The greatest joy that I receive in writing this blog is the feedback from the readers. Lately people have written to me about fate and destiny. So I thought it would be good to open up some dialogue about the two words.
Do you believe in fate and destiny? Would it surprise you to know that the two words share similar definitions? They both are defined as an event (or course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future. I'm certain that at some time you may have heard someone say that something or another was fate, and that something or another was a destiny. Sometimes the words are used interchangeably and at other times they are used as if they have separate meanings. How do you view the two words?
Let's explore a scenario and you give this some thought: If a person walks in front of an approaching car as he or she walks against the light and is struck down by the car...is it fate? Was it their destiny to be hit by that car on that street at that appointed time or was it simply their own carelessness that led to he or she being hit? In others words...their own fault. Or was it simply a case of "that was inevitable?" Talk about the mysteries of life.
Ponder that and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Do you know the secret?
Upon walking into any bookstore, flipping through the TV channels, or surfing the Internet; you can find someone ready to share (drum roll, please) "The Secret to Life." Following is a public service reminder...thousands of years ago the secret to life was revealed in a little known book entitled...Bible. But I digress.
In today's uncertain society, many of us can be seen scratching our heads and wondering actually what to do, how to do it, and thinking about the necessity of doing it. Is there really a secret to life? Is life really that much of a mystery to most of us? Tell me, would I be considered presumptuous if I simply said, "Just maybe the real secret to life is to actually live it as if it's the only one you will ever have." Am I being too simplistic? Have we become so jaded to life that we're taking it for granted, or simply looking for easy answers to what has now become a complex question?
Knock, knock. Who's there?...ain't no...ain't no who?...Ain't no secrets to life except the one's you're keeping. (I know the grammar, but you get the point.) Secrets are for the CIA (or so I've heard) and not for people looking to live a life full of purpose, love, happiness, and good health. In my simple mind I think it's quite simple. You want to never work a day in your life...do a job/career that you're passionate about. You want to be loved...give love to yourself, because a person that love themselves is much better equipped to love someone else. You want to be happy...stop doing things that bring unhappiness into your life. You want to lose weight and get in good physical shape...stop feasting on foods without any nutritional value whatsoever and get off the couch and do some form of exercise. Does any of that sound like secrecy?
Please don't get me wrong. I not trying to be facetious, I just believe that the "KISS" (keep it simple sweetheart) method of life applies to most things quite favorably. And I'm certainly not knocking authors of self-help books. I read them all the time. Everything from my favorite, "Think and Grow Rich" to "The Secret." I fully believe that they serve a great purpose and a help to those that take the time to read them. However I would be remiss if I didn't point out the fact that it does take more than reading to make a difference in your life. There isn't a book out there, not even the Bible, that can truly lead someone to self-improvement if they don't apply the words, principles and the tools provided to their daily life. Reading may be fundamental, but applying what we have read can be monumental.
In today's uncertain society, many of us can be seen scratching our heads and wondering actually what to do, how to do it, and thinking about the necessity of doing it. Is there really a secret to life? Is life really that much of a mystery to most of us? Tell me, would I be considered presumptuous if I simply said, "Just maybe the real secret to life is to actually live it as if it's the only one you will ever have." Am I being too simplistic? Have we become so jaded to life that we're taking it for granted, or simply looking for easy answers to what has now become a complex question?
Knock, knock. Who's there?...ain't no...ain't no who?...Ain't no secrets to life except the one's you're keeping. (I know the grammar, but you get the point.) Secrets are for the CIA (or so I've heard) and not for people looking to live a life full of purpose, love, happiness, and good health. In my simple mind I think it's quite simple. You want to never work a day in your life...do a job/career that you're passionate about. You want to be loved...give love to yourself, because a person that love themselves is much better equipped to love someone else. You want to be happy...stop doing things that bring unhappiness into your life. You want to lose weight and get in good physical shape...stop feasting on foods without any nutritional value whatsoever and get off the couch and do some form of exercise. Does any of that sound like secrecy?
Please don't get me wrong. I not trying to be facetious, I just believe that the "KISS" (keep it simple sweetheart) method of life applies to most things quite favorably. And I'm certainly not knocking authors of self-help books. I read them all the time. Everything from my favorite, "Think and Grow Rich" to "The Secret." I fully believe that they serve a great purpose and a help to those that take the time to read them. However I would be remiss if I didn't point out the fact that it does take more than reading to make a difference in your life. There isn't a book out there, not even the Bible, that can truly lead someone to self-improvement if they don't apply the words, principles and the tools provided to their daily life. Reading may be fundamental, but applying what we have read can be monumental.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Update and words of encouragement.
I want to take this time to thank all you that read this blog (again, because I don't take that for granted) as well as all of you that have e-mailed me and requested an update on my recently released debut novel, "Choices." Sales have exceeded my expectations and the response to say the least has been humbling. Just this Monday 1 June 2009, I was interviewed on 1540 WNWR a radio talk show out of Philadelphia hosted by Janet Powell-Dailey. And the feedback from that show has been tremendous as well.
I sincerely hope that the words contained in this blog from its conception to now can encourage the discouraged, inspire the uninspired, give hope to the hopeless, and an awakening to a slumbered dreamer. Remember...a dream is still a dream, a goal is still a goal and aspiration is still aspiration even if it hasn't come to fruition as of yet. All it takes is pulling it out of the dark, hidden place where that dream, goal or aspiration is waiting to become more than a seed, it wants to become the fruit that feeds a nation.
So my friends, if you have a dream, a goal, or aspirations; please let my words of encouragement speak to the part of the body that has ears to hear. DON'T ALLOW AGE, GENDER, WELL-MEANING FAMILY OR FRIENDS, LOCATION, EDUCATION OR LACK THEREOF, OR ANYTHING ELSE, stop you from fulfilling your GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE.
Remember the story of the three men that were given talents and how each handled theirs. Who knows, sitting in front of their computer screen right now could very well be the next great undiscovered artist, or maybe the person that really discovers the cure for cancer. But until you start to live that dream, go after that goal or aspire to do what you really want to do in life, your talent will lay dormant and never have the chance to blossom.
As the old saying goes, "Nothing beats a failure but a try." I tried and no matter what happens after this, no one nor anything can take away the fact that I fulfilled a life-long dream and achieved a goal and became what I've aspired to become...a writer with a published book.
You can do it too. One day I want to receive an e-mail from one of you reading this that stepped out on faith and awakened the dream, surpassed the goal and you are aspiring to inspire others with your accomplishments. We all have a story to tell. Be your own biographer. I'm waiting to read it.
I sincerely hope that the words contained in this blog from its conception to now can encourage the discouraged, inspire the uninspired, give hope to the hopeless, and an awakening to a slumbered dreamer. Remember...a dream is still a dream, a goal is still a goal and aspiration is still aspiration even if it hasn't come to fruition as of yet. All it takes is pulling it out of the dark, hidden place where that dream, goal or aspiration is waiting to become more than a seed, it wants to become the fruit that feeds a nation.
So my friends, if you have a dream, a goal, or aspirations; please let my words of encouragement speak to the part of the body that has ears to hear. DON'T ALLOW AGE, GENDER, WELL-MEANING FAMILY OR FRIENDS, LOCATION, EDUCATION OR LACK THEREOF, OR ANYTHING ELSE, stop you from fulfilling your GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE.
Remember the story of the three men that were given talents and how each handled theirs. Who knows, sitting in front of their computer screen right now could very well be the next great undiscovered artist, or maybe the person that really discovers the cure for cancer. But until you start to live that dream, go after that goal or aspire to do what you really want to do in life, your talent will lay dormant and never have the chance to blossom.
As the old saying goes, "Nothing beats a failure but a try." I tried and no matter what happens after this, no one nor anything can take away the fact that I fulfilled a life-long dream and achieved a goal and became what I've aspired to become...a writer with a published book.
You can do it too. One day I want to receive an e-mail from one of you reading this that stepped out on faith and awakened the dream, surpassed the goal and you are aspiring to inspire others with your accomplishments. We all have a story to tell. Be your own biographer. I'm waiting to read it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)