tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20391939333416599832024-03-12T20:46:35.630-07:00Daily application of the Word to LifeW. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-79850426563273777222013-07-30T08:08:00.000-07:002013-07-30T08:08:31.014-07:00Are you tough enough
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the day when I played sports the coach would
give a dramatic pre-game speech that was meant to motivate and inspire the team
to victory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inevitably a coach would
state an age old cliché, “When the going gets tough the tough <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">get</b> going.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That statement has been attributed to </span><a href="http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAkennedyJP.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph P. Kennedy </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">father of
slain President John F. Kennedy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However
eight years before Kennedy used the phrase the late great </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Leahy"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notre Dame Football coach Frank
Leahy </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reportedly said, “When the
going gets tough, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">let </b>the tough get
going.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my humble opinion, the differences between the two
statements are subtle, but read them again. Mr. Kennedy’s words speak to an
action that anyone that ‘is’ tough can do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile Mr. Leahy’s statement speaks to the
action being something that anyone can do who desires to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zac Vawter lost his right leg in a motorcycle
accident. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the wonders of
technology he was able to receive not just a prosthetic limb but a </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2227785/Chicago-man-Zac-Vawter-climbs-skyscraper-bionic-leg.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mind-controlled
bionic limb</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overcoming all odds and
truly defining toughness, he climbed 103 stories to get to the top of Chicago’s
famous Sears Willis Tower becoming the first person with a bionic limb to
accomplish such a feat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine
how rough his road to recovery had to have been both mentally as well as
physically? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet he beat back doubt,
maybe some self-pity and developed a “yes I can” attitude and truly stepped up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What obstacle did Agatha Christie, Magic Johnson,
Cher, Danny Glover, Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, and even General George S.
Patton had to overcome in order to achieve their own success? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all are or had </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dyslexia</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t you think a person must have a certain
level of internally ingrained toughness to surmount a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_disability"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">learning disability</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter where you are in life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how great the obstacle may appear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter your age, gender, sexual
orientation, or any other thing you may see as a hindrance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be encouraged! Victory is at hand, but unless you get into
the game you’ll never know how tough you really are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Human beings have faced wars, famine, acts of God,
economic downturns, political failure and a host of tragedies and did more than
just survive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are conquerors! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a (neither disrespect intended nor a pun)
one legged man can climb thousands of steps to get to the top and people with
an often looked down upon and misdiagnosed affliction can learn to function
successfully—can you sincerely say, “I’m not tough enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-47944144331784137082013-05-06T07:55:00.000-07:002013-05-06T07:55:03.105-07:00Instead of fleeting motivation try inspiration<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The alarm clock cuts through the stillness of early morning
quiet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You jump out of bed ready to
conquer the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your motivation level
is at an all-time high. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely the
honey-do list will get completed right after working an eight or more hour day.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are motivated to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then something does happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You spill coffee on your shirt/blouse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids won’t cooperate and are at risk of
missing the school bus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traffic is
moving so slow, a one leg dude on a tricycle beats you to work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now your motivation is only a memory of what
could have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people ask themselves, “Why do I find it so hard to
stay motivated?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life isn’t lived on
autopilot. No matter the best of intentions, things will and can occur that are
outside of our control. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big burst of
excitement or high levels of energy attached to a particular situation can
dissipate in the blink of an eye.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However there are times when stimulation and inspiration can
far outpace the flightiness of interrupted motivation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be stimulated is to raise the level of
physiological activity in the body or mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be inspired is to embark on mental stimuli
to do or feel something which can lead to creativity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One method of receiving stimulated inspiration is from
quotes that can become a mantra (often repeated word or phrase) to live by.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some that has withstood the test of time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“The trouble with not having a goal is that you
can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Copeland_(poet)"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bill Copeland</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“All of our dreams can come true—if we have the
courage to pursue them.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walt Disney</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways
that won’t work.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.thomasedison.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thomas Edison</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s
whether you get up.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.vincelombardi.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vince Lombardi</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“20 years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So throw off the bowlines. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sail away from the safe harbor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Catch the trade winds in your sails. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Explore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dream. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discover.”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/mark-twain-9512564"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mark Twain</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“Choose a job you love, and you will never have
to work a day in your life.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Confucius</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a
knot and hang on.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/franklin-d-roosevelt-9463381"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Franklin D.
Roosevelt</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“You must be the change you want to see in the
world.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/gandhi.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gandhi</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve lost almost 300 games. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game
winning shot and missed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve failed
over and over and over again in my life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is why I succeed.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/michael-jordan-9358066"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michael Jordan</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we
become.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/oprah-winfrey-9534419"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oprah Winfrey</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pick one, pick two or choose to use them all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By planting positive seeds, one day you will
be able to harvest a field of possibilities that can change your life for the
better…if you are inspired enough to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-40337815020171758162013-03-20T09:18:00.000-07:002013-03-20T09:18:15.642-07:00One man’s hard work drives him to success
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today’s media and news outlets are chock full of nuts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most certainly if someone sat (after having
been strapped to a chair with their eyes glued open) and watched hour upon hour
of so-called news related stories, I would bet the house on the majority of the
stories being negative. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course the news is a vehicle for information, current
events and matters taking place in real time. But when some detached almost-smiling
newscaster is hard pressed to contain their excitement over the possibility
this new tragedy could be their ticket to the big times—there’s a problem. Overall it comes across as if human beings ‘do
nothing’ but harm, steal, maim, rape, kill or exploit each other for sport,
gain or simply personal achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
However there are times
when more than just a quick twenty second feel good story is reported. Hope is restored and the heavens can rejoice
that just maybe all is not lost. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
I’m being overly dramatic, but I do so to make a point. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is both good and bad, pretty and ugly and
everything in between. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personally I’m a big believer in the goodness of life and
definitely not delusional. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When life
gives you lemons…cut that sucker in half sprinkle some salt and savor the taste
of the sour/salty combo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
When I came across a “human interest” story which is
positive and showed humanity in a bright light, it had to be shared.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An employer took the time to show an employee how much the
company valued him and his service. Get this—they bought the guy a brand new
automobile as a gift of appreciation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
This is what happened: Chris Ninos thought he was merely
going to lunch with co-workers and had to stop by a Ford dealership to pick up
the company’s CEO, Brandon Rosen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
he walked into the dealership, he was handed the keys to a new car. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s reported Ninos said, “Some people said
they thought I was going to have a coronary right there.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an actual gift; the title is in his name.
It’s not a company car, according to the
SunSentinel.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The company didn’t merely reward him for showing up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did so because he shows out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rosen reportedly said Ninos is the first to
show up and the last to leave even working on holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
There’s no indication that Chris Ninos went to work every
day expecting his employer to buy him a new car. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man was merely doing his job with a gusto
and passion he obviously felt toward his responsibilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The employer greatly appreciated his effort,
dedication and output and as a sign of their sincere appreciation presented it
in the form of a car.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s way cool, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-47540161209820100442013-01-14T10:51:00.000-08:002013-01-14T10:51:23.689-08:00Discover your reason to appreciate life
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The clear bluest green waters roared as if it had a voice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun was shining as if the voltage was
turned so far up even the shadows weren’t as dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All around me as I lay on a brightly colored
beach towel the sounds of laughter filled the air. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children played in the ocean as adults played
alongside them as if they were recapturing their own childhood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own wife had abandoned me for hours as she
frolicked in the waters of the great Pacific Ocean. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Periodically I would look up to spot her
before the waters sucked her back in. </span><a href="http://www.gohawaii.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hawaii</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was quickly becoming my wife’s new
lover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I relished in her glee and
reflected on my own life as I enjoyed the warm sun as it further baked my
already brown skin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a true believer in reflection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so it does put things into their
proper perspective. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the clock of life
ticked on Nov. 8, I reached another milestone—50 years of age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
yesterday I was partying like its 1999 and doggone it was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time may fly, but life can seem to go as fast
as the speed of sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore as I relaxed in the sun, on the beautiful beach on the
magnificent </span><a href="http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">island of Oahu</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> my mental
DVD player came on and I reflected in increments of 10. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being born in the early part of the ‘60s, I was too young to know all
that was happening in the world-- from </span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/john-f-kennedy-9362930"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JFK</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MLK</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
and </span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/robert-kennedy-9363052"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RFK</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
being assassinated, to the </span><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/cuban-missile-crisis"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuban Missile Crisis</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
to the </span><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Civil
Rights Movement</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However in 1972 my
awareness was peaked with the brutal murder of my 15 year old uncle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the age of 10, I started to have an
appreciation for life through death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
1982 my beloved grandmother was needed in heaven and my appreciation for life
increased even more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tragically in 1992
my younger sister died in her sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again
that brought forth a greater appreciation for life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past 20 years I haven’t experienced any other close relatives
passing (thank God) but my overall appreciation for life has grown as if it was
a planted field and I’m enjoying the harvest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is a blessing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is a
gift. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is to be treasured. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life shouldn’t be wasted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please don’t let a death be the catalyst for
you to appreciate your own life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow
the message contained in the above words touch the spirit of life that breathes
in each of us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for those that missed
it—APPRECIATE LIFE! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-51981941587517378002013-01-06T14:55:00.000-08:002013-01-06T14:55:23.746-08:007 simple ways to never giving up
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John T. spent 48 years of his life in the ‘system.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the age of three his drug addicted mother
could no longer care for a small child so she sent him to live with her aging
and in ill-health mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
arrangement lasted for less than a week before social services had to step in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next 11 years, John was a ward of the
state bounced from one foster home to another. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he turned 14, John was sent to juvenile
detention for joyriding in a ‘borrowed-without-permission’ automobile. Upon his
release at the age of 18 he was able to last two months on the ‘outside’ before
committing the crime of assault and battery and that owned him a five year engagement
at a state institution for the criminally inclined. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John served the entire term.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point one may think that he learned a lesson or maybe had a
coming-to-the-lord moment. Not quite. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact John quickly met up with several past
guests of the state and embarked on a new venture—robbing banks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short story even shorter, he was caught and
sent away, this time his room was reserved at the federal level. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twenty years of living in a cage for less than
$10,000 earned during his so-called bank robbery spree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again he served the entire term. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he was released John was placed on five
years of supervised probation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
though he wasn’t any longer in a prison of bars, he was still in captivity
albeit on the ‘outside.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met John based on an introduction made by one of my life coaching
clients. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had just completed his final
year of probation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a grown adult
male, he didn’t have a clue how to live a productive life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His greatest fear centered on going back to
prison. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I thought that was a great
thing, because if he used that fear as fuel, I believed he was well on his way
to beginning to truly live. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He figured that the process would be arduous, long and involve methods
that would make his prison stay seem like a walk on the beach during sunset.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listed below are the seven simple ways I provided John to assist him in
not giving up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Sunday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Monday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Tuesday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Wednesday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Thursday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Friday</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep…that’s it, nothing mystical or magical about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day is a new day full of potential. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though yesterday may have been rough and
today is tough, one of the greatest blessings in life is tomorrow. Never give
up, never give out and never quit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
never know where life can lead you, just keep living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-75217786358753287122012-12-12T12:46:00.000-08:002012-12-12T12:51:34.083-08:00Our children’s education matters<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A famous song (</span><a href="http://www.elyrics.net/read/w/whitney-houston-lyrics/greatest-love-of-all-lyrics.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GreatestLove of All</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) rings out, “I believe the children are our future. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Treat them well and let them lead the way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show them all the beauty they possess inside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give them a sense of pride to make it easier.”
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wife and I went to see the newly released movie, ‘</span><a href="http://www.wbdtoolkit.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Won’t Back Down</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,’ starring Maggie
Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film
centered on the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parent_trigger" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ParentTrigger Law</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> which was passed in California and other states in 2010. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law allows parents to enforce
administrative overhaul and overrule administrators in under-performing public
schools if petitioned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If successful,
petitions allow parents to direct changes which could lead to dismissal of
staff and the potential conversion of a school to a charter school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keeping in mind that Hollywood does have a tendency to glamorize most
issues, I found the film to be slightly watered down in regards to the
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were used as accessories
to the story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire film centered
on the fight between two strong willed women and a stubborn self-serving union
man along with his trusty sidekick, a burned out woman who was torn between
being right and doing the right thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film showed teachers caring more about their seniority and benefits
than caring about educating the children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It showed the teachers union as a bunch of
jerks with the leader of the union stating kids weren’t important because they
didn’t pay union dues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
slimiest moments of the film was when the character played by Holly Hunter
attempted to bribe one of the mothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall I believe this is a movie worth seeing so that the focus on
quality….no make that….superior education remains as one of the foremost
benefits we can provide our children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I wonder if the struggles of the past have been completely
forgotten. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does anyone remember </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown vs. Boardof Education</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">?</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Meredith" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Meredith</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
North America—the land of the brave and free, there are adults that simply
can’t read. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When an adult can’t read, is
it lost on folks that they couldn’t do so as a child?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Education is not a game played for victory by school unions, teachers
or well meaning parents as the movie depicted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about the children! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they certainly deserve better than they
are getting from a lackluster school system or ridiculous measures that moves a
child along because they were taught to the test <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(</i></span><a href="http://www.greatschools.org/improvement/quality-teaching/61-no-child-left-behind.gs?page=all" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No child left behind Act</span></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Won’t back down should be a mantra cited by every one of us and we
should add to that, ‘won’t turn our backs on our children.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When kids must go through a metal detector to
enter schools and are not able to enter a school library due to cutbacks there
is indeed a serious problem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can
kids have a future if adults are taking away their present? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our kids sake…don’t back down!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-61228118771547258882012-12-06T12:35:00.000-08:002012-12-06T12:35:06.554-08:00Simple suggestions to answering the knock of opportunity
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Opportunities only knock once.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times have you heard that one? But is it really true? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the statement really make sense? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will stand on the side of boldness and say,
“That’s hogwash.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day brings forth a newness, therefore it would stand to reason
that another opportunity will come knocking in some form or fashion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real question is this, “Will you recognize
opportunity when it knocks and will you be prepared to take advantage of it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In North America not a single human being is denied the right to live
free and able. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those that have
chosen to live outside of the laws most of us follow have spoken out on the
greatness of the chances available. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take
the notorious criminal Al Capone <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(<span class="st1"><span style="color: #222222;">Jan.
17, 1899 – Jan. 25, 1947)</span></span> </span>for an example when he was once
quoted as saying, “This American system of ours…call it Americanism, call it
capitalism, call it what you like, gives to each and every one of us a great
opportunity if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it.”
Powerful insight from a crook, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you making the most out of opportunities that may come your way? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you currently preparing yourself for the
possibilities of an opportunity? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply
sitting around waiting for the phone to ring isn’t preparation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t a better time to get started than
today.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DB-yps59_K4/UMEAHF4ykwI/AAAAAAAAABI/rYOdRo5XouY/s1600/4-Iqoncept-Rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DB-yps59_K4/UMEAHF4ykwI/AAAAAAAAABI/rYOdRo5XouY/s320/4-Iqoncept-Rev.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listed below are some simple suggestions to assist in preparation to
answer the knock:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Be open-minded</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opportunities don’t always come wrapped in an
identifiable way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Embrace learning</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are never too old, too young or too smart
to learn something new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Be aware of self-inflected
limitations</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid to
give something a chance just because it may be something you haven’t ever
considered. (I’m only talking about the legal, ethical and moral aspects of
life—to be clear).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Embrace networking</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Step outside of circles or influences that may
limit new opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Seek guidance</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance and pick
the brains of folks making positive forward strides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Volunteer or intern</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By exposing others to your talents and
abilities you can open more doors in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Continue or start to work on
making yourself a better more rounded individual</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read, read and then read some more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invest in books, CD’s or seminars as learning
tools.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Let it be known</u></b>: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Dr. Whatshisname isn’t aware that you have
an interest in pharmacy how can he assist you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is full of opportunities and those that are able to take advantage
of them have one thing in common – they were prepared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-69072254592271549442012-11-20T13:19:00.000-08:002012-11-20T13:19:24.376-08:00Five suggestions for resurrecting love
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The loss of a loved one can have a devastating effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be especially difficult to overcome
when the loved one left voluntarily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
it wasn’t a death or an illness that took them away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the break-up, the end of a relationship
whether it entailed marriage or a mutual agreement of being together as
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over time life became or appeared
to become so complicated that you just couldn’t take anymore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The many things that could bring forth a smile
now annoys to the point of etching a permanent frown on the face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time where the thought of being without
that person could bring you to tears has passed only to be replaced by the
tears that come from being with that person.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The heart wants what it wants when and whom it may
want—even if the one it wants no longer shares the emotion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if the organ can physically break
in half, but it darn sure can feel like it has when pain enters its domain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun doesn’t appear to shine as bright and
the darkness of night isn’t welcome.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Every love song being played on the radio or on the
ever-present new wave listening device reminds you of lost times and the one
that got away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your entire being
screams, “What’s wrong with me? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
couldn’t he/she love me for me?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Answers
don’t come with the questions and self-doubt creeps in like an uninvited guest
that refuses to leave. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the pain…oh
my gosh…the pain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No other word can
aptly do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be explained
in graphic detail, but in the end it all comes back to, pain.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ability to love can lead to the possibility of
being hurt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even though there’s a
probability of that fact, it shouldn’t make us run from love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is full of the flip side of the coin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we avoid or escape the negatives of life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NO! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can
we take every encounter of life and learn and grow from them? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YES! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsSVJdK9kDg/UKvymBbxCuI/AAAAAAAAAA4/ouvczSH0qsY/s1600/2-13019803-Andriy+Popov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsSVJdK9kDg/UKvymBbxCuI/AAAAAAAAAA4/ouvczSH0qsY/s320/2-13019803-Andriy+Popov.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is love and love is life and all that comes with
it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listed below are five suggestions
for living a life of resurrected love:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u><span lang="EN-US">Seek to love yourself
unconditionally</span></u><span lang="EN-US">: learn to accept that you are human
and capable of making mistakes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check
yourself before trying to correct others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u><span lang="EN-US">Seek to forgive yourself</span></u><span lang="EN-US">: once you make
the inevitable mistakes, learn from them and move past them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be open to forgiving others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u><span lang="EN-US">Seek to live with an open heart and mind</span></u><span lang="EN-US">:
don’t block your blessings with self-imposed limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u><span lang="EN-US">Seek to not settle for less than</span></u><span lang="EN-US">: don’t
pick a mate based on your own shallowness, i.e. the car he/she drives or how
good he/she may look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><u><span lang="EN-US">Seek to be honest with
yourself at all times</span></u><span lang="EN-US">: the first partaker of a lie
is the one speaking it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">Remember we cannot make anyone love us, but we can certainly
love ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-78322287436319007472012-10-01T16:03:00.000-07:002012-10-01T16:08:42.688-07:00Forgiveness is within<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter our ethnicity, age, social bracket or even
economic status, at some point in life all of us will seek to receive, give
freely or even begrudgingly—forgiveness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To err against another is as akin to mankind
as stripes are to a zebra. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may come
in different patterns, but it’s still identifiable. When that happens we are faced with the
challenge (and I do mean challenge) of choosing to forgive the transgressor or
carry that transgression around as if it was a possession.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To forgive is to stop feeling angry or resentful
toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake. How do men and women view forgiveness? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are their thoughts on the matter universal? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an attempt to answer those questions, I
conducted an unscientific and random survey of 50 women and 50 men between the
ages of 26 and 70. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each individual was asked the following five
questions. The questions were asked not for elaboration, but merely a yes or no
answer and all parties involved consented to do so. The results were quite
interesting and revealing despite its lack of science.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Do you believe in forgiveness?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Have you ever sincerely asked someone to forgive you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Do you consider yourself to be a forgiving person?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Do you truly move past the incident once you have forgiven someone?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Do you forgive yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The findings
were as follows</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">60% of the woman believed in
forgiveness compared to 100% of the men. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Whereas 100% of women had sincerely asked for forgiveness, 20% of
the men hadn’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">While 100% of women considered themselves to be a forgiving person,
only 60% of the men claimed likewise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">80% of the women surveyed said they do not move past the incident
even though they claim to forgive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly
80% of the men stated they do move past the incident once forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">The last question was indeed an
eye opener. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked about forgiving
oneself, each female surveyed responded quickly and without hesitation and 60%
admitted to being capable of forgiving themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When posed with the same question to a man
each one paused and some even did so for over a minute or more before answering
and 80% responded with a resounding no, they do not forgive themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How would you answer the above listed five questions? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all of us there is room for growth,
improvement and change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s start with
developing the ability to forgive and the first one that benefits from that should
be—YOU.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) once wrote
and it is so apt, “To err is human, to forgive divine.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-63486895615336096212012-08-27T12:37:00.000-07:002012-08-27T12:37:56.812-07:00Every failure brings forth a result<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since man first attempted to build fire he has
encountered many obstacles, hindrance and delays in his effort to accomplish
something new. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine that
conversation if you were able to decipher grunts.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What you doin’?” asked the big ugly dude wearing a
bear-skin loin cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US">“Tryin’ to make fire.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little dude answered kneeling beside some
dry twigs holding a rock in each hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US">“What is fire?”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US">“I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US">“How you learn of fire?”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US">“I heard the women folk speaking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say if they had fire they can make skunk
taste like chicken.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hurry up and make fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One can only surmise that it took many attempts and
many failures before an ember sparked into a flame. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was through man’s steadfast continuance in
doing something despite difficulty he achieved success. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fire was born of man’s perseverance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention some finger licking good skunk
meat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will all encounter situations and times in our
lives where we may feel as if we’re holding on by our fingertips. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In those times you just have to hold on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let go and don’t give up. Keep applying the firmest grip possible to the
edge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory is at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three steps to perseverance:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Be committed:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have an “all
in” mentality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go for it so you can make
it happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a shot on yourself. The late Senator Robert Kennedy once said,
“Only those that dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Be steadfast:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be firm in your
belief and determination. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know
that Van Gogh only sold one painting during his life, but that didn’t stop him
from completing over 800 paintings? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1990 one of his paintings sold for $82.5
million.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Stay focused:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep your eye
on the prize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter the number of
setbacks, chalk it up as a result. Remember
Thomas Edison claimed failure 1000 times before successfully inventing the
light bulb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oftentimes
we may turn back in the darkness when light is merely steps ahead. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After not winning a golf tournament in two
years</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ernie Els could have simply rested on past glory, but the Big E proved that he
was a true champion of perseverance when he won the British Open on July 22,
2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t merely an underdog; he
wasn’t even considered a contender. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only did he show up, he showed out and beat some of the best golfers in the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be
like Ernie. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t allow the losses of
the past to prevent you from winning in the future. Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victory is at hand; all you must do
is—persevere.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-44057387974761079582012-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:002012-08-09T11:52:02.997-07:00Three simple steps to resolution<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a collective “Amen” how many of us made a resolution at the beginning of the year that we have yet to accomplish? Well don’t get discouraged; ever since the <a href="http://www.whoinventedit.net/who-invented-the-calendar-we-have-today.html" target="_blank">Gregorian calendar</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was created folks get so excited about the possibilities associated with a fresh start. Then something happens. Life tends to get in the way of living. All of a sudden those resolutions don’t seem as important and the possibilities have morphed into improbabilities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now another year fast approaches as the new one has become old. Still waters may run deep but uncertainty merely floats on the surface. Days continue to shoot by as if shot from a cannon and all in all they blend together and share one commonality - they all end in ‘y’. This raises a question some may have, “Why am I in the same place, doing the same thing and wishing for change and it all stays the same?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s a tool to apply that might just fix that stagnation problem. It may not be anything new and it’s certainly not mystical or magical. It’s called, “Examination of Determination.” This is a way of examining ones’ life and determining where you are and where you desire to be. To benefit from the utilization of this tool, complete and utmost honesty is required.<br /><br />How to proceed:<br /><br /><strong>First Step:</strong> <br />Write down whatever date you decide to do this exercise. Example: August 9, 2012.<br />Under the date write down where you are at this time in your life. Write whatever comes to mind, such as lifestyle, habits (good and bad), living conditions, job, income, etc. The purpose is to fully examine your life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Second Step:</strong><br />Write down the same month and date but change the year to the previous one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Example: August 9, 2011. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Under the date write down where you saw yourself at that time. The purpose is to illustrate how far you may have come or if you are indeed in a stagnant state. You want to see what <br />
changes or growth have occurred over the year.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Third Step:</strong><br />Under the date write the same month and date, with the year being five years ahead of the first date. Example: August 9, 2017.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the date write down how you envision your life to be at that time. The purpose is to visualize yourself living the life you truly desire.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This simple exercise enables one to focus on what’s important as well as illuminating the fact there’s always work to do in order to get better, be better and live better.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simplistic as this may be, keep in mind; the first step on the ladder of success starts with a step up.</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-85028275248894867812012-07-09T10:39:00.000-07:002012-07-09T10:39:32.819-07:00From the State to the Pen<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On June 22, 2012, 68 year old Jerry Sandusky was found guilty on 45
counts of child sexual abuse. Despite
being investigated, charged, arrested and judged for his actions by a jury of
his peers, Sandusky claims he is innocent and remains determined to clear his
name. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s widely believed that Sandusky used his former position as a
longtime defensive coordinator for the powerhouse Penn State University’s
football team and his own charity Second Mile which he founded in 1977 as a
hunting ground to prey on unsuspecting boys. He had faced 48 counts of abuse against 10
boys over a fifteen year period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">33 year old adopted son, </span><a href="http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/sandusky-conviction-an-insult-to-my-wife-1.1327634" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matt Sandusky</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has also accused Sandusky of molestation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This horrific news story must serve greater notice that child sexual
abuse isn’t a dirty little secret that only happens to someone else’s kid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the </span><a href="http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American HumaneAssociation</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 9.3% of helpless
children are sexually abused. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more
staggering is the fact the percentage of maltreatment suffered by children
exceeds 100 percent based on some children being subjected to more than one
type. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is both an eye opening and
heart breaking statistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reportedly
both sexes of child are just as likely to experience maltreatment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may take a village to raise a child, but just one to protect one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children need to be loved and nurtured and not
become victims of sadistic predators seeking fulfillment of their perverted
desires on the least helpless of society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sexual abuse is wrong on any level and
definitely an abomination when it happens to an innocent child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Child abuse must be eradicated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Become
an advocate for the overall well being of children everywhere. To learn more
about this dreadful plight, please visit: </span><a href="http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/child-abuse-neglect-prevention/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/child-abuse-neglect-prevention/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-50395522939768537152012-06-27T12:18:00.001-07:002012-06-27T12:18:42.613-07:00Choices: The birthright of life<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter
how much you succeed in life or who you are, you can still fall prey to
temptation, lust, greed, and have your faith and beliefs shaken — if not
completely stirred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before the final
chapter is written, keep in mind that you possess free will to make your own
choices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In facing the reflected truth
as you gaze in the mirror of self-revelations, you must admit that no one can
make you do anything you don’t really wish to do, especially if you have the
faith in yourself to persevere in even the most arduous endeavors you face.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In today’s
society just about anyone can become famous or infamous within the flash of a
camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then quickly they become our
idols and celebrities that embody the perfect lives that one can only dream
about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strangely, when one of the elite
makes a mistake, a sadistic glee rears up once the disappointment of feeling
betrayed passes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often the supposition
may be that somehow the fall of the mighty in some ways lifts us up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be told, it absolutely doesn’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It simply illustrates that elevation of our
souls is within each of us and it begins with our process of making choices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choices are
inextricably packaged with a person’s beliefs, paradigms, behaviors, and the
ability to deal with the consequences of one’s action. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There exists within everyone an innate ability
to make their own choices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with
choice, there is also a measure of both accountability and responsibility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often when one is faced with an
unfavorable result (failure), there becomes a tendency to mask the result in
excuses, rationalizations, or explanations rather than admit that it was an
unwise choice that may have caused the end result.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ironically
the same mediums that elevate folk to celebrity status normally depict a
storyline where adversity reveals the building of character. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In actuality, adversity doesn’t build
character it reveals it. Character isn’t determined by how one conducts themselves
when the choices are easy and comfortable, but rather how one conducts
themselves when life is tough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mental
process of thinking to determine a selection of multiple alternatives is one
definition of choice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the media
may showcase the flawed choices of the famous and others, instead of passing
judgment and ganging up on those that fall due to unwise choices, it would be
better served to learn a lesson that can be applied to one’s life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In making those applications, ask yourself “How
do I make choices in my life?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five
simple steps may assist you: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Think it out. Ask the right questions. Is this the right thing to do? How will this affect me and others? Why am I doing this?</span></span></span>
</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take ownership and be willing to deal with the consequences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Accept responsibility for your actions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be accountable for your actions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be honest with yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more
you practice these five simple steps, the better you can become in making
rational, intelligent choices that lead you forward—not standing in place,
going backwards, or living a life full of regrets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give it a shot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s your choice and it is a birthright.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-7039279211809332912012-01-09T12:15:00.000-08:002012-01-09T12:20:59.460-08:00From my heart to yours.Let your light shine this year! Let your spirit run free!<br />Take the time to stand at the water’s edge and look out over the vastness and<br />the seemingly endless view and shout to the heavens, “As far as the eye can see<br />and beyond there exist endless possibilities and they start with my choices.”<br /><br />Feel it, believe it, have faith and most importantly...live<br />it! Yes, we are living in uncertain times, but if you review history, times<br />always appear to be uncertain in some form or fashion. That’s why I’m a big<br />proponent of living life until the end. I’ve become known for saying, “You<br />never know where life will take you, so just keep living.”<br /><br />Where are you headed in your life this newly christened<br />year? Are you going go back to school? How about changing careers? Really<br />increase your exercise to help decrease your mid-section? Have better control<br />of your finances? Remove yourself from that unhealthy relationship? Or stop<br />overindulging in the liquid spirits or stop using street and prescribed drugs<br />as a way of coping with life’s challenges? I could go on and on.<br /><br />It all starts with your choices. If you can (and I encourage<br />you to try) don’t complicate issues. Keep it simple. Simply give yourself permission<br />to live. Then do it! Take action where needed and attempt to remove, replace<br />and do away with as much self-inflicted negativity as possible.<br /><br />I was privileged to meet an older wiser man named Henry<br />Walker during a down period of my life. The gentleman was a resident of a<br />nursing home. In my role as a volunteer, it was our responsibility to visit<br />certain institutions and report on findings of poor care, neglect, etc. One day<br />Mr. Walker asked me to read a letter to him he’d received from his daughter.<br />While we were interacting, he commented that I wasn’t my normal outgoing and<br />chipper self. That led to us having a conversation. During the talk I noticed<br />that Mr. Walker never stopped smiling. Then again over a two year period I had<br />the blessing of knowing him, I can’t remember him not having a smile on his<br />lips and a shine in his watery eyes. I can’t tell you how much his words meant<br />to me and how often I’ve put into action the advice he shared with me that day.<br />Little did I know that as he spoke to me and made it a point to lift me up, he<br />was actually dying. Even in what I considered—a dark hour—this man still took<br />the time to speak life into me. Mr. Walker died thirty minutes after I left his<br />room. I’m told that he died with a smile on his face.<br /><br />When I met his daughter she told me that her father had a<br />tremendous passion for life and a great compassion for people. She said, “No<br />matter what, my Dad could always find the silver lining in the darkest of<br />clouds. He truly believed that each day was a new beginning.”<br /><br />As I was leaving his room that day he spoke words that I<br />repeat and live by till this day, “You never know where life will take you, so<br />just keep living.”<br /><br />I pray that contained in the above words there is food for<br />thought and nourishment for the soul.<br /><br />Happy living in this New Year!W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-57053358406333852202011-06-20T12:21:00.000-07:002011-06-20T12:53:17.592-07:00It all starts with belief!The response to my latest literary endeavor has been--in a word--awesome! 5 Simple Steps To Choosing Your Path has been well received by so many people that have followed my writing career from day one with the release of my debut best selling novel, Choices. I was honored by the attendance and love shown to me by all that attended the book signing in Philadelphia. People coming together to support a new writer such as me is truly the key to any success I'm currently experiencing.<br /><br />When I first considered self-publishing, I feared that I wouldn't be taken seriously as an author. A big part of me thought that people would view me as less talented as a writer and incapable of attracting interest from a big name publishing house. Then common sense kicked in and I conducted some research that revealed some surprising revelations. Self-publishing wasn't new and for many years and for many reasons writers have chosen to self-publish their works. So I was not alone. Way before little ole me, great storytellers such as James Joyce, John Grisham, Zane Grey, Mark Twain and the list goes on and on, have all used self-publishing as a way of getting their work into print. And believe you me--it certainly wasn't because they lacked talent. Now mind you, I'm not saying I'm in their class as a writer, however it doesn't take Sara Lee to bake a pie. I was...correction...I am a writer. One that like the esteemed above mentioned chose to self-publish.<br /><br />Initially when someone asked my why I took the path taken, I would attempt to come up with an answer that sounded good. Then I decided--after stumbling over my words repeatedly--to simply tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I chose to do so because I believed in myself and no amount of rejection letters or unopened and returned manuscripts would change that powerful fact.<br /><br />Believing in oneself has taken many an unknown to the tops of the world. Ever heard of Bernard Schwartz or Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta? Both of them turned belief in themselves along with talent, sheer determination and a strong desire to succeed into incredible careers. By the way, I'm referring to Tony Curtis the actor and the mega-star Lady Gaga.<br /><br />I might not ever write or publish a book that makes the New York Times bestsellers list. So what? Would not doing so make me less of a writer? Absolutely not--hundreds of writers--great ones, have never made the list. Tony Curtis never won an Oscar, but his film work is greatly revered by those in the movie industry and his fans around the globe. Would it shock you to know that Diana Ross never won a Grammy despite being the lead singer for the ultra-successful singing group, the Supremes as well as selling well over 100 million records?<br /><br />Success isn't measured by a cup, but by those that keep getting up. I pray that with you reading these words, you will determine in your heart and mind to unleash the greatness that lies within. Don't allow fear, worry, or doubt to prevent you from joining the ranks that have blazed the trail before you. The world can never have enough Mark Twain's, Tony Curtis', or even Lady Gaga's.<br /><br />Believe in your dream, believe in yourself. Remember where God has placed a vision there will be provision. You too are not alone.W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-7803622179682457762011-03-15T12:39:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:58:28.979-07:00The Wait is...almost over!I'm so proud and humbled to report that my second book is forthcoming. To be more accurate, it's just about ready to go to press. As promised this book--well more like a guide--is a self-help book that deals with my favorite topic, choices.<br /><br />The book is entitled: 5 Simple Steps To Choosing Your Path. It will be available on my website: <a href="http://www.wgranvillebrown.com/">www.wgranvillebrown.com</a> as well as on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />Making a choice is a mental process. During the course of someone's life, that person will encounter innumerable situations requiring multliple selections. Some will be simple and may not require much thought or effort, while others will require a more detailed approach. The guide clearly illustrates five simple steps to making wiser choices in life and business.<br /><br />Pick up a copy, or two and sit back, relax and enjoy. But most importantly....please apply the steps and let me know the results. God bless and thank all of you for your continued support!W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-10732781282238438332011-01-03T15:16:00.000-08:002011-01-03T15:52:27.743-08:00The year changed--how about you?On January 1st of every year the clock strikes midnight and all across the land people shout "Happy New Year." They get so excited and many of us will make resolutions. You know--these promises we make to change something or another about ourselves. Like...lose weight...work out more...spend more time with loved ones...find someone to love...etc...etc. But by the fifteenth of the month the weight loss has turned into a gain. Working out is put off for another day and as for those loved ones--oh well they understand how busy one can get. Sound familiar?<br /><br />Here's an interesting way to get started with this new year. I call it the "Examination of Determination." It's a way of examining your life and determining where you are and where you want to be. To benefit from this you must be honest with your toughest critic--you.<br /><br />Tools needed: 1. A quiet spot to think. 2. Ink pen 3. Paper 4. A sincere desire to improve your life.<br /><br />On the paper write down whatever date you decide to do this. Example: 4 Jan 2011. Under the date write down where you are in your life at that time. Put whatever comes to mind, such as lifestyle, habits, living conditions, job, income, etc. The purpose is to fully examine your life.<br />Then write down the same date using last year. Example: 4 Jan 2010. Under the date write down where you were in your life at that time. The purpose is to see how far you have come or if you are stagnant. You want to see if you have made any changes in your existence.<br />Then write down the same date five years from the first date. Example: 4 Jan 2016. Under the date write down where you would like to see yourself five years from now. The purpose is to see yourself living the life you truly want to be living at that time. It enables you to focus on what's really important.<br /><br />Give this a shot. It's helped me make positive strides in my life as well as some clients I've worked with over the years. I do it every year as a way of staying focused.<br /><br />I pray that 2011 will be much better for all of us than the last one. May our world experince true peace, feel more love and we reach out to each other in spirit and in truth. God Bless!W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-74035023950668093392010-11-24T07:19:00.000-08:002010-11-24T11:40:30.405-08:00It only takes a word.The other day I had an interesting encounter. Standing in line at the ever-so-busy Apple store a nice mature lady struck up a conversation. The conversation started off rather forced since both of us were attempting to mask our frustration with the long slow moving line. In the middle of a sentence I said, "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself...my name is W.Granville Brown." Immediately her face lit up and she fired back, "The author? OhmyGod...I loved your book and I read your blog."<br /><br />Needless to say my ego inflated just a bit. Then she punched me lightly, but a hit none the least and said, "I'm so disappointed with you."<br /><br />Flabbergasted I asked, "Why?"<br /><br />"Because you have abandoned people that read your blog and have gotten something from your inspiring words."<br /><br />Wow! Her words hit me like a Tyson hook-completely floored me. The primary reason for me writing in the first place was because I truly desire to be an inspiration to others. So to be told that someone felt abandoned by me since my last blog entry a few months ago, hit me in the blood pump.<br /><br />My grandmother used to say, "You never know who's life you will impact, so don't take anyone for granted." Believe me, I don't take my readers for granted and I sincerely apologize to all that have supported my writing career through purchasing my debut novel, "Choices" and the readers of this blog. My prayers have been answered and that nice lady (with the heavy hand) put everything into perspective for me.<br /><br />People are constantly in search of inspiration. In a perfect world-one medium would work for all-but in reality that's not the case. To even be consider an inspiration to someone is...well for me...I'll call it...an honor.<br /><br />Words truly are powerful. They have the power to impact and transform. The right word at the right time could even save a life. I am extremely honored that people find my words inspirational and I pray that each of us will take the time to remember how powerful our words can be. Just as they can light a flame, they can also extinguish one too.<br /><br />Share a kind word with someone today, be it a loved one or a stranger. You never know-you just might bring a little sunshine into someone's rainy day.W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-85929084729646435822010-06-07T09:14:00.000-07:002010-06-07T12:42:41.607-07:00Ramblings of a middle aged mind.The great Stevie Wonder recorded a song entitled: "For Once In My Life." Over the years many performers have done their version of the song, but no one sings it with such passion and depth as Stevie. It's truly as if he was living the lyrics as he recorded the song.<br /><br />For once in my life I have someone who needs me. Can I get a witness? Everybody (even those that claim otherwise) seek, long and desire to have that special someone in our lives that needs us and appreciates us for being in their lives. When you are blessed with that special someone, don't forget to let them know how much you appreciate them. Do something different for them. If you normally don't send your lady love flowers, do it. And for you ladies, men like gifts too.<br /><br />For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of. What does your heart dream of? Are you touching it? Don't allow past disappointments or results stop you from going after that forgotten or laid aside dream. Go for it! You never know where life will led you as long as you keep living.<br /><br />For once, I can say, this is mine, you can't take it. No one has control over you. You are not a puppet on a string. What God has for you is for you and nobody can stop you or take possession of what He has deemed to be yours. Don't allow an unseen enemy steal your joy. It's your life...claim it...own it!<br /><br />For once in my life. It doesn't have to be only one time. However it does start with the first time. Make it happen! Whatever it is for you... make it happen!<br /><br />For once in your life.W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-8626481772916237252010-04-12T12:26:00.000-07:002010-04-12T12:55:43.166-07:00Love is best when shared.Recently I wrote a message on Facebook--Reader's Digest version--I wrote about showing love to those you may love and not waiting until it was too late for the person/or persons to feel it and be able to respond to it. Ironically no one responded to me on Facebook, but I received many e-mails instead. One follower of my blog (thank you Mr. Eric Dennis for your support and for giving me your permission to share your story) said that when he read my words he was in the midst of a twenty year argument with his oldest brother that he longed to settle. And reading my words and the subsequent events in his life really drove the point home.<br /><br />Shortly after reading the posting and deciding to call his brother, he received a call from his sister-in-law requesting that he come visit his big brother before it was too late. His brother was dying from cancer that had spread from his liver to his brain in a matter of months. Now the sad part to all of that was that he didn't have a clue that his brother was even ill, let alone about to die. No one in his family--and they knew--bothered to inform him since everyone was aware of the bitterness shared between the two brothers. Eric rushed to be by his brother's side, but by time he arrived his big brother had expired.<br /><br />So standing over the graveside after they lowered the casket into the ground he finally was able to talk to his brother and say the things that laid on his heart for all those years. The only problem with that as he said in his e-mail....it was a one-sided conversation.<br /><br />I could go on and on about giving flowers to the living. But would it make a difference? Absolutely! Sometimes people need to hear, read or see certain things in an analogical kind of way for it to have any effort on them. It can make the pill of one's own actions a little easier to swallow.<br /><br />Here's a fact--life can go by way too fast. Almost as if it's a large fully loaded semi plowing down a winding hill without brakes. During our lives we will (hopefully) encounter people that deserve and seek our love and some that will take advantage of it. For now we'll concentrate on those that we truly love. Be it family, friends, lovers or others. The greatest blessing-- I'm certain that we all can agree--that came from the heavens and is written about more than any other subject on the planet is love. Love is the beat of the heart. Without love the heart is nothing more than an organ.<br /><br />To repeat myself, but it bears repeating. If you love someone let them know it through your actions and your words. As Gladys Knight said so eloquently at the end of her show my wife and I attended when a fan gave her flowers, "Thank you for the flowers and yes give them to me while I'm yet able to enjoy them."<br /><br />Give your flowers of love to the living so they can enjoy it because standing over a graveside saying kind words might soothe the living--it does nothing for the deceased.W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-72671915418741421772010-02-02T07:30:00.000-08:002010-02-02T07:36:33.558-08:00Promotional video for novel "Choices."<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd5BltzRnzQ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd5BltzRnzQ</a><br /><br />Please check out this youtube link as I promote my debut best selling novel, "Choices." I'm so humbled by the response that I've received from those that have read the book. Yes, I'm currently working on the sequel.<br /><br />If you're looking for a good book as you relax in your favorite recliner or snuggle up under a warm blanket on a cold night, I proudly recommend you check out, "Choices."<br /><br />My book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and even my website: <a href="http://www.wgranvillebrown.com/">www.wgranvillebrown.com</a><br /><br />Thank you for making my debut novel such a success. May God bless your choices!W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-86575084801730907842010-01-07T11:47:00.000-08:002010-01-07T11:53:43.098-08:00Time to embrace the new!2010. Two thousand ten. It just rolls off the tongue. Wow! A new year and the start of a new decade. As I was contemplating my first blog of this New Year and decade one word kept popping into my head.<br /><br />That word was: new. New is defined as fresh, original and of a kind not seen before. Here’s another word that’s part of the definition; unfamiliar. I love it!<br />I’ll make this one short and sweet as I beseech all my loyal readers. Please treat 2010 as a fresh original one and a year that hasn’t been seen before. Embrace the fact that you may encounter some things that might seem unfamiliar to you. Truly and I mean truly live this year to its fullest.<br /><br />I’m not being pie-in-the-sky silly, I’m simply saying that there is a flip side to everything. So for me, instead of dwelling on the negative side of life, I choose to embrace the positive.<br />Give positivity a shot and when you find yourself playing the ‘what if’ game, try ending that question with a positive instead of a negative. For example: “What if I lose my job this year?” Most would answer with every negative thought and fear that entered the mind. I think a better answer could be. “What if I lose my job this year?” The answer: “Since that could become a possibility I think that I’ll save a little extra each paycheck and maybe cut back on my careless spending. Not to mention I could start to research how I can start my own business. I’ve only been talking about that since high school.”<br /><br />Get my point. I know you do. This is a new year not a continuation of last year. Don’t simply let your time of life be like a VCR with 12:00 blinking repeatedly. Change your time. It’s in your control to do so. Besides if you are in the same place, the same frame of mind, the same doldrums as you were in 2009; may I be so bold as to suggest…do something about it.<br /><br />Happy Fresh and Original to you!W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-90783850973879709642009-12-15T12:53:00.000-08:002009-12-15T13:32:48.361-08:00An ending creates a new beginning.2009 is almost in the history books. This year has seen many first, some last and hopefully some things we may never see again. But all in all, I must admit for me, it has been a very good year.<br /><br />I was blessed with the release of my debut novel, "Choices." I celebrated my second wedding anniversary to the most wonderful, thoughtful, loving, caring and beautiful wife a man could ever hope to have. Life is good and God is better!<br /><br />For my last post of 2009, I say thank you so much for supporting me. I pray that I've been a positive light in your life. And that my written words blessed you in a positive way. I leave you with this last thought from me for this year.<br /><br />God has invited you to dinner. Nothing special, no need to get all dressed up. Not a big meal, just some fish, bread and wine. During the course of the meal, HE picks up a remote control and turns on a large screen television. HE says, "I'm going to play back your life up to this point."<br /><br />Question....Up to this point in your life, have you lived a life that you could sit beside the Creator and at the end have HIM say to you, "Job well done, my child?"<br /><br />We all fall short, but that doesn't mean that God isn't proud of us and HE certainly doesn't withhold HIS love. It's not about being perfect, it is about being perfected in the image of Christ as best we can living in a shell of flesh. Live...live and by all means...keep living. You never know where God will take you. Look at me...from just a dream of longing to be a writer to today, a published author with sales and working on another book as I'm writing this blog. 45 years in the making, but by the grace and mercy of the Everloving One...I did it and if you have a dream and you are willing to take a leap of faith...you can do it too.<br /><br />Just because you didn't get to the top of the mountain by the end of this year, remember, a new year is just around the corner. So keep climbing, just over that next ledge is your purpose, your gift, your blessing, your abundance, your new life.... You get the point. Now get to climbing, greatness awaits.W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-16520800993447804372009-11-30T09:08:00.000-08:002009-11-30T12:06:53.733-08:00Be bold in your encouragement!Be encouraged! No matter where you are and what you are doing right now, be encouraged. Victory is on its way! Don’t allow the breath of your imagination blow out the flame of your reality. Human beings are not puppets or computers. We were not programmed at the factory and stored only with data inputted by some unknown master programmer. We are children of the Living God! Be encouraged!<br /><br />Are you down and out? Depressed? Caught up in addiction? Feeling as though no one cares? Be encouraged! God did not create you to be down trodden. Get up! Don’t you dare throw in the towel in the third round of a fifteen round fight. Keep ducking and dodging and keep swinging. Take the standing eight count, get up off the canvas. No weapon formed against you can prosper. Get a fight in your spirit. Be encouraged!<br /><br />Don’t get mad with the results, be truthful with your decision making process. Lean not onto your own understanding. And for the love of God, who loved you from the start of time, stop wavering in even the weakest wind. Stand on His word and promises contained within. Be encouraged!<br /><br />David looked up at that giant and you best believe he had some doubt. Daniel was surrounded by lions and you best believe he had some fear. Moses wandered the land for forty years and you best believe he got wary. But all three had a spirit that did not quit. They prayed and believed. Their faith was strong, even in the weakness of their physical being. And in the end, all three experienced victory. Be encouraged!<br /><br />Surrounded by negative nouns—people, places or things. Remove yourself. In a dead-end job that barely pays the bills. Stop settling. You are greater right now than you have ever been. While you’re dwelling on the outside, God is living on the inside. And inside of you is abundant life. A seed of greatness was planted in you at birth. Over the course of your life it has started to blossom and right now—<strong><em>today</em></strong>—it is ready to bloom. That seed of greatness that God planted in you is now a full-fledged fruit. Of what kind, is between you and Him. But it’s there. It could be an apple of doctoring, an orange of engineering, or a banana of bank management. I don’t know. Only you and God know the identity of your fruit. Don’t leave this earth with that fruit still inside of you to rot in the ground. It has been said that the graveyard holds the most talent because of all the people that died without releasing theirs. As of <strong><em>today</em></strong>, you won’t be one of them. Your victory is at hand and your faith, belief and trust in God was not in vain.<br /><br />No matter what you’re going through, what you have been through, the time is <strong><em>NOW</em></strong>. You have passed through. Claim it, shout it from the rooftop. Even in the eye of the storm and you can’t see your way out, proclaim that you have passed through. We serve a supernatural God. Don't give up, don't give in and don't quit. <strong><em>BE ENCOURAGED!</em></strong>W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2039193933341659983.post-41940040809943078422009-11-13T06:29:00.000-08:002009-11-13T08:30:32.786-08:00Defeat the bully...even if it's within.Recently in my Life Coaching Practice I worked with an individual that was dealing with some lingering effects of a childhood issue. This particular issue had led to a set of behaviors in adulthood that was hindering this person's ability to stand up for themselves in even the simplest matters of their life. Because of that there were missed opportunities professionally, socially and even in relationships. The issue...being the victim of a bully.<br /><br />Since the beginning of mankind and maybe even further back than that, since it's reported that Lucifer was kicked out of heaven, there have been bullies. People that feel the need to physically, emotionally or verbally put others down in an attempt to lift themselves up. Prior to Cane actually killing Abel he demonstrated a tendency to be a bully. It's very possible that at some point in your life you may have encountered a bully. (I know I have) It could have come wrapped up in the form of a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a boss or a co-worker. Great for you if you haven't and shame on you if you have been or are currently that bully.<br /><br />Bullying isn't a good thing. It doesn't show strength or even demonstrate toughness. It's a weakness that reveals the coward in that person's character. What exactly is a bully? It's someone that's habitually cruel or overbearing (to the negative), especially to those they may perceive to be smaller or weaker. I would even go further to say, even those the bully may feel is beneath them because of race, social or economic positioning or education. What does a bully do to others? They hurt, persecute or intimidate. How do they bully? By being discouraging and frightening with threats or a domineering manner.<br /><br />There are things that can happen to a person that sticks with them way past the time that it occurred. A chance encounter on a crowded bus could lead to a change in someones life. There's really no telling or knowing. So when someone is bullied by another, even at a young age, it can leave a lasting affect on that person. As it had for my client.<br /><br />Life Coaching isn't therapy. It doesn't deal with emotional or psychological issues, it confronts mindsets, paradigms and behavioral patterns that can hinder a person from living the life they truly want to lead. So in assisting my client, we didn't concentrate on the past, we dealt with the present and concentrated on the future.<br /><br />Bullies come in different shapes and sizes, but when confronted and their power base (fear) is removed, they're nothing more than cowards, pure and simple. Become a victor, not a victim. God did not give us the spirit of fear and no weapon formed against us can prosper. Not even a bully.W. Granvillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659423455450225431noreply@blogger.com0