The 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?

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.

Tools needed: 1. A quiet spot to think. 2. Ink pen 3. Paper 4. A sincere desire to improve your life.

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.
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.
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.

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.

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!

It 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."

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."

Flabbergasted I asked, "Why?"

"Because you have abandoned people that read your blog and have gotten something from your inspiring words."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ramblings 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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

For once in your life.

Love 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Promotional video for novel "Choices."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd5BltzRnzQ

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.

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."

My book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and even my website: www.wgranvillebrown.com

Thank you for making my debut novel such a success. May God bless your choices!

Time 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.

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!
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.

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.
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.”

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.

Happy Fresh and Original to you!

An 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.

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!

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.

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."

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?"

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.

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.