Practice Imperfection

This past week I have awoke at the crack of dawn to the sound of hammers, saws, and shovels. While its not usually my favorite way to wake up in the morning this particular circumstance had its merits. Aside from not being a late riser or lazy bum it also opened my eyes to an alternative lifestyle. A lifestyle that I am not often exposed to in my little bubble of perfectly mowed lawns and expensive cars. What these Honduran workers were doing is not really important. Rather, it was what I could learn from them in regards to the type of life they are leading. Typically, I try and hold myself to very high standards of appearance and performance. The reason being is simply because it tends to be a standard norm among wealthier communities. Most people do because they think that it’s the “right” thing.

These workers, like many people in their profession had a shoddy appearance, long working hours, and seemingly harsh and physically demanding working conditions. Upon first inspection one would think that these individuals would be some of the unhappiest people around. However, often times this is quite the contrary. These guys were actually some of the friendliest and happiest people I have yet to meet. But how? Perhaps it’s something about building things with your hands. Being able to see the progress as your sweat and blood equates into a magnificent structure. Or perhaps it’s the fact that you are making a noticeable difference in the world aside from adding a few extra dollars to a company’s bottom line on an accounting statement. While this could certainly play a part, I suspect it goes a little bit deeper than this.

You see. They didn’t have expensive clothes, their cars were scratched and beaten, and they certainly were not the richest people around. But they didn’t care if things weren’t “perfect”. They were used to things the way they were. I like to compare this instance to when I bought my first car. For years I put tons of effort into making sure it was immaculately clean. After all, I had an image to maintain. It had to be no less than perfect. However, little did I know that to achieve perfection was impossible. No matter how much I cleaned and polished my car it would never be PERFECT. There would always be that small irreparable scratch on the hood or that leaf that tarnished the paint the moment it hit the clear coat. You see, life isn’t perfect. But for some of us we want it to be. We try harder and harder to perfect everything we have. Our grades, our income, our houses, cars, teeth, the list goes on. And when we never really get it absolutely perfect (which happens 100% of the time), it irritates us. We are left unsatisfied. We are unable to meet our ridiculous expectations.

So what did I do? I actually stopped cleaning my car. Instead of keeping it near immaculate I can now accept the fact that my car isn’t perfect, nor should it be. I also stopped trying to make other things in my life perfect as well. And you know what? Now every single expectation of mine is met. That’s not to say that I don’t still accomplish things. Not only do I have more satisfaction, but I also save a ton of time to work on other more important endeavors.

We often think that not allot can be learned from an immigrant worker, but in this situation I beg to differ. Their shovels filled with dirt and sweat running down their brows tells us that life isn’t perfect, it’s messy. But you know what, through all the mess they still managed to do it with a smile. In the end, that’s what matters the most. “We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence”

Selective Ignorance- A Path to Happiness & Satisfaction

The other day I was apartment shopping with my friend. Before selecting apartments to view he had scoured hundreds of them on the internet, spending literally hours of his time dwindling them down to a select few. And so, we found ourselves on the road and ready to visit some of the top selections in person. The first apartment we came to sat in a quaint town centered in New Jersey. The location was good and the price was reasonable. The area was nice and while it wasn’t the most amazing apartment, it was a good choice. It was fine. Now, what he should have done then and there is signed onto the lease and without knowing or seeing any other places, been happy. However, as human nature dictates he wanted to find the “very best”. So we ended up visiting several other apartments and wasting many more hours of time. Some were extremely nice, glittered to perfection while others were not so appealing. Funny enough in the end he did end up selecting the first one we visited. But what consequence did all of his additional visits incur? While he is satisfied with the apartment there will always be that doubt in his mind that perhaps one of the others would have worked out better. That maybe his decision was the wrong one, and that he would have been happier making a different selection…

In life people always want to have the very best of something. The best clothes, cars, houses, TV’s, you name it, they want it. And often times they purchase what they think is “the best”. However, what is often thought to be the best is not. Because the best is often subjective and even if by consensus “the best” is really “the best” well then, you can bet that eventually there will be something better. And then they will no longer have “the best”. Instead, they will feel unfulfilled…

So what’s the lesson taken out of this story? Well, consider this. If we agree that the best is impossible to attain because there will always be something better or different, then why try to have the very best of something? Practice the art of selective ignorance. Know that whatever you have is the best and that trying to chase anything better will leave you feeling unrewarded and unhappy. Forget about test driving that second car or spending days picking out the perfect dress for prom. Life is too short to attempt perfection! And with that I wanted to conclude this post with a short story that it think proves this point well. Feel free to read it below.

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Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
-anonymous

Nice Guys: A Dying Breed

Lately I have toiled with the idea of creating myself anew. I have referenced passed events, successes, failures, and overall social progress. But the idea doesn’t lie within how to improve myself, hardly. Instead, it deals with a choice of personal perspective: whether to be an asshole or a nice guy. It seems these days that many individuals give-up being nice and it’s no spur of the moment decision either. In fact, it’s more logical than we think. And until we experience it first and second hand repeatedly do our perspectives begin to change.

Recently, upon heading to a local coffee shop from my town’s library I came across a very interesting individual. In my hand clenched between my fingers was a novel titled The Power of Awareness. And it must have attracted the attention of a middle aged man sitting in a chair just outside. Sipping on a latte harvested by an underpaid individual from some foreign land he commented, “What’s your major?” Hardly a question I would consider normal for an opening comment… However, he seemed interesting enough to strike up a conversation with. I replied with, “Management, but you wouldn’t be able to tell”. And as the conversation progressed it was clear that this individual was very well versed in all subjects and for that matter, extremely intelligent. “I’m reading up on scripture myself”. He said that he was trying to piece his life together again and then went on to tell me that his wife had recently left him. That he had given her everything, only for her to turn around and take it all. Hanging by a thread his hospitality had been stretched thin, used and abused by some selfish demon. I could tell he was genuinely a nice guy. And so after several minutes of conversation I left him sitting there, imposed upon the hope that somehow this book would save him. And this wasn’t the first time I had heard this story…

There’s a point in time where everyone breaks. Where people just get pushed and pushed until they have the courage to say, “fuck it, I am not going to take shit anymore”. And I would like to think that this type of thing happens infrequently. That it doesn’t affect too many people. But to say this would be a lie. Would this man be broken as well? It was hard to tell, but it would take a great measure of composure not to be.

So what exactly causes this phenomenon and why would anyone want to turn into a maniacal bastard? Perhaps we need to look a little closer, on more of a psychological level. On the most basic level, our programming (for both men and women) dictates survival and reproduction. We desire to be with others and to have partners in life. This insures that our genes are passed on into future generations and is essentially why we fall into love. With partners, our probability of survival (until we are able to reproduce) is much higher. So from a male perspective it is his objective to find and attract a woman to mate with. And from a female perspective she is to select a male mate that demonstrates dominance. This insures that she will find an individual who will be able to protect and provide for her thus, increasing her and her offspring’s probability of survival. And so when a guy is spit out or rejected enough he takes measures to insure a level of success. And he does this by turning into a more dominant asshole as opposed to remaining a submissive nice guy. This way he is able to attract a female with more ease. So to keep it short, whether women are conscious of it or not they are promoting assholes. And unless a man wants his genes unapologetically weaned out of existence, it only makes sense to become one.

“It’s better to be pissed off than pissed on.”
-anonymous

The Looking Glass Self

Could you wake up in another place and be a completely different person? If so, then what is it that makes us so set in our ways? We act the same day in, day out. The tough guy, the nerd, the wise guy, the emo, and the guy that thinks his dick is “this big”. We have all encountered them and what gets me every time is their sheer consistency. Four years ago if you had asked my friends how they would describe me they would most likely say, he’s a nice guy, somewhat shy especially around women, and he certainly lacks some confidence. Well, needless to say this was me four years ago, but surprisingly not all the time. Admittedly I have changed allot since then but often times I find myself slipping back into the old me. However, I realized in the end that the way I acted and my behavior was easier to change than I had initially perceived. Sometimes a certain level of dichotomy is important. What was holding me back the most was my need to seem both respectable to others and to remain consistent. I was living to please others but not necessarily myself. And I think this is the trap most people get caught in. The way I acted was based purely on the expectations of others and how people reacted to me. All of which caused me to act in specific ways consistent to these perceptions. Whether they were wrong or right, I was a product of society. WE are a product of society…

But can we change the way we act? Can one day we be the timid coward while the day after we are the gregarious hero? Absolutely! Just recently I found myself on a plane sitting next to a very attractive woman. Normally I would not make any attempt to talk to her. Instead I would choke down some peanuts and cloud myself in music from my Ipod. However, something had changed that made it all the easier. The realization that at any given moment I possessed the knowledge to be anyone I wanted. This meant that I didn’t have to be trapped by who I was currently. I was alone in a place where no one knew me. This I thought was beautiful! No one had any pre-conceived notions of me, especially this girl. I could literally be anyone I wished to be! So I was. And in turn I enjoyed a pleasant and deep conversation with her. I had no image to maintain only an image to create.

So what does this tell you in regards to human nature? The problem with staying in any one place too long is that we become trapped in ourselves. We stay consistent with how we are expected to act in front of people we are familiar with. We submit to others and become afraid of being someone new. Even if who we are is someone we do not want to be. It’s not that people are stubborn and don’t like change. It’s that society has a very powerful influence that prevents us from changing.

So why not define ourselves through our self? Not through perceptions of others. If you are quiet be loud, if you are unhappy be happy, if you are reserved be crazy! Your mind is the only think holding you back.

We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society. -Judith Martin

Fighting a Losing Battle: Thoughts on American Culture and Values

It wasn’t until the other night did I truly realize that upon entering the real world I was in fact about to submit myself to a losing battle. Granted, the job market was the worst it had been in 30 years but that wasn’t what was bothering me. Instead it was the realization that American ideals do not support a life of happiness. Prosperity yes but happiness, absolutely not. And if I didn’t act fast I would be indebted to a life of working harder and harder until I became burnt out and old. Only then could I finally retire, but the problem was that I would not be able to do a single thing. I would be too old. Worth it? Nah…

It was a Friday evening and I had decided to take a Salsa dance class. While most people would benefit from a dance class by learning well, to dance… I didn’t. Let’s face it; I’m a robot when it comes to dancing. But I did realize something else very important. And for some reason it took a dance class for me to realize it. While dancing with a very lovely woman I asked her, “How is it that you dance so well? You must have had practice”. I must admit I was slightly embarrassed with my shoddy skills versus hers. So I felt it necessary to break the ice by cutting to the chase. And of course she answered, “I spent the past semester in Spain, we went out to clubs dancing like every night”. “Do you wish you were there still?” I replied. “Yes, of course! It’s so much nicer over there. Life is so much more enjoyable” She said with great enthusiasm.

These days that’s all I ever hear from people. It seems that no matter how long someone is in another country they don’t want to leave. So perhaps it’s that the new experience is novel and exciting. Is this why people enjoy being in foreign countries so much? Because I am skeptical my first reaction was to disprove my own finding by reflecting on this aspect. While America is certainly a great country its social expectations are less than favorable. There is simply too much pressure to perform and act in front of others. As a child I spent a good part of my life in Great Britain. With its lush countryside and relaxed culture it certainly puts America into perspective.

The truth is that it is so much more relaxing. On top of that I have also traveled to many other countries in Europe and my findings are consistent throughout. Everything seems to come with ease. People are more down to earth, less materialistic, and friendlier. Being able to sit back and enjoy the present moment is one of the greatest pleasures I enjoy when visiting these countries. Whether it’s enjoying tea in the presence of old friends or swimming in the clear warm waters of St. Tropez, everything is great. Then the time comes when I return once again to America. Reality sinks in and somehow all the stupid little things in life become “important”. But it doesn’t stop there. It never ends.

So let’s take a look at the past for a second. Back in the 50’s it was required that only the male figure head of the family provide for his wife and kids. He made more than enough to put a roof over his families head, food on the table, and a car in the garage. But as time progressed American culture and its citizens got greedy. They wanted bigger houses, more cars, and more money overall. So their house size increased by 50%, they got another car (sometimes 2), and in their absence they lavished their kids with expensive toys. Now like dad, mom was required to work as well. Now both parents are involved in a 9-5 job and sometimes work longer than this. Yet they still have kids… And here’s where it gets even scarier. A sociological finding states that in upper middle class families the mothers and fathers said they got more satisfaction from work than the home. They would rather work their stressful jobs than take care of their children. American’s are working harder and harder for what? So they can buy their neglected child a brand new BMW? Where does the madness end? American’s have forgotten how to enjoy life. Instead they rush around like chickens with their heads cut off bickering over unimportant crap only to be late to yet another ‘bored’ meeting. What is truly enjoyed in life has been forgotten…

An article in Business Week outlines the world’s happiest countries (http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/happiest_countries/index_01.htm) where America was ranked a surprising 23rd. Among the countries that were ranked among the top 13 there was a general trend that applied to most of them. A relaxed/laid-back pace of life and a good balance between work/life is evident. This I fear has all but dissipated in America.

Let us not forget: It’s all about work/life balance not work/work balance.

Always Have a Backup Plan

Needless to say this post is a little different than what you might expect from me but it serves a good purpose. Recent events in The USA as well as around the world have proven how volatile society can be. Riots, economic collapse, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters are all examples. In the blink of an eye your world could very well be transformed from heaven to hell. Even countries with established governmental, political, and economic institutions are left vulnerable. You thought you were safe? It would be nice to think so… What’s scary is that the world has come VERY close to a major catastrophic event (ex: nuclear war) 13 times. I’m willing to bet that there’s at least another dozen times that we do not know about. Are you prepared?

The goal of this post is to raise self awareness of how we rely too heavily on others. We are not as self reliant as we choose to be or for that matter, can be. Most people if thrust into the wild with just a stick and a loin cloth would not survive for more than a few days, a week max. Give them a bow and arrow and they might survive 8 days instead. If most people can’t survive a little trip into the wilderness what is their chance of surviving a political uprising or worse yet, a nuclear war? My bet is zero.

Now most of you will be reading this saying “this guy is crazy, nothing is going to happen to me”. While I will agree with the crazy part I can guarantee that we are not as invincible as we think. When shit goes down we must be prepared. In this case, only the absolute strongest will survive.

If you’ve read this far I hopefully I have you on the edge of your seat wondering, “How do I do this? What steps can I take to make sure I’m prepared?” While I don’t have all the answers here are some suggestions I can make. Note that I am not claiming to be an expert on any of these. My only intention is to perhaps open your mind to some of the possibilities that exist out there.

Tip #1- Cover your assets: While it’s a pretty safe bet that if the US Dollar collapses so will literally every other currency in the world it doesn’t hurt to have some of your assets tied up overseas. For instance, I would suggest that if you need to flee your country of residence (in my case the USA) you have some money invested into a numbered Swiss bank account. This is also a good option to feed money into if you don’t want to pay taxes. One example is owning overseas property and making money off of renting it. Placing it into the account overseas will help you avoid paying taxes on it plus it’s a good safety net if for some reason your assets within your country of residence are seized.

I also recommend burying any current assets you own. For instance, if you own a company as well as a house you can prevent the seizure of these assets. You might be saying what!? Impossible! But consider the following. Suppose that someone sues you. If you didn’t prepare you might find yourself homeless and scrounging for cans on the side of a local highway while the heartless US Legal system devours every last asset you own. The key here is that you can’t prevent yourself from being sued however; you can bury your assets deep enough that it becomes insanely expensive to try and claim them. If you choose this path you will need a good lawyer who can place your assets under an LLC which will be tied up into a trust fund overseas. If you have this, no one will even come close to seizing so much as a fork from your kitchen cabinet.

Tip #2- Be Less Reliant on Location Based Employment: What I mean by this is the office job. With the age of the internet and globalization opportunities to make money while anywhere in the world are common. I won’t feed my ego here but I can personally attest that this is entirely possible and in most cases easier than working a typical job in an office. If you ever get into a situation where you lose your job where can you go? If it’s due to a disaster (countrywide) chances are you’re cash flow has just been reduced to $0. Be able to do business and make money anywhere. I’ve done it and so can you.

Tip #3- Have Multiple Passports: This option is a must. I’m not saying it will happen but if you are convicted of a crime (for myself it’s most likely to be business related) chances are you could be facing some serious prison time. Even if you never intended the crime to happen, you will still do the time. So how do you dodge this? While maybe if you weren’t prepared you tried to escape the country using a US Passport or any other passport of residence. But your name came up on the grid, you are detained, arrested, and then put in prison. However, having a secondary passport for another country will prevent your name from appearing as “detain”. And bam! You have now successfully evaded prison time. You travel to the country of your choice where you have access to the offshore bank account you had setup years before. There are many ways to get second passports. Some countries will issue passports under circumstances that you invest money with them or in real estate property. Examples of such countries are St. Kitt’s, Panama, and Somalia to name a few. If your parents were born in another country (like mine were) you also have the option of obtaining a passport there. Other options include obtaining a world passport which will grant you access to various countries as well as becoming a consulate for a specific country.

Tip #4- Prepare yourself: By this I mean have the personal tools to overcome any disaster that might come your way. This includes knowing self defense techniques, being able to operate a fire arm, and having wilderness survival knowledge (hopefully you were in the boy/girl scouts). Other extreme steps would be to purchase radiation suits. Call me crazy but I have actually purchased a few myself. You can laugh now but in the event of a nuclear holocaust I will literally be the one having the last laugh. It wouldn’t hurt to have a firearm as well. Why not take advantage of one of the most important American liberties?

I want to know that if shit goes down, I can disappear like a ghost.

Open Mind for a Different View – Seeing Different Angles

It was a quiet Thursday evening as I sat on the train heading from New York’s Grand Central Station to my home in Westport, CT. The atmosphere was peaceful and focused. Beside me was the overly shaven face of a young yet overworked business professional. I watched as he desperately clung to his newspaper in order to avoid any interpersonal interaction. Just diagonally from me sat a father and his son. The son was well behaved and moderated. I could detect a glimmer in the child’s eyes, so repressed that it couldn’t help but disappoint me. Standing at the front of the car seemed to be a typical young New York native. Slung in baggy attire, his composure was both cool and collective. I couldn’t help but let my bias get in the way. The scene was picturesque. Then all of a sudden a man and two of his children, a girl and a boy were unleashed into the car. The silence was broken. The children were so bothersome that the entire mood within the train car changed that instant. Faces cringed, including mine. The man, now sitting in front of me was making no attempt to keep his children under control as they ransacked the car. After several minutes of this persisting I took it upon myself to confront this man. “Excuse me sir but I think your children are annoying other people in this train. Is it possible to ask them to sit down and be quieter?” Diverting his gaze from the ground the man looked at me and said “Sorry, I guess I could tell them to be quiet. It’s just that I have recently come back from the hospital where their mother has just passed away. I guess I’m just a little distressed and don’t know what to think about this whole situation. I’m really not sure my children know what to think either…” At that instant everything changed. My irritation subsided. Feelings of compassion flowed as the desire to sympathize with this man enveloped my thoughts.

Often we as individuals underestimate the overall good of man. For some reason the world has to be full of opposition, hate, and resistance. Our views are skewed by bias perceptions and pre-conceived notions we have of others. We only see our view. If you can get past the ego it might be important to ask yourself, how many times have my perceptions of someone else been incorrect because you have refused to accept the way they do things? We need to be more accepting and sensitive of others. We are quick to judge but we never stop to ask ourselves, why is this individual acting like this? Is there some underlying principle that I am not seeing? Often times there is. Have you ever smiled at a stranger only to find that they smile back? Mood is easily transferrable. Be nice to everyone and you will find that even the people that are mean to you become your friends.

We spend years trying to change our bad attitudes and behaviors. But we do not consider how much change can be instilled by just changing our perceptions of things. It’s only then that we can truly achieve our highest self. An image fit for gods and envied by all to build a better world while touching the hearts of others. Simply put, that is Understanding.

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again. -Og Mandino How you treat others is a direct reflection of how you feel about yourself. –Amber Deckers

Extending your Sphere of Comfort & Embracing Change

Why do we keep the gym membership even though we don’t go? Why is it that 90% of all people end up living within 100 miles of where they grew up? Or that we have so much trouble teaching an old dog new tricks? While there is no definitive reason as to why we act this way its clear that our aversion to change only holds us back. What opportunities do we miss by staying within our comfort zone? Because we are most comfortable with where we grew up we stay there. But what opportunities do we miss as a result? There’s a whole world out there and experiences to be seized. It’s no surprise that people lose their minds when something as small as losing ones car keys occurs. The lack of familiarity turns their whole world upside down. Up until now they’ve had it too easy.We are afraid of losing what we have. We think that if we lose it there will be no conceivable way to get it back. Where’s the confidence to say: “Whatever happens and whatever I lose, I am more than competent to restore it at any point in time!” Is there anything that you are not happy with in life? Most likely there will be at least one example of this that will stick out in your mind like a sore thumb. And yet, we sit there letting this problem literally leech the life out of us. It haunts our dreams, skews our concentration, and leaves us unfulfilled. If only we knew that at any point in time we could change what we dislike for the better. Because you can!

We are afraid of the very thing we can’t define. All the people and familiar places we might leave behind. Will they be missed? Yes. But with every step forward comes the opportunity to meet new friends, see new places, extend your experience, and allow you to grow as an individual. So you must ask yourself. Do I want to live a familiar and often boring life? Or do I want to push my current sphere of comfort and become the greatest I can be? The more you push your comfort sphere the more able you become to deal with anything. You become more competent, capable, and happy. Everything you do should be accompanied with the following affirmation: “I’ll handle it”.

As humans we often look at something we fear as the be all end all. But the truth is, risks aren’t that bad once you take them. Think of a time when you took a risk that you feared. You spent weeks, months, or even years worrying about it. But you pulled every ounce of courage you had and faced the fear head on. When all was said and done how did you feel? Chances are it wasn’t nearly as bad as you had once perceived it to be. In fact, it might not have been bad at all. The problem is that we have such a fear and aversion towards the unknown. But when we learn to face our fears head on do we realize that we are more than capable with overcoming anything that comes our way. The most successful people in life are willing to embrace change at any moment. Are you?

Never get complacent.

Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. -William James

It seems almost paradoxical,
Yet when your inner dependency on form is gone,
the general conditions of your life,
the outer forms, tend to improve greatly.
Things, people, or conditions that you thought you
needed for happiness now come to you with no
struggle or effort on your part, and you are free to enjoy
and appreciate them – while they last.

All those things, of course, will still pass away,
cycles will come and go, but with dependency gone
there is no fear of loss anymore.
Life flows with ease.

The happiness that is derived from
some secondary source is never very deep.
It is only a pale reflection of the joy of Being,
the vibrant peace that you find within
as you enter the state of nonresistance.

-Eckhart Tolle

Will you be remembered? -Making a difference in the world

Your body lies withered and surrounded by the comforting faces of
family. The air is growing thinner now. You haven’t felt this type of
sensation since you climbed Mount Everest… The faint sobbing sounds of
family members eliciting your fading senses. You try to empathize with
them but a feeling of peace begins to envelope your soul. The tunnel
was dark before but the light draws nearer. You hear the voices that
sound oh so familiar… They welcome your coming with soft whispers.
You’re leaving now. As the space your body occupies fades one final
thought enters your mind. “Will I be remembered when I’m gone?”

This is one question that I think enters many of our minds from time to
time. Seldom are there things that have the potential to motivate us so
very much. This is one of them. It really puts life into perspective.
So we must ask ourselves: Are we doing things for the greater good of
ourselves or are we doing things for the greater good of others? If we
are to be remembered we need to keep in mind that helping ourselves is
simply not enough. To our dismay the world is far from perfect. But
times are changing and I have faith. In the end true satisfaction comes
not from how much crap you accumulate but knowing that you had a
positive impact on the lives of others and that they were happier
because of it. Many great individuals have said that there is no
greater joy than giving. I think they are correct.

Can you be the one that might look into the face of a starved man when
his food arrives? Hope that you might have brought him that food
yourself… For that look on his face you might be willing to lose it
all, share his pain, or even die… There is no greater instance of
empathy that brings such great joy.

Can you help a child who is in need? Can you smile at someone who is
unhappy and make his day brighter? Can you help an animal that is in
need? Whether the deed is small or large doesn’t matter. As long as you
make lives better you will find true satisfaction and people will
admire you for it. When you make a difference in the world, you WILL be
remembered. And when all is said and done. When that final question
comes, you will be able to say “yes, YES I will be remembered for all
the right reasons!”

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. ~Winston Churchill

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any
kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being,
let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this
way again. ~William Penn

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. ~Benjamin Disraeli

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I
stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But… the good
Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man,
what will happen to him?” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Live for only 28,000 days… What are you doing in life?

Suppose that someone told you that 6 months from now you would not be alive. What would you do and how would you feel? Ironically my guess is that this would be the most fulfilling and the most frightening moment of your life. It screams ACTION. Would that nice car and home be important? Would any of your emails waiting for a response matter? Would that high paying job that consumes your life be important anymore? Chances are they wouldn’t.

The next meal you eat would taste better than anything you have ever tasted. The smell of the air so crisp on your tongue would be the most refreshing moment of your life. Every person you see would be your best friend. You would be able to appreciate the beauty of every single aspect in life. So why the hell can’t we feel like this every day?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. You can! It’s that simple…

These days I see so many people act so nonchalant about life. They walk into class or work with such listless faces looking absolutely miserable… They are living day by day with no goals or inspiration. They grumble and moan about EVERYTHING as stupid as it is. Sometimes I think that nothing will make them happy and maybe I’m right.

These days it’s hard to really put things into perspective. We are shrouded by the frivolous. Cell phones, to do lists, chores, errands, and emails all distort our reality. It’s no surprise that at the end of the day we forget what’s really important. So we go to bed and continue the same thing the next day. How boring!

Maybe if we realized how precious our time is in life we would be the absolute best we can be! Instead we cower in the background blending in as best we can. We timidly express our ideas which are formed on the basis of seeking approval from others. We take absolutely no risks, always seeking the easiest and safest option. We are fake, shy, and unhappy.

We all can offer others a better life. For many, doing work that matters WOULD matter. That might mean making others happy, creating inspiration, or doing something brilliant. It’s not so much the money we earn but the impact our work has on making others lives more enjoyable. This is aspect is KEY to self fulfillment and happiness.

So what are you guys waiting for? Get up, it’s time to kick ass! Talk louder that you have ever talked, be happier than you have ever felt, be content with what you currently have, create goals for yourself, and live life! Time is ticking…

He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.
-Douglas Adams

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 only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.
-Paris Hilton