The only thing you have to fear...

Growing up the one thing I feared the most was school. I was uncomfortable with my voice, I was nervous talking to other people, and I was self-conscience about my physique. I worried, daily, about the few friends I had... hoping that they would be at school. My fear was if they missed school, I would eat lunch alone.

I was what you would consider shy.

Everyday, that was my fear. School work to me came very easily, but I was intimidated by school. I honestly dreaded it. I found myself lost in the work and missing the experience. It wasn't by accident, it was my way of coping.

It wasn't until my senior year in high school that I even felt comfortable talking out loud in class.

I look back at my life and I understand what a lot of people go through on a daily basis. I worried too much. I carried about other people's opinions too much. I hated things about myself. I can relate...

Dreams aren't meant to be denied, they are meant to be achieved. Everyone's life is a process... make yours a positive one. Keep smiling, life is amazing.

We aren't the people we once were...

Life involves progress and growth. People are constantly changing and striving to improve themselves. Personal growth and self betterment is what we partake in from the moment we are born. Without change and growth we aren't living, but time continues.

Relationships, too, are about growth. A relationship is facing the same way and moving forward together. You must accept the changes in each other and continue to support one another to make a relationship work.

Always remember to find the good in other people and always remember to smile...

The perfection of people...

People are perfect. They should never consider themselves inferior to anyone else or unable to do something. Your smile can change a life just as anyone else's smile can and anything can be accomplished if you feel strongly enough about it.

Here's something that you might find odd and that's that no one is perfect. Sounds a bit of a paradox but everyone makes mistakes and we all have things about ourselves we need to improve in. Everyone has "flaws" and "weaknesses". The realization if this may help you to understand that everyone is perfected because we do have flaws.

We are all in the same fight together... just trying to do our best and succeed at things. Pointing out the misfortunes in others is unrewarding and unnecessary. Use your strength to pull up other people not to push them down. People can do a lot better with support than with ridicule.

We are no better than the person beside us and we must understand they aren't better than us either. We are all perfect with lots of amazing qualities that should be acknowledged. Keep smiling and enjoy the sunshine... better yet provide some sunshine to those who don't feel they have any...

Keep fighting, hard work does pay off...

Always be true to your core values. Never let greed or other people's opinion detour you from what you believe to be right. As a person of high value, other people's opinion only go so far... the only true opinion you need is your own. Always stand up for the things you believe in. With a little hard work, patience, and resolve... dreams will become reality. At first your dreams will seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable. Stay the course.

You can use your strength in two ways, to hold other people down or to pull them up. I believe in being supportive and pulling them up, dusting them off, and dragging them with you. Stand up for the people who don't stand up for themselves, set an example, and teach them they can do the same. Improve the people around you through actions and experiences. Help them find their path to success and happiness.

Keep fighting, keep laughing, and always keep smiling. We accomplish things because we believe we can...

Breaking the routine...

The words "if" and "but" often get in the way of progress and accomplishment. Anyone can come up with excuses not to do something, but wouldn't it be easier to come up with reasons to do something?

Challenge yourself. Force yourself to live outside your comfort zone. Tackle new projects, take more risks, enjoy your time. Challenge yourself to eliminate limiting words from your vocabulary like "can't" and "no" and replace them with words like "sure" and "yes". It's a lot better to say you tried to do something than to say you can't do something.

Without risk, there is no reward. Without effort, there is no mastery. Errors stem from trying and not from sitting. Mistakes are just building blocks to launch from.
Keep smiling and enjoy the sun...

God gave you a mouth, use it....

The biggest asset anyone has... is themselves. You have the ability to do anything you set your mind to. Life is about your choices and not about the choices other people make for you. Your fate is in your hands every single day. Your actions and thoughts are what define you and conversely your lack of action may also stifle you.

Ever want to do something but were afraid to ask? Life is about choices. Not opening your mouth is also choice but with only one answer, that answer is no. By not asking a question or not doing something, you eliminate any chance at a yes. What you have also done is taken all the choice away from the other people. What if they wanted to give you a yes? You took the choice away from them. God gave you a mouth, use it.

You can't get the things you don't ask for and you'll never get a yes either. What's the WORST thing that can happen if you decide to take a chance? A no? A no is the same thing you get by not asking either. Why don't you give them the choice and not decide for them. You never know, a yes might only be a moment away... keep smiling.

Basic outlooks for life...

Along with basic energy in your life, you need a tangible skill set to tackle everyday life. Here's a few things that have affected my life.

Be true to yourself. Don't change who you are to fit the moment instead make the other people realize who you are. Your conscience is the only thing you need to answer to so stay loyal to that.

Be non-reactive. Don't rush to judgment when you don't know all the facts. Don't allow other people to affect your mood. If someone has the power to anger you, they own you. Happiness comes from within not from validation from other people.

Make the positive assumption. Too often people over-think a scenario when waiting. They assume all the negative things that could be going on. Being a positive person make the assumption that works the best for you. Instead of thinking they haven't call you because they hate you, think they haven't called because they like you so much that they are nervous.

Pick your battles. Life is not about confrontation rather bliss. You don't have to be right and it's ok to admit fault. Stand up for what you believe in, but having the other person agree with you is not a quest.

Don't judge other people. Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time, just like you do. They have stresses and good days and bad days like the rest of us. They come from a different background and have had different experiences than you have. Different is not bad and you are not better than they are. More importantly, no one is better than you. The only person you are qualified to judge is yourself. The only person you need to compare yourself to is the person you were...

Life is a process so there's no need to put too much value on a specific portion of your life, rather on the whole. Life has ups and downs, don't get taken in too deeply during the downs and always stay grounded during the ups. Life is amazing and time doesn't wait for you. Try all the things you can and always remember to smile...

A new horizon...

Even if it rains for a month straight, there is still promise of a change. Hope exists that the sun will eventually shine. It's this hope that helps up keep our faith. As bad as things look, they will get better.

You will have good days and bad days, that's life. In order for the bad days not to consume you is that very hope that things will change. Take pride in knowing that things will improve and the sun will shine. Even when you feel that there is no hope, summon that strength. I am telling you right now that hope does exist.

Sometimes things are out of your hands and sometimes things are because of your hands. Making a repeated mistake and having misfortune are not the same things. Remember the sunshine, remember the licks of a puppy on your face, and always remember to smile. You are only as happy as you let yourself be... it's time to enjoy life!

Basic tips for life...

Here are just some basic principles to stay smiling...

Make your life easier. Don't complicate things with situations you know won't end well. Drama just adds headaches.

Surround yourself with positive people. Don't associate with people who use the words can't, don't, and impossible. Life is hard enough as it is, you don't need people pulling you down. Find people who support you, not deflate you.

Hard work gets rewarded. If you work hard, you will get results. This goes for relationships, work, exercise, sports, school... anything. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and put in long hours, in the end there will be a payoff.

Stand up for yourself. No one has the ability or the right to decide for you. Do the things that you want to do, not the things people expect or want you to do.

Strive to do better. Never settle until you reach the top. A nice plateau half way up might look cozy, but keep your eye on the prize. Never settle for good when you are good enough to achieve great.

Give back. If you know, teach and if you have, give. Make the people around you better. If you want people around you that are supportive, you better be supportive. Life isn't about how much you can get, it's about how happy you can be.

You are your biggest asset. You control what you do and how you live. You are only as happy as you let yourself become... choose happiness. Never quit smiling.

It's ok to ask...

The loudest voice ever heard is your own voice standing up for yourself. To the shy, it's rarely heard, even memorable when used. To the strong, it's second nature, just a part of life. Some people fear their own voices.

You see it often when wanting something, a meager voice sputtering to be heard. Even more often you see the same mouth as silent. It's ok to ask for the things that you want. You don't need permission to be heard. What's the thing that you fear, a no? That's going to happen from time to time, but it's not nearly as life altering a few yeses are.

If you aren't used to using your voice, find it. The ability to ask for what you want or to say no to the things to don't is a trait unmatched. It's your life... make it as easy and happy as you can for yourself. Don't settle for second best... the biggest lie ever told was hearing that second best isn't really that bad. Strive for better, understand you can do better than average, know that you have value. Stay thirsty and always remember to smile...

Adversity is not a stopping point...

One basic truth in life is that hard work gets rewarded. At whatever you are trying to get accomplished, if you work hard you will succeed. You may lose faith along the way... it's natural. You might get discouraged because things aren't going smoothly... which is normal. Adversity is the thing that weeds out the weak.

Nothing worth anything in life is obtained easily. Hard work and determination achieve goals. Hard work is rewarded. Keep smiling, it's not much further now...

The sun...

There's nothing more wonderful than the Sun. It gives power and life to everything. It's consistent and proves warmth. Truth be told, we all have a little sun inside us. We all possess warmth give life to things. Sometimes we forget how much power we really have. Take a moment and appreciate the sunshine. If you can't find some, look inside yourself.

Happiness is just one joke away...

Happiness can spring up at anytime and take any form. It could be in the form of a cute puppy or the punchline to a funny joke. You never know where or when it's coming, but that's the great part of life. Take advantage of the happy times... but even more so, create happy times.

Emotions are contagious, so affect others in a positive way. No one wants to be around someone who makes them feel badly. Take opportunities to make other people's day. Random acts of kindness can put a smile on anyone's face, so why not do more of them.

You can use your strength in two ways, to push someone down or to pull someone up. Use your strength to brighten someone's day... not to rain on their parade. Your attitude influences other people, so set a good example.

Be positive when possible. Always know that things are not always as bad as they seem and happiest can arise at anytime. Life is as much fun as we make it, so let's smile and do our best to have a great time...

I'm sorry... so sorry...

I've long lived by the credo that forgiveness is an attribute of the strong. People identify it with showing weakness or caving in, which is absolutely false. If anything... most of the time they were wrong and they need to understand that if you make a mistake, well stand up to it...

Once you realize it's ok to make a mistake, you can also realize that's it's ok to be yourself. You won't get everything right in life. When you do screw up, say you are sorry, then keep looking forward. Mistakes, sorrys, and the likes aren't end points, but building blocks to grow on. `Only those that do not try make no mistakes.

Excuses are the things people use when they are afraid to tell the truth. You swing and miss the very same way you do when you swing and hit a homerun. It's natural to miss at times. Don't fret over the misses.

Life is full of trials and errors. Life is full of good times and bad times. It's full of successes and many times you came up a bit short. You apologize when you make a mistake and stand pat when you don't. Life grants you only one life to live... there is not time to waste holding a grudge nor is there time to waste having to prove that you're right.

The value between right and wrong is zero. The value between stubbornness and forgiveness is an eternity. To say you are sorry is an attribute of the strong and our quest is to be stronger and live better. We have all held grudges at one point in our lives, my plead now is to let them go. They don't help and what doesn't help doesn't matter.

Mistakes happen. So does happiness. I say err on the side of happiness. If you can't get everything right, get the things that matter the most to you right... and when that fails, just smile. Looking towards a brighter future doesn't mean dwelling on past failures, but learning from different attempts. Keep smiling everyone, happiness is always just a moment away.

Actions produce results, but bad actions produce bad results too...

We are what we do. Our actions and decisions are what defines us. Our actions produce outcomes and results, so if you don't like the outlook perform a different action.

If you do what you always done, you are going to get what you've also got. So if you are unhappy with the way things are going but keep doing the same things, it's not going to change. Fool me once shame on you, but fool me twice shame on me. If you are miserable but unwilling to change, you are going to remain miserable... but it then becomes a choice.

you have options, we all have options. Some choices are harder than others but others are easy. Life is a process. you didn't get to where you are now overnight and you aren't going to be different in a day either, but you can work towards it? You are only as happy as you let yourself be, so take away the restraints.

Live for the moment. Seize your opportunities. Never settle and always crave more. Just remember it's only life, so keep smiling...

Rain is just a prelude to a rainbow...

The fear of the unknown is a overwhelming deterrent for people. People do what they are comfortable with and they enjoy what they are good at... but life is unpredictable. Everyday there lies potential for new circumstance, new opportunities, and new adventures. Anyone can live an easy life without bumps in the road but how will they react when adversity arises? True character is revealed when things are rough not when they are smooth.

If anyone can lead an easy life, why not make your life easier? Cut out the things that bother you and focus on the things that make you happy, you'll have reason to smile more. Eliminate expectation and focus more on action, you'll probably get more down. Value time and do not to waste it, it's an asset. When things have deadlines, begin them early to avoid the last minute panic. Arrive early in case of unforeseen events.

How about take it one step further... value preparation. If it might rain, dress appropriately while conversely if it might be sunny, layer your clothes. If you have to be somewhere, think about where you have to be and map out a plan and a route. These are simple examples of a larger point. If life is truly unpredictable, be ready for it. Learn to use your head and even more so, learn to adapt to the new situation. Things may not always go as planned, don't get upset, but rather solve it.

Our greatest asset is ourselves and we are capable of remarkable things. Our journeys are planned for us, rather in life, we make our paths. If good is right next to great, why stop at good? Wishing everyone a safe journey and always remember to smile...

You have value...

The one thing I can promise you is that you have value and self worth. There is no need to be shy or doubt yourself. You don't need to ask permission to become the person you deserve to be. If you feel that you are inferior to other people, you are wrong. You are as good as anyone else. You may see other people and try to compare your situation to theirs and feel like you don't stack up, well that's a myth. You will end up comparing your negatives to their positives. Truth of the matter is, you don't know all the factors in their lives. Everyone has problems, everyone has doubts and concerns. We are all just people living life.

My friend posted the statement "Don't make someone your priority, when they only make you an option." True happiness comes from believing in yourself. It's true that you deserve the best things in life. People deserve to be treated well and never allow yourself to settle. One of the biggest lies told is that it's ok to settle and second best and average is alright. The biggest thing that gets in the way of great is good.

When you realize you have value and you discover it's power, you will have the strength to say yes to the things you want to do and the ability to say no to the things you don't enjoy. Everyone has value, no one is better than you or worse than you. People are all perfect in their own way, it's really up to them to realize and appreciate that. But until that happens, the journey begins with you and your understanding of this principle. Stay thirsty, never settle, and always smile. Life is good...

My concept of friendship...

A friend asked me the other day for my opinion on his relationship with his friend. I didn't feel like I had enough time or the correct forum to do it then, I might as well do it now. First a little generalities about friendship.

I've always said that a true friend is a person who enters the room when everyone else walks out. They are there for you when you need someone without questions. I'm pretty lucky, I have some.

I found it a little easier in life to treat everyone like a friend, stranger, or foe. When I first thought about this, with a stranger I just treated them like a friend of ten years that I hadn't seen in one year. Had a little catching up to do a little, but the background was ok with you. You give them the benefit of the doubt and if they were a good person, after enough time, they simply are your friend. If they aren't someone who you need hanging around you... then just treat them as an acquaintance.

Now I think friendship is divided in three parts. Those parts are understanding, support, and acceptance. Might as well talk about them in order right?

When I mention understanding, I talk about the understanding of their character, a bit about their past, and a rapport of some kind. They have to be someone that you like and you need some sort of common ground that can be shared by the two of you.

Support is a tad more abstract but tangible at the same time. Support not only means to motivate and stand by, but it also means having a little faith in that person, believing them when they need it, and if need defending them. If you don't feel comfortable taking up for a friend, then really who would do it? And if you won't take that risk, where does that put you?

The last part is acceptance. I this part is key. This is the idea that you understand who they are, you support them, and you realize that they aren't going to change and that's ok with you. It's ok to get pissed when they do something that you don't like but you don't take it personal. It's most likely something they've always done and maybe always will. I'm not advocating that you can't help someone to become a better person, but I am saying that you can't make them change or hold it against them if they don't. Friends come and go in life. You can allow them to fade away, but you can also pick and choose the one's that are worth the effort to keep. Even then it may not be enough and you have to accept that too.

In life we all fight the same enemy and that enemy is loneliness.

I hope this helped my buddy to figure out his path...

A castle is merely a collection of rocks...

Life is not about preparation... life is about living. If you wait for the absolute ideal time to do something, golden opportunities may have already sailed by. Life isn't about finding yourself... it's about creating yourself.

People are capable of amazing accomplishments. Everything amazing we know, took someone to have faith that it was possible. You are capable of amazing things. Allow yourself to try. Never settle and never allow yourself to think that you can't. You can.

Sometimes the hardest step is the first one. Some people need to be prodded, some need to be pushed. It's time to stray away from what you are used to and take a risk. Sometimes the fear of failure is worse than actually failing, but you will never know until you try. If you treat each "failure" as just a step towards success, they will seem less scary.

Only the people who do nothing make no mistakes. Don't be afraid to try new things... it's how we realize everything is obtainable in life.