I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. I have had an idea running through my head for some time now. I have been laying the ground work for actually writing something on the subject. I had a basic outline in my head already. It was based on my own personal experiences as well as observation of others actions.
I was narrowing down the idea of what it takes to be successful in anything. There are countless experts out there talking about and teaching this subject. I have read and listened to more experts than I can count.
I had pretty much completed my research on the subject. I was actually going to sit down and write out my outline today. It was going to be a short work. I had it down to three points. Nice, neat and easy to explain. Probably one of my better works if I do say so myself.
For some strange reason, before I actually started working I decided to look at the news. I really don't know why. Usually when I decide to get to work I try to avoid doing things that will distract me. But this time I didn't. This time I read this story. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
I has missed the one part that really counted. The one thing that really makes all those other things I was thinking about come in second place at best. the underlying reason for everything else I was planning to write. This is one of the few times I think answering the question why really matters.
I have always been much more of a How does it work kind of guy. Why it works doesn't really matter too much for me as long as it works and I know how to make it work. If I have to move around in a dark room. Knowing How to turn on the light is much more important than knowing why the light works. If I only know why the light works I am still stuck bumping my way around a dark room.
But this story made me realize the entire concept of success requires a why. Without that why there really is no success. If you do not have the answer to this why you will never be successful. You may become wealthy yet without this you will never truly feel successful.
You want to know that why? Here it is.
Help Others
That's it, You can be wealthy and still not see yourself as successful. You can be wealthy and live a miserable life feeling unfulfilled the entire time. Or you can be poor and miserable with the same feelings.
Money, Fame, celebrity status, none of those things come close to the feeling of success you will ever reach by simply helping someone else. Not because you have to, Not because you expect anything from it, Not for any reason but because it is the right thing to do.
If you can get this down nothing else will really matter as much any more. If you do not get this down then nothing else you do will make a difference. And in the end tru success is all in your mind. In the end when you look back on your life it will not be money or things or fame you will regret. It will those times you knew you could make a difference in someone elses life and you chose not to that will be your biggest regrets.
And isn't being able to look back at your life in the end and have the fewest possible regrets the best measure of success possible?
In case you are interested and I have no idea how long this story will be up but HERE is the story I read that prompted all of this in the first place.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
What are you doing to remain vigilant post 9/11/01
I saw this question on Facebook and planned to write a short answer but found I had too much to say to be able to post it there so I will put it here.
This is a very interesting question in my mind. You hear a lot of the never forget, always remember kind of stuff as 9/11 comes around but seldom this question.
I think we have a great example to follow from that very day. There are countless examples of first responders who were going up the twin towers trying to save people and lost their lives. There are also many examples of people in the pentagon that risked their lives and safety trying to help victims of that attack as well.
But in my mind the very best example of average people taking action was on the United flight 93. The passengers on that plane knew the risks and still took action. They knew the likely hood was great the plane would not be able to stay in the air as they went towards the cockpit. Yet they still went quickly and with the purpose to try and save the passengers on that plane and also to save people they never even saw on the ground where that plane was heading.
I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the fire and police personnel that died that day in the twin towers. But I still feel the passengers on flight 93 showed greater bravery by taking the action they took with the knowledge that even if they succeeded they were very likely not going to survive.
This is difficult for me to put into words but I will try. the first responders in NY that went bravely into those towers never considered that possibility those towers would completely fall. Certainly there was a risk, certainly there was the "chance" that one or more of them could die while fighting the fire and trying to save people. It takes a special kind of bravery to run towards something everyone else is running away from and I in no way mean to belittle that courage those brave souls showed going into those towers. But at the same time they never really thought they all would die and that always gives you a sense of hope that you will be the one to "make it".
Those people on flight 93 KNEW, they knew they would likely die in the attempt. These were not trained first responders, these were as average a group of people you can find. These average people stood up and went above and beyond to not only try and save themselves, which they knew was unlikely. But to be certain they saved unknown people that just had the bad luck to in the target of that particular plane.
This in my mind is the answer to the question of what being vigilant is for the average person. To be prepared to take action when and where you are, if you ever are faced with a similar situation. Step up and do what has to be done without counting the cost, but thinking only of the outcome and the greater good from that outcome.
We can do this today, in our everyday lives. We may never have to face that most difficult decision those passengers on Flight 93 did. Or those first responders in the twin towers faced as well. BUT there are things we may see every day, points in our own experience where we have to make a choice. That choice may not be as monumental in scope but it is still a choice and we have to make it.
Today is 9/11/12 it has been 11 years since those brave few were faced with their moment of decision. Today is a good day to reflect...not on what we would "HAVE DONE" in that position but on what we "WILL DO" whenever we are faced with a choice, be it however small and insignificant seeming at the time. Remember those who have gone before and then make your choice.
This is a very interesting question in my mind. You hear a lot of the never forget, always remember kind of stuff as 9/11 comes around but seldom this question.
I think we have a great example to follow from that very day. There are countless examples of first responders who were going up the twin towers trying to save people and lost their lives. There are also many examples of people in the pentagon that risked their lives and safety trying to help victims of that attack as well.
But in my mind the very best example of average people taking action was on the United flight 93. The passengers on that plane knew the risks and still took action. They knew the likely hood was great the plane would not be able to stay in the air as they went towards the cockpit. Yet they still went quickly and with the purpose to try and save the passengers on that plane and also to save people they never even saw on the ground where that plane was heading.
I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the fire and police personnel that died that day in the twin towers. But I still feel the passengers on flight 93 showed greater bravery by taking the action they took with the knowledge that even if they succeeded they were very likely not going to survive.
This is difficult for me to put into words but I will try. the first responders in NY that went bravely into those towers never considered that possibility those towers would completely fall. Certainly there was a risk, certainly there was the "chance" that one or more of them could die while fighting the fire and trying to save people. It takes a special kind of bravery to run towards something everyone else is running away from and I in no way mean to belittle that courage those brave souls showed going into those towers. But at the same time they never really thought they all would die and that always gives you a sense of hope that you will be the one to "make it".
Those people on flight 93 KNEW, they knew they would likely die in the attempt. These were not trained first responders, these were as average a group of people you can find. These average people stood up and went above and beyond to not only try and save themselves, which they knew was unlikely. But to be certain they saved unknown people that just had the bad luck to in the target of that particular plane.
This in my mind is the answer to the question of what being vigilant is for the average person. To be prepared to take action when and where you are, if you ever are faced with a similar situation. Step up and do what has to be done without counting the cost, but thinking only of the outcome and the greater good from that outcome.
We can do this today, in our everyday lives. We may never have to face that most difficult decision those passengers on Flight 93 did. Or those first responders in the twin towers faced as well. BUT there are things we may see every day, points in our own experience where we have to make a choice. That choice may not be as monumental in scope but it is still a choice and we have to make it.
Today is 9/11/12 it has been 11 years since those brave few were faced with their moment of decision. Today is a good day to reflect...not on what we would "HAVE DONE" in that position but on what we "WILL DO" whenever we are faced with a choice, be it however small and insignificant seeming at the time. Remember those who have gone before and then make your choice.
Friday, July 13, 2012
More on the Lennox and Belfast City Council story
The more I see about this story the more I am convinced Belfast City Council Had their minds made up from the very beginning to simply kill Lennox to further their own purposes. Actions speak much louder than words and the actions of the Belfast City Council have spoken volumes of cruelty and abuse of power.
Here is a true experts opinion that is based on readily available video footage of the test Lennox was subjected to by another professional behaviorist.
http://canineaggression.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/lennox-gloves-come-off.html
Both of these experienced dog behavior specialist opinions were completely ignored by the ruling council of Belfast and an unqualified individual's flawed opinion was accepted simply because that was the evidence that allowed the council to continue with their predetermined course of action.
It is obvious to me and most of the world this was completely mishandled from the beginning. This situation reeks of official misconduct and abuse of power by a government that should know better. While the rest of us who are not residents of Belfast can only look on and make our voices heard. It now falls to the people of Belfast itself to take action and redress this injustice.
It is now time for the citizens of Belfast to show the rest of the world that they are not the cruel heartless people their representatives have shown themselves to be. It is time for the people of Belfast to deal with this injustice and show they are truly deserving of the rest of the worlds respect and confidence.
Use the power of the populace and take steps to lawfully remove these representatives that has besmirched your name to the entire world. remember silence is acceptance and acceptance of this injustice will only serve to confirm the worst suspicions that have been voiced. People of Belfast speak out, answer the question, does this decision of your City Council actually speak for you, is this the way you want the rest of us on this planet to view your city?,br />
If you truly wish for your home to view with such contempt and despite then you have my pity and fully deserve all the scorn that has been directed to your City Council and bear the responsibility for your governments actions.
If you do not support the City Councils actions then it is incumbent upon you to take the corrective actions that are at your disposal and let your voices be heard. Remove the government that does not properly represent you when the elections give you the opportunity.
Speak now, and take actions at the next elections or forever have your homes name live in infamy and disgrace. Scorned by the rest of the civilized world. The entire world is waiting and watching with hope that you will take the correct action and hold your representatives accountable for their horrendous actions of late.
Here is a true experts opinion that is based on readily available video footage of the test Lennox was subjected to by another professional behaviorist.
http://canineaggression.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/lennox-gloves-come-off.html
Both of these experienced dog behavior specialist opinions were completely ignored by the ruling council of Belfast and an unqualified individual's flawed opinion was accepted simply because that was the evidence that allowed the council to continue with their predetermined course of action.
It is obvious to me and most of the world this was completely mishandled from the beginning. This situation reeks of official misconduct and abuse of power by a government that should know better. While the rest of us who are not residents of Belfast can only look on and make our voices heard. It now falls to the people of Belfast itself to take action and redress this injustice.
It is now time for the citizens of Belfast to show the rest of the world that they are not the cruel heartless people their representatives have shown themselves to be. It is time for the people of Belfast to deal with this injustice and show they are truly deserving of the rest of the worlds respect and confidence.
Use the power of the populace and take steps to lawfully remove these representatives that has besmirched your name to the entire world. remember silence is acceptance and acceptance of this injustice will only serve to confirm the worst suspicions that have been voiced. People of Belfast speak out, answer the question, does this decision of your City Council actually speak for you, is this the way you want the rest of us on this planet to view your city?,br />
If you truly wish for your home to view with such contempt and despite then you have my pity and fully deserve all the scorn that has been directed to your City Council and bear the responsibility for your governments actions.
If you do not support the City Councils actions then it is incumbent upon you to take the corrective actions that are at your disposal and let your voices be heard. Remove the government that does not properly represent you when the elections give you the opportunity.
Speak now, and take actions at the next elections or forever have your homes name live in infamy and disgrace. Scorned by the rest of the civilized world. The entire world is waiting and watching with hope that you will take the correct action and hold your representatives accountable for their horrendous actions of late.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
DO NOT BUY an LG Product
We bought a new LG french door refrigerator model # LFX25974ST on 4/7/12 from Home Depot. On 7/1/12 it stopped cooling. We notified Home Depot on 7/2/12 the morning we discovered the problem and they arranged a service appointment through the local LG authorized service company. They said they needed to order parts and it would be 2 to 4 business days for those parts to be delivered. They also advised us there was a "Known Issue" with the computer board that controlled the system. It took 10 days for the service tech to arrive to repair the system and when He did it turns out they had ordered the wrong part as it would not fit the refrigerator.
We have been without a working refrigerator for 12 days now and still have no idea exactly when a repair will be completed. LG's customer service had "no record" of the service call or request and has so far offered no solution to this problem.
I am beyond the point of anger at this and I will never buy another LG product willingly ever again. The lack of service is appalling and the fact they had a known issue and did not have the proper replacement parts available is just one of many problems I have experienced with the company.
Believe me you would be much better off buying a refrigerator from any other company than LG. Be warned LG's products are substandard and they have no desire to offer a reasonable solution when they break. DO NOT BUY AN LG FOR ANY REASON.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
RIP Lennox Shame on the city of Belfast
Today a great injustice was done by an overreaching governmental body that refused to take even a common sense approach to law enforcement. Today the city government of Belfast Ireland murdered a family pet. A mixed breed family pet named Lennox was killed by the Belfast City Council in cold blood. I have lost much esteem I once held for the UK in general and for Belfast specifically. To use a tape measure to determine whether a Dog is dangerous is the height of insanity and to then kill an animal that has caused harm to no one is tantamount to murder and should be treated in exactly the same manner.
Hasn't the world learned through bitter experience that judging anything based solely on racial/breed traits is the refuge of the most vile and evil humans that have set foot on this planet? There are too many examples in humanities past of the use of the very same logic to perpetrate some of the most horrendous crimes against humanity to choose the one to which the Belfast City Council is most similar.
It is a truism that one can tell much about a civilization by how it treats its animals. Unfortunately today's actions by the city of Belfast speak volumes about the character of the leaders of that city and brings shame on the people of Belfast and the entire UK for allowing this to continue. This is truly a black mark on the honor of the entire country.
Today is the day all the people of the UK should take action to redress this issue. You should speak to your government and tell them they need to find another way, a way that does not punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty. Whether those innocents are human or animal it is simply wrong to take an innocent life for no good reason. Particularly a life that had shown itself gentle and kind in ways many humans have yet to understand or at least it seems the Belfast City Government has yet to understand.
Shame, Shame,Shame that is really all that can be said about this and it is hoped that the so called humans that made this decision will come to the realization of their error and find a better way to address this issue in the future.
I write this with great sadness at the loss of an innocent life and with great hope that the good people of Belfast and the rest of the UK will rapidly find a way to keep this from happening again.
Hasn't the world learned through bitter experience that judging anything based solely on racial/breed traits is the refuge of the most vile and evil humans that have set foot on this planet? There are too many examples in humanities past of the use of the very same logic to perpetrate some of the most horrendous crimes against humanity to choose the one to which the Belfast City Council is most similar.
It is a truism that one can tell much about a civilization by how it treats its animals. Unfortunately today's actions by the city of Belfast speak volumes about the character of the leaders of that city and brings shame on the people of Belfast and the entire UK for allowing this to continue. This is truly a black mark on the honor of the entire country.
Today is the day all the people of the UK should take action to redress this issue. You should speak to your government and tell them they need to find another way, a way that does not punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty. Whether those innocents are human or animal it is simply wrong to take an innocent life for no good reason. Particularly a life that had shown itself gentle and kind in ways many humans have yet to understand or at least it seems the Belfast City Government has yet to understand.
Shame, Shame,Shame that is really all that can be said about this and it is hoped that the so called humans that made this decision will come to the realization of their error and find a better way to address this issue in the future.
I write this with great sadness at the loss of an innocent life and with great hope that the good people of Belfast and the rest of the UK will rapidly find a way to keep this from happening again.
Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue: Peaceful Anti-BSL Protests - UK
Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue: Peaceful Anti-BSL Protests - UK: These peaceful protests have been organised through the facebook social networking site (not by us) where you can find a group/page for each...
Monday, May 7, 2012
A picture of my new SWTOR pet
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