If we would begin each new minute as we begin each new hour, and each new second as each new minute;
Then for every second
Every minute
Every hour
Every day
of Every year, we will have endured,
Knowing that our journey and our destiny had become one.
- Anonymous
Ed Lorenz apparently fulfilled his life's mission here on earth when he bowled the third perfect game of his life. It was also his last. The other two were accomplished just last year during his regular league participation.
A colleague commented that Ed couldn't have written a better ending had he tried. I hope Ed at least had a chance to enjoy a few congratulatory beers from his teammates before he left for the big bowling alley in the sky.
Cohen's ability to create many different personas has been well documented via his cable television show, particularly his best known alter-ego, Ali G, for whom the show is named.
It's evident that Cohen is a brilliant comic whose style echos that of the late, great Andy Kaufman, who was widely known for his portrayal of "Latka Gravas" on the television show "Taxi."
But the Kazakh government didn't appreciate Cohen's recent satire, in which he portrays a Kazakh journalist who attempts to learn more about Western lifestyles, while sharing the customs of his native land.
Read about it HERE.
From what I saw, the sketch looks to be pretty funny. Who said Central Asian governments have no sense of humor?
According to the Automobile Association of America (AAA), which conducted a study of more than 10,000 incidents of violent aggressive driving between 1990 and 1996, agressive driving resulted in more than 218 deaths and 12,610 injuries. How many more went unreported?
Ten years after the fact, the problem seems to be reaching epidemic proportions.
But why?
There are any number of reasons the study cites, mostly involving impaired emotional driving such as:
I have even witnessed many instances of aggression which involved drivers with small children (in child seats) as passengers.
Don't they realize they are jeopardizing their children's safety, as well as their own? Do they just not care?
Whatever the reasons for their recklessness, it pays for the rest of us to be highly attentive when driving, even when traveling only a short distance. Keep yourself safe from becoming a target by following the basic rules of the road, and by avoiding retaliation against aggressive drivers.
Also, avoid making obscene gestures, flashing your brights, tailgaiting (or braking hard while being tailgated), and stay off the phone while driving. However, it's always wise to keep a cell phone handy, should you need to call for emergency help.
Why can't we all just (be courteous) and get along?
I learned, for the first time, of a unique charitable organization called Heifer International. Don’t start holding your breath for the punchline.
There isn’t one.
This organization really exists, and their mission, lofty: To end world hunger and poverty, and to promote caring for the earth.
To help achieve this mission, Heifer International has developed a list of “global initiatives” which, among other objectives, would help communities “preserve their ability to support themselves by protecting their land,water, and other natural resources,” and by “providing small loans to help people start and expand tiny business that yield big benefits for families.”
A large part of their “Agroecology” effort provides livestock to families and communities. The animals could then be used to provide milk, eggs, and other food staples for the benefit of the entire community. Recipients must promise to breed the animals and give away a percentage of offspring to another family or community in need. And so on.
So, as you prepare your grocery lists for the wonderful Thanksgiving Day dinners many of you may be planning (or attending), keep in mind that for less than the price of the side dishes, you can “teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime.” And that is its own kind of thanksgiving.
Until this afternoon, I'd never even known how one works. Cooking in it is easy. Bake, broil, warm; I seem to have enough on the ball to do that much. But the concept of an oven which cleans itself seemed foreign. After all, no other appliance I own can boast such amazing feats of cleanliness. The idea, though, was appealing and fascinating.
A quick internet search turned up www.howstuffworks.com, a wonderful site which would prove useful for finding answers to any number of perplexities. It turns out that "Question #559" deals with the whole oven issue quite thoroughly.
In working its magic, the oven superheats to about 900 degress Fahrenheit, turning every little burnt piece of crud stuck inside to ash. The process takes about 3 hours. It also creates a bit of smoke -- say. . . oh, I don't know. . . about enough to suffocate a small village. These things should come with a spare oxygen tank.
In fact, the smoke was robustly pouring out of every window and door I had opened, as if trying to escape its own acrid fumes. I thought the neighbors might call the fire department, but realized their concern was likely subdued by the pity they surely felt for my imagined dinner guests. Maybe they'll drop by later with leftovers. . .
But I digress.
Somehow, I managed to escape without succumbing to either smoke inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning. If only someone would invent "self-cleaning dishes," my life would be complete. On second thought, I'm not a very good swimmer.
One of my college professors once told me that everything in life is happy-sad. At the time, I thought he was crazy. Now I know better. Strangely enough, I'm comfortable in that psychic space, like wearing an old pair of soft, faded jeans.
It's not even like I am trying to hail a different emotion, content instead to stay curbside and watch them variously speed past or stop to pick up other passengers along the way.
No, this place is just fine.
It is assurance of my humanity, of my imperfectness. Besides, in this moment, there really isn't anyplace else I need to be.
Earl reminded us that we have at our constant disposal the most powerful Supercomputer ever known to mankind. And it is tucked conveniently in the space between our ears.
How many of us consistently direct our thoughts for a specific outcome? Few indeed.
In fact, most of us never use our minds to their full potential. It's not like they came with owner's manuals . . .
. . . but we can change all that!
Let’s examine a simple method for attaining our goals in less time ... with less effort ... and with more joy than we thought possible.
1. Daily Reading
Read your goals aloud, first thing upon arising, throughout the day, and just before retiring at night. Keep an index of your Top 10 Goals in your wallet or purse for easy reference. This daily habit is essential. The method . . . extremely powerful. Even if it’s all you ever do. Isn't investing 20 minutes a day to build your “dream life” about the easiest thing you can do with your spare time?
2. Build a "Dreambook"
Find attractive pictures of items on your list, and keep them in a loose-leaf binder. Be as specific as possible. If your list has a Silver, 2005 BMW Z3 on it, get the brochure and cut out a picture for your book. If your goal is abstract (happier family life, more time to spend with kids, etc.), try to find pictures which convey the concept. Refer to your book DAILY.
3. Use Positive Affirmations
Affirmations are short phrases which are repeated frequently, like a mantra. They affect your subconscious mind in the same way as hypnosis. Use them to reinforce a positive self-image. An example: "Every day,in every way, I'm getting better and better." Get creative and make up your own. Make them specific and repeat them often throughout the day.
4. Service to Others
The truism, "What goes around, comes around" is so-called because it is true. Focus on serving others in all you do, and succees in achieving your goals will be certain. Sound inconsistent? Try it. When we help others get what they want, our own wants flock toward us like a gaggle of geese.
Our thoughts are the captains at the helm of a great ship -- our actions. Our goals, the map and compass. The ship can hardly go but where the captain steers, can it?
Make the commitment to follow this program for the next 30 days. Allow it to work for you. You may find that, by then, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
That's right, folks --- most of what you wrote is located well within your 'comfort zone.' Take these goals and double them, and they would still be within your grasp. If doubling seems like too big of a stretch right now, try augmenting them by 1/4. You can work upwards over time.
We now have this 'wish list' which we've also expanded. To turn these into real goals, it might help knowing their characteristic traits. Goals must be:
Modify each item in your list to conform, otherwise you'll have only a list of daydreams. It is not enough to say "I would like to earn more money," try, "I will earn $100,000 within one year from today." Got it?
Behold your destiny!
You will begin find that others, perhaps with complementary goals, are attracted into your life in order to help you fulfill your dreams -- It may even seem that there is a 'conspiracy' afoot to help you. You will become more and more aware of the significance of this as you progress in your journey.
Next post will detail how to use your mind to make your goals impossible to evade you! The method is so simple, some of you won't believe it...
Goals fall into three basic categories:
These basic goal types can be further broken down into the various facets of life:
Of course, these can (and should) be broken down into more and more specific categories/tasks as they are identified. So why are having goals important?
| "If you don't know where you're going, you might not ever get there!" (Yogi Berra) |
I can hear you guys wincing already, "But that sounds like a whole lot of work, Walt. I just don't have the time. Besides, things are going OK as they are -- I've done pretty well for myself up to this point!" Or maybe you would like to inject some extra rocket fuel for your life's journey. Getting started is easy -- here's how:
Grab a pencil and paper and go find a quiet spot in your home where you can be undisturbed for 30 minutes. Get yourself and egg timer, if you have to. READY, SET... WRITE!
The goal is to write 100 goals, of all kinds, in the next 30 minutes. Let your imagination run wild; Think of this like a list of the things which you want most in life. Essentially, write down your "Dream Life." Consider the list a work in progress, as each day passes, you'll think of things you'd like to add -- include them. Next post, we'll discuss what to do with your list.
Until then, HAVE FUN!
| "To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has acheived, but at what he aspires to." |
| "Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding is it established; And by knowledge shall the rooms be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." |
World War II Memorial - Washington, D.C.
| "Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." |
