site. They don't venture outside to see or hear the other side and truly think about the issue.<br />
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I blame them for being sucked into the soundbite and headlines and not really looking at the facts and I blame the media (both sides, although the right-wing media is more fact challenged, in my opinion) for catering to this. Americans today, it seems, do not want to think for themselves, but instead have their view presented to them to make a choice. "You are for or against it." "The policy is good for America or bad for America." The world is not like that, people. The world, like us, is diverse and complicated. And if you try to make this simple, you polarize people. It's OK to have a mixed opinion. Use your brain, don't let someone else use it for you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406716 -117.2273288 33.546606600000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-34858907005990109432012-04-30T12:00:00.000-07:002012-04-30T12:00:03.908-07:00You are what you think you are<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4YIQLjveRKY/T545MOYuJ5I/AAAAAAAABD4/YzdmU8pQ7tI/s1600/buddha-head-hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4YIQLjveRKY/T545MOYuJ5I/AAAAAAAABD4/YzdmU8pQ7tI/s200/buddha-head-hand.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> – Buddha</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Beware, you can become your own thoughts. Control them, don't let them control you.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406716 -117.2273288 33.546606600000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-40798815863223521512012-04-30T09:00:00.000-07:002012-04-30T09:17:50.753-07:00Do I really need that?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VioK4Xxr7iQ/T54zoWijv_I/AAAAAAAABDs/BJ_wXFzL_Ak/s1600/thingsandstuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VioK4Xxr7iQ/T54zoWijv_I/AAAAAAAABDs/BJ_wXFzL_Ak/s320/thingsandstuff.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've said before that I am a huge proponent of simplifying my life by de-cluttering, creating open space and just doing more with less. One thing I have tried to do is evaluate what I buy or acquire. It is very easy to collect "stuff".<br />
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Now, absolute minimalism is not what I am looking to accomplish. But then again, I don't like clutter. I am always looking at what I have, what I am doing that creates complexity and stress in my life and how I can't change it. So the one area that is easiest to address is Stuff.<br />
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I look at it this way, if it has meaning to me, true meaning, then I keep it: a picture my daughter drew for me, a ticket stub for a concert that brings back good memories or race bibs and medals. I will keep these. But I don't want to have stuff, just to have stuff. I want to be a good example to my children so they will not feel the need to have things that they don't have any attachment to, but just want them to have them or because someone else has it.<br />
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I remember earlier in my life, I collected things that I didn't have an attachment, but collected anyway. I would strive to get a complete set of something only to feel the accomplishment of completing the set, and then feel nothing afterward, realizing I didn't really want it anyway.<br />
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Today, I ask myself a few questions before going down a road like that: (1) Why do I want it? (2) Do I need it or want it? (3) Will I still want it tomorrow, next week, next year? If I cannot come up with a good reason to have it, then I probably should not get it. If I need it (and really do need it) then I should get it. If I just want it, that's not bad, but then I really think hard on the 3rd question, will I still want it tomorrow. Sometimes, I will even give myself the 24 hour rule. If in 24 hours, I still want it and am willing to get back out and get it or go back on-line and order it, then I will get it.<br />
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I am happier with less. Less things makes me appreciate what I have that much more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406801 -117.2273288 33.546598100000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-39797817636319983732012-04-29T11:43:00.000-07:002012-04-29T20:06:13.754-07:00Music as a part of life<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3S4vkjUvdqU/T513U2e6o2I/AAAAAAAABBM/6AYcI6qSqfw/s1600/Music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3S4vkjUvdqU/T513U2e6o2I/AAAAAAAABBM/6AYcI6qSqfw/s320/Music.jpg" width="320" /></a>I love music. Ok, not all types of music, but my tastes are very eclectic. I love to hear new music, find new artists and even a genre I didn't know existed. I have surrounded myself with many ways to have music playing in my life all the time (Sirius/XM, Spotify, Pandora, Internet Radio, Grooveshark) as well as some good friends that have varied musical tastes that love to share too.<br />
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I don't understand how some people will not explore outside their musical comfort zones. Have they tried and found the music not to their liking? This is like not travelling to new places because you once went somewhere and did not like it. Do they not know where to go to find new music? Really? Ever try something called the Internet? Do they want to remain closed to new things? Well, nothing I can do there except shake my head and sigh.<br />
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Music is part of being human. Don't put down someone else's tastes in music. You can say you do not like it, but music (like any art) is about what speaks to you and there is nothing that is wrong about that.<br />
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Share and spread the music in your life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0Temecula, CA, USA33.4936391 -117.148364833.4406716 -117.2273288 33.546606600000004 -117.0694008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-89352991029691837552011-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-24T07:00:01.687-07:00Happy Bunny Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--UoBzL_g-Os/TbNCvyQqNPI/AAAAAAAAA3A/q4jlInPZEG0/s1600/Commercial%2BEaster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 157px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--UoBzL_g-Os/TbNCvyQqNPI/AAAAAAAAA3A/q4jlInPZEG0/s200/Commercial%2BEaster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598892150464591090" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-68560913774791259442011-04-23T15:00:00.000-07:002011-04-23T15:00:04.832-07:00It's all possible<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S-c_TKev52I/AAAAAAAAA1g/2lL0ktuPTmw/s1600/TopOfTheMountain.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 171px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S-c_TKev52I/AAAAAAAAA1g/2lL0ktuPTmw/s200/TopOfTheMountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469409870928144226" border="0" /></a><br />I've had this as my personal mantra for some time, but circumstances and events in my life had let me forget about it. I had several things lately that have put this back in the forefront of my mind. It is all possible. It may not be possible right this moment, but by keeping my goals in mind, not giving up when there are setbacks, accepting the encouragement from my friends and family and a keeping a focused determination to achieve my goals I know I can do it.<br /><br />I don't have any rose colored glasses on (smashed them to bits a while ago) and realize that my goals will not just drop in my lap. I have my goals laid out in front of me. It's all possible. I am a persistent and some may say stubborn (but in a good way, right?). These goals are range from public to very private goals. But all of my goals are linked in someway. I know people that need to tell everyone their goals, either they feel the need for people to know or that they need others to know to help hold them accountable for achieving those goals. I am a bit of a mix of telling people and not telling people.<br /><br />I don't feel I have the need to tell people my goals as a way to make sure I achieve them. I used to be that way. But reflection has shown me that it doesn't really work. I will gladly accept encouragement and love receiving it. But that is not what will keep me going. If I really need someone else to push to achieve a goal I set for myself, why would I create the goal for myself. My goals come from me, so the motivation and drive must also come from me. Selfish? Maybe. But that is me now. I must be able to rely on me. I can lean on others to help me through, but the fire must be in me first to fuel the drive to make me achieve my goals.<br /><br />What are your goals? Do you have goals? I can't imagine not having goals. Even after I achieve mine, there are always more stars to reach for, more conquests, more life to live.<br /><br />I have my goals written down (old school style, in a notebook). I look at them daily and remind myself why they are are important to me. I love the feeling of making that line through it. Done! WooHoo! Onward to bigger and better things. It is all possible. I can think it, so it can be done.<br /><br />I will stumble, I will fail, I will struggle. I know that, but that will never be a reason to give up. Each stumble, failure and struggle is a learning experience and something that makes me stronger and more focused.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-77652260376400306112011-01-29T22:30:00.000-08:002011-01-29T22:30:00.906-08:00Truth Be Told<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/TUT-uDgv5HI/AAAAAAAAA2U/nLJNiWZVFMM/s1600/Truth.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 159px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/TUT-uDgv5HI/AAAAAAAAA2U/nLJNiWZVFMM/s200/Truth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567855106506876018" border="0" /></a><br />Is it me, or does it seem that the truth has become an archaic idea to people today? There are two trends that I find really troublesome. One is just plain annoying and the other is alarming. Maybe, it's because I am still jaded by the recent mid-term election that had some of the worst negative ads ever or maybe I am just become more attuned to it.<br /><br />The first assault on truth is the out right lie. These are easy to spot and to refute. They are created to just put a complete untruth out there with the objective to make the subject of the untruth have to refute the lie and defend themselves. Proving the statement is a lie can be easy sometimes, but can also be very difficult. The difficult ones are lies that are based on what someone "said". This is the they said/I said scenario. I have been in this position recently. The good thing about this is that the person making up the lies is eventually found out and then everything they have been saying in the past becomes suspect.<br /><br />The second assault, is the use of a truth in a lie. It has become very easy to take a part of some truth and turn it into a lie. This adds a bit of credibility to the lie, making it harder to refute. Many example are taking a statement or action out of context. Someone may they didn't like a specific dish they had a restaurant. This can be turned around that the person hates the restaurant. This is a pretty benign example, but you can definitely see how much bigger, more damaging lies can be created (see many of the attack ads from the last election as an example).<br /><br />Finally, a rant on something that just scares and baffles me at the same time. I call it Lying Just To Lie (LJTL). Ok, I made up that acronym. Anyway, this is when people lie for no reason (although there are very few good reasons to lie). Lying has become so common place for people like this, that it rolls off their tongues without a thought. There's no shame in it for them. No feeling of guilt or remorse. That is what scares me.<br /><br />I had instilled in me by my Grandmother, one of the most honest people I have even known, that you just don't lie. You tell the truth because it is right. No other reason was necessary. When she caught any of her grandchildren lying, you could tell it hurt her. And that in turn, hurt us back.<br />Let me make my last remarks and then I will step down from my soap box. No matter what faith, nationality, race, age, etc. you are, truth transcends all of that. To be truthful is really human nature.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-51225355735626007512010-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-15T07:00:06.062-07:00Thursday Morning Quote - April 15, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8KnjJ6agiI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/Fb5hZpapx9A/s1600/how-to-live-life.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 106px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8KnjJ6agiI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/Fb5hZpapx9A/s200/how-to-live-life.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459109920724648482" /></a><br />"Every day I live I am more convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing and which, shirking pain, misses happiness as well." - Mary CholmondeleyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-31619645330446794102010-04-13T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-13T07:00:01.087-07:00Stuff won’t make you happy, experiences will<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8F8QqRqP2I/AAAAAAAAA1I/jvMYpTdPGmo/s1600/unclutter-mind-whn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 155px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8F8QqRqP2I/AAAAAAAAA1I/jvMYpTdPGmo/s200/unclutter-mind-whn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458780849017864034" /></a><br />Two weeks ago, one of my favorite web sites <a href="http://unclutterer.com/">unclutterer.com</a> had a great post (<a href="http://unclutterer.com/2010/04/05/stuff-wont-make-you-happy-experiences-will/">click here</a>) detailing something that I have believed in for a long time now: "Over one’s lifetime, it is his or her experiences that are more valuable than any product ever owned or purchased." A great site and excellent article.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-91600721148944463832010-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-12T07:00:01.357-07:00Monday Morning Quote - April 12th, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8FnH6cG9SI/AAAAAAAAA1A/WUeaNO0uTI4/s1600/Leonardo.da.Vinci.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8FnH6cG9SI/AAAAAAAAA1A/WUeaNO0uTI4/s200/Leonardo.da.Vinci.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458757608993649954" /></a><br />"Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will be powerless to vex your mind." - Leonardo da VinciAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-15820755911735639792010-04-11T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-11T07:00:04.175-07:00A Call for Honesty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8FkZLTTCpI/AAAAAAAAA04/YY9dCHJl3BU/s1600/honesty.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 157px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S8FkZLTTCpI/AAAAAAAAA04/YY9dCHJl3BU/s200/honesty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458754607042988690" /></a><br />I am so tired of fabricating stories, libel, perjury and all the other hundreds of way to describe lying. Lets just call it what it is - lying. The opposite of truth. That all important character trait that my grandmother tried to instill in me as a child.<br /><br />I am making a call for honesty. Try it, you may find that it's a whole lot easier than you thought. My grandmother was a very wise woman. She would tell me "You need to tell the truth because you can never remember the lies. And then you will just create more lies." When you lie, you create a false reality; one that that never happened. Then when reality does conflict with this false reality there are two options (1) admit it and say "I lied" or (2) create another lie to cover the first. <br /><br />Now both are bad, but the second is so much more destructive and dangerous. This is because the liar has now begun to bury him or herself deeper in to lie and it becomes harder and harder say "I lied" and pull themselves out. The further they go, the more likely they are to hurt other people to maintain this string of lies. It's also dangerous because the liar had now begun to build up an alternate reality and their grasp on the real reality becomes skewed.<br /><br />I have seen this first hand and it is not pleasant. I have seen friends get pulled into lies and when they later find out they were lied to and used to perpetrate the lie, they end up hurt and angry.<br /><br />So this is a call to just end lying. Telling the truth may hurt at first, but it's nothing compared to the pain you or others will feel when you lie. So do the right thing first.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-85275599876898268442010-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-08T07:00:01.257-07:00Thursday Morning Quote - April 8, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S7gr5Yz-7xI/AAAAAAAAA0w/AZohOcQ_Z4c/s1600/The_Giving.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S7gr5Yz-7xI/AAAAAAAAA0w/AZohOcQ_Z4c/s200/The_Giving.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456159213472378642" /></a><br />"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else." - Peyton Conway MarchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-37136062145173669212010-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-06T07:00:00.640-07:00What adults can learn from kidsEvery parent should watch this very powerful and inspiring 8 minutes speech by Child prodigy Adora Svitak. You might think about your child a little differently.<br /><br /><object width="446" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/AdoraSvitak_2010-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AdoraSvitak-2010.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=815&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=adora_svitak;year=2010;theme=unconventional_explanations;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=how_we_learn;theme=ted_under_30;event=TED2010;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/AdoraSvitak_2010-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AdoraSvitak-2010.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=815&introDuration=16500&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=2000&adKeys=talk=adora_svitak;year=2010;theme=unconventional_explanations;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=how_we_learn;theme=ted_under_30;event=TED2010;"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-12961240204053838372010-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-05T07:00:05.182-07:00Monday Morning Quote - April 5th, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S7glLov7tSI/AAAAAAAAA0o/_6ZyfWl22lo/s1600/malcolm_x.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S7glLov7tSI/AAAAAAAAA0o/_6ZyfWl22lo/s200/malcolm_x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456151830406608162" /></a><br />"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time." - Malcolm XAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-6116199846022495542010-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-04T07:00:04.317-07:00The Problem with Over-Buying<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S7giDlOXLSI/AAAAAAAAA0g/alNbOvhqyNY/s1600/money_down_toilet.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S7giDlOXLSI/AAAAAAAAA0g/alNbOvhqyNY/s200/money_down_toilet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456148393486658850" /></a><br />You may be wondering what I mean by over-buying? Well over-buying can be many things: (1) buying the 1 gallon jar of mayonnaise because it was such a great deal; (2) deciding you are going to get a new toy for your child and buying every accessory available for it at the same time; or (3) deciding you need a new computer and buying the most expensive one that has the most RAM, largest hard drive, fastest video card, biggest processor, etc.<br /><br />I'll explain the exact problem with each of these things, but let me first explain the overall problems with over-buying. The first issue is that it creates a lot of unnecessary waste. We are filling up landfills at alarming speed and filling them up with plastics that will last for hundreds of years. Plastics never actually 'decompose', they merely break down into smaller and smaller pieces. Being an inorganic material, in never will compost. But I digress. The second issue is that it wastes energy. It takes a lot of energy to create the things we buy, energy to produce, energy to transport, energy store, etc. The third issue is the waste of money. I know that we have been taught that our consumption is what drives our economy, but we have seen what unchecked consumption has caused. Instead, maybe redirecting this money to have experiences instead collecting stuff. But once again, I digress. (I see another blog post, here).<br /><br />So let's talk about the three problems I listed above.<br />First, think about when you buy a jumbo size of anything or 3 of something because when you buy 2 of them, you get a third for 50% off. Are you really saving any money? Don't you throw out most of it when it goes bad? Don't you hate storing all that extra stuff. There are times when buying in bulk makes sense, If you use a lot of batteries, buying the extra large pack saves money. But if you use that many batteries, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy rechargeable ones? <br />Second, when you buy something new like a game system or new new camera, you go out and buy everything to go with it. All the controllers, all the games, all the accessories, lenses, flashes, etc. But what happens? You don't use all the accessories, you play 3-5 of the games most of the time and the rest collect dust, you only use the camera as a regular camera and all the expensive extras you bought sit in the boxes they can in.<br />Third, you spend money to buy the biggest or best that you find. But you find out later that you don't really need it and could have bought a less powerful one for what you need.<br />Now, I'm not trying to berate people for buying what they buy, but I feel that people should take a step back and look at their spending and consuming habits. As for me, I would much rather have experiences (vacations, day-trips, seeing a show) than buy things that I really don't need. The experiences will stay with you so much longer than those things.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-2721724020953293462010-03-19T07:00:00.000-07:002010-03-19T07:00:04.378-07:00No Sympathy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S6MfVeOYBHI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/8HXmTY4H2e0/s1600-h/NoSympathy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S6MfVeOYBHI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/8HXmTY4H2e0/s200/NoSympathy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450234427799503986" /></a><br />Why do some people feel the need to have sympathy from others? I can't understand this behavior because sympathy is not something that would want to elicit from anyone. Sympathy, in my mind, means there is something wrong and that I cannot deal with it. This is different that support, where there may be something wrong, but others support you in overcoming the challenge.<br /><br />So back to my original question. I know someone that seems to need sympathy from other. So much in fact that they will create situations for the sole purpose of garnering sympathy. They will even go so far as to create fictitious stories to achieve this. A close friend told me that it is futile to try and understand this behavior as it has not rational explanation. Even trying to analyze it from an emotional view will result in the same state of futility.<br /><br />Instead, I have come to the conclusion that I need to avoid this person, or if I cannot avoid them, to go into any interaction with the knowledge that sympathy is their goal and to not acknowledge it. It's not that I'm trying to be mean, it's just that present a front of dispassion will both protect me from being drawn into the drama invariably occurs and will eventually cause the other person to stop since they do not get what they want from me.<br /><br />I'm still wrestling with this and I'm sure I will write more about it as time goes on and we see how this develops.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-61035042433207069632010-03-18T07:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T07:00:02.953-07:00Thursday Morning Quote - March 18, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S6FnJrKOQOI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/4j_offbhvJI/s1600-h/SandHeart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 151px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S6FnJrKOQOI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/4j_offbhvJI/s200/SandHeart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449750439997096162" /></a><br />"People love others not for who they are but for how they make them feel" - Irwin FedermanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-46829590945558940362010-03-17T07:00:00.000-07:002010-03-17T16:23:46.993-07:00Coming out the other side<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S6FkR5qYWCI/AAAAAAAAA0I/vyFaa-fItuE/s1600-h/SunlightOnTheMeadow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/S6FkR5qYWCI/AAAAAAAAA0I/vyFaa-fItuE/s200/SunlightOnTheMeadow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449747282794141730" /></a><br />In the book Zen And the Art of Happiness, Chris Prentiss asks you to imagine that God appeared before you and said: “I promise you that everything that happens to you from this moment forward will be of the greatest benefit to you and will bring you the utmost fortune. Even though what happens will sometimes appear unfortunate or hurtful, in the end your life will be wonderfully blessed and hugely benefited by whatever happens.”<br /><br />Well my life has taken a complete left turn over the last four months. Well, it's actually taken a left turn, detour and run over several potholes. I've learned a lot about myself through these few months. I've learned that you can't take anything for granted; that trust, once broken, can only be restored if the person has to want it back; and that you can find a positive in almost any situation.<br /><br />I've had to do a lot of soul searching, trying to find new or re-newed meanings in my life. I'm learning to overcome pain and look out the other side to see the green meadows. This has provided me a wealth of blogging material for Strive On With Diligence, which I will be posting for months to come.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-26516215274316164552009-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:002009-11-09T09:25:51.592-08:00Monday Morning Quote - November 9th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/SvhQbgTtvGI/AAAAAAAAAys/TQU16xvt1wM/s1600-h/didion_joan.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/SvhQbgTtvGI/AAAAAAAAAys/TQU16xvt1wM/s200/didion_joan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402156186490223714" /></a><br />"To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves -- there lies the great, singular power of self-respect." - Joan DidionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2723521385131123250.post-49149738767201650742009-09-03T07:00:00.000-07:002009-09-03T07:00:04.930-07:00Thursday Morning Quote - September 3rd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/SpzN9CjqyMI/AAAAAAAAArM/LkWMt-AvhIw/s1600-h/imperfection.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kZ72O6N4XgU/SpzN9CjqyMI/AAAAAAAAArM/LkWMt-AvhIw/s200/imperfection.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376398503715719362" /></a> "Sometimes we strive so hard for perfection that we forget that imperfection is happiness" - Karen NaveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0