A pin-hole camera of our own...

Well I'm back.

A lot has happened since I last wrote, things which though sometimes painful, have been instrumental in my continued spiritual growth.

Sometimes, even after being reminded over and over again that "yes, these really are experiences necessary for our essential selves to move forward in life," IT IS really hard to see the lessons we have chosen to learn here, now, in this life, when life has seemingly blindsided us.

But without these 'negative' moments how could we see the beauty in our world? In our lives? How would we know in our hearts the gratitude engendered in us by a kind word or a friendly smile or a gesture of a door held open for us, not because our arms are full but just...because?

And when the darkness is chipped at, the same way water wears a hole in stone, the hardened crust of anger and fear of pain and suffering, of indifference and apathy will be pierced by a ray of light.

The hole may be small, yet like a pin-hole camera, that tiny ray of light can engrave upon our heart and soul a new picture. And it is up to us to choose to look at that picture and find the good and the beautiful rather than the dark and hopeless.

Personally I choose to see beauty and in seeing the beauty and reasons for gratitude I choose to share it with the world one smile at a time. One kind word at a time. By holding one door at a time open, be it a physical or a spiritual door, to honor the heart and soul of each and every person who is valuable in and of themselves.

The choice IS ours, we choose to create our world, we choose to 'see the light' and make a change. An internal, spiritual change first which, with 'hard work' will eventually overflow this vessel of our flesh and we will handing out rays of light and life wherever and whenever we go.

The question then is this: What kind of world will you choose to create today?

A quote...

"Sure you learn from pain, but you also learn from ease and fun.
It's like learning to ride a bicycle -- you learn from falling
off but you learn the most when you stay balanced and enjoy the
ride. Pain is highly overrated as a teaching device. If you pay
attention to internal signals and external feedback, life won't
need a 2x4 to get your attention."

-- Alan Cohen

Leadership Fundamentals - Time Management

The Momentum Principle Of Success
By: Brian Tracy

Fast tempo seems to go hand in hand with all great success. Developing this tempo requires that you start moving and keep moving at a steady rate.

The Key Action To Orientation
When you become an action-oriented person, you activate the "Momentum Principle” of success. This principle says that although it may take tremendous amounts of energy to overcome inertia and get going initially, it then takes far less energy to keep going.

Increase Your Energy
The good news is that the faster you move, the more energy you have. The faster you move, the more you get done and the more effective you feel. The faster you move, the more experience you get and the more you learn. The faster you move, the more competent and capable you become at your work.

Get Onto The Fast Track
A sense of urgency shifts you automatically onto the fast track in your career. The faster you work and the more you get done, the higher will be your levels of self-esteem, self-respect and personal pride.

Talk To Yourself Positively
One of the simplest and yet most powerful ways to get yourself started is to repeat the words, "Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!" over and over to yourself.
If you feel yourself slowing or becoming distracted by conversations or low value activities, repeat to yourself the words, "Back to work! Back to work! Back to work!" over and over.

Get A Reputation For Speed
In the final analysis, nothing will help you more in your career than for you to get the reputation for being the kind of person who gets important work done quickly and well. This reputation will make you one of the most valuable and respected people in your field.

Action Exercises
Practice makes perfect! Pick up the tempo! Whatever you are doing, resolve to move faster than ever before.