Month: June 2024 (Page 1 of 2)

It was said Jerry Seinfeld did it. And was extremely successful because of it.

Nowadays we can hardly imagine ourselves without running from one task or appointment to the other. If not, then certainly our heads are locked into our phones as we are transitioning from one activity to the next.

How about this? Doing nothing. Even better; scheduling yourself in to . . . do nothing.

Right. You heard me. Taking the time to sit without distractions in order to get some real thinking done. No phone. Maybe even no music. Just you and your head.

Why on earth would I do that, you ask? Maybe to put some space between you and the ‘next thing.’ Maybe to gain some perspective, to get out of the trees in order to see the whole forest. To take a breath. To allow the natural state of flow to come . . . or not.

Maybe just ‘to be’ instead of always doing.

We always seem to find what we’re looking for. So why not look for opportunity’s to show our best side.

When we look to be offended in our day, we’ll never go disappointed. When we seek to find the beautiful gems of joy, kindness and generosity, those will show their beautiful faces as well.

Today, I’m looking for an opportunity to pay it forward to someone. Anyone. However that may come and it what form is all good with me.

I’m just looking to shine today!

I received letters and cards from my children on Father’s Day and I couldn’t have been filled with more Love and gratitude.

They were so very generous with their compliments and depiction of me as their father. My role as a father is something I didn’t quite realize the magnitude of it’s importance on me until reading those words from my adult children.

Let’s be real, I’m by no means the perfect father. I’m fully aware of that, but what struck me while reading their words was how it would seem my intention of who I’ve been working to be for the last 27 years seemed to get through to them and they have been able to benefit from it. Or at least appreciate my efforts.

The purpose of this particular post is not to toot my own horn, but rather reflect on why we – including me – can’t share our feelings of Love and kindness with those we care deeply about more often. Why must we wait until Christmas? A birthday? Or any another significant event to say what is special about that person and why you Love them. Why?

I’m not sure. But, I can tell you the connections you will make are worth it.

It would seem nowadays everyone is looking for overnight success, beauty, riches and notoriety. Hoping that one TikTok, that one podcast or that one get-rich scheme will pay off over night.

Odds are they won’t. What will? Small incremental steps over time that begins to sculpt and mold us into the kind of people that can attract those things we’re looking for.

The secret is not to chase them, but in becoming the person that can attract those successes into our lives.

Become the person who is savvy with finances, the person who is healthy and the one who is wise in your chosen field. Success follows the hard work, the wise and the prepared.

Everything else is snake oil.

I’m not exactly sure how certain beliefs became part of who I am, but occasionally I will sort through the countless certainties unable to recognize their value in my life. Or even worse, identify them as holding me back from becoming better than I was the day before.

As I get older, I have realized one that doesn’t serve me much in any positive way is: “You can’t teach a dog new tricks.”

I’ve confronted this belief more than once in my life and will continue to search for new paths as I work to develop new skills.

One of those skills was deciding to learn how to play the drums after the age of 50. Now, I’m no Neil Peart, but I’ve been at it long enough to learn about a dozen songs and am able to play along with a guitar and a singer. It’s kind of like being in my own rock band. A dream every boy had at some point in time I would think.

And the truth is, I never considered myself a musician. Who said, you can’t teach a dog . . . .